State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce held a press briefing.
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00:00Thank you very much, thank you very much.
00:04Hi, everybody.
00:06Some musical chairs.
00:09What was going on in here?
00:10I was thinking, my gosh.
00:12All right, this is good.
00:13Thank you all for being here.
00:14I appreciate it.
00:15I think it's beautiful outside.
00:17Who was outside recently?
00:18Yes.
00:19It was raining.
00:20The flowers think it's a beautiful day.
00:23All right, you guys.
00:24Yes, thank you very much.
00:27Yes, a couple of announcements here as we begin.
00:31To begin, today, the State Department issued a security alert
00:35warning Americans against travel to Venezuela
00:40and bordering areas for any reason.
00:44Americans who travel to Venezuela or nearby border regions
00:47risk being wrongfully detained in prison for months or even years.
00:53I cannot emphasize enough the gravity of this warning.
00:56More U.S. nationals are currently wrongfully detained in Venezuela
01:00than in any other country.
01:03President Trump has obtained freedom for several Americans wrongfully detained
01:06in Venezuela since taking office most recently last week,
01:10and we continue to do everything we can to secure the freedom
01:13of the remaining Americans wrongfully detained in Venezuela.
01:17We need to ensure that no additional Americans are falling into this trap.
01:22Our simple message for Americans, do not travel to Venezuela.
01:27The Secretary's highest priority is the safety and security of the American people.
01:31And thank you, everyone, especially everyone listening at home,
01:35for heeding this warning.
01:38Now, turning to Syria, there have been several major steps over the weekend
01:43to enact President Trump's vision of a prosperous Middle East
01:47and stable Syria at peace with itself and its neighbors.
01:52U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Thomas Barak assumed the role of U.S. Special Envoy to Syria,
01:58and he met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Assad al-Shabani in Istanbul.
02:06We also have taken significant steps to lift sanctions against Syria.
02:11On Friday, Secretary Rubio waived Caesar Act sanctions for 180 days,
02:17and the U.S. Treasury Department announced General License 25 and other relief measures.
02:24We are engaging with regional and global partners to open investment in Syria.
02:29The cessation of sanctions against Syria will advance our primary objective,
02:34the enduring defeat of ISIS by giving the people of Syria a chance for a better future.
02:40The United States will remain focused on the mission to defeat ISIS
02:43and eliminating terrorists who threaten Americans.
02:47And that is our announcement.
02:49Some very good news, obviously.
02:50Many of us, we've all been talking about this from the beginning of my being at this podium,
02:54so it's a pleasure to give you some more specifics.
02:56And, of course, with Special Envoy Barak, I think we're in very, very good hands.
03:01Let's start, surprisingly, with Matt Lee.
03:04Thank you, Tammy.
03:05Just I want to ask about Gaza.
03:08Do you know off the top of your head or is it written down someplace
03:11how many Americans are wrongfully currently designated as wrongfully detained in Venezuela?
03:16Yes, those are numbers that we will not share.
03:19That's a dynamic that we consider, of course, an important diplomatic dynamic
03:27as well as a national security dynamic.
03:29So, no, I won't be giving you those numbers.
03:32All right.
03:33On Gaza.
03:34Yes.
03:35What is the situation there, as you understand it, with the GHF
03:39and their first shipment or shipments in?
03:44Yes.
03:45Well, last week we knew there were some numbers.
03:47We weren't able to give everybody some specific numbers,
03:49but I have some additional numbers for you as well.
03:52We have great news to report out of Gaza.
03:54I like being able to be asked about it, and we can talk about the numbers that are going in.
03:58The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, under the humanitarian principles of independence
04:03and impartiality, has commenced providing lifesaving aid to the people of Gaza
04:07who desperately need it.
04:09Approximately 8,000 food boxes have been distributed so far.
04:13Each box feeds 5.5 people for three and a half days, totaling 462,000 meals.
04:22And so those are the kinds of numbers I think as we're looking at what's important
04:26in moving that kind of aid through the area.
04:29But there was apparently some incident or incidents today involving potentially shots being,
04:36or at least warning shots being fired and hundreds of shields.
04:40Well, yes, Hamas still has weapons.
04:41Hamas is in a situation here where all of this could have stopped, of course,
04:46if they had released the hostages and put down their weapons, but they refused to do so.
04:50They've also rejected ceasefires.
04:52So that's without confirming what might be gossip or single reports,
04:58the fact of the matter is Hamas has been opposed to this dynamic.
05:02They have attempted to stop the aid movement through Gaza to these distribution centers.
05:08They have failed, but they certainly tried.
05:11The bottom line is the real story here is that the aid is moving through,
05:15and in that kind of environment it's not surprising that there might be a few issues involved,
05:21but the good news is is that those seeking to get aid to the people of Gaza,
05:25which is not Hamas, have succeeded.
05:28And last one really briefly.
05:29Yes.
05:30I won't take up any more time.
05:31But my understanding is that the administration is not particularly happy with the position
05:36that the UN and its agencies have taken with regard to these shipments.
05:42Is that correct?
05:43Well, it is.
05:45From the very beginning, we had mentioned and we had heard about the resistance by certain NGOs and the UN.
05:55It is unfortunate because the issue here is getting aid to Gazans.
06:00And then suddenly it moves into complaints about style or the nature of who's doing it
06:06or elements of administration.
06:10And being opposed to getting food and aid, as we've demonstrated here, is happening
06:16and will continue to happen because someone might feel left out is, I think, the height of hypocrisy.
06:22So the bottom line is that clearly people who care about the nature of solving this problem
06:28are taking action and moving it forward, and that's what counts.
06:32That's what matters.
06:33Yes, Andrea.
06:34Yes, ma'am.
06:35Cindy McCain of the World Food Program was on CBS yesterday with a very different narrative,
06:41and we are hearing from the ground today from our reporters and producers and camera crews
06:46that this incident was very serious, that it was not Hamas-related.
06:51Cindy McCain said that Hamas is not breaking up the food deliveries, that people are starving
06:57and there are food riots because people are desperate.
07:00And the criticism of the GHF has been that it is not independent or impartial,
07:07that it was started by the Netanyahu government with people who were supposedly independent,
07:14and that it is only operating in the south, deliberately designed with four distribution points in the south
07:22in order to have people in the north move south with the aid and therefore accelerate the movement of people
07:31and the – putting people in the south rather than in the north where they wanted to be.
07:39So there are a lot of controversies about this from the ground, from all of our reporting.
07:43McCain said that no one had approached the World Food Program, which is still delivering food into Gaza,
07:50that people have been desperate.
07:52No one had – she had met with, as you know, the Secretary.
07:55She said she welcomed that and was grateful for it,
07:57that the Rubio and McCain families have been friends for decades,
08:01but that they had a frank conversation about what's happening between Israel and the food deliveries,
08:08and that no one had even told them about this foundation or given them –
08:14Well, Andrea, this is where, again, we – there's certainly – and this is something the world is watching,
08:20something we've all cared about getting resolved.
08:23It is not an uncomplicated situation.
08:26This is, however, the first delivery of major aid, if not the only aid we've been hearing for months.
08:33I wish that Cindy McCain had spoken up, that they had found a way to move food into Gaza,
08:39because that certainly hadn't been conveyed to us.
08:42But now – which, if that's the case, that's great.
08:45What I do know is that the people on the ground now, as we're – as the number I told you I think is rather significant,
08:51462,000 meals, that's what we're focused on.
08:56And this is – and I'm not going to address either gossip or complaints or people who knew or weren't included
09:04or would do it a different way or who's shooting at whom, that Hamas – it's not –
09:10I – the real story here, the story is that aid and food is moving into Gaza at a massive scale at this point
09:19when you're looking at 8,000 food boxes.
09:22Was this going to be like going to the mall or through a drive-through?
09:26No, it wasn't.
09:27This is a complicated environment, and the story is the fact that it's working.
09:31I find it difficult that there are people who would go on television shows
09:37to complain about a process that is working in moving food into the area.
09:42Will it improve over time?
09:44Would anything that we do improve over time?
09:47Yes, in all likelihood, and I think anyone would welcome someone like Mrs. McCain or anyone else
09:53who has a method within which to contribute to this effort to be able to do so
09:59instead of going on television and complaining.
10:01And that's – the real story is that this is succeeding,
10:05and I think we should all at least have the courage to embrace that.
10:08But until now, there has been a blockade, a blockade by Israel of the food.
10:16So no one has been able to get through this process.
10:18Well, I thought you just said – Cindy McCain said that she was able to do that.
10:21But I would also say that this process managed to overcome that dynamic, and the dynamic has changed.
10:28Whatever it was that was having – hindering the nature of aid to the Gazan people
10:34has been overcome.
10:36It clearly needs to expand.
10:38I don't speak for this foundation, but clearly we've got to welcome any dynamic
10:43that allows getting aid and food into the region, which is happening right now.
10:48And that's the story.
10:49Nadia.
10:50Thank you, Tammy.
10:51Two questions.
10:52I understand this is the beginning of a process.
10:56For the time being, the delivery of food is at two places, which is Tala Sultan and the Murad crossing.
11:03Is this any guarantee that people who come from the north to receive this food,
11:07are they allowed to go back?
11:09Because that's the fear, that basically this is a way to move the population from the north to the south.
11:14And do you have any plan that they would expand it to go to other places in the north?
11:18Well, it's not – this, again, this is not a State Department effort.
11:21We don't have a plan.
11:23It's – I can't answer that regarding the nature of how certain situations would be responded to.
11:28I'm not going to speculate or say what they should or should not do.
11:31The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has an email.
11:33You can – they should be reached out to.
11:36And that's what I'd recommend regarding plans to expand,
11:39plans to make assessments of what's worked and what hasn't at this point,
11:43and what changes they might make, and what the goal is.
11:46Clearly, the goal is to reach as many people as possible.
11:49Yes, sir.
11:50Iran.
11:51Yeah.
11:52Go ahead, please.
11:53The Israeli minister of strategic affairs is in town, according to Israeli media.
11:59Has there been any meeting between him and Secretary Rubio?
12:03And can you update us on the state of talks between Iran and the U.S.?
12:08Is there a new planning – meeting planned ahead?
12:11Well, I will not discuss, as you might imagine,
12:14any meetings or conversations the Secretary is having that are not public
12:18or may or may not be happening.
12:21Regarding the latest rounds of talks regarding Iran,
12:24we can tell you that Special Advisor – Senior Advisor and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff,
12:29of course, and Policy Planning Director Michael Anton
12:32participated in a fifth round of talks with Iran on Friday, May 23rd, in Rome.
12:38The discussions were both direct and indirect and lasted over two hours.
12:42The talks continue to be constructive.
12:45That's not something that you – we've been able to say that in these particular talks,
12:49which is beneficial, and in this case they were constructive as well.
12:52And we made further progress.
12:55Both sides have agreed to meet again in the near future,
12:58and we are grateful to, once again, our Omani partners
13:02for their continued facilitation of the process.
13:05All right. Yes, sir.
13:07Just to follow up on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
13:09Sure.
13:10I think you talked about independence and neutrality that was involved in this new foundation,
13:15but I mean, quite clearly that's not the case.
13:17I mean, the IDF itself has said this has been done in coordination with it and the foundation,
13:23so it's clearly being done and the security of it is carried out by –
13:30on the perimeter, Israeli forces and then American security contractors.
13:35The problem with that and what all the experts in the United Nations say
13:38is that you therefore have a situation where the aid is provided
13:42by an organization that seems to be a party to the conflict,
13:45which the UN has always avoided because you potentially made the recipients targets.
13:50And we're seeing that already, potentially, in that this has become a very militarized form of aid.
13:56So I'm just interested in why you describe this as independent and neutral
14:00when it clearly doesn't appear to be so.
14:03Well, again, I don't speak for this foundation.
14:06What I can tell you is the description of the nature of what they're accomplishing,
14:09which is getting food and aid into that region.
14:13I'll say that just one more time.
14:15There will be – clearly, there are some disagreements about how that's being handled,
14:19how that's being implemented.
14:21But I think that most of us would agree that this is good news,
14:25that any other mechanism under any other expectation was not able to accomplish this.
14:31So it's –
14:33It's just that there was another mechanism that was able to accomplish this and more,
14:37which was the United Nations, which was –
14:39Well, you know, when – you're right.
14:40We did have a really good mechanism.
14:41It was called a ceasefire, which Hamas broke.
14:44And it is a ceasefire and a plan that had been operating and offered,
14:48which they continually refused to accept,
14:51continued to hold hostages as they still continue to not just hold hostages
14:57but the bodies of the people that they've murdered.
15:00And they've refused to do the one thing that could stop this in a moment.
15:04They've refused.
15:05So we did.
15:06We had – it was a ceasefire.
15:09Special Envoy Woodcock, very successful.
15:12And Hamas decided, well, that was just too much of that.
15:15So I'm – the real story here is that there's food aid going in.
15:19There will be people, of course, who will look at some of the details and not like it.
15:23But then I think it shows us the priorities of certain individuals when it comes to –
15:28at first it was let's get these people fed,
15:30and now it seems to be something else in the meantime.
15:34Yes, sir, go ahead.
15:35Thank you, Tammy.
15:36Yes.
15:37Can we go to President Gustavo Pente?
15:38Wait, no, sir.
15:39Oh, I'm sorry.
15:40I don't know who's speaking, but go ahead.
15:41Oh, sorry.
15:42Thank you, Tammy.
15:43Last week I asked you a question about the deals
15:45signed between the Kurdistan Region Government and two U.S. firms.
15:49You know what?
15:50We need to turn his microphone up, and you've got to keep your head up.
15:53Okay, I'll repeat the question.
15:54Keep your head up.
15:55Last week I asked you a question about the recent deals
15:57signed between the Kurdistan Region Government and two U.S. firms,
16:02and you encouraged Baghdad to work with Erbil to resolve the issues.
16:05But this week the Iraqi oil ministry has filed lawsuits against the two deals
16:11with the American firms.
16:12I know.
16:13So any reaction to that and how this impacts the U.S. firms' incentive
16:17to invest in the region?
16:18And I have another question regarding that.
16:20Yes, yes.
16:21Last week we discussed some of the difficulties here.
16:23But as I said last week, worth repeating today with this new news
16:28is that the United States supports economic deals that benefit all Iraqis,
16:32including the two announced last week.
16:35We encourage Baghdad and Erbil to work together
16:38to expand domestic gas production as soon as possible.
16:41These types of economic partnerships will benefit both the American
16:44and Iraqi peoples and help Iraq move toward energy independence.
16:49U.S. oil companies have invested billions of dollars
16:52in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region's oil sector.
16:55We hope to see additional investment from U.S. oil companies throughout Iraq.
17:00We know, of course, last week Secretary of State Marco Rubio
17:06met with Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Mansour Barzani
17:11in Washington, also on Friday, May 23rd, a busy day here.
17:15Secretary Rubio and Prime Minister Barzani discussed opportunities
17:18to further increase trade and investment between the United States
17:22and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
17:24The Secretary commended the Prime Minister for finalizing deals with U.S. companies
17:28to expand natural gas production in the IKR,
17:31which will help Iraq move toward energy independence.
17:35The Secretary and Prime Minister discussed their mutual interests
17:38in protecting the rights of religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria.
17:42The Secretary also reaffirmed U.S. support for a strong and resilient IKR
17:47as a foundational pillar of the relationship
17:50that the United States enjoys with Iraq.
17:54We also believe that U.S. and Iraqi interests are best served
17:58by having a strong, resilient Iraqi Kurdistan Region
18:03within a sovereign and prosperous federal Iraq,
18:06and we continue to support U.S. companies doing business in all of Iraq,
18:10including trade and investment between the United States and the IKR.
18:17As far as the nature of the lawsuits,
18:21it's, again, obviously we are looking forward to continuing these kinds of deals.
18:28We expect these kinds of deals to flourish
18:31and would hope that they would be facilitated.
18:34But it's, again, got to underscore the importance
18:39of an independent and energy-independent region,
18:43and this is one way that we're going to be able to do it.
18:45And another question on Iraq.
18:46Sure.
18:47Yeah, and separate issue.
18:48Do you confirm if there is any U.S. involvement in any negotiations
18:53with Iraq to release Elisabeth Zhukov,
18:57an Israeli-Russian academy kidnapped nearly two years ago in Baghdad?
19:01Has the Israeli Government requested assistance from the U.S. Government in this regard?
19:07I do have something I can tell you on this.
19:10There is some reports regarding an exchange discussed.
19:14Those reports are categorically false,
19:16although we remain committed to existing discussions regarding her,
19:21and we have and will continue to underscore with the Iraqi Government
19:24the urgency of securing her release, that is, Elisabeth Zhukov's release.
19:30All right.
19:31Yes.
19:32Two questions.
19:33Today in Turkey, Foreign Minister Lavrov suggested
19:36there was some sort of prisoner exchange deal between Presidents Putin and Trump.
19:40Is there any light you can shed on that?
19:42No, no.
19:43I have nothing to report to you about that, not at all.
19:45Separately, there is reporting that the administration may require
19:48all foreign students to undergo social media vetting
19:52and that embassies and consulates are pausing interviews for new student visas,
19:56according to a cable from Secretary Rubio.
19:59Is that accurate, and do you have any other information?
20:02Well, if you're discussing that, that's something that has not been discussed publicly.
20:08It would have to be leaked material if it exists.
20:10What I can remind everyone of, which we've discussed for months here,
20:14is that we use every tool in our tool chest to vet anyone coming in
20:20who wants to come into this country, and in order to do so,
20:24has to apply for a visa to gain access to our nation.
20:28So every sovereign country has a right to know who's trying to come in,
20:33why they want to come in, who they are, what they've been doing,
20:37and at least hopefully within that framework,
20:40determine what they will be doing while they're here.
20:42So that's nothing new, and we will continue to use every tool we can
20:50to assess who it is that's coming here, whether they are students or otherwise.
20:56All right. Yes, go ahead.
20:58Can I switch to Russia, Tammy?
21:00After the Istanbul talks, Secretary Rubio said he didn't believe they were a waste of time
21:04because the Russians were going to be putting forward this proposal
21:07for a potential ceasefire and end to the war.
21:10The Russians still have not given the U.S. that proposal,
21:13so do you still believe that this wasn't a waste of time,
21:15and when is the U.S. going to actually levy the sanctions that have been warned about
21:19and perhaps walk away from negotiations?
21:21Well, you've seen, I'm sure, President Trump's tweets.
21:25Yes.
21:26He is the one who recently spoke directly to President Putin
21:31and is the one whose vision of diplomacy, of getting these wars to stop across the globe,
21:37but certainly that one can be arranged.
21:40He's been very optimistic. He has.
21:42And as we've seen over the last few days, including this morning,
21:48the President has been very blunt about his opinion about President Putin.
21:53What I can say is that also, by the way,
21:56which has generated, I think, the President's ire and all of our extreme concern
22:02are the attacks resulting in civilian casualties in Ukraine.
22:07The President has said many times this has to stop.
22:10We are monitoring reports that this weekend's airstrikes by Russia
22:14constituted the largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the start of the war.
22:19Obviously, our thoughts, prayers, and awareness sits with the victims and their families.
22:25We are calling for restraint and urge all parties to avoid further escalation.
22:29We continue to support direct talks between Russia and Ukraine.
22:34The President supports any mechanism that leads to a just, durable, and lasting peace.
22:40Any mechanism.
22:41There is no military solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict,
22:45and a diplomatic solution is necessary.
22:48I will, for those who did not see the President's statement
22:53indicating the extremity of his concern from last night, just as the top,
23:00I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia,
23:04but something has happened to him.
23:06He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I'm not just talking about soldiers.
23:11Missiles and drones are being shot into cities in Ukraine for no reason whatsoever.
23:17And that goes on.
23:18That's from his truth social account.
23:20And this morning, he noted,
23:23what Vladimir Putin does not realize is that if it weren't for me,
23:26lots of really, really bad things would have already happened in Russia,
23:30and I mean really bad.
23:32He's playing with fire.
23:36Yes.
23:37Sorry, one quick follow-up, Tammy.
23:38The Germans say the U.S. has lifted all of its restrictions
23:41on the use of long-range weapons.
23:42Can you confirm that?
23:43And when was that stated?
23:44I'm not going to discuss that.
23:45No, I'm not going to confirm that.
23:46Yes.
23:47Thanks, Tammy.
23:48On that memorandum for peace that Russia is supposed to be coming up with,
23:51was there a timeline ever set for when Russia needed to hand that over?
23:55Do you see this as a delay tactic, stalling direct talks?
23:58Well, I can't – again, I can't speak to what if there was –
24:02what the agreement would have been if there was a timeline.
24:04I can't share that information.
24:07I think clearly you should look to the President's sentiment
24:10that he's made very public as to indicate whether or not
24:13he's satisfied with what they've done.
24:15Yes, sir, in the back.
24:16Let me follow up on that question and get your reaction to Russia's response
24:19to the President's tweets calling it what I call emotional.
24:23Yes.
24:24Well, I'm not going to speak about the President's emotions,
24:30but I think one reason why he was elected with a mandate last year
24:34is that we can all relate to him.
24:35He's transparent.
24:37He's doing something he cares passionately about.
24:40He knows what he wants to accomplish.
24:42He inherited a world that was on fire.
24:45And is determined to stop those things.
24:48We've heard his remarks about all of this,
24:50clearly indicating a personal interest in the nature of what is occurring,
24:55and I think that that's what we all appreciate about him.
24:59If the Russians cared about the nature of how this is proceeding,
25:04they would be thinking less about that and more about what they could do,
25:09which is in their hands, to stop the carnage
25:12and the slaughter that's happening right now.
25:15And so it's, I think, pretty clear where both sides are at this point.
25:20Given the President's public frustration of Putin,
25:22is it fair to expect some immediate policy adjustment?
25:26I wouldn't call it frustration.
25:28It is a statement of the man who has led the effort for peace
25:35in so many different regions,
25:37making it clear and being completely transparent about his opinion
25:41about what's transpired.
25:43And I think that is something Russia should take seriously.
25:46Americans certainly do.
25:48And there are, as I mentioned last week,
25:51that there are many different things that the President has at his disposal
25:55to make sure that our position is felt
25:59and that that can be used to make an impact to stop this carnage.
26:05Yes, sir.
26:06King Charles has been speaking to the Canadian parliament in the last few hours
26:10saying that Canada faces another critical moment
26:12and is determined to protect democracy, self-determination, and freedom.
26:16The true north is indeed strong and free,
26:18and that's being seen by many as a clear endorsement of Canada's sovereignty,
26:24a rejection of the idea of it being the 51st state.
26:27Do you endorse his sentiments?
26:30I'm a fan of Prince Charles, King Charles,
26:34and of Prince William and Princess Kate.
26:38I think they're a great family.
26:40That's it.
26:41And on that, Canada is?
26:42Yes, John.
26:43Go ahead.
26:44If you don't mind, let me go back to the student visa issue.
26:46I'm leaving aside the issue of the cable.
26:48The Secretary himself has said that the vast majority of students in the country,
26:51of foreign students, have done nothing wrong.
26:53They shouldn't be worried about their visas.
26:55They're welcome to study at American universities.
26:57People going to universities this fall, foreign students,
27:00should they be concerned that their visas won't be processed in time?
27:04Do you think that there is a State Department confident
27:06that people can still go, can still attend autumn semesters?
27:10Well, this is every dynamic.
27:13And again, we don't speak about individual visa cases.
27:16We don't speak about the nature of the choices made about individuals.
27:20We do know, though, that we take very seriously the process of vetting
27:24who it is that comes into the country.
27:26And we're going to continue to do that.
27:29We're going to continue to vet, and we continue to have an interest.
27:32And again, whether they be student or if you're a tourist who needs a visa
27:36or whoever you are, we're going to be looking at you.
27:40I think why that would be – it seems to be such a controversial thing that's going on,
27:45but it shouldn't be, and every nation should take seriously and does who's coming in.
27:49So if you're going to be applying for a visa, follow the normal process,
27:55the normal steps, expect to be looked at, and we go on from there.
28:00And processing delays, do you expect students applying now to come to Congress?
28:04Again, I can't speak to their individual experiences,
28:09but of course it seems like the nature of the reaction to this is that –
28:14but I can't – we've always vetted people trying to come in.
28:18We've always looked at visas seriously.
28:20It's why we have a visa, so that you can stop and look at someone.
28:23So I can't speak about what the individual experience will be,
28:26but the fact is that everyone knows that we're – it's a reminder, certainly,
28:30that we're taking it seriously.
28:32Yes, go ahead, certainly.
28:34And you just said it.
28:35There is a vetting process for anybody who's coming in the country, but what is different now?
28:39Is there a new criteria, a new mechanism?
28:42What's different?
28:43Well, yes, we – in addition to not discussing, for privacy reasons
28:47and a whole host of other reasons, discussing individual visa processes with an individual,
28:52but we also don't talk about the methods.
28:55We're not going to lay out here with the media the nature of the steps that are taken,
28:59the methods that we use.
29:01That would seem to be a little bit counterproductive, perhaps.
29:04But it is a goal, as stated by the President and Secretary Rubio,
29:09to make sure that people who are here are here and understand what the law is,
29:15that they don't have any criminal intent, that they are going to be contributors
29:21to the experience here, whether – however short or long their stay is.
29:25And so the details of which I won't reveal, but it's one that will hopefully achieve our understanding
29:32of who deserves to visit this country and who does not.
29:35And just on Gaza, if I may.
29:37Of course.
29:39There were – to say it mildly, there were some challenges today delivering the aid parcels to Gaza.
29:45Do you – if there are more challenges of this sort or if these challenges intensify,
29:50what do you expect?
29:52Is there a plan B?
29:53Does it stop?
29:54Does it –
29:55You – contact the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
29:57Again, it's – I know it can be – it's difficult in that this is something that we've all hoped for
30:05and have wanted to help see succeed, but the fact is this is not a State Department project or effort.
30:11So we're not in a position to make that declaration or – and even really speculating.
30:18The people who've done this clearly want to do it.
30:20They want it to succeed, and I think addressing this with them might be very useful.
30:25Yes, Said.
30:27Thank you very much.
30:28Just how can one contact the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation?
30:32This seems to be the grab of the night.
30:34I don't think anyone would appreciate if I gave out an email right here from the podium.
30:37I think there's a thing called the internet, and you can type them in, and you will get an email address.
30:43Okay.
30:44There's a lot of you – I think most of you are reporters.
30:47I think a number of you understand research and the typing in of the interweb tubes,
30:53which will give you that information, sir.
30:55Okay.
30:56Just a quick follow-up on two points.
30:58Yes.
30:59Now, the gripe of the United Nations is that not knowing who this organization is
31:03and who stands behind it, who's going to finance it and so on,
31:06they also say that there are very sparse or a couple of entry points and so on.
31:13They need more entry points.
31:14Yes.
31:15Everyone has an opinion.
31:16I understand that.
31:17What I do know, too, is for the first time ever, Said, with your very well-founded concern,
31:23I can tell you that over almost half a million meals have been delivered into that region.
31:30I am pleased to be able to say that to you without dealing with someone or an entity or a group
31:37that isn't entirely happy because it's not absolutely perfect
31:41or because they would have done it differently.
31:43But we finally have that happening.
31:45Yes, sir, in the back, right there with the great hair.
31:48Me?
31:49You've got great hair, but no, yes, sir, you.
31:51Okay.
31:52You're pointing – you're doing this.
31:53I don't have great hair.
31:54No, I'm not.
31:55That's why I'm not pointing – I think you probably do.
31:57You, sir.
31:59All right.
32:00I have no hair.
32:01Well, there you go.
32:02Is it me?
32:03Okay.
32:04Can you confirm?
32:05No, no, not – I'm saying not you.
32:06I have a little bit of great hair.
32:07A little bit of great hair.
32:08Not you, sir.
32:09Speak up.
32:12I couldn't make it without you.
32:13Thank you very much.
32:15Sorry, sorry.
32:16That's all right.
32:17If you wait, they run right by you.
32:18Right.
32:19Yeah.
32:20All right.
32:21What's your name, sir, and what outlet?
32:22Brad from Taco Bell News.
32:23All right.
32:25Welcome aboard.
32:26Thank you very much.
32:27As you've said just earlier today, the world has been shocked by what's happened in Gaza
32:28over the past few days, the silhouette of a little girl.
32:29Well, I said it's been – obviously, it's been shocked over generations about what's
32:31been happening in Gaza.
32:32Sure.
32:33Absolutely.
32:34Absolutely.
32:35I'm not going to use to stop that violence, but go ahead.
32:37So – but just in the past few days, we've seen the silhouette of a little girl trying
32:42to flee burning classrooms surrounding her, killing people around her.
32:45We've seen thousands of Palestinians starved by Israel's blockade, herded between fences
32:50as they try to get fed today, thousands – excuse me, a doctor who saw nine of her children
32:56killed by Israeli bombs.
32:58All the while, this administration, of course, as we've seen, has sought to deport students
33:01who protest this, including one student who wrote an op-ed against this kind of behavior.
33:05The administration came in telling Americans it would be more pro-peace, more anti-war
33:09than the previous –
33:10This is beginning to sound like a soliloquy, sir.
33:11Do you have a question, please?
33:12Than the previous administration.
33:13Do you have a question, please?
33:14I'm curious how –
33:15Yes.
33:16This is a very serious issue, and everyone has your question.
33:18Yes, yes.
33:19I wonder –
33:20So please ask it.
33:21I wonder how you see this administration being more pro-peace or more anti-war than the previous
33:25administration given these kinds of horrors that Americans are witnessing.
33:28Yes.
33:29Well, it is a dynamic where, as I also just mentioned a little bit ago, we did achieve
33:35a ceasefire, something which nobody thought would be possible after the heinousness of
33:41October 7th, the nature of what had occurred on that day, the fact that there has to be
33:47a new way, the President has stated, we have to have new ideas to make a difference so
33:51this stops and doesn't go from generation to generation, which all of us have experienced.
33:56It's – right?
33:58Wash, rinse, and repeat over and over and over again every 20 years, and it would never
34:02stop.
34:03I think that what we've got here is after – I don't know, what has it been, three
34:07months, a bit over 100 days of President Trump managing to get, I think, every warring party,
34:14every hostile party against other people on this planet to a table to stop.
34:20Now that's the simple part.
34:23Making things happen and making it last is another thing.
34:26Hamas, we did have a ceasefire, and then Hamas decided once again that that was just not
34:31going to do, and they continue to do what they do.
34:35That – first of all, again, in that – regarding the particular issues over the last few days,
34:39we call on all parties to this conflict to take every feasible measure to mitigate civilian
34:44harm.
34:45We refer you to Israel for more information on its airstrikes.
34:49And we also know, as we all do – and this is one of the things that we've discovered
34:54time and time again – that Hamas uses hospitals and other humanitarian areas as human shields.
35:01This is why we continue to try to get a ceasefire done despite the obstacles that Hamas constantly
35:08presents.
35:09It is apparently their hope that we would just give up and go away or that the usual
35:14status quo would continue.
35:16But President Trump is not that person.
35:18He's a person who gets it done.
35:21And after decades of conflict, I understand you're frustrated after maybe three months
35:26of it not being perfect yet.
35:28But that is what we are going for.
35:30We will continue to work for this.
35:31It is President Trump's commitment.
35:32Yes.
35:33Eric, please.
35:34Eric?
35:35Eric, go ahead, please.
35:36Q Thank you, Tammy, for the question.
35:37I wanted to ask you – the end of last week, we reported and you began –
35:42MS TRUDEAU And you're Bloomberg, for those watching
35:44who don't know.
35:45Go ahead.
35:46Q You began the conversation today – or excuse me, the briefing today with a reference
35:51to Venezuela and to the challenges faced by Americans in Venezuela, the repression of
36:00the Venezuelan regime.
36:01MS TRUDEAU Correct.
36:02Q The license for Chevron to produce oil in Venezuela expired yesterday.
36:09We're reporting – our reporting is that there's a very narrow license for basic
36:14maintenance to make sure that equipment that's in the country doesn't become completely
36:19unusable so that one day, if there is a change of government, it might be possible to drill
36:25and produce again.
36:26This is a license that would have to come from the administration.
36:29Do you have anything on that as far as whether it's been granted?
36:30MS TRUDEAU Well, I know.
36:31I can't speak to that at all, but what I can say is actually your timeline on the Chevron
36:35license is wrong.
36:37It's tonight at 1159.
36:40So this is the last hurrah here that will expire at 1159 this evening.
36:47What we can say, of course, also, is that – just to be very specific, we – beyond
36:56the warning, of course, to Americans – is that we will not allow any money to move to
37:05the Maduro regime that assists their regime.
37:09We are, of course, very conscious of the dynamic regarding, as we discussed earlier,
37:15as you noted, those who are held wrongfully in Venezuela, but we also are going to make
37:24sure that as the Secretary made clear last week that this license expires, that of course
37:31is going to be felt.
37:34And we also know that the instructions – the President's instructions to Secretary Rubio
37:41that he took steps, of course, to terminate all Biden-era oil and gas licenses that benefited
37:48Maduro's regime and lined the pockets of his cronies.
37:53We are going to continue to deny any funding of the Maduro regime that it uses to oppress
37:59the Venezuelan people.
38:02So I hope that answers both of those questions.
38:05Yes, sir.
38:06QUESTIONS SETTLED.
38:07MR.
38:08PALLADINO.
38:10QUESTIONS ASKED.
38:11MR.
38:12PALLADINO.
38:13I want to come back to Gaza specifically because tomorrow the Germany's foreign minister
38:14is going to be here in meeting with the Secretary.
38:15Germany's government has kind of shifted quite a lot in the last few days on their
38:20position of support for Israel.
38:21They've been alongside the U.S., one of the main backers of Israel, in this war.
38:27the chancellor saying that the war in Gaza is no longer justified by the need to fight
38:34Hamas.
38:35So it seems like the – whatever coalition was left of countries, including the U.S.,
38:40backing Israel seems to be getting smaller.
38:42Are you concerned that there's even less international support for Israel?
38:47Does that influence the way that the U.S. is thinking about this, that one of the main
38:53European countries backing Israel is backing back Israel?
38:55Again, Chancellor Mertz noting that Israel's actions can no longer be justified.
39:00The fact of the matter is, is that Hamas has put the people in Gaza in this situation by
39:04launching that attack on October 7th and by continuing to hold hostages, including the
39:10bodies of four Americans, and continue, of course, to maintain their weapons.
39:15So when we think about actions that can no longer be justified, I think we should adjust
39:19ourselves and look at what put us in this position in the first place.
39:23Including the UK, Canada, France, and any number of others that took disappointing steps
39:27last week, unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state in this case is unproductive and obstructs
39:33ongoing U.S. efforts towards peace in the region.
39:37And I think that there's a clear line that has been drawn by President Trump which, again,
39:44definitely disturbs the status quo, which is that there has to be peace, not just for
39:49six months, not because there's been a deal made for a year, that this has to be enduring.
39:55The entire framework has to change.
39:57He's not kidding.
39:59He's not kidding.
40:00Because otherwise, in five years or sooner, someone will be in your position, someone
40:05else will definitely be in my position, having the same conversation.
40:09We can't allow that to continue.
40:11That is President Trump's understanding and vision of the change that needs to occur.
40:15And the fact is, is that the status quo does seem to be perhaps the easier thing to maintain.
40:23But it's not the one that's going to save lives.
40:25All right.
40:26Yes.
40:27There, right there.
40:28Go ahead.
40:29Speak up.
40:30Yeah.
40:31Q Thank you, Tammy.
40:32President Mustafa –
40:33MS.
40:34NULAND No, no.
40:35Excuse me, sir.
40:36Q I'm sorry.
40:37MS.
40:38NULAND Yes.
40:39That will get you not called on because you can tell I'm not looking at you.
40:40Go ahead, sir.
40:41Please.
40:42Q Yeah.
40:43I have two questions.
40:44The first one is about Russia and Ukraine.
40:45The Secretary of State several times saying that the U.S. are closing to stepping back
40:51in different ways, and we know the U.S. did play several cards.
40:56So what can we expect if this is happening?
40:58It means providing more weapons to Ukraine in order to leverage with the Russian, or
41:03just it means doing nothing but letting Europeans do their –
41:06MS.
41:07NULAND Well, President Trump and Secretary Rubio
41:08have said multiple times that this is not a war that can be solved through the military
41:13and through violence, that it has to be done diplomatically.
41:17At the same time, you've heard President Trump note that there has to be direct talks
41:22between the parties, direct talks between Russia and Ukraine.
41:28And also President Rubio's comments now for weeks that unless there was progress that
41:35our approach would change, not our support for a ceasefire or helping to achieve it,
41:41that the issue of mediating might adjust.
41:45As of right now, of course, there's a lot that's in flux, and President Putin is getting
41:51a sense of President Trump's anger at the nature of what's transpiring.
41:57But I think that it's clear that both parties need to begin to look at the situation in
42:03a direct way with each other to make the difference at this point.
42:07QUESTIONS Can I do a follow-up?
42:09And on Gaza and Israel, is there a limit to President Trump's patience, let's say,
42:16or he will –
42:17MS.
42:18NULAND I'm sure there is.
42:19QUESTIONS – let him permit – like – I'm sorry, keep letting Prime Minister Netanyahu
42:24doing what he's doing in Gaza, or President Trump at a certain point will say, stop, let's
42:30sit down?
42:31MS.
42:32NULAND Well, if you see President Trump, you could
42:33ask him directly that.
42:34I'm not going to presume –
42:35QUESTION So the same – who?
42:36MS.
42:37NULAND I'm not going to presume President Trump's
42:38frame of mind about what he's willing to do or won't do.
42:41This is a man who's serious about getting a situation finished, of getting a deal done,
42:47of ending the situation, which he is clearly confident it can end.
42:51My assessment of what he would do – he is him for a reason, and I'm not him.
42:58And the last thing I think any of us want to do is second-guess the President, certainly
43:03in this case President Trump.
43:05So I – he's also a human being, even though sometimes he does more than what the average
43:13human being can do.
43:14But I feel that, as we've seen today with Putin, that there is a point that he looks
43:21at things differently.
43:22And how that manifests, just like with everything else in this administration, it will happen
43:26quickly.
43:28And that's what I've got for you today.
43:30Thank you, everyone.
43:32And I will see you on – I'll see you on Thursday.
43:34Happy ending of the Chevron license day.
43:37Happy ending.
43:38All right.
43:41All right.
43:42That's it.