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Interview: Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC Interviews Joe Biden in Atlanta - March 9, 2024
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Joe Biden Person
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Jonathan Capehart Person
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Note Person
Note
Neutral
00:00:00-00:00:00 ( sec)
"[Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC interviewed Joe Biden in Atlanta on March 9, 2024. MSNBC released four distinct interview segments from the sit-down interview, but did not release the full, unedited interview. The following is a transcript of those four segments. Edits in the video are noted on screen. Video courtesy and copyright MSNBC.]"
1
Jonathan Capehart
Very Positive
00:00:00-00:00:03 (3 sec)
"Mr. President, it's great to see you again. Thank you for doing this."
2
Joe Biden
Positive
00:00:03-00:00:03 ( sec)
"Good to see you."
3
Jonathan Capehart
Very Negative
00:00:03-00:00:20 (16 sec)
"So, that was one hell of a speech you gave Thursday night. I want to touch on three specific areas there. The first one being, you know, I noticed the look of surprise on your face when you walked into the chamber and you saw Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. It was priceless. You feigned shocked at -- at seeing her."
4
Jonathan Capehart
Very Negative
00:00:20-00:00:28 (8 sec)
"But during your response to her heckling of you, you used the word illegal when talking about the man who allegedly killed Lincoln Riley."
5
Joe Biden
Leans Positive
00:00:28-00:00:44 (16 sec)
"Undocumented -- undocumented person. And I shouldn't have used illegal. I should -- it's undocumented. And look, when I spoke about the difference between Trump and me, one of the things I talked about on the border was that his -- the way he talks about vermin, the way he talks about these people polluting the blood."
6
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:00:44-00:01:01 (16 sec)
"I talked about what I'm not going to do, what I won't do. I'm not going to treat any -- any -- any of these people with disrespect. Look, they built the country. They're the reason our economy is growing. We have to control the border and more orderly flow, but I -- I don't share his view at all."
7
Jonathan Capehart
Negative
00:01:01-00:01:04 (3 sec)
"So, you -- you regret using that word?"
8
Joe Biden
Positive
00:01:04-00:01:05 (2 sec)
"Yes."
9
Jonathan Capehart
Slightly Positive
00:01:05-00:01:18 (13 sec)
"What was it like for you to see Republicans not cheer your tough words for Vladimir Putin, or for defending democracy, or any of the other things Republicans used to stand for?"
10
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:01:18-00:01:35 (17 sec)
"Well, I think some of them still do stand for it, but they're pretty much intimidated by Trump right now. I mean, the idea that, look, I'm talking to you, I'm down here talking to these folks who are starting businesses and getting endorsed by minority businesses. He's up with Marjorie Taylor Greene, North Georgia."
11
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:01:35-00:01:50 (16 sec)
"Yesterday, he spends the time at his mansion with -- at his resort with Orban. He talks about his great respect for, you know, the president of North -- North Korea. I mean, he praises Putin. I mean, it's a -- it's a different world."
12
Jonathan Capehart
Somewhat Negative
00:01:50-00:01:56 (6 sec)
"Was that a mistake on -- on Trump's part to host Orban? I mean, he is a member of NATO."
13
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:01:56-00:02:24 (28 sec)
"He's a member of NATO, but he says he doesn't believe in democracy. I mean, look, the guys I host, the people I'm with are the people who, in fact, in NATO, have great respect for one another. And -- but look, when you have a president who, in the midst of the carnage going on as a consequence of Russian attack on Ukraine and talks about -- comment, Putin, if these guys haven't paid their dues, you -- you just do what you need in NATO."
14
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:02:24-00:02:38 (13 sec)
"I mean, NATO -- he talked about getting out of NATO. I mean, it's critical to our national defense. We made a commitment after World War II to never -- never let it happen again. Look what he's doing. He's dangerous."
15
Jonathan Capehart
Neutral
00:02:38-00:02:55 (18 sec)
"You were caught on a hot mic after your State of the Union address talking to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Senator Michael Bennet, saying, "I told him, Bibi, and don't repeat this, but you and I are going to have a come to Jesus meeting." What do you mean by that?"
16
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:02:55-00:03:07 (11 sec)
"What I meant was it's an expression used in the southern part of my state, meaning a serious meeting. And it was -- I've known Bibi for 50 years, and he knew what I meant by it."
17
Jonathan Capehart
Neutral
00:03:07-00:03:10 (3 sec)
"So, what's -- what's the come to Jesus part? What's --"
18
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:03:10-00:03:10 ( sec)
"[Inaudible]"
19
Jonathan Capehart
Positive
00:03:10-00:03:14 (4 sec)
"What's tough -- what tough love do you -- are you going to give to the prime minister?"
20
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:03:14-00:03:38 (24 sec)
"What's happening is he has a right to defend Israel, a right to continue to pursue Hamas, but he must, he must, he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions he's taken. He's hurting -- in my view, he's hurting Israel more than helping Israel by making the rest of the world -- it's contrary to what Israel stands for, and I think it's a big mistake."
21
Joe Biden
Negative
00:03:38-00:03:57 (19 sec)
"So, I want to see a cease-fire. And I'm starting with a major, major exchange of prisoners for a six-week period. We're going into Ramadan. It should be nothing happening. And we should build off of that cease-fire. And look, I've spoken with the majority of the Arab leaders from Saudi Arabia to Egypt to Jordan."
22
Joe Biden
Leans Positive
00:03:57-00:04:09 (12 sec)
"They're all prepared to fully recognize Israel and begin to rebuild the region. And that's -- that's the focus. What comes after Gaza? What's next? It's a tough decision, but there's a lot that can be done."
23
Jonathan Capehart
Leans Positive
00:04:09-00:04:24 (16 sec)
"On the cease-fire, will one -- will -- I mean, it -- it is Saturday. The holy month of Ramadan starts on Monday. Is it possible that a cease-fire deal could be reached in time for the -- for Ramadan to start?"
24
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:04:24-00:04:34 (9 sec)
"My CIA director in that region, right this minute, is still talking about it. I think it's -- it's always possible. I -- I never give up on that."
25
Jonathan Capehart
Neutral
00:04:34-00:04:46 (13 sec)
"What is your red line with Prime Minister Netanyahu? Do you have a -- of a red line? For instance, would invasion of Rafah, which you have urged him not to do, would that be a red line?"
26
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:04:46-00:05:14 (28 sec)
"It is a red line, but I'm never going to leave Israel. The defense of Israel is still critical. So, there's no red line. I'm going to cut off all weapons so they don't have the Iron Dome to protect them. They don't have -- but there's red lines that if he crosses and they continue -- you cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead as a consequence of going after -- there's other ways to deal to get to -- to deal with the -- with -- with the trauma caused by Hamas."
27
Joe Biden
Somewhat Negative
00:05:14-00:05:33 (19 sec)
"It's like I -- well, the first time I went over, I sat with them and I sat with the war cabinet. I said, look, don't make the mistake America made. America made a mistake. We went after bin Laden until we got him. But we shouldn't have gone into Ukraine. I mean, we should be -- we shouldn't have gone into the whole thing in Iraq and Afghanistan."
28
Joe Biden
Negative
00:05:33-00:05:42 (9 sec)
"It wasn't necessary. It wasn't necessary. And it just caused more problems in the race than it's going to cure it."
29
Jonathan Capehart
Neutral
00:05:42-00:05:48 (7 sec)
"Who -- who actually wants a deal? Do you think Hamas actually wants a cease-fire?"
30
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:05:48-00:06:22 (34 sec)
"Well, I think Hamas would like a total cease-fire across the board because then they would see they have a better chance to survive and maybe rebuild. But that's not what I think the vast majority of people think. You have to -- look, after what happened in World War II and the carpet bombing that took place, what happened was we ended up in a situation where we changed the rules of the game, what constitutes legitimate rules of war, and they should be abided by."
31
Jonathan Capehart
Neutral
00:06:22-00:06:30 (9 sec)
"Some have suggested you should go back to Israel and address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. Is that something you would do?"
32
Joe Biden
Positive
00:06:30-00:06:31 (1 sec)
"Yes."
33
Jonathan Capehart
Neutral
00:06:31-00:06:41 (10 sec)
"Would that have to be at the invitation of the prime minister, or could that be at the invitation of the president?"
34
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:06:41-00:06:45 (4 sec)
"I'd -- I'd rather not discuss it more."
35
Jonathan Capehart
Neutral
00:06:45-00:06:52 (7 sec)
"Does that mean that that has been -- that has been discussed, the possibility of going back to Israel and addressing the Knesset?"
36
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:06:52-00:06:54 (2 sec)
"Doesn't mean anything."
37
Jonathan Capehart
Positive
00:06:54-00:07:19 (25 sec)
"OK. Let's talk about the temporary pier that you announced during your State of the Union address to get supplies into -- into Gaza. It's going to take 60 days to get that constructed. What more are you doing in the absence of cooperation from Netanyahu and a bill from Congress to get supplies into Gaza, more humanitarian aid into Gaza?"
38
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:07:19-00:07:38 (19 sec)
"Everything we can. We're [Inaudible] is to open up access in the North from Israel. We're also doing airdrops. I know several people were killed with the airdrop. There's a way to avoid that in the future. We're working with our Arab friends to figure out how much we can get in. Everything -- look, it's a desperate situation."
39
Joe Biden
Negative
00:07:38-00:07:44 (6 sec)
"Food, medicine, everything needed -- badly needed. And it's needed now."
40
Jonathan Capehart
Very Negative
00:07:44-00:08:05 (21 sec)
"You're heading to Michigan, where -- on the campaign trail, probably in the next few days, where more than 100,000 people voted uncommitted in -- in the primary to protest your handling of the situation in Gaza. Some have said they will never vote for you. One told Charles Blow of the New York Times, and I'm quoting, "As bad as Mr."
41
Jonathan Capehart
Negative
00:08:05-00:08:19 (14 sec)
"Trump's rhetoric was and him putting a travel ban on five Muslim countries, he wasn't overseeing and actively arming a genocide." Those are tough words. What's your response to that widely shared sentiment."
42
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:08:19-00:08:36 (16 sec)
"That's not widely shared. You guys make judgments you know you're not capable of making. That's not what all those people said. What they said was they were very upset. And I don't blame them for being upset. There are families there. There are people who are dying. They want something done about it. And they're saying, Joe, do something."
43
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:08:36-00:08:56 (20 sec)
"Do something. But the idea that they all think it's genocide is just not -- that's a different situation. Look, I can fully understand, and can't you? You have a family member there, a family member or families that come from a family that -- that is still isolated there and may be victimized. It's understandable they feel that way."
44
Joe Biden
Slightly Negative
00:08:56-00:09:00 (4 sec)
"And that's why I'm doing everything I can to try to stop it."
45
Note
Neutral
00:09:00-00:09:00 ( sec)
"[Break in interview segments]"
46
Jonathan Capehart
Very Positive
00:09:00-00:09:18 (18 sec)
"You mentioned at the outset of this conversation that you've gotten the endorsement of minority businesses -- business leaders, business groups. You promised Black America that you'd have -- you'd have our back. Do you feel you have our backs?"
47
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:09:18-00:09:39 (21 sec)
"I have your back and I -- as much as any president has in American history since Lyndon Johnson. I've done -- look, we've -- Black wealth has increased by 60% where -- across the board. And I wish you had interviewed some of the Black -- the business people here, the Black leaders who are here. And they told me about how they're moving."
48
Joe Biden
Somewhat Positive
00:09:39-00:09:58 (19 sec)
"They have loans. They have direct payments that are being made by the government to keep them going. Look, there's not a single thing they can't do given a shot, just given a shot. It's not only Black, but Hispanic and Asian Americans. That's why all three of these major organizations endorsed me today, because we've done -- we kept them in business."
49
Joe Biden
Leans Positive
00:09:58-00:10:26 (28 sec)
"We've moved them along. More small businesses opened than at any time in 50 years. This -- and by the way, they make up half the economy, small businesses, half the economy of the United States of America. That's why the one thing that no one realizes, I don't think, is that when I got elected, I decided to employ the law, it was written in the '30s, for what -- what happens in terms of when a president spends money that's given to him by the Congress."
50
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:10:26-00:10:43 (17 sec)
"It says he should hire American workers and he should use American products. Well, that's what I'm doing. And I said I'm going to make sure that 20% of all that goes to minority businesses, to small businesses. Guess what, 21% has gone. It's growing the economy. It's bringing the nation together."
51
Note
Neutral
00:10:43-00:10:43 ( sec)
"[Break in interview segments]"
52
Jonathan Capehart
Somewhat Positive
00:10:43-00:11:03 (20 sec)
"[Video in progress] chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. So, I was struck by your direct comments to the Supreme Court, who were arrayed right there in -- in front of you. Am I right in thinking that you view the Roberts Court as a political body and the conservative majority as politicians instead of jurists?"
53
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:11:03-00:11:23 (20 sec)
"No. Look, I think they made a wrong decision. I think they read the Constitution wrongly. I think they made a mistake. And I was being blunt. And the part that they said -- remember, what they said was it's up to the states to decide. That's really what the -- what was said. It's no longer a constitutionally guaranteed principle."
54
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:11:23-00:11:43 (20 sec)
"And they used the phrase that women can vote and they can change if they want to. I found that somewhat insulting, the idea that they don't think they can. Women are speaking out. They spoke out in 2022. They spoke out in 2024, in 2020. This is what's going to happen. And I was just making it clear, women speak up."
55
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:11:43-00:11:50 (7 sec)
"This is going to change. And if you give me some -- if you give me a Congress that's Democrat, we're going to change it back to Roe v. Wade."
56
Note
Neutral
00:11:50-00:11:52 (2 sec)
"[Break in interview segments]"
57
Jonathan Capehart
Very Positive
00:11:52-00:11:54 (2 sec)
"You're having fun on the campaign trail, aren't you?"
58
Joe Biden
Very Negative
00:11:54-00:12:15 (21 sec)
"I like campaigning because it's the only time I get out of the cloister of the White House, where I get to look people in the eye, shake their hands, listen to their arguments, listen to the pain, see the pain in their face and what they need to have it relieved. It's all -- look, where I come from, it's all about what happens at the kitchen table."
59
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:12:15-00:12:35 (20 sec)
"Those are the things that matter. It matters if you're getting ripped off by a bank at a $35 fee for a late charge when they're only allowed to charge you what it costs them to fix it. So, that's why we moved it to $8. It makes a difference. So, it's billions of dollars to banks and the -- and the major lenders."
60
Joe Biden
Neutral
00:12:35-00:12:50 (15 sec)
"But guess what? It's 100 bucks or 200 bucks a month or a year for a small family. My dad used to say, it's what you have at the end of the month that gives you a little breathing room. We got to give the American people some breathing room. And there's much more I'm going to do."
61
Jonathan Capehart
Positive
00:12:50-00:12:56 (5 sec)
"Mr. President, speaking of the campaign trail, you got to get out to it. So, thank you very much for this interview."
62
Joe Biden
Very Positive
00:12:56-00:12:58 (2 sec)
"Well, thank you for having me. I appreciate it."
63