Transcript - Remarks: Joe Biden and Jill Biden Host a Lunar New Year Event at The White House - January 26, 2023 | Factba.se

Joe Biden

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

Thank you for the introduction and it's wonderful to see so many friends in this special holiday, even as we gather with such heavy hearts. Our prayers are with the people of Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, and after yet another spree of gun violence in America. I'm going to use this. Is this working? Hello?

Joe Biden

00:00:27 - 00:00:48 ()

Hello? Hello? Can you hear me with this? [Person off camera answers "Yes"] All right. You know, I've been in close contact with Governor Newsom to provide the full support of the federal government. And Kamala, who has deep ties in the area, is just getting back from spending some time there with families.

Joe Biden

00:00:48 - 00:01:17 ()

And I spoke with Brandon Tsay, a genuine hero. This is a 26 year old kid, 26 year old kid whose family has owned a dance studio for some time. As people were ending a celebration that night for the new Lunar New Year, and as we all saw in the video, he heard the front door close and saw a man pointing a gun at him.

Joe Biden

00:01:17 - 00:01:40 ()

Instead of running, Brandon said he thought he was going to die, but then he thought about the people inside. Think about this now. Just think about this in reality. And in that moment, he followed his instinct, and he followed his courage. And this is a kid who went out, a kid, he's a young man, and had the courage to act and he did.

Joe Biden

00:01:40 - 00:02:02 ()

He charged the gunman, wrestled him to the ground and took away a semiautomatic pistol from him. He just shot and killed 11 people and wounded several more in another dance studio nearby. It was a struggle that Brandon prevailed but think about what could have happened had he not done this. I really mean it.

Joe Biden

00:02:02 - 00:02:28 ()

And I think sometimes we underestimate incredible acts of courage. Someone shooting, has a semiautomatic pistol aimed at you -- you think about others. That's pretty profound, pretty profound. You know, in both Monterey Bay and Half Moon Bay, we saw the heroism of police officers, firefighters and first responders.

Joe Biden

00:02:28 - 00:02:49 ()

They answered the call. They answered the call. They rushed into danger, and they saved lives and protected their neighbors. These are tight knit communities, as you all know. They'll be affected by what they saw, what they lost for the rest of their lives. We got to think about the impacts of post-traumatic stress on many of these folks.

Joe Biden

00:02:49 - 00:03:14 ()

And as a nation, we have to be there with them. We have to be there with them. We don't have a choice. You know, I know several members of Congress wanted to attend here tonight because they wanted to be able to -- but they have votes up on the Hill, including my dear friend, Judy Chu. Judy is Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and a former mayor of Monterey Bay.

Joe Biden

00:03:14 - 00:03:41 ()

I spoke with Judy several days ago and said, Judy, what should I do? Should I continue to -- should I be in California? Or should I still have this celebration? And she felt very strongly. She said, we have to move forward. Her message was, don't give in to fear and sorrow. Don't do that. Stand in solidarity, and in the spirit of toughness that this holiday is all about.

Joe Biden

00:03:41 - 00:04:04 ()

She went on to say that's what folks are doing back in California and across the country, providing counseling support transition services for the victims' families, holding candlelight vigils and bringing people together. And showing that even with heavy hearts, we have unbreakable spirits. So that's what we're going to do tonight, be there for each other.

Joe Biden

00:04:04 - 00:04:46 ()

And by the way, I said, as some of my senior staff here knows, that I was going to have the most diverse staff in American history. I was going to reflect what the population of America look like. Well, I knew we had more women than men, but I looked up the following. You know what percentage of AA, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, is in this administration? 13.7 percent.

Joe Biden

00:04:46 - 00:05:29 ()

The next highest was seven percent. That's why the hell I'm doing so well right now. No, but all kidding aside, most of all when you think about the loved ones who were left behind, there were grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, siblings, friends, neighbors, but they're fellow Americans. So please join me in a moment of silence to honor them.

Joe Biden

00:05:29 - 00:05:53 ()

May God bless them all. And I'm really honored to be with you all tonight. For centuries, families in Asia and the United States and all around the world have gathered to celebrate the first moon of the New Year. It's a time of renewal and reflection, hope and possibilities, for good over evil, for sharing meals, for celebrating fire -- no firecrackers tonight.

Joe Biden

00:05:53 - 00:06:26 ()

No, I'm serious. I was thinking about that, you know. If things had been like they'd been in the last couple of years, we should have fireworks outside. But celebrating with firecrackers and dance. We got dance. Honoring your ancestors while passing down traditions to the next generation. All of you here and across the country have opened your hearts and homes to friends and neighbors who wish each other a prosperous New Year full of good health and good fortune.

Joe Biden

00:06:26 - 00:06:53 ()

So to start the new tradition of the nation for holidays that where home is central, Jill and I are honored to welcome you to the first Lunar New Year reception of this scale held in the White House, your home. This is your home. No, this is the people's house, for real. Jill and I are very temporary residents in this home.

Joe Biden

00:06:53 - 00:06:55 ()

But all kidding aside --

Unidentified

00:06:55 - 00:06:56 ()

Not too temporary.

Joe Biden

00:06:56 - 00:07:22 ()

Well, God -- God love you. Look, for many of you, this is the year of the Rabbit. And for others like the Vietnamese community, it's the year of the cat. And the rabbit, earnest and persistent in the face of great challenges, the cat, majestic, beloved, a protector. By the way, that sounds like our cat Willow, who maybe -- you think I'm kidding.

Joe Biden

00:07:22 - 00:07:54 ()

Willow may walk in here any time now. She has no limits. You think I'm kidding. I'm not. Especially in middle of night when she climbs up and lays on top of my head. Look, all of you reflect the values represented by these symbols, and I mean that sincerely. And the Lunar New Year offers an opportunity to acknowledge the many ways you've enriched this country through diversity, of culture, the breadth of achievements, including a record number of Oscar nominations were announced just this week.

Joe Biden

00:07:54 - 00:08:27 ()

And they're long overdue. I know nothing about entertainment, but I know when people are picked to this best. And speaking of winning, we're honored to be joined by Olympic champion, Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalist, a three time world champion figure skater, Nathan Chen. Nathan, where are you? Nathan, good to see you, pal.

Joe Biden

00:08:27 - 00:08:35 ()

Come here. Get up here. You're the only guy that can step -- good to see you, Nathan. Thank you.

Nathan Chen

00:08:35 - 00:08:36 ()

Thank you so much.

Joe Biden

00:08:36 - 00:08:58 ()

That's not bad, Gold medal, Bronze, holy mackerel. Also includes the great work led by those in my administration. I heard we have an Ambassador who's a daughter of immigrants and she happens to be -- I think her name is Katherine Tai, huh? I'm not sure. Thank you. You're doing a hell of a job for us, you really are.

Joe Biden

00:08:58 - 00:09:16 ()

By the way, she's gained the respect of folks around the world, not a joke, not a joke. She's the best. The first Asian-American woman of color to serve as US Trade Representative. And just last week, she helped launch the first ever National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice and Opportunity for Asian-Americans.

Joe Biden

00:09:16 - 00:09:45 ()

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I get other world leaders saying, you don't explain this very well, center back, will you? Really. You're doing a hell of a job, kid. Thank you. Thank you. And together with Congress, we passed historic legislation to bring us one step closer to preserving and amplifying the contributions and history of the community through National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture.

Joe Biden

00:09:45 - 00:10:14 ()

And yet for all the progress, this community has experienced profound hate, pain and violence and loss with the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes. You know, gut wrenching attacks in elderly immigrant women. As I've said many times before, hate can have no safe haven or harbor in America. No person deserves to be treated with hate, in a hateful way.

Joe Biden

00:10:14 - 00:10:39 ()

They all deserve to be treated with dignity and with respect. That's why I'm proud, with the help of many of you in this room, we signed into law COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, and to host the first ever White House Summit Against Hate Fueled Violence. Look, folks, it's real simple. Silence is complicity. Silence is complicity.

Joe Biden

00:10:39 - 00:11:07 ()

We cannot be silent. I will not be silent. And one more thing. We're going to ban assault weapons again [Inaudible]. I did it once as a Senator. We're going to do it again. And let me close with this. The Lunar new Year ends with the hanging of those red lanterns, to symbolize letting go of the past and committing to new beginnings.

Joe Biden

00:11:07 - 00:11:30 ()

Well, I mean this sincerely, you've heard me say many times, I've never been more optimistic in my life about the future of this country and the ability to unify this country. I really mean it. As we gather here today, let's recommit to the work of standing together and taking care of one another. Let's do the work of spreading, hope, joy, love.

Joe Biden

00:11:30 - 00:11:57 ()

So from the Biden family to yours, we wish you a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year and please enjoy the reception and the wonderful program that's about to begin. I guess I've got to step down here. Give you that? Okay. [Inaudible].