HIGHLIGHTS: Biden's Special Counsel Presser

Biden: “I know there’s some attention paid to some language in the report about my recollection of events. There is even reference that I don’t remember when my son died. How in the hell dare he raise that? Frankly, when I was asked the question, I thought to myself, wasn’t any of their damn business. Let me tell you something. Some of you have commented. I wear since the day he died, every single day, the rosary he got from Our Lady of — every Memorial Day we hold a service remembering him, attended by friends and family and the people who loved him. I don’t need anyone, I don’t need anyone to remind me of when he passed away. The simple truth is, I have sat for a five-hour interview, over two days of events, going back 40 years at the same time I was managing an international crisis. Their task was to make a decision about whether to move forward with charges in this case. That was their decision to make. That’s the counsel’s decision to make. That’s his job. And they decided not to move forward. For any extraneous commentary, they don’t know what they’re talking about. It has no place in this report. Bottom line is, the matter is now closed. I’m going to continue what I’ve always focused on, my job of being president of the United States of America. I thank you, and I’ll take some questions.”

DOOCY: “President Biden, something the special counsel said in his report is that one of the reasons you were not charged is because, in his description, you are a well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.”

BIDEN: “I’m well-meaning and I’m an elderly man, and I know what the hell I’m doing. I’ve been president, I put this country back on its feet. I don’t need his recommendation. It’s totally —“

DOOCY: “How bad is your memory and can you continue as president?”

BIDEN: “My memory is so bad, I let you speak. That’s —“

REPORTER: “Do you feel your memory has gotten worse, Mr. President?”

BIDEN: “My memory has not — my memory is fine. My memory — take a look at what I’ve done since I’ve become president. None of you thought I could pass any of the things I got passed. How did that happen? You know, I guess I just forgot what was going on.”

REPORTER: “Mr. President, for months, when you were asked about your age, you would respond with the words ‘watch me’. Well, many American people have been watching and they have expressed concerns about your age.”

BIDEN: “That is your judgment — that is your judgment. That is not the judgment of the press.”

REPORTER: “They expressed concerns about your mental acuity, they say that you are too old. Mr. President, in December you told me that you believe there are many other Democrats who could defeat Donald Trump. So why does it have to be you now? What is your answer to that question?”

BIDEN: “Because I’m the most qualified person in this country to be president of the United States and finish the job I started.”

BIDEN: “The House is in negotiation — look. I’m of the view, as you know, that the conduct of the response in Gaza, in the Gaza Strip, has been over the top. I think that, as you know, initially the president of Mexico, Sisi, did not want to open up the gate to allow humanitarian material to get in. I talked to him. I convinced him to open the gate. I talked to Bibi to open the gate on the Israeli side. I’ve been pushing him really hard, really hard to get humanitarian assistance into Gaza. There are a lot of innocent people who are starving, a lot of innocent people who are in trouble, and dying. And it’s got to stop. Number one. Number two, I was also in the position that I am the guy that made the case that we have to do much more to increase the amount of material going in, including fuel, including other items. I’ve been on the phone with the Qataris, I’ve been on the phone with the Egyptians, I’ve been on the phone with the Saudis, to get as much aid as we possibly can into Gaza. They’re innocent people, innocent women and children who are also in badly need of help. And so that’s what we are pushing. And I’m pushing very hard now to deal with this hostage cease-fire, because, I’ve been working tirelessly in this deal — how can I say this without revealing — to lead to a sustained pause."