Joe Biden

Remarks in an Exchange With Reporters Prior to Departure for Syracuse, New York

April 25, 2024

The President's Meeting With Released U.S. Hostage Abigail Mor Edan

Q. Mr. President, how was your meeting with Abigail? Can you talk about your meeting with Abigail a little bit?

No, I'm—we're told that you met with Abigail, the little—the little girl that was held hostage.

The President. I'm sorry, I can't hear you—[inaudible].

Q. Abigail. You met with Abigail the other day.

The President. Yes.

Q. The little—the little girl. How did that go?

The President. That went really well. Her dad sent me—her—excuse me—her family sent me a note saying she was riding home, and she said, "You know, I love Joe Biden."

Q. We're told that she did a lot of playing.

The President. She did.

Q. And had you seen—can you discuss that a little bit. Was she outside, inside? She was playing a lot?

The President. Oh, she was. We had her on the swings. She was swinging around in the Oval Office. She was really good.

Q. Mr. President——

Q. Mr. President——

U.S. Citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin Held Hostage by Hamas in Gaza, Palestinian Territories

Q. Have you seen the video of the hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin with the missing arm? Have you seen that video of that hostage? Any reaction?

The President. I haven't, but I know about it. I haven't physically seen it.

Q. Mr. President——

Q. President Biden——

Q. Have you verified that it's real, Mr. President?

Q. One more question, Mr. President?

Q. President Biden, do you have a message for campus protesters?

NOTE: The President spoke at 11:16 a.m. on the South Lawn of the White House prior to boarding Marine One. In his remarks, he referred to Abigail Mor Edan, an Israeli-American citizen who was abducted during the Hamas attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023, and released on November 26, 2023. A reporter referred to Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American citizen who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im during the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Remarks in an Exchange With Reporters Prior to Departure for Syracuse, New York Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/371424

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