On CBS Evening News on Monday, anchor Norah O’Donnell and senior White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe reported on the rolling dumpster fire that was President Joe Biden’s interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes on Sunday evening. As part of the report, O’Keefe noted how many of Biden’s statements needed to be corrected or clarified by his handlers afterward.
Biden was such a trainwreck that O’Donnell opened with this stunning report: “there is fallout tonight after President Biden's interview with 60 Minutes, comments he made about the pandemic, led stocks of three COVID vaccine makers to plunge, shares falling as much as nine percent.”
“President Biden's conclusion on 60 Minutes Sunday that the COVID pandemic has ended prompted push-back from health experts and clarifications from top officials,” O’Keefe noted.
Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra served as the designated damage control specialist for Biden’s gaffe that the pandemic was over (which in reality wasn’t a gaffe because the pandemic has been over for well over a year).
“Make no mistake, people are still dying. And what the President is saying is that we all want to get back to where we were before COVID,” Becerra grumbled.
Of course, whenever the word pandemic of COVID is mentioned disgraced Doctor Tony Fauci appears.
This time was no different since CBS aired a soundbite of Fauci attempting to revive the pandemic by claiming “it is likely that we will see another variant emerge, and there's already on the horizon.”
O’Keefe ended by reporting that “the President also told 60 Minutes the U.S. Military would defend Taiwan against a quote unprecedented attack from China."
“White House officials later clarified U.S. White House policy towards Taiwan hasn't changed. The Chinese called the President’s comments, well they said they sent the wrong signal,” O’Keefe noted before tossing back to O’Donnell.
This segment was made possible by Fisher Investments. Their information is linked.
To read the full transcript of this segment click “expand”:
CBS Evening News
9/19/2022
6:43:17 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: Well, there is fallout tonight after President Biden's interview with 60 Minutes, comments he made about the pandemic, led stocks of three COVID vaccine makers to plunge, shares falling as much as 9 percent. CBS's Ed O'Keefe reports from the White House.
ED O’KEEFE: President Biden's conclusion on 60 Minutes Sunday that the COVID pandemic has ended prompted push-back from health experts and clarifications from top officials.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: The pandemic is over. We still have a problem with COVID, we're still doing a lot of work on it, but the pandemic is over.
O’KEEFE: Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra, who held a photo op, promoting the latest COVID booster shot was asked what the President meant.
XAVIER BECERRA: Make no mistake, people are still dying. And what the President is saying is that we all want to get back to where we were before COVID.
O’KEEFE: While overall, case rates are dropping nearly 400 people are still dying each day with about 30,000 currently hospitalized. And Dr. Anthony Fauci today warned that vaccination rates are too low to end the pandemic.
ANTHONY FAUCI: It is likely that we will see another variant emerge, and there's already on the horizon.
O’KEEFE: Mr. Biden was also asked on 60 Minutes about whether he plans to run for reelection.
SCOTT PELLEY: You say that it's much too early to make that decision. I take it the decision has not been made in your own head.
JOE BIDEN: Look, my intentions I said to begin with is that I would run again, but it's just an intention. Is it a firm decision that I'd run again? That remains to be seen.
O’KEEFE: If the President were to step aside, it could spark a wide-open fight for the Democratic nomination. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, a potential 2024 challenger, sparked controversy at a weekend rally in Ohio, where his remarks were set to music that resembled the QAnon theme song.
DONALD TRUMP: We're a nation that surrendered in Afghanistan, leaving behind dead soldiers.
O’KEEFE: Many in the crowd responded to the music with a QAnon salute. The Trump team dismissed any ties to QAnon. Meanwhile, the President also told 60 Minutes the U.S. Military would defend Taiwan against a quote unprecedented attack from China. White House officials later clarified U.S. White House policy towards Taiwan hasn't changed. The Chinese called the President’s comments, well they said they sent the wrong signal.
O’DONNELL: Ed O'Keefe at the White House, thank you.
