Biden stresses U.S. commitment to NATO; Manchin to oppose president’s nominee

Biden criticized former president Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and sought to assure wary Americans that the coronavirus vaccines are safe.

“My predecessor — as my mother would say, ‘God love him’ — failed to order enough vaccines, failed to mobilize the effort to administer the shots, failed to set up vaccine centers. That changed the moment we took office,” Biden said, in remarks after a tour of a Pfizer plant in Michigan that manufacturers one of the approved coronavirus vaccines.

Biden said that during his tour he was shown the safety precautions that go into making the vaccines, and wanted Americans to have confidence that it is safe.

“If there’s one message to cut through to everyone in this country is this: ‘The vaccines are safe’,” Biden said. “Please, for yourself, your family, your community, this country, take the vaccine when it’s your turn and available. That’s how to beat this pandemic.”

Biden also defended his commitment to contribute U.S. funds to distribute the vaccine in lower- and middle-income nations with a more tacit swipe at Trump.

“It’s not enough that we find cures for Americans, there needs to be a cure that the world is able to take part because you can’t build a wall or fence high enough to keep a pandemic out,” he said.

Biden also offered optimism to a weary nation, promising Americans that the end of the pandemic was in sight.

“I can’t give you a date when this crisis will end,” Biden said, “but I can tell you we’re doing everything possible to have that day come sooner rather than later.”