- 21 minutes ago
Donald Trump has declared that the proposed US-Saudi civilian nuclear cooperation agreement will move forward only if Saudi Arabia normalises relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. The announcement has raised fresh questions over the multi-billion-dollar nuclear partnership, with reports also suggesting the agreement could allow Saudi Arabia to develop a civilian nuclear program. Trump, however, denied any uranium enrichment would be permitted.
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00:00The civil nuclear deal, there will be no enrichment of material, an important point being made between the Department of
00:06Energy and Saudi Arabia, which pertains only to non-military use, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi
00:14Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.
00:18He wants to see these countries sign the Abraham Accord. It was one of the most historic accomplishments of his
00:24first term, and it continues to be a long-term goal of his to expand those accords to ultimately come
00:29to a place where the Middle East can be a peaceful and stable region.
00:32And if they don't join the Abraham Accords, the deal is off. So we'll continue to have those conversations with
00:38our Saudi counterparts moving forward.
00:39We'll begin today with a few scheduling announcements. Later this afternoon, President Trump will welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers back
00:46to the White House to celebrate their second consecutive World Series championship.
00:51Tomorrow night, the president will attend the White House Correspondents Association Dinner Round 2, celebrating free speech and the First
00:59Amendment alongside all of you members of the media.
01:02The president looks forward to finishing what he started before a despicable assassination attempt derailed the original event back in
01:09April, as we all know.
01:10And I encourage everyone watching tomorrow night to tune in for what promises to be a very entertaining and memorable
01:17evening.
01:18Looking ahead to next week, on Monday, President Trump will travel to Michigan to deliver remarks on the economy.
01:24On Tuesday afternoon, the president will deliver a tribute honoring the life and legacy of his dear friend, Senator Lindsey
01:31Graham, at the National Cathedral.
01:34And next Friday, the president will host the 13th cabinet meeting of this term, of this term at Camp David,
01:41which will be a lot of fun and something different for the cabinet to experience together.
01:45Turning now to the economy, a little more than a year after President Trump signed the working families tax cuts
01:51into law, this historic legislation continues to deliver on its promise, unleashing a genuine boom for American workers, families and
02:01small businesses.
02:02The numbers speak for themselves.
02:04This was the biggest tax refund season in American history, with the average refund exceeding $3,400, an 11%
02:12increase over the last year.
02:15American families and workers claimed $82 billion in direct tax relief, and 97% of filers received a tax cut.
02:24More than 29 million workers claimed no tax on overtime.
02:28More than 35 million seniors claimed no tax on Social Security.
02:32And nearly 8 million workers claimed no tax on TIPS.
02:36Thanks to the other pro-growth provisions in the working families tax cuts, like making the 20% small business
02:43tax deduction permanent and delivering 100% expensing for new factories, equipment and research,
02:49the Trump administration is setting up American manufacturers and workers to thrive like never before.
02:55Just this week, the National Association of Manufacturers, which is the largest manufacturing association in the country, released a detailed
03:03report showing exactly how these tax cuts are driving investment, job creation, innovation and long-term growth in all 50
03:11states.
03:12In fact, I'd like to take a moment to highlight just a few of the real American businesses that this
03:18law is helping.
03:19Pivot Manufacturing in Arizona made the largest equipment purchase in company history after the Trump tax cuts gave them the
03:26long-term certainty to invest with confidence.
03:29Winton Machine Company in Georgia is on pace for the best year in its history.
03:35Ketchy Inc. in North Carolina was able to purchase new machinery and expand its workforce by 25%.
03:41And Juergens in Ohio expanded its brand-new facility to increase production.
03:46And they're also paying their workers even more thanks to the no tax on overtime provision.
03:51These are not just great statistics.
03:53These are American businesses with the confidence to grow, hire and invest right here at home, rather than offshoring their
04:01jobs.
04:02And a business opening or expanding in this country means more opportunity and higher wages for American workers.
04:08It means a chance for the American dream for young families.
04:11And it means restoring the belief that we can make and build things right here at home.
04:17This is what President Trump promised, and it's exactly what he is delivering with the help of Republicans in Congress.
04:23Democrats throw around the word affordability a lot.
04:26But when they had the chance to vote for the largest middle-class tax cuts in history, they refused.
04:32If Democrats got their way, it would have meant the largest tax increase in history, $4 trillion.
04:3890% of Americans would have seen their taxes go up, and it would have been a complete disaster for
04:44our economy.
04:44That's the Democrat solution to, quote, affordability.
04:48It is raising your taxes.
04:50So I hope the press will cover more of the massive success stories resulting from the working families tax cuts
04:55and point out that every single Democrat on Capitol Hill voted against every single common sense provision
05:02that put more money back into the pockets of the American people.
05:05Finally, on the energy front, after this briefing, President Trump will participate in a historic ratepayer protection pledge event
05:14at the EPA headquarters down the street.
05:16The president will expand the ratepayer protection pledge to governors, state legislatures, developers, and power providers
05:23to ensure that everyone involved in building empowering data centers pays their own way
05:28instead of passing those costs on to hardworking families.
05:31The president will be joined by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin,
05:37and several governors who have already signed on to this pledge, and it has already proven to be remarkably successful.
05:43Nearly 200 additional stakeholders have signed on since it was first announced,
05:48including utilities, data center developers, public power authorities, co-ops, and state governors.
05:54As a result, the pledge now covers 80% of all the power delivered to American homes and businesses.
06:00President Trump's bold leadership is turning data centers from a source of concern
06:05into engines of growth and opportunity for communities across this country,
06:10all while cementing America's dominance over China in the global AI race.
06:15The president is ensuring the American people are never left footing the bill so private companies can benefit.
06:21Instead, President Trump is leveraging the data center boom to deliver real, tangible benefits
06:27for working families and small businesses.
06:30So we have a busy day here, rest assured.
06:32I'll take some questions.
06:33And here in our new media seat, we have Cam from Town Hall.
06:36Cam, thank you for being here.
06:37Why don't you kick us off today?
06:39Two quick questions.
06:40One on Congress.
06:41First off, Speaker Mike Johnson passed a continuing resolution earlier this week.
06:46John Thunas said he wants to have a work with Democrats to find a way to fund the government.
06:50What is the White House's stance and the best way to keep the government funded?
06:54Well, the White House's stance is that the government needs to be funded.
06:57This president and Republicans on Capitol Hill from both chambers, as you just mentioned,
07:02the House and the Senate Republicans want to keep the government open.
07:05We want to work together to find ways to do that.
07:08And the White House will continue to have discussions with Senate leadership on the best path forward.
07:13I don't want to get ahead of those conversations.
07:15But the most important thing for the American people to know is that this president and this White House wants
07:20the government to remain open,
07:22unlike the Democrats in this town who have been acting as obstructionists.
07:26We've seen time and time again they have chosen to block this administration,
07:30to block Republicans in Congress from keeping our government open, which does not help anyone.
07:34And it especially hurts the American people who depend on our government remaining open so they can access the critical
07:41services
07:41that our government provides to so many Americans across the country.
07:44So these conversations are continuing, but I think I just made the president's position quite clear.
07:49And then on the Saudi Arabian nuclear deal, what steps is the U.S. taking to get Saudi Arabia to
07:56sign the Abraham Accords?
07:58Sure.
07:58Well, the president himself has spoken on this many times.
08:02His true social post this morning, and I will read it for those at home who missed it.
08:06The civil nuclear deal, there will be no enrichment of material, an important point being made between the Department of
08:12Energy and Saudi Arabia,
08:14which pertains only to non-military use, will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very
08:22respected and successful Abraham Accords.
08:25The United States is not opposed to civil nuclear facilities, as we all know.
08:29Look, this is a condition that the president has spoken about many times with our Gulf and Arab allies.
08:37He wants to see these countries sign the Abraham Accord.
08:40It was one of the most historic accomplishments of his first term,
08:43and it continues to be a long-term goal of his to expand those accords,
08:47to ultimately come to a place where the Middle East can be a peaceful and stable region.
08:51And, yes, this deal with Saudi Arabia, the energy deal, is contingent on this condition as far as the president
08:57is concerned.
08:58So we'll continue to talk with our Saudi counterparts to get the deal finalized and hopefully see them joining the
09:03Abraham Accords very soon.
09:06Gabe.
09:07Caroline, thank you.
09:08With regards to the Saudi nuclear deal, why was that condition not mentioned yesterday when the energy secretary announced it?
09:14Well, look, the president is always the final dealmaker, as you know,
09:17and this is something that he has mentioned on numerous occasions.
09:20Going back, I can provide you with those statements.
09:23And he has said if they don't join the Abraham Accords, the deal is off.
09:28So we'll continue to have those conversations with our Saudi counterparts moving forward.
09:31So the deal is dead if Saudi Arabia doesn't join?
09:34And have you any indication that Saudi Arabia is even considering this?
09:38Again, the president has spoken directly with the Saudis about this in numerous conversations in the past,
09:44and the administration will continue to engage in those conversations.
09:47Would Saudi Arabia be exempt from international inspections as part of this deal if it moves forward?
09:52I don't want to comment on the specifics of the deal, as we're still, again, as I just said,
09:56talking especially about this very important condition that the president raised this morning.
10:00Alexandra.
10:00It's good to see you.
10:01You're back.
10:02You too.
10:03So Treasury Secretary Besant voiced concern this week on China potentially distilling or stealing AI technology
10:10from the United States, kind of manipulating it as their own.
10:13Anthropics said that the largest distilling attack happened last month.
10:18Do you think this will come up when the president meets with President Xi in September?
10:21Well, I have had the honor of being part of some of the meetings and discussions
10:25between President Trump and President Xi,
10:27and I can tell you there is always a wide range of topics that come up.
10:31I would imagine this would be something that's of high importance to the president
10:35and of this administration to obviously ensure that America remains dominant in the AI race,
10:41and we're obviously tracking the particular situation that you mentioned.
10:44I have one more, if you don't mind.
10:45This week we've seen some major players in Democrat politics voicing or alerting, really,
10:50on how much influence socialism, communism has had now on kind of mainstream Democrat politics.
10:56Is there any chance that the president would be interested or is considering working with left-of-center Democrats to
11:02push back on this?
11:03Well, unfortunately we don't seem to have too many of those left in the Democrat Party.
11:07We have literal self-proclaimed communists who are winning elections
11:12and who are claiming to be the new leadership of the Democrat Party.
11:16I think the vast majority of Americans understand the dangers of communism.
11:20Just look at countries all over this world.
11:22As an example, Cuba right now is a country that is about to be a failed state
11:27because of the communist policies of the past several decades.
11:31Communism should never be allowed to lead this country,
11:35and the president obviously is strictly opposed to it and all the dangers that it reaps.
11:41We've seen it happen across the world.
11:43Meredith.
11:44Just to continue on the Saudi nuclear deal, do the Saudis agree with this interpretation
11:49since it wasn't part of the initial agreement,
11:52and has the president talked to MBS since this new condition was announced?
11:57As you know, the president just put out this statement a few hours ago.
12:00I don't believe he's had a call with MBS in the hours since.
12:04However, this is something that he has raised in previous conversations
12:07and has also said many times in the past.
12:10John, in the back, go ahead.
12:11Thanks a lot, Carolyn.
12:12In regards to this deal, in the past, the Saudi government has said
12:15they will not consider entering into the Abraham Accords
12:19unless and until there's a Palestinian state.
12:23What makes you think that they're going to change their minds on their position regarding that?
12:28Again, I won't get ahead of the president's conversations,
12:30but this is something that he feels very strongly about
12:33and has spoken about it in the past and will continue to uphold.
12:36Can I ask you one other question?
12:37Sure.
12:38Just playing devil's advocate,
12:39why does Saudi Arabia get a civilian nuclear deal,
12:43but Iran doesn't get a civilian nuclear deal?
12:46Well, again, this agreement is still being worked out.
12:49It will eventually, hopefully, be finalized with the condition that the president spoke about this morning.
12:55But this agreement in particular, as it's been discussed thus far,
12:58does give priority access for American companies and the Saudi nuclear energy program,
13:02which will ultimately benefit American industry workers and supply chains.
13:06And so the deal that has been discussed thus far and will continue to be discussed absolutely puts America first.
13:11And that's obviously very important to this president.
13:13Ed.
13:15So Friday, the Section 122, the 10 percent global tariff, goes away.
13:20Is the president going to ask Congress for an extension, or what's next?
13:23Well, I know the USTR, our great Jameson Greer, trade representative,
13:28will be having an announcement on that very soon, later today.
13:32I don't want to get ahead of him, so I would just tell you to stay tuned for more details.
13:35Okay, and then one more on the president's going to have some big utility companies at this event later on
13:41today.
13:42We're now a year and a half, so to speak, into his energy, pro-energy policies.
13:48Is he going to pressure those executives to lower energy prices, not just maintain the prices?
13:52Well, look, as I mentioned earlier, the Ratepayer Protection Pledge is a novel idea drawn up by this president, his
14:00team,
14:00to ensure that data centers and communities, where those communities want data centers,
14:05that these big CEOs and energy companies are picking up the tab for the energy costs in these communities,
14:10so the American taxpayer are not being fronted with those bills.
14:13And the pledge today is being expanded to acknowledge all elements involved in building and operating data center,
14:20the governors who appoint the state regulators, who set the power prices, the utilities and the co-ops that sell
14:25the power,
14:26and in addition to the tech companies that have already signed the pledge.
14:29So you'll continue to hear more about that from the president in a few hours at 2.30 when he
14:33goes over to the EPA.
14:35Sophia.
14:36Have you spoken to the president about what he wants to do about Chinese AI models,
14:41if they are found to have stolen American IP?
14:44Does he want to sanction them, or what actions can be taken without undermining broader U.S.-China trade talks
14:51or cutting off American startups that are increasingly reliant on them?
14:55Sure.
14:55Well, I won't get ahead of the president on any potential actions,
14:58but obviously these conversations are taking place, and again, they're of the utmost importance,
15:03not just for our national security, but to ensure America remains dominant in this space.
15:07Stephen.
15:07Thank you, Caroline.
15:09Two questions.
15:10Has President Trump spoken with FIFA President Gianni Infantino about his interest in nominating him
15:16for U.N. Secretary General?
15:18Can you explain his interest there?
15:19And secondly, just a minor point of clarification on the Saudi nuclear deal.
15:24Did Prime Minister Netanyahu request this provision?
15:27Not to my knowledge, no.
15:28Again, as I told you, this was an idea the president has long had.
15:32It was the president and his team in the first term that began and signed the Abraham Accords
15:38with several countries in the region, between those countries and Israel,
15:41and the president obviously wants to expand on that historic accomplishment from his first term.
15:46Today, your first question about Gianni Infantino, I don't know if he and the president have discussed that.
15:52I haven't been present for all their conversations.
15:54I know they speak quite frequently, and the president has a lot of respect for Gianni
15:58and what he has done with FIFA. As we all just saw, the World Cup was a tremendous success here
16:03at home.
16:04It not only was hugely beneficial to our businesses and our local economies across the country,
16:10but I think it showed that America is the greatest country on earth,
16:13and the president is grateful to Gianni for all of the efforts that he had
16:17to make that dream a reality here in the United States.
16:21Danny.
16:22Thanks, Caroline.
16:22Is President Trump or the administration, do they have any plans to intervene in the extradition process
16:29for the Tate brothers?
16:30No. We've already answered that question.
16:32Elizabeth.
16:33Thank you, Caroline.
16:34Secretary Mullen said that election officials that knowingly allowed non-citizens to vote
16:38could be prosecuted and fined.
16:40Is this option being considered in New Jersey after the governor revealed that thousands of non-citizens
16:45were registered to vote there?
16:46Well, for any prosecutions, obviously, I would always defer you to the Department of Justice.
16:50But what I will say on New Jersey and this governor, the fact that she just all of a sudden
16:54decided
16:55to put out a press release saying President Trump and Republicans have been right about
16:59non-citizens on our voting rolls is not a coincidence.
17:02I think this governor is saying this because she realizes this administration is serious
17:06about getting to the bottom of illegal aliens voting and being on our voting voter rolls in
17:12our country.
17:13The Secretary of Homeland Security, as you know, sent a letter to several states, including
17:17New Jersey, requesting that non-citizens that are on their voter rolls need to be reported
17:23to DHS and need to be removed from those voter rolls.
17:25So that's why all of a sudden she is speaking truth about the fact that this does take place
17:30in states across the country.
17:31It is completely unacceptable to have non-citizens on American voter rolls voting in U.S. elections.
17:38And she says at 6,600, we suspect it's a heck of a lot more, not just in New Jersey,
17:43but in states across the country, the president is hell-bent on getting to the bottom of this.
17:47And it's also why we need to pass the Save America Act to ensure that only U.S. citizens
17:53are voting in U.S. elections.
17:55And I understand the House had a great accomplishment yesterday with passing the budget resolution,
18:01which has as much of the Save America Act as possible.
18:03And we encourage the Senate to move forward with passing that resolution into law so the
18:09president can sign it into law by the August recess.
18:12It's of the utmost importance to this president, but also to the American people who support
18:16this bill overwhelmingly.
18:18Mary, in the back.
18:19Thank you, Caroline.
18:20Two questions, one on Sophia Cunningham and then on self-driving cars.
18:24Sure.
18:24Sophia Cunningham and the WNBA has been attacked as a MAGA Barbie for saying it's common sense
18:30for men to not be in women's sports in the locker rooms.
18:33Is the president following this story and has he reached out to her?
18:36I don't believe he has reached out to her.
18:39I know he is following the story.
18:41As you know, this is something the president feels strongly about as well, and the American
18:45people do too, that men should not be playing in women's sports.
18:49It's completely ludicrous that anyone could support that.
18:52It's even more ludicrous that you do have Sophia Cunningham, a female athlete herself,
18:57very accomplished in her own right, coming forth and speaking that truth that men shouldn't
19:01play in women's sports.
19:02We want to protect women and girls, and the backlash she is receiving from Democrats
19:06and left-wing fingers across the country is astonishing.
19:09They are clearly very out of touch with the American public on this issue, which, again,
19:13is an 80-20 issue.
19:15It's common sense.
19:16It's rooted in basic biological fact that men should not be competing against women on
19:21playing fields across the country.
19:23And then, really quick, on self-driving cars.
19:24There's legislation right now to ban China's self-driving car technology from U.S. roads.
19:29Does the White House have a position on this?
19:31And broadly, how does the president feel about self-driving cars himself?
19:35Well, you know, the president did have a red Tesla here at the White House for quite some
19:40time, so he's a supporter of them.
19:41I know he's purchased some self-driving cars for his family members, his grandchildren.
19:46So I think he supports them and Americans who want to drive them.
19:51But with that said, I don't know about the specific legislation.
19:54I will check in with our Legislative Affairs Office, and we'll get you a statement on that.
19:58Reagan.
19:59One question for you on Thune and then one on Darlene Graham.
20:03The president seemed yesterday frustrated with Leader Thune when he was speaking in Georgia.
20:09Is his patience running out with Leader Thune?
20:11And then the president recently endorsed Darlene Graham right after her appointment to Senate.
20:16What caused him to endorse her so quickly?
20:19The president met with Darlene and thought she will be a great representative for the great
20:24people of South Carolina and will carry on her brother's legacy of public service in that
20:29beautiful state.
20:30So the president is fully supportive of Darlene and her honorable decision to run and, again,
20:35to continue her brother's legacy.
20:37With respect to your first question on—remind me?
20:41Leader Thune, his patience is running out.
20:44Look, the president spoke about this directly yesterday.
20:47His patience is running out.
20:49He wants to see as much of the Save America past as possible by the August recess.
20:54He knows that's what the American people want to see past.
20:57He was just traveling on the road yesterday, spoke about this, and there was a very loud applause
21:03from the people in the audience, the everyday Americans, because voter ID is common sense.
21:08They want proof of citizenship in our elections, and the president feels very strongly about that.
21:13And I would just add, you know, the American people elected overwhelmingly Republicans to
21:19lead not just this White House but also the House and the Senate.
21:23The House did its job.
21:24The Senate needs to do its job, too.
21:26I know it's a brief briefing today, but you're going to hear from the president directly twice
21:30today at 2.30 and also at 4.30.
21:32And we will see you all tomorrow night at the Correspondence Center.
21:35Thanks, guys.
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