Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2021

July 21, 2021

The President. We answered enough questions today. The only reason I'm stopping: I feel badly you're here this hour of the night.

Law Enforcement/Democratic Party Leadership

Q. Mr. President, can you clarify what you said about noâthat there's noâno one in the Democratic Party is antipolice?

The President. I didn't say that.

Q. I know that you have said you don't want to defund the policeââ

The President. I said that that is not the Democratic Party's position.

Q. Okay.

The President. I'm the Democratic Party; I am President. So is the Speaker of the House, and so is the majority leader. We are not the defunding the police.

Q. Okay. And are there people whoâin the Democratic Party, who want to defund the police?

Q. Mr. Presidentââ

The President. Are there people in the Republican Party who think we're sucking the blood out of kids?

Q. I'm not sure. Are there people in the Democratic Party who wanted to defund the police?

NOTE: The President spoke at 11:55 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi; and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer.

Categories: Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters :: White House. Locations: Washington, DC.

Names: Pelosi, Nancy; Schumer, Charles E.

Subjects: Communications : News media :: Presidential interviews; Congress : House of Representatives :: Speaker; Congress : Senate :: Majority leader.

DCPD Number: DCPD202100604.

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