Biden and Macron: 'A Total of Four, All Told,' 'I Make No Apologies' and No Answer on China's Protesters (December 1, 2022)

During French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit, President Joe Biden held a joint news conference in the East Room and laid out the rules for questions. “We’re going to take—we’re each going to call on two people—a total of two people—a total of four, all told,” he said [1].

He first praised his guest. “I began to refer to him privately as my ‘closer,’” Biden said of Macron [1].

When his turn came again, Biden checked his paper. “Okay, who’s the next question? I’ve got my list here,” he said. “Is it my turn to call on someone? Right?” [1]

At the end, a reporter called out a question that went unanswered. “Thanks, folks. All right,” Biden said. “Sir, do you have a message for the protesters in China and the women in Iran?” the reporter asked. The transcript ends there [1].

The video above shows the end of the Dec. 1, 2022, news conference. Quotes are from the official transcripts published by the American Presidency Project [1][2][3].

”I Didn’t Understand a Word of It”

A French reporter asked her second question in French, without a working microphone. “The journalist doesn’t have a microphone,” the interpreter said [1].

“I’ll answer the last question, since I didn’t hear any of it. I didn’t understand a word of it, so I’ll answer it,” Biden said, to laughter [1].

”I Make No Apologies”

The reporter’s first question was about Macron’s complaint that the Inflation Reduction Act was “superaggressive” toward European companies. Biden did not back down. “No, look, the United States makes no apology—and I make no apologies, since I wrote it for—the legislation you’re talking about,” he said [1].

He allowed that the law had flaws. “And so there’s obviously going to be glitches in it and need to reconcile changes in it,” Biden said. “So there’s tweaks that we can make that can fundamentally make it easier for European countries to participate and/or be on their own” [1].

On computer chips from Asia, he added: “We invented the damn things, you know?” [1]

“I Love You Guys”

NPR’s Tamara Keith asked about the rail labor deal Biden wanted Congress to impose. “Do the freight rail workers deserve more than 1 day of paid sick leave, like millions of Americans have?” she asked [1].

“I love you guys. I negotiated a contract no one else could negotiate,” Biden said. He blamed “that other team—they’re called the Republicans” for blocking paid leave, and warned that a strike would “immediately cost 750,000 jobs and cause a recession” [1].

”Prepared to Speak With Mr. Putin”

Asked about talks with Russia, Biden set a condition. “But the fact of the matter is, I have no immediate plans to contact Mr. Putin. Mr. Putin is—let me choose my words very carefully—I’m prepared to speak with Mr. Putin if in fact there is an interest in him deciding he’s looking for a way to end the war. He hasn’t done that yet,” he said [1].

”It’s All Yours, Boss”

At the state dinner, Biden toasted the alliance. “France was our first ally, first country to fly the American flag after our revolution. And Franc [France; White House correction] hosted the first diplomatic posts,” he said [5].

“Ladies and gentlemen, I actually grew up in a place called New Castle, Delaware—County, and—near Brandywine Battlefield, where a young man named Marquis de Lafayette fought for the American cause and became close friends with a fellow named George Washington,” Biden said [5].

When Macron answered, “To our friendship,” Biden handed him the floor: “It’s all yours, boss” [5].

Tim Cook at the Head Table

That night’s state dinner guest list included “Mr. Timothy Cook,” Apple’s chief executive [2]. At the dinner, Biden raised a toast “which neither one of us have” until an aide brought the champagne, the transcript shows [5].

A week later, a reporter asked the White House about it. “Amidst protests in China against the CCP, and after Apple changed its AirDrop feature for Chinese iPhone users, why was Tim Cook seated at the head table during the last state dinner here at the White House?” [3]

“I don’t have any specifics on — on who was invited, why they were invited. Don’t have that to share with you,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. She pointed to the economy instead: “And we have seen more than 700,000 manufacturing jobs created under this President” [3].

By the Numbers

4: questions Biden said he would take, “all told” [1].
$368 billion: the climate money in the Inflation Reduction Act, per Biden [1].
$15.7 billion: raised for the Global Fund, with the U.S. and France the largest contributors, per Biden [1].
750,000: jobs Biden said a rail strike would cost [1].
700,000: manufacturing jobs Jean-Pierre claimed a week later [3].

What Happened Next

Trump met Putin. The talks Biden made conditional came under his successor. On Aug. 15, 2025, President Donald Trump held a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, according to the White House pool [4]. For what followed, see HYGO News’ page on Trump hosting Zelenskyy and European leaders.

The climate law’s EV credit ended. Public Law 119-21 ended the federal clean vehicle credit for vehicles “acquired after September 30, 2025” [6]. For more, see the page on the UAW strike briefing.