The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, is speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One now, on the way to Raleigh, North Carolina.
Joe Biden and the vice-president, Kamala Harris, are holding a joint event there to talk about healthcare.
Reporters are firing off their questions now. Jean-Pierre is confirming the US president’s position is he will “move heaven and earth” to reopen the port and rebuild the bridge.
She’s being asked about the state of US infrastructure but emphasizes that although the government pledges to work with Congress for funding to rebuild the bridge, the search and rescue effort that’s still under way in Baltimore is the main focus.
Joe Biden walking across the tarmac as he boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, 26 March 2024. Photograph: Stephanie Scarbrough/AP
The person who was hospitalized following the Key Bridge collapse has been released, according to a hospital press release.
Officials with the University of Maryland medical center are expected to have a virtual press briefing at 2.30pm ET about the incident.
Here is the full statement from the hospital:
The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center received one patient from the incident. The patient has been discharged.
Authorities attempted to clear the Key Bridge before the cargo ship crashed into it on Tuesday morning, according to radio transmissions before the crash, CNN reported.
Officials communicated via radio that the ship had “lost [its] steering” and was quickly approaching the bridge. They then worked to stop traffic.
“I need one of you guys on the south side, one of you guys on the north side, hold all traffic on the Key Bridge. There’s a ship approaching that just lost their steering so until we get that under control, we’ve got to stop all traffic,” a person said via radio.
As the bridge collapsed, another person said: “The whole bridge just fell down. Start, start whoever … everybody. The whole bridge just collapsed…”
Pete Buttigieg, the secretary of transportation, is also traveling to the accident site to help with investigation efforts.
Biden confirmed that Buttigieg is traveling to the site today during his remarks.
Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, said early Tuesday that his office was communicating with Buttigieg amid the accident.
My office is in close communication with U.S. Transportation @SecretaryPete Buttigieg, Baltimore @MayorBMScott, @BaltCoExec, and @BaltimoreFire as emergency personnel are on the scene following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Biden said that the Key Bridge collapse was a “terrible accident”, emphasizing reports from other agencies that the incident was not intentional.
Biden said: “Everything so far indicates that this was a terrible accident. At this time, we have no other indication. No other reason to believe there’s any intentional act here,” Biden said.
“We’re going to rebuild that port together,” Biden added.
Biden shared a statement on the bridge collapse, according to a social media post.
Biden said that he met with senior members of his team and was briefed about the bridge collapse, in a post to X.
This morning, I convened senior members of my team for a briefing on the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.
I’ve directed my Administration to ensure every federal resource is available to assist search and rescue efforts and response to this terrible incident.
This morning, I convened senior members of my team for a briefing on the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge.
I've directed my Administration to ensure every federal resource is available to assist search and rescue efforts and response to this terrible incident. pic.twitter.com/quqe7jogwm
