Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2021

April 29, 2021

The President's Visit With Former President James E. Carter, Jr., and First Lady Rosalynn Carter

Q. How was your visit with the Carters today, sir?

The President. It was great. It was great to see President Carter. He reminded me that I was the first person to endorse him outside of Georgia. And we sat and talked about the old days. And he introduced me to a friend of his, a reverend who he wanted me to get to know. And Rosalynn was great too. We just had a nice time. It was justâthey're old friends.

Q. How is his health been?

The President. His health has gotten better. I mean, heâyou know, he's reallyâit's amazing. He keeps bouncing back. And we talked a little bit about cancer research and a few other things. But it's just great to see him.

Alleged Directed Energy Attack at the White House Ellipse

Q. Mr. President, what do you know about this supposed direct energy attack on the Ellipse and the person who was injured?

The President. I don't know anything about it.

Q. So you have not been briefed on it?

The President. I have not been briefed on it.

The President's Rally in Duluth, Georgia/Federal Use of Private Detention Facilities

Q. What did you make of the protesters tonight at your rally, sir?

The President. Well, when they found out I had agreed with them, they finally stopped. Because I've been opposed to funding private prisons, and that's what they were talking about. But I think they were just very emotionally excited. That's why I stopped and let them go on a little bit, and then told them where Iâ[inaudible]. And when they found outâthey wanted me to do it immediately, like I could sign a paper and make it happen. But Iââ

Q. You said youâ[inaudible]âin 5 more days.

The President. Yes.

Q. That's not going to be enough, is it?

The President. No, noâ[inaudible]. I was teasing aboutâyou know, I can't getâI have to get it passed. And that's what Iâbut I do support eliminating funding to private prisons.

Q. Does that extend to ICE?

Senator Shelley Moore Capito/Infrastructure and Jobs Legislation

Q. Can you tell us more about your conversation with Senator Capito?

The President. We had a good conversation. And I invited her to come with anyone she wants to bring with her to the White House. And they're off next weekâthe Senateâso I said: "If you wanted to come next week, that's fine. But if you want to wait and have our staff talk some

more." But she seemed very positive about wanting to do something serious about it. And I'm anxious to hear what they have to say.

Q. [Inaudible]âopportunity for common ground if you want to raise taxes to pay for this and they say, "That's a nonstarter"?

The President. Well, if they say, "We're not going to pay for it," then that's back to the old Republican position of, you know, cut taxesâ$2 trillion, go into debt, and not pay. I mean, it's ironic how theâhow this has all changed.

So I told her that we could do it in two ways. Let's decide on infrastructureâwhat they think is infrastructure. So if the first piece of it is they don't think broadband is infrastructureâI'm not saying she says that either.

But let's decide what isâwhat are they prepared to consider in terms of what constitutes infrastructure, how much of it, and then we can talk about how to pay for it if we get to the point that we actually have a real number.

But if it's like last timeâand I don'tâI think she's seriousâbut if, like last time, they come in with one-fourth or one-fifth of what I'm asking and say, "That's a final offer," then there'sâ you know, it's a no-go for me. Then, we have to go andââ

Police Reform Legislation

Q. [Inaudible]âSenator Tim Scott to the White House to talk about police reform? Are you planningââ

The President. Well, no, I'd happy to have him at the White House, but right now he has a serious negotiation going on with Senator Booker. And we should let the Senate work its will on how they're going to move that.

Q. And how much of a role would you play in that? Are you going toââ

The President. No, I wouldn't play a role in that at all, other than, I've made my position clear what it is, and let them negotiate. If theyâif it's a negotiation that I can support, then that's fine. If it's not, then I will be prepared to continue toâthe negotiation.

Gun Control Legislation

Q. [Inaudible]âreally successful Climate Summit. Do you need to call a gun summit if you want to get something done on guns?

The President. Well, I don't think a guns summit is the way it is going to go. I think there's certain things that have already been passed in the House. It should beâthey should do it. It's time for the Congress to step up.

And one of the things that I've been doing and I'm going to continue to do is make the case to the American people: This makes no sense. The idea that over 250 people were shot dead between the first time I came down and the second mass murder a week laterâI mean, this isâit's absolutelyâand, by the way, a significant portion of gun owners and NRA members support eliminating the assault weapons. And who the hell needs 100 rounds in a gun that canâI mean, so, the vast majority of the American people are getting fed up with it. And I think, eventually, that's going to break the back of whatâthe opposition.

But look, there's a lot on the plate. What I've got to figure out is what can I get done, when.

It's a matter of sequencing a lot of things. There's a lot going on, and it's only been 101 days.

Thank you.

NOTE: The President spoke at 7:43 p.m. on the tarmac at Dobbins Air Reserve Base prior to boarding Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews, MD. In his remarks, he referred to Tony Lowden, pastor, Maranatha Baptist Church Plains in Plains, GA. Audio was not available for verification of the content of these remarks.

Categories: Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters :: Marietta, GA. Locations: Marietta, GA.

Names: Booker, Cory A.; Capito, Shelley Moore; Carter, James E., Jr.; Carter, Rosalynn; Lowden, Tony; Scott, Timothy E.

Subjects: Budget, Federal : Deficit and national debt; Communications : Broadband and wireless technologies; Communications : News media :: Presidential interviews; Diseases : Cancer research, prevention, and treatment; Georgia : President's visits; Infrastructure, national improvement efforts; Law enforcement and crime : Criminal justice system, reform efforts; Law enforcement and crime : Gun control; Law enforcement and crime : Gun violence, prevention efforts; Law enforcement and crime : Policing best practices, improvement efforts; Taxation : Tax relief.

DCPD Number: DCPD202100348.