Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2024

February 26, 2024

The President's Travel to Mexico-U.S. Border

Q. Mr. PresidentâMr. President, you're heading to the border on Thursday. Why go to the border now, Mr. President? You're going on Thursday. Why go now?

The President. I've been planning to go Thursday. What I didn't know is my good friend, apparently, is going.

Q. And will you meet with migrants while you're there, Mr. President?

The President. Well, I'm not going to announce ahead of time. Secret Service doesn't like me announcing exactly what I'm going to do.

[*At this point, several reporters asked questions at once*.]

Israel-Hamas Conflict in Gaza, Palestinian Territories

Q. Can you give us a sense of when you think that cease-fire will start, sir?

The President. Well, I hope by the beginning of the weekendâI mean the end of the weekend.

At least, myââ

Q. Say again.

The President. My National Security Adviser tells me that we're close. We're close. It's not done yet. And my hope is by next Monday, we'll have a cease-fire.

NOTE: The President spoke at 5:32 p.m. during a visit to the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream shop at Rockefeller Center with Seth Meyers, host of NBC's "Late Night With Seth Meyers" program, after taping an interview with Mr. Meyers for later broadcast. In his remarks, he referred to former President Donald J. Trump; and National Security Adviser Jacob J. Sullivan. The transcript was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on February 27.

Categories: Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters, New York City. Locations: New York City.

Names: Sullivan, Jacob J.; Trump, Donald J.

Subjects: Gaza, conflict with Israel; Israel, military operations in Gaza; National Security Adviser; New York, President's visit; News media, Presidential interviews.

DCPD Number: DCPD202400136.

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