Biden Concedes Covid-19 Frustrations, Sees Path for Stalled Bill, Warns Russia on Ukraine

Biden Refocuses Spending Plan, Notes Pandemic Frustrations

By Alex Leary, Ken Thomas and Andrew Restuccia

WASHINGTON—President Biden said he likely would have to break up his stalled healthcare, education and climate agenda in hopes of getting his policies through Congress and said he suspects Russia will invade Ukraine, warning Moscow would pay a “dear price” if it does.

The president, in a nearly two-hour news conference wrapping up his first year in office, defended his policies and his administration’s response to Covid-19 but acknowledged that Americans are frustrated by the duration of the pandemic.

“It’s been a year of challenges, but it’s also been a year of enormous progress,” said Mr. Biden, citing millions of people getting vaccinated in 2021 and passage of a nearly $1 trillion infrastructure bill. “Still for all this progress, I know there’s a lot of frustration and fatigue in this country. We know why—Covid-19.”

Mr. Biden said he probably will have to split up the roughly $2 trillion Build Back Better proposal to pass the individual pieces. The measure has stalled after Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) rejected the proposal late last year.

“I think we can break the package up, get as much as we can now and come back and fight for the rest later,” he said, adding that he thinks he can win enough support for the legislation’s provisions on climate, energy and early-childhood education. Mr. Biden said that proposals to expand the child tax credit and provide tuition assistance for people attending community colleges may not make it into the package, but he said he would continue pushing to pass those measures.

He reiterated his intent to unleash sanctions against Russia should it invade Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin, Mr. Biden said, faces a stark choice and would regret choosing conflict. Mr. Biden appeared to initially suggest that he thinks Mr. Putin will invade Ukraine. “My guess is he will move in,” he said. ”I think he’ll pay a serious and dear price for it.”

He later walked back the prediction. “I don’t think he’s made up his mind yet,” said Mr. Biden, who suggested he may meet face-to-face with Mr. Putin.

Biden Says Build Back Better Will Likely Be Broken Up

President Biden said at a news conference Wednesday that the stalled $2 trillion Build Back Better proposal would likely have to be split up to get certain pieces, such as provisions on climate, energy and early-childhood education, passed. Photo: Oliver Contreras/Sipa/Bloomberg News

Mr. Biden also articulated a possible diplomatic resolution over Ukraine. He offered to negotiate on the positioning of strategic weapons. He also said that Ukraine’s prospective membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the near term isn’t likely, though he said the decision ultimately was the alliance’s. Both issues have been among the demands Moscow has issued over Ukraine.

Early in the news conference, Mr. Biden said the response to Russia might differ if the country launched a “minor incursion” instead of a full-blown military invasion. Asked to clarify, the president said that the U.S. would respond with reciprocal action if Russia launches a cyberattack or other nonmilitary effort.

Biden Warns Russia of ‘Disaster’ if It Invades Ukraine

Republicans faulted the president’s remarks. “Any incursion by the Russian military into Ukraine should be viewed as a major incursion because it will destabilize Ukraine and freedom-loving countries in Eastern Europe,” said Sen. Rob Portman (R., Ohio).

While Mr. Biden touted progress in fighting Covid-19, he faces criticism of his handling of the virus, including difficulty obtaining tests for many people. “Should we have done more testing earlier? Yes,” he said. The administration this week started a website allowing people to request free tests through the mail.

“Some people may call what’s happening now the new normal. I call it a job not yet finished,” Mr. Biden said of his pandemic response. “We’re not there yet, but we will get there.” He said the U.S. wouldn’t go back to the lockdowns and closed schools that were common in earlier stages of the pandemic.

The administration has sought to convey in appearances by the president and briefings with top officials that many Americans will be infected with Covid-19, but that those who are vaccinated have no reason to panic.

On inflation, Mr. Biden said the “critical job in making sure that the elevated prices don’t become entrenched rests with the Federal Reserve” and indicated he agreed with anticipated interest rate increases.

He also highlighted steps by the administration to ease supply-chain bottlenecks and said he would work to increase competition in certain sectors, such as meat processing. Those steps have had limited impact, however, experts say. The Fed is facing pressure to tame inflation, and Mr. Biden is confronting the prospect of lingering high prices as the midterm elections approach later this year.

The forum Wednesday opened a year in which Mr. Biden will try to rally a Democratic base that has been frustrated by his record on climate change and voting legislation despite high hopes when he took office.

Democrats had hoped to have already passed the Build Back Better legislative package. Last week, Mr. Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D., Ariz.) handed the president another setback by reiterating their opposition to changing Senate filibuster rules to allow passage of voting legislation opposed by Republicans.

Mr. Biden said he would continue to push for passage of elections bills, arguing that a failure to pass the legislation could raise the likelihood that the coming midterms would be illegitimate.

As parts of his legislative agenda have faltered, Mr. Biden and his team have emphasized the roughly $1 trillion infrastructure funding bill he signed into law. Mr. Biden also has cited strong U.S. job gains over the past year.

The Senate is now split 50-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris providing tiebreaking votes, and Democrats have a small majority in the House.

“I’m going to be deeply involved in these off-year elections,” said Mr. Biden, who also indicated he plans to run for re-election with Ms. Harris as his running mate.

Write to Alex Leary at alex.leary@wsj.com, Ken Thomas at ken.thomas@wsj.com and Andrew Restuccia at andrew.restuccia@wsj.com

Appeared in the January 20, 2022, print edition as 'Biden Hopeful on Social Bills, Threatens Putin Over Ukraine.'