MTP EXCLUSIVE: VP BIDEN SAYS “WE’RE SENDING A MESSAGE TO PUTIN…. HE’LL KNOW IT,” BUT “HOPE” THE PUBLIC WON’T

Exclusive Interview to Air This Sunday on “Meet the Press”

OCT. 14, 2016 – Vice President Joe Biden exclusively told “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd that “we’re sending a message” to Russian President Vladimir Putin and that “it will be at the time of our choosing, and under the circumstances that will have the greatest impact.”

When asked if the American public will know a message is sent, the vice president replied, “Hope not.”

Biden also shared with Todd that he’s “not concerned” with the country questioning the outcome of this presidential election because “to fundamentally alter the election is not what people think.”

See below for the transcript of this exchange. Watch the shortened excerpt that will air on MSNBC’s “MTP Daily” today: http://nbcnews.to/2dTIm2b.

Tune in this Sunday for more from the exclusive interview with Vice President Biden as well as an interview with Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence.

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CHUCK TODD:

Why haven’t we sent a message yet to Putin?

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN:

We’re sending a message. We have the capacity to do it. And– the message–

CHUCK TODD:

He’ll know it?

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN:

–will be sent at the ti– he’ll know it. And it will be at the time of our choosing. And under the circumstances that have the greatest impact. Look–

CHUCK TODD:

Will it be enough, do you think, that it’ll get him to back off? I mean, how concerned are you that the country is actually going to question the result of this election?

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN:

I am not concerned. The reason I’m not is we’re working very closely with all the departments of elections across the country, number one. Number two, the American people are pretty damn resilient. And number three, the, the capacity to do, to fundamentally alter the election is– is– i– is, is, is, is not what people think. And– I tell you what, to the extent that they do, we will be proportional in what we do. And– at the–

CHUCK TODD:

So a message is going be sent. Will the public know it?

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN:

Hope not.

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For more information, contact:

Olivia Petersen
NBC News
o: (202) 885-4159
c: (804) 938-3810
e: olivia.petersen@nbcuni.com

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NBC NEWS’ “MEET THE PRESS WITH CHUCK TODD” 

“Meet the Press” is where newsmakers come to make news — setting the political agenda and spotlighting the impact Washington decision-making has on people across the country. “Meet the Press” reaches more than 3 million people every Sunday through its broadcasts and millions more through NBCNews.com, Flipboard, and social media platforms.  Chuck Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press” and John Reiss is the executive producer.

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