FORMER President Donald Trump accused President Joe Biden of choosing reporters to deliver "softball questions" during his press conference Wednesday.
President Biden spoke at a White House press conference for the first time in 10 months on Wednesday, the final day of his first year in the Oval Office.
Donald Trump issued a statement during the conference claiming that Biden was reading the answers to "softball questions," a phrase he's used before.
"How come Biden picks a reporter off a list, in all cases softball questions, and then reads the answer?" Trump's statement reads.
For the first hour of the conference, Biden called on reporters from a list in a binder.
However, after a question by CNN's Jeff Zeleny, Biden began calling on reporters at random.
When Fox News's Peter Doocy asked why Biden was trying so hard to "pull the country so far to the left," Biden responded while laughing.
“You guys have been trying to convince me that I'm Bernie Sanders,” Biden said.
“I'm not. I like him. I'm not Bernie Sanders. I'm not a socialist. I'm a mainstream Democrat.”
Biden spoke for almost two hours as he highlighted his administration's accomplishments during a “year of challenges," saying that his administration had made “enormous progress.”
When asked if he overpromised on his first year in office, he said he "probably outperformed" though his popularity with Americans continues to slip.
Biden's approval rating hit a new low in his presidency in the latest poll from Morning Consult and Politico.
According to the poll, just 40 percent of people approve of Biden's performance, while 56 percent disapprove.
Read our Joe Biden press conference live blog for the latest news and updates…
- Brittney Donovan
Midterm elections 'report card'
President Biden addressed comments from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell about the midterm elections serving as a report card for Biden.
"I think the report card is going to look pretty good," Biden said.
"I actually like Mitch McConnell. We like one another, but he has one straightforward objective. Make sure that there's nothing I do that makes me look good … with the public at large."
- Brittney Donovan
Biden on Russia sanctions
A reporter asked Biden why new sanctions against Russia when it comes to the Ukraine conflict should give President Vladimir Putin pause.
"He's never seen sanctions like the ones I promise," Biden said. "What you're going to see is that Russia will be held accountable."
- Brittney Donovan
Biden on Russia military action
President Biden said he anticipates Russia will make a move into Ukraine.
"My guess is he will move in, he has to do something," Biden said.
He then paused and said he probably shouldn't go any further in terms of Russia's possible actions toward Ukraine.
- Brittney Donovan
Breaking up the Build Back Better plan
President Biden said it's clear that his administration will likely have to break the plan into pieces in order to get items passed.
He said portions that may be able to get support include $500billion in climate change spending and early childhood education funding.
- Brittney Donovan
Build Back Better plan stalled
Biden's economic plan stalled when Senator Joe Manchin announced in December that he would not support it.
The legislation, which passed the House in November, includes an expanded child tax credit and child care, steps to address climate change, and a host of other services for Americans.
- Brittney Donovan
Build Back Better plan questioned
Biden took several questions about his Build Back Better plan and its progress.
President Biden said he is "confident" he can get "pieces, big chunks" of the bill passed before midterms.
- Brittney Donovan
Covid-19 and school closures
A reporter asked Biden what he would say to parents and students at schools that are still closing because of Covid-19.
"95% are still open," he said before highlighting technology and other mitigation efforts made available to schools.
He lauded his administration's vaccination push as helping to keep students and teachers inside schools, though some are returning to remote learning because of the omicron variant.
- Brittney Donovan
Addressing empty shelves
When speaking about inflation and supply chain issues, Biden said he supports the Federal Reserve in addressing spiking prices.
“I often see empty shelves on television. Eighty-nine percent are full,” he said as he detailed work done to address supply chain concerns.
Biden acknowledged the higher prices Americans are seeing at gas pumps and stores.
“Given the strength of our economy and pace of recent price increases, it’s appropriate — as Fed Chairman Powell has indicated — to recalibrate the support that is now necessary," he said.
- Brittney Donovan
'Enormous progress'
When speaking of his first year in office, Biden said the US has made "enormous progress," but he pointed out what he considered a shortcoming.
"One of the things that I think, is something that I haven't done, is get my Republican friends in the game of making things better," he said.
- Brittney Donovan
'Laying the foundation'
Biden said the US is not only getting through the "biggest challenges that we've ever faced in this country," but also laying the foundation for the future.
"We're getting through and not only are we getting through it, we're laying the foundation for a future where America wins the 21st century by creating jobs at a record pace and we need to get inflation under control."
- Brittney Donovan
Biden on rising costs for families
President Biden also zeroed in on rising costs for families during his address.
"Bottom line, if price increases are what you're worried about, the best answer is my Build Back Better plan."
He said the child care tax credit is one element of the plan that he thinks will be difficult to get in the package.
He went on to explain how the US will tackle fair competition to strengthen our economy.
- Brittney Donovan
Biden's infrastructure plan
Biden took the opportunity on Wednesday to highlight changes and progress he attributes to his infrastructure law.
"My infrastructure law will supercharge our efforts in upgrading everything from roads and bridges, to ports and airports, railways and the transport economy."
- Brittney Donovan
At-home Covid tests
Biden also highlighted a new program that will bring at-home coronavirus tests to families.
"We're making 1 billion at home tests available to you to order and be delivered to your home for free. Just visit COVID test.gov to know how to get that free option," he said.
Once you place an order, it will ship through the United States Postal Service.
- Brittney Donovan
Biden on Covid-19, continued
Biden went on to highlight the vaccination rate in the US with more than 200million Americans fully vaccinated in a year, according to the White House.
"We're adding about 9million more vaccinations each week," Biden said.
"We're also increasing testing. Should we have done more testing earlier? Yes. We're doing more now. Zero at home tests a year ago, to 375million tests on the market in just this month."
- Brittney Donovan
Biden on Covid-19
President Biden addressed efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic as the omicron variant rages in the US:
"We've been doing everything we can to learn, and adapting as fast as we can and preparing for the future and beyond."
"We're in a very different place now. We have the tools, vaccines, boosters, mass tests, and pills to save lives and keep prisons and schools open."
- Brittney Donovan
'Made in America' actions
President Joe Biden detailed plans to increase the competitiveness of the US economy.
The White House says in his first year, Biden directed federal dollars to US manufacturers by creating a Made in America office.
An executive order aims to help bolster domestic manufacturing and support jobs through federal purchases.
- Brittney Donovan
Biden's ban on surprise billing
On a list of the Biden-Harris team's accomplishments during their first year, the White House detailed improvements to health care.
The number of Americans with health care coverage reached new heights under his leadership, and premiums were slashed to as low as $10 for some, according to the White House.
Biden also mentioned his ban on surprise billing and lower co-pays during his news conference.
- Brittney Donovan
Biden 'defensive' during news conference
Some believe President Joe Biden appeared to be somewhat defensive at times in his Wednesday news conference.
When asked if he overpromised on what he could get done in his first year in office, Biden replied: "Look, I didn't overpromise."
"I have probably outperformed what anybody thought would happen. The fact of the matter is that we're in a situation where we have made enormous progress."
- Brittney Donovan
Legislative accomplishments
President Biden pointed to the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as two big accomplishments during his first year in office.
The White House said the American Rescue Plan led to what experts estimate will be the lowest child poverty rate on record, and the unemployment rate is down to 3.9percent four years faster than projected.
The Biden Administration said the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will create jobs, provide clean drinking water, upgrade roads, airports, and rail, and is a critical first step toward a clean energy future.
- Carsen Holaday
Biden reacts to Senate's decision
Following his press conference today, President Biden tweeted his reaction to the Senate's failure to pass The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.
Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin refused to join their party in advancing the bill after a day of debate.
"I am profoundly disappointed that the Senate has failed to stand up for our democracy," Biden said in his tweet.
- Brittney Donovan
Biden highlights progress in first year
President Joe Biden began his news conference on Wednesday by highlighting some of his administration's accomplishments in the year since Inauguration Day.
He said his team has created 6.4 million jobs, the biggest year of job creation in American history.
He also addressed climate change, saying the US rejoined the Paris Agreement, rallied the world to tackle climate change, doubled electric vehicle sales, deployed more wind and solar than ever before, advanced environmental justice, among other steps.
- Brittney Donovan
Biden, senators discuss Ukraine
President Joe Biden had a virtual meeting on Wednesday with a group of senators to discuss the Russian military amassing at Ukraine's borders.
The group of senators just returned from a Congressional delegation to Ukraine, where they met with Ukrainian leadership and affirmed the United States' support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, a White House news release said.
Biden and the senators talked about ways the US can continue to support Ukraine to resolve the current crisis.
Biden will keep working closely with Congress as his administration prepares to impose "significant consequences" in response to any further Russian aggression against Ukraine, the White House statement said.
- Brittney Donovan
Biden's inflation approach
More than two-thirds of Americans (69 percent) disapprove of how President Biden is handling inflation, a ABC/Ipsos poll found.
Only 28 percent approve of how he’s handling inflation.
Meanwhile, more than half (57 percent) disapprove of his handling of economic recovery.
Republicans strongly disapprove (with a whopping 94 percent), but the survey also noted that just a slim majority of Democrats (54 percent) approve.
As for independent voters, 71 percent disapprove of his handling of inflation.
- Brittney Donovan
Is Jen Psaki leaving the White House?
In May 2021, Psaki confirmed she intended on leaving the White House in 2022.
Speaking on The Axe Files podcast, Psaki said: “I think it’s going to be time for somebody else to have this job, in a year from now or about a year from now.”
The communications expert told CNN’s David Axelrod the Biden administration was made aware of this beforehand.
- Brittney Donovan
When did Joe Biden become president?
President Joe Biden took office on January 20, 2021.
He is the 46th president to serve the United States.
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