President Joe Biden doesn’t need a gun czar to lead his administration’s crackdown on firearms, according to the White House.
Asked about his campaign pledge to name someone to lead gun control efforts, press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden was in charge.
“The president’s responsible,” Psaki told reporters during a press briefing on Wednesday.
As such, Biden is planning new gun measures to combat gun violence as crime rates in cities nationwide soar.
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On the campaign trail, Biden vowed to appoint someone to a top role responsible for slashing gun violence. One year later, gun control advocates and lawmakers have urged him to make good on his promise.
In a letter this month, 36 Democrats called for a national director of gun violence prevention who would be responsible for halving firearms casualties over the next 10 years.
Biden had previously proposed enlisting former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, his opponent in the Democratic presidential primary, to spearhead the effort.
“I want to make something clear: I’m going to guarantee you this is not the last you’re seeing of this guy,” Biden said at a Dallas event in March 2020. “You’re going to take care of the gun problem with me. You’re going to be the one who leads this effort. I’m counting on you. We need you badly, the state needs you, the country needs you. You’re the best.”
At another event that month, Biden raised the prospect again.
“And by the way, this guy can change the face of what we are doing here, with regard to guns, assault weapons, with regard to dealing with climate change. And I was just warning Amy, ‘If I win, I’m coming for him,’” then-candidate Biden said.
In February, the White House demurred when asked whether Biden planned to have O’Rourke running point on gun issues.
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“He doesn’t have any official role,” Psaki said at the time.
