U.S. President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Thursday identified the four crises his incoming administration will face when he and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are sworn into office on January 20, 2021.
Biden identified COVID-19, the economic crisis, racial inequalities and climate change as the four biggest challenges he and Harris will have to grapple with.
Biden and Harris chose CNN for their first sit down interview since they defeated President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in the November 3 presidential election.
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They beat Trump and Pence by more than 6.2 million votes, one of the widest margins in U.S. presidential elections. They secured 306 electoral votes to beat Trump and Pence who got only 232.
Biden said he would institute a mask mandate for the first hundred days of his administration to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
He said he supports the current bill being discussed by the Democrats and Republicans to pass a $908 billion coronavirus relief bill, adding that more money would be needed when he’s sworn into office.
On the reopening of schools and small businesses, Biden said he wants them to remain open, but that should be done safely and with the provision of the resources they need.
He said schools nationwide can reopen safely with a $100 billion budget, adding that without the resources needed, reopening would be difficult.
Biden disclosed that he had asked infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci to stay on the job and be his top adviser on the current pandemic.
On President Donald Trump and the world, Biden said he was worried about the damage being done to the image of the United States as a country of laws and democracy.
He said he would rebuild relations with allies that were damaged by the outgoing President.
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