Biden Calls for Putin To Be Removed From Power, White House Walks Back Threat

President Joe Biden demanded Russian leader Vladimir Putin be removed from power, during a speech in Poland over the weekend. The White House quickly issued a statement saying the president was not calling for regime change in Moscow.

The president’s latest verbal assault on Russia was made Saturday during Biden’s four-day trip to Europe. Standing in front of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, he said, “For God’s sake, this man [Putin] cannot remain in power.”

The statement appeared to be a call to remove Putin as president of the Russian Federation. Shortly after, the White House issued a statement claiming that was not Biden’s intent. Fox News reports an administration official said, “The President’s point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region. He was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change.”