At a press conference in Madrid after the NATO summit, President Biden said he supported the Senate filibuster rule change to codify the right to abortion and the right to privacy into law.
Video transcription
† What further specific executive actions are you considering in response to the Roe ruling, and would you declare a public health emergency, as several Democrats are asking you to do?
† I would be happy to discuss this in detail with you. I have a meeting with a group of governors when I get home on Friday, and then I have announcements. But the first and most important thing we need to do is make it clear how outrageous this decision was and how much it affects not only women’s right to choose, which is a crucial, critical piece, but privacy in general. , on privacy in general.
And so I’m going to talk to the governors about what actions they think I should take as well. But the most important thing to be clear about is that we need to change. I believe we should legislate Roe v Wade. And the way to do that is to get Congress to vote for it. And if the filibuster gets in the way, it’s just voting rights, we provide an exception for this, require an exception to the filibuster to handle this action with the Supreme Court decision. Wait a second. I have another one here. Kelly O’Donnell, NBC.
† Thank you, Mr. President. Well, you just made some news by saying you’d support changing the filibuster rules to codify abortion rights across the country.
† Right to privacy, not just right to abortion. But yes, abortion rights.
† Can you describe for us, sir, that many Americans struggle with this. What do you think today about the integrity and impartiality of the Supreme Court? Should Americans Trust the Court as an Institution? And your views on abortion have evolved in your public life. Are you the best messenger to bring this out when Democrats, many of them, many progressives, want you to do?
† Yes that’s me. I am the President of the United States of America. That makes me the best messenger. And I really think it’s a serious, serious problem that the court has imposed on the United States, not just in terms of the right to choose, but in terms of the right to marry, a whole host of issues related to privacy.
And I wrote some great articles a long time ago about the Ninth Amendment and the 14th Amendment and why that privacy is considered part of a constitutional guarantee. And they just wiped it all out. And so I’m the only president they have, and I’m very confident that I’m going to do everything in my power, what I can legally do in terms of executive orders, and also push Congress and the public. The point here is whether you care whether the poll data is correct and you think this court decision was a disgrace or a grave mistake, vote, show up and vote. Vote in the off year and vote, vote, vote. That’s how we’re going to change it.