- 5/23/2025
State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce held a press briefing.
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00:00I missed you. I did. I missed you. I don't know, you could not have missed me because
00:12of Tommy Piggott. Thank you for taking care of him, being nice the first day and not so
00:19much the next day. But thank you, Tommy. Great job. I'm very, very proud and honored that
00:26you're standing up here. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you, everyone, for being here. Welcome
00:29forward. Daphne's smiling. That's a good sign. But she's always smiling. That might be a
00:33bad sign. We do, of course, have a statement and a few announcements here. And thank you
00:40again all for being here. We condemn the heinous murder of two staff members from the Israeli
00:47Embassy in Washington, D.C. last night. Every day we talk about in this room the aftermath
00:53of one of the most obscene attacks on Jews in history. The October 7th massacre was a
00:58reminder to the world that Jew hatred and murder is the hallmark of terrorists and
01:03monsters around the world. The envy feeding this hate is thousands of years old. It is
01:10now the 21st century, and it is time for the barbarity to end. While this obscenity happened
01:16in Washington, D.C., we have a president and a secretary of state that recognize the importance
01:21of saying enough is enough and genuinely never again. There is a reason why we stand
01:28in solidarity with Israel. There is a reason why we stand with our partners at the Israeli
01:33Embassy. And there is a reason why we stand with the Jewish people here in the United
01:37States and around the world, because America has a history of not allowing the monsters
01:42among us to destroy life, the future, and everything that matters. The Department of
01:47State's Diplomatic Security Service is providing ongoing support to the D.C. Metropolitan Police
01:54Department and their investigation of this incident and coordinating with other federal
01:59and local law enforcement partners. As Secretary Marco Rubio has said, make no mistake, we
02:06will track down those responsible and bring them to justice. Our prayers go out to their
02:10loved ones, Sarah Milgram and Yaron Lashinsky. Sarah Milgram and Yaron Lashinsky, may their
02:21memory be a blessing. Now, on Capitol Hill this week, Secretary Rubio went before Congress
02:30to share how we are implementing President Trump's vision of an American first foreign
02:34policy. He made clear that America is back and that securing our borders, making communities
02:41safer, and combating criminal cartels are once again key priorities of our foreign policy.
02:47He also explained how the fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department of State
02:52will enable the Department to deliver on President Trump's foreign policy agenda that makes America
02:58safer, stronger, and more prosperous. The budget request and the State Department's
03:02reorganization will ensure our ability to respond to the challenges of the 21st century
03:08on behalf of the American people. And now finally, ahead of Memorial Day, which I know
03:14we're all looking forward to, I want to recognize and honor the Americans who gave their lives
03:19to defend our freedom. Their bravery, service, and sacrifice represent the very best of America.
03:26The heroes of this country would have preferred long, enjoyable, quiet lives, but instead
03:31they answered the call when we needed them the most. Every day that we simply enjoy is
03:38due to the sacrifice of the men and women who died on the field. We will never forget
03:44those who've given all to defend our country, our way of life, and the American people.
03:50God bless all who have served and are serving our nation.
03:57Now, ready for your questions? Daphne. Yes, ma'am.
04:01Following the shooting last night, are U.S. embassies on any sort of special alert or
04:06thinking about any change in posture?
04:09I can't speak to security measures that are being implemented or being discussed or
04:16decided upon. What I did note in my topper is that, in fact, we are working certainly
04:21with the D.C. Metropolitan Police, and the security of this building, of American diplomats,
04:28of diplomats throughout this city, is of paramount importance to the United States of America.
04:33We act on that every single day, and certainly we're continuing to do that today and in
04:37the days that come as well.
04:39And has Secretary Rubio had any conversations with Israeli officials or the Israeli ambassador
04:44today?
04:45I can't remark on the specifics of any conversations that have been had, but I know that, of course,
04:53you've seen his messages, the tweets, and, of course, we will hear no doubt again soon
04:59about the nature of what's transpiring. But I can tell you that he is, as all of us are,
05:08is heartbroken. We're all affected by this. It is something we deal with, in a sense,
05:13of course, every day, this administration, the Secretary's work, the President's work.
05:19And often, I don't know how they do it. I have maybe 40, 45 minutes with you guys twice
05:25a week, and these are issues that are existential all the time. And I know that, again, my work
05:33is made easier because I know the people running this country care about life and about the
05:40condition of our lives. And so that's the most I can say, separate from certainly specifics
05:46of who they're speaking with.
05:47All right. Yes, Andrea Mitchell.
05:49Hi. Thank you very much. A couple of questions about South Africa and also Syria, if you
05:56don't mind. On South Africa, the State Department is empowered legally with deciding when a
06:02genocide exists. Has there been an investigation that supports any such contention? Because
06:09there is no credible evidence from any authority on the ground there, in their government,
06:15in NGOs, or elsewhere that we can find, to support an allegation of genocide, that white
06:23farmers are at all as disadvantaged as the crime wave there, that is a problem, against
06:33blacks in much greater numbers and proportionally even greater numbers than whites. The fact
06:42checkers have shown that the white crosses were put up as a protest against the criminal
06:47movement and against the death of the farmers. The crosses and the burial were all part of
06:53a protest against the criminality, not as described. So what information was given to
07:00the White House, if any, by the State Department, by the experts in the field, to support what
07:08was described as an ambush widely around the world of a South African visitor who had a
07:14celebrated background as a leader of a biracial government and someone who was jailed with
07:21Mandela and who has been one of the civic leaders of a new South Africa, as troubled
07:28as their history has been, as troubled as their current situation is? Well, I would
07:32say that, as we all knew, of course, the President has been very vocal about his concern about
07:37the violence, the nature of what's been transpiring in South Africa. The President did not come
07:43to the United States of America unaware of the position and the posture of the President
07:49and of the Secretary of State and of his administration. So I would argue against very much that there
07:56was some kind of an ambush. South Africa also has been facing a dynamic where there's
08:02been regular criticism, ranging from not just the collapse in some ways when it comes to
08:08the violence in civil society, but then the referral of Israel with the ICJ for the issues
08:14of genocide while ignoring Hamas, cozying up to Iran, the general choices that they've
08:21made, in the meantime, also, of passing a law that has allowed them to take property,
08:28to possess property of white Afrikaner farmers with no reason. One element is equity. And
08:36so when you're doing – when you're passing laws like that, that target a group ostensibly
08:42sending a message to the population that these people are – have a price to pay, there's
08:48something that they need to be doing, that they deserve to have their land taken, combined
08:53with the chance of kill the boar, the massive rallies where encouragement of violence is
09:00prevalent and is at the core of it, in addition to the association South Africa and its President
09:06have chosen to make, like with Iran, and their actions against Israel, it creates a picture
09:13that is worthwhile having a conversation in the Oval Office. And that is, I think, I – it
09:18is the transparency of the President, certainly both leaders aware of what the concerns have
09:24been and what the arguments have been. So I don't think President Ramaphosa was somehow
09:30surprised or shocked at the fact that we have an honest man who's in the White House who's
09:35spoken and continued to speak about violence and the trajectory of South Africa.
09:41Well, what I'm just suggesting is that the facts matter with the credibility of the President,
09:46and that the – as it was explained in the Oval Office and it has been explained elsewhere,
09:53that is a minority party, a protest party that is legally permissible, but that the
09:59White Agricultural Minister said in the Oval Office, that's why we joined the coalition,
10:04to make sure that they didn't get into the parliament, that they don't have power.
10:08They've been opposed.
10:10In the nature of the weeds of something like that, where that individual – you saw also
10:16the larger video of the thousands and thousands of individuals in a stadium framework. And
10:23I think that what Americans in the world and what South Africans see is a movement and
10:28an attitude that is not only not punished, but reinforced – but, Andrea, reinforced
10:33with a law that says, oh, those people that you're calling to have be killed, yeah,
10:37let's take their land. Who does that? Who does that in the midst of that environment?
10:44And I think that when we think about – I'm not certainly going to get ahead of the President.
10:48President Trump is someone that the world knows, says what he thinks, and acts on what
10:52he thinks. But I think that it was very clear, and he's been clear, as has the Secretary,
10:58about the problems with South Africa, the nature of the signals it sends, the quality
11:04or lack thereof of life, the fact that we have taken in refugees a very basic standard
11:09of looking for asylum. They've met that standard. And it's more than just complaining.
11:15It is about acting and finding an element that – where we can make a difference for
11:19those people.
11:20Taking of a land, first of all, it's with judicial review when it has happened. It's
11:26not – it's not –
11:26No, let me – but let me correct you right there, Andrea, and then I'm going to move
11:29on. This particular law, they tout, has not even been implemented yet.
11:34That's correct.
11:34This is – but – so it's not about judicial review. The law – if you have a judicial
11:40review of a law that says there is no standard, well, then you'll have judicial review of
11:43no standard.
11:44They have not taken a land.
11:45All right. But this – and it is in part, I would argue, because of the global attention
11:51that has been placed on them because of President Donald Trump's attitude, his comments, and
11:57bringing attention to that framework in general. That is why that hasn't been acted on.
12:02And I will move on.
12:03No, but –
12:04But I think I've been clear.
12:05You brought up the refugees.
12:05Yes, Matt. I think you have probably something to say.
12:07Excuse me. You brought up the refugees, Tammy. Let me just –
12:08Andrea, four – you've had four questions. I've answered them. You've asked in depth.
12:12We are going to move on. Yes, sir. I'm sure others might have the same sort of question.
12:15Thanks.
12:16Yes, sir.
12:16Thanks, Tammy. Two, I think, should be quick ones on sanctions. One, can you just explain
12:21the discrepancy or apparent discrepancy between what Secretary Rubio tweeted last night on
12:26Venezuela's sanctions and what Special Envoy Grinnell said, the Secretary, saying that
12:32they would – the Chevron waiver would not be extended and Special Envoy Grinnell saying it
12:38would be? And then just secondly, on Sudan – I'm sorry, Syria sanctions.
12:43Syria.
12:44Just what's the status of the relief that the President promised last week? Thank you.
12:50Well, I can tell you that the Secretary did put up a tweet making it clear where we stand
12:56on Chevron, which is a license which is due to expire in May. And what I will speak to is not
13:03what others have said, but certainly the people who are in charge of the nature of what we are
13:08doing, and that is Secretary Rubio, making it clear that that license is going to expire.
13:14And so that's what I take my lead from is his remarks in that regard. So there's no confusion.
13:20I think many people on every issue can have a lot of opinions, but I think clearly who we
13:28look to are the people who have the power to have the impact and who make the decision.
13:32And of course, this is at the direction of President Trump as well.
13:37About Syria, yes, it was a very exciting moment. I was in Riyadh and in the building when President
13:43Trump announced that he was lifting the sanctions on Syria. That is something that we've discussed,
13:49and many people have wondered when that would occur. And clearly the President decided now was
13:55the time. And I do know that, of course, there's a team of people who immediately started working
14:01on that who are working on it now. There is, of course, it's worth noting that the President has
14:08some powers in the nature of what can get done, but sanctions are administered through different
14:12departments in this country. So his was a message and certainly the order to reverse our dynamic,
14:21to remove the sanctions, which involves departments like the Treasury Department.
14:25So it is a process that will take some time, but as we know with the Trump administration,
14:34that they've sped up the train a bit and they understand the importance of getting things
14:39done quickly. And that is the intention of getting things done quickly as they take the
14:44order from the President from that afternoon. And we're working on it. It's been a week,
14:50but I do think because of not just the urgency, but they understand the urgency,
14:55but of the recognition of this administration, the government as a whole, of how the President works,
15:02that things have to happen and should happen as quickly as possible. So all I can say is
15:07without a specific date is it will be done quickly and certainly more quickly than we're used to.
15:13Thanks.
15:13All right. All right. Yes. Yes, ma'am.
15:15Can we go to Gaza?
15:17Sure.
15:20Secretary Rubio said in one of his hearings on the Hill that he had met with the World Food
15:26Program in Rome. I just want to get clarity on whether this means that the current U.S. policy
15:34is for the UN's leading food program, leading food organization is like that they will remain
15:41the main food provider for Gaza, hence his meeting with them or whether that-
15:46You're reading an awful lot into a meeting that you've heard about.
15:49It would be good to have more detail on it.
15:52Sure.
15:52Given there's a lot of reporting on heated conversations between humanitarian aid
15:58organizations-
15:59Sure.
15:59Discussion over this new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and I've got one more after that.
16:03Sure. Well, Secretary Rubio visited with Cindy McCain, who leads that program,
16:11and he doesn't visit personally to shut something down. It was, from what I know,
16:19a very good meeting. I cannot share the details with you, as you might imagine,
16:24but I think that regularly, we should view the nature, and certainly after the rhetoric
16:30the Secretary's used and the actions that the State Department has implemented when it comes
16:35to our continuing commitment to life-saving aid around the world, certainly food aid,
16:40is that I would have expected, since her office is in our embassy at the Holy See,
16:45that that is a meeting that should have taken place and did take place.
16:49And I'm looking forward to the nature of that kind of a conversation and what can come from it,
16:56and we'll see. But that entire visit was very good. Certainly, we went to the inaugural mass
17:06with the Pope, but overall, it was a recognition and a commitment, seeing this from the Secretary,
17:14being there as he is a practicing Catholic, but also knowing how each part of his work mattered
17:20and also was implemented on that trip, the importance of Italy, the importance of the
17:26Vatican, the importance of faith, and the nature of his work in the process. And of course,
17:31that meeting was part of that work. So it's just part of looking at options?
17:37I'm not going to speculate or guess. I'm a little psychic, but not enough
17:43for that to answer that specifically. A little psychic, you know.
17:47So what can you do?
17:48Well, nothing you want to know. But it's – I would – don't speculate on that,
17:54but I do think because of the speed in which we work, we will all see the intention of the
17:59Secretary, the nature of what's happening with the World Food Program, and under certainly
18:04the leadership of Cindy McCain and what her intentions are as well. So we're looking forward
18:08to it.
18:08Okay, just quickly related.
18:08So you had some more. You had Sudan.
18:10Just – no, just one on Gaza as well.
18:12Gaza, yes.
18:13Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
18:14Sure.
18:17There's reporting about private security that would be used for this new foundation.
18:25I just want to understand if this administration is okay with private security personnel for a
18:30foundation like that, presumably of which they'll be armed, going into Gaza, and presumably some
18:38of the personnel for that private security would be American citizens. I just want to understand
18:42what the challenges are.
18:42Well, presumably – watch out when you use the word presumably. Watch out.
18:46I mean, looking at other private security firms and what they do and some of the –
18:49Well, I think that, yes, it's good that you're concerned about security. We all are. And that's
18:53been one of the problems we've had with Gaza is the ability to move food aid and medical aid
18:59through an arena that is not thinking as you think. They are not concerned about safety.
19:04It is about terrorists who've been keeping food aid and medical aid from the people of Gaza,
19:10and that has impacted our ability to move all that aid, the aid that we've wanted to move through,
19:15that we would do only when it was safe to do so. So our concern has been constantly about safety
19:22and what we could achieve in that environment. That's the point of ceasefires, is to have safety.
19:26So I would – with that being a standard, that we will support having things move in
19:32if it can be safe, that having a security service is important, I think we all would agree.
19:40I won't get into the details of how it's being managed, but – because that's the
19:45Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is private and operates on its own.
19:50But clearly, when it comes to what one of our core elements was, which is that we support all of this,
19:56if it can be moved in safely and securely and without falling into the hands
20:01of terrorists and the people who are causing death and destruction in that area.
20:06It seems like they've structured something that can manage that, that can – is the equivalent
20:13of something that we can all agree on, and they're moving forward. So that's the story,
20:18is that we've been able to do it – we being humanity – that it's something that all of
20:25us have wanted to see, which is a movement of aid.
20:26They use private security.
20:29You need to call them.
20:30They're in support.
20:30When we speak about private security, what I look at as the story
20:35is that we've managed or expect to manage a security that gets food and medicine to the people
20:41who all of you have wondered about whether or not they're going to get it.
20:44That's my story, and that's the story of humanity and the people of the Gaza Strip.
20:48Yes, sir.
20:49On Iran, Mr. Witkoff is meeting with Mr. Araghchi tomorrow in Rome.
20:54Both sides have been stressing on respective positions in the past few days regarding
21:00enrichment. Do you see a chance to have a path forward towards compromise or not?
21:04And if I may, a second question.
21:07Can I answer that one so that we can – and then I will – I won't lose you, don't worry.
21:12It's like we're on a slide. You're hanging on.
21:15Yes, what I can say is that we've made it clear on every project we're working on,
21:20certainly including Russia and Ukraine, that our involvement is really because we feel we
21:25can make a difference, and that's why we do it. This additional meeting, certainly the fifth round
21:32of the nuclear talks, would not be happening if we didn't think that there was potential for it.
21:38And so I would say that clearly we believe that we are going to succeed.
21:42We've also been very clear on some basic things, like they're not going to have a nuclear weapon.
21:48They've been very clear, most of our leaders have been who have spoken on it,
21:52that this is about no enrichment. And the Iranians are at that table,
21:56so they also understand what our position is and they continue to go.
22:01So we feel something's good enough for us to continue this work.
22:05Second question.
22:06Secretary Rubio this week at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
22:10said that the past four meetings have been focused on enrichment only.
22:15So other issues like Iran's support for the proxies, which is the concern for the
22:20regional countries, are those issues going to be discussed later on,
22:25or are they going to be part of another round of discussions?
22:28Well, I'm not, again, part of the negotiating team, won't discuss what might be the plan.
22:34But just like an issue of needing a ceasefire before you discuss what the land is going to
22:39look like and what the nations are going to be doing after the fact, there's points that you
22:42have to get to before you discuss elements that might not even be a factor if you can't get to
22:48the bright line that allows us to move forward.
22:51And that bright line has been enrichment, certainly not getting a nuclear bomb,
22:55and those things have to be addressed. I say this because that's what I've seen them do
23:00and being very specific, which is fabulous because nobody's guessing at what the goal is.
23:05But of course, considering the generational issues involved,
23:10and the President has said this about everything he's worked on, with the generational issues
23:15involved, that these cannot be solutions that last six months or are able to be broken in 18 months,
23:20or in three years, your 15-year-old is suddenly pulled into a war because now they're 18.
23:27That these have got to be enduring, fundamentally changing arrangements that only Donald Trump can
23:35bring because of the nature of his attitude, his vision, and because of the support of the
23:40American people understanding that this was a factor. So I would say, well, I'm not going to
23:46go on from that. I think that'll be it. Yes, go ahead. Hi there.
23:49The U.S. sent some migrants to Djibouti, and I'm wondering, are you in negotiations with Djibouti
23:56to accept these people, or are you still trying to get them to South Sudan, who say they won't take
24:02third-country nationals? What's the State Department's role in this?
24:07Well, we know that, of course, the Secretary's been very open about the fact that we are
24:12negotiating with a number of countries to facilitate the deportation of people who are
24:18here in this country illegally. I can say also, as the Secretary's noted, that we remain unwavering
24:23in our commitment to end illegal and mass migration and bolster America's border security.
24:29I won't discuss the diplomatic conversations, which clearly is part of this framework,
24:37with specific countries here. I would also point you to Caroline Levitt's remarks
24:43the hour before my briefing here, where she noted a court order required the flight to go to Djibouti,
24:52and I know the White House has more details on the framework involving that.
24:58So we're currently just in the sense of handling this in an immigration posture, certainly. It
25:08is a reflection of our continued attitude and position, and I don't think that this
25:17situation – it's certainly in the courts, which I can't remark on,
25:22but we're familiar with having to make our arguments in a variety of arenas,
25:25and this is one of those times. But I know Caroline had more specifics.
25:29In South Sudan, there was a dispute before with them for not taking
25:34somebody, and you guys stopped issuing visas as a result.
25:38Yeah, the visa situation remains the same. Yes, we reacted in that regard because they
25:44had confirmed that this one particular person was a citizen, prepared to take him back,
25:49and then that did not happen at the last moment. And so our response was,
25:55when you're having a diplomatic negotiation with a country, you're going to respond to
25:59certain situations. We can say that in the midst of that, in the aftermath,
26:04our posture on visas and all of that has not changed, and we've noted, of course, regularly that
26:10we monitor their behavior, their attitudes, which, of course, continues to matter to us.
26:19But we also, though, are currently accepting certain diplomatic and official visa applications
26:24if eligibility is determined in that regard, and we do that, as always, on a case-by-case basis.
26:31So at this point, I have nothing more to report on that except that it is still in place. Yes.
26:36Can I just ask a quick follow-up on Iran? Two Iranian sources told my colleague Fred Planken,
26:43who's currently in Tehran, that they are concerned about the sincerity of the United States heading
26:51into this next round of nuclear talks, and they think Trump is steering the conversation towards
26:57deadlock. Obviously, the administration has said that they want an Iran nuclear deal,
27:02but is there anything you can shed light on in terms of the dialogue between the two sides that
27:08might be causing unnamed Iranian sources to tell us this?
27:13Unnamed Iranian sources? No, it's not – that's not – that doesn't interest me.
27:17It's gossip at that rate. Certainly, when we have – and we've said repeatedly
27:23to not discuss this in the media because it makes things harder. Everybody has an interest in all of
27:28our negotiations doing well. Some people don't have an interest in that, and that's where you
27:32get unnamed sources from – I don't know if there's an Iranian national inquirer. Maybe there is.
27:38But that's not something that I'm going to take seriously. What is the story and what matters
27:44is that everyone is at the table in Rome. And what is the intention of Steve Whitkoff
27:49going into the talks? Well, it's very clear what I've also just said a little earlier,
27:53and we've said in multiple briefings the goal is to end the inability for them to have a nuclear
28:00weapon, to change and end the enrichment of their nuclear program and the intentions of that nuclear
28:08program. So it's a significant structural change in what Iran thinks it's going to be doing,
28:14and that's the negotiations. I think they've been very clear about what the intentions are.
28:18Just one follow-up on a different topic, but this is just coming out now from –
28:24Oh, not another one.
28:25Homeland Security. No, don't worry.
28:26Not another one.
28:27Not like last time.
28:28Okay, good.
28:29But Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says that DHS is now terminating
28:36Harvard's ability to allow any foreign students to enroll in the university,
28:44saying in a statement that the administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering
28:49violence, anti-Semitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.
28:54This is obviously a program that isn't run out of the State Department, but some of these
28:59J-1 visas are issued by the State Department. So can you
29:03shed some light on this decision by the administration?
29:06We've seen those reports, and we're looking at them. And I can't answer that immediately,
29:14but as soon as we might have an answer, I can get it to you. I'm sure that when we get
29:18our answer, we'll get it to everybody. But yeah, so I've seen those reports, and
29:22I would also refer you, of course, to DHS and to Secretary Noem, who might have more details,
29:28more answers for you.
29:29Saeed, nice to see you again. I hope it's nice to see you.
29:32Thank you. I appreciate it.
29:34Okay. Yes, sir.
29:35Two quick follow-ups, one on Andrea, on South Africa, and then one on Gaza.
29:40Sure.
29:41On South Africa, you said that the President was also influenced by
29:45what South Africa has done in terms of referring, you know, its role.
29:51Oh, I said we all have been. We all have been, yes.
29:54Yeah, well, its role with the ICC.
29:56Yes.
29:56Just to clarify that. So he was, because South Africa referred Israel to the ICC?
30:01Well, I did not say for a specific event that that influenced him. I don't speak, you know,
30:07President Trump is a very clear man. No one has to wonder his position. But I think for all of us
30:13who've been looking at the condition of South Africa, it's not, it's never just one thing,
30:18is it? It's a number of things. I'll finish. I know you might not be liking my answer, but I'll
30:22finish. Saeed, it is a series of things that point to the intention of an administration or of a
30:31regime. And it is usually consistent. So if you're wondering about the nature of why it matters that
30:38people are at a huge stadium shouting, kill the boar, which are the, for those at home,
30:44the Dutch descendants of the settlers of South Africa, and who are white farmers,
30:51combined then with the government that says, oh, we reject that, they're not part of our government,
30:55but then pass a law that allows the government to take the property of those very same people
31:00simply because they're white farmers. So that speaks to the intention of a regime,
31:07in addition to their behavior with other nations, their foreign policy, how they would view the
31:13victims of October 7th, the Jews, as those who should be referred to a criminal court versus
31:21Hamas, in addition to having a rather cozy relationship with Iran. So you don't need to
31:28be in a seminar at Stanford to understand and to recognize the trajectory of South Africa.
31:36That is the argument for those who are looking at that, again, beyond one issue.
31:40And I think those issues speak quite loudly. And very quickly on Gaza. Now, the Israelis are
31:46saying they allowed maybe six trucks or nine trucks, we don't know. And international agencies
31:52say no trucks were allowed in. Could you clarify if you have the information, have any trucks been
31:57allowed in, the number of trucks, if you know the number and so on? And what's next in terms of
32:02figures and numbers? Well, I won't share numbers with you. But what I can tell you, and you know
32:08this, having covered this situation, that Israel has been honest about the nature of what it's
32:12been doing and why, as it fights for its security and in its own defense. And if you're getting a
32:21report from Israel about the nature of what has moved into the region, I would suggest that you
32:28should take that report seriously. I think that everyone knows that the eyes of the world are on
32:33that region. And at the same time, the story is, what I would argue, is, as opposed to the numbers,
32:40is the fact that aid is moving in to Gaza. And it's interesting to me, Saeed, that that is something
32:46that I've talked with you and we've even had some sort of fights about. And that isn't something
32:53that has been recognized. But I'll do that recognizing. And that's what the real story is.
32:57Yes, sir, in the back. Thank you, Tami. A Kurdish delegation led by
33:02Kurdish Prime Minister Massoud Barzani is in town. They have signed two energy deals
33:07with the U.S. companies valued at 110 billion U.S. dollars. These two deals have been rejected by the
33:13Iraqi Government. I'm wondering if you have any comments and reaction to that. And do you have
33:18anything to share with us about his scheduled meeting with Secretary Rabio tomorrow?
33:23Well, I can tell you that we were pleased to see Prime Minister Barzani sign massive deals
33:29with U.S. companies to expand natural gas production in the Iraqi Kurdistan region,
33:34which will help Iraq harness its own domestic resources to become energy independent,
33:40which we've, again, talked about. It's really great. We've talked about these things.
33:44Often, I can't give you answers. We don't know when it's going to happen.
33:47And then to be able to report to you that it has happened, and that is a key administration
33:53priority. Being energy independent is obviously a major national security issue. And so these deals,
34:01I think it's like over $100 billion. And yes, and that's what we've all been working for.
34:10So we support these deals, and we have encouraged Baghdad and Erbil to work together
34:15to get gas production to commence as soon as possible. At the same time, we have,
34:23of course, the declaration that these are null and void, right? Now, this is the kind of
34:28shenanigans that can be a problem. But we also know that, I'll give you a sense of our
34:35relationship with Kurdistan, the Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister and his
34:39visit to the United States signals our desire to strengthen the U.S. relationship
34:44with the Iraqi Kurdistan region. And as you've noted, Secretary Rubio will meet
34:49with KRG Prime Minister Barzani to discuss expanding trade and investment between the
34:55United States and the Iraqi Kurdistan region. He has also stated, Secretary Rubio, that we
35:01support the Kurdish autonomy and the U.S. companies doing business there and urge the
35:06government of Iraq to respect this economic lifeline that is necessary to prosper and
35:12succeed. We believe that U.S., Iraqi, and Iraqi Kurdish interests are best served by
35:18having a strong and resilient Iraqi Kurdistan region within a sovereign and prosperous
35:24federal Iraq. All right?
35:26Thank you so much.
35:27All right. Yes, sir. Yes.
35:28Can I follow up on the Harvard issue?
35:30Well, I won't have much more, but you're welcome to do it.
35:34I'm going to defer to DHS, but in a bigger picture, presumably, the United States wants
35:39to attack – attract the best and the brightest insofar as foreigners, students, immigrants.
35:45And these top-tier universities are one of the most prominent ways to do that. So do you think
35:53prohibiting Harvard to enroll foreign students kind of gets in the way of that goal?
35:58Well, again, I can't speak to Secretary Nome's plans and strategy and her decision to implement
36:07this. What I would argue is that we have an interest as a nation, as President Trump has
36:14spoken to quite often, that we have an interest as a nation for these universities that are
36:18supposed to be the gold standard to actually deliver people who are educated and can function
36:24in society and on campuses that encourage a learning environment as opposed to one of left-wing
36:32activism, where you have individuals leaving the university level in this country as our rates are
36:40declining when it comes to comprehension and reading and a whole host of other things.
36:46It has to be more than just a label or a brand. It has to deliver results for the families that
36:54do pay a lot of money for it. And I think that there's a point, as you've seen – I think it's
36:59obvious from the Trump administration – with the federal money that flows into those coffers
37:04and the nature of the kind of talent – you can speak about foreign talent. Let's speak about
37:08American talent. You've got a wonderful kid who's done very, very well, and then you send them to
37:12Harvard and a kid comes home and you don't even recognize them. And they're definitely primed to
37:17be a fabulous left-wing activist, but they're maybe not going to be able to get a job. And so
37:24this is a recognition and movement that universities around this country are recognizing,
37:32that American families have standards, we spend money so our children can be educated in
37:39the normal function of life, and we get kids back who have not received the kind of education we
37:46expected. COVID highlighted this for many of us, but I think that this opens up a conversation,
37:53as it should, between the federal government and the universities that we rely on
37:57and have been proud of, that we deserve to be proud of them again.
38:01And if we're going to speak about who we rely on for the best and the brightest,
38:05there's plenty of American kids who also deserve to be taken seriously,
38:10and I believe that we can handle all of them properly. Yes, sir.
38:15Go ahead.
38:15Thanks very much. My question is on U.S.-India relations. Secretary of State Mark Rubio and
38:23President Trump both are very famous in India. As far as U.S. policies are concerned,
38:29most Indians are – agree with you. I hear you're pretty famous in India.
38:33All right. Keep going. My question is, Madam –
38:35Yes, sir. As far as terrorism against India,
38:39recently in the state of Kashmir is concerned, Indians were – terrorists were massacred.
38:46Yes. Oh, yes. We all know that.
38:48Yes, ma'am. My question is that as far as talking with Pakistan is concerned,
38:54India's prime minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, and also foreign minister, Mr. Jaishankar,
39:00we both met with the Secretary – Yes.
39:02Rubio and President. What they're saying is that as long as terrorism is continued against India,
39:10what they said by Pakistan supporters inside that they have training centers inside Pakistan –
39:16Well, here's what I can – here's what I can say, and this is – and I understand your point and
39:22what has been a generational concern about violence and terrorism in that region, certainly
39:29with the troubles between India and Pakistan, is that there is a ceasefire. Obviously,
39:34we know that we're very close to a full-scale war erupting. And what's very exciting and heartening
39:40is that America's involvement and assistance made a difference in that stopping and a ceasefire
39:48that has continued. But of course, within that, one expects, as the world noticed again,
39:56that that has not been resolved, that the potential of having these long-term problems
40:01resolved has returned, and it is an opportunity. And the good news is, is that unlike some other
40:08regions, there has been a commitment to a ceasefire that makes – oh, is that my alarm?
40:12No.
40:13I said, thank you. I should ask you to put on your alarms. It's like, oh, all right, Tammy's done.
40:17All right, we're going to have – we're going to have – we'll –
40:19All coming on by the end of –
40:21All right, we'll have one more in the green jacket in the back. Yes, ma'am.
40:24Thank you, Tammy.
40:27Make sure her mic is on, just as she's in the back here. The sound here is –
40:30Just two quick questions, two quick. Do you have any update on the peace deal agreement
40:35between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, when we will see this peace deal signed?
40:41And also, can you tell us if both President, President Ramaphosa of South Africa and President
40:47Trump finally managed to overcome the difference, and we will see United States and South Africa
40:53working together?
40:54Well, I'll answer that one first. I think the meeting with the South African president
40:58in the Oval Office speaks to President Trump's generosity and the fact that any leader feels
41:04comfortable going to meet him, even with difficult conversations and sometimes the problems that
41:09happen between two nations with different attitudes. So the fact that it's President Trump
41:14means, of course, there's always hope. It means, of course, there'll always be something for the
41:17future. And speaking of the DRC and Rwanda, another very good example of something that
41:23has been a generational issue, that we are – again, it's a long process, but they are
41:28taking the steps that we've asked of them to take, and that's also very promising. We can
41:33look for an update when it comes to what the new dates are and what else is expected. But
41:37what I can tell you is, is that that continues. Another great change in dynamic – sometimes,
41:44though, people forget and don't continue to ask, and I appreciate that you did, because there
41:48isn't any drama, because there – that things are changing for the better. So it causes less news,
41:55right? There's less interest. But it's worth following up as we watch these particular issues
42:02resolve, as, of course, the news is taken up by other issues. But this administration is committed
42:07across the board to peace and prosperity, and it seems the world's giving them a lot of chances
42:15to act on that. Do we do – we do one more? One more. Yes, sir. My Italian friend right there.
42:20Two more.
42:20Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. Indeed, one is on – about Italy. Actually, the Vatican. So –
42:27I was there. Yeah. Beautiful place. Beautiful place. Very moving.
42:31Yes. I know you were there. And there was also some conversation with
42:34Parolin, which is Vatican Secretary of State. So are we seeing this conversation because we
42:41also have an American pope that can actually better deal with our president? And how close
42:49are we to actually the negotiation at the Vatican? And then I have a second question on Russia.
42:55Well, yes. Obviously, the world – the condition of the world existed before our new Pope Leo.
43:00I'm not a Catholic, but I'm very moved by the nature of that faith, and
43:04it was just a beautiful experience to be there. But I can tell you that, of course,
43:10the plans and the conversations with the pope himself and certainly other leaders there
43:16was important. It always would be. If you're going to be in Italy for any reason and you're
43:21the leader of the free world and the Secretary of State of the free world,
43:25you want to meet with these people. This is why their and their positions is – for that reason.
43:31So I think that that's – it's not because Pope Leo is an American. However,
43:37it's pretty terrific, and it's a reminder that your commitment and your faith and
43:44it can lead you anywhere. And so we, of course, pray for his success as he moves
43:49forward with his duties. And the rest of your question was?
43:53I have a question about Russia – I mean, not about Russia, about – I'm so sorry.
43:57Good.
43:58About the different approach they were seeing from this administration when it comes to diplomacy.
44:03We saw with – yesterday with the South Africa, then with the –
44:08Well, and I think you're seeing – I would go as we – this will be my – the last answer here,
44:13is that we're seeing different envoys, different styles, ambassadors, the Secretary of State,
44:20the president on the phone, because you have to do that when you're not simply setting up
44:24meetings every three, four, or six weeks, that you're having meetings to make specific steps
44:29and have specific progress and deadlines about – because you're a business person and you know
44:36what's possible, or you know humanity and you know what's possible. When he says we need to
44:40have new ideas – for Gaza, as an example – he really means that for everything,
44:45for how we conduct diplomacy. The Secretary, of course, is on board with that. It's natural for
44:50him – traditional diplomacy, going, talking, getting deliverables, making sure the relationship
44:57is active and alive. And that is how you bond, you make friends, and your relationships with
45:04other countries are better. So the Secretary operates in that fashion, but yes, there's a
45:09huge difference in that we are on – well, certainly we have now, what, three and a half years?
45:17You have people who want to make a difference. It's not just having fun in an office.
45:21It's changing people's lives for an endurable period of time so that we, our generation – I'm
45:28seeing some younger people in this room, of course, always – but for our generation, my generation,
45:33that we can think we did everything we could and have had some success in making things better.
45:39That's the Trump administration. That will be its legacy. And it's an honor to be here. And
45:43thank you all very much. I appreciate it. I'll see you on – I'll see you on – what is today?
45:48I'll see you on Tuesday. You know, the trip, it's like, oh my gosh, I thought I was waking up in a
45:53hotel today, but I wasn't. Thank you, guys. Thank you. Great to see you. Appreciate it.