WALK BACK: White House clarifies Biden’s comments about Putin’s removal
In a speech in Poland today, President Biden issued a powerful call for Vladimir Putin to be removed as president of Russia, seemingly giving tacit approval for regime change in the nation violating international law with its uninstigated invasion of Ukraine.
Or did he?
At face value, Biden’s comments seem pretty unequivocal:
“Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia for free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness. We will have a different future, a brighter future, rooted in democracy and principals, hope and light, of decency and dignity, of freedom, and possibilities,” Biden said, before ending with quite the kicker.
“For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power,” the U.S. president exclaimed.
It was a line delivered with emotion and conviction, and, perhaps, in an unscripted moment, a line improvised beyond any officially announced U.S. policy.
While Biden’s speech was cheered by the Ukrainian refugees and their Polish hosts in attendance, White House officials scrambled to clarify and walk back the simplest and most appealing interpretation of the American president’s remarks.
WH officials say President Biden was not calling for "regime change" when he said Putin "cannot remain in power."
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) March 26, 2022
From a White House official after Biden's speech: “The President’s point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region. He was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change.”
— Tarini Parti (@tparti) March 26, 2022
The nervous back peddling by cautious White House staff didn’t sit well with many social media commenters who saw Biden’s statement as perfectly appropriate given the war crimes that have been alleged in the Russian invasion of their neighboring country.
And I'm glad he was.
— Jack Ryan (@JackRya49903685) March 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/sparkula/status/1507811531802689548?s=20&t=5AcaP-zUJTx9111Di8inSQ
Others disputed the implication that Biden’s words actually meant that U.S. policy had shifted regarding regime change in Russia.
https://twitter.com/TooMuchDeltaVee/status/1507788447360061440?s=20&t=OVA-zlYMZ0v_y6KAP3fm_w
It wasn't really a call for "regime change", which implies that it has to be caused by an external force. That's how the phrase was used before the war in Iraq to topple Saddam. It's more likely that any change in Russian leadership will be brought about by internal forces.
— JohnRJohnson (@JRobertJohnson4) March 26, 2022
Some people reacted to the characterization of Biden’s comments as an unintended gaffe.
The Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson focused on the anticipated Republican and right-wing media reaction to Biden’s statement and the White House walk back.
Here's why the GOP is flailing on this; Biden did "Tear Down This Wall" for our era.
And many – not all, but many — in the GOP would much rather have Putin in power than not.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) March 26, 2022
After the clownish antics of Trump's dictator-fellating time in office, please seek the Mysterious Valley of My Missing Fucks if you think Biden calling for the end of Putin's regime is some kind of serious argument against Joe Biden.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) March 26, 2022
So Biden saying Russia needs regime change is an outrage, while the Russians actually succeeding in causing regime change in the US in 2016 is just fine?
Am I reading this right?
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) March 26, 2022
Many of the same characters grasping their pearls and plunging to their fainting couches at Biden sayin Putin should be removed from power are the SAME people who a month ago said, "Putin wouldn't invade Ukraine because TRUMP SO LOCO VLAD WAS SCURRED!"
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) March 26, 2022
Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) weighed in with his own take on whether Biden purposefully called for Putin’s ouster.
This is a condescending view from @RichardHaass saying the President of the United States had a “lapse in discipline.” Biden has been doing foreign policy for decades and knew exactly what his line meant. It was the culmination of his speech. He delivered it with no hesitation. https://t.co/CXR7ikiW0G
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 26, 2022
It’s obvious that the reaction to Biden’s speech in Poland depends largely on the political orientation of the person reacting to his statement.
No greater role for an American president than to be aspirational for freedom. His audience isn’t Twitter, it’s for the basements of Mariupol. A good day to be an American. @POTUS
— stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) March 26, 2022
In the end, though the one analysis that is likely to prevail is more about the debate over the speech’s meaning than about Biden’s call for an end to the Putin regime.
The rough part is that Biden’s speech was very good. But we’re going to spend the next week debating this one line. https://t.co/0XTlmADmCg
— Greg Jaffe (@GregJaffe) March 26, 2022
You can watch President Joe Biden’s speech in Poland today in the video clip below to make your own decision about his comments.
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RELATED STORY: NAME CALLING: Biden describes Putin with a word that makes Russia flinch
Vinnie Longobardo is the Managing Editor of Occupy Democrats. He's a 35-year veteran of the TV, mobile & internet industries, specializing in start-ups and the international media business. His passions are politics, music, and art.