President Joe Biden sat down with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos for an extensive interview on Tuesday, in which he said his message to migrants was not to go to the border and that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should resign if allegations that you have committed sexual harassment are confirmed.
Biden also told Stephanopoulos that he agreed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was a “murderer” and that he “would pay a price” for interfering in elections in the United States.
And he said it would be “difficult” to pull all American troops out of Afghanistan by May 1, a deadline set in an agreement that the government of former President Donald Trump made with the Taliban.
‘I swear to God, I thought we had’ policy outside the vaccine discussion
Biden told Stephanopoulos that he was surprised that the COVID-19 vaccinations are still so politicized.
“How do you get the policy out of this vaccine conversation?” Stephanopoulos asked.
“To God, honestly, I thought we were done,” said Biden. “I swear to God, I thought that once we made sure we had enough vaccine for everyone, things would start to calm down. Well, they’ve calmed down a lot. But I don’t understand a lot – you know – I just don’t understand I don’t understand that kind of macho thing about: “I’m not going to get the vaccine. I have the right as an American, my freedom not to do it” Well, why don’t you are you a patriot? Protect other people. “
Biden said that being vaccinated allowed him to show Americans that this is safe – and changed his life “because I can now hug my grandchildren”.
“They come to the house,” said the president. “I can see them. I can stay with them.”
Putin will ‘pay’
The United States’ top intelligence office released an unclassified report on foreign interference in the 2020 election on Tuesday, which concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw comprehensive efforts to “denigrate” the president’s candidacy Joe Biden.
Biden told Stephanopoulos that he had warned Putin of a possible response during a call in late January.
“He will pay a price,” said Biden. “We had a long conversation, he and I, when we – I know him relatively well. And the conversation started, I said, ‘I know you and you know me. If I establish that this has happened, then be prepared.”
Stephanopoulos asked: “So you know Vladimir Putin. Do you think he is a murderer?”
“Mmm hmm, yes,” replied Biden.
Although the president said “you will see” that Putin “will pay”, he did not elaborate.
He said, however, that it was possible to “walk and chew gum at the same time in places where it is in our mutual interest to work together”. He cited his decision to extend an arms deal with Russia in January.
‘It’s hard’ to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by May
Biden also spoke about his government’s review of an agreement that former President Donald Trump made with the Taliban, according to which the US would withdraw all of its troops from Afghanistan by May 1 if the Taliban met certain requirements.
“I am in the process of making a decision now about when they will leave,” said Biden. “The fact is that this was not a deal that was negotiated in a very solid way that the president – the ex-president – managed. And, therefore, we are in consultation with our allies, as well as with the government, and that decision will be – – is in progress now. “
Biden said it would be “difficult” for all military personnel to leave the country by May 1.
“It can happen,” he said, “but it is difficult.”
Says Cuomo should step down if allegations are confirmed
Biden told Stephanopoulos that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should step down if an investigation confirms allegations that he committed sexual harassment.
“I know you said you wanted the investigation to continue,” Stephanopoulos told Biden, referring to an investigation by the New York attorney general over Cuomo’s allegations of harassing several women. “If the investigation confirms the women’s allegations, should he resign?”
“Yes,” replied the president. “I think he will probably end up being sued as well.”
Seven accusers have brought charges against the Democratic governor in recent weeks, and an allegation that he palpated a woman has been referred to the police in Albany, NY. Several leading New York Democrats, including Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, have called on Cuomo to step down.
Cuomo denied the charges.
Biden has so far hardly supported the immediate end of the Cuomo government.
“There must be an investigation to determine whether what she says is true,” Biden told Stephanopoulos during an extensive interview in Darby, Pennsylvania. “This is what is happening now.”
Things will ‘change’ with Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi’s assassination
Stephanopoulos also pressured Biden about why he did not personally punish Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman after US intelligence concluded that the Crown Prince had approved an operation to capture or kill Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi. As a candidate, Biden had promised a strong response to Saudi leaders.
The president said, “I am the guy who released the report” – referring to the US intelligence report that the Trump administration did not make public, but which it did. Biden also said he “made it clear” to the King of Saudi Arabia “that things are going to change”.
“We hold all the people in that organization accountable – but not the Crown Prince, because never, to my knowledge, when we have an alliance with a country, did we go to the acting head of state and punish that person and ostracism,” said Biden.
He said he “made a list of the things we expected the Saudis to do”, including that he should “end the war in Yemen, end the hunger there”.
Message to migrants: ‘Don’t come over’
Amid a wave of migrants and unaccompanied minors on the southern border of the United States, Stephanopoulos asked the president: “Do you need to say clearly, ‘Don’t come’?”
“Yes, I can clearly say: don’t come,” said Biden.
“Don’t leave your city or community,” he added.
The number of unaccompanied teenagers and children who have been taken into U.S. custody along the U.S.-Mexico border has skyrocketed in recent weeks, as the number of migrants trying to enter the country has increased.
Republicans said Biden’s measures to rescind former President Donald Trump’s harsh immigration policies encouraged migrants to come to the United States, but Biden told ABC News that “we are sending people back” who cross the border.
Stephanopoulos asked Biden: “Was it a mistake not to anticipate this increase?”
“First, there has been a sudden increase in the past two years,” said the president. “In 19 and 20, there was also a sudden increase.”
Stephanopoulos noted, “This could be worse,” and Biden acknowledged, “Well, it can be.”
“The idea that Joe Biden said ‘come’ – because I heard the other day that they’re coming because they know I’m a nice guy,” said Biden.
“The thing is, they are not,” he said.
Thousands of unaccompanied minors are currently being held at US Customs and Border Protection facilities, many for longer than legally permitted, as Biden said his administration was struggling to “provide beds for these children”.
“We will have, I believe, next month, enough beds to take care of these children who have nowhere to go,” said Biden.
Biden said he “inherited” a “mess” and that it was important to address the roots of Central American migration.
“It’s not like someone is sitting in Guadalajara right now, in Mexico – which is not the biggest problem now – and saying, ‘I had a great idea. We are going to sell everything we have, give it to a coyote, give it our children, take us across the border. Leave them in a desert where they don’t speak the language. Won’t it be fun? “
He added: “That’s not why people come. They come because their situation is so bad. Now, some come because they want a better opportunity, for economic reasons. They don’t qualify. And in the meantime, what should we to do is to ensure that we provide beds for these children.
On a lighter note: Major is out of the doghouse?
At the end of the interview, the president also addressed his dog Major, one of the two German shepherds he has recently, caused “a small injury” – as the White House had said – to someone in the White House. Major was taken to Biden’s home in Delaware after the incident, although the White House said it was because First Lady Jill Biden was out of town.
“Is the Major outside the doghouse?” Stephanopoulos asked the president.
“The answer is yes,” said Biden, laughing. “Look, the Major was a rescue puppy. The Major didn’t bite anyone and didn’t penetrate the skin. What happens is … I think what surprised me is the White House itself, living there. Each door to the which you open, there’s a guy in a black jacket. “
He said that living in a new environment scared the Major.
“You turn a corner and there are two people you don’t know,” said Biden. “And he moves to protect. But he’s a sweet dog. Eighty-five percent of the people there love him. He just – all he does is lick them and wag their tail.”
Biden said that “the dog is being trained now” in Delaware and that he planned to see him later that night when he stayed in Delaware.
“He was going home,” said Biden. “I didn’t ban him home. Jill was going to be gone for four days. I was going to be gone for two, so we took him home.”
Watch more of the interview with President Joe Biden on ABC’s “Good Morning America” program on Wednesday, March 17, at 7:00 am EDT.