Jill and I were saddened to learn of the passing of Sidney Poitier, the once-in-a-generation actor and advocate whose work carried so much dignity, power, and grace that it changed the world on and off the big screen. Sidney was more than just one of the finest actors in our history. His iconic performances in films...
Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Washington and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by flooding and mudslides from November 13 to November 15, 2021. The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in...
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 1:40 P.M. EST MS. PSAKI: Hi, everyone. Q Hi. Good afternoon. MS. PSAKI: Good afternoon. Okay, I have nothing for you at the top. Darlene, why don't you kick us off? Q Thank you. That's so unusual. So unlike you. (Laughs.) MS. PSAKI: I know. (Laughs.) I do - I do like to load you...
South Court AuditoriumEisenhower Executive Office Building 9:16 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Madam Vice President, my fellow Americans: To state the obvious, one year ago today, in this sacred place, democracy was attacked - simply attacked. The will of the people was under assault. The Constitution - our Constitution - faced the gravest of threats. Outnumbered...
U.S. CapitolWashington, D.C. 9:07 A.M. EST THE VICE PRESIDENT: Fellow Americans, good morning. Certain dates echo throughout history, including dates that instantly remind all who have lived through them - where they were and what they were doing when our democracy came under assault. Dates that occupy not only a place on our calendars, but...
Q: Was France informed of the release of Rami Shaath? A: The Egyptian authorities informed us yesterday of the imminent release of Ramy Shaath, whose situation we continue to follow very closely.
Q: Have the 300 "mercenaries and foreign fighters" that were supposed to leave Libya at France's request left the country? A: France supports the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement of October 2020 and the Joint Military Commission's action plan of October 2021 for the withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters and foreign forces. Together with the Libyans, the UN and all participants in the International Conference for Libya held in Paris on November 12, France called for foreign (...)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Naftali Bennett, Prime Minister of Israel.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement in the House of Commons on the Omicron variant.
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 12:07 P.M. EST MS. PSAKI: Hi, everyone. Okay. So, today, we have another great guest to kick off the new year - our first guest in the new year: John Porcari, who is the former Deputy Secretary of Transportation and currently the Port Envoy to the White House Supply...
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 3:05 P.M. EST MS. PSAKI: Hi, everyone. Happy New Year! I hope everyone had nice time with family and friends. Q (Inaudible.) MS. PSAKI: Thank you. I just have two items for you at the top. I just wanted to highlight that yesterday President Biden, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, and Attorney General Garland met with...
Via Teleconference 11:10 A.M. EST MR. ZIENTS: Good morning, and thanks for joining us. Today, Dr. Walensky will provide an update, and Dr. Fauci will present the latest science on Omicron. I'll start by briefly underscoring the key points the President made yesterday. The coming weeks are going to be challenging. We're going to see...
The Prime Minister yesterday updated the public on the government's ongoing actions to tackle COVID-19.
I have spoken with my counterparts in Germany, Ms Annalena Baerbock, Italy, Mr Luigi Di Maio, and Poland, Mr Zbigniew Rau, the latter Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE since 1 January, as well as with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr Josep Borrell, to discuss the current tensions with Russian and the Ukraine issue. These discussions followed those on 29 December with the American, German and British Foreign Ministers. I highlighted the (...)
Q: Do you have any comment on recent attacks in Idlib province? A: France condemns the resumption of airstrikes in Syria's Idlib region, especially against humanitarian infrastructures that thousands of civilians depend on. Continuous attacks on civilian infrastructures by the Syrian regime and Russia are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law. France calls for an immediate de-escalation in Idlib and the protection of civilian populations and humanitarian workers in (...)
Q: According to information from Moscow and Berlin, the Normandy Format meeting of advisors from Russia, France and Germany will be held this week. Can you confirm that? Is there a specific date? A: France, together with Germany, is continuing its efforts within the Normandy Format with a view to the full implementation of the Minsk Agreement, the only agreed-upon basis for a lasting resolution of the Donbas (...)
Today, Franck Riester, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the first plenary session of the France-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue with Majdi Al-Dhafiri, Kuwait's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. This session was part of the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and Kuwait and the 30th anniversary of Operation Daguet, which led to (...)
NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Viquar Ahmad, of Texas, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Commerce, vice Thomas F. Gilman. Viquar Ahmad, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, vice Thomas F. Gilman. Mari Carmen Aponte, of Puerto Rico, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States...
Today, President Biden convened a roundtable with farmers, ranchers, an independent poultry processor, and members of his Cabinet to discuss the need for greater competition in beef, pork and poultry processing and to announce the Administration's Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain. The President, Secretary Vilsack,...
South Court Auditorium 2:11 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Folks. THE VICE PRESIDENT: Happy New Year, everyone. PARTICIPANTS: Happy New Year. THE PRESIDENT: The Admiral is in the house. SURGEON GENERAL MURTHY: Hi, sir. How are you? THE PRESIDENT: How are you? Well, since we're more than 10 feet apart while we're speaking, we're going to...
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with his counterparts from the five Nordic countries to consult on ways to strengthen Transatlantic security. Mr. Sullivan and his counterparts discussed their readiness to impose severe consequences on Russia if it engages in further aggression against Ukraine. They also underscored the importance of diplomacy to de-escalate the situation,...
My Administration is committed to rapid 5G deployment, while minimizing disruptions to air operations and continuing to maintain the world's safest airspace. Last night's agreement is a significant step in the right direction, and we're grateful to all parties for their cooperation and good faith. This agreement ensures that there will be no disruptions to...
In July, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy to create a fairer, more resilient, and more dynamic economy. Over the last few decades, we've seen too many industries become dominated by a handful of large companies that control most of the business and most of the opportunities-raising prices...
Q: Do you have any comment on Iran's announcement that it launched a space-launch vehicle yesterday? A: Iran announced that it went ahead with the launch of a space-launch vehicle on December 30. France condemns this action, which is counter to UN Security Council Resolution 2231. Security Council Resolution 2231 calls on Iran to refrain from carrying out activities, including launches, related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Because of the great (...)
The People's Republic of China, the French Republic, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America consider the avoidance of war between Nuclear-Weapon States and the reduction of strategic risks as our foremost responsibilities. We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must...
