{"id":1228022,"date":"2022-01-20T15:52:19","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T20:52:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1228022"},"modified":"2022-01-20T15:52:21","modified_gmt":"2022-01-20T20:52:21","slug":"white-house-scrambles-to-clean-up-clarify-bidens-comments-on-ukraine-and-2022-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-scrambles-to-clean-up-clarify-bidens-comments-on-ukraine-and-2022-election\/","title":{"rendered":"White House Scrambles To Clean Up, Clarify Biden\u2019s Comments On Ukraine And 2022 Election"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhite-house-scrambles-to-clean-up-clarify-bidens-comments-on-ukraine-and-2022-election%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1228022&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><\/div>\n<p>The White House spent a portion of Wednesday evening and Thursday cleaning up two key comments from President Joe Biden\u2019s press conference.<\/p>\n<p>Biden\u2019s marathon formal press conference lasted for nearly two hours, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/markknoller\/status\/1483936080382603273\">beating<\/a> out both former President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama\u2019s lengthiest press conferences. While Biden started off by calling on reporters using a list in hand, he eventually abandoned the paper, joking at one point that he could \u201cstill stand\u201d despite the length of the event.<\/p>\n<p>With the lengthy press conference \u2013 a rare event for the current president \u2013 came some missteps. Early on, Biden was <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2022\/01\/19\/joe-biden-election-results-midterms-voting-bills\/\">asked about<\/a> the passage of his election bills and whether he believes the upcoming midterm election would be fair without them.<\/p>\n<p>Biden is <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/12\/15\/senate-democrats-push-bidens-spending-bill-2022-instead-pass-voting-bill\/\">pushing<\/a> for <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2022\/01\/11\/joe-biden-elections-bills-segregation-filibuster\/\">passage<\/a> of the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would give more federal control over state election laws. Republicans have blocked these efforts, often arguing it subverts the Constitution.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt all depends on whether or not we\u2019re able to make the case to the American people that some of this is being set up to try and alter the outcome of the election,\u201d Biden responded on Wednesday. \u201cAnd it\u2019s one thing \u2013 look, maybe I\u2019m just being too much of an optimist. Remember how we thought not that many people were going to show up to vote in the middle of a pandemic? We had the highest voter turnout in the history of the United States of America.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Biden continued on to say that \u201cno matter how hard they [Republicans] make it for minorities to vote,\u201d people will still \u201cstand in line and defy the attempt to keep them from\u201d voting. When asked for clarification later on in the press conference, Biden maintained that the 2022 midterm elections \u201ccould easily be illegitimate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh yeah, I think it could easily be illegitimate. Imagine, imagine if in fact, Trump is succeeded in convincing \u2026 to not count the votes,\u201d Biden said. \u201cImagine if those attempts to say that the count was not legit, you have to recount it and were \u2026 going to discard the following votes. Im not saying it\u2019s gonna be legit. The increase in the prospect of being illegitimate is a direct proportion to us not been able to get these reforms passed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Biden\u2019s election comments and the subsequent media coverage sparked pushback from White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2022\/01\/20\/psaki-biden-2022-election\/\">morning<\/a>. First, Psaki <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PressSec\/status\/1484166810077483009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1484166810077483009%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdailycaller.com%2F2022%2F01%2F20%2Fpsaki-biden-2022-election%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">tweeted<\/a> that Biden \u201cwas not casting doubt on the legitimacy of the 2022 election\u201d and was, in fact, \u201cmaking the opposite point.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn 2020, a record number of voters turned out in the face of a pandemic, and election officials made sure they could vote and have those votes counted,\u201d Psaki tweeted. \u201cHe was explaining that the results would be illegitimate if states do what the former president asked them to do after the 2020 election: toss out ballots and overturn results after the fact. The Big Lie is putting our democracy at risk. We\u2019re fighting to protect it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Shortly afterwards, Psaki went on Fox News, where she addressed the president\u2019s comments for a second time. Psaki said she \u201ctalked to the president a lot about this and he is absolutely not predicting that the 2022 elections would be illegitimate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>WATCH:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span id=\"subtitle3363\" class=\"subtitle processed\" data-id=\"3363\" data-start=\"2484196\" data-end=\"2486031\">\u201cThe point he was raising was<\/span> <span id=\"subtitle3366\" class=\"subtitle processed\" data-id=\"3366\" data-start=\"2486031\" data-end=\"2489101\">both that in 2020 even amongst<\/span> <span id=\"subtitle3369\" class=\"subtitle processed\" data-id=\"3369\" data-start=\"2489101\" data-end=\"2490301\">challenging circumstances<\/span>&nbsp;\u2013&nbsp;<span id=\"subtitle3372\" class=\"subtitle processed\" data-id=\"3372\" data-start=\"2490301\" data-end=\"2491936\">efforts to suppress the vote,<\/span>&nbsp;<span id=\"subtitle3375\" class=\"subtitle processed\" data-id=\"3375\" data-start=\"2491937\" data-end=\"2495241\">the midst of a pandemic \u2013 there&nbsp;<\/span><span id=\"subtitle3378\" class=\"subtitle processed\" data-id=\"3378\" data-start=\"2495240\" data-end=\"2496841\">was record turnout,\u201d Psaki said. \u201c<\/span><span id=\"subtitle3381\" class=\"subtitle processed\" data-id=\"3381\" data-start=\"2496842\" data-end=\"2497809\">Democrats and Republicans,<\/span> <span id=\"subtitle3384\" class=\"subtitle processed\" data-id=\"3384\" data-start=\"2497809\" data-end=\"2499044\">record turnout to go to the<\/span> <span id=\"subtitle3387\" class=\"subtitle processed\" data-id=\"3387\" data-start=\"2499044\" data-end=\"2499444\">polls.<\/span> <span id=\"subtitle3390\" class=\"subtitle processed\" data-id=\"3390\" data-start=\"2499445\" data-end=\"2502114\">The point he was making is that the<\/span> <span id=\"subtitle3393\" class=\"subtitle processed\" data-id=\"3393\" data-start=\"2502114\" data-end=\"2503282\">former president asked a number of states, seven or<\/span> <span id=\"subtitle3396\" class=\"subtitle processed\" data-id=\"3396\" data-start=\"2503282\" data-end=\"2504551\">more, in fact, to overturn the<\/span> <span id=\"subtitle3399\" class=\"subtitle processed\" data-id=\"3399\" data-start=\"2504550\" data-end=\"2506617\">outcome of the election.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The press secretary continued addressing Biden\u2019s \u201cillegitimate\u201d election comments during Thursday afternoon\u2019s press briefing. She reiterated that Biden \u201cwas not intending to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2022 election\u201d and continued on to argue that \u201che was actually attempting to make the opposite point.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When pressed on the subject \u2013 specifically whether Biden believes the election will be legitimate even if his bills fail passage \u2013 Psaki said \u201cyes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The administration also <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2022\/01\/19\/administration-officials-forced-clean-up-bidens-ukraine-remarks\/\">scrambled<\/a> to walk back a comment from Biden where he responded to a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>At the press conference, <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2022\/01\/10\/biden-admin-recruited-russia-hawks-to-prepare-for-talks-over-ukraine\/\">Biden<\/a> promised to hold Russia \u201caccountable if it invades\u201d Ukraine \u2013 adding a caveat that \u201cit depends on what [Russia] does.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s one thing if it\u2019s a minor incursion and we end up having to fight about what to do and not do, et cetera, <span id=\"subtitle471\" class=\"subtitle selfragment\" data-id=\"471\" data-start=\"1840205\" data-end=\"1845008\">but if they do what<\/span> <span id=\"subtitle472\" class=\"subtitle\" data-id=\"472\" data-start=\"1845076\" data-end=\"1848812\">they are capable of doing with the forces massed on the border,<\/span> <span id=\"subtitle473\" class=\"subtitle\" data-id=\"473\" data-start=\"1848880\" data-end=\"1852649\">it will be a disaster for Russia if they invade Ukraine,\u201d Biden said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>National Security Counsel spokeswoman Emily Horne quickly issued a statement on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/emilyhorne46\/status\/1483934454238351362?s=20\">Twitter<\/a>, writing that the president \u201cclarified this\u201d and \u201cwas referring to the difference between military and non-military\/para-military\/cyber action by the Russians.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was referring to the difference between military and non-military\/para-military\/cyber action by the Russians. Such actions would be met by a reciprocal response, in coordination with Allies and partners,\u201d Horne wrote.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@POTUS<\/a> clarified this. He was referring to the difference between military and non-military\/para-military\/cyber action by the Russians. Such actions would be met by a reciprocal response, in coordination with Allies and partners. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/vBX7aO5B1d\">https:\/\/t.co\/vBX7aO5B1d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Emily Horne (@emilyhorne46) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/emilyhorne46\/status\/1483934454238351362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 19, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A short while later, Psaki sent out a statement clarifying Biden\u2019s remarks as well.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPresident Biden has been clear with the Russian President: If any Russian military forces move across the Ukrainian border, that\u2019s a renewed invasion, and it will be met with a swift, severe, and united response from the United States and our Allies,\u201d Psaki said. \u201cPresident Biden also knows from long experience that the Russians have an extensive playbook of aggression short of military action, including cyber-attacks and paramilitary tactics.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday morning, Biden himself weighed in on his recent remarks. At the top of a meeting with members of the Infrastructure Implementation Task Force, Biden promised that he\u2019s \u201cbeen absolutely clear with [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin \u2026 [that] any, any assembled Russian united move across the Ukrainian border, that is an invasion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Biden said the invasion would be met with a \u201csevere and coordinated economic response.\u201d He also said the administration and allies must \u201cbe ready to respond to\u201d measures that are not \u201covert military actions,\u201d using the example of paramilitary tactics.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLet there be no doubt at all: If Putin makes this choice, Russia will pay a heavy price,\u201d Biden said. <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/12\/07\/biden-putin-ukraine-russia-sasse-haley-trump\/\"><strong>(RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: \u2018Speak Loudly And Carry A Small Stick\u2019: Republicans Blast Biden\u2019s Response To Putin\u2019s Escalation In Ukraine)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Once again, the administration\u2019s efforts did not stop there. Psaki was pressed about Biden\u2019s comments at the press briefing on Thursday \u2013 hours <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2022\/01\/20\/ukraine-zelensky-biden-no-minor-incursions-russia\/\">after<\/a>&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reminded Biden on Twitter that \u201cthere are no minor incursions and small nations.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">We want to remind the great powers that there are no minor incursions and small nations. Just as there are no minor casualties and little grief from the loss of loved ones. I say this as the President of a great power \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 \u0412\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u0438\u043c\u0438\u0440 \u0417\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439 (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ZelenskyyUa\/status\/1484171183264129025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 20, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>While she again promised that Putin moving troops across the border equals \u201can invasion,\u201d the press secretary declined to \u201coutline\u201d specific \u201ctools\u201d the administration has in the event of paramilitary action and cyber attacks.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the administration\u2019s efforts following some of Biden\u2019s more notable remarks, Psaki appeared to downplay any talk of a clean up, telling reporters that what the administration \u201cconveyed\u201d afterwards was \u201cexactly what he\u2019s [Biden] conveyed to President Putin.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was already planning to go on Fox News,\u201d Psaki said, referring to her Thursday morning appearance on the network.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt doesn\u2019t take long to send out a tweet, promise,\u201d she added, referencing her tweets on Biden\u2019s remarks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The White House spent a portion of Wednesday evening and Thursday cleaning up two key comments from President Joe Biden\u2019s press conference.Biden\u2019s marathon formal press conference lasted for nearly two &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1228022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1228022","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1228022"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1228022\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1228022"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1228022"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1228022"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}