What Did He Say?! Nets Pile on Biden for His ‘Russian Incursion’ Comments

Joe Biden was the one to blame when the networks criticized the elderly President. On Wednesday evening all three evening news broadcasts were flabbergasted over Biden’s comments during his press conference where he seemed to suggest it would be ok if there was “a minor incursion” by Russia into neighboring Ukraine. 

On ABC’s World News Tonight, senior White House correspondent Mary Bruce opened the segment airing the jaw-dropping statement from Biden where he said he would be ok with a minor Russian incursion into Ukraine, in response, she remarked “that answer raising eyebrows” before airing an exchange between Reuters reporter Alexandra Alper and Biden:

ALEXANDRA ALPER:  Are you saying that a minor incursion by Russia into Ukrainian territory would not lead to the sanctions that you have threatened or are you effectively giving Putin permission to make a small incursion into the country?

BIDEN: I think we will if there’s something that is–that where there’s Russian forces crossing the border, killing Ukrainian fighters, et cetera, I think that changes everything. It all depends on his actions.

Minutes later anchor David Muir took over and immediately when to his senior foreign correspondent Ian Pannell for his reaction to Biden’s comments, and it did not disappoint: 

There were probably many gasps in Europe and Kyiv when President Putin said that Russia might cross the border. That is, Russia would invade.

Until then, CBS Evening News, anchor Norah O’Donnell brought on chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan to break down the international and diplomatic fallout from Biden’s gaffe.

Brennan was right at the gate, warning “Russia’s going to pounce on that phrase during diplomatic talks which are set to begin Friday.”She warned that “this could be interpreted as minimizing the type of attack or putting limits on what the U.S. may do.”

NBC Nightly NewsBiden’s situation was worse when anchor Lester Holt brought on Richard Engel as chief foreign correspondent, to ask if “officials in this country and very likely in Russia tonight are wondering did President Biden just give Vladimir Putin a green light to launch an invasion into or around them?”

These are amazing comments from networks. The networks must’ve known there was no way to hide these comments from their viewers, so they were forced to report on them. We are proud of them. 

To read the transcripts of the relevant portions of each segment click “expand”: 

ABC World News Tonight

1/19/2022

6.36.10 pm

MARY BRUCE Reporters pressed him to explain his response.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT: Russia is responsible for any invasions. It all depends on the actions it takes. If it is a small incursion then that’s fine. But if they do invade, we will have to debate what the right and wrong actions should be taken. It will be a catastrophe for Russia if they do the right thing with their force of mass at the border.

BRUCE 

[Cuts to video]

ALEXANDRA ALPER:  Are you saying that a minor incursion by Russia into Ukrainian territory would not lead to the sanctions that you have threatened or are you effectively giving Putin permission to make a small incursion into the country?

BIDEN: I think we will if there’s something that is–that where there’s Russian forces crossing the border, killing Ukrainian fighters, et cetera, I think that changes everything. It all depends on his actions.

(…) 

6:38.53 pm

DAVIDMUIR: President Biden is also reporting on Russia and Vladimir Putin with thousands of soldiers manning the Ukraine border. Tonight, let’s meet Ian Pannell who is our chief foreign correspondent. Ian, we were there right alongside you. After stating that he thinks Vladimir Putin will act in Ukraine, the President then changed his tune and said that he didn’t believe Putin had made his decision. This led to global headlines about tonight whether the President has left any type of window depending on which kind of invasion we may see.

IAN PANEELL: Yes, there were many gasps in Kyiv as well as across Europe when President Putin said that Russia might cross the border. This means that Russia would invade. It was not clear if it would constitute a major invasion or a minor intrusion, however he indicated that there are significant differences between NATO European Allies regarding how to respond. It is clear that there are diplomatic challenges. There are clear diplomatic difficulties. The Kremlin repeatedly denies that they plan to cross the border. It puts everybody in an awkward position before these difficult negotiations, when it really matters. Blinken, the Secretary of State, is currently in town. He has been in contact with Ukrainian officials. He will be facing a tough moment when he travels to Europe. But, it is crucial that he meets with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov in Geneva this Friday. It will add pressure to try and reach an accommodation deal with the Russians. David?

CBS Evening News 

1/19/2022

6.38.02 PM

NORAH O’DONNELL: Well let’s bring in our chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan. Margaret, then, spoke out about the consequences for Russia. He said that it was one thing to have a small incursion. That was what did that mean?

MARGARET BRENNAN: Norah, Russia’s going to pounce on that phrase during diplomatic talks which are set to begin Friday, because this could be interpreted as minimizing the type of attack or putting limits on what the U.S. may do. The President appeared to suggest that the U.S. might alter its response depending upon the extent and scope of Russian aggression. This could mean a cyberattack, seizing territory or invading. 

NBC Nightly News 

1/19/2022

7.07:49 pm

LESTER HOLT: Tonight’s news from President Biden was focused on Ukraine. He predicted a Russian invasion. Richard Engel will be there to provide the latest.

RICHARD ENGEL : Despite U.S. official warnings that Russia has enough forces in place to invade Ukraine now, President Biden appeared to indicate today that if Russia made a partial incursion the U.S. would be able live with it.

PRESIDENT JOE BiDEN: Russia is responsible for any invasions. It all depends on the actions it takes. If it is a small incursion then that’s fine. But if they do invade, we will have to debate what the right and wrong actions should be taken. It will be a catastrophe for Russia if they do the right thing with their force of mass at the border.

ENGEL. The President Biden warned that a Russian invasion would have severe economic consequences.

BIDEN: They’ll pay if they invade. They won’t go — the banks they have will not accept dollars.

ENGEL

BIDEN: I think he’ll move in. He must do something.

ENGEL. Russia can only launch a tiny incursion in one area of the country. This could prove to be potentially ambiguous. It’s in the far east, where pro-Russian separatists already control enclaves. This is why officials from this country, and most likely Russia tonight, are starting to wonder if the President gave Vladimir Putin permission for an invading force into their territory or surrounding them. Lester?