Biden says Trump ‘will go down in history as one of the most irresponsible presidents’

“You will find that this is someone who will be accepted by all elements of the Democratic Party, progressive and moderate coalitions,” Biden told reporters in Delaware.

Biden’s choice for the Treasury could be the first candidate for Cabinet secretary announced by the president-elect. Its transition team has so far focused on strengthening its senior staff in the White House, led by Chief of Staff Ron Klain. Klain told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Thursday that Biden’s team will announce more White House staff picks on Friday and continue to interview Cabinet prospects and make decisions.

Biden’s comments came after a virtual meeting with Republican and Democratic governors, where he discussed a national mask tenure, his plan to distribute a coronavirus vaccine, and the need to help states run out. silver.

The meeting showed how Biden works around Trump, dealing directly with states as the outgoing Trump administration continues to deny Biden’s transition team access to federal agencies and their plans, including that of possibly distribute a vaccine.

Discussing his meeting on Thursday, Biden told reporters that governors were concerned about the time it took to make coronavirus testing widely available and hope to avoid similar delays once a vaccine is ready to be distributed. .

“This is not a one-off meeting,” Biden said. “We have agreed to continue to meet with governors on a regular basis; to continue to seek their advice.”

Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, and a group of medical experts Biden assembled as the coronavirus advisory committee held a virtual meeting Thursday with 10 members of the National Governors Association executive committee.

The list of participants included Republicans Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Gary Herbert of Utah, Larry Hogan of Maryland, Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, and Kay Ivey of Alabama; the Democrats were Andrew Cuomo of New York, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Jared Polis of Colorado, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, and John Carney of Delaware.

The meeting showed that some Republican governors recognize the fact that Biden won the election and will be sworn in on January 20, as the pandemic continues to rage.

Biden acknowledged Thursday that the delay crippled his transition team, saying that without the approval of the GSA administrator, “we don’t have access to all the information we need to get from all the different agencies. “.

Among the governors, however, Biden told reporters there was broad consensus on some issues, including the need for a national mask mandate. Wearing a mask, Biden said, “is not a political statement; it is a patriotic duty.”

He also called on Congress to pass legislation that would send money to states, local governments and tribal communities to help pay for vital services and fund their National Guards.

“States and communities shouldn’t have to fire teachers, cops, firefighters, cut off vital services for families and businesses,” Biden said.

Governors were alarmed at how long it took to distribute the coronavirus tests, Biden said – stressing the need for a plan to quickly distribute a vaccine once it becomes available.

He said he saw no scenario in which he would seek some kind of national economic shutdown.

“I’m not going to stop the economy, period. I’m going to stop the virus. That’s what I’m going to stop,” Biden said.

“No national shutdown, because every region, every area, every community may be different. And so there is no circumstance that I see that would require a total national shutdown,” he said. “I think it would be counterproductive.”