What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
January 13, 2025 Recap
President Biden delivered a comprehensive foreign policy address at the State Department, highlighting his administration's accomplishments over the past four years and outlining a vision for the future. He emphasized the revitalization of U.S. alliances, particularly with NATO, where member contributions to defense have significantly increased. In the Indo-Pacific region, Biden underscored the establishment of historic partnerships with nations such as Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines and the efforts to counterbalance China's growing influence. He also discussed strengthened ties in the Middle East and the Americas, focusing on shared security and prosperity.
Biden touted advancements in technology and economic power, spotlighting investments in artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, and clean energy. He credited these initiatives with strengthening the U.S. economy through "bottom-up" growth bolstered by historic investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, and climate resilience. The administration has also worked to address unfair trade practices and ensure that the United States maintains its competitive edge in critical sectors.
On the geopolitical front, Biden detailed efforts to counter adversaries like Russia, China, and Iran. He highlighted U.S. support for Ukraine, sanctions that have weakened Russia's economy, and alliances built to ensure fair competition with China. The president also pointed to the administration's re-engagement with global initiatives, including rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, launching the PGI initiative to build sustainable infrastructure in developing nations, and working to reduce global emissions.
Reflecting on his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, Biden defended the move as a necessary pivot to focus on broader challenges and reduce prolonged military commitments. He emphasized the importance of diplomacy in addressing global issues while maintaining military readiness as a deterrent.
The president reaffirmed the U.S. role as a leader in promoting democracy, human rights, and civil liberties, stressing the need to use both power and diplomacy to address aggression and foster global cooperation. Looking ahead, he urged the next administration to continue building on initiatives in artificial intelligence, clean energy, and climate action while addressing emerging challenges. Biden closed his address with optimism, unity, and confidence in America's capacity to lead and innovate, asserting that collaboration and commitment can help the nation overcome any obstacle.
President Biden announced that his administration has approved student loan relief for over 150,000 borrowers, bringing the total number of Americans who have had their student debt canceled to over 5 million. This latest relief includes 85,000 borrowers defrauded by schools, 61,000 borrowers with total and permanent disabilities, and 6,100 public service workers. Highlighting the administration's broader efforts to address student debt, President Biden outlined several key achievements, including fixing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to benefit over 1 million public service workers, providing relief to 1.7 million borrowers defrauded by their schools, assisting 633,000 borrowers with disabilities, and correcting errors in Income-Driven Repayment programs to aid more than 1.4 million long-term borrowers. The administration also secured the largest increase to the maximum Pell Grant award in a decade, making higher education more accessible. President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring higher education serves as a pathway to the middle class rather than a financial barrier and noted that his administration has forgiven more student loan debt than any other in history.
The Biden-Harris Administration has introduced an Interim Final Rule on Artificial Intelligence Diffusion to strengthen U.S. security and economic leadership in the rapidly evolving AI sector. This rule protects advanced AI technologies from adversarial misuse while supporting allies and fostering global innovation. Key allies, including 18 countries with strong technology protection measures, are exempt from chip sale restrictions and benefit from streamlined processes for low-risk orders, such as those for medical and educational purposes.
The rule introduces two tiers of trusted user designations to facilitate responsible AI development. The Universal Verified End User (UVEU) status allows trusted entities in allied nations to deploy up to 7% of global AI capacity. In contrast, the National Verified End User (NVEU) status permits trusted users in other regions to access up to 320,000 advanced GPUs over two years. For non-verified users in countries outside key alliances, access is capped at 50,000 advanced GPUs per country, enabling AI use in industries like healthcare and banking. Government-to-government agreements allow aligned nations to double their chip caps, further promoting shared AI values.
The rule also imposes strict restrictions on adversarial nations, limiting access to advanced AI systems and computing resources required for training. It includes robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access to AI model weights, especially for advanced closed-weight models. This initiative builds on previous chip control policies from 2022 and 2023, developed through extensive consultations with stakeholders, bipartisan lawmakers, and international partners. By balancing innovation, security, and international collaboration, the rule ensures U.S. AI leadership while mitigating risks to national security.
President Biden held discussions with Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru of Japan and President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. of the Philippines, to advance trilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The leaders built upon the historic trilateral summit hosted at the White House in April 2024, focusing on maritime security, economic collaboration, and addressing China's unlawful actions in the South China Sea. They reaffirmed their commitment to promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific and emphasized the importance of continued coordination to achieve these goals.
In a separate call, President Biden spoke with Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar regarding negotiations in Doha for a ceasefire and hostage release agreement. This effort is based on a May 2024 arrangement previously endorsed by the UN Security Council. President Biden expressed gratitude for Qatar’s leadership and praised the mediation efforts of Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Both leaders highlighted the urgency of implementing the deal to reunite hostages with their families and deliver immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza. They agreed to stay closely coordinated as the negotiations reach a critical juncture.
President Biden expressed deep sorrow for the 24 lives lost in the wildfires across Los Angeles and offered prayers for the victims and their families. He emphasized his administration's commitment to combating the unprecedented fires, noting that federal firefighting assistance, personnel, and resources have been deployed to support California. President Biden commended the bravery of firefighters and first responders, acknowledging their tireless efforts and sacrifices, and reaffirmed the administration's dedication to aiding survivors and suppressing the fires as conditions worsen.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held a press briefing highlighting significant U.S. domestic and foreign policy updates under the Biden administration. Domestically, the administration announced the approval of student loan relief for 150,000 borrowers, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to over 5 million. The relief primarily aids individuals defrauded by educational institutions, those with total and permanent disabilities, and public service workers. This milestone underscores the administration’s commitment to reducing the burden of student debt and enabling financial stability for millions of Americans.
In addressing the ongoing California wildfires, the administration detailed federal efforts to support local and state firefighting operations. Hundreds of personnel, including firefighters from neighboring states, have been deployed to assist. President Biden and Vice President Harris remain actively involved, receiving updates and directing resources to the affected areas. The administration also praised the resilience and solidarity of communities responding to the disaster.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan reflected on key achievements over the past four years on the foreign policy front. These include strengthening alliances in Europe and Asia, supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression, and maintaining strategic competition with China while avoiding conflict. The administration also highlighted advancements in domestic manufacturing, technological leadership in AI and biotechnology, and efforts to stabilize supply chains and defense infrastructure. A significant focus was placed on finalizing a hostage deal in Gaza, with progress attributed to narrowing gaps in prisoner exchange and humanitarian efforts. The administration is coordinating closely with the incoming team to ensure continuity in these critical negotiations.
Artificial intelligence (AI) was emphasized as a pivotal issue for national security and global leadership. The administration has taken steps to maintain America’s edge in AI development while addressing risks like algorithmic bias and cyber threats. Efforts to establish international standards and prevent misuse of AI technologies remain central to U.S. strategy.
As the administration prepares to transition to its successor, officials underscored their commitment to ensuring a smooth handoff, particularly on pressing issues like Middle East diplomacy and strategic initiatives. The briefing also addressed domestic concerns, including Medicare price negotiations and the dangers of misinformation, especially during disaster responses. The updates reflect the administration’s efforts to fortify domestic resilience, advance global leadership, and navigate a seamless governance transition.
President Biden announced that the next two Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers will be named after former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. The vessels will be called the future USS William J. Clinton (CVN 82) and the future USS George W. Bush (CVN 83).
Both former presidents were personally informed of the decision and expressed humility upon receiving the news. President Biden highlighted their understanding of the responsibilities of being Commander-in-Chief and their commitment to supporting military families.
These ships will be constructed in the coming years, joining the U.S. Navy's advanced fleet, which is staffed by Sailors from across the nation. President Biden emphasized the dedication of these Sailors, their families, and the shipyard workers who will build the carriers. He expressed gratitude for their service and prayed for their safety and success.
President Biden has amended California's disaster declaration, increasing federal funding for emergency work related to wildfires and straight-line winds that began on January 7, 2025. Federal funds will now cover 100% of eligible costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures for 180 days, within the first 270 days from the start of the incident period.
President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken share an embrace before taking the podium to deliver remarks at the State Department
So much to appreciate about this administration, thank you for highlighting the works