Karoline Leavitt: Trump’s Conversation With Maduro “Confirmed” but Details Unclear

The White House briefing took a sharp turn as Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended President Trump’s comments on pardoning former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández — a convicted drug trafficker in the U.S. Leavitt accused the Biden administration of “over-prosecution” and “lawfare,” claiming Hernández was politically targeted and denied a fair trial.
She argued that key testimony relied heavily on admitted criminals seeking reduced sentences, and that Trump is constitutionally empowered to grant clemency.

This briefing comes amid escalating debates over U.S. foreign policy, anti-narcotics operations, and Washington’s inconsistent stance toward leaders in Latin America.

#WhiteHouse #KarolineLeavitt #DonaldTrump #Honduras #HernandezCase #USPolitics #DrugTrafficking #LatinAmerica #BidenAdmin #PressBriefing #APTNews

Transcript

00:00in his defense of the United States homeland to stop these illegal narcotics from coming to our borders,

00:05whether that's by land or by sea.

00:07And he's also made it quite clear that he wants to correct the wrongs of the weaponized Justice Department

00:13under the previous administration.

00:14And, Ouija, I'll call on you because I think we're wearing matching blazers today.

00:17I was going to compliment yours.

00:20Thank you, Caroline.

00:21So just to be clear, to clarify on Jackie and Gabe,

00:24did Admiral Bradley order that second strike because there were still survivors after the initial strike?

00:32Again, as I read for you, Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority in the law.

00:36He directed the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed

00:39and the threat of narco-terrorists to the United States was completely eliminated.

00:44So was the initial order from Secretary Hanks that everyone be killed,

00:49and did that come from President Trump?

00:50I saw that quoted in a Washington Post story.

00:53I would reject that the Secretary of War ever said that.

00:57However, the President has made it quite clear that if narco-terrorists, again,

01:01are trafficking illegal drugs towards the United States,

01:04he has the authority to kill them.

01:07And that's what this administration is doing.

01:08And can I follow up on the MRI?

01:10Because President Trump yesterday said that he would release the results of his MRI.

01:15Is that happening right now?

01:16It is happening right now.

01:18As part of, and this is a summary from the President's physician,

01:21and we will release it right now.

01:24I think my team has it teed up for all of you.

01:26I'll read it for you, and then you'll get it physically as well.

01:29As part of President Trump's comprehensive executive physical,

01:33advanced imaging was performed because men in his age group

01:36benefit from a thorough evaluation of cardiovascular and abdominal health.

01:40The purpose of this imaging is preventative,

01:43to identify any issues early, confirm overall health,

01:47and ensure the President maintains long-term vitality and function.

01:51President Trump's cardiovascular imaging was perfectly normal.

01:55No evidence of arterial narrowing impairing blood flow or abnormalities in the heart or major vessels.

02:01The heart chambers are normal in size,

02:03the vessel walls appear smooth and healthy,

02:05and there are no signs of inflammation or clotting.

02:09Overall, his cardiovascular system shows excellent health.

02:13His abdominal imaging is also perfectly normal.

02:16All major organs appear very healthy and well-perfused.

02:20Everything evaluated is functioning within normal limits,

02:23with no acute or chronic concerns.

02:25In summary, this level of detailed assessment is standard for an executive physical at President Trump's age

02:31and confirms that he remains in excellent overall health.

02:35Again, we will provide that to you.

02:36I think that's quite a bit of detail.

02:38And in the effort of transparency, the President promised it last night,

02:41and we have delivered today.

02:42So there you go.

02:43Danny.

02:43Thanks, Caroline.

02:44Just going back to Venezuela,

02:46can you confirm that President Trump is going to be hosting a meeting of his national security team

02:50in the Oval Office today on Venezuela?

02:54And what are they going to discuss?

02:55Are they hoping to reach a kind of final decision on that?

02:58Out of the effort of transparency,

03:00I will confirm that the President will be meeting with his national security team on this subject

03:04and on many matters.

03:06He meets with his national security team quite often.

03:09He's the Commander-in-Chief.

03:10It's part of his responsibility to ensure that peace is ongoing throughout the world.

03:14I'm definitely not going to detail the specifics of a meeting between the President

03:18and his national security team that's taking place in the Oval Office,

03:21but I'm happy to confirm that meeting is taking place for you.

03:24Can you tell us, is there still, what's the position on whether troops,

03:29U.S. troops on the ground is a possibility there?

03:32Is that, I know you've answered that before,

03:34but what's the current operative state?

03:35In Venezuela?

03:36I think my previous answer stands.

03:39There's many options at the President's disposal that are on the table,

03:42and I'll let him speak on those.

03:44Ed.

03:45The U.S. announced a trade framework deal with the United Kingdom on pharmaceuticals

03:50where they will pay 25 percent more,

03:52and the savings theoretically will go back to American consumers.

03:55What guarantees are in that that that savings will, in fact,

03:58go back to the American consumer and not be sucked up by the company?

04:02I'm going to be honest with you, Ed.

04:03I'll get you the answer to that question after the briefing.

04:07So the American Rescue Plan funded a number of universal income.

04:12Now, Cook County, Illinois, is extending that program into 2026

04:25with $7.5 million of taxpayer money.

04:27What does the White House think about that?

04:29I'll also get you an answer on that after the briefing.

04:31Go ahead.

04:33Sure.

04:34In the interest of transparency,

04:37does the White House support releasing the Department of Defense's video

04:41of those September 2nd strikes on those military votes?

04:44And also, a separate topic on presidential pardon power,

04:47why did the President commute the sentence of David Gentile recently?

04:50He was a private equity executive.

04:53He served 12 days out of a seven-year sentence.

04:55The prosecutor said he defrauded $1.6 billion with thousands of victims,

05:01including veterans, farmers, teachers.

05:04Why was he pardoned?

05:05To your first question,

05:07that's definitely not a decision for me to make.

05:08I would defer you to the Department of War.

05:11It's also probably a decision for the President himself to make.

05:14As for your second question,

05:15with respect to that pardon,

05:16he issued a commutation for Mr. Gentile,

05:19who's the former CEO and co-founder of GBP Capital Holdings.

05:24Unlike similar companies,

05:25GBP paid regular annualized distributions to its investors.

05:29In 2015,

05:30GBP disclosed to investors

05:32the possibility of using investor capital

05:35to pay some of these distributions

05:36rather than funding them from current operations.

05:39Even though this was disclosed to investors,

05:41the Biden Department of Justice claimed it was a Ponzi scheme.

05:45This claim was profoundly undercut

05:46by the fact that GBP had explicitly told investors

05:49what would happen.

05:51At trial,

05:51the government was unable

05:52to tie any supposedly fraudulent representations

05:55to Mr. Gentile.

05:57In short, again,

05:58this is another example

05:58that has been brought to the President's attention

06:00of the weaponization of justice

06:02from the previous administration,

06:03and therefore he signed this commutation.

06:05It would say that these people were defrauded.

06:08I just read you a very detailed summary

06:11of why the commutation was made.

06:14Sure.

06:15In the middle with the red tie.

06:17Thank you, Caroline.

06:18Okay, Andrew, go ahead.

06:19In the wake of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's

06:22early resignation,

06:24reports last week indicated

06:25that other House Republicans

06:27might consider doing the same.

06:29Does the President have any concerns

06:30in light of those reports

06:32about other House Republicans

06:34potentially leaving early,

06:35as well as the other announced retirements

06:37that we saw in the last couple of days?

06:39Look, I think the President maintains

06:41very good relationships

06:42with the vast majority,

06:45maybe with the exception of one or two.

06:46I think many in this room know who I'm referring to.

06:49Very good relationships

06:50with members of Capitol Hill

06:52within the Republican Party.

06:54And the President clearly is the unequivocal leader

06:56of the Republican Party.

06:57I think it was a recent CNN poll

06:58that actually showed that

07:00more than 90% of Republicans

07:02continue to support President Trump as the leader.

07:05So he maintains very good relations,

07:06as does his entire team here at the White House.

07:09And of course,

07:10we have a very slim margin in the House,

07:11and the President wants that to continue.

07:14Andrew, go ahead.

07:15I'd like to ask you before you,

07:16first, on the Venezuela strike.

07:19You said that that second strike

07:22was in full accordance with the law of armed conflict.

07:25But the Navy's own manual of law of war

07:30says that specifically firing on survivors

07:35from a wrecked vessel

07:37is an example of a war crime

07:40that's forbidden under U.S. law

07:43and the law of armed conflict.

07:45So how was that second strike

07:48in following law of armed conflict

07:51and then second operation?

07:52Again, Andrew, I would reiterate to you,

07:54the strike was conducted in international waters

07:56and in accordance with the law of armed conflict.

07:59And since somebody asked about Congress

08:01and it's sort of related to Venezuela,

08:03I also want to add

08:04that Secretary Hegseth spoke with members of Congress

08:07who may have expressed some concerns over the weekend.

08:10And there have also been 13 bipartisan briefings

08:13to Congress on the Venezuelan strikes.

08:16There have been a number of document reviews

08:18for members of Congress to review the classified DOJ,

08:21Office of Legal Counsel Opinion,

08:23and other related documents.

08:2529 senators and 92 representatives

08:27have reviewed those documents,

08:29which is about two-thirds of those are Democrat members.

08:32And they have been made available

08:34to all 100 senators,

08:36all 435 members of the House,

08:39and to general counsels of the relevant committees

08:41on a bipartisan basis for their review.

08:44Now, immigration, during your topper,

08:47you said, and I quote,

08:48leaders also have a duty to preserve

08:50the integrity and character

08:52of our nation's national identity.

08:55Can you explain what you mean

08:58by our nation's national identity

09:01and integrity and character,

09:03and how would refugees,

09:06people coming from war-torn places

09:08who are seeking a safe haven in America,

09:11like many of our forebears in this room,

09:14not add to our nation's integrity and character,

09:18or our national identity?

09:19I'll tell you what does not add

09:21to our nation's character and integrity

09:23is refugees who come here

09:25under the alleged plight of asylum

09:28and fleeing persecution,

09:29and then come to the United States

09:31to abuse our system

09:32and rip off American taxpayers.

09:35And as I pointed out,

09:36the New York Times, to their credit,

09:37it was about six months too late,

09:39but they did write

09:40about how Somali immigrants

09:42in Minnesota have been ripping off

09:44American taxpayers.

09:45In fact, 86 people have been charged

09:48in a rampant and widespread fraud scheme

09:50spanning multiple programs in Minnesota.

09:53Of those 86, 78 of those people

09:55are Somali, 91% of them charged.

09:59So far, 59 of those people

10:01have been convicted for their roles

10:03in fraud plots that have stolen

10:05$1 billion from taxpayers.

10:08In one scheme, and this is egregious,

10:10a non-profit and its affiliates

10:12with these Somali migrants

10:14claimed to have fed tens of thousands

10:16of American children during the pandemic.

10:19They were reimbursed for those meals

10:20by taxpayers.

10:22However, federal prosecutors found

10:24that almost all of those meals

10:26were never even delivered

10:28to hungry children.

10:29In fact, those organizations' leaders

10:31spent the money on houses, luxury cars,

10:34and real estate in Turkey and Kenya.

10:36Another scheme involved hundreds

10:38of organizations who were reimbursed

10:40for services that were supposed

10:41to help people at risk of homelessness.

10:44Once again, those services

10:45were never provided.

10:46All of this has happened

10:48under Democrat leadership

10:49in a Democrat-run state

10:50where these refugees,

10:52these migrants,

10:52are coming to the United States.

10:54They are abusing our system.

10:55They are draining our resources

10:56that should be going

10:57to law-abiding, taxpayer-funded,

11:00tax-paying Americans.

11:01And this president

11:02is not going to put up with it anymore.

11:03Rachel.

11:04Thank you, Caroline.

11:05Just to follow back up

11:07on the Washington Post reporting,

11:09so much of the concern

11:10from Democrats and Republicans

11:11is focused on the survivors.

11:14Why won't the administration

11:15either confirm or deny

11:17or reveal whether or not

11:18there were survivors

11:19after that initial first strike?

11:21And what imminent threat

11:23would two survivors pose

11:25who were clinging, presumably,

11:26to the wreckage of that boat?

11:28Again, as I said,

11:29I think you guys are sort of

11:30not listening fully

11:31to the statement I've provided.

11:33Admiral Bradley worked well

11:34within his authority

11:35and the law,

11:36directing the engagement

11:37to ensure the boat

11:38was totally destroyed

11:39and the threat

11:40to the narco-terrorists,

11:42to the United States,

11:43was eliminated.

11:44And for any further questions

11:46about his thinking,

11:47I would defer you

11:47to the Department of War.

11:48I obviously wasn't

11:49in the room for the answer.

11:50Just to follow up, Caroline,

11:51just on the administration's policy

11:53when it comes to survivors,

11:55was there a change in policy

11:57after this strike

11:58on September 2nd?

12:00The Washington Post

12:01is reporting

12:02that these two survivors

12:03were killed

12:04after a second strike,

12:05but then in October,

12:06two people were rescued

12:07and returned

12:09to Colombia and Ecuador.

12:10So was there a decision

12:11that was made

12:12to handle survivors

12:13differently

12:14after these strikes?

12:15Not to my knowledge, no.

12:17Steve.

12:18The President confirmed

12:19that he spoke

12:20to the Venezuelan leader.

12:21Are you trying

12:22to negotiate his departure?

12:24Is there an asylum deal

12:25under works?

12:26President, as you know,

12:28last night on Air Force One,

12:29he said,

12:29I don't want to comment

12:30on that,

12:31but I did speak to him

12:32in the effort

12:33of transparency.

12:34So there you go.

12:34You got your confirmation.

12:36I'll let him speak further

12:37if he wishes to

12:38on the details

12:39of that conversation

12:40that took place.

12:41Steve Whitcoff

12:41is headed to Moscow.

12:43How close are you

12:44to some sort

12:44of Ukraine agreement?

12:46I think the administration

12:47feels very optimistic.

12:49Obviously,

12:49you've seen, Steve,

12:50that the President's

12:51entire team,

12:52including Special Envoy Whitcoff

12:54and Secretary Rubio

12:55and the Vice President

12:56and the President himself,

12:57Secretary Hegseth as well,

12:59have been working

13:00so hard on this effort

13:01and they all really want

13:03to see this war

13:04come to an end.

13:05And so just yesterday,

13:07Sunday, I believe

13:07that was yesterday,

13:09they had very good talks

13:10with the Ukrainians

13:11in Florida

13:11and now, of course,

13:12Special Envoy Whitcoff

13:13is on his way to Russia.

13:14This is sort of

13:15the shuttle diplomacy

13:16that you've seen

13:17from this administration

13:18play out,

13:18where we speak equally

13:19with both sides.

13:20We've put points on paper.

13:22Those points have been

13:22very much refined,

13:24but as for the details,

13:25I will let the negotiators

13:27negotiate,

13:27but we do feel quite good

13:29and we're hopeful

13:29that this war

13:30can finally come to an end.

Karoline Leavitt: Trump’s Conversation With Maduro “Confirmed” but Details Unclear | APT

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