In a wide-ranging and informative interview on Wednesday’s “Good Morning America,” President Joe Biden talked about Russian President Vladimir Putin, the COVID-19 vaccines and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The president did not hold back.
He agreed that Putin was a “killer” and would “pay a price” for meddling in American elections. He blasted those who won’t get a COVID-19 vaccine. And he said Cuomo should resign if allegations of sexual misconduct are true.
Much of the credit for all the newsworthy headlines to come from the interview should go to ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, who asked all the right questions.
About the vaccination, Biden seemed surprised that it’s a politically divisive issue.
“I honest to God thought we had it out,” Biden said. “I honest to God thought that, once we guaranteed we had enough vaccines for everybody, things would start to calm down. Well, they have calmed down a great deal. But I don’t quite understand … this sort of macho thing about, ‘I’m not gonna get the vaccine. I have a right as an American, my freedom to not do it.’ Well, why don’t you be a patriot? Protect other people.”
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As far as Cuomo, Stephanopoulos asked, “If the investigation confirms the claims of the women, should he resign?”
“Yes,” Biden said. “I think he’ll probably end up being prosecuted, too.”
Biden also talked about issues at the border, tax hikes, pulling troops from Afghanistan and why the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wasn’t personally punished for approving the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In a less than satisfactory answer for many media observers who followed the Khashoggi case, Biden said, “I made it clear to the king — the king, his father — that things were gonna change. And I insisted on several things. No. 1, we held accountable all the people in that organization …”
But Stephanopoulos, rightly, interrupted to say, “But not the crown prince.”
Biden said, “Not the crown prince because we have never, that I’m aware of, when we have an alliance with a country, gone to the acting head of state and punished that person. And ostracized him.”
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There also was a light moment when Stephanopoulos asked Biden about his dog, Major. Reports were that Major caused a “minor injury” to someone at the White House, but Biden said Major did not bite anyone or break skin.
Biden said Major is getting some training and is a sweet dog. “Eighty-five percent of the people there love him. All he does is lick them and wag his tail.”
Wait … 85%? Huh?
This piece originally appeared in The Poynter Report, our daily newsletter for everyone who cares about the media. Subscribe to The Poynter Report here.
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