It’s Monday…
President Biden’s public schedule for 08/12/2024:
| 6:30 AM Pool Call Time | Out-of-Town Pool Call Time Out-of-Town Pool |
| 8:00 AM Official Schedule | The President and The First Lady depart Rehoboth Beach, Delaware en route to the White House Out-of-Town Pool |
| 8:15 AM Pool Call Time | In-Town Pool Call Time In-Town Pool |
| 8:55 AM Official Schedule | The President and The First Lady arrive at the White House South Lawn Open Press |
| 10:00 AM Official Schedule | The President receives the President’s Daily Brief Closed Press |
| 2:00 PM Press Briefing | Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre James S. Brady Press Briefing Room |
The White House has not posted a live stream for the press briefing.
Washington Post YouTube:
Economy Tweet
From Friday…
Folks, it’s a manufacturing boom. pic.twitter.com/1fUIO0cThS
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 9, 2024
From the White House…
08/09/2024:
Foreign Policy Tweets
From Friday…
This week, the United States announced nearly $1 billion in lifesaving humanitarian aid for the crises in the Horn of Africa, Sahel, Sudan, and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 9, 2024
My commitment to the people of Africa, their prosperity, and their peace is unwavering.
From the State Department…
08/09/2024:
On August 8, 2024, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya announced nearly $536 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance from the United States, including nearly $516 million through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and nearly $20 million through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. This brings total U.S. humanitarian assistance in Sub-Saharan Africa to nearly $3.7 billion so far in Fiscal Year 2024.
This U.S. humanitarian assistance will enable our humanitarian partners to respond to the critical needs of more than eight million refugees and asylum seekers as well as more than 30 million internally displaced persons, stateless persons, and conflict-affected people across sub-Saharan Africa, including those affected by crises in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and numerous other new emergency and protracted situations. These populations are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and climate change, both of which are impacting communities across the continent. It will also build durable solutions, including through voluntary returns and refugee integration.
Even with this significant contribution, needs far outpace available funding in Africa and globally. We urge other donors to provide additional support to meet urgent humanitarian needs.
United States Announces Nearly $536 Million in Additional Humanitarian Assistance for Sub-Saharan Africa. 08/08/2024.
Earlier, the Amir of Qatar, the President of Egypt, and I called on both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict to resume discussion and advance our peace deal without delay.
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 10, 2024
It's time to conclude the ceasefire, and hostages and detainees release deal.
There's no time to waste.
From the White House…
08/08/2024:
Background Press Call on the Joint Statement from the Leaders of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:
Hi, everybody. Thanks for joining. I want to briefly just give some background on the statement that we just released with President Biden, together with his counterparts in Egypt, President el-Sisi, and in Qatar, with the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim.
Just to go through a bit of the tick-tock from the week:
Obviously, on Monday, the President spoke with King Abdullah of Jordan and then had a very in-depth discussion, the President and the Vice President, with the national security team and our military team, with Lloyd Austin and General Kurilla calling in from the region, to just review the military deployments to the region in preparation for the potential defense of Israel given a potential attack from Iran or Hezbollah or anyone else.
And then on Tuesday, the President had discussions — and again, in-depth discussions — with Tamim and with President Sisi. And both of those discussions really delved into the hostage process, because we are the three mediators in this process.
And out of that — out of those calls came that very constructive proposal to issue a joint statement from the leaders. And both Qatar and Egypt believed this would be very useful, as they’re working on the Hamas side, and the Israelis were also very receptive to this. And, in fact, I think the Prime Minister’s office has already put out a statement welcoming this initiative from the Israel side.
Today, we met with the President in the Oval Office, together with Secretary Austin, again, to just review our military deployments, which are ongoing and quite significant and substantial. And we released a statement here about an hour or so ago, which you’ve probably seen.
I think, obviously, a statement from three leaders is unusual but it’s, we think, significant. These three leaders have been involved in this hostage negotiation, ceasefire agreement negotiation now for some months. And as the statement says, there’s a framework agreement that is on the table with, really, the details of implementation that are left to conclude. I think you’re all very well familiar with the scope of this agreement, which we’ve discussed before.
The statement emphasizes the urgency that there’s really no further time to waste or excuses from any party for further delay. And the statement also, I think, significantly says: As mediators, if it’s necessary, we’re prepared to present, between the three of us, a final bridging proposal to really resolve the remaining implementation issues in the manner that we think would meet the expectations of all the parties and help bring this to a conclusion.
So, the statement calls on both sides to resume these discussions on Thursday of next week, either in Doha or Cairo, as we work through the week. And I think we’ll likely begin preparatory talks to really kind of build up to that probably here fairly soon.
Of course, in the background we are dealing with the broader situation in the region — as I mentioned, the preparation for defense should an attack come. I think we are — we’ve done an awful lot over the last week, which you’re probably familiar with, and I know my Pentagon colleagues have been doing briefings on this throughout the week.
So with that, I’m happy to take any questions. But again, I appreciate taking the time to provide some background on the statement we just issued — President Biden and together with his counterparts from Egypt and Qatar.
So, over for questions.
Background Press Call on the Joint Statement from the Leaders of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. 08/08/2024.
Joint Statement from the Leaders of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar
It is time to bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families. The time has come to conclude the ceasefire and hostages and detainees release deal.
The three of us and our teams have worked tirelessly over many months to forge a framework agreement that is now on the table with only the details of implementation left to conclude. This agreement is based on the principles as outlined by President Biden on May 31, 2024, and endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2735.
There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay. It is time to release the hostages, begin the ceasefire, and implement this agreement.
As mediators, if necessary, we are prepared to present a final bridging proposal that resolves the remaining implementation issues in a manner that meets the expectations of all parties.
We have called on both sides to resume urgent discussion on Thursday, August 15 in Doha or Cairo to close all remaining gaps and commence implementation of the deal without further delay.
President of the United States Joe Biden
President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Amir of the State of Qatar HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Joint Statement from the Leaders of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. 08/08/2024.
08/10/2024:
On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby (it was held on 08/09/2024, published on 08/10/2024):
I actually have more than a few comments, so it’s going to take me a little bit to get through all these things. So if I were you, I’d grab a comfortable chair or something to drink, maybe a snack or two, and buckle up here.
So, look, at the top I want to start with the joint statement that was issued last night by President Biden, President Sisi of Egypt, and the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim.
The President, throughout the week of course, has been continuously engaged on the situation in the Middle East.
On Monday, he spoke with King Abdullah of Jordan and convened his national security team to discuss military preparations for a potential attack from Iran or Lebanese Hezbollah against Israel. He has directed that we do everything possible to defend Israel, and that’s what we’re doing. He met again yesterday in the Oval Office with Secretary Austin and his team to address ongoing military preparations.
On Tuesday, the President spoke with Sisi and Tamim on the hostage deal and a way forward to close remaining gaps and to see if we can get this deal concluded. That’s what led to the joint statement yesterday, which, as I know we briefed yesterday on, makes very clear that now is the time to close this deal.
We are already in preparatory discussions for the senior meeting that will take place on Thursday in Doha or Cairo. The Prime Minister of Israel immediately welcomed this initiative and confirmed that his team will be there and that they’ll be prepared to finalize the details for implementing the deal. Qatar and Egypt are working on the Hamas side to bring them to the table as well.
The statement last night has also been endorsed by partners and allies around the world. Already today, you’ve seen statements from heads of state like those from France and Australia.
We’ve seen some statements from some quarters in Israel, over recent days, attacking the deal. I just want to underscore how wrong this is, not only in substance, but also jeopardizing the lives of the hostages and running counter to Israel’s own national security interests.
Some critics, like Mr. Smotrich, for example, have claimed that the hostage deal is a surrender to Hamas or that hostages should not be exchanged for prisoners. Mr. Smotrich essentially suggests that the war ought to go on indefinitely, without pause, and with the lives of the hostages of no real concern at all. His arguments are dead wrong. They’re misleading the Israeli public. And I want to take just a moment, if I could, to address some of those claims.
This deal, as negotiated over months, fully protects Israel’s national security interests. In fact, on the 3rd of July, over one month ago, Hamas accepted the key terms that had been demanded by Israel: Israeli forces do not withdraw entirely from Gaza during the first phase of the deal, even as the lives of the hostages — all the hostages in the category of women, older men, those who are wounded and sick — are saved and returned to their families.
On suggestions that prisoners should never be traded for hostages and that doing so at this stage is somehow a surrender, let me remind you that most of Hamas’s top leaders are now dead. Hamas’s organized military structure and capacity has been destroyed. Israel has now completed nearly all of its major military objectives, other than the explicit war aim of bringing the hostages home.
And, yes, sometimes prisoners are traded for hostages. We just returned home to their families 16 innocent people, including four Americans, in exchange for a number of Russian criminals. It does not mean that they’re equivalent. Evan Gershkovich is not equivalent to Vadim Krasikov. But sometimes, countries that value the lives of their citizens, as we do in the United States and as Israel does, make these kinds of trades to save lives — innocent lives. There’s no surrender in that. It speaks incredibly well of our principles and our values, what we stand for.
I even saw one claim today — again, by Mr. Smotrich — suggesting that the mediators of this deal, which includes the United States, would impose, quote, “a surrender agreement” on Israel. Now, think about that for a minute. He’s saying this as President Biden is actually directing the United States military to the Middle East to directly defend Israel against a potential attack from Iran or other Iranian-backed terrorist groups. President Biden is fully prepared to defend Israel yet again, with the United States military. And again, this is the second time that he will have done this in four months.
The idea that he would support a deal that leaves Israel’s security at risk is just factually wrong. It’s outrageous. It’s absurd. And anybody who knows President Biden and how staunchly he’s been a defender for Israel, for the entirety of his public service, ought to be ashamed for thinking anything different.
Simply put, the views being taken against this agreement, the views expressed by Mr. Smotrich specifically, would, in fact, sacrifice the lives of Israeli hostages, his own countrymen, and American hostages as well, and flies in the face of the national security interests of Israel at this critical stage of the war.
Importantly, countries not only around the world but across the region, including those with peace agreements with Israel, have endorsed the statement last night and called for this deal to be concluded without delay. The UAE, just a few hours ago, says, quote, “The UAE hopes that the parties will not delay this any further.” End quote.
So, look, President Biden is going to continue to do what’s right. He has Israel’s back against Iran and its proxy groups. He has Israel’s back on this deal. He won’t allow extremists to blow things off course, including extremists in Israel making these ridiculous charges against the deal. It’s the right deal at the right time. It will save lives. And you know what? It’s going to also advance Israel’s security. It brings relief as well to civilians in Gaza. And so, we’re going to do everything we can to get it done.
On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby (it was held on 08/09/2024, published on 08/10/2024). 08/10/2024.
Kirby also talks about Africa:
Now I’d like to switch to Africa, if I could.
On Africa: The United States continues to push for peace, increase humanitarian assistance and support for communities in dire need throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. That’s why, this week, we announced nearly a billion dollars in lifesaving humanitarian assistance for the crises in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, Sudan, and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This announcement brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance in Sub-Saharan Africa to nearly $3.7 billion so far in fiscal year 2024.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Ambassador to the DRC, Lucy Tamlyn, and the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, Jeff Prescott, announced nearly $424 million in new humanitarian and health assistance that will provide urgent food assistance, healthcare, nutrition support, shelter materials, water sanitation and hygiene services to crisis-affected communities in the DRC. This assistance includes 50,000 mpox vaccines and funding which will help respond to the current mpox outbreak in the DRC and other affected countries in the region. And, of course, it also reaffirms the U.S. commitment to the people of eastern DRC, where warring parties recently agreed to a ceasefire to be effective on the 4th of August.
And yesterday, the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, announced nearly $536 million in lifesaving humanitarian assistance. This includes $516 million through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration, and nearly $20 million to USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance — responding to needs among the nearly 38 million refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, stateless people, and conflict-affected people across the Sub-Saharan part of Africa.
As these significant announcements in the span of a single week make clear, the United States remains firmly committed to the people of Africa as they continue to face conflict, health risks, and other crises in protracted situations in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, eastern DRC, Sudan, and, of course, elsewhere.
All these events undermine regional and global security and require urgent attention from likeminded allies, partners, and donors around the world. And we’re going to continue to do our part, pressing for peace and prosperity to prevail, and we’re going to keep working with those allies and partners and other likeminded nations to see that they do the same thing.
On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby (it was held on 08/09/2024, published on 08/10/2024). 08/10/2024.
PACT Act Tweets
From Saturday…
We have many obligations as a nation, but we only have one truly sacred obligation: to equip those we send into harm’s way and care for them and their families when they come home.
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 10, 2024
Two years ago today, we met that sacred obligation when I signed the PACT Act into law. pic.twitter.com/aAlHnJ2jVx
The video clip is 1 minute and 34 seconds long.
Folks, to date, over 1.85 million veterans' and their survivors' PACT Act claims in every corner of the country have been filed with the @DeptVetAffairs.
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 10, 2024
Over 1 million toxic-exposed heroes and their loved ones have been awarded the benefits they need and deserve.
That matters.
The PACT Act – the most significant expansion of benefits for toxic-exposed veterans and their survivors in decades – was a product of Democrats and Republicans coming together for our veterans.
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 10, 2024
It wasn't easy.
But don’t tell me we can’t get things done when we work together.
This is the PACT Act in action. pic.twitter.com/0hBxOSJzrS
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 10, 2024
From the White House…
08/09/2024:
Statement from Joe Biden on the Second Anniversary of the PACT Act
As Americans, we have a sacred obligation to care for veterans and their families. We owe them a debt we can never fully repay. Two years ago, I signed the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act enacting the most significant expansion of benefits and health care for toxic exposed veterans and their survivors in over thirty years.
Vice President Harris and I moved swiftly in making sure this law was fully implemented as soon as possible, so veterans and their survivors would be able to get the expanded services they deserve. Today, because of the PACT Act, over 1 million veterans and more than 10,000 survivors are now getting monthly disability benefits related to toxic related illnesses. Over 5.7 million veterans have been screened for toxic exposure and over 333,000 toxic-exposed veterans have enrolled in VA health care. These benefits have been life-changing for so many families. For survivors of veterans who died from a toxic related illness, the PACT Act provides a pathway to benefits including monthly stipends, access to home loans and education benefits as well. Surviving veteran spouses with children could qualify for over $2,000 per month and funding toward college tuition.
While we have made great strides in addressing military related toxic exposures, we still have work to do. My Administration continues to study other illnesses for presumptive status and to sign up more veterans for health care. And today, I am announcing that the Department of Veterans Affairs will take additional steps to close loopholes for certain veterans exposed to harmful toxins during their military service. No one should be left behind if they were exposed to toxins and are experiencing health related problems. My message to veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors is simple: Jill and I will always have your back.
Statement from Joe Biden on the Second Anniversary of the PACT Act. 08/09/2024.
Team USA Tweets
From Saturday…
On top of the world once again – congratulations, @USWNT!
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 10, 2024
You never backed down from a challenge, and together, you've redefined what's possible. https://t.co/x36Vg9Ub2o
Congratulations, @usabasketball, on a fifth straight men's gold medal!
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 11, 2024
Legends of the game playing together as one legendary team. You’ve made America proud. https://t.co/dIGgnJOrsi
From Sunday…
You make America so proud, Katie.
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 11, 2024
I only take credit for adding a Presidential Medal of Freedom to that collection of 14 Olympic medals. pic.twitter.com/02StNu8r5R
The video clip is 57 seconds long. The gist is he gushes…
We are a great nation because we are a good people. pic.twitter.com/5uZdm0tmpD
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 11, 2024
The above is not exactly cheering for just Olympic Team USA!, but for America…
Damn proud to be an American. pic.twitter.com/KOYWXl0gxH
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 11, 2024
Congratulations on yet another women’s gold medal, @usabasketball!
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 11, 2024
You’ve shown us once again what we all know: Team USA is the best in the world. https://t.co/IADzLeOex1
What a great Olympics, can't remember the last time I watched this much of it. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/mwzIxJ2k5e
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) August 12, 2024
“Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to bring the Olympic flag to Los Angeles.”
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 11, 2024
Tom Cruise: #Paris2024 #LA28 #ClosingCeremony pic.twitter.com/bLsZJTc0xy
The Olympic flag is in flight, officially on its way to LA. 🇺🇸#LA28 #Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/SCvSq3zAT5
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 12, 2024
The winter games will start in February of 2026.
“New” from the White House…
08/12/2024:
08/10/2024:
08/09/2024:
- Remarks by Vice President Harris and Governor Tim Walz at a Campaign Event | Glendale, AZ; the Kamala Harris channel YouTube is 1 hour and 26 minutes long.
This is an open thread
