Psaki Cannot Explain How Biden Will Stop Nord Stream 2, Dodges Afghanistan After-Action Report, Biden Calls Hunter “Smartest Man I Know”

On 2/8/2022, Press Secretary Jen Psaki faced pointed questions on multiple fronts: she could not explain how Biden would stop Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline when Germany refused to say it would be shut down, she dodged accountability questions raised by a damning Afghanistan withdrawal after-action report, she tried to credit Biden for a gas price drop even as prices remained at their highest since 2014, and Biden called his son Hunter “the smartest man I know."

"I Promise You, We’ll Be Able to Do It”

Reporters pressed Psaki on how Biden could guarantee Nord Stream 2 would not go forward if Russia invaded Ukraine, given that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz repeatedly refused to say the pipeline would be shut down. “Logistically speaking, how would the President ensure that would not happen?” a reporter asked.

“I’m just not going to get into more specifics from here, but I can assure you that that is a commitment and one we will deliver on,” Psaki said. “That includes sanctions on anyone or any company that does business with the pipeline.”

When asked why Chancellor Scholz “can’t spit out the words” that Biden said, Psaki deflected. “You are a very industrious reporter, Mara, and I’m sure you can pose that question to the Germans as well. But I can only speak for our government,” she said.

Asked whether Biden regretted waiving sanctions on the company behind Nord Stream 2, Psaki dismissed the question. “Nord Stream 2 is not operational at this point in time. The German regulators have not approved it. So I don’t think we’re looking in the rearview mirror. I think we’re looking at it as a point of leverage with the Russians,” she said.

Afghanistan After-Action Report

Reporters confronted Psaki with a newly released after-action report containing damning assessments from military commanders about the Afghanistan withdrawal. The report revealed that the “NSC appeared to lack a sense of urgency about planning for an evacuation because it would signal that we have failed.” Marines at Abbey Gate “were forced to play God by identifying who would be allowed into the airfield.” Military officials said “the Department of State did not get one message right to the Afghans” during the noncombatant evacuation operation.

A reporter asked if the report would lead to accountability. “I think we’re going to allow a discussion internally to continue about any after-action report. I have no predictions beyond that at this point,” Psaki said.

When pressed on whether generals were being listened to differently now given the Ukraine crisis, Psaki pushed back. “I think it’s really important to separate the two, because we’re not in a 20-year war with U.S. troops in Ukraine. That’s a very different circumstance,” she said.

Asked directly whether the White House rejected the military commanders’ assertions that they tried to convince the administration of the urgency of evacuation planning but were rebuffed, Psaki again deflected. “There was a range of contingency planning,” she repeated. “The Afghan National Security Forces would fall at the pace they fell — that was not anticipated by anyone.”

Biden: Hunter Is “The Smartest Man I Know”

Biden made remarks about his son Hunter Biden that drew attention. “He’s a grown man. He is the smartest man I know. I mean, in terms of pure intellectual capacity,” Biden said. The comment came amid ongoing federal investigations into Hunter Biden’s taxes and foreign business dealings.

”Fire You on the Spot” — But Not Really

Psaki was also pressed about White House science adviser Dr. Eric Lander, who had resigned after reports of bullying and mistreating staff. Reporters noted Biden’s inauguration-day pledge: “If you’re ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot. On the spot. No ifs and buts.”

But Lander was not fired — he resigned. “Dr. Eric Lander met with senior members of our officials who made clear what steps needed to be taken,” Psaki said. When a reporter asked whether Lander would still be working for the administration if Politico had not broken the story, Psaki said, “Given that Dr. Lander made the decision himself to submit his resignation, that would be a question best posed to him.”

CDC School Guidance

Reporters asked when the CDC would update its guidance for schools, noting California had already changed its guidance and American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten was “vocally asking for the White House and the CDC to weigh in.” Psaki passed the question. “You’ll have to ask the CDC,” she said.

Key Takeaways

Psaki could not explain how Biden would stop Nord Stream 2 when Germany refused to say the pipeline would be shut down, saying only “I promise you, we’ll be able to do it.”
A damning Afghanistan after-action report revealed the NSC “appeared to lack a sense of urgency” about evacuation planning and Marines were “forced to play God” at Abbey Gate.
Biden called his son Hunter “the smartest man I know” amid ongoing federal investigations into Hunter’s business dealings.
Despite Biden’s inauguration-day pledge to “fire you on the spot” for mistreating colleagues, science adviser Dr. Lander resigned rather than being fired after bullying reports surfaced.
Psaki dodged questions on updated school guidance, telling reporters to “ask the CDC.”

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

How would the President ensure that would not happen? I’m just not going to get into more specifics from here, but I can assure you that that is a commitment and one we will deliver on.
Nord Stream 2 is not operational at this point in time. I don’t think we’re looking in the rearview mirror. I think we’re looking at it as a point of leverage with the Russians.
He’s a grown man. He is the smartest man I know. I mean, in terms of pure intellectual capacity.
The NSC appeared to lack a sense of urgency about planning for an evacuation because it would signal that we have failed.
If you’re ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, I promise you I will fire you on the spot. On the spot.
You’ll have to ask the CDC.

Full transcript: 1309 words transcribed via Whisper AI.