Reuters’s Jeff Mason: “Mr. President, you talked about gas prices coming down. You made today’s decision about sanctions against Russia. Are you concerned that that decision will perhaps lead to gas prices going up? And can you explain why those sanctions were imposed today and not earlier in the term?”

Biden: “The sanctions are imposed today because they will have profound effect on the growth of the Russian economy and make it more difficult for Putin to conduct his wars. It is probable that gas prices could increase as much as $0.03, $0.04 a gallon. But what’s going to have a more profound impact on Russia’s ability to continue to act in the way it’s acting in a conduct of war.”

Reuters’s Jeff Mason: “Can you just give us a sense of what other pardons and commutations you’re considering in your last ten days?”

Biden: “Well, the answer is no, because two things. One is that — it depends on some of the language and expectations that Trump broadcast in the last couple of days here as to what he’s going to do. The idea that he would punish people for not adhering to what he thinks should be policy as related to his well-being, is outrageous, but there’s still consideration of some folks that — nothing — but no decision.”

AFP’s Aureila End: “Mr. President, would you comment on meta’s decision to end its fact checking operations in the United States? Is that a good decision, in your opinion?”
Biden: “Well, look, the whole idea of walking away from fact-checking as well as not reporting anything having to do with discrimination regarding the — uh — TPS, I find to be just contrary to American justice — American — the way we talk about one another. Telling the truth matters. I mean, it’s a — I know I’m on national television, but you all are local reporters and national reporters. I’m — I’m not — this is not a legitimate, real question, but what do you think? Do you think it doesn’t matter that they let it be printed or millions of people read it things that are simply not true? I mean, I don’t know what that’s all about. It’s just completely contrary to everything America is about. We want to tell the truth. We haven’t always done it as a nation. We want to tell the truth and the idea that, you know, a billionaire can buy something and say, by the way, from this point on, we’re not going to — we’re not going to fact check anything. And, you know, when you have millions of people reading, going online, reading this stuff, it is — anyway, I think it’s — I think it’s really shameful.”

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Biden: sanctions Russia prices increase $0.03 a gallon, other pardons, meta end fact checking