WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden traveled to the Indo-Pacific on Friday, his first trip to Asia as commander-in-chief.
He met with his counterpart from South Korea and toured a Samsung electronics facility amid a supply chain crisis and shortage of computer chips.
So much of the future of the world is going to be written in the Indo-Pacific over the next several decades. This is the moment to invest in one another, deepen our business ties, and bring our people even closer together. pic.twitter.com/YSWhgLkT4P
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 20, 2022
“These little chips, only a few nanometers thick, are the key to propelling us into the next era of humanity’s technological development,” Biden said.
Biden’s remarks come as his approval rating dipped to the lowest of his presidency, according to a new poll by the Associated Press and the Norc Center For Public Research.
The poll indicated that 39 percent of United States adults approve of Biden’s performance and that 2 in 10 Americans feel that the U.S. is heading in the right direction or the economy is good.
The poll comes as the country hit inflation that is at a four-decade-high as gas prices continue to rise.
The United States and the Republic of Korea work together to make the best, most advanced technology in the world. This factory is proof. And that gives us both a competitive edge in the global economy if we can keep our supply chains resilient, reliable, and secure. pic.twitter.com/l9NgV9zC9b
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 20, 2022
Gas prices could be $6 a gallon by summer as well as the country now facing a sudden baby formula shortage.
“Parents are concerned. The first lady is concerned as well that’s why they are taking actions,” White House assistant press secretary Kevin Munoz said.
Munoz told Local 10 that these actions include directing private companies to ramp up supply of the product and use commercial planes to fly in more formula.
“This is one of the President’s top priorities. He has told his team to pull every lever that will get more safe infant formula onto the market,” Munoz said.
Overseas, Biden is sending a clear message to China, which is not to do what Russia did in Ukraine anywhere in Asia.
On Monday, Biden will meet with Japan’s emperor and the country’s prime minister.