Biden Talks COVID-19, Inflation, 2024 and China in 60 Minutes Interview
Summary from the AllSides News Team
President Joe Biden appeared on 60 Minutes Sunday and made a number of notable comments about hot-button issues.
Among them was his remark that though the U.S. still has "a problem with Covid," the "pandemic is over." When asked what he could do "better and faster" to combat the high inflation rate, Biden said that "for the last several months, it hasn't spiked, it is just barely, it's been basically even." He said former President Donald Trump was “totally irresponsible” for keeping classified documents at his Florida estate. He also said the U.S. would defend and send troops to Taiwan in the event of an "unprecedented attack" from China. And when asked about possibly running for president again in 2024, Biden reaffirmed his "intention" to run, but said his final decision "remains to be seen."
News sources across the political spectrum covered the interview, and many highlighted Biden's remarks about the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and his potential 2024 presidential campaign. Some left-rated outlets, such as NPR and The Guardian (Lean Left bias), contrasted Biden's pandemic remark with data about ongoing COVID-19 case count and deaths. Some right-rated outlets instead highlighted Biden's remarks on inflation; Fox Business said Biden "attempted to downplay the U.S. inflation crisis." One National Review (Right bias) writer argued that Biden saying the pandemic is over shows that his student loan forgiveness order is illegal because it "rested entirely upon there being an ongoing emergency."
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Biden: 'The pandemic is over'President Joe Biden said he believes the Covid-19 pandemic is "over" in an appearance on CBS' "60 Minutes," but acknowledged the US still has a "problem" with the virus that has killed more than 1 million Americans.
"The pandemic is over. We still have a problem with Covid. We're still doing a lot of work on it. It's -- but the pandemic is over," Biden said.
The US government still designates Covid-19 a Public Health Emergency and the World Health Organization says it remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. But...
From the Right
President Biden argues about inflation in '60 Minutes' interview: 'It hasn't spiked'President Biden attempted to downplay the U.S. inflation crisis during a "60 Minutes" interview, claiming that the month-to-month rate has "hardly" risen – which prompted his CBS interviewer to dispute his response.
CBS correspondent Scott Pelley asked: "Mr. President, as you know, last Tuesday, the annual inflation rate came in at 8.3%. The stock market nosedived. People are shocked by their grocery bills. What can you do better and faster?"
Biden quickly told Pelley he needed to "put this in perspective" and that the inflation rate month-to-month was "up just an inch,...
From the Center
Biden Vows To Defend Taiwan From Chinese Invasion And Declares Covid Pandemic ‘Over’ In 60 Minutes InterviewPresident Joe Biden said the U.S. military would defend Taiwan if the island was invaded by Chinese forces, in a broad-ranging interview on CBS 60 Minutes broadcast on Sunday where he also said the Covid-19 pandemic was now “over” and chided his predecessor’s handling of critical government documents.
Biden told CBS that U.S. forces will defend Taiwan in the event of an “unprecedented attack” and when pressed on if this meant sending troops to defend the island from a Chinese invasion, Biden said “yes”.
Prior to this, Biden said the U.S. still...
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