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MSJEAN-PIERRE: Good afternoon, everybody. So, we have big news today, and -- that is going to benefit as many as 30 million Americans. Starting today, hearing aids will cost thousands of dollars less than before.

President Biden's executive order on competition called on the FDA to make hearing aids over the counter without a prescription; that is now a reality. This week, retailers across the country, including Walgreens, CVS, Best Buy, Walmart, Hy- -- and Hy-Vee will start selling over-the-counter hearing aids in store and online. And adults with mild to moderate hearing loss can buy these hearing aids without a prescription, exam, or even fitting, which will lower the average cost by as much as $3,000. That's thousands of dollars going back into the pockets of Americans and providing a little more breathing room in their family budgets as well.

Finally, President Biden looks forward to welcoming President Herzog of Israel to the White House on October 26, a visit that underscores the enduring partnership and friendship between the United States and Israel. They will consult on key issues, including regional and global challenges of mutual concern, opportunities to deepen Israel's regional integration, and ways to advance equal measures of freedom, prosterity [prosperity], and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, Donald Trump's comments were antisemitic, as you all know, and insulting both to Jews and to our Israeli allies. But let's be clear: For years -- for years now, Donald Trump has aligned with extremist and antisemitic figures. And it should be -- it should be called out, to your point, Darlene, just like we called out our Democratic friends and colleagues last week. And we will condemn and call this out as well.

Q: Just to follow up on that, it was announced earlier today that the rapper formerly known as Kanye West wants to buy the social -- the conservative social media platform Parler. And this comes after he was kicked off of Twitter and Instagram last week for his own set of antisemitic comments. Is the White House or the President concerned that should this sale go ahead and that Ye be allowed to buy this platform, that it would it give him another venue for antisemitic comments, hateful comments with no -- you know, no gatekeeper, no one to say that's wrong or anything like that?

So, as you know, when it comes to these types of purchases or agreements, I can't speak to that. So that's not something -- the actual agreement, you know, or inter- -- interaction, I can't speak to that.

But what I can speak to is hateful rhetoric. What I can speak to is insulting rhetoric. What I ca- -- what I can't speak -- can speak to is antisemitism, which is hateful, it is dangerous. And we are going to continue to condemn that type of language, because at the end of the day, it is disgusting and it is -- there is no room -- absolutely no room, no place in our political discourse to be having that type of, really, vile conversation or comments being made.

Q: Thanks, Karine. President Biden hasn't attended any rallies or events in public in support of candidates in recent weeks. With the midterms just three weeks away, will we begin to see him do that more? What was -- what will his schedule look like?

But I would point you to this -- the President's most recent trip to -- out West. So it's kind of a bizarre question to ask because he was very visible last -- this weekend and last week. He was out there. And again, I cannot speak to specific, you know, elections or campaigns or actions that he's -- he's taken. But all I will do is point you to his West Coast trip most recently.

As far as upcoming trips, we've announced that he's going to go to Pennsylvania. We've announced that he's going to go to Florida. He was just in Colorado, Oregon, and California. And don't -- don't have more beyond the next two trips that I have just laid out.

And he's going to be out there with congressional Democrats and elected Democrats, and continue to talk about how congressional Democrats and the President has delivered for the American people when it comes to lowering cost, when it comes to making sure that we're creating jobs right here in America, when it comes to what we just announced today with hearing aids.

So, he is -- he is proud of the work that we have done here. And he's going to continue to talk and make sure to talk about it in states, and make sure that the American people hear directly from him.

Q: Karine, a lot of the places that you mentioned were private fundraisers or official events. Will we be seeing him appear alongside candidates in public? Is that intentional to not have him do stumping with these candidates and supporting his party?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Again, I'm going to be very careful about what I say about ongoing elections. I am restricted here. But I will point you to Portland, Oregon; I will point you to LA, California, where he was out there with -- with his -- with fellow Democrats talking about how we have delivered in the past 19, 20 months.

Q: But will we see him in public with the candidate -- the trips -- upcoming trips that you've mentioned with John Fetterman, Charlie Christ when he's in Florida? Will cameras be allowed into his events? Will we see him alongside these candidates?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm not going to go into the details of what these events are going to look like. But we were very clear when we announced Pennsylvania this week that he is going to be with Lieutenant Governor Fetterman.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, so we have talked about Russia's escalation and have been very clear about what -- what is -- what is going to continue to happen. The most recent escalation -- the United States strongly condemns Russia's missile strikes today, which continue to demonstrate Putin's brutality.

We will continue -- we will -- as we have said over the past several months, to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes. We are going to -- we're going to continue to work with our allies and partners. We will continue to impose costs on Russia, hold them accountable, and -- for its war crimes, as we've talked about -- you've heard directly from the President on the war crimes piece -- and its atrocities, and providing Ukraine with security, economic, and humanitarian assistance.

Q: The President said on Saturday that he thought Prime Minister Truss's initial economic plan was a "mistake." Her new finance minister has announced a pretty complete U-turn on those plans. Does the White House welcome that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, like the President said this past Saturday -- the question that Jeff may or may not have asked -- it is up to the UK to make these judgments. It is really up to them to decide what is right for their -- you know, for their own constituents -- right? -- for their country.

The UK is a close ally, as you've heard us say many times. And we work with them on a range of issues, including strengthening the global economy. Our focus is on the long term, as we have said many times, which is growth and investment and increased manufacturing, as you've seen the work that we have done here in Congress and the President with the CHIPS Act, making sure that we are making -- making things right here in America. And not only that -- we have created about 700,000 manufacturing jobs right here in America in the past 19, 20 months.

So -- and also the fiscal discipline that is leading to -- to more jobs, as I just laid out, and rising incomes and rais- -- rising incomes, as we have focused on, and -- will make our economy stronger and more resilient as we have seen because of the work -- because of the work that this President has done when it comes to his economic plan.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I'm not going to go into any analysis about where are in this war. We have been very clear about how we saw -- how we've been seeing Russia's -- Russia's escalation over the past several weeks. And so, we -- you know, what we will do is to continue to support the people of Ukraine. What we will do is to make sure that they have what they need to continue their brave -- the way that they are fighting bravely on the ground.

We just announced, as I just mentioned, $725 million of new assistance just this past Friday. We are in regular touch with Ukrainians -- the -- in the administration, the government. As we -- as I mentioned, National Security Advisor and others in the administration are continuing to talk -- have close conversations about their needs. And so that's going to continue.

We will be in this for as long as it takes. And we've been very clear about this as well. This war can end today. This is a war that can end right now, today, if -- if Vladimir Putin wants it to. This is his war. He started this war.

Q: Just two quick political questions. As the President prepares to appear with John Fetterman later this week in Pennsylvania, there's obviously, as you know, been a lively debate over Fetterman's health following his stroke. Do you know if the President believes there is any sort of reason for concern on that point specifically?

But speaking only about the President's personal conversation with Lieutenant Governor Fetterman, the President has found him to be an impressive individual and -- who is just as capable as al- -- who has been -- who's just as capable as always, and who is -- who is carrying out his office. He's currently the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, as we know, and he's doing that with great ability and heartfelt concern for the people of the Commonwealth.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, they've had -- they've met many times, as you know. Most recently, I believe, on Labor Day -- may have been the last time they've seen each other in person. And they're going to see each other again, as you know, this Thursday.

Q: And then, just my second political question: At the end of last week, the President said that his reaction to the Herschel Walker controversy in Georgia was "negative." I wondered if you wanted to elaborate on that?

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