“I look forward to seeing what my Republican friends will do if they stand up,” Biden told CNN in his first comments on the impeachment trial since the House’s impeachment administrators closed the case on Thursday.
Biden said he does not plan to speak to any senator about the trial or how they will vote.
Biden answered two questions from CNN outside the West Wing after making an impromptu visit to Gramado Norte to see hearts similar to chocolate hearts created by First Lady Jill Biden in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
The president’s comments come at a time when former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial is underway in the Senate.
The House’s impeachment managers this week showed disturbing and emotional images showing protesters attacking police violently and coming dangerously close to reaching lawmakers and then Vice President Mike Pence as they fled the House and Senate. Five people, including a Capitol police officer, died in the Capitol riot.
Although the national spotlight is on Trump’s impeachment trial, the White House emphasized that it is focused on meeting Biden’s agenda, including passing the president’s broad coronavirus relief bill.
Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg met with a bipartisan group of senators at the White House on Thursday to talk about infrastructure.
“We all know that we have to move on. Today is about jobs and infrastructure, ”said Biden at the meeting in the Oval Office when asked about the impeachment trial.
The president, who did not explicitly ponder whether he believes Trump should be convicted, said on Thursday: “I think the Senate has a very important task to complete and I think some minds may have changed, but I don’t.” I do not know. “
This story has been updated with additional information.