Russia threatens WWIII and an American base attack while Biden remains silent and Kamala Harris vacations in Hawaii
The White House hosted a quiet and normal public program on Thursday V.P. Harris vacations in Hawaii — even amid surprising public warnings from the Kremlin to target a U.S. base Poland and powerful missile attacks on Ukraine.
The escalations are piling up in Russia’s war against Ukraine, with devastating airstrikes on infrastructure and counterattacks with long-range weapons in Russia, followed by more threats from the Kremlin and loose talk about nuclear weapons.
That was followed by horrific images of what Kiev said were nuclear warheads from a Russian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), or advanced missile, raining down on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro this morning.
Russia was rattling nuclear weapons again on Thursday, saying a new US ballistic missile defense base in Poland would increase threats. It is part of a NATO missile shield that opened on November 13 and is intended to protect US allies.
“This is another downright provocative step in a series of deeply destabilizing actions by the Americans and their allies in the North Atlantic Alliance in the strategic sphere,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.
“This undermines strategic stability, increases strategic risks and, as a result, increases the overall level of nuclear danger.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened Kremlin statements citing nuclear danger as Russia’s war in Ukraine escalates
Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski hit back at “threats.”
“It is a base for defense, not attack,” he said. “Such threats will certainly serve as an argument for strengthening Poland’s and NATO’s air defenses, and should also be taken into consideration by the United States.”
The Biden administration is still not officially confirming reports that it has authorized Ukraine to use long-range ATACMs to attack inside Russia. Kiev on Wednesday fired missiles into Russia’s Kursk region, where it has captured territory that Moscow has vowed to reclaim, backed by North Korean soldiers who Washington says are supporting the fight.
Ukraine has also reportedly used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, although British Defense Secretary John Healey did not confirm this.
President Biden, who dodged questions about Russia and Ukraine during his trip to South America, has resumed holding public events at the White House.
He will host the 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics in the Rose Garden.
His morning bill signing, of the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act of 2024, is closed to the press.
On Friday evening, he and first lady Jill Biden will hold a dinner on the south lawn.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray failed to show up for an annual Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on threats to the homeland.
Panel chairman Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) denounced their refusal to appear.
In Dnipro, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said the rocket attack caused damage to an industrial enterprise and started fires.
Security camera footage from the central-eastern city of Dnipro showed several projectiles shooting inwards and detonating in a series of violent, fiery explosions
President Joe Biden avoided questions from reporters amid tense developments during his trip to South America
R&R: VP Kamala Harris is on vacation in Hawaii
“Americans deserve transparent, public answers about the threats we face. Secretary Mayorkas and Director Wray’s refusal to speak publicly about their department’s work will only exacerbate the concerns many Americans have about our nation’s security during a challenging time, the Commission’s efforts to conduct responsible oversight to practice flouting, and will deal a serious blow to confidence in our country. government,” he said.
Senator Rick Scott of Florida, an ally of Donald Trump, condemned the move. “Mayorkas must face the American people and take accountability for his historic failures that enabled two assassination attempts on @realDonaldTrump and created a wide open border with terrorists, criminals and deadly drugs like fentanyl flowing into our communities. America is less safe because of him,” he said.
Harris, meanwhile, has no public events planned, just over two weeks after learning she lost the election.
She arrived in Hawaii on Tuesday with First Gentleman Doug Emhoff. The FAA has imposed temporary flight restrictions on ‘VIP Movement’, and it is expected to remain in place for a week.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told NBC Harris he would be available to cut ties if necessary as Democrats try to push through Biden’s judicial nominees in the final days of his administration.
The Federal Aviation Administration has imposed temporary flight restrictions for “VIP movements” from 7:15 p.m. Tuesday through noon Monday for Kona and Waimea.
An aide to Harris told NBC News that she was leaving today for a getaway to Hawaii, and had postponed her trip as she was needed for Senate votes to confirm judges in what could be a last chance to overthrow President-elect Donald Trump to defy. in what could be her last great act in office.
Trump’s allies have rejected the Biden administration’s actions in recent weeks. The government is pushing out weapons packages, reportedly allowing longer-range attacks and sending controversial anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine.
‘Joe Biden authorizes Ukraine to launch missiles into Russia – then orders the evacuation of the US embassy in Kiev. Furious. Biden can’t even pick up the phone to talk to Putin,” Trump adviser and former US ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell wrote.
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) wrote on It’s breathlessly irresponsible.’
“It’s the last gasp of a dying permanent blob of foreign policy in Washington who has been wrong about almost everything for 20 years,” he told Fox News.
Republicans in the House of Representatives have blasted the administration for publicly dodging urgent developments.
“I think she’s worked really hard to avoid the press this entire campaign, so she must be exhausted,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis R-NY joked. “It’s scary, especially with all the issues we’re facing, from the open border to world affairs and what you just said in terms of Putin: we have no leadership,” she said.
“Yes, Kamala Harris has no relevance to politics right now, unless you want to talk about a Senate that is locked down and she is the tie-breaking vote,” said Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.), even though she was the surprising leader of a poll on who Democrats are
Rep. Steve Scalise, the House majority caucus, predicted things would change if Trump, who has said he can end the war in a day, becomes the town’s “new sheriff.”
“This kind of weak, soft approach to foreign policy has been going on for four years. it was rejected by voters, but President Trump will come in with a very different mentality to confront it, to show American strength and make sure the bad guys know there is a new sheriff in town,” said he.