CNN Live Event/Special Aired October 25, 2023 - 13:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [13:00:00] (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) REP. PETE AGUILAR (D-CA): Mr. Speaker, I rise today at the direction of the Democratic Caucus to place into nomination for the position of speaker of the House of Representatives the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries from New York. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) AGUILAR: Mr Speaker... (LAUGHTER) AGUILAR: Mr. Speaker, you may agree with this, but we are back here 22 days into this Republican-manufactured chaos, and House Republicans have brought us to the exact same position that we were back then, all of the infighting, all of the disarray, just to end up where we were three weeks ago. These past few weeks, we have been left wondering if Republicans were truly intent on solving our issues, reopening the House of Representatives and rallying around someone to lead this chamber, or has this been about something else? Has this been about a focus of House Republicans to find the person who can pass their extreme litmus test to oppose marriage equality, enact a nationwide abortion ban without exceptions, gut Social Security and Medicare, and support overturning a free and fair election? It's a fair question. It's a fair question. (BOOING) (APPLAUSE) AGUILAR: Nowhere -- nowhere in that candidate questionnaire is it about growing the middle class, helping our communities, keeping the cost of health care lower and making life for everyday Americans better. The gentlewoman from New York said it right. This has been about one thing. This has been about, who can appease Donald Trump? (APPLAUSE) AGUILAR: House Republicans have put their names behind someone who has been called the most important architect of the Electoral College objections. He spearheaded -- that's fair. That's fair. We know how you feel. Yes, you made that clear. He spearheaded the legal effort, joined by more than 100 of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, in support of a dangerous and baseless lawsuit to overturn the results of the 2020 election. On the eve of January 6, some of my Republican colleagues even called this a failed strategy. Yet those same individuals stand -- plan to stand right next to him today. Mr. Speaker Pro Tem, House Democrats believe that, when members of this body voted to reject the results of the 2020 election, they forfeited their ability to lead this chamber. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) AGUILAR: On this side of the aisle, we know what leadership looks like. Hakeem Jeffries has never turned his back on the will of the American people. The son of two social workers, he has always stood by the side of working families. The most pressing needs of everyday Americans are his North Star. He believes that everyone in America should have the opportunity to get ahead and achieve their version of the American dream. He believes that access to affordable health care is a right, not a privilege. He believes that reproductive freedom must be guaranteed, not stripped away. (APPLAUSE) AGUILAR: He believes that working families, not the wealthy and the well-connected, should be rewarded. He believes in growing the middle class, so that everyone can succeed. [13:05:00] He believes that our schools and our communities should be safe and free from gun violence. He believes in investing in public schools, not depriving students of fact-based education by banning books. (APPLAUSE) AGUILAR: He believes -- he believes in taking care of our seniors and our veterans, not slashing their benefits. He believes in living up to the promise that America is a beacon of hope and a land of opportunity. He believes in defending democracy against all enemies and adversaries foreign and domestic. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) AGUILAR: He believes in standing by our allies, Israel and Ukraine. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) AGUILAR: And he believes in keeping our government running and open. (APPLAUSE) AGUILAR: Let me be clear. Let me be clear. This is not just the belief system. Leader Jeffries has the track record to back it up. He is certainly a far contrast from who Republicans have nominated with or without their votes to nominate today. But if House Republicans choose, they can still join us on a bipartisan path forward. Let's come together to fund our government, support our allies abroad, and deliver for working families. End the chaos and the dysfunction and the extremism. Let's open up the people's house. I yield back, Mr. Speaker. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) REP. PATRICK MCHENRY (R-NC): The reading clerk will now call the roll. CLERK: Adams. REP. ALMA ADAMS (D-NC): Hakeem Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Aderholt. REP. ROBERT ADERHOLT (R-AL): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Aguilar. REP. PETE AGUILAR (DCA): Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Alford. REP. MARK ALFORD (R-MO): (OFF-MIKE) Honorable Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Allen. REP. RICK ALLEN (R-GA): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Allred. REP. COLIN ALLRED (D-TX): Hakeem Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Amodei. REP. MARK AMODEI (R-NV): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Armstrong. REP. KELLY ARMSTRONG (R-ND): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Arrington. REP. JODEY ARRINGTON (R-TX): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Auchincloss. REP. JAKE AUCHINCLOSS (D-MA): Hakeem Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Babin. REP. BRIAN BABIN (R-TX): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Bacon. REP. DON BACON (R-NE): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Baird. REP. JIM BAIRD (R-IN): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Balderson. REP. TROY BALDERSON (R-OH): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Balint. REP. BECCA BALINT (D-VT): Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Banks. WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: I think it's significant that Representative Don Bacon, who voted for Mike McHenry the last time, just voted for Mike Johnson. John, that's significant. JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They're on a path at the end of this vote to finally pick a speaker. We will listen as it goes through. But when you have conservative members -- we're early in the alphabet still, early in the 220 Republicans who will cast votes. But when you have very conservative members and, as you mentioned, Congressman Bacon, who's conservative, but he's more of a pragmatic moderate, let's figure out how to do business, the votes are there. That's why, as Congressman Aguilar was just joking, Patrick McHenry has a smile on his face today because the temporary speaker wants to hand the gavel to somebody who then will inherit the Republican chaos, which will continue. GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: We should also Ken Buck, who opposed the recent nominees because they were election deniers. And now he said that he is going to support Mike Johnson. So, we will listen for that. JAMIE GANGEL, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: Every Republican that I have spoken to, including some who did vote for others, has said to me now just -- quote -- "Mike wins on first ballot." They want to send a message that they're there. The other thing, just going back to the point of he's an election denier or is he different, all politics is local. Also, up there all politics is local, Tip O'Neill once said. Also up there, all politics is personal. He is liked by his colleagues. KING: But at a time when our elections are actually nationalized, both parties here are actually getting what they want, if you will. And now we will fight it out in 2024. [13:10:02] Republicans in the House get an election denier. Most of them are election deniers. Republicans in the House get someone who is anti- abortion, someone who has voted and has pushed for his conference to cut Medicare and Social Security. (CROSSTALK) BLITZER: Hold on. (CROSSTALK) BLITZER: We will just listen to these next few votes. Listen to this. CLERK: Boyle of Pennsylvania. Boyle of Pennsylvania. Brecheen. REP. JOSH BRECHEEN (R-OK): Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Brown. REP. SHONTE BROWN (D-OH): Hakeem Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Brownley. REP. JULIA BROWNLEY (D-CA): Hakeem Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Buchanan. REP. VERN BUCHANAN (R-FL): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Buck. REP. KEN BUCK (R-CO): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Bucshon. REP. LARRY BUCSHON (R-IN): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Budzinski. REP. NIKKI BUDZINSKI (D-IL): Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Burchett. BLITZER: Very significant, these two Republicans Buchanan and Buck both voting for Mike Johnson this time, even though they didn't vote for the Republican nominee the last time. KING: It tells you the Republicans... BLITZER: It shows that the Republicans now seem to have their act together. KING: They have decided enough is enough. And they're going to trust Congressman Johnson out to be their speaker. Again, he's untested in this role. He will deal with the same policy fractures that cost McCarthy his speakership and that kept other candidates who've been in leadership from becoming speaker. But it's the point I was trying to make is, both parties are in an odd way getting what they wanted here. Democrats are going to run in 2024, just like they ran in 2018 and 2020, on abortion, on MAGA extremism. And they will run on Medicare and Social Security. And Congressman Johnson's work in the Republican Study Group has included proposals to cut both of those programs in an effort to balance the budget, to squeeze money out of those programs. So, Democrats get the issue agenda they want. They are already saying, this speaker is more extreme than Donald Trump. We will see if that works. That's why we have elections. But the House Republicans get one of their own, because most of them agree with those issues. Most of them do want more abortion restrictions. They -- even though you're now in the Dobbs world of state by state, most of them would like a national vote, as Congressman, soon-to-be-Speaker Johnson has pushed. So, this just crystallizes and further, I think, solidifies the themes that will now play out in the 2024 campaign, not just for president, but for control of the House and control of the Senate. NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Yes, and Matt Gaetz, who was part of the group that ousted McCarthy, has been calling the soon-to-be-speaker... (CROSSTALK) BLITZER: All right, hold on one moment. I just want to hear a few more votes right now. They could be significant. CLERK: Jeffries. Castor of Florida. REP. KATHY CASTOR (D-FL): Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Castro of Texas. REP. JOAQUIN CASTRO (D-TX): Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Chavez-DeRemer. REP. LORI CHAVEZ-DEREMER (R-OR): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Cherfilus-McCormick. REP. SHEILA CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK (D-FL): Hakeem Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Chu. REP. JUDY CHU (D-CA): Hakeem Jeffries. BLITZER: That was a significant Republican vote. Chavez-DeRemer, he voted for -- Lori Chavez-DeRemer, she voted for McHenry the last time, and now she's voting for Mike Johnson. It seems like they're pretty much in line. HENDERSON: I think that's right. And some of it, I think what we were saying, it was just exhaustion at the last weeks or so of this debate about who would be speaker. And I think one of the things we saw too -- and Jamie spoke to this -- was people didn't like the other speakers. It was not really about policy. It was very much about personality. There were personality clashes, and that's why you saw McCarthy ousted, Jordan ousted, and Emmer even getting a vote and pulling out before he went to the floor. And so we're seeing today a sort of coalescing. During those speeches, you saw a very happy House majority there cheering on Mike Johnson. I do think, to John's point, Matt Gaetz, who, of course, ousted McCarthy, he is calling Mike MAGA Mike, right? And if you look at sort of his policy portfolio, his sort of leading the push for election denialism, he is very much in line with where their party is, where Donald Trump is. It is fitting that he is an evangelical. It is fitting that he is a Southerner too, because that is what the Republican Party era. And Democrats will certainly make him a known quality in American households in a way that he isn't now. KASIE HUNT, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Wolf, I mean, I think we really shouldn't lose sight of the fact that -- excuse me -- while the mood on the House floor clearly is jovial among Republicans -- and even you saw, as John noted, the interplay between the Democrats and Patrick McHenry. He's well-liked. We are at the conclusion of a really remarkable period in American history that actually, in many ways, is just one part of a convulsion of our politics. I mean, this is -- all of the issues that you are seeing playing out on the House floor -- and John listed them out kind of in the way that they will play out in this next upcoming election campaign. But we are talking about incredible, fundamental differences about how the two party are these view not just whether we should legalize abortion or not, but about the very foundation of how we should govern ourselves, about the American experiment in a way that we haven't seen. [13:15:10] And all of the issues that threaded their way through the 2020 election, through January 6 are going to continue to do this. And this was a particular -- this was a particularly difficult and momentous period. I mean, when we all sat here when they threw Kevin McCarthy out. I think we all had to kind of stop for a second and think, like, wow, this is a really important moment in American history. And while they may have resolved this particular crisis right now, I don't think we should lose sight of the fact that those threads continue. And we, frankly, are on course to hit a period of time that is even more intense, more divisive, potentially rips even deeper into the fabric of the country, as you head for the 2024 election, with Donald Trump facing four trials and potentially, when we get to actual election night, if he is in fact the front-runner, a completely -- a situation that is even worse than what we saw on January 6. (CROSSTALK) BORGER: Kasie, though, I don't only think it's the differences between the parties. BLITZER: All right, hold on one second. I will get right back to you, Gloria. BORGER: OK. BLITZER: I want to hear a couple more votes here. CLERK: Deluzio. REP. CHRISTOPHER DELUZIO (D-PA): Hakeem Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. DeSaulnier. REP. MARK DESAULNIER (D-CA): Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. DesJarlais. REP. SCOTT DESJARLAIS (R-TN): Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. D'Esposito. REP. ANTHONY D'ESPOSITO (R-NY): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Diaz-Balart. REP. MARIO DIAZ-BALART (R-FL): Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Dingell. REP. DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI): Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Doggett. REP. LLOYD DOGGETT (R-TX): Hakeem Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Donalds. REP. BYRON DONALDS (R-FL): Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Duarte. (APPLAUSE) REP. JOHN DUARTE (R-CA): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Duncan. REP. JEFF DUNCAN (R-SC): The honorable gentleman from the great state of Louisiana Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Dunn of Florida. REP. NEAL DUNN (R-FL): Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Edwards. REP. CHUCK EDWARDS (R-NC): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Ellzey. REP. JAKE ELLZEY (R-TX): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Emmer. REP. TOM EMMER (R-MN): Mike Johnson. (APPLAUSE) BLITZER: Very significant, indeed. So far, all of the Republican members of the House who didn't vote for the Republican nominee the last time are now voting for Mike Johnson, very significant indeed. Looks like he's moving in very much in the right direction. Let's listen to a little bit more. CLERK: Jeffries. Espaillat. REP. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT (D-NY): Jeffries. CLERK: Estes. REP. RON ESTES (R-KS): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Evans. REP. DWIGHT EVANS (D-PA): Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Ezell. REP. MIKE EZELL (R-MS): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Fallon. REP. PAT FALLON (R-TX): (OFF-MIKE) Texas proudly and enthusiastically calls for Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Feenstra. REP. RANDY FEENSTRA (R-IA): Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Ferguson. REP. DREW FERGUSON (R-GA): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Finstad. REP. BRAD FINSTAD (R-MN): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Fischbach. REP. MICHELLE FISCHBACH (R-MN): The Honorable Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. BLITZER: Last time... CLERK: Fitzgerald. REP. SCOTT FITZGERALD (R-WI): Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. BLITZER: So, more of these Republicans who voted against the Republican nominees last time are now voting for Mike Johnson. DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Including just now as you were talking, Wolf, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, one of the key Republicans from a Biden district. Biden won his district, a key battleground district, just voted for Johnson. He was one of the ones that had moved away from Jordan in the last round that we saw here of speaker votes. He's -- look, look at where it says others, zero. We haven't been here before in this whole process. BLITZER: Yes. CHALIAN: Zero members are voting for somebody other than the two nominees. Folks at home, this is actually what a speaker's contest usually looks like in the House of Representatives. We haven't seen it for a while, especially we have not seen a Republican speaker candidate win on the first vote since Paul Ryan did so in 2017, more than six-and-a-half years ago. To Kasie's point about the intense rifts within the Republican Party and how this moment comes to be and yet is not a solution for their larger problems, Kasie mentioned the vacate vote. I would go back also to McCarthy's 15 rounds. I mean, it took Kevin McCarthy 15 rounds at the beginning of this year to become speaker, because of the real divisions that existed inside the party. [13:20:05] BORGER: Well, David, I think that's why it's so important for them to show some sign of unanimity or close to unanimity now, because, of course, the voters haven't seen that, and they have been embarrassed by it. But to Kasie's point earlier, I mean, you have to take this down the road a little bit. It's not just the Republicans and the Democrats who are fighting each other. The Republicans in the House jokingly refer to the five families, because they know about their differences. And maybe in a way, the only way they could get near unanimity on some of... BLITZER: All right, let's listen to a few more votes right now. CLERK: Jeffries. Goldman of New York. REP. DAN GOLDMAN (D-NY): Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Gomez. REP. JIMMY GOMEZ (D-CA): Hakeem Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. REP. TONY GONZALES (R-TX): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Vicente Gonzalez. Vicente Gonzalez CLERK: Good of Virginia. REP. BOB GOOD (R-VA): Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Gooden of Texas. REP. LANCE GOODEN (R-TX): Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Gosar. REP. PAUL GOSAR (R-AZ): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Gottheimer. REP. JOSH GOTTHEIMER (D-NJ): Hakeem Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Granger. REP. KAY GRANGER (R-TX): (OFF-MIKE) (LAUGHTER) CLERK: Johnson. Graves of Louisiana. REP. GARRET GRAVES (R-LA): Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Graves of Missouri. REP. SAM GRAVES (R-MO): Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Green of Tennessee. REP. MARK GREEN (R-TN): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. DANA BASH, CNN HOST: And we just heard yet another Republican who voted against Jim Jordan, who was the last Republican nominee, vote for this one, Kay Granger of Texas, a top Republican on -- the chairman of the Appropriations Committee. I want to bring in somebody who just voted, Ken Buck, Republican of Colorado, who is here with me now. Why Mike Johnson? REP. KEN BUCK (R-CO): Probably because he has the fewest enemies of anybody in the Republican Caucus. BASH: That's a ringing endorsement. BUCK: Well, it's the reality of where we are right now with four-vote majority. Mike is one of those people gets along with everybody. And he's well- respected. And I think those two factors played a big role in this. BASH: Did you ever think that a speaker of the House would get as close to and probably attain the gavel because he or she has the fewest enemies in the House? I mean, that doesn't sound like the headline of a resume. BUCK: No, I don't think it's a headline of a resume, but I do think it is part of what we do in the House. We get along with people, and those who don't get along with people don't rise to this type of level. BASH: The -- one of the things that you wanted to hear from Jim Jordan when he was the nominee was a promise that -- well, not a promise, but a public statement that he believed that Joe Biden is the legitimate president. We have not heard that yet from Mike Johnson. Did you get a promise privately from him that he will make that public... (CROSSTALK) BUCK: I have not gotten that promise from Mike. I hope he comes around to that point, because it's obvious that Joe Biden is the legitimate president. The more that people like Mark Meadows' statements start to come out, it's clear that the people around Donald Trump told Donald Trump that he had lost the election. I think it's time for Republicans to shed themselves of that burden and move forward. BASH: So, it sounds like what you're saying is what we're seeing happening on the screen and on the floor that is still going on. You see that big goose egg, the zero when it comes to others, meaning for what matters here -- actually, hang on one second. We're just going to listen in. CLERK: Huffman. REP. JARED HUFFMAN (D-CA): Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Huizenga. REP. BILL HUIZENGA (R-MI): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Hunt. REP. WESLEY HUNT (R-TX): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Issa. REP. DARRELL ISSA (R-CA): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Ivey. REP. GLENN IVEY (D-MD): Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Jackson of Illinois. REP. JONATHAN JACKSON (D-IL): The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Jackson of North Carolina. REP. JEFF JACKSON (D-NC): Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. Jackson of Texas. REP. RONNY JACKSON (R-TX): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Jackson Lee. REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE (D-TX): (OFF-MIKE) gentleman Hakeem Jeffries. [13:25:00] CLERK: Jeffries. Jacobs. REP. SARA JACOBS (D-CA): Hakeem Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. James. REP. JOHN JAMES (R-MI): Mike Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. Jayapal. BASH: Which, again, who -- that was John James, Republican from Michigan, who had voted against Jim Jordan, now voting for Mike Johnson. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) BASH: That was just Hakeem Jeffries. That's why everybody was standing up. He voted for himself, not surprisingly. As we wait -- actually, let's keep listening. CLERK: Johnson of Georgia. REP. HANK JOHNSON (D-GA): Standing for reproductive freedom to women, I cast my vote for Hakeem Jeffries. CLERK: Jeffries. (APPLAUSE) CLERK: Johnson of Louisiana. REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): Johnson. CLERK: Johnson. (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) BASH: Mike Johnson, who is the nominee, you see him there surrounded by his fellow Republicans with a standing ovation as he votes for himself for speaker. And, Ken Buck, you're still with me. Actually... CLERK: Johnson of South Dakota. Johnson. Jordan. Johnson. (APPLAUSE) BASH: And they're standing -- they're standing because Jim Jordan, who went through three votes and lost, just voted for Mike Johnson as well. CLERK: Joyce of Ohio. BASH: Why is the mood so jubilant right now on the House floor, given the reality that we're three weeks and a day into having no speaker? Is it just pure exhaustion? BUCK: Well, it was a long day yesterday, for one thing, but I think it is a relief that we have moved forward, and we have a speaker, and we're ready to legislate. I also think there is a reality that didn't exist. Hamas attacked Israel after we vacated the chair of the last speaker. And so I think there is a relief right now that we can get to important bills. The next bill that's going to be on the floor is a resolution in support of Israel. I think people have been waiting to be able to express that support. And so it's important that we move on at this point. BASH: The man who is making his way through these votes right now, Mike Johnson, and it looks like he's heading towards what we believe he will need to be speaker, he is -- you're saying he will probably support and push through aid for Ukraine and Israel? BUCK: My understanding is that -- those bills will come to the floor. BASH: OK -- and just even allowing that. And he will allow a bill to keep the government running after it runs out of money November 17? BUCK: That's certainly the goal. BASH: So these are things that got Kevin McCarthy -- maybe not the latter, but the first thing I said, but the most important, allowing the government to stay open and doing a deal with the Democrats to do it, that got Kevin McCarthy fired by people, including you. So what makes Mike Johnson different? BUCK: So what got Kevin McCarthy fired, in my opinion, is that he made five different promises to five different groups in Congress on what the number would be for the continuing resolution, and then didn't deliver to four of those groups. Mike Johnson starts with a clean slate. And I think we will come together as a conference, we will talk about the top-line number and be able to move forward in a unified way. BASH: I want to let your former colleague Charlie Dent ask you a question, but, as you do, again, three weeks and one day, you were one of the eight to kick out Kevin McCarthy. Given what we have seen, the tumult, the chaos for three weeks, was it worth it? BUCK: Yes, absolutely worth it. It's worth it because we need to have a unified message when we move forward into this next election season. CHARLIE DENT, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Ken, I -- I know this has been exhausting for everybody. And I know you're glad to get through this ordeal. What do you think is going to happen now, though, when you come to November 17? Do you really think that Mike Johnson will allow a clean funding vote? Because you're going to have to negotiate with the Senate. And, as you know, Kevin McCarthy got in a lot of trouble over allowing a clean funding vote, as well as the debt ceiling. But Mike Johnson is going to have to cut deals both on the short-term spending bill. And then, come December, you're going to have to finish the appropriations bills with an omnibus. I know that people don't like that word, but that seems inevitable. How do you think Mike is going to handle that? BUCK: Well, I think Charlie, one of the things we're going to have is, we're going to have a lot more appropriations bills done in the process. And so we will have a lot more bills to send to the Senate to go into conference with. But I think everybody now is in more of a mood to compromise than they were three-and-a-half weeks ago. BASH: I want to bring in Manu Raju, who is right off the House floor. Manu, as we see on the screen, Mike Johnson now has 127, 128 votes and counting. Nobody has voted against him yet. We believe 216 is the magic number. CNN Live Event/Special Aired October 25, 2023 - 13:30 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. What are you seeing and hearing when it comes to the activity happening not just on the floor but off the floor? MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. The writing is on the wall quite literally. I mean, Kevin McCarthy is ready to move out of the speaker suite. Already, we've seen the sign taken down. There has been furniture and other items removed from the speaker's suite. That has been happening all through the course of the day as Kevin McCarthy plans to move into a different office. In fact, moving into a suite nearby the House floor where Nancy Pelosi used to occupy, something that McCarthy has since uprooted her from that location. Dana, there is a big question about Kevin McCarthy's future. He has indicated he will serve out his term. He will play such a huge role fundraising for this party, trying to keep Republicans in the House majority. What will he do now? Will he step aside? Will he continue to serve? Will he play that key role that Republicans needed him to play to keep the House? Those are huge questions for the former speaker who is moving out of the suite that he has still occupied for more than three weeks, even though he was ousted 22 days ago -- Dana? BASH: Thanks, Manu. And I believe it is actually 215 that Mike Johnson needs, given the attendance at this vote. But that's almost irrelevant at this point because nobody is voting against him. Ken Buck, is it still possible for you or anybody else to vacate the chair? Meaning kick Mike Johnson out the way that you did Kevin McCarthy? Does that rule still exist? I should say, this is McCarthy who just voted for Mike Johnson. REP. KEN BUCK (R-CO): Yes, absolutely. The rules haven't changed in the House. I anticipate, at some point, a Republican member will move to change the rules. It goes to conference first. Then the rule would go to the floor. And I think it is clear there is a mood in the Congress now to raise that threshold from one vote to five to 10 or to a higher number. BASH: Forgive us. We're outside and it is busy behind us. So to raise the threshold so that you couldn't do it again with only eight as you did before. BUCK: You couldn't do it with one as you could have before. BASH: Yes. BUCK: But we did have eight. BASH: Fair, yes. That's fair. Charlie Dent, the other thing I'm thinking about are your colleagues had a -- are like you are from battle ground districts. So far, all of them have voted yes for Mike Johnson. And the Democrats, who are writing the press releases -- actually, the press releases are already written. Despite the fact that Mike Johnson doesn't have a long record. He hasn't been here very long. It's long enough from their perspective that they are chomping at the bit to use these frontliners, these battleground districts, Republicans, to use Mike Johnson's record against them. CHARLIE DENT, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I'm sure they will do that. Obviously, Mike Johnson doesn't have a very high profile nationally. I suspect the Democratic Campaign Committee will be working around the clock to define him. They'll be going on the air and saying all sorts of things about Mike Johnson, election denial, all those things. And I'm sure they'll be morphing the faces of the Republican in the 18 districts that Biden won and working them into Mike Johnson and Donald Trump. I suspect that's what they are going to do. I would suspect that. Just like what happened with Newt Gingrich where they used Newt Gingrich as a pinata. Just as Republicans used Nancy Pelosi as a pinata. (CROSSTALK) BASH: And on that note, actually, we should say that Mariannette Miller-Meeks, somebody from one of those battleground districts in Iowa, Mark Molinaro, one of the famous Republicans who won in New York and helped bring the Republicans the majority, they both just voted for Mike Johnson. ASHLEY ALLISON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, look. Republicans, and we're still counting votes. They had to get a speaker in place because, without one, Democrats also are able to say they cannot govern. So it's important that they got in line. And we need to be able to have a functioning House. I do think, in these 18 districts, Democrats should have that conversation with their voters and talk about, is Mike Johnson going to say the election results are real? And the consequences if he doesn't say that, what that means for 2024. Also, if Donald Trump is the nominee, there is a great opportunity to link his belief of his denial of the election results of 2020 to the Republican Party, which is Donald Trump. [13:35:00] So, I mean, this is politics, unfortunately, at the end of the day. I would love to have conversations about Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security and abortion that everyday Americans do really care about. And Johnson is pretty conservative on those. And I think Democrats can run on those issues as well, so. DENT: And Republicans will have to actually spend some time and money to introduce Mike Johnson to the American people. Democrats will do it for them, if they don't do it first. BASH: How well do you know him? BUCK: Mike was in the Freedom caucus with me for, I think, two terms. So I know him very well. I had dinner with him every night that we were or every one night a week that we were in town. I also served on the Judiciary Committee with Mike Johnson. So I know him very well from that. BASH: What is he like to work with? BUCK: He's a very pleasant guy. We disagreed on the certification of the election and we disagreed on other issues but we've never had a harsh word towards each other. BASH: Scott Jennings was saying, he calls himself a conservative who is just not angry about it. Is that the way you would describe him? BUCK: Yes, I would. I think that George W. Bush was talking about compassionate conservatism. I think that's one of the things that Mike portrays. BASH: One of the areas that -- one of the issues that helped sink Emmer, who you voted for several times on the House floor, was that he supported same-sex marriage. That's an issue that Mike Johnson, who is on his way to becoming the next speaker of the House, does not support. (APPLAUSE) BASH: Could we just -- we'll just tell you that the reason why they're clapping is because Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker, the other former speaker, who is on the House floor, just voted for Hakeem Jeffries. How does that square with the way the Republican Party is in 2023? DENT: Well, I think the issue of marriage has been settled by the Supreme Court. I don't think it is one of the top-10 issues that people will be campaigning on. I don't know that it is something going to be out there either for or against either of these candidates. BUCK: I didn't hear you. BASH: We were talking about same-sex marriage. (CROSSTALK) BUCK: This is -- I thought it was really unfortunate that one of the members made a comment about Tom Emmer that he had to get right with Jesus over same-sex marriage. I think the party needs to become much more socially tolerant on issues like this. I think the American people hear Republicans fighting over this issue, I think the country has moved on. This is a challenge for the party that, if it wants to be a governing majority, it will have to get into a better place on some of these very sensitive cultural issues where we're just out of step, particularly with younger people. ALLISON: I think it matters who is at the top of the ticket for the Republican Party. Right now, it looks like Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee and he leans into culture wars. But if you have a Ron DeSantis, the king of culture wars and going after transgender children, LGBTQ folks, and African-American history in his state. This is a conversation that's important. If the Republican Party is not willing to support someone as speaker because he supports same-sex marriage, I think that is out of touch with the overwhelming majority of the American people. It has been set up by the Supreme Court but I think that backlash will be very similar to what you saw in 2022 when the Supreme Court overreached on abortion. BASH: Congressman Buck, I know you have to get back to the floor. We're looking at the votes, 176 for Mike Johnson. No Republican has voted against him yet. Assuming that trend continues, he'll be the speaker in a matter of minutes. Can you take us inside the meeting last night that led you to settle on a guy who a lot of people, including your colleagues in the Senate, had to Google because they didn't know who he is? BUCK: Sure. It was an all-day meeting. And first, Tom Emmer was selected as the speaker nominee. He was -- it was obviously when he started having a conversation with the members who were against him that wasn't going to move them. He withdrew. We went through another candidate forum. Mike was selected. And I think, really, the people who nominated Mike, McMorris, Rogers, the people who support him from the Freedom Caucus and the others in the Republican conference were confident that Mike could get this job done, could get to 217, which is the first and most important job of the speaker. BASH: And going back to what you said initially, which is that he is the person who has -- that was Steve Scalise who just voted for Mike Johnson. Another one of the Republicans who your conference nominated early on but didn't make it to the floor for a vote because he didn't have them. [13:40:06] Starting out again, because we'll be learning a lot about this man who is heading toward not only getting the gavel but being second in line for the president of the United States. This is obviously a constitutional position. The fact that he didn't have baggage in this climate was the plus. BUCK: I think it was really -- BASH: Personal baggage. BUCK: -- but it was certainly a very important factor in people's minds. BASH: Thank you so much for coming over here and joining us. Wolf, I'll pass it back to you. WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: All right, Dana, thank you. It looks like Mike Johnson is getting closer and closer to becoming the next speaker of the House of Representatives. John King, I want to get your thoughts. He's 51 years old, Mike Johnson. The Republican representative from Louisiana. He was elected in 2016, sworn in in 2017. We did some checking. He would be the first speaker in 140 years with that limited amount of experience in the House. JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So at a time when people in both parties are asking for generational change, here's an opportunity. You're right. He'll be tested. The critics will say, you've never chaired a committee, you've only been here seven years, you're not up to the job, you don't know enough. You don't know enough about how the institution works, you don't know enough about the policy challenges. And that will be the criticism. And he knows that coming into day one. The question is, can he somehow do what no other Republican has been able to do, Republicans who have worked it for a decade or more? Like a Steve Scalise, like a Tom Emmer. They helped win money, helped recruit candidates. That's the traditional path to the speakership. Mike Johnson has done none of that. That doesn't mean it can't work. But we don't have to look far back to see Steve Scalise was toppled. Congressman Scalise, number two in the membership, couldn't even get to the floor for a vote. The number four, Mr. Emmer, who just led them to the majority, helped lead them to the majority. Mid-terms were a little mixed message. They didn't do as well as they thought they were going to do. He couldn't even get to the floor. Because of -- yes, their personal differences with some of the other members. But also the fact that they were viewed by the most rebels, most rebellious members as part of the establishment. Mike Johnson is none of those things. But can he satisfy the six or eight or 10 who are always looking to upset the apple cart and, at the same time, satisfy the 18 who have to go back to districts Joe Biden won, whose election next year is in question. It's a job somebody -- whether you like him or not, McCarthy studied how to do that job for years and could not pull it off. Can this untested man do it? It's a giant opportunity. But there is a trap door under him every step of the way. GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: You know, when you look at the big picture here, what's happened, a bunch of things were at work. One is that -- and I think it is important. Everybody was exhausted and embarrassed by what had gone on. The second thing is that Johnson has no huge national profile. And I think, in a way, that worked to his advantage. The third thing was that people had no personal enmity toward him. They didn't dislike him in the same way that they disliked Jim Jordan. Mitt Romney today said, apparently, experience is not necessary for the speaker's job. (LAUGHTER) BORGER: And I don't think he meant that as a compliment. (LAUGHTER) BORGER: He said, "We're down to folks who haven't had leadership or chairmanship roles, which mean their administration of the House will be a new experience for them." JAMIE GANGEL, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: But here's something that does make a difference. Look at this. This is unanimous, thus far. Everybody on the Republicans for him. What makes the difference -- to respond to Mitt Romney - (CROSSTALK) GANGEL: -- two words. Donald Trump. Election denier. And also the fact that his colleagues like him. Congressman Ken Buck sat here last week and said he would not vote for an election denier. He just told our colleague, Dana Bash, that he had not gotten that promise from Mike Johnson but he voted for him. Not all election deniers are created equal. BLITZER: I just want to point out, as we're waiting for the final results, Mike Johnson is getting closer and closer to being elected speaker of the House of Representatives. We are getting live pictures coming in from the White House as well. The president of the United States, President Biden, will be holding a joint news conference with the prime minister of Australia, and they'll take reporters' questions. We're going to monitor that and bring that to our viewers live as well. It looks, David Chalian, like Mike Johnson is going to be -- it certainly appears that he will have the magic number and be elected speaker of the House. All the Republicans who voted against the earlier Republican nominees are now standing in line behind Mike Johnson so far. [13:45:58] DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: And that will be a credit to Johnson, to the House Republican members. Not only did they get it together but, if they do it unanimously, it will continue this good mood we're seeing on this side of the floor today from the majority. This notion of, he doesn't have enemies. The question I have now, how will that help him? He will eventually get some enemies. (CROSSTALK) CHALIAN: He can't be speaker of the House without some. And how will that help him in the short run? Do the rules change? As Ken Buck suggested, maybe they will and you get rid of the rule that just one can vacate the chair. Does he have enough goodwill beyond just the speaker's vote to actually alter the rules of the game a bit, to give him a little bit of breathing room here as he tries to put their best -- (CROSSTALK) BORGER: You give him the benefit of the doubt. (CROSSTALK) NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: You know, there were suggestions that maybe Republicans were in a mood for compromise going forward. That's certainly not something that we have seen previously. McCarthy certainly was ousted because he did compromise with the Democrats. We'll see what happens with Mike Johnson. It's interesting to sort of notice, you know, now Republicans are acting like Democrats have acted over the last weeks. The Democrats were very, very united, very much -- (CROSSTALK) HENDERSON: But sort of the contrast that we saw over these last weeks with Republicans very much in disarray as the world was on fire and Democrats being unanimously behind their person. We see that now from Republicans. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) BORGER: Can I just say that yesterday morning, Mike Johnson had 34 votes for speaker. BLITZER: Well, they're getting closer and closer to the number that Mike Johnson needs to be elected speaker of the House. He needs 215, given the absentees among the members. Once he gets to that number, Kasie, he will become the next speaker of the House. KASIE HUNT, CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: We expect that. Make sure no one changes their vote at the end. (LAUGHTER) HUNT: Be terrible. But one thing, as you talk about what the experience will mean, enemies he might make. One thing that is important to think about is that being speaker of the House and leader of your party for one of these major chambers of Congress is a much more complicated and enormous job beyond what happens on the floor. BLITZER: We're looking for that 215. And a good point that Kasie made. The members of the House could always change their votes in the end. So let's see if it gets to 215 first. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeffries. Wild. REP. SUSAN WILD (D-PA): Jeffries. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeffries Williams of Georgia. REP. NIKEMA WILLIAMS (D-GA): Hakeem Jeffries UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeffries. Williams of New York. REP. BRANDON WILLIAMS (R-NY): Johnson. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Johnson. Williams of Texas. REP. ROGER WILLIAMS (R-TX): Johnson. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Johnson. Wilson of Florida. Wilson of Florida. REP. WILSON (D-FL): Jeffries. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeffries BLITZER: It looks like Mike Johnson has the votes, 215. Given the vacancies, the absentees, it looks like Mike Johnson now is about to become the next speaker of the House of Representatives. It looks like Republicans got their act together this time and Mike Johnson of Louisiana, will become -- assuming there are no vote changes in the end, will become speaker. Let's listen in. UNIDENTIFIED CONGRESSMAN: Mike Johnson. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) (SHOUTING) (APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Johnson. Yakym. REP. RUDY YAKYM (R-IN): Johnson. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Johnson. Zinke. REP. RYAN ZINKE (R-MO): Next speaker of the people's House, Johnson. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Johnson. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The clerk will now call the names of the members who did not answer the first call of the roll. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) UNIDENTIFIED CONGRESSMAN: Jeffries. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeffries. [13:50:10] Boyle of Pennsylvania. Boyle of Pennsylvania Correia. Correia Gallego. REP. RUBEN GALLEGO (D-AZ): Jeffries. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jeffries. Vicente Gonzalez. Vincente Gonzalez. BLITZER: Clearly, this is a very, very huge moment in the history of the House of Representatives. A new speaker of the House appears, appears to have been elected unless some members decide to change their minds. John, the Republicans, clearly, in this particular case, got their act together. KING: And out of three weeks of chaos comes very important history. A man even many Republican Senators knew nothing about this morning, and I would believe most Americans knew nothing about this morning, is about to be third in line for the presidency once he is sworn in as speaker of the House. Mike Johnson will be third in line for the presidency after the president and vice president. He will be the leader of a very fractious Republican conference. And we were talking earlier, the Democrats believe they can use him and Trump to run the 2024 campaign. That will be a challenge. A huge difference between him and the Democrats. But we're going to see the president in the Rose Garden in a few minutes. He's never negotiated with Joe Biden. He'll now have to negotiate with the president of the United States. He's also never negotiated with Mitch McConnell. This will also exacerbate because of the wing of the party he comes from, the differences we've seen play out the last couple of years between House Republicans and Senate Republicans. So it's a new face, a new leader. He's a blank slate. That's an enormous opportunity. The challenges are so many for a person who has zero experience at this level. That doesn't mean he can't do it but he has zero experience in what he inherits in just a matter of minutes. They'll tally the votes. He will be sworn in as speaker. He will get the gavel. And then, wow, we move into the next very big chapter. (CROSSTALK) HUNT: He'll be standing on a stage at a level he's never stood on before. And I think they oftentimes politicians underestimate that. Typically, there is more time. BLITZER: We see the president of the United States and the visiting prime minister of Australia walking to the microphones. They'll be making opening statements and then answering reporters' questions. We'll be anxious to hear what they have to say. I think this is the president's first formal news conference since the Hamas attack on Israel. Let's listen in to the president. JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: -- by my side here at the White House. And it'll make our alliance even more than it's already been. It's strong now. It's getting stronger. Before I get to the progress Australia and the United States have made today, I want to say just a very few words about the situation in the Middle East. The anger, the hurt, the sense of outrage that the Israeli people are feeling after the brutally inflicted devastation by Hamas is completely understandable. Israel has a right and I would add a responsibility to respond to the slaughter of their people. And we will ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself against these terrorists. That's a guarantee. We also have to remember Hamas does not represent, let me say it again. Hamas does not represent the vast majority of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip or anywhere else. Hamas is hiding behind Palestinian civilians and it is despicable and not surprisingly cowardly as well. This also puts an added burden on Israel while they go after Hamas. But that does not lessen the need to operate in line with the laws of war. For Israel has to do everything in its power, as difficult as it is, to protect innocent civilians. It's difficult. I want to thank the Israelis and the Palestinians -- excuse me, the President Sisi of Egypt, for working with the United States to make sure that food, water and medical supplies are getting through to innocent people in Gaza. The flow needs to increase and we're working very hard with our partners to make that happen. We're also working around the clock with our partners in the region to secure the release of hostages. And including American citizens behind -- left behind and held by Hamas. And the safe passage of foreign nationals out of Gaza. Not just Americans but Australians and the whole range of people who are trapped in Gaza. [13:55:00] I also want to take a moment to look ahead to the future that we seek. Israelis and Palestinians equally deserve to live side by side in safety, dignity and peace. There is no going back to the status quo as it stood on October 6th. That means ensuring Hamas can no longer terrorize Israel and use Palestinian civilians as human shields. It also means, when this crisis is over, there has to be a vision of what comes next. In our view, it has to be a two-state solution. It means a concentrated effort for all the parties, Israelis, Palestinians, regional partners, global leaders, to put us on a path toward peace. In the past few weeks, I've spoken to leaders throughout the region, from Jordan, President Sisi of Egypt, Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority, and just yesterday with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia about making sure there is real hope in the region for a better future. About the need -- and I mean this sincerely -- to work toward greater integration with Israel while insisting the aspirations of the Palestinian people will be part of that as well. I'm convinced part of why Hamas attacked when they did -- I have no proof of this. It is my instinct. It was because of the progress we've made toward integration with Israel. We can't leave that work behind. One more word on this. I continue to be alarmed about extremist settlers attacking Palestinians in the West Bank, pouring gasoline on fires. This was a deal. The deal was made and they're attacking Palestinians in places they're entitled to be. It has to stop. They have to be held accountable. It has to stop now. Mr. Prime minister, I want to thank you for your partnership and your friendship, quite frankly, during this difficult hour. Over the past few weeks and for many months, we've seen our alliance grow more critical than ever. We need to continue to make this important progress. In our discussions today, we've done just that. First, we're pioneering new advancements and innovations, deepening our cooperation. It feels like biotechnology, advance batteries, quantum computing, cyber security and a lot more. We're also signing a new technology safeguards agreement to create more opportunities for American space companies to launch vehicles from Australia. And we've launched a new artificial intelligence initiative between our national laboratories. For responsible research on humanity's biggest challenges, fighting hunger, curbing pandemics, predicting natural disasters and ending cancer as we know it. As a matter of fact, most of our wives are over at the Cancer Institute right now. And so much more. Second, we're accelerating action on climate change. I thought we had a very good meeting this morning and with Secretary Kerry and your team. And we're all together on that. In May, we established the Climate, Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Compact to elevate our climate cooperation, alongside our defense and economic cooperation. And we're beginning to see the impacts. We've created a Critical Minerals Task Force to build secure critical supply chains. We're also investing in sustainable infrastructure in the Pacific islands, including $65 million for a subsea communication cable that boosts connectivity in the region. And we're modernizing funding for small and medium-size businesses across the Pacific to help transition to clean energy. And finally, the alliance between Australia and the United States is an anchor to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and, quite frankly, around the world. We see this through our work and the quad partners, India and Japan, to ensure the Indo-Pacific remains free, open, prosperous and secure. I also see where, together with the United Kingdom, we're making generational investments in our shared security. Last week, I sent Congress a budget request with commitments to boost our submarine production and maintenance capacity here in the United States. I want to thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, for the historic investments Australia has made to strengthen the submarine industry base as well. Democrats and Republican alike understand the strategic value AUKUS brings to our nations. And I urge Congress, I urge Congress to pass our AUKUS legislation this year. We also see the strength of our alliance in our unwavering support for Ukraine, both countries, against a sovereign. Isa Soares Tonight Aired October 25, 2023 - 14:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [14:00:00] [14:00:00] JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Against Putin's brutality and aggression. Australia is a critical partner, together with the United States and 50 other nations. Fifty other nations we've been able to put together, all doing our part to support Ukraine. And I want to thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, for the new package in military aid you recently announced, and I -- it's for Ukraine. Look, Australia and the United States also share in my view the commitment to upholding international rules through the road, including freedom of navigation. Just this past week, the PRC vessels acted dangerously and unlawfully as our Philippines friends conducted a routine resupply missions within their own exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. I want to be clear, I want to be very clear. The United States defense commitment to the Philippines is ironclad. The United States defense including the Philippines is ironclad. Any attack on a Filipino aircraft vessels or armed forces will invoke our mutual defense treaty with the Philippines. And Mr. Prime Minister, today, we renewed our commitment to defend the values that are at the heart of this alliance. And we continue to stand as one to forge a better future for both of us and all the region. So I want to thank you again for being here, thank you for your partnership and your leadership in this critical moment. And I'd like to now turn it over to you. ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER, AUSTRALIA: Well, thank you very much Mr. President. Australia and the United States have stood together for more than a century. And it is indeed a great honor for me to stand alongside my friend, President Biden here today. At the heart of our alliance are the enduring values that our people hold in common, a faith in freedom and democracy, a belief in opportunity, a determination to build a more prosperous and more peaceful world. Those values are telling us, and they have never mattered more than right now. That's why the relationship between Australia and the United States has never been more important. And that, of course, it has never been stronger than it is right now. We work together to promote peace and security across the Indo-Pacific. To uphold the stability which has generated unprecedented economic opportunity for the nations and the people of our region. For Australia, this is about investing in our capability and investing in our relationships. Today, President Biden and I discussed the progress being made on Australia's acquisition of nuclear powered conventionally armed submarines. Which we announced with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in March in San Diego. We are conscious that this is only the second time in history that the United States has shared this technology. And its facts speaks to the deep trust of our lives, and the significance of the challenge that we face together. Australia appreciates the administration's efforts to operationalize AUKUS and work with Congress to pass the legislation needed to realize our AUKUS ambitions. And I certainly appreciate once again, Mr. President, your call for this legislation to be passed this year. AUKUS will drive innovation and cooperation to provide the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom with improved capability to help secure peace and stability in the Indo- Pacific. Our cooperation is already unlocking transformative opportunities for jobs and skills and research. From Virginia to south Australia to western Australia. Australia and the U.S. have a strong and growing partnership in new technology from medical research to AI. And I join President Biden in welcoming Microsoft's $5 billion additional investment in Australia which we announced this week here in Washington. The president and I agree that innovation is vital to addressing the environmental challenge of climate change, and seizing the economic opportunities of clean energy. The climate critical minerals and clean energy transformation compact that we signed in May in Hiroshima is very much central to this. Climate change and clean energy becomes a third pillar of our lives. Alongside our security cooperation through ANZUS, and our strong economic ties with the free trade agreement between our nations at the center. The compact lays a foundation for our two countries to advance climate and clean energy action this decade both at home and globally. [14:05:00] Today, we agreed new measures under the compact to support our energy transition including the establishment of an Australian and U.S. clean energy industry council comprised of business and public financiers(ph) to advise government on clean energy industry development and cooperation. We're working closely with the United States to build and to end sustainable, reliable and transparent supply chains for critical minerals. Of course, Australia has abundant supplies of those critical minerals that will drive our economies throughout this century. Lithium, cobalt, copper, uranium(ph) and rare earths. We want to connect that with American markets, investors and technology in a way that creates new jobs and opportunities for industries and workers in both of our nations. Cheaper, cleaner energy will reduce costs for households, but it will also power a new generation of manufacturing. Our alliance is also delivering for the Indo-Pacific region bilaterally and increasingly with our partners in the QUAD. Australia and America are supporting the connectivity of the region, and today, we announced a new funding for subset cables in the Pacific, further support for infrastructure development, including efforts to increase the Pacific's access to financing, and that we'll work together through a new Pacific banking forum to ensure that our friends in the Pacific maintain access to the global financial system. Today, we also discussed that joint position, opposing Russia's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine. Australia stands with Ukraine. And President Biden welcomed the package of further assistance that I announced yesterday. This will provide Ukraine with additional military assistance, utilizing the innovative technology that's produced by Australia's defense industry partners. Finally, of course, last night, and again today, we spoke about the situation in Israel and Gaza. Australia unequivocally condemns the terrorism of Hamas. We grief for the loss of every innocent life, whether that be Israeli or Palestinian. In times of crisis, respect for international humanitarian law is paramount. It is a recognition of our common humanity, and I commend the president for his leadership. That he has shown in the example that he has set. Today, I announce that Australia will provide an additional $15 million in humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza, besides to the $10 million Australia has already committed and will help deliver life-saving assistance such as emergency water and medical services. The friendship between Australia and the United States was forged in hard times. We have served and sacrificed together in the course of peace. We have helped each other through natural disasters. Australians and Americans share a rich history. But we always have our eye on the future. We're united by a determination to overcome the challenges that we face, and we share an ambition to seize those opportunities which lie ahead of us. As is indeed an alliance in which we celebrate what we've achieved up to now. But we focus on the future. A future of great opportunities, one that's stronger because of this alliance. BIDEN: All right, we'll take a few questions now. Mr. Garrison, "USA Today". JOEY GARRISON, USA TODAY WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Thank you Mr. President and Prime Minister Albanese, welcome to Washington. Mr. President, I want to ask about the conflict, the war in the Middle East. Twenty four U.S. troops have been injured during ten drone or rocket attacks on bases in Iraq and three in Syria over the past week. You've told Iran to quote, "be careful" as your administration tries to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from expanding into a larger Middle East conflict. But should Americans be worried that the war already is escalating? And after you answer that question, I'd like one more follow- up, please. BIDEN: Wanted two more? Joey, look, we have had troops in the region since 9/11 to go after ISIS and prevent its re-emergence in both -- anyway, in the region. I mean, nothing to do with Israel at all. My warning to the Ayatollah was that if they continue to move against those troops, we will respond and he should be prepared. It has nothing to do with Israel. GARRISON: Well, let me -- let me ask my follow-up here. I want to discuss - - here we go, yes, your conversations with Prime Minister Netanyahu who obviously you've known for decades. [14:10:00] And you had a very emotional trip there last week to Israel. Have you sought assurances from him that he will hold off on a ground…