- 2 days ago
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpLEtz3H0jSfEneSdf1YKnw/join
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpLEtz3H0jSfEneSdf1YKnw/join
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Okay, good afternoon everybody. A packed room today. Thank you all for coming. President Trump
00:12is making America affordable again through his proven economic formula of powerful tariffs,
00:18fair trade deals, massive middle-class tax cuts, energy dominance, and aggressive deregulation.
00:25The overwhelmingly positive economic data released this week underscores the significant progress the
00:32president has already delivered. Tuesday's CPI report marked the latest confirmation that
00:39President Trump has defeated Joe Biden's inflation crisis. Since President Trump took office,
00:45core CPI has increased at just a 2.4 percent annualized rate, substantially lower than the
00:523.3 percent annual rate inherited from the Biden administration last January. Importantly,
00:58as inflation cools, Americans' wages are rising, giving the American people more purchasing power.
01:05And with what is likely recorded or likely going to be a record-breaking tax refund season in the
01:12next couple of weeks, the American people will be reaping the rewards of the massive tax cuts that
01:17were signed into law by the president. Thanks to President Trump's signing of no tax on tips,
01:24overtime, Social Security, boosting the child tax credit, and locking in the 2017 Trump tax cuts,
01:31independent estimates project the average American tax filer could expect up to an extra $1,000 bump
01:38to their tax refund next year. This is going to be a helpful boost to working families who are making ends meet.
01:45On the energy front, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas this week fell to its
01:51lowest level in five years, thanks to President Trump's drill baby drill agenda. According to GasBuddy,
01:58the average price for regular gas on Monday was below $3 per gallon in 43 states, below $2.75 per gallon
02:06in 30 states, and at or below $2.50 per gallon in 17 states. In fact, gas prices were below $2 a gallon
02:14at stations in at least 19 states. Don't forget, this was unheard of just a couple of short years
02:21ago. Overall, drivers are projected to spend $11 billion less at the gas pump this year than they
02:28did last year, resulting in hundreds of dollars in critical savings for the average American family.
02:35We're also seeing the housing market rebound as borrowing costs ease and income growth outpaces
02:40home price gains. According to a new report also released this week from the National Association of
02:47Realtors, existing home sales in December rose to their fastest pace in three years. To further improve
02:54housing affordability, President Trump has recently announced and directed Fannie and Freddie to purchase
03:00$200 billion worth of mortgage bonds. As a result of these actions, mortgage rates have fallen to their
03:06lowest level in years. As of last Friday, rates for the average 30-year mortgage are down more than one
03:12full percentage point. Because of these significant declines, monthly housing payments are now at their
03:18lowest level in two years, and we expect this decrease to continue. As someone who was enormously
03:24successful in real estate, President Trump understands that owning a home is about more than just having a
03:30physical asset. It's about empowering young people to stake their claim in the American dream. It's about giving
03:37newlyweds a place to make their own and start a family. It's about promoting the spirit of hard work, determination and
03:44yes, the rugged individualism that has made America the greatest country in the history of the world. President Trump
03:51knows America is strongest when it's a nation of owners, not renters. And he is determined to unlock that
03:57opportunity for as many Americans as possible. That's why he will outline additional housing
04:03initiatives during his major speech in Davos next week. And we look forward to seeing many of you there.
04:08Finally, this morning, President Trump unveiled a health care plan for America called the Great
04:13Health Care Plan and a video message detailing his solutions to lower costs for all Americans and
04:19significantly improve our health care system. The Great Health Care Plan will accomplish this through four
04:26common sense pillars. Number one, permanently lowering prescription drug prices. Congress can get this done by
04:33codifying President Trump's historic most favored nation initiatives into law to guarantee Americans the same low prices
04:41for prescription drugs that people in other countries around the world pay. Additionally, by increasing a consumer
04:48choice by making more verified safe pharmaceutical drugs available for over the counter purchases. Number two, the great
04:56health care plan will stop sending big insurance companies billions in extra taxpayer funded subsidy
05:01payments and instead send that money directly to eligible Americans to allow them to buy the health insurance
05:08of their choice. Additionally, by funding a cost sharing reduction program for health care plans and ending
05:14kickbacks from pharmacy benefit managers to large brokerage middlemen. Number three, the great health care plan will maximize
05:22price transparency by requiring any health care provider or insurer who accepts either Medicare or Medicaid to
05:30publicly and prominently post their pricing and fees to avoid surprise medical bills. This is an incredibly
05:36popular policy that has been bipartisan for many years and President Trump is officially and firmly calling on
05:42Congress to get it done. And number four, holds big insurance companies accountable right by requiring them to publish rate and coverage
05:50comparisons up front on their websites in plain English so consumers and everyday Americans can make the best purchasing
05:58decisions for them and their families. These are common sense actions that make up President Trump's great health care plan
06:05and they represent this most comprehensive and bold agenda to lower health care costs to have ever been
06:10considered by the federal government. Congress should immediately take up President Trump's plan and pass it into law.
06:17For Americans watching at home, you can visit greathealthcare.gov right now for more information on the great health care plan.
06:25And with that, we will open it up to questions. In our new media seat today, we have a familiar face, Riley Gaines.
06:31I'm surprised it took us a year to get you here, but I'm very happy to see you. I know you have a new podcast, The Riley Gaines Show.
06:37And so thank you. And you brought a beautiful baby and your lovely husband, too. So thank you so much for joining. And why don't you kick us off?
06:43Absolutely. Well, thank you. First and foremost, congratulations to you. Being a girl mom will change your life in the best way possible.
06:51So excited you get to shop all the pink and the frilly and the bows. I was in Washington, D.C. earlier this week for the Supreme Court case.
06:59There were two arguments that were heard surrounding sex based rights and if it's constitutional for states to pass laws that ultimately protect those rights for women.
07:09If the Supreme Court rules as anticipated in favor of maintaining these sex based rights, is the administration prepared to take action against the states?
07:19I believe at this point it's 23 states that don't have those protections for women.
07:24Absolutely. And as you know, Riley, the administration already has done so.
07:29We've taken action in a number of fronts against these states who are failing to uphold the president's executive orders in this administration's policy of simply protecting women in women's sports and in women's private spaces.
07:42We've gone to the mat with large universities in this country as well to try to fight for what's fair and what's just for women and girls across the country.
07:50So I know you were at the arguments. I listened to them myself as a woman and as a former athlete.
07:55And I think the president speaks on common sense on this issue that women's sports and private spaces should be protected and that there are two genders.
08:04There are two sexes. That is not something we should be afraid to say in this country. And I think, frankly, it was quite alarming to not only hear a couple of justices gravel over that basic fundamental biological fact that men and women are different but inherently equal, but we are certainly different and women deserve such rights.
08:22We hope and expect that the Supreme Court will rule in the right way on this matter. Thank you.
08:27The Press, Caroline, thank you very much. A lot to talk about.
08:30Ms. Sure.
08:31The Press, isn't there always a lot to talk about?
08:33The Press, always a lot to talk about. What can you share about the president's meeting with Maria Correa Machado? Is it underway? What can you share about that?
08:42And then also, the president said yesterday that Delcio Rodriguez was, quote, a terrific person. Does the president trust the remaining members of the Maduro regime?
08:51Ms. I will say, to your first question, the meeting was about to begin as I was stepping out of the Oval Office moments
08:57ago. So my understanding is that it's underway right now. I know the president was looking forward to this meeting
09:02and he was expecting it to be a good and positive discussion with with Miss Machado, who is really a remarkable and brave voice for many of the people of Venezuela.
09:11So the president looks forward to obviously talking to her about the realities on the ground in the country and what is taking place.
09:18As for Miss Rodriguez, the president did speak with her directly this week. As you know, he revealed that to all of you yesterday.
09:24And Secretary Rubio and the administration have been in constant communication with Miss Rodriguez and other members of the interim government in Venezuela.
09:33They have been extremely cooperative. They have thus far met all of the demands and requests of the United States and of the president.
09:41And I think you have all seen that play out. We obviously had a $500 million energy jail that was struck in large part because of the cooperation from Miss Rodriguez.
09:50Venezuela and Miss Rodriguez have also confirmed that they will be releasing political prisoners from Venezuela.
09:57There were five Americans who were recently released this week as well.
10:00So the president likes what he's seeing and will expect that cooperation to continue.
10:05Regarding the investigation into the leak that the president referenced yesterday, what is the administration's position on the Washington Post reporter?
10:13The Post has reported that she was told that she is not a target of the investigation. Does the administration believe she did anything wrong?
10:22And then also, what is the administration's position on the Pentagon Papers case from the 1970s that affirmed reporters' right to publish classified information under certain circumstances?
10:33Well, since this is an active investigation, I don't want to comment on it much more than what we did yesterday to obviously confirm the investigation.
10:41And I can confirm what the attorney general stated and the president as well, which is that the individual, unfortunately, a contractor at the Pentagon chose to unlawfully leak classified and very serious information to this Washington Post reporter.
10:56Hence why the reporter's home was was looked into by the FBI, rightfully so.
11:03And the administration is not going to tolerate leaks, especially from within the national security apparatus of the United States government that put our nation's integrity and our national security at risk.
11:15Full stop. The president will not support that. I know the secretary of war will not support that and it will not stand.
11:22And legal action will be taken against anyone, whether it's a member of the press or whether it's an employee for a federal agency who breaks the law.
11:31If you break the law and if you endanger our men and women in uniform, you are going to be held accountable. Period. Full stop. Jackie.
11:39Does this administration believe that this reporter or any reporter has a right to publish classified information under certain circumstances?
11:47Look, I think that we do not believe that individuals who have been given the privilege of holding a top secret clearance should be illegally leaking that classified information.
11:57And I know the American people agree with that. And I think it's a basic tenant of journalistic integrity not to publish information that could directly endanger the operational security or the brave men and women who are serving this country in uniform and putting themselves in harm's way to protect not just the people of this administration,
12:16but all of you in the press and all of their fellow Americans as well. Jackie.
12:20Thank you, Caroline. I wanted to get the White House reaction to Iranian state TV broadcasting an implicit threat to the president's life.
12:28It was images of the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to reports with the message. This time it will not go wrong.
12:35I have not seen that, to be honest with you, Jackie. We'll take a look and I'll let the president and his national security team examine that footage to ensure its legitimacy.
12:44Again, I haven't seen it, so I can't comment on it. What I will say with respect to Iran is that the president and his team have communicated to the Iranian regime that if the killing continues, there will be grave consequences.
12:57And the president received a message, as he revealed to all of you in the whole world yesterday, that the killing and the executions will stop.
13:04And the president understands today that 800 executions that were scheduled and supposed to take place yesterday were halted.
13:13And so the president and his team are closely monitoring this situation and all options remain on the table for the president.
13:19Is it true that Netanyahu encouraged him against strikes?
13:23Look, it's true that the president spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu, but I would never detail details about their conversation without giving the expressed approval by the president himself.
13:33Leija.
13:34Thank you, Caroline.
13:35Is it still the president's assessment that it would be very hard for Ms. Machado to leave Venezuela because he says she lacks the respect and support in that country?
13:46And will he raise that with her today?
13:48I think the president's assessment that you just pointed out was based on realities on the ground.
13:53It was a realistic assessment based on what the president was reading and hearing from his advisers and national security team.
14:01And at this moment in time, his opinion on that matter has not changed.
14:05He has also said that he would like there to be elections in Venezuela when the time is right.
14:10That's right.
14:11Do you have any update on when that might be?
14:13And is he committed to a transition to democracy for Venezuela?
14:17Yes.
14:18And he is also committed to hopefully seeing elections in Venezuela one day.
14:21But I don't have an updated timetable for you today.
14:23Reagan in the back.
14:25Thanks, Caroline.
14:26I have a question for you on Minnesota and then also Venezuela.
14:29Sure.
14:30President Trump threatened invoking the Insurrection Act today in a true social post.
14:34I'm wondering what his tipping point is.
14:36Like, what would it take for him to invoke the Insurrection Act?
14:38Look, that's only a question, frankly, Reagan, the president can answer.
14:42But the Insurrection Act is a tool at the president's disposal.
14:46As you know, it has been used sparingly, but it has been used by previous presidents in American history.
14:52And I think the president's true social posts spoke very loud and clear to Democrats across this country.
14:59Elected officials who are using their platforms to encourage violence against federal law enforcement officers who are encouraging left wing agitators to unlawfully obstruct legitimate law enforcement operations.
15:16And if you talk to any law enforcement officer, no matter what level they work at, they want to be working with their counterparts, whether that's at the federal level or the federal authorities wanting to work with their counterparts at the state and local level.
15:30And it's truly shameful that now for more than a year, you've had elected Democrat governors and mayors who have basically held their state and local law enforcement hostage and told them you cannot cooperate with federal law enforcement.
15:45Why? They cooperated under the Biden administration. It's because these Democrats are deranged in their hatred for President Trump and they are holding their state and local law enforcement hostage as a result.
15:56And these Democrat mayors and governors are doing this over what? Over the lawful and legitimate law enforcement operations to remove violent criminals from the streets of Minnesota, from the streets of California, from the streets of New York and from the streets of every state across this country.
16:15And you don't see these riots and this vandalism taking place in states like Florida. Why?
16:23Because you have a governor in that state who has empowered federal and local authorities to work together.
16:28And it's despicable what we're seeing from these Democrat politicians, especially in sanctuary states and cities across the country.
16:34Go ahead. John.
16:37Thank you so much. My question is, President Trump has talked twice in recent days, once at the Kennedy Center and then at Reuters again last night about canceling the election. Why is he talking about this?
16:47I believe you're referring to the president's interview at Reuters last night.
16:51I was in that interview. It was a closed door interview. Obviously, there was not audio or video. The president was simply joking.
16:58He was saying, we're doing such a great job. We're doing everything the American people thought. Maybe we should just keep rolling. But he was speaking facetiously.
17:05And then one more on the labor secretary. She's under investigation. Has he spoken to her about this?
17:10I don't know if the president has spoken directly to the secretary. If they have, I'm unfamiliar with that conversation. But I have spoken to the president about that report regarding the secretary. He's aware of the internal investigation. And he stands by the secretary. And he thinks that she's doing a tremendous job at the Department of Labor on behalf of American workers.
17:30PBS. Go ahead.
17:31You mentioned he could go about working federal and state local officials in the field at a senator's office is saying, today, that he's trying to get a hold, directly with the president. How did they have spoken? And if they haven't, why haven't they spoken?
17:43Why haven't they spoken if there's a desire from Walls, if they're saying to de-escalate what's happening there?
17:50I'm not sure if that's a genuine offer to speak with the president.
17:54I was with the president about 30 minutes ago, and they hadn't spoken at that point.
17:58Look, the president is always willing to answer the phone when people pick up and call.
18:01When there was another tragic shooting many months ago in Governor Walls' state, he spoke directly with the governor.
18:06But I would ask that the governor stops inciting the harassment and illegal obstruction of law enforcement in his state.
18:14All ICE and federal law enforcement are trying to do are remove people like this off of the streets of Governor Walls' city in Minneapolis and of his state in Minnesota.
18:24If you look at some of the individuals in this photo, these are all illegal alien criminals who came into our country under the previous administration.
18:32This is some of the most disturbing crimes you will ever read about.
18:36And there's only a few reporters in this room who will actually talk about these individuals.
18:40This is all ICE is trying to do.
18:42They are trying to remove people like this from Governor Walls' state.
18:46And so, yes, he should pick up the phone, and he should say that he will cooperate with this president and with the federal government in making Minnesota safer,
18:53because that's all President Trump and his administration want to do.
18:56Mary.
18:57The Press, the president says he wants money to go directly to Americans so they can buy their own insurance.
19:03How exactly would this work?
19:05And can the president assure Americans that this will be enough to cover their health care costs?
19:09So this is the second principle in the president's health care plan, lowering insurance premiums specifically and ensuring that that money is going directly back to the American people and cutting the kickbacks that then raise those premiums.
19:23So this plan, once put into legislative text and passed by Congress and sent to the president's desk,
19:29will stop sending big insurance companies billions of extra taxpayer-funded subsidy payments
19:35and instead send that money directly to eligible Americans to allow them to buy the health insurance of their choice through,
19:41you may have heard it be referred to as health savings accounts.
19:45Whether that ends up being the actual name of such accounts, we'll have to see.
19:48Again, Congress and the White House are going to work together to put this plan into action.
19:52And then secondly, the great health care plan will fund a cost-sharing reduction program for health care plans,
19:58which will save taxpayers at least $36 billion and reduce the most common Obamacare plan premiums by over 10 percent.
20:06And that's according to the Congressional Budget Office.
20:08But 20 million Americans in recent weeks have seen their health care costs soar.
20:12Can he assure them that if this plan is put in place that they will be able to cover those costs?
20:17If this plan is put in place, every single American who has health care in the United States will see lower costs as a result.
20:24They will see more transparency.
20:26All of these proposals that are within the great health care plan are incredibly popular with the American people,
20:31and they will impact everyone, not just a small fraction of those who are within the health care marketplace,
20:37but every single American will continue to see their costs go down.
20:40And I will note that they already are with respect to prescription drug prices.
20:44When you look at what the president has done with most favored nations,
20:47you've seen these big pharmaceutical companies in the Oval Office saying that this president and his team were nonstop around the clock
20:55pressuring us and negotiating with us to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Americans.
21:00And we are already seeing that to the tune in some cases of more than 500 percent.
21:05And that Trump Rx website is something that the administration will be formally launching very soon.
21:10So Americans will have access to those lower costs of drugs.
21:14Josh.
21:15The Press.
21:15The President has called on credit card companies to lower cap rates 10 percent effective the 20th next week.
21:22If they don't do that, what's his plan?
21:26What will he do?
21:27What's the threat?
21:27Well, tariffs?
21:29No, I'm just kidding.
21:30The President certainly has an expectation, Josh, that the credit card companies will do this,
21:35just as he did with the pharmaceutical companies, that they will lower costs for American consumers.
21:40I don't have a specific consequence to outline for you, but certainly this is an expectation
21:44and, frankly, a demand that the President has made.
21:47Can you give us an update on the Fed?
21:50Sorry.
21:51There was some reporting from, I think, Fox Business that Rick Reader had an interview this week scheduled.
21:55The President has indicated he's already made a selection, or at least he's settling on someone.
22:02Where is he in that process, and when can we expect an announcement?
22:04Is he still doing interviews?
22:05Look, the President is in the same place as you all have been asking about this for many, many weeks.
22:10He's in a decision-making phase.
22:12There are a few people who he likes very much for this job, maybe less than that.
22:18The truth is, like with all decisions, it's a decision for the President to make.
22:22And he said to Reuters in that interview last night that he thinks he'll be finally making that decision in the next couple of weeks.
22:27So we will see.
22:29And very quickly, there's been some criticism from other governments about ROC and XAI, the Twitter AI bot,
22:35and things it's been doing to manipulate images, including whether that would violate the Take It Down Act of the First Lady to support it.
22:41We have not heard from this administration on it.
22:43Elon Musk says that they've disabled that, but I wanted to ask you whether the administration has a position
22:48and whether that's something that you will be pursuing or whether the President has talked to Mr. Musk about that.
22:53Ms. Yes, I will talk to the Office of Science and Technology,
22:56and we will get you a firm statement and answer on exactly where the administration stands.
23:00I don't want to speak on that without speaking with the experts on it.
23:04Yes.
23:05The Press.
23:06Just to follow up on the health care plan, one of the things in the Affordable Care Act was coverage of pre-existing conditions.
23:11Is there any discussion or inclusion on that issue in the President's plan?
23:16Ms. Oh, the President's plan that he outlined today will have no impact on individuals in this country with pre-existing conditions.
23:22Obviously, that's a continued conversation that the White House will have with Congress,
23:26but that's not the President's intention with the Great Health Care Plan.
23:29Go ahead.
23:31The Press. Thanks, Caroline. Two questions on Minneapolis.
23:33Ms. And then you. Go ahead.
23:34The Press. Two questions on Minneapolis, one on the ICE agent and the other on the rioting.
23:38I believe last night there were protesters or rioters that rifled through an FBI car, took weapons.
23:45We had a reporter embedded with ICE who said that she saw constant harassment all evening.
23:50Can you speak to the rhetoric we're hearing from Democrat politicians, whether they are causing violence against ICE,
23:57as well as some of the headlines we have seen not including the full story?
24:00Ms. Yeah. I mean, to your first point, I think I've addressed that, that these Democrat governors and mayors in not just Minnesota,
24:07but in states across the country are essentially, you know, they've referred to ICE agents who, again, are brave men and women.
24:13And I would encourage everyone in this room and I would encourage Governor Walz and other Democrats who are demeaning law enforcement to sit down and have a cup of coffee with an ICE agent or a Border Patrol agent.
24:23These are great patriotic men and women who have families who put on the uniform every day and are following our nation's immigration laws at the direction of their bosses.
24:35And again, at the direction of the law, they are simply trying to enforce the law.
24:39And the Democrat Party has demeaned these individuals. They've even referred to them as Nazis and as the Gestapo.
24:46And that is absolutely leading to the violence we're seeing in the streets.
24:49If you look at some of the images out of Minneapolis last night, look at this vehicle. Look at what it says.
24:54It says F ICE. You have these individuals who are putting their middle finger proudly so at the camera.
25:01Another ICE individual vehicle that was vandalized last night by these left wing agitators.
25:06People don't do this without encouragement from people in power who make them feel like it's okay.
25:12Here's another one. And I'm pretty sure this car, you can't see it, said the best agent is a dead agent or something to that effect.
25:19This is despicable rhetoric that we're seeing. And the media is absolutely complicit in this violence.
25:25Because if you look at the headline from CNN, protests erupt after federal agent shoots man in Minneapolis.
25:31That is not the story. That is not the truth. If you actually want to know the truth, you can look at what the Department of Homeland Security released.
25:38Which is that this ICE agent was executing a targeted operation against a Venezuelan illegal alien who was unlawfully present in the country.
25:47But and when this ICE agent tried to detain the individual, three more of his comrades came rushing out of a house and started ambushing and attacking the ICE agent.
26:00They used a shovel or broom to smash his face in. And so, yes, that agent had to use self-defense and take up his weapon to protect his own life.
26:09That is what's happening on the streets of Minneapolis. That's what's happening on the streets, unfortunately, of these Democrat run cities and states where you have elected officials who are encouraging such violence against our brave men and women in law enforcement.
26:22The Press. Thank you, Caroline. Two questions.
26:25First, a follow up on one of my colleagues who asked you about the president's interview with lawyers.
26:31You said that he was joking about canceling the elections, but Americans for generations have fought and died for democracy, for this democracy.
26:42Are you saying that the president finds the idea of canceling elections funny?
26:46Andrew, were you in the room? No, you weren't. I was in the room. I heard the conversation.
26:51And only someone like you would take that so seriously and pose it at a question in that way.
26:55The Press. Thank you, Caroline.
26:58Senator Elizabeth Warren said that the president called her earlier this week to discuss caps on credit card interest rates.
27:05I'm curious, would the president work with her and other Democrats in Congress on a legislative fix to this issue?
27:12I think the president would work in good faith with anyone in Congress for a good legislative fix that would benefit the American people.
27:18And that's precisely why he called Senator Warren earlier this week on that matter.
27:23Thanks, Caroline.
27:25Earlier, you were just defending ICE agents generally.
27:28And earlier on, Secretary Noon spoke to the media and she said, among other things, that they are doing everything correctly.
27:35Thirty-two people died in ICE custody last year.
27:39One hundred and seventy U.S. citizens were detained by ICE.
27:42And Renee Goode was shot in the head and killed by an ICE agent.
27:47How does that equate to them doing everything correctly?
27:50Why was Renee Goode unfortunately and tragically killed?
27:53Are you asking me my opinion?
27:55Yeah.
27:56Because an ICE agent acted recklessly and killed it unjustifiable.
27:58Oh, okay. So you're a biased reporter with a left-wing opinion.
28:01What do you want me to do?
28:02Yeah, because you're a left-wing hack. You're not a reporter. You're posing in this room as a journalist.
28:07And it's so clear by the premise of your question.
28:10And you and the people in the media who have such biases but fake like you're a journalist, you shouldn't even be sitting in that seat.
28:17But you're pretending like you're a journalist, but you're a left-wing activist.
28:20And the question that you just raised and your answer proves your bias.
28:24You should be reporting on the facts. You should be reporting on the cases.
28:27Do you have the numbers of how many American citizens were killed at the hands of illegal aliens who ICE is trying to remove from this country?
28:34I bet you don't. I bet you didn't even read up on those stories.
28:37I bet you never even read about Lake and Riley or Jocelyn Nungere or all of the innocent Americans who were killed at the hands of illegal aliens in this country.
28:44And the brave men and women of ICE are doing everything in their power to remove those heinous individuals and make our communities safer.
28:51And shame on people like you in the media who have a crooked view and have a biased view and pretend like you're a real honest journalist.
29:01The Press, Caroline.
29:02The Press, Caroline.
29:03Two quick questions on Iran. I wanted to ask first, just if you can say, how close was the President to potentially launching strikes last night?
29:11And was it the gold states that convinced him not to do that, as some of the region there have said?
29:14not to do that, as some of the region there have said?
29:17Ms. Well, look, Kelly, I know there's been a lot of speculation in the media
29:20about what the President is going to do at any given moment or any given night.
29:25And I would say a lot of these stories, to be honest with you,
29:27I've been reading them, and they have been based on anonymous sources
29:30who are pretending or guessing to know the President's thinking.
29:34The truth is, only President Trump knows what he's going to do,
29:36and a very, very small team of advisors are read into his thinking on that.
29:41And as I just told you, he continues to closely monitor the situation
29:45on the ground in Iran.
29:46And as we saw yesterday, he had heard that the killings
29:49and executions would stop.
29:51And we have seen 800 people.
29:53Their lives have been spared as a result of that.
29:55The President continues to closely monitor,
29:57but also keep all of his options on the table.
29:59The Press, Caroline.
30:01The Press, Caroline, two separate questions.
30:02On the Machado meeting first, what is it that the President feels
30:06that he needs to hear from her or from the opposition party
30:10that he hadn't heard prior to today
30:12or he wanted to hear in the meeting
30:14to be able to convince him to commit
30:16to some sort of a timeline for elections?
30:19Ms. I'm not sure the President is going into such the meeting
30:22with expectations like you just laid out, Fran.
30:24I don't think he needs to hear anything from Ms. Machado.
30:27I think, generally, this is a meeting
30:30that the President was willing to take
30:31and willing to accept to meet Ms. Machado in person
30:34and to just have a frank and positive discussion
30:37about what's taking place in Venezuela, that's all.
30:39The Press on the subject of Greenland.
30:41Jeff Landry, the President's Special Envoy for Greenland,
30:43wasn't in the White House meeting yesterday.
30:46Can you say why that was
30:48and what exactly the role he is playing
30:50in these conversations about acquiring Greenland?
30:52Ms. Well, the Vice President
30:53and the Secretary of State were present for that meeting.
30:56And the meeting, it was a productive meeting.
30:59It was a good meeting.
31:00And in that meeting, the two sides agreed
31:02to really establish a working group of individuals
31:06who will continue to have technical talks
31:07on the acquisition of Greenland.
31:09Those talks will take place, I'm told, every two to three weeks.
31:12So this is a conversation the administration
31:15intends to keep having with the Danes
31:17and with the respected delegation from Greenland.
31:20But the President has made his priority quite clear.
31:23He wants the United States to acquire Greenland.
31:25He thinks it's in our best national security to do that.
31:27Dina.
31:28The Press on the line.
31:29The Press on the line.
31:30There have been multiple instances
31:31of American citizens being detained by ICE.
31:34And I'm wondering what the administration
31:36is asking the agency to do.
31:38What steps is the administration asking the agency to take
31:42to ensure that Americans are not wrongly arrested?
31:45Ms. Obviously, ICE is focused on detaining individuals
31:49who are unlawfully present in the country.
31:52And there have been hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens
31:56who have been arrested and detained
31:59and deported from this country by ICE
32:00over the course of the last year.
32:02And that's their intention and that is their goal.
32:04The Press on the line.
32:05The Press on the line.
32:06The Press on the line.
32:07One poll-up on Greenland.
32:08You reportedly sent troops over there.
32:10Does that change at all what the President is doing on this?
32:13And then a second question.
32:14Yesterday, in a Senate health hearing,
32:17Senator Josh Hawley repeatedly asked a doctor
32:21if men can get pregnant,
32:22and she did not directly answer that.
32:23What are your thoughts on that?
32:24Ms. Well, to your first question on Greenland,
32:27I don't think troops in Europe impact
32:29the President's decision-making process,
32:32nor does it impact his goal of the acquisition
32:35of Greenland at all.
32:36To your second question, I mean,
32:38anyone in their right mind with common sense
32:40who's speaking honestly and candidly
32:42will say that men cannot get pregnant.
32:44And I think I can attest to that myself.
32:47So thank you all very much.
33:09That's a great approach.
Be the first to comment