Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2021

October 15, 2021

The President. I'm talking to you so much today you're not going to want to talk to me anymore.

Q. Sir, do youââ

House Select Committee To Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol

Q. Mr. President, what's your message to people who defy congressional subpoenas on the January 6 committee?

The President. I hope that the committee goes after them and holds them accountable criminally.

Q. Should they be prosecuted by the Justice Department?

The President. I do, yes.

Q. [Inaudible]

Supreme Court Reform

Q. Sir, do you support term limits for the Supreme Court?

The President. No.

Infrastructure, Jobs, Education, and Family Assistance Legislation

Q. Do you have a message to Senator Sinema and Senator Manchin right now?

The President. Yes, I'm about to deliver it.

Q. Well, are you speaking to them tonight?

Pope Francis

Q. Are you excited to see the Pope?

The President. I am looking to see the Pope, yes. He's become aâhe'sâwe've corresponded.

Q. Yes?

The President. So I'm looking forward to seeing him.

Q. In recent days? Orââ

The President. No, no, no. Over the lastâsince Beau died.

Global Supply Chain Bottlenecks/National Economy

Q. Are supply chain bottlenecks threatening the overall economic recovery, do you think?

The President. No problem. You know that. What a question. [Laughter]

Q. You don't think the supply chain bottlenecks are threatening the economy?

The President. Are they threatening the economy?

Q. Yes, overall economic recovery.

The President. No, sure, they have an impact on it because of COVID. And we've got to catch up.

Q. Mr. President, are you speaking with Senator Sinema and Senator Manchin soon?

Infrastructure, Jobs, Education, and Family Assistance Legislation

Q. Mr. President, can Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Joe Manchin ever reconcile their differences on your agenda? [Laughter] Why not get them together and hash it out this weekend?

The President. No problem! I can do that. Not a problem. [Laughter]

Q. Why not?

The President. Hey, thank you.

Infrastructure, Jobs, Education, and Family Assistance Legislation

Q. Do you think the talks will come to a conclusion next week?

The President. Well, I'm pushing hard to try to get it moving as quickly as I can.

Q. Is there a deadline?

The President. No. No.

Mexico-U.S. Relations

Q. Mr. Presidentâ[inaudible]âMexico and the border. Are you concerned about the fact that some of the people who got the vaccine, like Sputnik, which are not approved here in the

U.S. or by the World Health Organization, it's going to affect the relationship between the two countries?

The President. I have to talk to my medical experts. I don't know enough to answer that question. Thank you.

NOTE: The President spoke at 6:38 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White House.

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

Names: Francis, Pope.

Subjects: Budget, Federal : Fiscal year 2022 budget; Commerce, international : Global supply chain bottlenecks, efforts to address; Communications : News media :: Presidential interviews; Congress : House of Representatives :: Select Committee To Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol; Diseases : Coronavirus, domestic prevention efforts; District of Columbia: Civil unrest and violence at U.S. Capitol; Holy See (Vatican City) : Pope; Judiciary : Supreme Court :: Reform efforts.

DCPD Number: DCPD202100857.