Transcript - Press Gaggle: Joe Biden Speaks to Reporters During Bicycle Ride in Delaware - May 14, 2023 | Factba.se

Question

00:00:00 - 00:00:08 ()

Mr. President, when is the debt meeting with the leaders?

Joe Biden

00:00:08 - 00:00:11 ()

In about 10 minutes.

Question

00:00:11 - 00:00:12 ()

Joe Biden

00:00:12 - 00:00:13 ()

[Inaudible] You're holding it up.

Question

00:00:13 - 00:00:14 ()

When is it actually happening, sir?

Joe Biden

00:00:14 - 00:00:15 ()

We're working on it right now, the exact --

Question

00:00:15 - 00:00:16 ()

Will it be on Tuesday?

Joe Biden

00:00:16 - 00:00:18 ()

Question

00:00:18 - 00:00:19 ()

It's been reported it will be Tuesday.

Joe Biden

00:00:19 - 00:00:20 ()

Question

00:00:20 - 00:00:22 ()

Do you have an update on how talks have gone this weekend, sir?

Joe Biden

00:00:22 - 00:00:23 ()

Question

00:00:23 - 00:00:24 ()

Can you share that with us?

Joe Biden

00:00:24 - 00:00:25 ()

Question

00:00:25 - 00:00:26 ()

Question

00:00:26 - 00:00:27 ()

What's your level of optimism about them?

Joe Biden

00:00:27 - 00:00:29 ()

That's sharing it, isn't it?

Question

00:00:29 - 00:00:31 ()

Well, it's giving us a clue.

Joe Biden

00:00:31 - 00:00:32 ()

Question

00:00:32 - 00:00:34 ()

Do you think you'll be able to leave for the G7?

Joe Biden

00:00:34 - 00:00:35 ()

That's my plan as it stands now.

Question

00:00:35 - 00:00:37 ()

Mr. President, are you open to tougher work requirements for certain government aid programs like Republicans are proposing as part of these discussions?

Joe Biden

00:00:37 - 00:00:39 ()

I voted for tougher aid programs that's in the law now, but for Medicaid it's a different story. And so I'm waiting to hear what their exact proposal is.

Question

00:00:39 - 00:00:41 ()

Do you have any comment on the Turkish elections? It's looks like there might be a dispute for President Erdoğan's results.

Joe Biden

00:00:41 - 00:00:44 ()

Oh, is that right? I didn't get any [Inaudible].

Question

00:00:44 - 00:00:48 ()

The opposition party are claiming they are leading. And the state media are saying Erdoğan is leading.

Joe Biden

00:00:48 - 00:00:54 ()

It sounds familiar, doesn't it? No, look, I just hope it goes -- whoever wins, wins. I mean, there's enough problems in that part of the world right now without that happening.

Question

00:00:54 - 00:01:00 ()

How are you -- I'm going to try you again on debt ceiling. How do you feel about the Republicans in terms of --

Joe Biden

00:01:00 - 00:01:01 ()

Question

00:01:01 - 00:01:03 ()

-- their position and where they're going?

Joe Biden

00:01:03 - 00:01:08 ()

Well, I've learned a long time ago, and you know as well as I do: It never is good to characterize a negotiation in the middle of a negotiation. I remain optimistic because I'm a congenital optimist. But I really think there's a desire on their part, as well as ours, to reach an agreement, and I think we'll be able to do it.

Joe Biden

00:01:08 - 00:01:09 ()

Question

00:01:09 - 00:01:21 ()

How do you think things are going at the border, sir --

Joe Biden

00:01:21 - 00:01:22 ()

Much better than --

Question

00:01:22 - 00:01:23 ()

-- with Title 42 lifted?

Joe Biden

00:01:23 - 00:01:24 ()

Much better than you all expected. [Laughs]

Question

00:01:24 - 00:01:25 ()

Do you have any plans --

Joe Biden

00:01:25 - 00:01:26 ()

Question

00:01:26 - 00:01:27 ()

-- to visit the border?

Joe Biden

00:01:27 - 00:01:28 ()

Question

00:01:28 - 00:01:30 ()

Do you have any plans to visit the border?

Joe Biden

00:01:30 - 00:01:32 ()

Not in the near term, no. No, it would just be disruptive, not anything else. And, by the way, on -- when I went up to Beau's bench, you know, at the other -- about four miles up -- I met two -- two people come up to me -- there were a bunch of people. That's why I was little late. I was taking a lot of pictures.

Joe Biden

00:01:32 - 00:01:34 ()

But came up and said, "We went to St. Paul's in Scranton." They went -- [Laughs] -- to the same little grade school that I went to. And so I was up there with -- there's Scranton people everywhere.

Question

00:01:34 - 00:01:35 ()

Mr. President --

Joe Biden

00:01:35 - 00:01:36 ()

It's just [Inaudible] better.

Question

00:01:36 - 00:01:37 ()

Joe Biden

00:01:37 - 00:01:38 ()

Question

00:01:38 - 00:01:39 ()

Secretary Mayorkas said this morning that the numbers at the border have gone down since Title 42 was lifted. Are you confident that the numbers have peaked, that they'll continue to go down?

Joe Biden

00:01:39 - 00:01:39 ()

Well, look, they are -- they have gone down. My hope is they'll continue to go down, but we have more -- a lot more work to do. And we need some more help from the Congress as well in terms of funding and legislative changes. Anyway, thank you all.

Question

00:01:39 - 00:01:49 ()

Are you looking forward to your trip on Wednesday?

Joe Biden

00:01:49 - 00:01:51 ()

I am. I hope it's -- hopefully we'll make it.

Question

00:01:51 - 00:01:53 ()

Was it a nice Mother's Day?

Joe Biden

00:01:53 - 00:01:55 ()

Question

00:01:55 - 00:01:57 ()

What did you do for the First Lady?

Joe Biden

00:01:57 - 00:01:59 ()

Well, I -- since she's not my mom, I got her her favorite thing: an orchid on -- for -- a wrist corsage. And my daughter came down. She's with us now, and she brought some things for her mom. And I'm heading up tomorrow morning to see my number three grandchild graduate from Penn.

Question

00:01:59 - 00:02:01 ()

Did -- is she watching the game right now -- the First Lady? The basketball. The Sixers.

Joe Biden

00:02:01 - 00:02:02 ()

I don't think so.

Question

00:02:02 - 00:02:03 ()

They're losing, as a warning. [Laughter]

Joe Biden

00:02:03 - 00:02:04 ()

I'm get -- I'm getting the hell out of here then.

Question

00:02:04 - 00:02:05 ()

Yeah, I'm sorry to say.

Joe Biden

00:02:05 - 00:02:07 ()

Thank you, guys.