President Biden is in the White House Situation Room, I'm told, getting updates on the situation in Afghanistan, including the explosion near the Kabul airport that has caused many casualties.
Taliban says at least 13 dead in Kabul explosion; Russian foreign ministry says at least 2 people killed and 15 wounded. @PentagonPresSec says "an unknown number of casualties" from blast near airport's Abbey Gate.
Multiple videos have now emerged of people killed in the explosions in Afghanistan, including one posted by @karimi_shafi. Very graphic and disturbing, indicating many are dead outside Kabul airport.
US govt had intel ahead of suicide bombing outside the gates of Kabul airport; admin sources pointing to the very specific information in the security alert Wednesday night that "U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately."
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BIDEN en route to Dover as remains of troops killed in Kabul bombing arrive—Darin Hoover, Johanny Rosariopichardo, Nicole Gee, Hunter Lopez, Daegan Page, Humberto Sanchez, David Espinoza, Jared Schmitz, Rylee McCollum, Dylan Merola, Kareem Nikoui, Maxton Soviak and Ryan Knauss.
Traveling to Dover for dignified transfer of US troops killed in ISIS bombing at Kabul airport are @POTUS and @FLOTUS and several White House aides. President will meet with families.
This is the 1st time that Biden is at Dover Air Force Base as president for a dignified transfer, when flag-draped cases containing the remains of troops arrive in US and are carried off a military plane. He attended at least one as VP.
"Communism is a failed system," Biden says at Merkel press conference, when asked about Cuba. "A universally failed system. And I don't see socialism as a very useful substitute, but that's another story."
Biden says US is sending US Marines to the embassy in Haiti "to make sure that they are secure and nothing is out of whack at all.
"But the idea of sending American forces into Haiti is not on the agenda at this moment," he says at White House press conference with Merkel.
Biden says Merkel brought up the subject of lifting US ban on travel from Europe.
"It's in process now. And I'll be able to answer that question to you within the next several days, what is likely to happen," @POTUS said.
He asked coronavirus team how soon ban can be lifted.
President Biden is at 7:30a mass this holiday Sunday morning, at his home parish in Greenville, Delaware.
Biden is spending some time on this holiday Sunday golfing at Wilmington Country Club near his home in Greenville, Delaware before flying back to DC at 3p this afternoon. Motorcade just arrived at the golf course.
Biden is golfing at Wilmington Country Club this Fourth of July with ex Senator Ted Kaufman, per White House. Kaufman was Biden’s chief of staff in the US Senate and head of Biden’s 2020 presidential transition.
“I hope our meeting will be productive,” the Russian leader said.
Putin, via translator: "I'd like to thank you for the initiative to meet today.”
“Still, the US and Russian relations have a lot of issues … that requires collaborating and I hope that our meeting will be productive.”
The 1st session of Biden and Putin’s private meetings started at 1:44p in Geneva and ended at 3:17p, per White House. The small meeting was Biden, Putin, Blinken, Lavrov and two interpreters.
Today’s the day—Biden’s likely less-than-friendly 4-5 hour mtg with Putin in Geneva.
@Potus, who’s having breakfast here at InterContinental hotel this a.m., has list of things he wants to talk about, including Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, Navalny, cyber. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Putin’s plane has left Moscow and is scheduled to land in Geneva pretty much on time at 12:30p local time for his meeting with Biden.
ALERT at US Capitol: “The external security threat located at all of the US Capitol Campus Buildings continues, and there is still no entry or exit permitted at this time. You may move about within the buildings and underground between buildings.
If you are outside, seek cover.”
White House isn’t under elevated security restrictions as Capitol lockdown continues. All is normal here at 1600 Penn, but there’s no POTUS here—Biden is away at Camp David.
President Biden landed at Camp David at 12:53p, shortly before Capitol incident. White House aides with the president are Bruce Reed, Yohannes Abraham, Anthony Bernal and Stephen Goepfert.