On Monday Biden, 79, told reporters he made “no apologies” for his remarks — made off the cuff and not part of his prepared speech in a nationally televised address from Poland Saturday — and did not view it as a provocation to Russia.
“It’s more an aspiration than anything. He shouldn’t be in power. There’s no — I mean, people like this shouldn’t be ruling countries, but they do. The fact is they do, but it doesn’t mean I can’t express my outrage about it.”
His comments closely aligned with notes printed on a small piece of paper that he was photographed holding in his left hand as he spoke that began as follows:
- If you weren’t advocating for regime change, what did you mean? Can you clarify?
- I was expressing the moral outrage I felt towards the actions of this man