President Biden Holds his First Press Conference and Makes News

 President Joe Biden held his first Press Conference today and defended his Administrations's policy focus and positions on issues like his Reelection,  COVID Vaccinations and Relief, Immigration, the Filibuster, working with Republicans, Voting Rights, Afghanistan, North Korea, China, and Infrastructure.

During the question and answer session, the President:

• Declared that he believes he would run for reelection in 2024 and Vice President Harris would be on the ticket.
• Set a goal for 200 million vaccines administered in 100 days.
• Defended the approach to passing the American Rescue Plan through budget reconciliation without any Republican votes.
• Blamed the Trump Administration for decimating the immigration system that has caused the slow reaction to moving migrant children to Department of Health and Human Services facilities. He also said that Trump had a larger surge in migrant traffic last year.
• Reminded the American People that the only change at the border is that his Administration is humanely accepting unaccompanied children. Most of everyone else is being sent back. On a follow-up question, he said that he, unlike Trump, will not let unaccompanied children starve and live on their own. He also said that he and the Vice President will work to help those nations where many of the migrants live. He rebuked a reporter who asked if he thought it was acceptable to have children crammed into Customs and Border facilities, saying "are you serious." The President could not commit to a time when the press could visit those border facilities. Mr. Biden says "he makes no apologies" for rescinding Trump's immigration policies that were not legal or did not conform with promoting human dignity. He also said that they were working very hard to reunite families that were separated during the Trump Administration. Biden said, "I can't guarantee that we can solve anything but I can guarantee we are going to try and make better."
• Supports filibuster reform by making people having to speak to maintain their filibuster. He did say that if there was a complete lockdown on issues like voting rights legislation, then more may be necessary to reform the filibuster. On a follow-up question, Mr. Biden acknowledged the filibuster is a remnant of the Jim Crow Era and the system needs to be reformed.
• Said it will be hard to meet the May 1, 2021 deadline to pull troops out of Afghanistan.
• Said that the North Koreans firing two ballistic missiles was illegal and that they would be following the situation closely.
• Called Republican attempts in State Legislature to suppress the vote "UnAmerican" and "sick." He said Republican voters he knows find this situation "despicable" and "can not be sustained."
• Disagreed with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's assertion that the President's agenda is too far left and he is not being bipartisan enough. He said that McConnell should look at the people in his party that supported the American Rescue Plan. He also mocked the Republicans for playing the debt game when legislation is "saving lives" rather than measures that "feather the nest" of the wealthy with tax cuts.
• Said that while he may not bringing elected Republicans to support his agenda, he is doing fine with Republicans in the country, saying he is working to help all the American People.
• Declared "that we are not looking for confrontation with China" but "stiff competition." Recognizing that China's leaders are autocrats, he also called for China to follow the rules with regard to Taiwan and the South China Seas. He also said the United States must reclaim the lead in technology advances in all scientific areas like biotech and artificial intelligence. Biden also said he would work to restore relations with his Allies and the world's democracies. He told the journalist that his children and grandchildren would be writing dissertations on what succeeded "Autocracy or Democracy."
• Announced that he will hold an event in Pittsburgh outlining his infrastructure/jobs proposals. He said that Mayors across the country are clamoring for legislation in this area where the United States, according to Mr. Biden, is ranked 85th around the world. He said it is the place where we can improve American Productivity and provide many good-paying jobs, especially on rebuilding roads, bridges, airlines, and schools.

This article may be updated with fact check reporting later.