Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2022

August 26, 2022

The President. I haven't seen the report on Mar-a-Lago, so I'm not commenting. I haven't seen it, number one. But I do want to say we had a great economic report today.

Last month, minus-1 inflation. Not up, notâdown. Actually down. The economy is looking good. So far, we're hanging in, and I feel good about it. But we've got a long way to go.

Q. Is it possible thatââ

Student Loan Debt Relief

Q. Mr. President, if only 75 percent of the people take advantage of the student loan programâdo you consider it a success if only 75 percent of the people take advantage of it?

The President. I'll consider it a success if only 10 percent take advantage of it. Look, people need help. And by the way, the end result of this isâas I've met with everyone from the former Secretary of Treasury to everyone elseâthis is not going to cause inflation, number one.

Number two, it would generate economic growthâthe oppositeâbecause you've got people who are, in fact, now going to be freed up to be able to go borrow money to buy a home, to be able to start businesses, to do the things that need to be done.

And I found it absolutely fascinating that some of the folks who were talking about "this is big spending" are the same people that got $158,000 in PPP money, including theâwhat's her name? That woman who believes in theâanyway. A whole lot of Republicans got a lot of money, the very people criticizing it.

So it's just notâI think it's a good Education : Postsecondary education :: Federal student loans, partial forgiveness thing, it frees a lot of people up, it's going to grow the economy. We still have a way to go, but I'm optimistic.

2021 Terrorist Attack Outside Kabul Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan

Q. Mr. President, have you spoken to any of the family members of the 13 soldiers who died last year in Afghanistan?

The President. Not today, but I have spoken in the past.

Retrieval of Documents From Former President Donald J. Trump's Residence at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida

Q. President Trump says that he declassified all these documents. Could he have just declassified them all?

The President. "Well, I just want to know, I've declassified everything in the world. I'm President. I can do it"âcome on. Declassified everything?

Q. Mr. Presidentââ

The President. I'm not going to comment. I mean, because I don't know the detail. I don't even want to know. I'll let the Justice Department take care of that.

Q. Mr. President, and the broad questionââ

Q. Questions may be coming up on the national security front. Do you need to be briefed on

it?

The President's Handling of Classified Documents

Q. Mr. President, in simple terms, is it ever appropriate for a President just to take home with them classified and top secret documents?

The President. Depending on the circumstance. For example, I have, in my home, a cabined- off space that is completely secure. I'm taking home with me today today's PDB. It's locked. I have a person with meâmilitary with me. I read it, I lock it back up, and give it to the military.

Q. Without a specialized area in which you can keep classified documents, is it ever appropriate for a President to bring classified and top secret documents home with them?

The President. It depends on the document, and it depends on how secure theâ[inaudible].

Thank you.

Q. "Semi-fascism"ââ

Q. Do you ever take classifiedââ

The President's Use of the Term "Semi-Fascism"

Q. What did you mean by "semi-fascism," sir?

The President. [Laughter] You know what I mean.

Angola

Q. Mr. President, Angola just had a typical election 2 days ago, and everything went good. What is the view of Mr. President? Because you recently announced $2 billion investment for Angola, which everybody is very excited. Your comment on that?

The President. That answers the question, doesn't it? You think we'd give $2 billion if we weren't excited about what happened?

Thank you.

Q. Mr. President, Mr. Presidentââ

The First Lady's Health

Q. Mr. President, how is the First Lady feeling? How's the First Lady feeling?

The President. She's still recovering.

Q. Is she still positive?

NOTE: The President spoke at approximately 1:55 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White House prior to boarding Marine One. A portion of the remarks could not be verified because the audio was incomplete.

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

Names: Biden, Jill T.

Subjects: Afghanistan : 2021 terrorist attack in Kabul; Angola, elections; Business and industry : Small businesses, promotion efforts; Communications : News media :: Presidential interviews; Defense and national security : Classified national security information; Economy, national :

Improvement; Economy, national : Inflation; Economy, national : Strengthening efforts; Education : Postsecondary education :: Federal student loans, partial forgiveness; Florida : Mar-a- Lago Club in Palm Beach; Presidency, U.S. : Classified documents, access and storage.

DCPD Number: DCPD202200733.