Antony Blinken in Biden Cabinet members actions and issues
On Families & Children:
Having young children at home inspires him at State Dept
Having two very young children is actually an incredible source of inspiration because it really grounds what I'm trying to do, and especially what I'm trying to help the President do, in the reality that we are all here to try to make sure that life
is better every single day for our fellow citizens and especially that what we're doing is trying to leave a world that's just a little bit safer, a little bit more prosperous, a little healthier to our kids and grandkids.
Source: MSNBC interview: Secretary of State (Biden Cabinet)
Feb 1, 2021
On Foreign Policy:
Deeply disturbed by crackdown on protestors in Russia
We are deeply disturbed by this violent crackdown against people exercising their rights to protest peacefully against their government, rights that are guaranteed to them in the Russian constitution. I think the Russian Government makes a big mistake
if it believes that this is about us. It's not. It's about them. It's about the government. It's about the frustration that the Russian people have with corruption, with kleptocracy.
We're reviewing a series of Russian actions that are deeply, deeply disturbing. Interference in our elections, the use of cyber tools in the so-called SolarWinds attack that Russia appears to be responsible for getting into computer networks both
public and private, and finally, we have the reported bounties on American troops in Afghanistan. Depending on the findings of those reviews, we will take steps to stand up for our interests and stand against Russian aggressive actions.
Source: MSNBC interview: Secretary of State (Biden Cabinet)
Feb 1, 2021
On Foreign Policy:
Challenge of China is complicated; we need strong alliances
There's no doubt that China poses the most significant challenge to us of any other country, but it's a complicated one. There are adversarial aspects to the relationship, there's certainly competitive ones, and there's still some cooperative ones,
too. We have to be able to approach China from a position of strength, not weakness. And that strength, I think, comes from having strong alliances, something China does not have.
As we're thinking about both dealing with this pandemic but also making sure we're in a position to prevent the next one, China has to step up and make sure that it is being transparent, that it is providing information and sharing information,
that it is giving access to international experts and inspectors. Its failure to do that is a real problem that we have to address.
Source: MSNBC interview: Secretary of State (Biden Cabinet)
Feb 1, 2021
On Principles & Values:
Determined to keep politics out of the State Department
I am determined to put our career folks in positions of responsibility and leadership, and I am absolutely determined that politics are not going to come into this building. I've worked with the men and women of the Foreign Service for more than couple
of decades. I couldn't begin to tell you who's a Republican, who's a Democrat, who's an independent. They're here every single day working for the American people pursuant to the Constitution to advance our interests.
Source: MSNBC interview: Secretary of State (Biden Cabinet)
Feb 1, 2021
On Principles & Values:
Stepfather survived Holocaust; rescued by Americans
Blinken told the story of how Pisar was the only one out of 900 children in his school in Poland to survive the Holocaust after four years in concentration camps. "At the end of the war, he made a break from a death march into the woods in Bavaria.
From his hiding place, he heard a deep rumbling sound. It was a tank," Blinken said of the American military tank."He ran to the tank. The hatch opened. An African-American GI looked down at him,"
Blinken continued. "He got down on his knees and said the only three words that he knew in English that his mother had taught him before the war. 'God bless America.'"
Blinken said this is an example of how important the United States is to the rest of the world and how maintaining alliances can be a force for good.
Source: Fox News on Biden Cabinet
Jan 22, 2021
On Principles & Values:
Talked about refugees to Grover on "Sesame Street"
@ABlinken on Twitter: This school year, some kids will have new classmates: refugees.
@Grover & I discuss how to make them feel welcome in their new communities.
Source: @ABlinken Twitter posting: Biden Cabinet
Sep 21, 2016
Page last updated: May 20, 2021