White House walks back Biden's apparent call for regime change in Russia

The White House is rushing to walk back President Joe Biden's recent remarks declaring that Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power."


"A dictator bent on rebuilding an empire, will never erase the people’s love for liberty," Biden told an audience of Ukrainian refugees in Poland. "Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia, for free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness. For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power."

The president's statements came at the conclusion of his recent trip to Europe, meant to promote solidarity among Western countries in support of Ukraine. Right after Biden's address Saturday in front of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the White House clarified that Biden wasn't calling for regime change in Russia.