Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2023

April 15, 2023

The President. I just wanted to say thanks. It's a longâand the fact that you got to get up at 2:30 in the morning, you know, East Coast time to be here. But thank you very much. I know it was a long trip for you all. But thank you.

The President's Trans-Atlantic Flight

Q. Did you get some rest?

The President. I did. I slept for a couple hours. Soââ

Q. How was that turbulence?

The President. I slept through it. [Laughter]

The President's Travel to Ireland/Government of Northern Ireland

Q. Did you do everything you wanted to do in Ireland?

The President. Well, we have more to do in the north. We have more to do to get theâget the government formed. And thatâI think we can still do that and it's important. And I'll continue to work with the Prime Minister of England, as well as the Taoiseach.

The President's Trans-Atlantic Flight

Q. Where are you going to put the brick? Where's the brick going to go, sir?

The President. I haven't figured that out yet. [Laughter]

Irish Unification

Q. Did anyone ask you about Irish unity, whether that is ever something you'll see in your lifetime and in our lifetime?

The President. Iâsay that again?

Q. Irish unity. Did that come up at all in any of your conversationsââ

The President. Oh, yes.

Q. ââ[inaudible]?

The President. Noââ

Q. Do you think that's something that will ever happen?

The President. I think it will. I think we're getting closeâoh, you mean the unification of the island?

Q. Yes, that's what I mean. Yes, sorry.

The President. No, no, no. No, thatâthat isâI think it's moreâI think theâwhen that came up with someone raising the question in a larger group, and they said, "Well, maybe Scotland first." [Laughter] They were being facetious.

But all kidding aside, no, it's just about making sure that the Good Friday Agreements and theâ[*inaudible*]âaccord work. And theââ

Look, this is such an opportunity. It really is an incredible opportunity for the north, in terms of economic growth and economic prosperity. And they have all the tools. They have the universities. They have the technicians. They have a lot ofâI mean, north and south.

Soâwell, thank you all very much.

Federal Budget

Q. Any update on the debt ceiling? Will you speak with Speaker McCarthy in the coming weeks on that?

The President. Of course I'll speak to him. Show me his budget. That old expressionâ"show me your budget." You know, heâwe agreed early on, I'd lay down a budget, which I did on March 9, and he'd lay down a budget. I don't know what we're negotiating if I don't know what they want, what they're going to do.

Thank you so very much.

Q. Thank you, sir.

Federal Court Actions Regarding Access to Mifepristone

Q. Any comment on the abortion decision by the Supreme Court to pause it?

The President. Did they decide, the Supreme Court?

Q. No, that theyâthey're pausingââ

The President. I thinkâ

Q. ââ[inaudible].

The President. ââit's outrageous what the court has done relative to concluding that they're going to overrule the FDA whether it's going to be safe or not. I think it's out of their domain.

Andâbut we'll see what happens. We'll see.

Thank you all so very much.

NOTE: The President spoke at 2:43 a.m. on the tarmac upon arrival from Dublin, Ireland. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom; and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar of Ireland. Audio was not available for verification of the content of these remarks.

Categories: Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters, Dover Air Force Base, DE.

Locations: Dover Air Force Base, DE.

Names: McCarthy, Kevin O.; Sunak, Rishi; Varadkar, Leo.

Subjects: Abortion; Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration,

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas decision; Delaware, Dover Air Force Base; Delaware, President's visit; Fiscal year 2024 budget proposal; Food and Drug Administration; Ireland, Belfast/Good Friday Agreement; Ireland, Prime Minister; News media, Presidential interviews; Speaker of the House of Representatives; United Kingdom, Belfast/Good Friday Agreement; United Kingdom, economic growth and development in Northern Ireland; United Kingdom, Prime Minister.

DCPD Number: DCPD202300305.