Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo | Eastern North Carolina Now

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Final question. Ed, it's so good to have you back, my friend. (Laughs.)

    Q Thank you, Secretary. Can you talk a little bit more about the protections or guardrails from doing work with China? Just - you know, the administration was reportedly pushing back on Intel's plans or publicly announced plans to boost silicon wafer production in China. Has that - has that kind of plans stopped? And will that prevent companies like Intel from getting this kind of funding?

    SECRETARY RAIMONDO: So, as - as I've said, if they take the money, they can't use the money to invest in China, they can't build a leading-edge fab in China for a period of 10 years. If they expand their mature node factories in China, it's only to serve the Chinese market. And, by the way, if they take money and then do any of those things, we'll claw back the money.

    Q If - if they - this was announ- - as I understand it, this was announced previously. Is there like some type of grandfather clause? Will they be able to start this production now? Or does - does that - does the fact that they had already announced this allow them to make - to continue with those plans?



    SECRETARY RAIMONDO: We're going to take it on a case-by-case basis. Here's what I will tell you: The number-one objective of implementing this is to protect America's national security. Every deal we do, every criteria that we evaluate these companies against, it's going to be with a lens toward protecting national security. So we're not going to allow any deals to happen that we think undermine our national security.

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Thank you, Secretary. Appreciate it.

    SECRETARY RAIMONDO: Thank you.

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. See you in a little bit.

    SECRETARY RAIMONDO: All right. Bye, guys. Thank you.

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Thanks, everybody. Thank you, Secretary Raimondo.

    All right. I have one thing at the top. And as you all know, we probably have about 30 minutes or so for the next event that the President has, so we all have to get out of here in 30 minutes.

    Okay, so I just want to take a moment to acknowledge the attack in Canada over the weekend. It is senseless and devastating. I won't get ahead of the Canadian law enforcement as they continue their work. Our thoughts are with the victims of this horrific attack. We stand with Canada, our ally and neighbor, and all those affected by this tragedy, and condemn this senseless violence.

    With that, Seung Min, you want to kick us off?

    Q Yeah. I saw the President's tweet congratulating Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister of the UK. Has he spoken with her or does he plan to later today? What is his plans?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So he's going to speak to her later today, this afternoon. He's planning to call her to congratulate her - the new Prime Minister. And so that - that's going to happen later this afternoon.

    Q And I have another one on the fatal shooting of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The Israeli military has now said there's a, quote, "high probability" that an Israeli soldier accidentally killed her, but they also said that no one will be held responsible. So I wanted to know the White House's reactions to the Israeli military's conclusions and also whether it is acceptable to the President that no one will be held accountable in that death.

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So I know this report came out yesterday, as it was reported by the Israeli Defense Forces, as you just said. We have extended our deepest condolences to the family of Shireen Abu Akleh, a renowned Palestinian American journalist who was killed in the West Bank. We strongly condemn this killing, as we have for the past several months. Ms. Abu Akleh was an inspiration to millions and a friend to many in the U.S. government. Her death is a great loss and a tragedy.

    We continue to call on all sides to maintain calm and avoid further escalation. As you just mentioned and I just said, it was reported yesterday that it had con- - the Israeli Defense Forces had concluded its investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death and stated there was a high possibility that her death - was accidentally hit by IDF gunfire, as you just mentioned, Seung Min.


    We welcome Israelis' review of this tragic incident, and we underscored the importance of accountability in this case, such as policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Our thoughts remain with Abu Akleh's family as they grieve this tremendous loss.

    Not only was Shireen an American citizen, as I just mentioned, she was a fearless - a fearless reporter whose journalism and pursuit of truth earned her the respect of audience around the world.

    Go ahead.

    Q Thanks, Karine. President Biden said last night he didn't think Russia should be designated a state sponsor of terrorism, even after President Zelenskyy, in an interview with ABC's David Muir, said he had asked the President about taking that step. Why does the President think that? And is this about keeping limited diplomatic channels open still?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So as the President has said, as - and as we do think as well - as - you know, it is not the most effective or strongest path forward, as we have said many times before, to hold Russia accountable. This designation could have unintended consequences to Ukraine and the world. For example, according to humanitarian expert and NGOs we have spoken to, it could seriously affect the ability to deliver assistance in areas of Ukraine.

    Another one is it could drive critical humanitarian and commercial actors away from facilitating food exports to help mitigate the global food crisis and jeopardize the Black Sea port deal that has already led to over a million tons of Ukrainian food exports reaching the world, including those on the - on the Horn of Africa likely facing famine.

    It would also undercut our unprecedented multilateral condition that has been so effective to holding Putin accountable and could also undermine our ability to support Ukraine at the negotiating - negotiation table.

    So, again, we do not think this is the most effective way to go or the strongest path forward.

    Q There are also concerns about potentially inadvertently punishing allies who might still have trade relations with Russia.

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, what we have done is we've already put in place severe consequences in line with those that would be imposed under such designation. Our sanctions export controls affect - efforts to further isolate Russia from the global economy or - are having a significant impact. So that's the way we kind of have seen with the work that we've already done.

    Under this, Russia defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time in more than a century. As we have said, we are choking off Russia's military supply chains. For example, Russia has to rely on North Korea, as you all heard, and Iran for military equipment. And just last week, the G7 committed to implement a price cap to push down the price of Putin's oil and starve him of his main source of revenue to fund this war.

    So again, we are, of course, support - we, of course, are going to support using further tools that will work to promote accountability for Russia's war against Ukraine. And so that's going to be our focus as we move forward.

    Go ahead.

    Q When the President speaks with the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, will he discuss the Northern Ireland arrangements? Is there an expectation that he'll call on the Prime Minister to delay implementation of the protocol bill that she has supported that would allow the United Kingdom to override the provisions of the agreement between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland? How's that going to come into the conversation?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So I'm not going to get ahead or speak to what the President might say or will say on the call. I'll say this: that we'll have a readout after the call later this afternoon. But he has been clear about his continued interest in Northern Ireland.

    Our priority remains protecting the gains of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and preserving peace, stability, and prosperity for the people of Northern Ireland. Again, I'm not - I'm not going to get ahead of what the President will or won't say.

    Q Okay. And the UK is obviously going through some serious economic concerns. They have an energy crisis that's going on. Is there any room for aid, assistance, or more to be done in terms of supporting them on lowering energy costs domestically?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So you've heard us say this: that what we see Russia is doing - we've been very clear about this - is that they're using energy - they're weaponizing energy. And it's choosing to - one of the things that has been out there - the shutdown of the pipeline of Nord Strom [Stream] 1

    So the sanction we've imposed, we believe, do [not] stand in the way of the pipeline to continuing operating. So the U.S. and Europe have been collaborating to ensure sufficient supplies are available. As a result of these efforts, European gas shortage [storage] will be full by the critical winter heating season. So we have more work to do, but, again, we're working closely with our allies on this.

    Q And then one final one. Is there any status update on U.S.-UK trade negotiations? And do you expect that to be a topic on the call with the new Prime Minister?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So I don't have any updates on that. Again, I'm not going to get ahead of what's going to be on the call with the - what the President is going to say to the new Prime Minister. We'll have - certainly we'll have a readout for all of you once it's done.

    Go ahead.

    Q Just one question. The President tweeted earlier today, "I want to be clear: Not every Congressional Republican is a MAGA Republican." He went on to say - to talk about "an extreme set of MAGA Republicans in Congress." But he's also said frequently over the last several days - talked about how not one Republican backed the agenda that he's had in - for example, the Inflation Reduction Act or the Recovery Act. And more broadly, he's talked about how the Republican Party is "not your grandfather's Republican Party," that the whole party has changed.

    So can you talk a little bit about what he's - what group of people does he think are MAGA Republicans? Does he - when he says not one Republican supported the agenda - so does that mean that every Republican in Congress is essentially a MAGA Republican?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So he's been very clear when he's talked about MAGA Republicans - ultra-MAGA Republicans. He's talked about the leadership in the Republican Party.

    For - one of the first time he actually used that term was to talk about Rick Scott's plan, which was, to your point, using a - an agenda that they had, which was to put Medicare and Social Security on the chopping block. And for him, that was an extreme measure that is taking away something that was - if you're thinking about it, Medicare, Social Security, very popular. That is - a majority of Americans support that, as well as the - as well as the Inflation Reduction Act. Majority of the Republi- - of - sorry, Republicans and Democrats and independents support those policies. And you have leaders in - in the Republican Party who are offering extreme, extreme agenda. And so that's what he means.


    And let me just - I'll just quote the President. On Friday, he took, actually, Peter's question - the only reporter that he took a question from on Friday. And he said, in answering your question about this - (laughter) - I know I - I'm only saying that because Peter felt a certain way that I didn't take his question on Friday in the briefing room.

    But the President did take your question that day.

    Q (Inaudible) feels like that all the time.

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: (Laughs.) Well, I hear you.

    Q Word travels fast. (Laughter.)

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Word - word - there we go.

    Okay, so, "When people vote - voted for Donald Trump" - this is the - this is President Biden - "and support him now, they weren't voting for attacking the Capitol. They weren't voting for overruling an election. They were voting for a philosophy he put forward.

    So I'm not talking about anything other than: It's inappropriate - and it's" - "it's not only happening here, but other parts of the world - where there's a failure to recognize and condemn violence whenever it is used for political purposes, failure to condemn an attempt to manipulate electoral outcomes, a failure to acknowledge when elections were won or lost."

    And so that is from the President - what he thinks. He's talking about a - the leadership. He's talking about the leadership who put out extreme agenda. Also the - also talking, in what I just laid out, in not condemning violence when there's violence out there.

    Q So just one quick follow-up. But, you know, while it's - you know, you can talk about what people meant or didn't mean, or - by voting in the 2020 election. But there are lots of Republican - just regular Republican voters who do support, for example, Rick Scott's, you know, ideas about what to do with the budget or what to do with Social Security or entitlement programs. There's lots of Republican voters who do agree with the President that they think the election was - with the former President, I mean - but - but that -

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. No, I hear you.

    Q - the election. So - so does he consider - does the President consider all of those people who support these extreme agendas that he's talking about to be the MAGA Republicans that -

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So he was has been very clear that he's talking about office holders. He's talking about elected officials who have these MAGA - ultra-MAGA Republican agendas. And he's been very clear about that.

    Look, here's the thing: The point that we are making is majority of Americans support Medicare. Majority of Americans support Social Security. Majority of Americans support our democracy and want to protect our democracy, want to protect our freedom, want to protect our rights, and that's who the President is going to continue to stand up for and fight for.

    I'm going to try and call on people I haven't called on yet. Go ahead.

    Q Karine, thank you.

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Since we don't have a lot of time.

    Q A follow for you on the questions about Russia and the President's decision not to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. Is that a final decision by President Biden?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yes, it is. I mean, I'll let his words stand for himself. He answered it pretty simply. I just laid out why we think it wouldn't be the strongest path forward. I laid out three reasons.

    Also, we want to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs in case it has to go to the negotiation table. So it is very important that we give them the strongest - the strongest, you know, negotiation arm that they can have.

    Q And did the President directly convey that to President Zelenskyy before publicly saying that he had made that decision? And has he conveyed it to members of Congress, leaders in Congress?


    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I can't speak to conversation - private conversation specifically on this that the President had with members of Congress or President Zelenskyy. As you know, they spoke recently. We laid out a readout of what that conver- - how that conversation went and what was discussed.

    Q And what about congressional leaders?

    MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Again, I just said I can't speak to what conversations that the President had - private conversations that he's had with members of Congress.

    Q Can you tell us when, specifically, he made that determination because of this.