Psaki Demands Reporter “Name” Who Is Questioning Biden’s Foreign Policy, Says Ukraine Departure Is “Not Actually an Evacuation”

On 2/11/2022, Press Secretary Psaki urged Americans in Ukraine to “leave now” as a Russian invasion appeared imminent, but insisted the departure was “not actually an evacuation.” When a reporter said critics were questioning the administration’s foreign policy after both Afghanistan and Ukraine, Psaki demanded: “Who is questioning us? Give me a name.” She also confirmed Biden rejected the findings of the military’s Afghanistan after-action report and said pre-invasion sanctions on Russia would undermine their deterrent effect.

”Leave Now” — But Not an Evacuation

With over 100,000 Russian troops massed on Ukraine’s border, the briefing opened with an urgent message. “If people want to leave, they should leave now,” Psaki said. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had delivered the same message earlier.

Biden’s position was that American troops would not be sent to rescue civilians. “The president will not be putting the lives of our men and women in uniform at risk by sending them into a war zone to rescue people who could have left now but chose not to,” Psaki said. “We are asking people to make the responsible choice.”

When a reporter noted this was “the second evacuation of Americans” under this administration, Psaki pushed back sharply. “It’s not actually an evacuation, to be clear. American citizens can depart Ukraine. There are means of departing,” she said.

“It’s the second time we’ve urged American citizens to get out of a country,” the reporter pressed.

“Actually, we’ve urged American citizens to depart a number of times,” Psaki said, citing Kazakhstan and Ethiopia.

”Who Is Questioning Us? Give Me a Name”

When the reporter connected Afghanistan and Ukraine as examples of a questioned foreign policy, Psaki became combative. “What does the administration say to critics who are looking at these two events and questioning this administration’s foreign policy approach?” the reporter asked.

“Who is questioning us? Give me a name,” Psaki demanded.

“Plenty of Republicans,” the reporter said.

“Like who?” Psaki pressed.

“I could name off any number of Republicans,” the reporter replied.

“I’d love to know a name,” Psaki said.

“Mitch McConnell,” the reporter offered.

“Well, here’s what I would say to Mr. McConnell. The President ended a 20-year war in Afghanistan. He was the first President to do that after many of his predecessors failed to take exactly that step,” Psaki said.

Biden Rejects Afghanistan After-Action Report

Psaki confirmed that Biden rejected the conclusions of the Army’s after-action report on the Afghanistan withdrawal. In an NBC interview, Biden had said: “There was no way we were ever going to unite Afghanistan. No way that was going to happen.”

“Are you rejecting the conclusions or the accounts that are in this Army report?” a reporter asked.

“Yes, I am,” Psaki said. “What the President was rejecting is the notion that there weren’t a range of preparations done in advance. He came into office without any plan.”

She claimed Biden had always asked his team in meetings whether they needed anything to implement their plans and “always raised the question of whether we needed to evacuate our embassy.”

Pre-Invasion Sanctions Still Off the Table

A reporter asked whether Biden viewed pre-invasion sanctions differently given the escalating Russian buildup. “Is the President looking at sanctions ahead of an invasion any differently?” the reporter asked.

Psaki held firm. “The President believes that sanctions are intended to deter, and in order for them to work to deter, they have to be set up in a way where if Putin moves, then the costs are imposed,” she said. “We believe that that is the right logic.”

Inflation: “What’s Plan B?”

A reporter asked what the administration would do about inflation if Build Back Better remained stalled — noting that inflation was one of Senator Manchin’s primary objections to the bill. “If the Build Back Better plan remains at this impasse, what’s plan B to try and bring down some of these costs?”

Psaki said “economists and the Federal Reserve still predict that inflation will come down” and insisted “there’s a path forward” for Build Back Better.

No Count of Americans in Ukraine

When asked how many Americans were currently in Ukraine, Psaki could not provide a figure. “I would refer you to the State Department. I don’t want to do it off the top of my head,” she said, noting there were “two categories — those who have registered with the embassy and those who have not.”

Key Takeaways

• Psaki urged Americans to “leave Ukraine now” but insisted it was “not actually an evacuation” and said Biden would not send troops to rescue those who chose to stay.
• When asked who was questioning Biden’s foreign policy, Psaki demanded the reporter “give me a name” before being told “Mitch McConnell.”
• Biden rejected the Army’s Afghanistan after-action report findings, with Psaki saying “yes, I am” when asked if the White House rejected the conclusions.
• Pre-invasion sanctions remained off the table; Psaki said sanctions must be imposed after Putin moves to maintain their deterrent value.
• The administration could not provide a count of Americans in Ukraine and had no plan B for inflation if Build Back Better remained stalled.

Transcript Highlights

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

• If people want to leave, they should leave now. The president will not be putting the lives of our men and women in uniform at risk to rescue people who could have left now but chose not to.
• It’s not actually an evacuation, to be clear.
• Who is questioning us? Give me a name. Mitch McConnell. Well, the President ended a 20-year war in Afghanistan.
• Are you rejecting the conclusions in this Army report? Yes, I am.
• Sanctions are intended to deter. In order for them to work, if Putin moves, then the costs are imposed.
• He came into office without any plan. In every single meeting, the President asked the team, is there anything you need?

Full transcript: 1141 words transcribed via Whisper AI.