Live Updates: Biden announces 2024 plans, doubles vaccine goals and more in first press conference

Live Updates: Biden announces 2024 plans, doubles vaccine goals and more in first press conference

Washington — President Biden on Thursday revealed he plans to seek a second term in the White House in 2024 and he said he expects Vice President Kamala Harris would again be his running mate. Mr. Biden talked about his plans in 2024 in a roughly hourlong press conference, the first of his presidency, where he also announced he would doubling his vaccine goals to 200 million doses in his first 100 days and would be detailing an infrastructure plan on Friday.

Mr. Biden has not yet filed for reelection, while former President Trump had already done so at this point in his presidency. But the president told CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes it is his “plan” to run again.

“That is my expectation,” Mr. Biden said, although he added that he doesn’t normally plan that far in advance.

The president fielded questions from reporters for roughly an hour on a range of topics, including the ongoing crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, the legislative filibuster and foreign policy challenges his administration is confronting.

At the start of his remarks, Mr. Biden said he is increasing his goal for vaccine doses administered in his first 100 days in office to 200 million. The nation surpassed his initial target of 100 million shot last week, on the 58th day of his presidency.

With Mr. Biden’s sweeping $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress and signed into law, the president revealed the details of his next major initiative, infrastructure, will be announced Friday during a trip to Pittsburgh.

The proposal will address both physical and technological infrastructure, the president said, “so that we can compete and create significant numbers of really good paying jobs.” Mr. Biden said “the future rests” on whether the U.S. has the best airports, ports, railroads and roadways to facilitate business. 

Mr. Biden was repeatedly pressed on his administration’s plan to address the flood of unaccompanied minors crossing the southern border into the U.S. and whether he favors changes to the legislative filibuster, a rule under which 60 votes are needed to end debate on a measure and move to a final vote. He was not, however, asked about the coronavirus pandemic or the economy.

Biden
President Joe Biden speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Washington.

Evan Vucci / AP


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