President Joe Biden was caught being handsy with The Weather Channel host Stephanie Abrams during a rare interview on Wednesday.
Biden appeared in the pre-recorded interview on The Weather Channel to discuss climate change, calling it “the existential threat” facing humanity.”
“Nationally, we’ve conserved more land, we’ve moved in to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord. We’ve passed the $360 billion climate control facility. We’re moving. It is the existential threat,” the president said.
The 80-year-old commander-in-chief then reached out and brushed an insect off Abrams’ chest, despite previously vowing to “be more mindful” of personal space after being accused by several women of inappropriate hugs, rubs, and caresses.
“Oh, you’ve got a bug on you,” Biden muttered before reaching out and flicking the bug off the meteorologist’s upper chest.
“Thanks, appreciate it,” Abrams said.
Elsewhere in the interview, Biden touted his accomplishments in the field of renewable energy as evidence that the country is becoming more resilient to weather and climate disasters, but he emphasized the need to fortify the nation’s infrastructure in the event of more severe weather. He mentioned the federal tax credits as a means to help individuals rebuild more affordably.
When Abrams questioned the president about how poor communities experience climate change’s worst effects, Biden responded that the federal government would prioritize aiding those areas going forward.
“Forty percent of all the funding is going to go to those people,” he said. “We’re focusing on those areas to get the help first … and 40% is going to go to them.”
Finally, when asked about the fact that the U.S. continues to be one of the top carbon dioxide emitters, Biden denied that claim and said that he is trying to further restrict oil drilling as a way to reduce emissions.
“I want to stop all drilling on the East Coast, and on the West Coast and on the Gulf,” he said. “But I lost in court. But we’re still pushing very hard.”
Meanwhile, a host of The Weather Channel’s America’s Morning Headquarters fact-checked the president live on air, saying that “despite requests from some Democratic leaders, the President has not yet declared a national climate emergency.”
