Read on Twitter
WH @PressSec Jen Psaki has been asked a half dozen ways if @JoeBiden believes Donald Trump should be convicted in his Senate impeachment trial.
Her response has been clear every time: Biden trusts the Senate to do its job, won't weigh in on how they do their job.
Her response has been clear every time: Biden trusts the Senate to do its job, won't weigh in on how they do their job.
Psaki says no decision has been made on whether to bar Trump from accessing sensitive post-presidential security briefings, but that Biden will leave that decision to his national security experts,
Psaki is really hammering the message that "Congress can walk and chew gum at the same time" on impeachment.
As an example, she notes the House is totally free to pursue Biden's legislative agenda while the Senate deliberates.
As an example, she notes the House is totally free to pursue Biden's legislative agenda while the Senate deliberates.
There's a question now about the Air Force One redesign. Trump asked the military to change the presidential plane's paint job. Reporter asks if Biden has weighed in on this.
Biden "hasn't spent a second" worrying about AF1's paint job, Psaki says.
Biden "hasn't spent a second" worrying about AF1's paint job, Psaki says.
Question on the Jared Kushner-led #COVID19 website promised and abandoned by Trump, and whether Biden will improve info flow.
"It's something we're eager to do," Psaki says. "The lack of information and the disinformation...has created a great deal of confusion."
"It's something we're eager to do," Psaki says. "The lack of information and the disinformation...has created a great deal of confusion."
Earlier, Psaki made some news by announcing former NSA counterterrorism staffer Josh Geltzer as part of Biden's team investigating domestic terrorism.
Geltzer is a strong hire and a sign Biden wants to move aggressively on domestic terror.
Geltzer is a strong hire and a sign Biden wants to move aggressively on domestic terror.
Does Biden still oppose ending the Senate filibuster?
Psaki emphasizes that Biden's "thinking hasn't changed," and that Biden is "eager to move his rescue plan forward" by working with Schumer and McConnell.
Psaki emphasizes that Biden's "thinking hasn't changed," and that Biden is "eager to move his rescue plan forward" by working with Schumer and McConnell.
You can tell from the questions Psaki is getting that the press has totally normalized Trump's tendency to give his opinion on every single issue, even if it doesn't involve him.
Most of Psaki's message here is that Biden trusts Congress and his Cabinet to do their jobs.
Most of Psaki's message here is that Biden trusts Congress and his Cabinet to do their jobs.
Yesterday Dr. Anthony Fauci said it was refreshing to be part of an administration that is comfortable saying they aren't sure about something. We're seeing that from Psaki, too: offering to follow up at a later time and, refreshingly, *actually following up*
Kayleigh McEnany just turned to her lawyer and said, "Oh wait I was supposed to be doing it like THAT?"
Q: "Does Biden believe all Americans should get the #COVID19 vaccine? How do we convince people it's safe?"
A: "He does...it will be easier for the first tranche of Americans to get the vaccine. The second group" especially among minority communities, needs better info.
A: "He does...it will be easier for the first tranche of Americans to get the vaccine. The second group" especially among minority communities, needs better info.
Psaki says Biden's goal is to "empower and fund local communities to build that trust" necessary to the success of a widespread #COVID19 vaccine rollout.
She notes celebrities have offered to help, but getting to full vaccination will take local community efforts.
She notes celebrities have offered to help, but getting to full vaccination will take local community efforts.
"Nobody wants to be having a conversation about why schools aren't open in May or June," Psaki says, noting Biden's #COVID19 rescue plan includes funds to build infrastructure for school to safely resume.
The problem has *always* been resourcing, and Biden gets that.
The problem has *always* been resourcing, and Biden gets that.
Q: Is there a UK-US trade deal in the works for a Brexit-smacked United Kingdom?
A: "Everything we do must help advance working families and the middle class." That includes trade agreements, but for now #COVID19 is Biden's primary priority.
A: "Everything we do must help advance working families and the middle class." That includes trade agreements, but for now #COVID19 is Biden's primary priority.
Reporter asks what people should read into Biden removing the Winston Churchill bust placed in the Oval Office by Trump.
"Such an important question," Psaki snarks. "It's the airplane of today," referring to Beltway buzz around Trump's Air Force 1 paint job.
"Such an important question," Psaki snarks. "It's the airplane of today," referring to Beltway buzz around Trump's Air Force 1 paint job.
Next question is on Biden's plans to schedule a foreign trip. Psaki says don't expect one any time soon, since the White House is focused on #COVID19.
Q: Has @JoeBiden picked a local DC church? Will he attend regularly?
A: No church selection yet, but if his past is any indication he will regularly attend Mass.
A: No church selection yet, but if his past is any indication he will regularly attend Mass.
Q: What is the U.S. policy on Japan as it related to North Korea?
A: "We will adopt a new strategy to keep the American people and our allies safe. That will begin with a thorough policy review...in consultation with South Korea, Japan" and other allies.
A: "We will adopt a new strategy to keep the American people and our allies safe. That will begin with a thorough policy review...in consultation with South Korea, Japan" and other allies.
Q: Will Biden bring back the Trans-Pacific Partnership?
A: Biden "believes TPP wasn't perfect and we could make it stronger and better," but that his priority right now is on domestic policy and economic stimulus.
A: Biden "believes TPP wasn't perfect and we could make it stronger and better," but that his priority right now is on domestic policy and economic stimulus.
It appears the Biden foreign policy will be driven largely by appointing experts and trusting their assessments of difficult policy problems.
This is a shift from the Trump foreign policy of sowing random chaos through love letters to brutal dictators.
This is a shift from the Trump foreign policy of sowing random chaos through love letters to brutal dictators.
Biden will be "signing additional executive actions next week" to further his policy priorities on #COVID19, immigration, and the economy.
And with that, @PressSec Psaki wraps her first week behind the lectern without once mentioning Joe Biden's muscle tone or super brain.
And with that, @PressSec Psaki wraps her first week behind the lectern without once mentioning Joe Biden's muscle tone or super brain.
I said this the other day but it bears repeating: if you measure @PressSec's first few days against all of her predecessors, she's holding her own with remarkable skill. Easily one of the stronger debut performances in an extremely difficult and demanding job.
I'd love to ask @joelockhart: as a White House press veteran, how do you rate Psaki's first week?
