What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
February 26 Recap
President Biden appeared on "Late Night With Seth Meyers" during a visit to New York for a campaign event, marking the 10th anniversary of the show. This appearance was part of his New York visit, including attending a private event with donors. The show highlighted The President's return since his first guest appearance as vice president.
President Biden's participation in the show comes amid his search for additional ways to engage with voters, as he has notably limited his interactions with the White House press and given fewer news conferences and interviews than his predecessors. Despite avoiding the traditional pre-Super Bowl interview and giving fewer interviews than Barack Obama during the same time frame, The President's appearance on Meyers' show, known for its critical take on Donald Trump, signifies an alternative approach to voter outreach.
The President’s guest appearance attracted a significant protest from pro-Palestinian demonstrators, marking a moment of progressive dissent against his administration's approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The protest was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace NYC, which shared images of the event on social media. Demonstrators, including many identifying as Jews and allies, voiced their opposition to the U.S. government's military support for Israel, particularly criticizing its actions in Gaza as genocide. They called for an immediate ceasefire and for President Biden to halt arms support to Israel. During the protest at NBC's 30 Rockefeller Center headquarters, about 50 participants were reportedly arrested. The demonstration aimed to disrupt Biden's scheduled taping for the late-night show.
Source: Associated Press
Source: Politico
The White House Office of Public Engagement recently hosted over 90 Afro-Latino leaders to celebrate the inaugural in-person Afro-Latino Heritage Day, aligning with this year’s Black History Month theme of "African Americans & the Arts." This event underscored the Biden-Harris Administration's dedication to supporting Black and Latino communities and promoting racial diversity by acknowledging Afro-Latino identities.
The day's agenda featured discussions on the significance of Afro-Latino representation within the arts and entertainment sectors, including a Black Latinidad in the Arts panel and a fireside chat between TV host Sunny Hostin and actress/producer Gina Torres. The discussions emphasized the critical role of Afro-Latino visibility in arts and praised the administration's efforts to elevate Afro-Latino identity and acknowledge their contributions to the arts.
Attendees were also treated to performances by notable artists such as composer and actor Mauro Castillo and Afro-Cuban singer Cimafunk.
Key figures from the administration participated in the event, including Stephen Benjamin, Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement; Dr. Maria Jackson, Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts; Cid D. Wilson from the President’s Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunities for Hispanics; Marco Davis from the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships; Sol Ortega, Senior Advisor for Public Engagement; and Faith Rynda, Engagement Coordinator at the White House Office of Public Engagement. This gathering highlighted the administration's ongoing commitment to recognizing and uplifting the diverse contributions of the Afro-Latino community within the United States.
The White House Office of Public Engagement recently hosted a Celebration of Black Men, spotlighting the contributions of Black male leaders and entrepreneurs from various sectors, including sports, arts, media, academia, and finance. This event, aligning with the principles of Bidenomics, emphasized the administration's commitment to enhancing economic opportunities for Black Americans.
The gathering brought together over 120 notable Black men, including community leaders, students from HBCUs and other institutions, government officials, and private sector executives. A panel discussion led by Stephen Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President, allowed Black entrepreneurs to share their experiences and insights, serving as an inspirational forum for the younger attendees. The celebration also recognized the diversity within the current administration, particularly highlighting Black male leaders in the White House and various agencies.
Key participants from the Biden-Harris Administration included Stephen Benjamin, Michael Smith (CEO of Americorps), Eric Morrissette, and Taylor Wright. The program featured several distinguished guests, such as Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, Jason Wright (President of the Washington Commanders), and founders from various influential organizations and businesses.
This event underscores the administration's ongoing efforts to advance policies that support significant progress for Black Americans, marking an important part of the 2024 Black History Month celebrations.
Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joseph Boakai of Liberia spoke by phone today. The conversation focused on acknowledging Liberia's democratic achievements, including its recent free and fair elections and peaceful power transition. They discussed the pivotal role of good governance for prosperity and agreed to collaborate on bolstering democracy in West Africa. Vice President Harris emphasized the importance of the rule of law and transparency for increasing U.S. private sector investments in Liberia, referencing the $8 billion commitments made during her visit to Africa in March 2023. They also touched on their mutual dedication to global peace and stability, specifically mentioning freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. They also lauded Liberia's evolution from a UN peacekeeping host to an active contributor of peacekeepers globally.
President Biden sent a letter to the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate, outlining the ongoing situation and U.S. military response to attacks by Houthi militants based in Yemen. Since at least November 2023, these militants have targeted U.S. military forces, ships, aircraft, and commercial maritime shipping in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden. These actions threaten U.S. forces, regional stability, and navigational freedoms.
On February 24, 2024, under President Biden's direction, U.S. forces, in a multinational operation with the United Kingdom and support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, conducted targeted strikes against Houthi infrastructure in Yemen. These strikes aimed to degrade the Houthis' capabilities to launch future attacks, thereby protecting U.S. personnel and assets and maintaining regional and strategic stability. The action was intended to be proportionate, minimize escalation risks, and avoid civilian casualties.
President Biden asserts that these military actions were taken in self-defense, in line with U.S. national security interests, and consistent with international law, specifically Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. The letter emphasizes the President's commitment to keeping Congress informed in accordance with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148) and appreciates Congress's support for these actions.
A press gaggle was held by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre aboard Air Force One en route to Queens, New York, covering several key topics:
Alabama Supreme Court Decision on IVF: Jean-Pierre criticized the decision, noting its impact on families seeking fertility care, doctors, and fertility clinics. She highlighted the broader context of Republican efforts to restrict reproductive rights and specifically called out the "Life at Conception Act" co-sponsored by over 120 Republicans, including Speaker Johnson, as emblematic of these efforts.
President Biden's Upcoming Visit to Brownsville, Texas: The visit is intended to discuss border security and immigration reform with U.S. Border Patrol agents, law enforcement, and local leaders. Jean-Pierre emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation to pass border security reforms and criticized House Republicans for politicizing the issue.
NATO and Sweden: The White House welcomed the Hungarian Parliament's vote to approve Sweden's NATO application and urged swift completion of the process. Jean-Pierre highlighted Sweden's military capabilities and the significance of its NATO membership for U.S. and alliance security.
Middle East Hostage Talks and Ceasefire: Jean-Pierre did not provide specific updates but reiterated the administration's commitment to securing a temporary ceasefire and addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza.
Questions on Various Topics: Jean-Pierre fielded questions on topics including potential executive actions on immigration, the President's preparation for the State of the Union address, and the significance of his upcoming border trip. She also addressed inquiries about former President Trump's activities and comments without providing specific reactions.
Ms. Jean-Pierre emphasized the administration's commitment to addressing reproductive rights, border security, international alliances, and domestic policy challenges throughout the gaggle. She criticized Republican opposition and politicization of these issues while underscoring the importance of bipartisan cooperation.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan issued a statement expressing the United States' approval of the Hungarian parliament's vote to accept Sweden's application to join NATO. It calls on Hungary to swiftly complete the ratification process to welcome Sweden into the Alliance officially. The statement highlights Sweden's strengths, including its strong democracy, capable military, and shared values with NATO members. It suggests that Sweden's inclusion will enhance the security of the United States and its allies. It also underscores the enduring significance of NATO as a defensive alliance, crucial for the security of its members since its establishment 75 years ago following World War II.
A joint statement by the governments of the United States, Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom outlined shared principles for developing 6G wireless communication systems. It emphasizes the importance of secure, open, and resilient technologies that protect national security and privacy and ensure global interoperability. Key principles include:
Trusted Technology: Emphasizing secure and resilient 6G technologies within a trusted communications ecosystem to protect national security.
Security, Resilience, and Privacy: Development should focus on cybersecurity, reliability, resilience, and privacy protection through security-by-design and other systematic approaches.
Global, Industry-led Standard Setting & International Collaborations: Advocating for open, transparent, and consensus-based development of global technical standards that ensure interoperability, competitiveness, and security.
Cooperation for Open and Interoperable Innovation: Promoting international cooperation and using global standards to enable interoperability and support a safe, resilient, and sustainable 6G ecosystem.
Affordability, Sustainability, and Global Connectivity: Ensuring 6G technologies support environmental sustainability, affordability, and global connectivity to bridge digital divides and enable digital transformation across industries.
Spectrum and Manufacturing: Highlighting the importance of secure supply chains, competitive markets, efficient spectrum use, and spectrum sharing to support diverse and innovative 6G applications.
This statement calls for global collaboration among governments, organizations, and stakeholders to support these principles, aiming to foster an inclusive, sustainable, secure, and peaceful future by advancing 6G technology.
President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden have announced that the 2024 White House Easter Egg Roll is scheduled for Easter Monday, April 1, 2024, on the South Lawn. This event continues a long-standing tradition at the White House. Details regarding the theme, activities, and media coverage will be disclosed in the upcoming weeks.
Free tickets for the public are available through an online lottery starting today, February 26, 2024. The event targets children up to 12 years old, with the lottery closing on March 4, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET. Winners will be notified by email after March 11, 2024. Additionally, the White House is accepting volunteer applications from individuals 18 and older until March 4, 2024, with notifications to selected volunteers occurring after March 11, 2024.
President Biden arrives on the set of Late Night With Seth Meyers and guest Amy Poehler
