A dictator bent on rebuilding an empire will never erase a people’s love for liberty. Brutality will never grind down their will to be free. Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia, for free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness. We will have a different future, a brighter future, rooted in democracy and principle, hope and light. Of decency and dignity and freedom and possibilities. For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power. God bless you all. And may God defend our freedom, and may God protect our troops. Thank you for your patience. Thank you. Thank you.
Many initially believed the comment was Biden calling for the removal of Putin, but in a statement, a White House spokesperson clarified that Biden was not calling for regime change.
„The President’s point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region,“ the statement said. „He was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change.“
But the walk back only prompted the question of why Biden uttered the line in the first place and whether he had consciously meant to convey the message. The words had not been in his prepared remarks.