On 3/2/2023, a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “If the President was planning to sign it, why did the administration put out that statement saying that he opposed it?”
KJP: So, look, I want to be very clear about this. And I think I have. Look, the President does not support the D.C. Council — the changes that they — that they put forward over the mayor’s objections … again, we’re keeping communities safe. And this is — he believes, you know, the D.C. community deserves that; they deserve to
Reporter: And not to beat a dead horse on the D.C. bill, but I think there just still is some confusion here. Because given the difference between the SAP that came out earlier last month and the announcement today, what led to this change of heart? Because it does seem there was a change of heart.
KJP: Look, what I can tell you is what the President said himself and just repeat that. Which is he — he — you know, he believes that every city has … to keep the community safe in D.C. and the people of D.C. safe — the residents of D.C. safe and protected.
Reporter: So the other thing I wanted to ask about was conceptually about statehood. There are all kinds of instances where legislatures override a governor’s veto; they’re at odds, but a law passes. And presumably the President doesn’t feel like that imperils their statehood. What is it in this instance that — I’m still sort of struggling how he can support statehood for D.C. and their right to be able to pass these kinds of laws, even if he disagrees with it, but then, in this instance, he’s deciding not to allow them that opportunity.
KJP: Because this — this — this is just different. This is different, again, because the D.C. Council put these changes forward over the mayor’s objections. And so this is just a uniquely different situation that the President has been presented with and is going to take action on.
Reporter: But if they had statehood, then the Council could pass this and it would become law.
KJP: And that would be great. And that — that would be fine. Right?
Reporter: So, is the principle here that the President believes in self-rule and autonomy, except if he believes that D.C. is passing laws that would leave its residents not safe in some way?
KJP: I think — I don’t think — I don’t think it’s every piece of legislation. This is going to come to his desk, and he has a decision to make for the people of D.C. Right? He has — he actually has a decision that is going to be put in front of him on —
Reporter: Well, it’s not just a decision now. It’s a precedent that he’s setting. You know, in the — in the SAP that you guys issued, it said, “Congress should respect the District’s autonomy to govern their local affairs. For too long, Washington residents have been deprived for representation and the principle of taxation without representation.”
There is obviously a sort of immediate question about whether these changes done by the D.C. Council are smart or good policy. But there’s also a principle about when the President would intervene to overrule the elected representatives.
KJP: I get the que- — I get the question, Justin. I really do. And what I’m saying to you is that the President supports D.C. statehood. That has not changed.
Reporter: … why does he believe that he should step in where the D.C. — where the residents of D.C.’s elected representatives, you know, pass these changes — why does he believe that his — he should substitute his wisdom and judgment for theirs?
KJP: So, look, I mean, just to double down and triple down on what the President has said for decades, which is that he believes every — every city should have their — the right to self-government. That is — still is the same case. That hasn’t — that hasn’t changed anything. He has long believed that D.C. statehood should be something that the residents of D.C. should be allowed. Again, that hasn’t changed. But this is different. The way that we see this is — it’s very different. This is — the D.C. Council put changes forward over the mayor’s objections. And the President doesn’t support changes like lowering penalties for carjacking …
Reporter: I was hoping you could explain a little bit why this is different though. Just because it’s different — the President believes that every city should have the right to self-government except if he belie- — if he disagrees with the outcomes of their — of their governing process?
KJP: Look, one thing that the President believes in is making sure that the streets in America and communities across the country are safe. That includes D.C. That does not change. That’s why he puts forward a historic piece of — a historical plan that he hopes Republicans in Congress would support …
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Q: Biden DC bill change of heart? self-rule except Biden better? A: Because this is just different