Biden visits NC university, discusses innovation, economy

GREENSBORO, N.C. — President Joe Biden visited Greensboro Thursday to highlight his plans to boost domestic supply chains and high-tech workforces at North Carolina A&T State University.

Biden checked out the engineering research complex where students study robotics and cybersecurity.

Biden pushed for Congress to pass the bipartisan Innovation Act, because he said it would invest in America’s future.

“We used to invest 2% of our gross domestic product in research and development,” Biden said. “We led the world. We used to be No. 1 in the world in investing in the world. Now we’re No. 9.”

The trip comes just after a recent Consumer Price Index report which showed inflation increased to 8.5% during the past twelve months, with energy costs accounting for the bulk of the totals, affiliate ABC 11 reported.

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Still, Biden is arguing that despite inflation numbers the economy, in general, is strong. To defend that assertion he points to the fact that there are now 7.9 million more jobs in America than when he took office -- that accounts for the largest job increase in the first 14 months of any presidency. Employee wages and the stock market are also pushing higher than ever before, ABC 11 reported.

Despite those metrics, Biden’s approval rating is at an all-time low. Many of the jobs Biden has taken credit for are simply people returning to jobs that were halted or eliminated during the pandemic. That’s undoubtedly playing a role in why the president is going on the road to drum up support for his economic plan.

ABC 11 and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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