President Joe Biden said Iran could not engage in “impeachment” and warned Iran to be “cautious” in the wake of the U.S. airstrikes on an Iranian-backed militia site in Syria.
When asked by reporters traveling with him in Texas what message he was trying to send to Iran with the air strike, Biden said: “You can’t engage in impeachment.” .
Biden stopped and then added, “be careful”.
The U.S. president’s comments came as he reviewed a uniformed medical team at a public vaccination site at NRG Park, Houston’s premier sports center.
The U.S. military had carried out measured attacks on eastern Syria used by Iran-backed militias, in response to rocket attacks against U.S. targets in Iraq. The airstrike was the first military strike ordered by Biden since he became president.
The strikes drew sharp criticism from Syria and Iran. The Pentagon said it was “deliberate” and intended to “overthrow the total situation in eastern Syria and Iraq”.
Biden had traveled to Texas on Friday with plans to visit emergency centers that dealt with the fall from a severe winter storm that left millions without power or clean water for days, and killed at least two dozen.
Speaking at the vaccination center at NRG Park, Biden said his administration is working to open more such sites to deliver millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Americans.
“We are working with regulators across the country to stand up and provide federal support to hundreds of vaccination centers, from stadiums like this, to community centers, to houses of worship to large parking lots,” Biden said.
Biden and his wife, Jill Biden’s first wife, landed in Houston early Friday afternoon, where the president met with Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to discuss overcoming this week’s storm in the past.
They then traveled to Houston TranStar, the Department for Transport’s hub where the Harris County Office Home Security and Emergency Management Communications Center is located.
On the ground in Texas with@POTUSwhich is receiving an update at the Harris County Emergency Action Center on a storm response pic.twitter.com/8D9TgSVjhm
– Jen Psaki (@PressSec) February 26, 2021
The tragedy has been a testament to Biden’s commitment to working for all Americans to help unite the country. Abbott initially did not recognize the impact of Democrat Biden’s election in November on former President Donald Trump. Texas state officials lost a court appeal in December to reverse the findings, which Trump has falsely said were corrupted by widespread fraud.
While there, Biden and Abbott went for a briefing with Bob Fenton, executive administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to pool reports
Texas Senator John Cornyn, who was at the emergency operations center, told reporters he was pleased to see Biden.
“The governor and Senator Cruz and I have sought assurances from the federal government that will allow public and private support through FEMA. That’s going to be important to get over it. “
Last week, Abbott asked the FEMA and Biden to issue a disaster announcement for all 254 counties in the state.
Biden signed an emergency declaration on Feb. 20, for 77 counties, adding 31 more Monday and indicating it was open to increase the number.
While much of the rest of the U.S. features interconnected electrical systems, allowing power to cross state lines, Texas has long stood out for the to have its own grid, although it can transfer very little power to the eastern U.S. power grid and Mexico’s grid power.
The historic storm was a major challenge to the state’s energy system, with millions losing power for days. State Republican leaders have come under fire for failing to raise warnings that a major overhaul of Texas ’power grid was needed to protect against deep frosts.
Calls for weather protection are mounting, with members of Biden’s administration floating for Texas to replace its gas lines, power plants and wind turbines.
When asked about these calls, Cornyn told reporters: “We want to listen to anyone with a good idea and try to come up with ways to prevent this from happening again.”