Statement from President Joe Biden on the Anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s Death and Iran’s Brutal Crackdown

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On the occasion of the anniversary of Mahsa “Zhina” Amini’s death tomorrow, Jill and I join people around the world in remembering her—and every brave Iranian citizen who has been killed, wounded or imprisoned by the Iranian regime for peacefully demanding democracy and their basic human dignity. As we have seen over the last year, Mahsa’s story did not end with her brutal death. She inspired a historic movement—Woman, Life, Freedom—that has impacted Iran and influenced people across the globe who are tirelessly advocating for gender equality and respect for their human rights. In the face of continued oppression and violence, the citizens of Iran remain committed to this movement and to their fight for a free and democratic future. Iranians alone will determine the fate of their country, but, the United…
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Statement from President Joe Biden On Rosh Hashanah

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Tonight at sundown, Jewish communities in the United States and around the world will celebrate Rosh Hashanah – the Day of Judgement, the anniversary of the creation of the world, and the start of a Jewish new year. Throughout the High Holidays – commencing with Rosh Hashanah, continuing through the 10 Days of Repentance, and concluding on Yom Kippur – the stirring sound of the shofar calls us to examine our character and conduct. Heartfelt prayers invite us to repair our relationship with each other, with ourselves, and with God. And the tashlich ritual, that symbolizes casting away our sins, inspires us to learn from our mistakes and commit to doing better in the future. During this spiritual time of reflection and atonement, we are also uplifted by the hope a new year brings. As Jewish…
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Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan Welcoming The First Official Senior Houthi Delegation to Saudi Arabia

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We welcome the arrival of a senior Houthi delegation to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is the first official visit by Houthi representatives to Riyadh since the war in Yemen began nearly a decade ago. It comes after nearly 18 straight months of calm that began after a UN-mediated truce first went into effect on April 2, 2022. President Biden, from his first weeks in office, has made de-escalating and ending the war in Yemen one of his top foreign policy priorities. The United States has been proud to lend our diplomatic support to these peace efforts in coordination with the Yemeni parties and the United Nations. We commend the leadership of Saudi Arabia for this current initiative and thank the leadership of Oman for its important role. We call on…
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Joint Leader Statement to Mark the Second Anniversary of AUKUS

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Today, we, the leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States mark the second anniversary of the announcement of AUKUS.   The first major initiative of AUKUS was our decision to support Australia’s acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs).  In March 2023, we stood together in San Diego and announced the pathway to deliver on this commitment — an ambitious plan that will strengthen our combined military capabilities, boost our industrial capacity, and enhance our ability to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific.  Our nations continue to deliver on these goals; the first Australian military personnel graduated from the U.S. nuclear power school in July and the USS North Carolina completed the first SSN port visit to Australia as part of AUKUS in August.  We continue to engage openly and transparently…
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Readout of White House Meeting with Welcome.US

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Today, White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and senior White House officials met with the Welcome.US CEO Council, a group of nearly 40 CEOs from a range of industries, including its co-chairs Accenture Chair and CEO Julie Sweet and Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. The Biden-Harris Administration has launched an historic expansion of lawful pathways for people seeking safety and refuge in the United States, while surging resources to the border for humane enforcement.  The Welcome.US CEO Council is a nonpartisan, public-private partnership that has worked to enable communities to welcome many more newcomers arriving through these pathways – beginning with Afghan and Ukrainian newcomers, and now expanded to global populations eligible for humanitarian sponsorship and refugee resettlement. By leveraging private sector resources and innovations and amplifying them with the contributions of millions of Americans donating…
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Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Call with the National Security Advisors of Japan and the Republic of Korea

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National Security Advisor Sullivan held a trilateral call with National Security Secretariat Secretary General Akiba Takeo of Japan and National Security Office Director Cho Tae-yong of the Republic of Korea to exchange views on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), including the recent summit meeting between Russian President Putin and DPRK leader Kim. The three NSAs reaffirmed the importance of trilateral coordination consistent with their commitment to consult. They noted that any arms exports from the DPRK to Russia would directly violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions, including resolutions that Russia itself voted to adopt. They reiterated their cooperation toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. ### The post Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Call with the National Security Advisors of Japan and the Republic of…
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Statement from President Joe Biden Announcing the New U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery

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Today, I am proud to announce that I am appointing Penny Pritzker to serve as the new U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery. As an accomplished public servant, former Secretary of Commerce, and transformative industry leader—with deep familial ties to Ukraine—Special Representative Pritzker brings decades of experience and expertise to this critical position. Working in lockstep with the Ukrainian government, our allies and partners, international financial institutions, and the private sector, she will drive the United States’ efforts to help rebuild the Ukrainian economy. This includes mobilizing public and private investment, shaping donor priorities, and working to open export markets and businesses shut down by Russia’s brutal attacks and destruction.  Special Representative Pritzker will also work with Ukraine’s other international partners, including via the G7 coordination platform, to ensure that international efforts are complementary and mutually reinforcing, as well as to…
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Fact Sheet: President Biden and Vice President Harris Are Delivering For Young Americans

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VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS’S FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOMS COLLEGE TOURProtecting Our Rights | Using Our Voices | Determining Our Future*   *   * As students head back to the classroom, Vice President Harris is launching a month-long “Fight for Our Freedoms College Tour” across America to mobilize young people in the ongoing fight for fundamental freedoms and rights. She is set to visit at least seven states to hold a whirlwind of high-energy, large-scale campus events at around a dozen schools – including historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and four-year state schools. The Vice President’s flurry of tour stops will bring thousands of students together around the critical fights for reproductive freedom, commonsense gun safety laws, climate action, voting rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and teaching America’s full…
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Statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on District Court’s Ruling on DACA

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We are deeply disappointed in today’s DACA ruling from the District Court in Southern Texas. On day one of his Administration, President Biden issued a memorandum directing the federal government to take all appropriate actions to “preserve and fortify” the DACA policy. Consistent with that directive, the Administration has defended the DACA policy from legal challenges, and issued a final rule codifying this longstanding policy. During this Administration, hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients have been able to live and work lawfully in our country without fear of deportation.  As we have long maintained, we disagree with the District Court’s conclusion that DACA is unlawful, and will continue to defend this critical policy from legal challenges. While we do so, consistent with the court’s order, DHS will continue to process renewals…
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Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Meeting with Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa

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National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, His Royal Highness Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, at the White House today to discuss a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues.  Mr. Sullivan reaffirmed the United States’ enduring commitment to Bahrain’s security and thanked the Crown Prince for Bahrain’s steadfast partnership – including hosting the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and the headquarters of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.   Both sides welcomed the signing today of the “Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement” (C-SIPA), a landmark new framework for enhancing cooperation across a range of areas – from defense and intelligence to advanced technology and trade and investment.  C-SIPA will serve as a cornerstone for enhanced bilateral cooperation between the United…
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