Inside Biden’s political event in Greenwich

After speaking at a gun violence summit at the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut, on June 16, President Biden flew on Air Force One to Westchester County Airport in the late afternoon and then went by motorcade to the home of Stephen and Sue Mandel in Greenwich for a political gathering and fundraiser.  Stephen Mandel is a billionaire and manager of the Lone Pine Capital hedge fund.

Biden spoke to about three dozen people gathered in the living room of the Mandel’s home. The people stood when Biden entered. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and Rep. James Himes were among those who attended.

“As Americans we all owe a big thanks to the president for what he’s done the last two years,” Mandel said. He remarked that there were two 2-year-olds in the room and they wanted him to thank the president for infrastructure plans that mean backhoes and steamrollers and other fun construction equipment.

Biden said, “You may recall when I announced for president last time — when you were helping me, many of you — I indicated that I thought there were three things that had to be done. One, we had to restore the soul of this nation — the sense of decency, honor … number two, I wanted to build the economy from the middle up, the bottom up …  number three, I said I wanted — and I got legitimately and understandably criticized — I said I wanted to unite the country.  Because in a democracy, we can”™t function if we can”™t unite.”

Biden brought up Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been in second place behind Donald Trump for the Republican Presidential Nomination.

“Did you ever think we’d go through a time when the number two contender on the other team was banning books?” Biden said while also pointing out his own efforts at bipartisanship.

Biden commented on Vladimir Putin and the war he started against Ukraine.

“(The) last time I met with him for any period of time was two years ago in Geneva.  But I know him. And he was confident — confident that he could break the West; we would not stay together because NATO … was having some serious rifts internally about what to do in Europe. Well, guess what? Ask any NATO leader. NATO is more united today than it has been any time in the history of NATO.”

Biden noted that factories to build batteries for electric vehicles are springing up in the U.S. and predicted that the administration’s plan to build 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations will expedite the switch from fossil fuels.

“It is not as vitriolic … as it had been,” Biden said about Washington. “People thought when we took on the very hard right members of the House of Representatives dealing with the debt ceiling I think people were surprised. Surprised that we were able to come up with enough people on both sides to come up with a rational and serious budget proposal.”

Biden expressed confidence that the American people are focusing on the truth rather than the lies that keep swirling in political circles.

“I think the American people are a lot better than we give them credit for,” Biden said. “I think they”™re focusing. I think they”™re looking hard. I think they’re deciding what they have to do.”

Biden spoke for about 20 minutes, then answered questions and mingled with those on hand until about 7 p.m. before returning to the airport and boarding Air Force One for the flight back to Washington.