Firm vis-à-vis China, optimistic about the Covid but mysterious about his intentions in 2024. President Biden multiplied his shocking statements during an interview broadcast on Sunday, September 18, less than two months before the mid- mandate.
During a very rare interview, given to the CBS channel, the Democratic leader for the first time let it be known that he had not decided whether he intended to run for the American presidential election in 2024
. final decision that I will represent myself?
That remains to be seen
,” he said, while saying that was his “
intention
” for now.
Since his election in November 2020, the president has however projected himself on many occasions into the 2024 election, indicating that he would again choose his current vice-president, Kamala Harris, to be his running mate.
All while his predecessor Donald Trump ostensibly flirts with the idea of running for a new term.
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The Covid-19 pandemic is “over”
The oldest president ever elected in the United States, Joe Biden will celebrate his 80th birthday on November 20.
He would be 82 at the start of a possible second term, and 86 at the end, a subject that has long been taboo in his camp.
During his interview, the tenant of the White House wanted to answer those who doubt the ability of the almost octogenarian to govern: “
Look at me
”, he launched with a smile.
Fifty days before perilous mid-term elections, during which the president could lose control of the Senate and the House of Representatives, Joe Biden wanted to paint a very flattering portrait of the world's leading economic power.
In particular, he decreed that the Covid-19 pandemic was “
over
” in the United States.
“
If you look around, no one is wearing a mask, and everyone looks pretty good
,” he said.
After the major spring 2021 vaccination campaign, the American president had already claimed that America had “
taken over
” Covid-19.
But the wave of contamination from the Omicron variant had forced the Democratic leader to relaunch the battle against the virus.
On the inflation front – the main angle of attack for the Republican opposition – Joe Biden again wanted to be confident.
“
We are going to bring inflation under control
,” he promised, brushing aside the disappointing consumer price statistics released earlier this week.
“Americans would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion”
Another highlight of this interview broadcast on Sunday: the President of the United States threw a stone into the pond by reaffirming that American troops would defend Taiwan if the island were to be invaded by China, a statement that should provoke fury of Beijing.
Asked if "
Americans would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion
", the American leader replied: "
Yes, if an unprecedented attack were to occur
".
A White House spokesman, however, said US policy toward Taiwan had "
not changed
."
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Joe Biden also assured that he had warned his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping of the risk of investors fleeing if Beijing violated the sanctions imposed on Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine.
The 46th President of the United States has also renewed his warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the use of chemical or nuclear weapons in Ukraine, at a time when the Ukrainian army is leading a major counter-offensive in the country.
"
It would change the course of the war in a way not seen since World War II
," he warned, promising a "substantial" response
from
the United States if this step were to be taken.
