In an interview with the Associated Press, President Biden said that the public’s morale is low due to the pandemic, the situation in the economy and the gasoline prices that are straining the budgets; but he said a recession is not inevitable and he is optimistic about the country’s future.
In his first interview since February, Biden talked about the state of the economy, the mood of the country and Russia’s determination to counter the attack on Ukraine.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Biden said that the reason for the pessimism in the economy was the increase in gasoline prices and that the situation was more optimistic before prices started to rise.
“People’s Agenda Food Prices and Gasoline”
Acknowledging that Americans pay a lot more to make a living and buy gas, and that wreaks havoc on approval rate, Democrat President Joe Biden said, “If you want a barometer to measure what people are going to talk about at the kitchen table and at dinner, and if things are going well, this is it. food prices and gasoline prices,” he said.
Biden gave the oil companies the message, “Don’t just reward yourself,” saying he has some tools at his disposal to lower prices in a meaningful way in the near future.
Referring to the warnings from economists that the fight against inflation may drag the USA into recession, the US President said, “First of all, a recession is not inevitable. Secondly, we are in a stronger position to tackle inflation than any other country in the world.”
“We had no choice but to oppose Russia”
US President Joe Biden stated that he did not consider the impact of the sanctions on Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine on domestic politics.
Biden said: “If this step was not taken, I’m afraid there would be chaos in the next phase in Europe. It’s not about my political survival. The point is to do what is best for our country,” he said.
The President of the United States said he was prepared to pay a political price as a result, telling young people interested in civil service: “Don’t go into politics if you don’t know what you’re ready to give up. Work in more profitable organizations or startups. “The purpose of public service is to promote what you think is best for the American people.”
“I am optimistic about the future of the country”
After more than two years with the COVID-19 pandemic, US President Biden said that the morale of the American people is low, and that the need for mental health in America has increased as people have witnessed everything turned upside down.
Biden said he remains optimistic about the country’s future and that Americans should be optimistic too, although most voters say the country is not on the right track.
President Biden: “Be safe because I am. We are the country in the best condition in the second quarter of the 21st century in the world. “This is not an exaggeration, it’s a fact,” he said.
gun control bill
Biden’s agenda was also the gun control bill agreed to by senators from both political parties. Members of Congress are drafting a bill that envisions incentives to be given to states that enforce laws that tighten record checks on youth purchases of firearms and make it harder for the mentally ill to access guns.
The work in the Senate is gaining momentum after the recent armed attacks in the USA, where no steps have been taken in this regard for a long time. President Biden stated that progress has been made in this regard, but this is limited.
“We won’t get what I want, but it will be gun safety,” Biden said.
“Traditional mainstream Republicans have dwindled”
Despite long-standing political differences, US President Joe Biden said he saw Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Republicans in the Senate, as a Republican with whom he could work, and described this situation as “an extinct species” in today’s Republican Party.
Noting that when President Biden took office, there were almost 15 traditional, mainstream conservative Republicans, he said, “I’m going to get me in trouble and probably get him in trouble too, but that includes the minority leader from Kentucky.” Mitch called McConnell “solid and mainstream.”
U.S. President Biden referred to former President Donald Trump’s slogan Make America Great Again (MAGA), describing other Republicans as ultra-MAGA, and counting Wisconsin senator Ron Johnson and Florida senator Rick Scott among these names.