#GoodMorningDC. The political rhetoric of Putin and Trump grows more similar by the day.
Good Morning DC! It’s Wednesday, and across the pond, Her Majesty The Queen is celebrating her 95th birthday. A significant milestone for a woman who buried her husband just days ago. “While as a family we are in a period of great sadness, it has been a comfort to us all to see and to hear the tributes paid to my husband, from those within the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and around the world,” the Queen said in a message announced on the royal family’s social media channels. “My family and I would like to thank you for all the support and kindness shown to us in recent days. We have been deeply touched, and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life,” she added.
Yesterday, a jury found former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd.” It was a murder in the full light of day, and it ripped the blinders off for the whole world to see the systemic racism the Vice President just referred to — the systemic racism that is a stain our nation’s soul,” said President Biden.
Systemic racism is deeply embedded in American culture. Still, it would be interesting to ask Biden to mark the exact date in history when he first observed it, and why as a Senator, he did nothing about it? Old-guard Democrats like Biden and Pelosi say all the right things out of their good instinct for political momentum but they are both in politics for over four decades and act as if “systemic racism” is a recent phenomenon.
Amid rising tensions with the U.S., Putin gave his annual state of the nation address in Russia. “I hope no one will think of crossing a red line in relation to Russia,” he said, adding that “The organizers of any provocations against our security will regret this as they have never regretted anything before.”
Do you remember when Trump used to issue similar threats to Iran? “Any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force. In some areas, overwhelming will mean obliteration,” the former President used to tweet. Or do you remember when Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly by the following words: “The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.”
The political rhetoric of Putin and Trump grows more similar by the day.
At the eleventh hour, President Xi of China has accepted Biden’s invitation to attend a virtual Leaders Summit on Climate that will take place tomorrow. The Summit is supposed to represent a key milestone on the road to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) this November in Glasgow, UK.
What will Biden do today?
At 9:50 am, the President will receive the President’s Daily Brief in the Oval Office.
At 1:15 pm, the President will deliver remarks on the COVID-19 response and the state of vaccinations in the South Court Auditorium.
At 12:15 pm, Press Secretary Jen Psaki will brief the press.
What will the Second Gentleman do today?
At 11:00 am, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff will visit a community health center in Burlington, Vermont. He will convene a listening session to discuss targeted vaccination outreach efforts to reach underserved populations. He will highlight the Administration’s commitment to delivering COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, and treatment for vulnerable people through the American Rescue Plan.
Governor Phil Scott (R), Lt. Governor Molly Gray (D), and Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT) will also be present.
Meanwhile, on the Hill, House Democrats will hold a news conference on D.C. statehood at 1:30 pm.
At the State Department, Acting Assistant Secretary Reeker will talk at 11 am about the “Prospects for Transatlantic Relations and How They Relate to Central Europe.” A virtual event will be hosted by the Prague Centre for Transatlantic Relations at the CEVRO Institute in Prague.
Spokesperson Ned Price will hold a press briefing at 2:00 pm.
And that’s a wrap for this Wednesday morning, April 21, 2021. Thanks for waking up with Good Morning DC, a daily brief with a point of view. Good Morning DC will be back tomorrow to bring you the latest first.
