(17 Jun 2022)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington - 16 June 2022
1. STILL: U.S. President Joe Biden listens during an interview with the Associated Press in the Oval Office of the White House
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Josh Boak, Associated Press:
"It's important to note that the US economy by a lot of measures is almost doing too well because unemployment is low, because growth was so strong last year, that also caused inflation to be higher. Inflation kicked up even higher this year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February. That caused oil and food prices to shoot up. And high gasoline costs are what the president believes is weighing down on his popularity. It's the thing he has to resolve. And yet, when I said, did you consider the risks of standing up to Putin and what it would mean for you in terms of domestic politics? His answer was, 'I am the president of the United States. I need to do what's in the best interests of the country.' And for him, backing down could have a series of ramifications like chaos in Europe, China, possibly taking over Taiwan or North Korea getting more aggressive with its nuclear weapon ambitions. And he didn't want to see that."
3. STILL: President Joe Biden speaks during an interview with the Associated Press
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Josh Boak, Associated Press:
"Often presidents make choices to avoid worst case scenarios. But not all Americans understand those worst case scenarios when they fill up at the tank."
5. STILL: President Joe Biden during interview
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Josh Boak, Associated Press:
"President Biden sees a country full of people whose lives were disrupted. They couldn't go to graduation ceremonies. They might not be able to go on dates or prom or mark important life events. He believes that that has a long run effect. So he said it doesn't surprise him when polls show that many Americans are feeling pessimistic about the state of the world because of what they've been through. The key is to help them recover."
7. STILL of Biden speaking during interview
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Josh Boak, Associated Press:
"There have been a lot of reports that President Biden is frustrated that he hasn't been able to connect better with the American people on why he sees the economy as being so strong. This was a president who wants to be understood, who wants his message to be resonant throughout the country. And that means most likely being able to take all of these complex economic and geopolitical issues and explain them at a kitchen table level. And I think that that was part of the reason why this interview occurred."
9. STILL of Biden during interview
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Josh Boak, Associated Press:
"One of the big factors here is whether or not enough Americans will listen to what he says and agree with him. We're at a time of tremendous political division and he knows that. And that is part of the challenge he also faces in improving the national psychology."
10 . STILL of Biden speaking during interview in the Oval Office
STORYLINE:
President Joe Biden said Thursday the American people are “really, really down” after a tumultuous two years with the coronavirus pandemic, volatility in the economy and now surging gasoline prices that are slamming family budgets. But he stressed that a recession was “not inevitable” and held out hope of giving the country a greater sense of confidence.
As for the overall American mindset, Biden said, “People are really, really down.”
The president said he saw reason for optimism with the 3.6% unemployment rate and America’s relative strength in the world.
----
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
