President Biden told reporters today that he didn’t think the situation on the southern border qualifies as a ‘crisis.’
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The Biden administration’s strategy of minimizing the president’s sit-down interviews is not likely to be effective, because Biden can still do quite a bit of damage in the off-the-cuff comments from questions shouted by reporters. From this morning, as Biden was about to get on Marine One:
Q: Mr. President, do you have a reaction to the Taiwan election?
THE PRESIDENT: We do not support independence. (Inaudible.)
Q: Mr. President, would you call the situation on the southern border a “crisis”?
THE PRESIDENT: No, but I wish they would react. I’ve been pushing them — my Republican colleagues — since I got into office. I think we have to make major changes at the border. I’ve been pushing it. I’m prepared to make significant alterations at the border. And there are negotiations going on for the last five weeks, so I’m hopeful we’ll get there.
(Cross-talk.)
THE PRESIDENT: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Q Any comment — any comment —
Q What’s your message to Iran —
THE PRESIDENT: Pardon me?
Q What’s next with support for Ukraine?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, if my Republican colleagues don’t fund Ukraine, they’re going to have an awful lot of — to pay for, in terms of (inaudible).
First, while it is true that the U.S. continues to have the “One China” policy and does not officially support a formal Taiwanese declaration of independence, Taiwan’s Lai Ching-te, who goes by William, deserved a kind word or two and congratulations. A U.S. ally conducted yet another free and fair election, while living under the constant threat of invasion by a hostile, nuclear-armed state across the narrow strait. The Taiwanese people deserved more than just a cursory “we do not support independence.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered the kind of statement that Taiwan deserved; at 81, Biden just can’t think on his feet anymore.
