Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre En Route Boston, MA | The White House

Aboard Air Power One
En Route Boston, Massachusetts

2:01 P.M. EST
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hello.  Hi there.  Okay, a few issues on the high.  Okay, good afternoon.  We’re on our technique to Boston, as all of you guys know, the place President Biden will take part in a phonebank and a fundraiser for the DSCC and Senator Warnock. 
 
The Prince and Princess of Wales are additionally on the town to host the Earthshot Prize.  The President seems ahead to spending time with Prince William on the JFK Library, the place President Biden shared his imaginative and prescient to finish most cancers as we all know it.  We anticipate that they are going to focus on their shared local weather targets, prioritization of psychological well being points, and lowering the burden of the illness. 
 
We’re rounding out an enormous week right here on the White Home.  And we’re — we’ve had lots of nice information for the American individuals.  As we all know, as — as we finish this week, jobs are up, incomes are up, shopper spending is powerful, and the economic system is rising.  On the identical time, inflation is moderating, gasoline costs are down.  And this morning, President Biden signed laws averting a rail shutdown that might have been devastating to our economic system. 
 
None of that is accidentally. It’s due to — the President has continued to comply with by on his guarantees to — to rebuild the economic system from the underside up and center out, to take actions to decrease prices for People, to carry manufacturing and provide chains again to the U.S., and to verify our economic system works for working individuals. 
 
Whereas there’s nonetheless extra progress to be made, the financial knowledge we’ve seen this week is powerful and constructive information for the American individuals. 
 
And now for a fast have a look at our week forward.  On Sunday, the President will return to Washington, D.C., from Camp David.  Within the afternoon, the President and the First Girl will host Kennedy Heart honorees within the East Room, together with actor and filmmaker George Clooney; singer/songwriter Amy Grant; singer Gladys Knight; composer, conductor, and educator Tania León; and Irish rock band U2, compromi- — comprised of band members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen, Jr.
 
Within the night, the President and the First Girl, the Vice President and the Second Gentleman will attend the forty fifth Kennedy Heart Honors.  That is the second consecutive yr of the Biden-Harris administration which they’ve — all have attended the nation’s highest award for lifetime achievement within the arts.
 
On Monday, the President and the First Girl will host the Congressional Ball on the state flooring. 
 
On Tuesday, the President will journey to Phoenix, Arizona.  The President will go to TSMC, a Taiwanese firm making a significant funding to fabricate cutting-edge chips in Phoenix, and focus on how this — his financial plan is resulting in a producing increase, rebuilding provide chains, and creating good-paying jobs in Arizona and throughout the nation.
 
We could have extra further data of the remainder of the week and the way the President’s — the President’s engagement.
 
With that, Zeke, you need to kick us off?
 
Q    Thanks, Karine.  The President (inaudible) a tweet a few hours in the past condemning antisemitism and calling on individuals to — saying silence was complicit — complicity.  Who was he speaking about?  Who was that tweet addressed to and referring to?  As a result of he didn’t identify — identify names.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, as we have now seen a rise in — in hate speech — in antisemitism, specifically, to your query — and, you understand, the President has all the time — stands towards that.  He’s standing with the Jewish neighborhood.
 
The President, for years, together with after the hateful march in Charlottesville that drove him to run — his father had sai- — had mentioned — had mentioned silence is complicit — complicity.  And as President of the USA, he feels that it’s necessary for him to be very clear. 
 
And such as you’ve additionally heard him say, the widespread theme of all types of bigotry is that hate doesn’t go away, it solely hides.  The — the grotesque poison of anti- — antisemitism isn’t hiding. 
 
And simply yesterday, he and President Macron acknowledged the a whole bunch of 1000’s of People who gave their lives to beat the horror of Nazism and hold us free. 
 
And so he believes, as President, you will need to communicate up.  However once more, we’ve all seen it — you guys have requested me this a number of instances — the elevated hate speech that we have now seen on — on —
 
Q    However who specifically?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I feel — I don’t assume it issues who specifically.  I feel what the President is making an attempt to say is being silent is complicit.  And after we see this sort of hatred, after we see this sort of antisemitism, we have to name it out.
 
Q    Who’s being silent?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We must be — we must be very, very clear and — and condemn that.  And that’s what you’re going to proceed to listen to from this President.  That’s what you’re going to proceed to listen to from the administration. 
 
Akayla, go forward.
 
Q    Sure.  So, yesterday, the President mentioned that he was going to return and receives a commission go away not only for rail staff, however for all staff.  I suppose, in case you may simply give us an concept of what that appears like: Is that new laws?  Is that extra negotiations with unions?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, as you guys know, the President has supported paid sick go away for all People, not simply the rail trade, and his battle for the important profit will proceed.
 
And he’s — I imply, I’ll simply level you to his phrases yesterday within the press convention.  He’s additionally fought for and secured paid sick go away for extra staff throughout his presidency.
 
For instance, his American Rescue Plan included a tax credit score to assist small- and medium-sized companies offering sick go away to their staff.  And he’ll proceed forcefully advocating for Congress and employers to increase paid sick go away to all staff. 
 
And in order that’s what’s necessary.  He con- — he’s going to proceed to battle to safe paid go away, once more, for all People. 
 
And as — as you possibly can inform from his remarks this afternoon, the President’s focus stays, once more, on getting Congress to behave.  And that’s — and that’s how he’s going to give attention to this.
 
And simply — oh, sorry — and yet one more on layoffs that we’ve been seeing lately.  We noticed, you understand, a couple of — a couple of months in the past with tech corporations and now with media corporations this week.  Does the White Home see this doubtlessly as an indication of a recession?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, we’ve additionally clearly have seen these reviews, and we’re watching intently anytime there are reviews of People dropping their jobs.
 
President Biden is aware of firsthand the influence of dropping a job and the way that may have on a complete household.  I don’t have a touch upon particular strikes or bulletins by any explicit corporations right here.
 
However broadly talking, this week’s jobs opening knowledge confirmed layoff stays close to document lows.  And so, that’s necessary to level out.  Equally, right this moment’s jobs and this week’s GDP revision present the U.S. economic system continues to develop and add jobs.
 
Once more, I’m not going to talk to any actions by an organization.  However once more, you understand, the roles report — you noticed that right this moment.  And we’re headed in the fitting route.
 
Q    A follow-up from the President’s — the President’s remarks yesterday about chatting with President Putin.  Does that willingness mirror any sort of a shift in his enthusiastic about Ukraine and diplomacy about Ukraine with or with out Ukraine?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, no, that doesn’t change — that pondering.  He has been very clear.  He’s written it in op-eds.  You’ve heard him saying in speech, “Nothing about Ukraine with out Ukraine.”
 
Look, the President has mentioned he has no plans to talk with Mr. Putin since Mr. Putin has proven no indicators that he’s prepared to finish the brutal battle towards the individuals of Ukraine.
 
In truth, he has carried out the other, as you all have seen for yourselves and reported, as Russia has tried to destroy Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and deprive the Ukrainian individuals of warmth, energy, and different important providers as winter approaches, inflicting struggling for thousands and thousands of individuals.
 
However President Biden has been clear: We are going to proceed to supply help to Ukraine for so long as it takes as they defend their nation towards Russian aggression.
 
I do know we don’t have that a lot time.
 
Q    Do you even have any updates on what you’re doing to assist doubtlessly have exemptions on the interna- — on the Inflation Discount Act for France or Europe, as mentioned within the state go to yesterday?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  You’re speaking concerning the — with — through the press convention what the President mentioned?
 
Q    Sure.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look — and also you’re speaking concerning the glitches, specifically, the remark that he —
 
Q    Yeah.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, no, to — to your query.  No, we don’t have any plans to return to Congress for legislative adjustments to the Inflation this time. 
 
For any historic laws — for — for any historic laws like IRA, there’s a advanced implementation and course of, which is actively underway at federal businesses.  However we don’t have something — we’re not going to be addressing any glitches.
 
Q    However he — however he indicated that they might return and have a look at making some lodging.  Are you saying that that’s not true anymore?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m simply saying that — we’re — we’re not going to be doing that.  I simply answered the query and mentioned, “No, we’re not going to be doing that.” 
 
And look, it is a historic piece of laws.  As you understand, the Inflation Discount Act goes to actually assist the American individuals with regards to reducing prices, healthcare prices.  And it’s additionally a — has a historic funding in coping with local weather change.
 
Q    I’m not —
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  And the prob- — the President has — was very clear in that.
 
However to your query, the reply is not any.
 
Q    Yeah, no, I wasn’t saying you weren’t answering the query.  I — my impression from what the President mentioned yesterday was that there could be at the least some what they’ll do to deal with France’s issues.  Are you saying no to that?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I’ll say this —
 
Q    As a result of that appears contradictory.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  The President was clear: There are methods we will deal with Europe’s issues.  Proper? 
 
Q    Okay.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay?  If that’s what you’re asking me.  That’s why I used to be asking at the start what precisely was the President’s feedback you had been asking about.
 
So, it is a matter —
 
Q    Usually concerning the IRA.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay, acquired it.  It is a matter we’re figuring out by substantive consultations and European counterparts.  We gained’t get forward of that course of.  I feel that’s what you had been asking me simply now.
 
We’re dedicated to an IRA implementation method that strikes shortly, that will get the robust questions proper, and that has applicable guardrails in order that the American households and staff begin seeing the advantages of decrease power prices, good-paying jobs, ample clear power, and elevated resilience to local weather change as shortly as attainable.

However to the exceptions questions, once more, we’re having — we’re having dialogue and — to deal with Europe’s issues. 

Q    Karine, Clyburn mentioned right this moment that he obtained a cellphone name from the President final night time informing him of his choice to choose South Carolina first for the first calendar, and that he was pleasantly shocked.  I’m questioning in case you may give us a way of, you understand, how the President arrived at his choice, who he consulted with, any timeline on that, and the way he acquired to that.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, as you understand, we take the regulation very severely right here, and it — and it locations strict limits on what I can — can say concerning the future elections and political get together course of.

So, right here’s what I can say: As a candidate in 2020 and, as we have now heard, the night time — the night time of the New — New Hampshire main — you heard instantly from the President — Joe Biden, at the moment, made clear that, to him, respecting our variety as a nation and breaking down limitations for all our individuals is a foun- — is a foundational precept. 

He believes that what — that’s what Democrats in workplace stand for.  And he has upheld the precept as President.  He promised his administration would appear to be America, and it does.  He has staffed probably the most various Cupboard in Whi- — in White Home historical past, American historical past.

He promised to battle to make sure our judicial department displays America, and he has.  He’s confirmed extra Black girls to appellate judgeships than all of his predecessors mixed.  And he fulfilled his promise to substantiate the primary Black lady to the Supreme Courtroom.

He works — he works to honor the values in each method that he can as a frontrunner. 
 
I’m not going to get into particular conversations that he could have had with the — with the congressman.  However once more, I simply laid out how the — the President thinks about this course of.

Q    To comply with up on the roles report, the report confirmed that wages are persevering with to rise at a fast tempo.  You understand, how anxious is the White Home that which means inflation will keep larger for longer?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, I imply, I simply laid out how we’re seeing extra jobs, and extra jobs imply alternatives for American staff and extra households which might be capable of put meals on the desk and pay the payments.

So, look, there are a few issues — and also you hear us tick this — take these knowledge factors out many instances.  The economic system has created greater than 260,000 jobs final month.  That’s simply this present job report.  We now have 10.5 million jobs which were created because the President Biden took workplace — once more, this job — the roles report.

Latest inflation reviews reveals People are starting to see much-needed break in inflation.  So, we’re seeing a moderation in inflation.

Seven hundred fifty thousand — you hear us discuss this — manufacturing jobs which were created underneath this President.

GDP elevated.  We noticed that quantity.  It was — it was from — we — the unique estimate was 2.6 %.  We noticed this week it was really 2.9 % within the final — in that third quarter.

And the unemployment price is at a 50-year low.  So, wages are up, and we predict that’s additionally necessary — this job report, wanting on the knowledge factors over the past couple of months.

Q    How do you issue that into inflation, although?  I imply, is there extra that the President needs to be doing to attempt to carry down inflation with wage positive aspects —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I imply, the President —

Q    — going up?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  The President has been very clear, proper?  He mentioned, with regards to his financial plan, inflation — coping with inflation, combating inflation, reducing prices for American individuals — is his primary precedence.  And he has carried out that. 

You’ve heard us discuss concerning the gasoline costs and the way that’s come down.  That’s due to the President’s historic actions that he’s taken over the previous a number of months.

All proper, thanks, everyone.

Q    Karine, has the President seen the Netflix documentary trailer for the “Harry & Meghan” documentary?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  You understand, I’ve not seen them but — seen it but.  (Laughs.)  I don’t know.  I do not know.  He’s been fairly busy.

As you understand, he’s been — he has been welcome — he welcomed the President of France and the First Girl of France.  As you noticed, that was a extremely constructive go to.  They had been capable of strengthen their — their friendship — our oldest ally.  And also you guys noticed that for yourselves, ranging from the welcoming ceremony yesterday morning to the state dinner.

Okay, thanks, everyone.  We acquired to sit down down.

2:14 P.M. EST