Biden praises Kamala Harris at event with WNBA champions Seattle Storm



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President Joe Biden praised Kamala Harris at an event with WNBA champions Seattle Storm on Monday and joked that he may need a job soon, offering his services as a pick-up of bullets.

Biden thanked the women’s basketball team four times for being an inspiration to women and girls around the world, saying it was important because “until they see it, until they look, it becomes real. “

“That’s why we have a female vice-president,” he added, saying he expects “we’ll have presidents soon.”

Biden was in a jovial and relaxed mood as he congratulated the basketball team, who stood behind him, wearing face masks as he honored them at a White House event. The president has had to deal with the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and a revolt by moderate Democrats against his sweeping $ 3.5 trillion budget plan on Capitol Hill.

But he was in a joking mood with the Seattle Storm, telling them, “I might need some work after this.” I would make a good ball boy.

President Joe Biden poses with the Seattle Storm after their 2020 WNBA Championship win at the White House

President Joe Biden poses with the Seattle Storm after their 2020 WNBA Championship win at the White House

President Biden speaks with ringleader Sue Bird

President Biden speaks with ringleader Sue Bird

Biden thanked the Seattle Storm for being an inspiration to women around the world and noted he had a female vice president, Kamala Harris

Biden thanked the Seattle Storm for being an inspiration to women around the world and noted he had a female vice president, Kamala Harris

He also praised the social activism of the Women’s Basketball League.

The WNBA dedicated its 2020 season to Breonna Taylor and the Say Her Name movement, which raises awareness among black women victims of police violence. Taylor was killed by police in a botched raid on her Kentucky home.

“What makes this team remarkable is that they don’t just win games, they change lives, encouraging people to get vaccinated so that we can beat this pandemic by speaking out and standing up for justice. race and the right to vote, ”he said.

The team also played a role in the Georgia Senate special election in January, when Democrat Raphael Warnock defeated incumbent Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler, helping Democrats take control of the Senate.

The WNBC Players Union, during the campaign, asked Loeffler to sell his stock in the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.

When she didn’t, the players, inspired by Seattle point guard Storm Sue Bird, wore “Vote Warnock” t-shirts to games, helping to raise her profile.

Biden also congratulated the women owners of the team – majority owners Ginny Gilder, Lisa Brummel and Dawn Trudeau, who were in attendance.

And he noted that he had co-captain Sue Bird’s fiancee, football star Megan Rapinoe, in the White House earlier this year for an equal pay event.

“Between them they share Olympic medals, World Cup titles, the WNBA championship,” Biden said of the couple. “Most importantly, they define integrity and character. As President, as an American, I am proud of the way they have represented us and they represent the best of what America stands for.

Bird, Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart gave Biden a team jersey with the number 46 on it. Biden is the 46th president.

President Joe Biden arrives with Seattle Storm co-owner Ginny Gilder and former player Crystal Langhorne to honor the Championship team at the White House

President Joe Biden arrives with Seattle Storm co-owner Ginny Gilder and former player Crystal Langhorne to honor the Championship team at the White House

Biden receives team jersey from Jewell Loyd (C) and Breanna Stewart (R)

Biden receives team jersey from Jewell Loyd (C) and Breanna Stewart (R)

The president also thanked the women of his family and his team who played basketball.

“One of our granddaughters Maisie is a great athlete who loves to play basketball,” he said.

He went on to highlight longtime help Annie Tomasini, who is the Oval Office’s director of operations, and home policy adviser Susan Rice for their athletic prowess.

Owner Ginny Gilder thanked the president but also praised his team for their social activism.

“They use their playing on the pitch and their eloquence not only to demand change, but to generate engagement and effect change, they channeled their emotion into action. Make her name the centerpiece of the entire season’s fight for justice for Brianna Taylor, strengthen voter registration across the country, shift the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, helping elect two new senators from the ‘State of Georgia,’ she noted.

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