South Lawn
9:29 A.M. EDT
Q Senator Tuberville is not budging on Pentagon promotions. Senator Tuberville is not budging on Pentagon promotions.
Q Mr. President, was Prigozhin — was Prigozhin looking to capture military leaders?
THE PRESIDENT: He's not budging on it, as I understand, from my colleagues. It's totally inappropriate. It's outrageous.
Q But he says the Defense Department should not be paying for abortion travel. Your response?
THE PRESIDENT: He doesn't know what he's talking about.
Q Was Prigozhin looking to capture military leaders?
THE PRESIDENT: That remains to be seen.
Q President Biden, (inaudible) escalating in Ukraine? Why not engage with Russia in meaningful talks to try to deescalate the whole situation in Ukraine? You're sending F-16s, sir.
Q Mr. President, has Putin been weakened by what happened in Russia?
THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely.
Q To what extent has Vladimir Putin been weakened by recent events?
THE PRESIDENT: It's hard to tell, but he's clearly losing the war in Iraq [sic]. He's losing the war at home. And he has become a bit of a pariah around the world. And it's not just NATO; it's not just the European Union. It's Japan. It's — it's — you know, it's 40 nations.
Q President Biden, how involved — President Biden, how involved were you in your son's "Chinese shakedown" text message? Were you sitting there?
Q Mr. President —
Q Were you involved? Were you involved?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I wasn't. And I don't —
Q Do you think Vladimir Putin is —
Q Were you?
THE PRESIDENT: No!
Q Mr. President —
Q Do you think Vladimir Putin is weaker today than he was before all those events?
THE PRESIDENT: I know he was — is.
Q Will you give Congress your bank records, President Biden? Will you give Congress —
Q Is the worst of the inflation over?
THE PRESIDENT: Let me put it this way: I've been hearing every month there's going to be a recession next month. The consensus is: Two thirds of the economists and the major leaders in the banks think we're not going to have a recession. I don't think we will either.
But I tell you one thing: In addition to the — the prices that — going to con- — what a recession constitutes — we're bringing down prices across the board for people. That's what I'm going to be talking about today.
Q A week ago, sir, you said you didn't know "what the hell Bidenomics is." Sir, can you tell us today what it is?
THE PRESIDENT: Sure I didn't, because the first time I heard it used was by you guys in the press.
Q Can you comment on Sweden's succession in NATO?
THE PRESIDENT: I'd rather not speak to (inaudible) right now.
Q Why no new policy announcement with the branding? Why no new policy announcements with the branding?
THE PRESIDENT: Wha- —
Q With the Bidenomics branding.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, look, you guys branded it. I didn't. That's — I never called it "Bidenomics." And so, I was asked the question: Why did I —
Q Your economic team is calling it "Bidenomics."
THE PRESIDENT: No, wait. Let's get it straight. The first time it was used was in the Wall Street Journal. Okay? I don't go around beating my chest, "Bidenomics." So, the press started calling it "Bidenomics."
Q Do you not like it, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I like it. It's fine. Yeah, it's fine, because it is my policy.
9:31 A.M. EDT
