During Tuesday’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration is still not calling for a regime change in Russia, despite labelling Russian President Vladimir Putin due to the gruesome massacre of civilians in Bucha, Ukraine.
Fox News reporter Peter Doocy noted new reports of Russian soldiers torturing and killing Ukrainian civilians and raping girls as young as 10 before asking Psaki if the Biden administration still believed Putin should remain in power.
“Given these awful videos and pictures we’re seeing of the atrocities that took place in Bucha right now,” Doocy said. “Is the U.S. policy still one of no regime change in Russia? And if so, why should someone like Vladimir Putin be viewed by the U.S. as someone who should be allowed to stay in power?”
“Well, I think our policy is: No, we are not calling for regime change. And that has not been our policy and continues not to be our policy,” Psaki responded. “But again, Peter, our view is that he is a war criminal, and he is somebody who should be looked at by the international system who evaluates war crimes.”
“I guess the question — people say, ‘Then why not? If he’s a war criminal, why should he be allowed to stay in power?’” Doocy asked.
“Well, our policy is not to call for regime change. We’re not calling for regime change. But again, he is somebody who’s committed atrocities against the people in his country; he’s a pariah in the world. And every step we’ve taken has made that clear to the global community,” Psaki responded.
