This afternoon:

The White House

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2023

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BIDEN
IN PRESS GAGGLE

Hagerstown Regional Airport
Hagerstown, Maryland

3:15 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: On Wednesday, when I was briefed on the balloon, I ordered the Pentagon to shoot it down, on Wednesday, as soon as possible. They decided — without doing damage to anyone on — on the ground. They decided that the best time to do that was as it got over water, outside — within our — within the 12-mile limit.

They successfully took it down. And I want to compliment our aviators who did it. And we’ll have more to report on this a little later.

Thank you.

Q Mr. President, what does this say about China? What’s your message to China?

Q You were saying the recommendation from your — was from your national security —

THE PRESIDENT: I told them to shoot it down.

Q On Wednesday?

THE PRESIDENT: On Wednesday.

Q But the recommendation from them —

THE PRESIDENT: They said to me, “Let’s wait till the safest place to do it.”

3:16 P.M. EST

Previously:

Are you certain it wasn’t Rick Brattin (r)? (February 3, 2023)

Maybe they’re just checking on all of their Missouri farm landholdings (February 3, 2023)

Apparently Jason Smith (r) believes China is unaware of any easily accessible map applications (February 3, 2023)

Marked “Safe” in Virginia from the Balloon (February 4, 2023)

They were searching in vain for any of the locations of your open public town halls in the district (February 4, 2023)