{"id":138111,"date":"2022-03-22T10:32:17","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T17:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=138111"},"modified":"2022-03-22T10:32:17","modified_gmt":"2022-03-22T17:32:17","slug":"president-biden-before-business-roundtables-ceo-quarterly-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=138111","title":{"rendered":"President Biden Before Business Roundtable\u2019s CEO Quarterly Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;Thank you.  My name is Joe Biden, and I come from Delaware which has more corporations incorporated than all of the rest of the country combined.  (Laughter.)  And I know the Business Roundtable because in the days when I first ran for office \u2014 (clears throat) \u2014 excuse me \u2014 in 1972, for the United States Senate, the DuPont company was the eighth-largest corporation in America.  As they say in Delaware, they were the good old days.  But all kidding aside, thank you for having me.  You\u2019re a hell of an organization.  I appreciate it.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dFn8_ESsffI\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>And I want to thank you, Josh.  We\u2019ve known each other a long, long time.  And, you know, I\u2019ve hosted CEO roundtables, you know, in the White House, including with many of you over the years.  And we\u2019ve worked together on the American Rescue Plan, on COVID, on infrastructure, supply chains, innovation, on climate and clean energy, reducing costs and a whole lot more.<\/p>\n<p>And our strategy has worked, I believe, and I think it\u2019s still working.  6.7 million jobs last year \u2013- the most ever created in one year; more than 7 million now.  678,000 created just last month, in one month.  Unemployment down to 3.8 percent.  Our economy grew at 5.7 percent last year, and the strongest in nearly 40 years. <\/p>\n<p>And we reduced the deficit, we reduced the deficit \u2014 I want to say it again: We reduced the deficit by $360 billion last year, notwithstanding all that I hear on some channels when I turn them on.  And we\u2019re on track to reduce it by over $1 trillion this year.<\/p>\n<p>And that groundwork has positioned our economy to deal with \u2014 with the global problem of inflation, which is real \u2014 a lot of people are being hurt by it. <\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s underscored that America is a great place to invest.<\/p>\n<p>Intel is investing $20 million \u2014 billion in a semiconductor campus in Ohio.  I think \u2014 Mary, I think GM is investing about $7 billion in new plant and equipment.  And, Ford, I think you\u2019re doing $11 billion. <\/p>\n<p>The point is: These are \u2014 these are hi- \u2014 these are history-making investments to build electric vehicles here at home.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve seen record electric vehicle sales, along with records in solar, wind, and battery storage as well.<\/p>\n<p>In sector after sector, we\u2019re making it in America again.  And that\u2019s what my overwhelming objective is: to make it in America.<\/p>\n<p>With the Infrastructure Law, we\u2019re going to keep \u2014 we\u2019re going to keep building millions of good-paying jobs, and they\u2019re real jobs.<\/p>\n<p>And to build on progress, the Senate and House need to work on the Innovation Bill and send it to my desk.  It\u2019s important for our economy and, I would argue, for our national security as well.<\/p>\n<p>And we\u2019re also leading on the global stage because of you all.  I\u2019m pleased to see American companies stepping up and doing their part.  And what you\u2019re doing in terms of donating to Ukraine and winding down your operations without anybody requesting it.  I want to make that clear: You\u2019re on your own on winding down operations in Russia.  Not all, but many have.  Not only you, but around the world.<\/p>\n<p>And for the first time \u2014 on that subject, let me say this \u2014 for the first time that Putin began amassing troops along the Ukrainian border, I called for an emergency meeting of NATO in Europe to make the case that we had to be united. <\/p>\n<p>The one thing I\u2019m confident, knowing Putin fairly well \u2014 as well as, I guess, another leader could know one another \u2014 is that he was counting on being able to split NATO.  He never thought NATO would stay resolved \u2014 stay totally, thoroughly united.  <\/p>\n<p>And I can assure you: NATO has never been stronger or more united in its entire history than it is today, in large part because of Vladimir Putin. <\/p>\n<p>And \u2014 but, you know, in response to his aggression, there has been \u2014 we presented a united front throughout NATO and in the Pacific. <\/p>\n<p>The Quad is \u2014 with the possible exception of India being somewhat shaky on some of this.  But Japan has been extremely strong, so has Australia, in terms of dealing with Putin\u2019s aggression.  We presented a united front throughout NATO and the Pacific. <\/p>\n<p>And you did a hell of a lot to help us impose sanctions and incur costs \u2014 real costs on the Russian economy.  And we\u2019re seeing now that it mattered.  It was really important what you all did.  Not every one of you, but \u2014 I\u2019m not suggesting you all had to \u2014 but those of you who did step up, it made a big \u2014 made a big difference.  And I\u2019m personally, as President, grateful for that.<\/p>\n<p>But because our response \u2014 because our response is working, because the Ukrainians are fighting so valiantly and using the equipment we\u2019ve given them \u2014 and the United States alone has committed over $2 billion to NATO.  The idea that they don\u2019t have enough sophisticated equipment is just simply not accurate.  And I\u2019m not going to take the time to go into all of the detail here, but the point is: They have every \u2014 every equipment \u2014 every piece of equipment that makes rational sense, based on our military and NATO\u2019s military, for them to be able to do what they\u2019re doing.  And they\u2019re wreaking havoc on the \u2014 on the Russian military, whether it\u2019s their tanks or their helicopters or their aircraft.<\/p>\n<p>And, if you notice, they\u2019ve just launched a \u2014 their hypersonic missile, because it\u2019s the only thing that they can get through with absolute certainty.  It\u2019s \u2014 as you all know, it\u2019s a consequential weapon.  And \u2014 but \u2014 with the same warhead on it as a \u2014 as any other launched missile.  It doesn\u2019t make that much difference, except it\u2019s almost impossible to stop it.  There\u2019s a reason they\u2019re using it.<\/p>\n<p>And now Putin\u2019s back is against the wall.  He wasn\u2019t anticipating the extent or the strength of our unity.  And the more his back is against the wall, the greater the severity of the tactics he may employ.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve seen it before.  He\u2019s run a lot of false-flag operations.  Whenever he starts talking about something he thinks NATO, Ukraine, or the United States is about to do, it means he\u2019s getting ready to do it.  Not a joke. <\/p>\n<p>You may recall \u2014 I said this to a few of you this morning that I was able to declassify a whole range of operations that they were about to engage in without sacrificing sources and methods.  And it was able to give everybody clear notice what was about to come.  And it convinced a lot of our friends around the world that we know what they\u2019re about to do. <\/p>\n<p>And so, his back is against the wall.  And he\u2019s \u2014 now he\u2019s talking about new false flags he\u2019s setting up, including he\u2019s asserting that, we, in America, have biological as well as chemical weapons in Europe \u2014 simply not true.  I guarantee you. <\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re also suggesting that Ukraine has biological and chemical weapons in Ukraine.  That\u2019s a clear sign he is considering using both of those.  He\u2019s already used chemical weapons in the past, and we should be careful of what about \u2014 of what\u2019s about to come.  He knows there\u2019ll be severe consequences because of the united NATO front, but the point is: It\u2019s real. <\/p>\n<p>And what I want to mention very much \u2014 very quickly with you all is: One of the tools he\u2019s most likely to use, in my view, in our view, is cyber \u2014 cyberattacks.  They have a very sophisticated cyber capability.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve had, as they say in southern Delaware, where they \u2014 where they are very religious: We\u2019ve had an \u201caltar call,\u201d he and I, on this issue.  We\u2019ve had a long conversation about, if he uses it, what would be the consequence.<\/p>\n<p>But the point is that he has a capability; he hasn\u2019t used it yet.  And \u2014 but it\u2019s part of his playbook.  And I\u2019ve warned about the potential for Russian conduct to maliciously \u2014 malicious cyber activity in response to the cost we\u2019d impose, with our Allies and partners, on the world.<\/p>\n<p>But, look, today my administration has issued renewed warnings that, based on evolving intelligence, Russia may be planning a cyberattack against us. <\/p>\n<p>And as I\u2019ve said, the magnitude of Russia\u2019s cyber capacity is fairly consequential, and it\u2019s coming. <\/p>\n<p>The federal government is doing its part to get ready.  But under U.S. law, as you all remember, the private sector, all of you, largely decides the protections that we will or will not take in order to protect your sources.<\/p>\n<p>But let me be absolutely clear about something: It\u2019s not just in your interests that are at stake with their potential use of cybersecurity, it is in \u2014 the national interest is at stake.<\/p>\n<p>  And I would respectfully suggest it\u2019s a patriotic obligation for you to invest as much as you can in making sure \u2014 and we will urge \u2014 we\u2019ll help in any way that you have built up your technological capacity to deal with cyber capa- \u2014 with cyberattacks: first, to protect your own companies; second, that provides critical \u2014 as providers of critical services that Americans rely on, from power to clean water; and finally, your role you can play in helping secure every American and every American\u2019s privacy.<\/p>\n<p>For example, banks can turn on cybersecurity by default for every customer so America\u2019s financial data is safe.  And we\u2019re prepared to help you, as I said, with any tools and expertise we possess if you\u2019re ready to do that.  But it\u2019s your decision as to the steps you\u2019ll take and your responsibility to take them, not ours.<\/p>\n<p>Now we need to do what\u2019s necessary to support Ukraine, but we also need to step up for the families here at home. <\/p>\n<p>In 2019, your organizations realized \u2014 or, excuse me, released a statement with a signature of almost everyone in this room.  And it says, quote, \u201cAmerica deserves an economy that allows each person to succeed through hard work and creativity, and to lead a life of meaning and dignity.\u201d  And it expressed a commitment from you to invest in your workforce and support local communities.  It wasn\u2019t a do-gooder statement; it was a capitalist statement.  We\u2019re all capitalists in this room.  And you did the right thing, in my view, in the assertion of that statement.<\/p>\n<p>This was your view about how to run strong, profitable companies over the long term.  And this commitment of consequence and pear- \u2014 for \u2014 prepare for the free world is vital that you reaffirm that commitment, in my humble opinion.<\/p>\n<p>We can\u2019t afford to prioritize shareholders at the expense of your stakeholders, the environment, your workers, your customers, your communities where they live and work.  And you\u2019re not doing that, but I think the inclination \u2014 would be inclined to do that on some occasions. <\/p>\n<p>Instead, now\u2019s the time to invest in your people.  You can hire and retain the best workforce \u2014 best-trained workforce in the entire world, which you\u2019ve been doing. <\/p>\n<p>To invest in innovation so you can \u2014 we can deliver better and more affordable products and services from \u2014 to more Americans.<\/p>\n<p>To innovate with and for diversity, as you said in your statement, as you \u2014 as you committed to earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>Cultivating tools of artificial intelligence and advanced [to advance] dignity and opportunity for all Americans is what you\u2019ve been doing, many of you, and it really matters.<\/p>\n<p>And to invest in America itself in manufacturing; created over 450,000 manufacturing jobs because of you all, and it really matters.  It hadn\u2019t happened in a long time. <\/p>\n<p>As one of my colleagues from the Midwest said: We\u2019re not going to talk about the Rust Belt anymore; we\u2019re going to talk about new, expanded manufacturing capacity in the Middle \u2014 in the Middle Atlantics \u2014 excuse me, in the Midwest.<\/p>\n<p>And to invest in America itself \u2014 in manufacturing, climate resilience, clean energy \u2014 so America can win the competition in the 21st century.<\/p>\n<p>And it won\u2019t hurt your bottom lines or the economy.  It helps continue us \u2014 it\u2019ll help us grow while lowering costs and lowering the deficit.<\/p>\n<p>So, I want to thank you again for \u2014 there\u2019s much more to say, but I\u2019ve already probably taken too much time \u2014 of your time right now.<\/p>\n<p>But I\u2019m happy \u2014 I\u2019m told I\u2019m \u2014 we\u2019re going to take some questions, Mary.  Is that right?  Well, I\u2019m happy to start taking questions.<\/p>\n<p>But thank you for all you\u2019ve been doing.<\/p>\n<p>I think \u2014 you know, my mother had an expression: \u201cOut of everything terrible, something good will come if you look hard enough for it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I think this presents us with some significant opportunities to make some real changes.  You know, we are at an inflection point, I believe, in the world economy \u2014 not just the world economy, in the world.  It occurs every three or four generations. <\/p>\n<p>As one of \u2014 as one of the top military people said to me in a secure meeting the other day, 60 \u2014 60 million people died between 1900 and 1946.  And since then, we\u2019ve established a liberal world order, and that hadn\u2019t happened in a long while.  A lot of people dying, but nowhere near the chaos.<\/p>\n<p>And now is a time when things are shifting.  We\u2019re going to \u2014 there\u2019s going to be a new world order out there, and we\u2019ve got to lead it.  And we\u2019ve got to unite the rest of the free world in doing it.<\/p>\n<p>So, anyway, I\u2019m going to hush up.  Mary, fire away.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;Thank you. My name is Joe Biden, and I come from Delaware which has more corporations incorporated than all of the rest of the country combined. (Laughter.) And I know the Business Roundtable because in the days when I first ran for office \u2014 (clears throat) \u2014 excuse me \u2014 in 1972, for the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":138112,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-138111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-government","category-news","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Chrome-Legacy-Window-3222022-102948-AM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=138111"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":138113,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138111\/revisions\/138113"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/138112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=138111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=138111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=138111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}