President Joe Biden gave a wide-ranging interview with CBS’s 60 minutes. The sit-down with correspondent Scott Pelley aired Sunday evening. In case you missed it, here are the just some of the takeaways that Americans are talking about.
Biden on Inflation: “It hasn’t spiked.”
One of the biggest burdens Americans face today is inflation. As the annual inflation rate stands at 8.3% and the country struggles to pay for necessities, President Biden downplayed it all during his talk with Scott Pelley.
Pelley asked the president about his plans to elevate the continuing inflation rates, Biden was quick to say there wasn’t anything to be concerned about.
“Well first of all let’s put this in perspective, inflation month to month was up just an inch. Hardly at all.”
When the host pushed back, Biden became defensive.
“No, I’m not saying it is good news, but it was 8.2 or 8.2 [percent] before. I mean… you’re making, make it sound like, all of a sudden, my God, it went to 8.2%.”
Even when Pelley noted this is the highest inflation rate in 40 years, Biden didn’t back down.
“I got that. But guess what we are? We’re in a position where for the last several months, it hasn’t spiked, it is just barely, it’s been basically even.”
Biden on COVID: “The pandemic is over.”
While taking a stroll through the Detroit Auto Show, Pelley asked about he pandemic. Biden assured that while COVID is still around, the pandemic itself is over.
“The pandemic is over. We still have a problem with Covid. We’re still doing a lot of work on it. It’s — but the pandemic is over.”
He added that “everybody seems to be in pretty good shape.”
Biden on Taiwan: US troops would defend Taiwan.
A big takeaway many are paying attention too is Biden’s commitment to US troops defending Taiwan. There has been a US policy since 1979 to recognize Taiwan as part of China, but Americans want to know if the military would defend the island if China were to attack.
“We agree with what we signed onto a long time ago. And that there’s one China policy, and Taiwan makes their own judgments about their independence. We are not moving– we’re not encouraging their being independent. We’re not– that– that’s their decision.”
Biden then confirmed that US forces would defend Taiwan if there was an unprecedented attack.
After the interview, the White House clarified that the US policy on Taiwan has not changed and the US maintains “strategic ambiguity” on whether we would defend or not.
Biden on Reelection: “My intention… that I would run again. But it’s just an intention.”
A big question on many voters mind was also addressed. Biden, who turns 80 in November, says he is in good shape and focused indicating he is ready for another round in office. However, he still didn’t officially announce a decision to run for reelection.
“Look, my intention, as I said to begin with, is that I would run again. But it’s just an intention. Is it a firm decision that I run again? That remains to be seen.”
https://omny.fm/shows/tony-katz-and-the-morning-news/bidens-mess-of-an-60-minute-interview
