Biden Calls Assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse ‘Very Worrisome’

President Joe Biden called the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, “very worrisome” in remarks made as he was departing the White House.

It was reported this morning that Moïse, who had been in charge of Haiti for more than four years as the country grew increasingly unstable under his watch, was assassinated today.

President Joe Biden, made his remarks while leaving to make the case for spending trillions of dollars on U.S. infrastructure, paid for by higher taxes on corporations, at an Illinois community college.

Biden was asked, “What is your reaction, Mr. President, to the Haitian president being assassinated?”

“We need a lot more information, but it’s just, it’s very worrisome about the state of Haiti,” Biden explained before departing and refusing to take any more questions.

“It’s very worrisome,” Biden said Wednesday in reaction to the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse https://t.co/Xh2f9ONPd6 pic.twitter.com/ShJLMffBFD

— Bloomberg Quicktake (@Quicktake) July 7, 2021

Interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph said that Moïse was killed at his private home following “a highly coordinated attack by a highly trained and heavily armed group.”

Joseph added that he believed, “Haiti has lost a true statesman. We will ensure that those responsible for this heinous act are swiftly brought to justice.”

Moïse is survived by his wife, Martine Moïse, who was also injured in the attack and remains hospitalized. and three children.

An alleged video of the attack has also surfaced, showing what appear to be commandos with assault-style rifles gathering outside a residence.

NEW – President of Haiti Jovenel Moise assassinated at his residence in Port-au-Prince. Alleged video surfaces: pic.twitter.com/zmHnDlA5xU

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) July 7, 2021

As the AP reported:

Moïse took office in February 2017, pledging to strengthen institutions, fight corruption and bring more investments and jobs to the Western hemisphere’s poorest nation. But his administration was plagued by massive protests from the start, and critics accused him of growing increasingly authoritarian.

Moïse had been ruling by decree for more than a year after Parliament was dissolved and lawmakers failed to organize legislative elections. He was widely criticized for approving decrees, including one that limited the powers of a court that audits government contracts and another that created an intelligence agency that answers only to the president.

Political and economic instability deepened in recent months, with widespread protests paralyzing the country of more than 11 million people. In addition, gangs in the capital of Port-au-Prince have grown more powerful, with more than 14,700 people driven from their homes last month alone as gangs set fire to homes and ransacked them.

In addition, 15 people were killed during a June 29 shooting rampage in the capital, including a journalist and well-known political activist. Officials blamed a group of rogue police officers but have not provided any evidence.