TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES.
THIS IS A WHITE HOUSE FIGHTING
FIRES -- PUTTING OUT FIRES ON
MULTIPLE FRONTS AND WE'RE LUCKY
NOW TO BE JOINED BY WHITE HOUSE
CHIEF OF STAFF RON KLAIN.
HEY THERE.
>> HEY, NICOLE, THANKS FOR
HAVING ME.
>> SO, I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY THIS
TIME OF DAY.
THIS IS SORT OF WHEN ALL THE
PROBLEMS THAT YOU HAVEN'T DEALT
WITH YET END UP ON YOUR DESK AND
EVERYONE WANTS AN ANSWER BEFORE
NORMAL END OF BUSINESS, SO WE'RE
HAPPY TO SEE YOU.
I WONDER IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN THE
POLICY, EXPLAIN WHAT YOU HOPE IT
ACHIEVES, AND THEN EXPLAIN HOW
SUSTAINABLE IT CAN BE.
>> WELL, SO, NICOLE, LOOK, WHAT
WE NEED, AS THE PRESIDENT SAID,
WE NEED TO REPLACE THE GAP IN
U.S. SUPPLY CAUSED BY THE
PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO BLOCK
RUSSIAN OIL IMPORTS INTO THE
UNITED STATES.
TO PUNISH THE RUSSIANS.
BUT THAT OBVIOUSLY CREATES A GAP
IN SUPPLY HERE IN THE U.S.
IN THE LONG RUN, WE'RE GOING TO
FILL THAT GAP BY INCREASING OIL
PRODUCTION HERE TO MAKE UP THAT
DIFFERENCE.
THE PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT THAT
TODAY, TALKED ABOUT THINGS LIKE
USE IT OR LOSE IT FOR OIL LEASES
TO BE GIVEN TO THE INDUSTRY.
WHAT THE INDUSTRY TELLS US IS IT
WILL TAKE A FEW MONTHS TO RAMP
UP PRODUCTION AND MAKE UP THE
LOST RUSSIAN OIL.
SO IN THE MEANTIME, WHAT WE'RE
DOING IS THIS RELEASE OF A
MILLION BARRELS A DAY FROM THE
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE.
THAT'S A BRIDGE IN OUR SUPPLY TO
GET US TO WHERE DOMESTIC
PRODUCED OIL CAN MAKE UP WHAT
WE'VE LOST FROM RUSSIA.
WE THINK IT'S VERY SUSTAINABLE.
WE THINK IT WILL TAKE ABOUT SIX
MONTHS FOR DOMESTIC PRODUCTION
TO CATCH UP, SO DOING A MILLION
BARRELS A DAY FOR SIX MONTHS
CLOSES THAT GAP AND HELPS MAKE
SURE THAT WE MINIMIZE THE IMPACT
ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
WE KNOW -- PRESIDENT SAID FROM
DAY ONE THAT IF RUSSIA WENT INTO
UKRAINE, WE WOULD PUT CRIPPLING
SANK SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA.
MUCH OF THE BURDEN WOULD FALL ON
RUSSIA BUT WE WOULD FEEL SOME OF
THE PAIN HERE AT HOME AND WE'RE
SEEING THAT PAIN IN RISING GAS
PRICES, IN THE PUTIN PRICE HIKE.
OUR EFFORT TODAY IS TO SOFTEN
THE BLOW ON AMERICAN CONSUMERS,
AS WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO
CONFRONT PRESIDENT PUTIN'S
AGGRESSION.
>> WE'VE MONITORED YOUR RAPID
RESPONSE TODAY TO THE POLICY
ROLLOUT, AND YOU PUSHED BACK ON
SOMEONE DESCRIBING THE MOVE AND
THE POLICY AS A DROP IN THE
BUCKET WITH IN LANGUAGE YOU'RE
USING.
IT'S ABOUT CLOSING THE GAP.
IF YOU COULD JUST FOLLOW UP ON
THAT AND EXPLAIN HOW THE DEFENSE
PRODUCTION ACT IS ALSO BEING
DEPLOYED TO HELP WITH THIS WHAT
THE PRESIDENT CALLED PAIN AT THE
PUMP.
>> YEAH.
SO, THE TWEET YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT, SOMEONE NOTED THAT GLOBAL
OIL PRODUCTION'S 100 MILLION
BARRELS A DAY, WHAT DOES 1
MILLION BARRELS DO?
WELL, AGAIN, MOST OF THAT
PRODUCTION CONTINUES TO FLOW AND
INDEED OPEC PLUS RAISED ITS
PRODUCTION TODAY SO IT'S NOT
ABOUT REPLACING ALL THE OIL
PRODUCTION IN THE WORLD, BECAUSE
AGAIN, THAT CONTINUES.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT IS REPLACING THE
GAP IN PRODUCTION BY THESE
SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA AND IN
THAT CONTEXT, THIS IS A VERY
SIGNIFICANT RELEASE AND GETS US
TO THE BRIDGE.
IN TERMS OF THE DEFENSE
PRODUCTION ACT, ANOTHER STEP THE
PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED TODAY WAS
USING HIS AUTHORITY TO
ACCELERATE THE PRODUCTION OF
SOME KEY MINERALS HERE IN THE
U.S. SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE
CONTINUE TO PRODUCE BATTERIES
FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES, BECAUSE
AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IN THE LONG
RUN -- IN THE SHORT RUN, WE HAVE
TO CLOSE THIS GAP ON OIL SUPPLY.
IN THE LONG RUN, OF COURSE, I
THINK ALL AMERICANS WANT US TO
MOVE TO CLEANER POWER, MOVE TO A
PLACE WHERE NO COUNTRY CAN HOLD
US HOSTAGE OVER OIL SUPPLY IN
THE FUTURE.
WE'RE RUNNING A CLEAN ENERGY
ECONOMY BASED ON ENERGY HERE IN
THE U.S.
THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT ORDER
THAT THE PRESIDENT DID TODAY
HELPS MAKE MORE PROGRESS ON
DOMESTIC BATTERY PRODUCTION FOR
ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
>> TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO, YOU KNOW,
NOT JUST MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
TODAY, JUST BE HERE TODAY, AND
I'M NOT TRYING TO ROPE YOU INTO
JOINING US EVERY DAY AT 5:00,
ALTHOUGH WE WOULDN'T MIND.
WE ALWAYS HAVE QUESTIONS.
BUT HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THE
PRESIDENT TO BE OUT IN FRONT OF
THIS, UNDERSTANDING, AS YOU SAID
TODAY, THAT PRICES ARE PAINFUL,
EXPLAINING HOW MUCH OIL CAME
FROM RUSSIA, HOW MUCH WE CAN
SORT OF BACK FILL THROUGH THESE
STRATEGIC RESERVES AND WHAT THE
LONG-TERM PLAN IS?
HOW MUCH OF YOUR TIME IS SPENT
FIGURING OUT HOW TO NOT JUST
SOLVE THE PROBLEMS BUT
COMMUNICATE AND TRY TO CALM
PEOPLE DOWN?
>> WELL, LOOK, NICOLE, I THINK
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, THE PRESIDENT'S BEEN
VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
WE'VE REALLY BEEN AT THIS IN
TERMS OF PUTIN'S AGGRESSION FOR
THREE OR FOUR MONTHS NOW, AND IT
WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE
PRESIDENT TO GO IN FRONT OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE WORLD
AND SAY, HEY, WE BELIEVE PUTIN
WILL INVADE UKRAINE AND LAY THAT
OUT, FIRST THEN LAYING OUT HIS
PLAN TO DO IT THROUGH FALSE FLAG
OPERATIONS AND FALSE
PROVOCATIONS TO TAKE AWAY
PUTIN'S -- ANY KIND OF PUTATIVE
RATIONALE FOR WHAT HE DID AND
THEN ENGAGE THE ALLIES PUBLICLY
AND SHOW WE HAVE A UNITED FRONT.
I THINK EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE
HAS HELPED BRING THE ALLIES
TOGETHER TO CONFRONT RUSSIA AND
RUSSIAN AGGRESSION BUT FOR THAT
TO BE SUSTAINABLE FOR THE LONG
RUN, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
WE'RE DOING AND WHY WE'RE DOING
IT.
THE PRESIDENT'S BEEN VERY HONEST
THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE COST-FREE
FOR US, AS WE IMPOSE THESE
DEVASTATING COSTS ON PUTIN, HE
WOULD BE ABLE TO IMPOSE SOME
COSTS BACK ON US AND THAT IS
WHAT WE'RE SEEING BUT WE'RE
TRYING TO MAKE SLEER TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, WE'RE GOING TO
TRY TO SOFTEN THAT BLOW ANY WAY
WE CAN.
WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK OUT FOR THE
CONSUMERS HERE IN THIS COUNTRY,
EVEN AS WE DEAL WITH THIS CRISIS
IN EUROPE.
I THINK THAT'S PART OF
PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP.
I THINK AS WE'VE SEEN PRESIDENTS
IN THE PAST, WHEN THEY FACE
THESE KINDS OF FOREIGN POLICY
CRISES, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE
SEEING FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN NOW.
>> THE EX-PRESIDENT WHO WAS
IMPEACHED TWICE, ONCE FOR TRYING
TO GET DIRT ON THE BIDEN FAMILY
AND THE SECOND TIME FOR TRYING
TO PREVENT THE PRESIDENT FROM
BECOMING THE PRESIDENT,
PRESIDENT BIDEN, THAT IS, HAS
FOR A THIRD TIME ENGAGED A
FOREIGN LEADER, VLADIMIR PUTIN,
AGAIN, THIS TIME, AND ASKED HIM
FOR DIRT ON THE BIDEN FAMILY.
I WONDER -- NOT YOUR REACTION
PERSONALLY AS AN ADVISOR TO THE
PRESIDENT, AND I KNOW ANYONE IN
YOUR JOB ALSO SERVES THE FIRST
LADY AND THE FAMILY AND THESE
THINGS ARE UNPLEASANT, BUT AS A
NATIONAL SECURITY QUESTION, WHAT
DO YOU DO WITH ALL OF THIS SORT
OF AXISES OF FLIRTATION AND
SUPPORT FOR VLADIMIR PUTIN, EVEN
AT A TIME WHEN THE U.S.
SECRETARY OF STATE HAS ACCUSED
PUTIN OF CARRYING OUT WAR CRIMES
IN UKRAINE?
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH SORT OF THE
AXIS OF REPUBLICAN AFFINITY FOR
PUTIN THAT EXTENDS FROM DONALD
TRUMP ASKING HIM FOR MORE FAVORS
TO WORK AGAINST CURRENT AMERICAN
PRESIDENT, TUCKER CARLSON GIVING
HIM SAFE HARBOR, AT LEAST IN A
PR SPACE?
>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S
DISGUSTING.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY DISGUSTING,
NICOLE.
I MEAN, WE HAVE VLADIMIR PUTIN,
WHO EVERY DAY WE WAKE UP AND SEE
HIM DROPPING BOMBS ON HOSPITALS,
ON SCHOOLS, ON CHILDREN, AND WE
HAVE THE FORMER PRESIDENT, WHO
THINKS THAT'S A GREAT PERSON TO
TRY TO ENGAGE IN A POLITICAL
SCHEME WITH.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE FACT THAT
MOST REPUBLICANS ON CAPITOL HILL
ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH US TO
TRY TO CONFRONT PRESIDENT PUTIN.
WE HAVE HAD STRONG BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT FOR AID TO PROVIDE
ECONOMIC AID, LETHAL AID,
MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO THE
UKRAINIANS FIGHTING PRESIDENT
PUTIN, BUT IF DONALD TRUMP
THINKS THAT SOME KIND OF
CRACKPOT SCHEME CONDUCTED IN
CONJUNCTION WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN
CAN SERVE HIS POLITICAL
INTERESTS, THAT WILL FAIL, AS IT
HAS FAILED EVERY TIME, AND IT
SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHO DONALD
TRUMP IS, AND HOW MUCH HE CARES
ABOUT OUR COUNTRY'S SECURITY.
>> WELL, THOSE QUESTIONS HAVE
BEEN ASKED AND ANSWERED, AND
I'LL ASK YOU WHAT THOSE ANSWERS
MEAN ANOTHER TIME.
I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE
PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS TODAY ABOUT
THIS INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT,
ABOUT WHAT PUTIN DOES OR DOES
NOT KNOW, WHAT HE IS AND IS NOT
HEARING.
IF YOU COULD ELABORATE ON THIS
IDEA THAT HE'S NOT RECEIVING
DIFFICULT TRUTHS FROM THE
BATTLEFIELD AND HOW DOES THAT
SHAPE OUR STRATEGY OR OUR
APPROACH TO HIM AND ANY PEACE
TALKS?
>> WELL, NICOLE, I WANT TO BE
CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY ON THIS
TOPIC.
I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME
PUBLICLY RELEASED REPORTS THAT
INDICATE THAT PRESIDENT PUTIN
MAY NOT BE GETTING IT STRAIGHT
FROM HIS MILITARY ADVISORS, MAY
NOT BE LISTENING TO HIS MILITARY
ADVISORS, MAY BE ISOLATED FROM
HIS MILITARY ADVISORS.
I THINK THAT'S ALL INTERESTING.
IT'S IMPORTANT AND AFFECTS HOW
WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON,
BUT IN THE END, WHAT REALLY
MATTERS ISN'T PRESIDENT PUTIN'S
MINDSET.
IT'S WHAT PRESIDENT PUTIN IS
DOING ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
AND WHAT HE CONTINUES TO DO ON
THE BATTLEFIELD, NOTWITHSTANDING
HIS PROMISES TO DO OTHERWISE, IS
TO INFLICT A DEVASTATING
DESTRUCTION ON UKRAINE AND
THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO SEND
EVERY SINGLE DAY MORE WEAPONS TO
THE UKRAINIANS, MORE ASSISTANCE
TO THE UKRAINIANS, MORE AID OF
ALL SORTS TO THE UKRAINIANS.
TO CONFRONT THAT AGGRESSION AND
TRY TO PUSH BACK THE ACTIONS BY
PRESIDENT PUTIN INSIDE UKRAINE.
IN THE END, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER
WHAT PRESIDENT PUTIN SAYS, THIS
IS KIND OF DISTRUST BUT VERIFY.
WE DON'T REALLY TRUST WHAT HE
SAID.
HE SAID HE HAD NO INTENTION TO
INVADE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
HE DID.
WE DON'T TRUST WHAT HE'S SAYING
NOW ABOUT A PULLBACK AROUND
KYIV.
WE JUST SEE KIND OF A
REPOSITIONING OF RUSSIAN FORCES
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WE
NEED TO DO IS HELP THE
UKRAINIANS IN THIS STRUGGLE ANY
WAY WE CAN.
>> JUST REALLY QUICK, LAST
QUESTION, IS THE PRESIDENT
FEELING HEALTHY?
I KNOW HE WAS IN A SOCIALLY
DISTANCED MEETING YESTERDAY WITH
THE CIA DIRECTOR WHO TESTED
POSITIVE FOR COVID.
>> YEAH, PRESIDENT FEELS FINE.
I SAW HIM TODAY.
LOOKS GREAT, SOUNDS GREAT.
AMERICAN PEOPLE SAW HIM TODAY
EARLIER TALKING ABOUT GAS
PRICES.
COVID IS AROUND.
THAT'S A REALITY.
IT'S A REALITY IN ALL OF OUR
WORKPLACES.
WE TAKE REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS
HERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
THE PRESIDENT, AS YOU KNOW, IS