Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2021

March 23, 2021

The President's Briefing

Q. Were you getting a briefing, Mr. President?

The President. Yes, I was.

Q. Can you share what's going on?

The President. It was a foreign policy issue.

The Composition of the President's Cabinet

Q. Mr. President, a couple of Asian American Senators have threatened to veto your nominees if you don't nominate diverse candidates. Have you spoken to them?

The President. Well, I don't know what you'reââ

Q. An Asian American in your Cabinet, sir, is what they're asking for.

The President. We have the most diverse Cabinet in history. We have a lot of Asian Americans who are in the Cabinet and sub-Cabinet levels. Our Cabinet is formed.

Border Security/Immigration Policy

Q. Mr. President, are you concerned that the administration's statements that the border is closed, but children will be cared for, is a mixed message?

The President. I'll have more to say about that in the next couple of days. The key here relates to what's happening in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. And the last administration dismantled all we had put in place, relative to dealing with the problems in country. And we'll have something to say about that very shortly.

Q. Is Ambassador Jacobsonâis she trying to get some concessions from Guatemala and El Salvador?

The President. I'll more to say about that tomorrow and the next day.

North Korea/Short-Range Missile Tests in North Korea

Q. Could you tell youâus about North Korea and firing of the rocketsâwhat you've learned?

The President. We have learned that there is nothing much has changed. Thank you.

NOTE: The President spoke at 6:34 p.m. at John Glenn Columbus International Airport prior to boarding Air Force One en route to Washington, DC. Reporters referred to Sens. L. Tammy Duckworth and Mazie K. Hirono; and former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Roberta S. Jacobson, in her capacity as Special Assistant to the President and Coordinator for the Southern Border.

Audio was not available for verification of the content of these remarks.

Categories: Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters :: Columbus, OH. Locations: Columbus, OH.

Subjects: Cabinet : Diversity of members; Communications : News media :: Presidential interviews; Defense and national security : Border security; El Salvador : Migration to U.S., influx; Guatemala : Migration to U.S., influx; Honduras : Migration to U.S., influx; Mexico : Border with U.S., infrastructure and security; North Korea : Ballistic missiles, testing and development; Ohio : President's visit.

DCPD Number: DCPD202100252.