Category: Jen Psaki

White House: ‘No Decision’ on Whether to Ban Russian Oil

The White House says no decision has been made on whether the United States will ban Russian oil imports in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This comes as oil and gas prices reach record highs, the Biden administration continues talks with large oil producers around the world, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers announce…


White House: Not Advocating for Russian Regime Change

The White House says it is not advocating to displace Vladimir Putin, in response to comments from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) suggesting the Russian president should be “taken out.” Graham posted on Twitter Thursday that the only way the Russian conflict with Ukraine will end “is for somebody in Russia to take [Putin] out.” “You…


White House Signals Caution Against Russian Oil Ban

The White House is signaling restraint in imposing a ban on Russian oil as an addition to the list of sanctions meant to punish President Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine. Several members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have criticized a carve-out in U.S. sanctions exempting gas and oil, saying that…


White House Responds to Proposal for ‘No-Fly’ Zone Over Ukraine

The Biden administration and NATO both rejected calls for a “no-fly” zone over Ukraine, saying that it would escalate the conflict. Over the past weekend, there were calls for the United States and NATO to set one up over Ukraine, as Russian jets have carried out bombing runs on Ukrainian targets. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.)…


Boosting Domestic Oil Production to Counter Russia a ‘Misdiagnosis’: Psaki

White House press secretary Jen Psaki dismissed Senator Tom Cotton’s (R-Ark.) calls for boosting domestic oil production as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling it a “misdiagnosis” in an interview with ABC News. A video clip featuring Cotton was played during the program, in which the lawmaker argued for cracking down on the…


Psaki: Biden Administration to Personally Sanction Putin Over Ukraine Conflict

The Biden administration will sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and other top officials in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Friday. Earlier, the European Union and the United Kingdom announced that they, too, would sanction Putin, Lavrov, and several top officials. Other world…


Biden Administration, Pelosi Closely Monitoring Trucker Convoys Heading to Washington

President Joe Biden’s administration and one of the top Democrats in Congress are monitoring the trucker convoys that plan to converge on the Washington area as soon as Feb. 23. The administration, including the Department of Homeland Security, has “been monitoring this closely,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at the White House…


Biden ‘Still on Track’ to Make SCOTUS Selection by End of Month

The White House says President Joe Biden is on track to make his selection to fill an upcoming vacancy in the United States Supreme Court in time to meet his self-imposed February deadline. With the announcement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement on Jan. 27, Biden said that he would fulfill a campaign promise…


Psaki: White House Worried About ‘Freedom Convoy’ Protest on Key US-Canada Bridge

The White House said Wednesday it’s “watching very closely” protesters blocking a key bridge that connects the United States to Canada, asserting that it risks disrupting auto production, agricultural exports, and more. Canadian protesters led by truckers who have amassed on the bridge are demonstrating to end COVID-19 mandates, namely vaccine requirements for truck drivers…


Some Trucks ‘Rerouted’ Due to Freedom Convoy Protests: White House

Trucks carrying goods across the U.S.-Canada border have had to shift their routes because of the protests against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Canada, the White House said Feb. 7. While there have been zero impacts to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations, “some shipments were rerouted by our law enforcement partners to other points…