English subtitles for clip: File:04-04-2016 - Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest.webm
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1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,000 Mr. Earnest: Happy Monday, everybody. 2 00:00:02,001 --> 00:00:04,501 Hope you all had a pleasant weekend. 3 00:00:04,504 --> 00:00:06,504 I do not have anything at the top so we can go 4 00:00:06,506 --> 00:00:07,506 straight to your questions. 5 00:00:07,507 --> 00:00:08,207 Josh, do you want to kick us off here? 6 00:00:08,208 --> 00:00:09,208 The Press: Sure, thanks, Josh. 7 00:00:09,209 --> 00:00:11,409 I wanted to start with the two Libyans who were 8 00:00:11,411 --> 00:00:13,481 transferred out of Guantanamo Bay, announced 9 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:14,850 today by the Pentagon. 10 00:00:14,848 --> 00:00:18,418 With the number of remaining detainees there once again 11 00:00:18,418 --> 00:00:22,058 lowered, how much longer does the White House plan to 12 00:00:22,055 --> 00:00:25,195 wait to continue to give Congress time to look at 13 00:00:25,191 --> 00:00:29,831 your plan before you move ahead with potential 14 00:00:29,829 --> 00:00:31,829 executive actions to close the prison? 15 00:00:31,831 --> 00:00:35,371 Mr. Earnest: Josh, let's get to the news first, which is 16 00:00:35,368 --> 00:00:37,368 that the Department of Defense did announce the 17 00:00:37,370 --> 00:00:39,370 transfer of two Libyan nationals to the Republic of 18 00:00:39,372 --> 00:00:41,012 Senegal earlier today. 19 00:00:41,007 --> 00:00:44,347 With those transfers, there are now 89 detainees 20 00:00:44,344 --> 00:00:47,584 remaining at the prison at Guantanamo Bay. 21 00:00:47,580 --> 00:00:53,120 Let me also express our gratitude to the Republic of 22 00:00:53,119 --> 00:00:55,959 Senegal for this significant humanitarian gesture. 23 00:00:55,955 --> 00:00:59,125 The United States appreciates the generous 24 00:00:59,125 --> 00:01:02,665 assistance of the government of Senegal as the United 25 00:01:02,662 --> 00:01:04,532 States continues its efforts to close the detention 26 00:01:04,531 --> 00:01:09,071 facility at Guantanamo Bay. 27 00:01:09,068 --> 00:01:14,338 This is part of a strategy that the President initiated 28 00:01:14,340 --> 00:01:16,340 when he first arrived in the White House. 29 00:01:16,342 --> 00:01:23,712 The decision to transfer these two detainees reflects 30 00:01:23,716 --> 00:01:29,256 the careful analysis of a review board that was 31 00:01:29,255 --> 00:01:31,695 established to consider the individual cases 32 00:01:31,691 --> 00:01:33,531 of detainees. 33 00:01:33,526 --> 00:01:37,836 The review board's goal was to determine if there are 34 00:01:37,831 --> 00:01:40,171 locations to which individuals could be safely 35 00:01:40,166 --> 00:01:42,966 transferred under the right circumstances. 36 00:01:42,969 --> 00:01:46,739 And Senegal has agreed to put in place appropriate 37 00:01:46,739 --> 00:01:49,739 mechanisms that would mitigate the risk that these 38 00:01:49,742 --> 00:01:51,442 individuals could pose to U.S. 39 00:01:51,444 --> 00:01:53,444 national security down the line. 40 00:01:53,446 --> 00:01:55,416 So we're certainly appreciative of the 41 00:01:55,415 --> 00:01:57,655 cooperation we've received from Senegal for that effort. 42 00:01:57,650 --> 00:02:01,990 And this does enhance our ability to continue to make 43 00:02:01,988 --> 00:02:04,788 the case to Congress that we can effectively close the 44 00:02:04,791 --> 00:02:07,131 prison at Guantanamo Bay and we can do that entirely 45 00:02:07,126 --> 00:02:10,466 consistent with our national security options -- entirely 46 00:02:10,463 --> 00:02:15,803 consistent with our national security priorities. 47 00:02:15,802 --> 00:02:17,802 And we're going to continue to make that case. 48 00:02:17,804 --> 00:02:22,614 The Press: So even though it's getting farther and 49 00:02:22,609 --> 00:02:25,009 farther into the last year of this presidency, the 50 00:02:25,011 --> 00:02:29,411 current plan is to continue sticking with expecting that 51 00:02:29,415 --> 00:02:32,085 Congress at some point may reverse course and allow you 52 00:02:32,085 --> 00:02:33,485 to close the prison? 53 00:02:33,486 --> 00:02:35,626 Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh, this refrain may sound 54 00:02:35,622 --> 00:02:37,622 familiar to you, but, yes, the administration is going 55 00:02:37,624 --> 00:02:40,224 to continue to do our job, and Congress should do their 56 00:02:40,226 --> 00:02:44,636 job in fulfilling their responsibilities to look out 57 00:02:44,631 --> 00:02:46,631 for the national security interests of the 58 00:02:46,633 --> 00:02:47,633 American people. 59 00:02:47,634 --> 00:02:49,634 We certainly have applied that label when it comes to 60 00:02:49,636 --> 00:02:52,336 the Supreme Court, but it also applies to a range of 61 00:02:52,338 --> 00:02:54,338 national security considerations as well. 62 00:02:54,340 --> 00:02:57,640 And it's not just this President that has made the 63 00:02:57,644 --> 00:02:59,784 case that closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay would 64 00:02:59,779 --> 00:03:02,649 clearly be in our national security interests. 65 00:03:02,649 --> 00:03:05,319 This is a case that has been supported by national 66 00:03:05,318 --> 00:03:08,088 security experts in both parties, including 67 00:03:08,087 --> 00:03:10,287 President George W. Bush 68 00:03:10,290 --> 00:03:12,290 and a whole range of officials who served in his 69 00:03:12,292 --> 00:03:13,622 administration. 70 00:03:13,626 --> 00:03:16,966 This is also a strategy that is strongly supported by the 71 00:03:16,963 --> 00:03:18,503 Secretary of Defense. 72 00:03:18,498 --> 00:03:21,238 So our national security interests here are clear. 73 00:03:21,234 --> 00:03:27,244 And we would welcome Congress stopping their 74 00:03:30,577 --> 00:03:35,147 efforts to obstruct the closing of the prison at 75 00:03:35,148 --> 00:03:38,218 Guantanamo Bay and actually work effectively with the 76 00:03:38,217 --> 00:03:39,987 administration to get that done. 77 00:03:39,986 --> 00:03:42,126 The Press: I wanted to see if you had any information 78 00:03:42,121 --> 00:03:46,591 about the release of some private documents from this 79 00:03:46,593 --> 00:03:50,063 bank in Panama or any Sumatra accounts that 80 00:03:50,063 --> 00:03:51,333 people had. 81 00:03:51,331 --> 00:03:53,931 The Kremlin has said that President Putin was the main 82 00:03:53,933 --> 00:03:56,873 target of that breach. 83 00:03:56,869 --> 00:03:59,839 Do you have reason to believe that's the case? 84 00:03:59,839 --> 00:04:01,439 Any other information about what might have been behind 85 00:04:01,441 --> 00:04:05,741 this whole document dump? 86 00:04:05,745 --> 00:04:10,115 Mr. Earnest: Obviously, we've seen the extensive 87 00:04:10,116 --> 00:04:13,386 reporting that's been done on these leaked documents. 88 00:04:13,386 --> 00:04:15,826 I don't have a comment on the specific allegations 89 00:04:15,822 --> 00:04:18,392 that are included in those documents, but I can tell 90 00:04:18,391 --> 00:04:21,791 you that the United States continues to be a leading 91 00:04:21,794 --> 00:04:24,064 advocate for increased transparency in the 92 00:04:24,063 --> 00:04:28,433 international financial system, and in working 93 00:04:28,434 --> 00:04:30,604 against illicit financial transactions and in 94 00:04:30,603 --> 00:04:32,743 fighting corruption. 95 00:04:32,739 --> 00:04:34,739 There's been a lot of talk over the course of the last 96 00:04:34,741 --> 00:04:37,241 year or so about how effective U.S. 97 00:04:37,243 --> 00:04:40,543 sanctions that are imposed by the Treasury Department 98 00:04:40,546 --> 00:04:42,516 can be effective in advancing the national 99 00:04:42,515 --> 00:04:45,015 security interest of the United States. 100 00:04:45,018 --> 00:04:47,388 That's true if we are isolating the Russians 101 00:04:47,387 --> 00:04:53,627 because of their violation of the territorial integrity 102 00:04:53,626 --> 00:04:57,996 of the sovereign nation of Ukraine, or increasing 103 00:04:57,997 --> 00:05:00,867 isolating and pressuring the North Korean regime to give 104 00:05:00,867 --> 00:05:05,907 up their pursuit of nuclear weapons, or in targeting 105 00:05:05,905 --> 00:05:07,645 ISIL's financial operations. 106 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:10,180 So that's why the United States is a leading advocate 107 00:05:10,176 --> 00:05:12,446 of greater transparency in these kinds of international 108 00:05:12,445 --> 00:05:15,285 financial transactions. 109 00:05:15,281 --> 00:05:18,251 Greater transparency allows us to root out corruption 110 00:05:18,251 --> 00:05:22,651 and to fight efforts to get around U.S. 111 00:05:22,655 --> 00:05:24,655 sanctions that have been put in place. 112 00:05:24,657 --> 00:05:28,727 So we're going to continue to be a leading advocate for 113 00:05:28,728 --> 00:05:29,798 that kind of transparency. 114 00:05:29,796 --> 00:05:36,266 And there will continue to be large groups of national 115 00:05:36,269 --> 00:05:38,369 security professionals at the Department of Justice 116 00:05:38,371 --> 00:05:40,841 and at the Department of Treasury who will continue 117 00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:42,010 to be focused on these issues. 118 00:05:42,008 --> 00:05:44,448 The Press: And in North Carolina, we've seen some 119 00:05:44,444 --> 00:05:47,214 major companies -- Pepsi -- and even the state of New 120 00:05:47,213 --> 00:05:50,483 York say that they're going to try and limit the kind of 121 00:05:50,483 --> 00:05:52,653 travel they're doing to that state, essentially 122 00:05:52,652 --> 00:05:56,692 boycotting the state over this law that they've 123 00:05:56,689 --> 00:06:00,159 enacted regarding transgender people. 124 00:06:00,159 --> 00:06:02,729 Is there any consideration about doing that as far as 125 00:06:02,729 --> 00:06:04,829 the federal government not having federal employees 126 00:06:04,831 --> 00:06:07,031 travel there when they can avoid it to try and not 127 00:06:07,033 --> 00:06:09,173 promote what the state has done there? 128 00:06:09,168 --> 00:06:11,268 Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware of a policy decision like 129 00:06:11,270 --> 00:06:13,270 that that's been reached. 130 00:06:13,272 --> 00:06:18,282 But there are some both policy and legal questions 131 00:06:18,277 --> 00:06:21,577 that are raised by the passage of this law, and 132 00:06:21,581 --> 00:06:25,151 there are a number of government agencies that are 133 00:06:25,151 --> 00:06:27,391 thinking through those questions now and taking a 134 00:06:27,386 --> 00:06:32,456 look at what impact it may have on existing law. 135 00:06:32,458 --> 00:06:34,458 I can just say that, more generally, this 136 00:06:34,460 --> 00:06:37,630 administration is committed to defending and even 137 00:06:37,630 --> 00:06:40,630 promoting the equal rights of all Americans, including 138 00:06:40,633 --> 00:06:42,303 LGBT Americans. 139 00:06:42,301 --> 00:06:44,301 And our commitment to that principle, that people 140 00:06:44,303 --> 00:06:46,503 shouldn't be discriminated against just because of who 141 00:06:46,506 --> 00:06:49,376 they love, is one that's worth fighting for. 142 00:06:49,375 --> 00:06:51,715 And this administration and this President will continue 143 00:06:51,711 --> 00:06:57,021 to speak out in support of those equal rights, because 144 00:06:57,016 --> 00:06:59,016 that's part and parcel of what it means to live in the 145 00:06:59,018 --> 00:07:00,018 greatest country in the world. 146 00:07:00,019 --> 00:07:02,019 The Press: Can you be any more specific about what 147 00:07:02,021 --> 00:07:03,121 some of those things that you may be considering, or 148 00:07:03,122 --> 00:07:06,892 effects from that, that people are taking into account? 149 00:07:06,893 --> 00:07:08,993 Mr. Earnest: I'm not able to be from here, but there are 150 00:07:08,995 --> 00:07:10,995 a range of individual agencies that are taking a 151 00:07:10,997 --> 00:07:12,997 look at this. 152 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,940 So obviously you can ask them if they've reached any 153 00:07:16,936 --> 00:07:21,306 determinations about how this particular law would 154 00:07:21,307 --> 00:07:23,407 have an impact on their interactions with the state 155 00:07:23,409 --> 00:07:24,709 of North Carolina. 156 00:07:24,710 --> 00:07:29,180 I will just say that it's not surprising to me that 157 00:07:29,182 --> 00:07:31,752 there are a number of significant business 158 00:07:31,751 --> 00:07:35,021 entities that have come out to express their concerns 159 00:07:35,021 --> 00:07:36,921 about this law. 160 00:07:36,923 --> 00:07:39,023 Obviously, the state of North Carolina has an 161 00:07:39,025 --> 00:07:42,695 economy that has benefitted significantly from what 162 00:07:42,695 --> 00:07:44,665 officials in that state proudly describe as a 163 00:07:44,664 --> 00:07:46,664 hospitable business environment. 164 00:07:46,666 --> 00:07:49,206 Passage of laws like this do not create a hospitable 165 00:07:49,202 --> 00:07:51,902 business environment, particularly if businesses 166 00:07:51,904 --> 00:07:53,904 are concerned that either their employees or their 167 00:07:53,906 --> 00:07:55,976 customers are not going to be treated fairly by the 168 00:07:55,975 --> 00:07:58,045 state, or are going to be singled out by the state. 169 00:07:58,044 --> 00:08:02,584 And I'm not surprised to hear that government 170 00:08:02,582 --> 00:08:04,582 officials in North Carolina are feeling some pressure on 171 00:08:04,584 --> 00:08:06,114 this right now. 172 00:08:06,118 --> 00:08:07,118 Roberta. 173 00:08:07,119 --> 00:08:09,159 The Press: Back to Gitmo for a second. 174 00:08:09,155 --> 00:08:10,725 The Democratic governor of Colorado has said that he 175 00:08:10,723 --> 00:08:15,563 opposes housing former Guantanamo detainees in his 176 00:08:15,561 --> 00:08:17,761 state, and I'm wondering whether the White House has 177 00:08:17,763 --> 00:08:21,133 talked to the governor about this and how his opposition 178 00:08:21,133 --> 00:08:24,873 might affect the President's pledge to close the facility. 179 00:08:24,871 --> 00:08:27,141 Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't have any specific White 180 00:08:27,139 --> 00:08:29,209 House conversations to tell you about, but obviously 181 00:08:29,208 --> 00:08:34,548 what the White House would be committed to is ensuring 182 00:08:34,547 --> 00:08:36,987 that we work effectively with state and local 183 00:08:36,983 --> 00:08:44,723 officials in implementing a strategy successfully. 184 00:08:44,724 --> 00:08:46,724 But to talk about any individual state is to get 185 00:08:46,726 --> 00:08:47,726 ahead of the game. 186 00:08:47,727 --> 00:08:51,897 Because right now, Congress is focused on preventing the 187 00:08:51,898 --> 00:08:53,898 transfer of those detainees to any state in the 188 00:08:53,900 --> 00:08:54,930 United States. 189 00:08:54,934 --> 00:08:58,604 Now, of course, Congress's position is rather ironic 190 00:08:58,604 --> 00:09:02,174 because there are already dozens of convicted 191 00:09:02,174 --> 00:09:07,684 terrorists that are currently serving prison 192 00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:09,880 time in the United States, on U.S. 193 00:09:09,882 --> 00:09:12,722 soil, in U.S. prisons. 194 00:09:12,718 --> 00:09:16,928 And the administration has forcefully made the case 195 00:09:16,923 --> 00:09:21,993 that the ability of our criminal justice system to 196 00:09:21,994 --> 00:09:24,494 prosecute those individuals and hold them accountable 197 00:09:24,497 --> 00:09:26,497 for their crimes in a way that's consistent with our 198 00:09:26,499 --> 00:09:29,069 values actually does enhance our national security. 199 00:09:29,068 --> 00:09:31,638 What also enhances our national security is 200 00:09:31,637 --> 00:09:35,307 detaining those individuals in prisons where they can 201 00:09:35,308 --> 00:09:38,448 not pose a future threat to U.S. 202 00:09:38,444 --> 00:09:39,444 national security. 203 00:09:39,445 --> 00:09:44,085 So we've found a mechanism for handling these kinds of 204 00:09:44,083 --> 00:09:46,523 cases responsibly. 205 00:09:46,519 --> 00:09:49,289 That's why the case that is made by members of Congress 206 00:09:49,288 --> 00:09:55,198 is, frankly, inconsistent with available evidence. 207 00:09:55,194 --> 00:09:58,234 And particularly when we know that continuing to 208 00:09:58,230 --> 00:10:01,430 detain these individuals at the prison at Guantanamo Bay 209 00:10:01,434 --> 00:10:05,774 is inconsistent with our values and does give 210 00:10:05,771 --> 00:10:10,281 extremist organizations the kind of propaganda victory 211 00:10:10,276 --> 00:10:13,146 and recruiting tool that they've already 212 00:10:13,145 --> 00:10:14,185 used effectively. 213 00:10:14,180 --> 00:10:16,750 And why we would continue to provide that to them makes 214 00:10:16,749 --> 00:10:17,479 no sense to me. 215 00:10:17,483 --> 00:10:18,683 The Press: So no specific comment on what the governor 216 00:10:18,684 --> 00:10:20,724 of Colorado has said? 217 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:21,790 At this stage, anyway? 218 00:10:21,787 --> 00:10:22,457 Mr. Earnest: Correct. 219 00:10:22,455 --> 00:10:23,585 The Press: Okay. 220 00:10:23,589 --> 00:10:25,389 And on Afghanistan, the topic that came up this 221 00:10:25,391 --> 00:10:27,591 morning in the President's meeting -- General John 222 00:10:27,593 --> 00:10:29,863 Nicholson said today that the U.S. 223 00:10:29,862 --> 00:10:32,132 and NATO are behind schedule in training because of the 224 00:10:32,131 --> 00:10:35,701 intense combat and fighting that has been happening there. 225 00:10:35,701 --> 00:10:38,471 And I'm wondering if you can speak about how that's going 226 00:10:38,471 --> 00:10:41,711 to affect President Obama's decision on when and how to 227 00:10:41,707 --> 00:10:45,047 further draw down troops there. 228 00:10:45,044 --> 00:10:47,144 Mr. Earnest: Well, let me start by saying that 229 00:10:47,146 --> 00:10:49,486 obviously we welcome the valuable contribution that 230 00:10:49,482 --> 00:10:51,482 NATO has made to our efforts in Afghanistan. 231 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:58,060 Much of the progress that we have made in Afghanistan 232 00:10:58,057 --> 00:11:00,697 would not have been possible without the significant 233 00:11:00,693 --> 00:11:03,363 contributions that NATO has made to that effort. 234 00:11:03,362 --> 00:11:09,372 And it is that effective partnership that allowed the 235 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,980 United States to succeed in decimating core al Qaeda 236 00:11:17,977 --> 00:11:21,217 that previously operated with virtual impunity in the 237 00:11:21,213 --> 00:11:23,653 Afghanistan-Pakistan region. 238 00:11:23,649 --> 00:11:28,019 And we've made enormous progress in helping the 239 00:11:28,020 --> 00:11:32,120 Afghan government begin to assume much more control for 240 00:11:32,124 --> 00:11:34,564 the security situation in their own country. 241 00:11:34,560 --> 00:11:40,870 And that ultimately is the key to our success. 242 00:11:40,866 --> 00:11:45,936 And that's been a long road, and we've got a substantial 243 00:11:45,938 --> 00:11:51,278 journey ahead of us before we can see the kind of 244 00:11:51,277 --> 00:11:54,247 resolution in Afghanistan that we would like to see. 245 00:11:54,246 --> 00:11:56,246 But there's no denying that we've made 246 00:11:56,248 --> 00:11:57,988 important progress. 247 00:11:57,983 --> 00:12:01,453 And the United States and our military personnel in 248 00:12:01,454 --> 00:12:03,454 Afghanistan are going to continue to focus on their 249 00:12:03,456 --> 00:12:07,796 two missions, which are counterterrorism and 250 00:12:07,793 --> 00:12:09,793 training Afghan security forces. 251 00:12:11,764 --> 00:12:14,234 NATO obviously plays an important role in supporting 252 00:12:14,233 --> 00:12:16,433 those missions, particularly the second one. 253 00:12:16,435 --> 00:12:20,875 And we have seen improved performance by the Afghan 254 00:12:20,873 --> 00:12:23,243 security forces on the battlefield, and they've 255 00:12:23,242 --> 00:12:26,042 been tested -- there's no denying that. 256 00:12:26,045 --> 00:12:28,115 And we're going to continue to stand with them as they 257 00:12:28,114 --> 00:12:30,914 counter the threat from extremists inside their borders. 258 00:12:30,916 --> 00:12:32,356 Mike. 259 00:12:32,351 --> 00:12:33,551 The Press: Thanks. 260 00:12:33,552 --> 00:12:34,652 Two questions. 261 00:12:34,653 --> 00:12:36,223 To go back to Josh's question on the North 262 00:12:36,222 --> 00:12:40,892 Carolina law -- pointing to the agencies, and the 263 00:12:40,893 --> 00:12:42,993 agencies might have the details, but I guess my 264 00:12:42,995 --> 00:12:46,365 question would be, is the administration comfortable 265 00:12:46,365 --> 00:12:50,305 that whatever the agencies decide the White House is 266 00:12:50,302 --> 00:12:52,642 willing to accept, even if that decision would lead, 267 00:12:52,638 --> 00:12:55,238 for example, to shut off all federal funding for schools 268 00:12:55,241 --> 00:12:58,611 in North Carolina, or all federal funding for housing, 269 00:12:58,611 --> 00:13:00,681 or all federal funding for transportation? 270 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:03,449 I mean, if that would be what the agencies would 271 00:13:03,449 --> 00:13:05,119 decide, does the White House say, yeah, go ahead and 272 00:13:05,117 --> 00:13:05,747 do that? 273 00:13:05,751 --> 00:13:07,951 Or do you guys have a position on how far you're 274 00:13:07,953 --> 00:13:10,723 willing to go in this? 275 00:13:10,723 --> 00:13:12,263 And then, second, do you have any thoughts on the 276 00:13:12,258 --> 00:13:17,468 court's ruling today on one person, one vote? 277 00:13:17,463 --> 00:13:20,103 Mr. Earnest: Well, on a decision that agencies have 278 00:13:20,099 --> 00:13:23,539 to make, I'm not aware that any of the agencies are 279 00:13:23,536 --> 00:13:25,536 considering going quite that far. 280 00:13:25,538 --> 00:13:30,308 I'm not sure that the law would allow it, let alone 281 00:13:30,309 --> 00:13:32,849 the broader policy implications of making a 282 00:13:32,845 --> 00:13:34,845 decision that's that far-reaching. 283 00:13:34,847 --> 00:13:37,447 But, ultimately, individual agency officials will take a 284 00:13:37,449 --> 00:13:40,449 close look at what impact this particular law would 285 00:13:40,452 --> 00:13:43,252 have on the legal and policy questions that are raised. 286 00:13:43,255 --> 00:13:48,295 The Press: -- would eventually weigh in on 287 00:13:48,294 --> 00:13:51,764 before action were taken, whatever that action would be? 288 00:13:51,764 --> 00:13:54,234 Mr. Earnest: Well, I certainly -- obviously the 289 00:13:54,233 --> 00:13:56,903 White House is in regular communication with these 290 00:13:56,902 --> 00:13:59,742 individual agencies, but right now, the work that's 291 00:13:59,738 --> 00:14:02,078 being done is at the agency level, and I certainly 292 00:14:02,074 --> 00:14:04,244 wouldn't rule out that the White House at some point 293 00:14:04,243 --> 00:14:06,243 would need to be involved in that effort. 294 00:14:06,245 --> 00:14:08,445 But right now, it's the agency officials who are 295 00:14:08,447 --> 00:14:10,247 taking a close look at this. 296 00:14:10,249 --> 00:14:14,219 Your second question was on the Supreme Court 297 00:14:14,220 --> 00:14:16,390 ruling today. 298 00:14:16,388 --> 00:14:18,658 Obviously, I think you've seen from the Department of 299 00:14:18,657 --> 00:14:22,397 Justice that they were pleased with the ruling. 300 00:14:22,394 --> 00:14:24,694 Many of the arguments that were effectively made by the 301 00:14:24,697 --> 00:14:27,567 Solicitor General before the Court were incorporated into 302 00:14:27,566 --> 00:14:33,176 the decision that the justices reached. 303 00:14:33,172 --> 00:14:36,412 It certainly is consistent with -- generally speaking, 304 00:14:36,408 --> 00:14:39,178 it's consistent with the arguments that the 305 00:14:39,178 --> 00:14:42,318 government has made about the most fair and effective 306 00:14:42,314 --> 00:14:46,984 way for American citizens to elect their representatives 307 00:14:46,986 --> 00:14:48,686 in government at all levels. 308 00:14:48,687 --> 00:14:50,227 Mary. 309 00:14:50,222 --> 00:14:52,892 The Press: Back to the so-called Panama Papers. 310 00:14:52,891 --> 00:14:54,631 Several close U.S. 311 00:14:54,627 --> 00:14:57,327 allies are also implicated, including the President of 312 00:14:57,329 --> 00:15:00,469 Argentina, who President Obama visited just two weeks 313 00:15:00,466 --> 00:15:02,436 ago; the Saudi King, who the President is going to meet 314 00:15:02,434 --> 00:15:03,434 with in two weeks. 315 00:15:03,435 --> 00:15:05,635 How concerned is the President that several 316 00:15:05,638 --> 00:15:07,678 allies seem to be shielding their money in this way? 317 00:15:07,673 --> 00:15:10,043 And does he plan to address it with them? 318 00:15:10,042 --> 00:15:12,042 Mr. Earnest: Well, I understand that President 319 00:15:12,044 --> 00:15:13,944 Macri, for example, has already addressed this. 320 00:15:13,946 --> 00:15:16,916 I'm not going to be able to consider the individual 321 00:15:16,915 --> 00:15:20,015 claims that are made based on some information included 322 00:15:20,019 --> 00:15:21,589 in the documents. 323 00:15:21,587 --> 00:15:25,087 Based on some of the reports that I've seen, there are 324 00:15:25,090 --> 00:15:27,790 some 11 million documents that have been released, so 325 00:15:27,793 --> 00:15:30,593 my guess is it's going to take even the most astute 326 00:15:30,596 --> 00:15:33,566 experts a little while to analyze all the information 327 00:15:33,565 --> 00:15:34,865 that's included in there. 328 00:15:34,867 --> 00:15:40,277 But, look, this large volume of documents does not change 329 00:15:40,272 --> 00:15:46,282 the U.S. position, which is that there should be greater 330 00:15:48,681 --> 00:15:50,681 transparency in international financial 331 00:15:50,683 --> 00:15:53,023 transactions and there are a whole host of reasons for 332 00:15:53,018 --> 00:15:55,788 that, many of them are consistent with our national 333 00:15:55,788 --> 00:15:57,018 security interests. 334 00:15:57,022 --> 00:15:59,162 And we continue to advocate for that kind of 335 00:15:59,158 --> 00:16:03,258 transparency on an international scale. 336 00:16:03,262 --> 00:16:08,072 I can tell you that even in spite of some of the lack of 337 00:16:08,067 --> 00:16:10,707 transparency that exists in many of these transactions, 338 00:16:10,703 --> 00:16:13,803 there are determined experts at both the Department of 339 00:16:13,806 --> 00:16:16,946 Treasury and the Department of Justice who can examine 340 00:16:16,942 --> 00:16:22,112 these transactions -- or who are regularly examining 341 00:16:22,114 --> 00:16:25,884 transactions in the international markets to 342 00:16:25,884 --> 00:16:31,854 determine their consistency with sanctions that the 343 00:16:31,857 --> 00:16:34,797 United States has imposed or even laws that are on the 344 00:16:34,793 --> 00:16:36,793 books here in the United States. 345 00:16:36,795 --> 00:16:38,795 The Press: And on the Supreme Court and the 346 00:16:38,797 --> 00:16:40,797 President's nominee, despite the White House's campaign 347 00:16:40,799 --> 00:16:43,099 efforts by Senate Democrats, there doesn't seem to have 348 00:16:43,102 --> 00:16:47,042 been much of any shift in Republicans' desire to hold 349 00:16:47,039 --> 00:16:49,309 any kind of confirmation hearing or a vote. 350 00:16:49,308 --> 00:16:51,108 Why do you think that is? 351 00:16:51,110 --> 00:16:53,650 And is Mitch McConnell outmaneuvering you on this one? 352 00:16:53,645 --> 00:16:56,545 Mr. Earnest: Well, you'll recall that just in the 353 00:16:56,548 --> 00:16:59,248 hours after Justice Scalia's untimely death, Leader 354 00:16:59,251 --> 00:17:01,251 McConnell was quite clear that the President should 355 00:17:01,253 --> 00:17:05,763 not nominate a successor to fill that vacancy on the 356 00:17:05,758 --> 00:17:07,698 Supreme Court. 357 00:17:07,693 --> 00:17:09,833 That, of course, is in conflict with the 358 00:17:09,828 --> 00:17:12,368 constitutional obligations, both of the President and of 359 00:17:12,364 --> 00:17:13,564 the United States Congress. 360 00:17:13,565 --> 00:17:18,705 And we've seen some visible discomfort on the part of 361 00:17:18,704 --> 00:17:22,204 Republican senators trying to defend that position. 362 00:17:22,207 --> 00:17:24,547 That's why we've seen such a large number of Republican 363 00:17:24,543 --> 00:17:26,713 senators come forward and indicate that they are, in 364 00:17:26,712 --> 00:17:30,412 fact, prepared to meet with the President's nominee. 365 00:17:30,416 --> 00:17:32,416 Tomorrow, the President's nominee will meet with two 366 00:17:32,418 --> 00:17:35,858 Republican senators -- both Senator Collins of Maine and 367 00:17:35,854 --> 00:17:38,254 Senator Boozman from Arkansas. 368 00:17:38,257 --> 00:17:44,227 And even over the weekend, Senator Cornyn, who is an 369 00:17:44,229 --> 00:17:48,129 enthusiastic supporter of Leader McConnell's position 370 00:17:48,133 --> 00:17:50,533 on this, has acknowledged that there is a slippery slope. 371 00:17:50,536 --> 00:17:55,806 He explained that that's why they're trying to draw a 372 00:17:55,808 --> 00:17:59,278 hard line here in refusing to, in any way, consider the 373 00:17:59,278 --> 00:18:00,278 President's nominee. 374 00:18:00,279 --> 00:18:06,019 His view is -- those were his words, it's a slippery 375 00:18:06,018 --> 00:18:08,018 slope toward the confirmation of what he 376 00:18:08,020 --> 00:18:14,730 described as an "Obama judge." And so that's why 377 00:18:14,726 --> 00:18:17,466 we feel like we have made some important progress here. 378 00:18:17,463 --> 00:18:20,733 I think that progress is evident from some of the 379 00:18:20,732 --> 00:18:22,902 public opinion polls that your news organizations have 380 00:18:22,901 --> 00:18:26,501 conducted, indicating that it's not just Democrats who 381 00:18:26,505 --> 00:18:33,145 oppose the strategy that Republicans have pursued 382 00:18:33,145 --> 00:18:36,545 here -- it's even Republican voters who are uncomfortable 383 00:18:36,548 --> 00:18:39,288 with the position that is taken by Republican leaders 384 00:18:39,284 --> 00:18:40,284 on this matter. 385 00:18:40,285 --> 00:18:42,525 Even Republican voters believe that members of the 386 00:18:42,521 --> 00:18:44,961 United States Senate should do their job, and it is 387 00:18:44,957 --> 00:18:47,797 evident right now that many Republican senators are 388 00:18:47,793 --> 00:18:49,063 refusing to do so. 389 00:18:49,061 --> 00:18:51,061 They're refusing to do the job that they were elected 390 00:18:51,063 --> 00:18:53,933 to do, and they're not doing it because of some crisis of 391 00:18:53,932 --> 00:18:55,972 conscience -- they're doing it because they're following 392 00:18:55,968 --> 00:18:59,308 the orders of the Republican Leader in Washington, D.C. 393 00:18:59,304 --> 00:19:01,274 That's not really a recipe for success, because the 394 00:19:01,273 --> 00:19:03,273 last time I checked -- and, again, I'm no political 395 00:19:03,275 --> 00:19:06,675 expert here -- but the last time I checked, the public's 396 00:19:06,678 --> 00:19:08,678 view of the Republican leadership in Washington, 397 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:10,980 D.C. is not particularly high. 398 00:19:10,983 --> 00:19:13,023 It is not particularly favorable, even 399 00:19:13,018 --> 00:19:14,018 among Republicans. 400 00:19:14,019 --> 00:19:17,259 And I think that is what is hard for Republicans in the 401 00:19:17,256 --> 00:19:19,326 Senate to justify to their constituents. 402 00:19:19,324 --> 00:19:23,024 And I think that's why even as Chairman Grassley was 403 00:19:23,028 --> 00:19:25,468 doing town hall meetings in the most conservative part 404 00:19:25,464 --> 00:19:29,064 of his state, that he even faced some tough, pressing 405 00:19:29,067 --> 00:19:30,437 questions about this. 406 00:19:30,435 --> 00:19:34,905 He described resenting the suggestion that somehow he 407 00:19:34,907 --> 00:19:36,307 wasn't doing his job. 408 00:19:36,308 --> 00:19:39,448 We heard Senator Moran in Kansas, who has taken a 409 00:19:39,444 --> 00:19:41,414 couple of different positions on this issue, 410 00:19:41,413 --> 00:19:44,153 indicate that he doesn't like being accused by his 411 00:19:44,149 --> 00:19:46,289 constituents of not doing his job. 412 00:19:46,285 --> 00:19:48,285 He'd prefer to just take a vote. 413 00:19:48,287 --> 00:19:50,387 I suspect that that position of refusing to take a vote 414 00:19:50,389 --> 00:19:53,529 is even more difficult to defend when the only reason 415 00:19:53,525 --> 00:19:55,525 you're refusing to take that vote is because you're 416 00:19:55,527 --> 00:19:57,527 taking orders from the Republican Leader in the 417 00:19:57,529 --> 00:19:58,629 United States Senate. 418 00:19:58,630 --> 00:20:02,630 So that's why I feel like we've made some progress in 419 00:20:02,634 --> 00:20:04,634 at least putting some pressure on Republicans. 420 00:20:04,636 --> 00:20:08,606 And we're starting to see some Republicans acknowledge 421 00:20:08,607 --> 00:20:10,607 -- you see some Republicans who have actually come out 422 00:20:10,609 --> 00:20:12,609 and say that there should be a vote. 423 00:20:12,611 --> 00:20:14,611 Senator Kirk put it rather colorfully himself in 424 00:20:14,613 --> 00:20:16,613 suggesting that his colleagues should "man up" 425 00:20:16,615 --> 00:20:19,085 and vote. 426 00:20:19,084 --> 00:20:21,124 He's right. 427 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:27,129 And to her credit, even one of his colleagues in the 428 00:20:29,227 --> 00:20:31,227 Republican Party in the United States Senate who is 429 00:20:31,229 --> 00:20:33,999 not a man suggested that they should step up to the 430 00:20:33,999 --> 00:20:35,299 plate and vote. 431 00:20:35,300 --> 00:20:40,310 So we are seeing some progress to be made here, 432 00:20:40,305 --> 00:20:45,145 and we're hopeful that Republicans will continue to 433 00:20:45,143 --> 00:20:48,183 venture down the slippery slope that Senator 434 00:20:48,180 --> 00:20:49,180 Cornyn described. 435 00:20:49,181 --> 00:20:51,181 The Press: So you're still optimistic that these 436 00:20:51,183 --> 00:20:53,183 meetings and these conversations that are 437 00:20:53,185 --> 00:20:55,185 happening will still ultimately lead them to 438 00:20:55,187 --> 00:20:57,187 change their minds and hold an actual hearing or vote? 439 00:20:57,189 --> 00:20:59,459 Because so far we're just hearing about conversations, 440 00:20:59,458 --> 00:21:01,458 not really -- you're not seeing that sea change that 441 00:21:01,460 --> 00:21:03,700 you would need to get that -- Mr. Earnest: Well, I 442 00:21:03,695 --> 00:21:05,665 think there has been a sea change when it comes to 443 00:21:05,664 --> 00:21:07,664 actual meetings; that there was an expression on the 444 00:21:07,666 --> 00:21:10,206 part of the Republican leadership in Washington 445 00:21:10,202 --> 00:21:12,202 that their members weren't going to have meetings with 446 00:21:12,204 --> 00:21:14,104 the President's nominee, but yet we've seen 17 different 447 00:21:14,106 --> 00:21:17,506 members of the -- Republican members of the United States 448 00:21:17,509 --> 00:21:19,509 Senate indicate a willingness to do that. 449 00:21:19,511 --> 00:21:21,511 And Senator Kirk met with Chief Judge Garland last 450 00:21:21,513 --> 00:21:24,353 week, and there will be a couple more that Chief Judge 451 00:21:24,349 --> 00:21:27,719 Garland will meet with tomorrow, both Senators 452 00:21:27,719 --> 00:21:29,659 Boozman and Collins. 453 00:21:29,655 --> 00:21:31,995 And again, I think the reason that this is 454 00:21:31,990 --> 00:21:37,930 complicated for Republicans is not just based on their 455 00:21:37,929 --> 00:21:40,069 constitutional responsibility. 456 00:21:40,065 --> 00:21:42,065 This would be a difficult position for Republicans to 457 00:21:42,067 --> 00:21:44,067 defend no matter who the President had nominated to 458 00:21:44,069 --> 00:21:45,169 the Supreme Court. 459 00:21:45,170 --> 00:21:47,170 But the fact that the President has nominated an 460 00:21:47,172 --> 00:21:50,412 individual of unquestioned legal credentials, somebody 461 00:21:50,409 --> 00:21:53,749 who has more experiences on the federal judicial bench 462 00:21:53,745 --> 00:21:56,415 than any other nominee in the history of the Supreme 463 00:21:56,415 --> 00:21:59,255 Court, and the fact that the President nominated somebody 464 00:21:59,251 --> 00:22:02,151 who even a leading Republican has described as 465 00:22:02,154 --> 00:22:05,994 a consensus nominee makes their position even harder 466 00:22:05,991 --> 00:22:08,031 to defend than it otherwise would be. 467 00:22:08,026 --> 00:22:10,426 And again, the fact that the only explanation that they 468 00:22:10,429 --> 00:22:12,999 can come up with is this is what the Republican 469 00:22:12,998 --> 00:22:16,598 leadership in Washington, D.C. wants me to do, that's 470 00:22:16,601 --> 00:22:18,401 a pretty tough position to defend. 471 00:22:18,403 --> 00:22:20,403 Justin. 472 00:22:20,405 --> 00:22:22,505 The Press: I wanted to look back first on the NATO 473 00:22:22,507 --> 00:22:23,647 meeting this morning. 474 00:22:23,642 --> 00:22:28,212 I'm wondering the extent to which Donald Trump's 475 00:22:28,213 --> 00:22:30,613 comments last week about NATO either inspired the 476 00:22:30,615 --> 00:22:34,985 meeting or it came up during the meeting between the 477 00:22:34,986 --> 00:22:35,786 two leaders. 478 00:22:35,787 --> 00:22:39,257 Mr. Earnest: The meeting with the NATO Secretary 479 00:22:39,257 --> 00:22:41,597 General was actually organized shortly after the 480 00:22:41,593 --> 00:22:43,833 first of the year. 481 00:22:43,829 --> 00:22:47,299 So this is something that's been on the books long 482 00:22:47,299 --> 00:22:50,199 before Mr. Trump's ill-advised comments about 483 00:22:50,202 --> 00:22:53,042 the importance of the U.S.-NATO relationship. 484 00:22:55,173 --> 00:22:57,873 I did not get a detailed readout of the meeting. 485 00:22:57,876 --> 00:23:01,316 I would be very surprised if there was any extensive 486 00:23:01,313 --> 00:23:03,313 conversation that involved Mr. Trump in the meeting. 487 00:23:03,315 --> 00:23:06,215 The Press: I wanted to run down a couple other things 488 00:23:06,218 --> 00:23:08,218 that came out of the Panama Papers. 489 00:23:08,220 --> 00:23:12,620 The disclosures did show ties to more than 30 people 490 00:23:12,624 --> 00:23:15,664 that have been sanctions by the U.S., whether Mexican 491 00:23:15,660 --> 00:23:18,460 drug cartels, North Korea, sort of all the things that 492 00:23:18,463 --> 00:23:19,333 you mentioned. 493 00:23:19,331 --> 00:23:22,701 So I'm wondering -- I know that you said that we've got 494 00:23:22,701 --> 00:23:24,441 kind of dedicated people working on this, but do 495 00:23:24,436 --> 00:23:28,436 these revelations prompt new questions about the 496 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:30,610 effectiveness of our sanctions regime? 497 00:23:30,609 --> 00:23:32,609 And is there something that the Treasury Department will 498 00:23:32,611 --> 00:23:36,251 be doing after these revelations to sort of 499 00:23:36,248 --> 00:23:38,818 change their enforcement of their sanctions? 500 00:23:38,817 --> 00:23:41,817 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think it's too early to tell 501 00:23:41,820 --> 00:23:45,160 whether or not a change in the implementation of these 502 00:23:45,157 --> 00:23:47,157 sanctions is warranted. 503 00:23:48,894 --> 00:23:52,164 I think the available evidence indicates to us 504 00:23:52,164 --> 00:23:57,534 that the efforts that are put in place by the Treasury 505 00:23:57,536 --> 00:24:02,306 Department to impose sanctions to combat 506 00:24:02,307 --> 00:24:06,477 terrorist financing are effective. 507 00:24:06,478 --> 00:24:09,118 We've seen, since the imposition of international 508 00:24:09,114 --> 00:24:12,184 sanctions against Russia, for example, based on their 509 00:24:12,184 --> 00:24:16,524 violation of the sovereignty of Ukraine, the Russian 510 00:24:16,521 --> 00:24:19,391 economy has weakened significantly since then. 511 00:24:19,391 --> 00:24:21,391 There are a host of factors that have contributed to 512 00:24:21,393 --> 00:24:24,563 that, but part of that has been the effective 513 00:24:24,563 --> 00:24:27,333 implementation of sanctions. 514 00:24:27,332 --> 00:24:30,872 Going back to the agreement with Iran, the United States 515 00:24:30,869 --> 00:24:32,869 organized the international community to impose 516 00:24:32,871 --> 00:24:34,641 sanctions against Iran. 517 00:24:34,639 --> 00:24:37,079 That is what compelled Iran to the negotiating table and 518 00:24:37,075 --> 00:24:41,815 eventually compelled Iran to agree with the rest of the 519 00:24:41,813 --> 00:24:45,253 international community not to obtain a nuclear weapon. 520 00:24:45,250 --> 00:24:47,420 So I think we've already seen the effectiveness of 521 00:24:47,419 --> 00:24:48,889 our sanctions at work. 522 00:24:48,887 --> 00:24:53,357 And we're continually looking for ways to ensure 523 00:24:53,358 --> 00:24:55,358 that the implementation of those sanctions is 524 00:24:55,360 --> 00:24:56,800 more effective. 525 00:24:56,795 --> 00:24:59,135 That is why we continue to advocate for more 526 00:24:59,130 --> 00:25:02,400 transparency, for greater transparency in the 527 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:03,500 international financial system. 528 00:25:03,501 --> 00:25:07,371 It's not at all a surprise to anybody in the 529 00:25:07,372 --> 00:25:10,672 administration -- I don't think it's a surprise to you 530 00:25:10,675 --> 00:25:13,575 -- that there are people who are looking for illicit ways 531 00:25:13,578 --> 00:25:17,548 to get around U.S. sanctions. 532 00:25:17,549 --> 00:25:20,419 And to the extent that there is any evidence that they 533 00:25:20,418 --> 00:25:24,258 are doing that, I think it would only be common sense 534 00:25:24,256 --> 00:25:28,256 that we might learn from steps that they have taken 535 00:25:28,260 --> 00:25:32,200 to ensure that our sanctions could have the maximum impact. 536 00:25:32,197 --> 00:25:34,767 The Press: They also included details about 537 00:25:34,766 --> 00:25:37,606 Ukrainian President Poroshenko, especially that 538 00:25:37,602 --> 00:25:39,742 he had created a shell company in the middle of the 539 00:25:39,738 --> 00:25:42,078 turmoil in 2014. 540 00:25:42,073 --> 00:25:46,583 A big part of your guys' effort in Ukraine and 541 00:25:46,578 --> 00:25:49,548 especially tying aid to Ukraine is rooting out 542 00:25:49,547 --> 00:25:50,647 corruption there. 543 00:25:50,649 --> 00:25:52,719 And so I'm wondering if anything in there has at all 544 00:25:52,717 --> 00:25:54,687 sort of led the U.S. 545 00:25:54,686 --> 00:25:57,586 to reevaluate its support for President Poroshenko or 546 00:25:57,589 --> 00:26:00,189 heightened concerns about corruption. 547 00:26:00,191 --> 00:26:03,791 Mr. Earnest: No, and for a couple of reasons. 548 00:26:03,795 --> 00:26:07,295 The first is that, again, I can't comment on any of the 549 00:26:07,299 --> 00:26:09,939 specific allegations that have been raised by 550 00:26:09,935 --> 00:26:11,635 these documents. 551 00:26:11,636 --> 00:26:13,706 Given the large volume of documents that are included 552 00:26:13,705 --> 00:26:16,405 in here, I think it's hard to jump to any conclusions 553 00:26:16,408 --> 00:26:17,578 right away. 554 00:26:17,575 --> 00:26:20,445 But what's also true is that President Poroshenko has 555 00:26:20,445 --> 00:26:24,985 demonstrated a commitment, along with the rest of the 556 00:26:24,983 --> 00:26:27,483 government of Ukraine, to implementing a whole bunch 557 00:26:27,485 --> 00:26:31,695 of anti-corruption reforms in Ukraine. 558 00:26:31,690 --> 00:26:34,430 And all along, the United States has continue to 559 00:26:34,426 --> 00:26:36,396 encourage President Poroshenko and other senior 560 00:26:36,394 --> 00:26:38,464 officials in the Ukrainian government to follow through 561 00:26:38,463 --> 00:26:41,063 with implementing those anti-corruption reforms. 562 00:26:41,066 --> 00:26:43,236 There is more work that needs to be done. 563 00:26:43,234 --> 00:26:45,404 But when you consider the record of President 564 00:26:45,403 --> 00:26:50,973 Poroshenko's predecessor, it's clear that they've made 565 00:26:50,976 --> 00:26:52,646 some important progress. 566 00:26:52,644 --> 00:26:57,214 And what's clear also is that the successful 567 00:26:57,215 --> 00:26:59,715 implementation of those anti-corruption reforms will 568 00:26:59,718 --> 00:27:03,118 be critical to the long-term success of the nation 569 00:27:03,121 --> 00:27:04,221 of Ukraine. 570 00:27:04,222 --> 00:27:06,522 And as the United States continues to support Ukraine 571 00:27:06,524 --> 00:27:09,694 in offering some security assistance, but also in 572 00:27:09,694 --> 00:27:12,164 terms of providing economic assistance, we're also going 573 00:27:12,163 --> 00:27:14,163 to continue to encourage them to implement those 574 00:27:14,165 --> 00:27:16,665 reforms faithfully to ensure the long-term success of 575 00:27:16,668 --> 00:27:17,668 our partner. 576 00:27:17,669 --> 00:27:20,069 The Press: There's been some calls for leaders around the 577 00:27:20,071 --> 00:27:22,741 world for kind of an international effort to 578 00:27:22,741 --> 00:27:26,281 address some of these flaws in the international 579 00:27:26,277 --> 00:27:27,417 banking system. 580 00:27:27,412 --> 00:27:28,642 I'm wondering if that's something the U.S. 581 00:27:28,646 --> 00:27:30,816 would do on the lead, and if there are any plans to use 582 00:27:30,815 --> 00:27:36,155 this as kind of a springboard for maybe things 583 00:27:36,154 --> 00:27:36,854 that the U.S. 584 00:27:36,855 --> 00:27:38,955 has been advocating for for a long time, or new ideas 585 00:27:38,957 --> 00:27:42,757 that have come up kind of based on the revelations here. 586 00:27:42,761 --> 00:27:43,891 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I'm not aware of any 587 00:27:43,895 --> 00:27:47,135 specific change in our policy, or any -- the 588 00:27:47,132 --> 00:27:50,702 creation of a new body as a result of these documents. 589 00:27:50,702 --> 00:27:56,512 But look, they've only been public for 24 hours or so now. 590 00:27:56,508 --> 00:28:00,608 But whether or not these documents reveal 591 00:28:00,612 --> 00:28:05,922 substantive, legitimate evidence of people thwarting 592 00:28:05,917 --> 00:28:07,917 monitors of the international financial 593 00:28:07,919 --> 00:28:11,759 system, the United States will continue to be a 594 00:28:11,756 --> 00:28:13,956 leading advocate of greater transparency in our 595 00:28:13,958 --> 00:28:15,228 financial system. 596 00:28:15,226 --> 00:28:22,166 And that's something that we have long pursued, and we're 597 00:28:22,167 --> 00:28:24,267 going to continue to be at the forefront of making that 598 00:28:24,269 --> 00:28:26,439 argument because it contributes to our 599 00:28:26,438 --> 00:28:27,438 national security. 600 00:28:27,439 --> 00:28:29,609 And there are officials both at the Treasury Department 601 00:28:29,607 --> 00:28:31,607 and the Department of Justice who have 602 00:28:31,609 --> 00:28:34,449 responsibilities here. 603 00:28:34,446 --> 00:28:41,556 The effective completion, or the effective implementation 604 00:28:41,553 --> 00:28:43,623 of those strategies by the Department of Treasury and 605 00:28:43,621 --> 00:28:46,821 the Department of Justice also rely on effective 606 00:28:46,825 --> 00:28:49,225 coordination with our partners around the world. 607 00:28:49,227 --> 00:28:51,227 So there obviously is an opportunity for the United 608 00:28:51,229 --> 00:28:57,169 States to use some of our leverage as a leader in this 609 00:28:57,168 --> 00:29:00,208 field and as the world's largest economy to bring 610 00:29:00,205 --> 00:29:04,645 about some of the changes that we would like to see. 611 00:29:04,642 --> 00:29:07,742 And again, we've been doing that for a long time. 612 00:29:07,745 --> 00:29:11,045 And those efforts will only -- are only going 613 00:29:11,049 --> 00:29:11,519 to continue. 614 00:29:11,516 --> 00:29:13,056 Ron. 615 00:29:13,051 --> 00:29:15,051 The Press: On the North Carolina front, you said 616 00:29:15,053 --> 00:29:17,753 that the White House is not involved at this point in 617 00:29:17,755 --> 00:29:21,795 the agency review that's going on. 618 00:29:21,793 --> 00:29:23,563 What is the President's level of interest 619 00:29:23,561 --> 00:29:25,301 and engagement? 620 00:29:25,296 --> 00:29:28,236 You've said some very strong things about the law from 621 00:29:28,233 --> 00:29:29,433 the podium. 622 00:29:29,434 --> 00:29:32,134 I'm surprised that you're essentially distancing or 623 00:29:32,137 --> 00:29:35,007 creating some separation between the White House and 624 00:29:35,006 --> 00:29:39,546 this issue of funding or other measures taken against 625 00:29:39,544 --> 00:29:42,384 the North Carolina because of the law. 626 00:29:42,380 --> 00:29:43,450 Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't mean to leave you with the 627 00:29:43,448 --> 00:29:45,348 perception that we're creating some distance, I 628 00:29:45,350 --> 00:29:47,120 just mean to leave you with the perception that this is 629 00:29:47,118 --> 00:29:49,358 the functional responsibility of individual 630 00:29:49,354 --> 00:29:51,424 agencies to determine whether or not this 631 00:29:51,422 --> 00:29:54,392 state-passed law has any impact on any rules or 632 00:29:54,392 --> 00:29:57,162 regulations that are on the books that would have an 633 00:29:57,162 --> 00:29:59,702 impact on agency funding or other agency 634 00:29:59,697 --> 00:30:00,697 policy decisions. 635 00:30:00,698 --> 00:30:03,838 So the agencies will consider that. 636 00:30:03,835 --> 00:30:05,305 They'll make that evaluation and they'll take a look at 637 00:30:05,303 --> 00:30:09,003 the law, they'll take a look at policy. 638 00:30:09,007 --> 00:30:15,077 And if we reach the point where a process needs to be 639 00:30:15,079 --> 00:30:18,549 led by the White House to make that kind of decision, 640 00:30:18,550 --> 00:30:20,190 then we'll do that. 641 00:30:20,185 --> 00:30:21,185 We won't hesitate to do that. 642 00:30:21,186 --> 00:30:24,486 But right now, this is a process that individual 643 00:30:24,489 --> 00:30:25,489 agencies are undertaking. 644 00:30:25,490 --> 00:30:27,490 The Press: Would you anticipate that that might 645 00:30:27,492 --> 00:30:29,492 happen, you might get to that point, given what we 646 00:30:29,494 --> 00:30:30,224 know about the law already? 647 00:30:30,228 --> 00:30:34,668 You called it mean-spirited, or something like that. 648 00:30:34,666 --> 00:30:39,166 Given how outspoken the President has been on civil 649 00:30:39,170 --> 00:30:44,240 rights and gay and LGBT rights, I'm -- again, would 650 00:30:44,242 --> 00:30:47,382 you expect that this might be something -- principle 651 00:30:47,378 --> 00:30:49,248 that you'd really try to push hard? 652 00:30:49,247 --> 00:30:52,547 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think as a matter of principle, 653 00:30:52,550 --> 00:30:54,550 ensuring that individual Americans are not 654 00:30:54,552 --> 00:30:56,752 discriminated against because of who they love is 655 00:30:56,754 --> 00:30:58,754 something that the President feels strongly about, and 656 00:30:58,756 --> 00:31:00,996 the President will be forceful in making the case 657 00:31:03,995 --> 00:31:06,365 that he is going to stand on the side of fairness and 658 00:31:06,364 --> 00:31:08,564 justice and equality. 659 00:31:08,566 --> 00:31:10,636 And he's done that throughout his seven years 660 00:31:10,635 --> 00:31:12,635 in office, he did that before he was elected 661 00:31:12,637 --> 00:31:15,337 President, and I'm confident he'll do that in the time 662 00:31:15,340 --> 00:31:16,540 that remains. 663 00:31:16,541 --> 00:31:18,841 As it relates to this specific law, though, and 664 00:31:18,843 --> 00:31:21,543 its impact on government policies, I think a lot of 665 00:31:21,546 --> 00:31:23,546 that is going to be determined by what 666 00:31:23,548 --> 00:31:24,918 agencies find. 667 00:31:24,916 --> 00:31:27,686 It may be that agencies find that there's not much that 668 00:31:27,685 --> 00:31:28,685 can be done. 669 00:31:28,686 --> 00:31:32,886 But again, it's the agencies that will lead that effort. 670 00:31:32,890 --> 00:31:36,030 And I'm confident that once they reach the point of 671 00:31:36,027 --> 00:31:38,897 announcing any decisions, that they'll be in touch 672 00:31:38,896 --> 00:31:40,896 with the White House about that. 673 00:31:40,898 --> 00:31:42,998 The Press: On ISIS, at the Nuclear Summit the other day 674 00:31:43,001 --> 00:31:46,841 and that session, the President said -- emphasized 675 00:31:46,838 --> 00:31:49,608 that he had 50 world leaders, many of them are 676 00:31:49,607 --> 00:31:50,847 part of the coalition. 677 00:31:50,842 --> 00:31:53,112 He had the NATO Secretary General here today. 678 00:31:53,111 --> 00:31:56,311 I'm curious about what specific asks there were, if 679 00:31:56,314 --> 00:32:01,084 any, by the President of this group to try and -- I 680 00:32:01,085 --> 00:32:04,355 think he did use the words -- of his analysis, 681 00:32:04,355 --> 00:32:06,895 "urgency," because of what happened in Brussels and 682 00:32:06,891 --> 00:32:10,091 because of the -- I'm trying to determine what actually 683 00:32:10,094 --> 00:32:12,794 happened or what was said or what was requested that 684 00:32:12,797 --> 00:32:16,467 reflects some sense of urgency that may make the 685 00:32:16,467 --> 00:32:21,037 strategy or the response different now, more robust. 686 00:32:21,039 --> 00:32:24,579 Or are we expected to see things as they've been? 687 00:32:24,575 --> 00:32:26,275 Mr. Earnest: Look, the President is definitely 688 00:32:26,277 --> 00:32:28,717 committed to making sure that we continue to ramp up 689 00:32:28,713 --> 00:32:30,153 our efforts against ISIL. 690 00:32:30,148 --> 00:32:32,548 And we have been on this upward trajectory for quite 691 00:32:32,550 --> 00:32:34,990 some time now, and I think there are a variety of ways 692 00:32:34,986 --> 00:32:36,826 to evaluate that. 693 00:32:36,821 --> 00:32:38,821 One way to evaluate that is the important progress that 694 00:32:38,823 --> 00:32:42,093 we've made in retaking territory that ISIL had 695 00:32:42,093 --> 00:32:43,693 previously controlled. 696 00:32:43,695 --> 00:32:45,965 We've now retaken about 40 percent of the territory 697 00:32:45,963 --> 00:32:48,003 that ISIL previously controlled in Iraq. 698 00:32:47,999 --> 00:32:49,999 The percentage is smaller in Syria, but some of the 699 00:32:50,001 --> 00:32:52,071 strategic locations that have been recovered from 700 00:32:52,070 --> 00:32:56,910 ISIL are having an impact on ISIL's ability to operate in 701 00:32:56,908 --> 00:32:59,908 that country and in coordination with their 702 00:32:59,911 --> 00:33:03,081 cells, not just in Iraq but in some other locations too. 703 00:33:03,081 --> 00:33:05,621 All of that is valuable. 704 00:33:05,616 --> 00:33:08,516 We've also seen us escalate our campaign in terms of the 705 00:33:08,519 --> 00:33:11,159 efforts against ISIL's leadership in Syria. 706 00:33:11,155 --> 00:33:13,825 And I know that the Department of Defense over 707 00:33:13,825 --> 00:33:15,825 the weekend announced a couple of dozen strikes that 708 00:33:15,827 --> 00:33:18,497 were taken just over the weekend by the United States 709 00:33:18,496 --> 00:33:20,496 and coalition fighters against ISIL targets inside 710 00:33:20,498 --> 00:33:21,498 of Syria. 711 00:33:21,499 --> 00:33:24,739 So we maintain a pretty rapid pace here. 712 00:33:24,736 --> 00:33:28,876 And that's evidence of the priority that the President 713 00:33:28,873 --> 00:33:31,173 has placed on the effort to degrade and ultimately 714 00:33:31,175 --> 00:33:32,175 destroy ISIL. 715 00:33:32,176 --> 00:33:35,276 I think the value of the meeting was to ensure that 716 00:33:35,279 --> 00:33:37,679 all of the leaders who are involved in this effort 717 00:33:37,682 --> 00:33:41,282 understands why this is a priority for the President 718 00:33:41,285 --> 00:33:42,525 of the United States. 719 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:44,660 It was an opportunity to review the important 720 00:33:44,655 --> 00:33:47,595 progress that our coalition has made, and it was an 721 00:33:47,592 --> 00:33:49,592 opportunity to spend at least a little time 722 00:33:49,594 --> 00:33:52,634 discussing what are the priority areas that require 723 00:33:52,630 --> 00:33:55,430 the attention of our Counter-ISIL Coalition to 724 00:33:55,433 --> 00:33:57,503 further degrade and destroy ISIL. 725 00:33:57,502 --> 00:33:58,502 The Press: What are those areas? 726 00:33:58,503 --> 00:33:59,603 That's what I'm trying to get at -- what specifically -- 727 00:33:59,604 --> 00:34:02,174 Mr. Earnest: I don't have a detailed readout of 728 00:34:02,173 --> 00:34:05,743 the meeting, but what I can tell you is that the 729 00:34:05,743 --> 00:34:09,313 President made clear that when people like Secretary 730 00:34:09,313 --> 00:34:13,653 Carter or when Ambassador Brett McGurk come calling to 731 00:34:13,651 --> 00:34:15,651 these individual nations and are visiting with their 732 00:34:15,653 --> 00:34:18,853 counterparts about important contributions that they can 733 00:34:18,856 --> 00:34:21,026 make to our Counter-ISIL Coalition, the President 734 00:34:21,025 --> 00:34:23,095 made clear that when those individuals are making a 735 00:34:23,094 --> 00:34:25,094 request to those countries, that they're making a 736 00:34:25,096 --> 00:34:27,436 request on behalf of the President of the United 737 00:34:27,432 --> 00:34:29,172 States, and that it should be prioritized accordingly. 738 00:34:29,167 --> 00:34:36,307 And we are hopeful that that will continue to allow us to 739 00:34:36,307 --> 00:34:39,577 leverage the contributions of a wide variety of members 740 00:34:39,577 --> 00:34:42,317 to our coalition to continue to ramp up our activities 741 00:34:42,313 --> 00:34:43,213 against ISIL. 742 00:34:43,214 --> 00:34:45,114 And whether that's our military contribution or 743 00:34:45,116 --> 00:34:46,686 whether that is a contribution to our 744 00:34:46,684 --> 00:34:49,684 counter-financing efforts, or even a contribution to 745 00:34:49,687 --> 00:34:53,087 our efforts to counter ISIL's online radicalization 746 00:34:53,090 --> 00:34:55,460 efforts, there are a variety of ways that people 747 00:34:55,460 --> 00:34:56,460 can contribute. 748 00:34:56,461 --> 00:34:59,301 And we're hopeful that we'll see a steady increase in the 749 00:34:59,297 --> 00:35:01,297 contributions that are being made. 750 00:35:01,299 --> 00:35:01,929 The Press: What about specifically NATO? 751 00:35:01,933 --> 00:35:05,773 Because as the Secretary General explained, NATO is 752 00:35:05,770 --> 00:35:08,740 not a part of the coalition except that many members are 753 00:35:08,739 --> 00:35:09,739 part of the coalition. 754 00:35:09,740 --> 00:35:13,540 But inasmuch as there was an attack in Brussels, down the 755 00:35:13,544 --> 00:35:16,514 street, figuratively, from NATO headquarters, can we 756 00:35:16,514 --> 00:35:21,054 expect NATO to play a more -- again, the word "robust" 757 00:35:21,052 --> 00:35:24,592 role in that particular mission against ISIS? 758 00:35:24,589 --> 00:35:28,129 Mr. Earnest: I think you'd have to ask Secretary 759 00:35:28,125 --> 00:35:29,495 General Stoltenberg about that. 760 00:35:29,494 --> 00:35:32,364 But I can tell you that we value the contributions that 761 00:35:32,363 --> 00:35:37,033 we've received from the large number of NATO members 762 00:35:37,034 --> 00:35:41,244 who are part of our Counter-ISIL Coalition. 763 00:35:41,239 --> 00:35:50,549 And it underscores why NATO is an important body. 764 00:35:50,548 --> 00:35:53,688 Each of the individual countries who is a part of 765 00:35:53,684 --> 00:35:59,224 the NATO alliance makes substantial contributions to 766 00:35:59,223 --> 00:36:05,293 their defense and security apparatus because of 767 00:36:05,296 --> 00:36:07,636 important NATO obligations that they have. 768 00:36:07,632 --> 00:36:13,302 And ensuring that our partners and allies have 769 00:36:13,304 --> 00:36:16,674 properly invested in that security infrastructure is 770 00:36:16,674 --> 00:36:19,214 one way that we can ensure that we've got partners 771 00:36:19,210 --> 00:36:22,950 around the world that can help us when we need it. 772 00:36:22,947 --> 00:36:26,317 And so that's how they can ensure that they're equipped 773 00:36:26,317 --> 00:36:29,957 to assist the United States and our Counter-ISIL 774 00:36:29,954 --> 00:36:32,824 Coalition partners because they have those resources, 775 00:36:32,823 --> 00:36:36,723 because they've maintained that long-term commitment to 776 00:36:36,727 --> 00:36:39,727 a robust defense capability. 777 00:36:39,730 --> 00:36:40,630 And we certainly welcome that. 778 00:36:40,631 --> 00:36:42,171 The Press: And is the President satisfied with 779 00:36:42,166 --> 00:36:43,706 where those spending levels are now? 780 00:36:43,701 --> 00:36:45,171 I think the Secretary General made the point of 781 00:36:45,169 --> 00:36:49,039 2015 being the first year that the collective figure 782 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:50,940 did not decrease. 783 00:36:50,942 --> 00:36:55,242 Mr. Earnest: Well, the case that we have made strongly 784 00:36:55,246 --> 00:36:58,746 to individual NATO members is that in order to fulfill 785 00:36:58,749 --> 00:37:01,389 their NATO obligations, they should devote 2 percent of 786 00:37:01,385 --> 00:37:08,025 their GDP to their defense capabilities. 787 00:37:08,025 --> 00:37:10,295 And there are some NATO countries that meet that and 788 00:37:10,294 --> 00:37:11,494 some that don't. 789 00:37:11,495 --> 00:37:14,835 And we're going to continue to make the case that that 790 00:37:14,832 --> 00:37:17,832 kind of investment on the front end is critical to the 791 00:37:17,835 --> 00:37:20,605 national security of every member of the alliance. 792 00:37:20,605 --> 00:37:23,705 The Press: Did the President -- 793 00:37:23,708 --> 00:37:25,138 Mr. Earnest: I didn't get 794 00:37:25,142 --> 00:37:28,282 a detailed readout of the meeting, but if it did, I'm 795 00:37:28,279 --> 00:37:31,649 confident, again, that that was not the focus of 796 00:37:31,649 --> 00:37:32,649 the conversations. 797 00:37:32,650 --> 00:37:35,120 The Press: And you said that the Trump comments weren't 798 00:37:35,119 --> 00:37:39,119 -- didn't come up, or the look on your face -- 799 00:37:39,123 --> 00:37:41,793 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think my point is that they had a 800 00:37:41,792 --> 00:37:44,362 lot of really important things to discuss, and I'm 801 00:37:44,362 --> 00:37:46,362 not sure that Mr. Trump's comments would fall in 802 00:37:46,364 --> 00:37:48,164 that category. 803 00:37:48,165 --> 00:37:49,165 Mike. 804 00:37:49,166 --> 00:37:50,166 Nice to see you. 805 00:37:50,167 --> 00:37:52,167 The Press: Thank you, nice to see you. 806 00:37:52,169 --> 00:37:54,169 Was there any effort to reassure the Secretary 807 00:37:54,171 --> 00:37:56,171 General following Mr. Trump's comments in 808 00:37:56,173 --> 00:37:57,173 recent days? 809 00:37:57,174 --> 00:37:59,144 Mr. Earnest: I'm not sure that it was necessary, 810 00:37:59,143 --> 00:38:00,143 quite frankly. 811 00:38:00,144 --> 00:38:02,144 President Obama has spoken at length about how 812 00:38:02,146 --> 00:38:05,846 important the U.S.-NATO relationship is. 813 00:38:05,850 --> 00:38:08,490 Mike, you may even recall -- you may have been covering 814 00:38:08,486 --> 00:38:11,586 the White House full-time at this point -- back in 2011 815 00:38:11,589 --> 00:38:14,189 when the President traveled -- made a state visit to 816 00:38:14,191 --> 00:38:19,531 London, and he gave a speech to the members of the 817 00:38:19,530 --> 00:38:23,530 British Parliament about the importance of the -- not 818 00:38:23,534 --> 00:38:25,474 just the U.S.-U.K. 819 00:38:25,469 --> 00:38:29,909 alliance, but the importance of NATO as a building block 820 00:38:29,907 --> 00:38:34,777 in United States national security posture. 821 00:38:34,779 --> 00:38:41,619 And that alliance is something that President 822 00:38:41,619 --> 00:38:43,619 Obama has long acknowledged is critical to our 823 00:38:43,621 --> 00:38:44,921 national security. 824 00:38:44,922 --> 00:38:50,262 And it has benefitted from our investment in making 825 00:38:50,261 --> 00:38:53,161 sure that alliance remains strong. 826 00:38:53,164 --> 00:38:56,334 And the President will certainly be interested in 827 00:38:56,333 --> 00:38:59,833 advocating for the election of a successor who believes 828 00:38:59,837 --> 00:39:01,737 in the importance of maintaining a strong 829 00:39:01,739 --> 00:39:03,139 relationship with NATO. 830 00:39:03,140 --> 00:39:05,880 The Press: With terrorism hitting NATO countries, is 831 00:39:05,876 --> 00:39:09,046 there an effort to reformat or refocus the alliance to 832 00:39:09,046 --> 00:39:10,446 focus on terrorism? 833 00:39:10,448 --> 00:39:12,788 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think, Mike, there are a variety of 834 00:39:12,783 --> 00:39:15,823 ways in which NATO-member countries are very focused 835 00:39:15,820 --> 00:39:16,820 on terrorism. 836 00:39:16,821 --> 00:39:21,121 And whether it's fighting extremists in Afghanistan, 837 00:39:21,125 --> 00:39:24,765 which NATO has been doing side by side with the United 838 00:39:24,762 --> 00:39:27,762 States for more than a decade, or individual 839 00:39:27,765 --> 00:39:30,565 countries who are fighting extremism within their 840 00:39:30,568 --> 00:39:36,338 borders and benefitting from the support and cooperation 841 00:39:36,340 --> 00:39:39,310 of NATO allies -- for example, the United States 842 00:39:39,310 --> 00:39:43,210 has been strong in offering our support to both the 843 00:39:43,214 --> 00:39:49,054 French and the Belgians in countering some of the 844 00:39:49,053 --> 00:39:52,893 extremism that they've seen inside their countries. 845 00:39:52,890 --> 00:39:59,460 And so given the national security concerns of many of 846 00:39:59,463 --> 00:40:04,633 the members of NATO, it's clear that the need to fight 847 00:40:04,635 --> 00:40:10,775 terrorism is a priority of NATO member countries. 848 00:40:10,775 --> 00:40:13,075 The Press: The Navy says in recent days it stopped an 849 00:40:13,077 --> 00:40:16,577 Iranian vessel loaded with weapons, likely heading for 850 00:40:16,580 --> 00:40:21,590 Yemen -- 1,500 AK-47s, 200 RPG launchers, 21 . 851 00:40:21,585 --> 00:40:23,725 50-caliber machine guns. 852 00:40:23,721 --> 00:40:26,691 Is that an example of the Iranians following the 853 00:40:26,690 --> 00:40:29,160 letter of the agreement but not necessarily the spirit 854 00:40:29,160 --> 00:40:29,660 of it? 855 00:40:29,660 --> 00:40:31,360 Or is that a violation? 856 00:40:31,362 --> 00:40:33,502 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think one thing that this 857 00:40:33,497 --> 00:40:35,497 illustrates is the commitment on the part of 858 00:40:35,499 --> 00:40:39,839 the United States to countering Iran's 859 00:40:39,837 --> 00:40:41,907 destabilizing activities in the region. 860 00:40:41,906 --> 00:40:43,876 We obviously work with a whole host of other 861 00:40:43,874 --> 00:40:46,344 countries in that effort, and one of the things that 862 00:40:46,343 --> 00:40:49,213 President Obama will discuss at the GCC Summit in Saudi 863 00:40:49,213 --> 00:40:52,513 Arabia next month -- or I guess it's later this month 864 00:40:52,516 --> 00:40:58,786 now -- will be ramping up our efforts to counter 865 00:40:58,789 --> 00:41:01,329 Iran's destabilizing activities in the region. 866 00:41:01,325 --> 00:41:04,825 And one example of their destabilizing activities is 867 00:41:04,829 --> 00:41:08,599 their ongoing materiel support for Houthi rebels 868 00:41:08,599 --> 00:41:10,599 in Yemen. 869 00:41:13,270 --> 00:41:17,580 What I can tell you is that we obviously are concerned 870 00:41:19,710 --> 00:41:23,710 about this development because offering up support 871 00:41:23,714 --> 00:41:27,154 to the rebels in Yemen is something that is not at all 872 00:41:27,151 --> 00:41:32,791 consistent with U.N. Security Council resolutions. 873 00:41:32,790 --> 00:41:36,730 And I'm confident that the United States and our other 874 00:41:36,727 --> 00:41:39,367 partners on the Security Council will take a close 875 00:41:39,363 --> 00:41:42,303 look at this incident, consider the available 876 00:41:42,299 --> 00:41:45,539 evidence, and if and when it's appropriate, raise this 877 00:41:45,536 --> 00:41:47,606 for other members of the Security Council. 878 00:41:47,605 --> 00:41:49,605 The Press: Would the United States like to see some kind 879 00:41:49,607 --> 00:41:51,607 of consequences for this kind of 880 00:41:51,609 --> 00:41:52,609 destabilizing behavior? 881 00:41:52,610 --> 00:41:54,610 Mr. Earnest: I think at this point, it's too early to say 882 00:41:54,612 --> 00:41:57,412 exactly what we would suggest, but, again, I think 883 00:41:57,414 --> 00:41:59,584 this is a clear illustration that the United States is 884 00:41:59,583 --> 00:42:01,583 quite serious about working with other countries in the 885 00:42:01,585 --> 00:42:04,925 region to counter Iran's destabilizing activities in 886 00:42:04,922 --> 00:42:06,522 the Middle East. 887 00:42:06,523 --> 00:42:07,623 Margaret. 888 00:42:07,625 --> 00:42:08,555 The Press: Josh, on Guantanamo. 889 00:42:08,559 --> 00:42:11,529 You used the phrase, "significant humanitarian 890 00:42:11,528 --> 00:42:13,068 gesture" by Senegal. 891 00:42:13,063 --> 00:42:14,563 That's not language you normally hear from the 892 00:42:14,565 --> 00:42:15,695 administration. 893 00:42:15,699 --> 00:42:18,539 What's so different about these two detainees versus 894 00:42:18,535 --> 00:42:22,275 the ones taken in by Estonia or all the other countries 895 00:42:22,273 --> 00:42:24,373 that have taken in released detainees? 896 00:42:24,375 --> 00:42:26,415 Mr. Earnest: I don't have the details about these 897 00:42:26,410 --> 00:42:29,410 individuals -- about these individual detainees. 898 00:42:29,413 --> 00:42:31,483 I'm sure the Department of Defense could provide you 899 00:42:31,482 --> 00:42:35,082 with some additional information about them. 900 00:42:35,085 --> 00:42:39,055 But we certainly have welcomed the willingness on 901 00:42:39,056 --> 00:42:42,956 the part of other countries to take in Gitmo detainees. 902 00:42:42,960 --> 00:42:44,960 And in some cases, we have described it as a 903 00:42:44,962 --> 00:42:45,962 humanitarian gesture. 904 00:42:45,963 --> 00:42:49,003 So I didn't use that language to send a signal 905 00:42:48,999 --> 00:42:51,669 that the case of these two individuals was a clear 906 00:42:51,669 --> 00:42:57,279 outlier, but rather to demonstrate our appreciation 907 00:42:57,274 --> 00:43:01,174 to the Republic of Senegal for agreeing to this step. 908 00:43:01,178 --> 00:43:03,878 The Press: -- not just DOD, but State Department used 909 00:43:03,881 --> 00:43:07,421 that phrase, you used that phrase here. 910 00:43:07,418 --> 00:43:09,918 And so I'm just wondering if, given where we are in 911 00:43:09,920 --> 00:43:13,990 the calendar, if there is something more to the 912 00:43:13,991 --> 00:43:15,491 gratitude you're expressing here. 913 00:43:15,492 --> 00:43:18,532 Is this because it is crunch time that we do really need 914 00:43:18,529 --> 00:43:20,129 these other countries to step up and take in 915 00:43:20,130 --> 00:43:23,900 prisoners if you're going to stick to your schedule of 916 00:43:23,901 --> 00:43:26,171 closing the place down by January? 917 00:43:26,170 --> 00:43:27,770 Mr. Earnest: Well, we certainly are going to be 918 00:43:27,771 --> 00:43:30,341 very focused in our diplomatic efforts to work 919 00:43:30,341 --> 00:43:36,381 with countries around the world to settle upon 920 00:43:36,380 --> 00:43:40,550 security requirements that could be put in place that 921 00:43:40,551 --> 00:43:44,551 would mitigate the risk that transferred Gitmo detainees 922 00:43:44,555 --> 00:43:46,525 would pose to the United States. 923 00:43:46,523 --> 00:43:48,693 And I certainly wouldn't rule that out. 924 00:43:48,692 --> 00:43:50,692 I think the other thing that I wanted to acknowledge 925 00:43:50,694 --> 00:43:53,264 today is the fact that this is actually -- these are the 926 00:43:53,263 --> 00:43:57,703 first two Gitmo detainees that Senegal has agreed to take. 927 00:43:57,701 --> 00:44:02,341 And so obviously they've made an important policy 928 00:44:02,339 --> 00:44:08,049 decision that benefits the United States and it seemed 929 00:44:08,045 --> 00:44:10,815 appropriate in this setting to express our gratitude. 930 00:44:10,814 --> 00:44:15,054 The Press: Can we expect then more transfers in the 931 00:44:15,052 --> 00:44:18,822 month to come, given where we are on the calendar and 932 00:44:18,822 --> 00:44:20,162 that it is crunch time? 933 00:44:20,157 --> 00:44:24,697 Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware of any specific -- well, let 934 00:44:24,695 --> 00:44:25,925 me just say it this way. 935 00:44:25,929 --> 00:44:27,929 I don't have any transfers to tell you about right now, 936 00:44:27,931 --> 00:44:32,601 but obviously there is a process that the Department 937 00:44:32,603 --> 00:44:34,603 of Defense and the State Department have been 938 00:44:34,605 --> 00:44:37,945 following to reduce the population at the prison at 939 00:44:37,941 --> 00:44:38,941 Guantanamo Bay. 940 00:44:38,942 --> 00:44:41,412 And before they can make a transfer like this, the 941 00:44:41,412 --> 00:44:44,182 Secretary of Defense has to personally certify that 942 00:44:44,181 --> 00:44:46,581 appropriate steps have been taken to mitigate the risk 943 00:44:46,583 --> 00:44:48,723 that these individuals would pose to the United States. 944 00:44:48,719 --> 00:44:52,219 So that is why we make a strong case that these 945 00:44:52,222 --> 00:44:54,462 transfers are clearly consistent with enhancing 946 00:44:54,458 --> 00:44:56,828 the national security of the United States. 947 00:44:56,827 --> 00:44:58,827 The Press: But since the White House put forward that 948 00:44:58,829 --> 00:45:01,399 plan to shut down Guantanamo Bay, have you seen anything 949 00:45:01,398 --> 00:45:04,498 to signal that this is anything other than dead on 950 00:45:04,501 --> 00:45:07,541 arrival, and that you'll be entirely dependent on 951 00:45:07,538 --> 00:45:08,938 transfers like these? 952 00:45:08,939 --> 00:45:11,879 Mr. Earnest: Well, what I will say is that we have 953 00:45:11,875 --> 00:45:14,415 been disappointed by the reaction of many Republicans 954 00:45:14,411 --> 00:45:16,181 to this plan. 955 00:45:16,180 --> 00:45:19,420 We saw people like Senator Roberts from Kansas -- it's 956 00:45:19,416 --> 00:45:22,286 unclear if he even read the document before he took a 957 00:45:22,286 --> 00:45:24,356 selfie of himself crumbling it and throwing it into 958 00:45:24,354 --> 00:45:25,424 the trashcan. 959 00:45:25,422 --> 00:45:28,362 I think that is an indication that Republicans 960 00:45:28,358 --> 00:45:29,758 don't take this very seriously. 961 00:45:29,760 --> 00:45:32,960 And I think it is an indication, as I mentioned 962 00:45:32,963 --> 00:45:35,633 to Josh, that Republicans, in particular, are not 963 00:45:35,632 --> 00:45:39,002 willing to do their job when it comes to the national 964 00:45:39,002 --> 00:45:40,342 security of the United States. 965 00:45:40,337 --> 00:45:43,337 And they'll have to answer to the voters for that, and 966 00:45:43,340 --> 00:45:46,640 they'll have to make their case to the voters about 967 00:45:46,643 --> 00:45:53,883 why, again, taking a selfie of yourself crumbling a 968 00:45:53,884 --> 00:45:55,884 piece of paper and throwing it in a trashcan is 969 00:45:55,886 --> 00:45:57,886 consistent with serious consideration of an 970 00:45:57,888 --> 00:45:59,888 important national security priority. 971 00:45:59,890 --> 00:46:03,090 But this administration is going to take seriously our 972 00:46:03,093 --> 00:46:05,333 responsibility to protect the American people, and 973 00:46:05,329 --> 00:46:08,829 that means working assiduously within the law 974 00:46:08,832 --> 00:46:11,272 to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, primarily 975 00:46:11,268 --> 00:46:14,108 because it's a waste of money to continue to operate 976 00:46:14,104 --> 00:46:16,544 it in the method that is -- in the manner in which it's 977 00:46:16,540 --> 00:46:18,710 currently operated. 978 00:46:18,709 --> 00:46:21,179 We could save hundreds of millions of dollars over the 979 00:46:21,178 --> 00:46:25,548 long term by closing the prison, transferring those 980 00:46:25,549 --> 00:46:29,519 that can be safely transferred, and housing the 981 00:46:29,520 --> 00:46:31,660 remaining detainees in a facility here in the 982 00:46:31,655 --> 00:46:32,655 United States. 983 00:46:32,656 --> 00:46:35,656 That also would remove an important recruiting tool 984 00:46:35,659 --> 00:46:38,599 that we know that extremist organizations have used to 985 00:46:38,595 --> 00:46:40,835 radicalize people around the world. 986 00:46:40,831 --> 00:46:44,201 So I recognize the politics of this are a little 987 00:46:44,201 --> 00:46:47,971 complicated, but by presenting basic facts -- 988 00:46:47,971 --> 00:46:49,971 particularly the fact that there are dozens of 989 00:46:49,973 --> 00:46:51,373 convicted terrorists that are currently being detained 990 00:46:51,375 --> 00:46:55,845 on American soil and housed in American prisons -- I 991 00:46:55,846 --> 00:46:59,986 think this is where you would expect people who are 992 00:46:59,983 --> 00:47:03,623 genuinely concerned about protecting the United States 993 00:47:03,620 --> 00:47:06,960 willing to work cooperatively with the 994 00:47:06,957 --> 00:47:09,027 administration to advance that goal. 995 00:47:09,026 --> 00:47:12,766 The Press: Question for you on refugee policy, broadly. 996 00:47:12,763 --> 00:47:16,533 Europe began forcing migrants out of European 997 00:47:16,533 --> 00:47:19,903 territory back onto Turkish shores or other points. 998 00:47:19,903 --> 00:47:22,603 What is the White House view on this? 999 00:47:22,606 --> 00:47:23,776 Do you it view it as somewhat similar to the 1000 00:47:23,774 --> 00:47:25,814 forced deportations that the U.S. 1001 00:47:25,809 --> 00:47:28,349 has undertook along its border? 1002 00:47:28,345 --> 00:47:32,115 Mr. Earnest: Well, let me just start by saying that 1003 00:47:32,115 --> 00:47:37,185 the United States shares the desire to protect people 1004 00:47:37,187 --> 00:47:41,257 fleeing a desperate situation in Syria or other 1005 00:47:41,258 --> 00:47:43,258 places across the Aegean Sea. 1006 00:47:45,229 --> 00:47:49,929 We also are committed to supporting the effort to 1007 00:47:49,933 --> 00:47:54,503 crack down on the deadly smugglers who prey upon 1008 00:47:54,504 --> 00:47:56,944 these desperate individuals. 1009 00:47:56,940 --> 00:48:01,650 Far too many innocent lives have been lost merely to 1010 00:48:01,645 --> 00:48:04,585 line the pockets of criminal syndicates. 1011 00:48:04,581 --> 00:48:12,291 And it's deplorable, and it's why the United States 1012 00:48:12,289 --> 00:48:17,999 has been strongly supportive of the E.U.'s efforts along 1013 00:48:17,995 --> 00:48:20,735 with Turkey to try to confront this situation. 1014 00:48:20,731 --> 00:48:23,171 And we commend the commitment from the E.U., 1015 00:48:23,166 --> 00:48:25,666 its member states, and Turkey, who have 1016 00:48:25,669 --> 00:48:28,039 demonstrated that they are seeking a comprehensive and 1017 00:48:28,038 --> 00:48:30,938 coordinated response to the current influx of migrants 1018 00:48:30,941 --> 00:48:32,941 and refugees from Syria and other nations. 1019 00:48:36,847 --> 00:48:38,487 We've seen both the E.U. 1020 00:48:38,482 --> 00:48:46,122 and Turkey commit to making sure that the individuals -- 1021 00:48:46,123 --> 00:48:49,093 these migrants, or these refugees are being given 1022 00:48:49,092 --> 00:48:52,192 access to due process to make sure that their 1023 00:48:52,195 --> 00:48:57,505 international rights are not just respected but 1024 00:48:57,501 --> 00:48:59,641 actually protected. 1025 00:48:59,636 --> 00:49:02,706 And that obviously is an important priority of the 1026 00:49:02,706 --> 00:49:04,206 United States. 1027 00:49:04,207 --> 00:49:06,207 What's also an important priority is making sure that 1028 00:49:06,209 --> 00:49:08,949 we can find an orderly way to meet the basic 1029 00:49:08,945 --> 00:49:10,915 humanitarian needs of these individuals. 1030 00:49:10,914 --> 00:49:13,584 And we're talking about, in some cases, families who 1031 00:49:13,583 --> 00:49:16,023 have fled their homes, just trying to escape violence 1032 00:49:16,019 --> 00:49:18,189 or, in some cases, to escape genocide. 1033 00:49:18,188 --> 00:49:20,188 And that's why the United States has stepped forward 1034 00:49:20,190 --> 00:49:22,330 and offered more than $5 billion in humanitarian 1035 00:49:22,326 --> 00:49:24,296 assistance to try to meet the needs of 1036 00:49:24,294 --> 00:49:25,294 these individuals. 1037 00:49:25,295 --> 00:49:27,295 The United States is actually the largest 1038 00:49:27,297 --> 00:49:29,797 bilateral donor of humanitarian assistance. 1039 00:49:29,800 --> 00:49:32,500 In some cases, that means offering direct humanitarian 1040 00:49:32,502 --> 00:49:35,472 assistance to those who have been displaced internally 1041 00:49:35,472 --> 00:49:37,342 inside of Syria. 1042 00:49:37,341 --> 00:49:39,341 In other cases, that actually means providing 1043 00:49:39,343 --> 00:49:43,343 assistance to other countries like Turkey that 1044 00:49:43,347 --> 00:49:46,147 are bearing a significant burden by housing a 1045 00:49:46,149 --> 00:49:49,519 significant number of Syrian migrants. 1046 00:49:49,519 --> 00:49:52,389 And the United States is serious about continuing to 1047 00:49:52,389 --> 00:49:54,129 offer that kind of support and that will continue. 1048 00:49:54,124 --> 00:49:55,724 The Press: Did this come up in the meeting with the NATO 1049 00:49:55,726 --> 00:49:57,326 Secretary General? 1050 00:49:57,327 --> 00:50:00,467 And is it similar to the U.S.'s own deportation 1051 00:50:00,464 --> 00:50:01,794 of migrants? 1052 00:50:01,798 --> 00:50:04,938 Mr. Earnest: I don't know whether or not this came up 1053 00:50:04,935 --> 00:50:06,935 with the NATO Secretary General in the President's 1054 00:50:06,937 --> 00:50:08,607 meeting with him today. 1055 00:50:08,605 --> 00:50:12,645 I think it is difficult to compare these two situations 1056 00:50:12,642 --> 00:50:15,442 -- both the situation of the refugees fleeing violence in 1057 00:50:15,445 --> 00:50:19,545 Syria and the situation that we've seen with some Central 1058 00:50:19,549 --> 00:50:22,119 American countries. 1059 00:50:22,119 --> 00:50:24,259 I think the one thing that they do have in common is a 1060 00:50:24,254 --> 00:50:27,624 commitment on the part of the United States to the 1061 00:50:27,624 --> 00:50:33,634 basic protection of the human rights of individuals 1062 00:50:36,133 --> 00:50:38,433 who are fleeing violence in their home countries. 1063 00:50:38,435 --> 00:50:40,805 And certainly in the United States, we've made access to 1064 00:50:40,804 --> 00:50:47,244 due process a critical component of this process. 1065 00:50:47,244 --> 00:50:51,884 And we have been gratified to see the E.U. 1066 00:50:51,882 --> 00:50:55,422 and Turkey prioritize those rights as well. 1067 00:50:55,419 --> 00:50:56,419 Michelle. 1068 00:50:56,420 --> 00:50:58,820 The Press: So despite how these Panama Papers got out 1069 00:50:58,822 --> 00:51:00,992 there and the fact that this is private information and 1070 00:51:00,991 --> 00:51:05,531 -- I mean, some of it is not illegal activity likely. 1071 00:51:05,529 --> 00:51:07,769 I mean, there's 11 million pages there. 1072 00:51:07,764 --> 00:51:10,504 Does the White House think that this is a positive 1073 00:51:10,500 --> 00:51:11,470 thing that it was leaked? 1074 00:51:11,468 --> 00:51:15,908 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think at this point it's hard to 1075 00:51:15,906 --> 00:51:18,506 assess whether or not that's an entirely positive thing. 1076 00:51:18,508 --> 00:51:22,608 I think what's still unclear is exactly how these 1077 00:51:22,612 --> 00:51:23,812 documents became public. 1078 00:51:23,814 --> 00:51:28,584 And I know that even that is something that continues to 1079 00:51:28,585 --> 00:51:30,585 be under investigation. 1080 00:51:31,688 --> 00:51:34,558 So I think that's going to prevent me from reaching a 1081 00:51:34,558 --> 00:51:36,558 hard and fast assessment about that right now. 1082 00:51:36,560 --> 00:51:38,560 The Press: But you used the leak as a way to state that 1083 00:51:38,562 --> 00:51:41,432 the U.S. has been a leading advocate for transparency. 1084 00:51:41,431 --> 00:51:44,831 But this transparency, obviously, the reason it's 1085 00:51:44,835 --> 00:51:48,175 out there is because of some leak that wasn't intended. 1086 00:51:48,171 --> 00:51:50,711 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I don't want to speculate 1087 00:51:50,707 --> 00:51:51,807 about why it may be out there. 1088 00:51:51,808 --> 00:51:53,808 It also may be out there because somebody stole the 1089 00:51:53,810 --> 00:51:54,680 documents and gave them to a reporter. 1090 00:51:54,678 --> 00:51:55,208 The Press: Exactly. 1091 00:51:55,212 --> 00:51:56,912 It's a leak. 1092 00:51:56,913 --> 00:51:59,913 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think stealing documents and 1093 00:51:59,916 --> 00:52:01,416 giving them to a reporter is different than sharing 1094 00:52:01,418 --> 00:52:04,158 information with a reporter that might not otherwise 1095 00:52:04,154 --> 00:52:07,194 be public. 1096 00:52:07,190 --> 00:52:09,190 I'm not an attorney, but I do think that there is a 1097 00:52:09,192 --> 00:52:10,192 difference there. 1098 00:52:10,193 --> 00:52:10,993 The Press: I mean, it is private information on 1099 00:52:10,994 --> 00:52:14,394 people's financial records that was unintentionally, 1100 00:52:14,397 --> 00:52:17,197 without their permission, put out there. 1101 00:52:17,200 --> 00:52:19,370 But you sort of answered the question as if this was a 1102 00:52:19,369 --> 00:52:20,439 positive thing. 1103 00:52:20,437 --> 00:52:23,107 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think I tried to answer the question 1104 00:52:23,106 --> 00:52:25,106 by suggesting that regardless of whether or not 1105 00:52:25,108 --> 00:52:27,848 these documents had been made public or not, the 1106 00:52:27,844 --> 00:52:30,984 United States would continue to be a leading advocate for 1107 00:52:30,981 --> 00:52:33,981 making more of these transactions more transparent. 1108 00:52:33,984 --> 00:52:36,484 And the value in that is it will enhance the ability of 1109 00:52:36,486 --> 00:52:38,486 the United States and our national security 1110 00:52:38,488 --> 00:52:41,428 professionals to enforce U.S. 1111 00:52:41,424 --> 00:52:43,994 sanctions, to counter corruption, to shut down 1112 00:52:43,994 --> 00:52:49,234 terrorist financing, and put an end -- or at least limit 1113 00:52:49,232 --> 00:52:51,572 -- the kind of illicit financing efforts that are 1114 00:52:51,568 --> 00:52:52,908 actually contrary to U.S. 1115 00:52:52,903 --> 00:52:53,973 national security interests. 1116 00:52:53,970 --> 00:52:55,610 The Press: Okay. 1117 00:52:55,605 --> 00:52:58,775 And at the Nuclear Security Summit, the President, of 1118 00:52:58,775 --> 00:53:01,115 course, took a question on Donald Trump. 1119 00:53:01,111 --> 00:53:04,311 And he took the opportunity to answer pretty extensively. 1120 00:53:04,314 --> 00:53:05,244 Mr. Earnest: He did. 1121 00:53:05,248 --> 00:53:07,818 The Press: So he gets these questions all the time now, 1122 00:53:07,817 --> 00:53:09,857 pretty much every time he does a press conference. 1123 00:53:09,853 --> 00:53:13,323 And lately, he has been more effusive in his responses. 1124 00:53:13,323 --> 00:53:15,823 So does he dread these questions that he's always 1125 00:53:15,825 --> 00:53:17,325 going to get now? 1126 00:53:17,327 --> 00:53:19,297 Or does he relish the opportunity to counter 1127 00:53:19,296 --> 00:53:21,036 that messaging? 1128 00:53:21,031 --> 00:53:24,901 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, if Mr. Trump does become a 1129 00:53:24,901 --> 00:53:27,701 nominee, I suspect that over the course of the summer and 1130 00:53:27,704 --> 00:53:29,704 fall, as the President is campaigning for the 1131 00:53:29,706 --> 00:53:32,976 Democratic nominee, you will -- the President will have 1132 00:53:32,976 --> 00:53:35,776 many more opportunities to highlight the difference in 1133 00:53:35,779 --> 00:53:39,719 approach between that which is advocated by Mr. Trump, 1134 00:53:39,716 --> 00:53:42,486 and that which is advocated by Democrats and, in some 1135 00:53:42,485 --> 00:53:47,455 cases, even this administration. 1136 00:53:47,457 --> 00:53:50,827 I think particularly when it comes to questions related 1137 00:53:50,827 --> 00:53:53,397 to nuclear policy, I think the President welcomed the 1138 00:53:53,396 --> 00:53:58,306 opportunity to use Mr. Trump's unwise position 1139 00:53:58,301 --> 00:54:00,541 to illustrate the wisdom of the approach that this 1140 00:54:00,537 --> 00:54:06,677 administration has pursued, which is to prioritize the 1141 00:54:06,676 --> 00:54:10,446 international effort to prevent the spread of 1142 00:54:10,447 --> 00:54:11,447 nuclear materials. 1143 00:54:11,448 --> 00:54:15,618 And the President was able to make a strong case in 1144 00:54:15,619 --> 00:54:18,019 describing exactly why that is in our national security 1145 00:54:18,021 --> 00:54:20,621 interest, and to describe the important progress that 1146 00:54:20,624 --> 00:54:23,124 we've made over the last seven years in removing 1147 00:54:23,126 --> 00:54:27,026 nuclear material from some 13 or 14 countries around 1148 00:54:27,030 --> 00:54:28,770 the world. 1149 00:54:28,765 --> 00:54:32,935 And that certainly makes that nuclear material harder 1150 00:54:32,936 --> 00:54:38,746 to be turned into a nuclear weapon or to be stolen by 1151 00:54:38,742 --> 00:54:41,082 terrorists with bad intentions. 1152 00:54:41,077 --> 00:54:44,477 So there are a variety of ways to make that case, but 1153 00:54:44,481 --> 00:54:50,791 in comparison to the ill-informed, unwise, 1154 00:54:50,787 --> 00:54:53,987 intemperate remarks of Mr. Trump, I think it only 1155 00:54:53,990 --> 00:54:56,790 serves to illustrate the benefits of President 1156 00:54:56,793 --> 00:54:57,793 Obama's approach. 1157 00:54:57,794 --> 00:55:00,234 The Press: And both you and the President have said on 1158 00:55:00,230 --> 00:55:05,200 multiple occasions that that kind of rhetoric that some 1159 00:55:05,201 --> 00:55:07,601 of the candidates, including Trump, have been putting out 1160 00:55:07,604 --> 00:55:10,844 there is damaging to the U.S.'s standing in the world. 1161 00:55:10,840 --> 00:55:15,910 Do you think that that damage has already been done? 1162 00:55:15,912 --> 00:55:18,352 Mr. Earnest: Well, no, I don't think that that damage 1163 00:55:18,348 --> 00:55:19,348 has been done. 1164 00:55:19,349 --> 00:55:23,219 I think that the damage is in concern that is expressed 1165 00:55:23,219 --> 00:55:25,959 by people around the world about whether or not the 1166 00:55:25,955 --> 00:55:28,925 United States is going to continue to stand for and 1167 00:55:28,925 --> 00:55:31,095 fight for the kinds of values that have been 1168 00:55:31,094 --> 00:55:33,094 central to this country since our nation's founding 1169 00:55:33,096 --> 00:55:34,996 more than 200 years ago. 1170 00:55:34,998 --> 00:55:37,898 The fact that Mr. Trump and other Republican candidates 1171 00:55:37,901 --> 00:55:40,971 want to walk away from some of those values and, in some 1172 00:55:40,970 --> 00:55:44,010 cases, even talk down those values isn't just 1173 00:55:44,007 --> 00:55:48,507 disappointing, it's unsettling to our allies 1174 00:55:48,511 --> 00:55:50,611 that continue to depend on the United States as an 1175 00:55:50,613 --> 00:55:54,253 ardent defender of basic human rights, of smart 1176 00:55:54,250 --> 00:55:56,990 policy, particularly when it comes to something as 1177 00:55:56,986 --> 00:56:00,656 important as nuclear weapons or our NATO alliance. 1178 00:56:00,657 --> 00:56:06,867 So I think, ultimately, ensuring that we have 1179 00:56:06,863 --> 00:56:10,403 leadership in the United States that continues to 1180 00:56:10,400 --> 00:56:12,940 support those values and to be a leading advocate in 1181 00:56:12,936 --> 00:56:16,406 fighting to advance those values isn't just critical 1182 00:56:16,406 --> 00:56:20,306 to our national security, and it isn't just important 1183 00:56:20,310 --> 00:56:23,580 to living up to the values that the citizens of this 1184 00:56:23,580 --> 00:56:26,320 country have long cherished; it's also critical to 1185 00:56:26,316 --> 00:56:29,256 ensuring strong relations with some of our closest 1186 00:56:29,252 --> 00:56:30,322 allies around the world. 1187 00:56:30,320 --> 00:56:32,560 The Press: So, I mean, the President met with a number 1188 00:56:32,555 --> 00:56:34,655 of leaders at this summit. 1189 00:56:34,657 --> 00:56:39,827 Does he find himself needing to reassure people and 1190 00:56:39,829 --> 00:56:41,329 counter the stuff that's been going on in the 1191 00:56:41,331 --> 00:56:43,201 campaigns this season? 1192 00:56:43,199 --> 00:56:45,199 Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't think the President spends 1193 00:56:45,201 --> 00:56:47,871 much more time saying something to those who ask 1194 00:56:47,871 --> 00:56:50,971 him about this in private than he does in public. 1195 00:56:50,974 --> 00:56:53,844 And what the President has said in public is he is not 1196 00:56:53,843 --> 00:56:54,673 particularly concerned about Mr. Trump becoming President 1197 00:56:54,677 --> 00:56:55,377 of the United States. 1198 00:56:55,378 --> 00:56:59,518 He doesn't think that's going to happen. 1199 00:56:59,516 --> 00:57:01,516 He has expressed his concern about the way that other 1200 00:57:01,518 --> 00:57:04,958 Republican candidates have in a desperate attempt to 1201 00:57:04,954 --> 00:57:07,624 try to keep up with Mr. Trump's supposed 1202 00:57:07,624 --> 00:57:09,624 popularity have even given voice to some of 1203 00:57:09,626 --> 00:57:11,166 those comments. 1204 00:57:11,161 --> 00:57:13,401 But the President retains a lot of confidence in the 1205 00:57:13,396 --> 00:57:15,936 commitment of the American people to those values, and 1206 00:57:15,932 --> 00:57:19,832 I think that's one piece of evidence that you can point 1207 00:57:19,836 --> 00:57:22,176 to is the way that the Democratic candidates for 1208 00:57:22,172 --> 00:57:24,842 President have strongly supported those values 1209 00:57:24,841 --> 00:57:28,811 throughout the campaign and have not wavered on them, 1210 00:57:28,812 --> 00:57:31,052 even in some difficult political situations. 1211 00:57:31,047 --> 00:57:34,647 So I think that gives the President, the American 1212 00:57:34,651 --> 00:57:37,791 people, and our allies around the world confidence 1213 00:57:37,787 --> 00:57:38,787 that the U.S. 1214 00:57:38,788 --> 00:57:42,288 commitment to basic human rights, to smart nuclear 1215 00:57:42,292 --> 00:57:45,092 policy, to our NATO alliance is unwavering, despite what 1216 00:57:45,094 --> 00:57:52,874 you hear at some Republican campaign rallies. 1217 00:57:52,869 --> 00:57:55,139 The Press: But you mentioned that it's unsettling to 1218 00:57:55,138 --> 00:57:57,278 allies, that there's concern out there. 1219 00:57:57,273 --> 00:57:59,873 So does the President have to have conversations with 1220 00:57:59,876 --> 00:58:01,816 them about this specifically? 1221 00:58:01,811 --> 00:58:02,881 Mr. Earnest: Yes, he does. 1222 00:58:02,879 --> 00:58:05,149 I think he has admitted as much at least in that news 1223 00:58:05,148 --> 00:58:06,988 conference on Friday. 1224 00:58:06,983 --> 00:58:08,983 But, again, the conversations that he has in 1225 00:58:08,985 --> 00:58:11,385 public are not that different -- or in private 1226 00:58:11,387 --> 00:58:15,127 are not different than the confidence that you heard 1227 00:58:15,124 --> 00:58:17,694 him express previously in public. 1228 00:58:17,694 --> 00:58:18,724 April. 1229 00:58:18,728 --> 00:58:21,528 The Press: Josh, I want to ask you, why and how did 1230 00:58:21,531 --> 00:58:25,171 Senegal get in the mix when it came to the detainees? 1231 00:58:25,168 --> 00:58:28,138 And is there a history with the Senegalese having 1232 00:58:28,137 --> 00:58:32,607 high-value prisoners in their possession at any time? 1233 00:58:32,609 --> 00:58:35,049 Mr. Earnest: Well, this is actually the first time that 1234 00:58:35,044 --> 00:58:37,614 Senegal has agreed to take Gitmo detainees. 1235 00:58:37,614 --> 00:58:39,884 These two individuals are the first two Gitmo 1236 00:58:39,883 --> 00:58:41,513 detainees to be transferred to Senegal. 1237 00:58:41,517 --> 00:58:44,217 The Press: Did the White House ask them? 1238 00:58:44,220 --> 00:58:46,590 Mr. Earnest: Well, the administration did. 1239 00:58:46,589 --> 00:58:48,959 And the State Department is obviously the lead of 1240 00:58:48,958 --> 00:58:51,158 negotiating these diplomatic agreements with other 1241 00:58:51,160 --> 00:58:54,700 countries to both get them to agree to take these 1242 00:58:54,697 --> 00:58:57,737 individuals, but also to adhere to a whole set of 1243 00:58:57,734 --> 00:59:02,204 security requirements that prevent them from posing an 1244 00:59:02,205 --> 00:59:03,205 undue threat to U.S. 1245 00:59:03,206 --> 00:59:04,206 national security. 1246 00:59:04,207 --> 00:59:06,647 And the Secretary of Defense is responsible for 1247 00:59:06,643 --> 00:59:10,013 certifying that those security requirements are 1248 00:59:10,013 --> 00:59:12,713 sufficient to mitigate any risk that they would pose to 1249 00:59:12,715 --> 00:59:13,715 the United States. 1250 00:59:13,716 --> 00:59:15,556 The Press: So is there any involvement with the African 1251 00:59:15,551 --> 00:59:18,651 Union when it comes to these detainees in Senegal? 1252 00:59:18,655 --> 00:59:22,025 Mr. Earnest: I don't know the answer to that, but I 1253 00:59:22,025 --> 00:59:22,555 suppose you can check with the State Department 1254 00:59:22,558 --> 00:59:25,258 about that. 1255 00:59:25,261 --> 00:59:26,261 Juliet. 1256 00:59:26,262 --> 00:59:27,262 The Press: Hi, Josh. 1257 00:59:27,263 --> 00:59:28,563 I was wondering if you could provide a little context to 1258 00:59:28,564 --> 00:59:31,734 the HUD policy that's being rolled out today, which is 1259 00:59:31,734 --> 00:59:34,504 saying that a person's criminal record should not 1260 00:59:34,504 --> 00:59:37,874 be an automatic disqualifier to being able to rent 1261 00:59:37,874 --> 00:59:41,714 housing in the United States. 1262 00:59:41,711 --> 00:59:45,181 Mr. Earnest: Well, the idea here -- and this is a policy 1263 00:59:45,181 --> 00:59:49,521 that Secretary Castro will roll out -- is that the 1264 00:59:49,519 --> 00:59:53,659 agency wants to ensure, or at least take a significant 1265 00:59:53,656 --> 00:59:56,656 step toward ensuring that people with criminal records 1266 00:59:56,659 --> 01:00:00,099 aren't being illegally denied housing opportunities. 1267 01:00:00,096 --> 01:00:05,036 And the idea is to make clear to housing providers 1268 01:00:05,034 --> 01:00:08,334 across the country that blanket bans against people 1269 01:00:08,338 --> 01:00:11,038 with criminal records violate the Fair Housing Act 1270 01:00:11,040 --> 01:00:13,580 when they disproportionately deny housing to people 1271 01:00:13,576 --> 01:00:15,316 of color. 1272 01:00:15,311 --> 01:00:19,611 And this pursuit of eliminating discrimination 1273 01:00:19,615 --> 01:00:22,155 in the housing sector is something that President 1274 01:00:22,151 --> 01:00:23,891 Obama has made a priority. 1275 01:00:23,886 --> 01:00:26,326 But I can tell you it's something that both 1276 01:00:26,322 --> 01:00:29,662 Secretary Castro and his predecessor, Shaun Donovan, 1277 01:00:29,659 --> 01:00:33,059 who is now at OMB, also made a priority. 1278 01:00:33,062 --> 01:00:38,502 And understanding the way that housing policy can have 1279 01:00:38,501 --> 01:00:41,401 an influence on communities all across the country is to 1280 01:00:41,404 --> 01:00:47,474 understand why preventing discrimination in this field 1281 01:00:47,477 --> 01:00:50,977 is something that can have a significant impact on our 1282 01:00:50,980 --> 01:00:51,980 broader society. 1283 01:00:51,981 --> 01:00:55,221 The Press: Can you describe to what extent you think 1284 01:00:55,218 --> 01:00:56,388 this has been a problem? 1285 01:00:56,386 --> 01:00:58,526 For example, returning offenders, or how has this 1286 01:00:58,521 --> 01:01:01,461 played out, this idea that people in the past have 1287 01:01:01,457 --> 01:01:02,457 been denied? 1288 01:01:02,458 --> 01:01:04,328 Mr. Earnest: Well, the concern, obviously, is that 1289 01:01:04,327 --> 01:01:13,267 a broad application of a ban against people with criminal 1290 01:01:13,269 --> 01:01:17,709 records disproportionately impacts people of color. 1291 01:01:17,707 --> 01:01:20,747 And that is a source of significant concern. 1292 01:01:20,743 --> 01:01:23,183 Eliminating that kind of discrimination in our 1293 01:01:23,179 --> 01:01:26,819 housing policy can have broader societal effects. 1294 01:01:26,816 --> 01:01:28,886 The second thing is the administration has obviously 1295 01:01:28,885 --> 01:01:33,525 made the ability of people who have served their time 1296 01:01:33,523 --> 01:01:37,023 and paid their debt to society to reenter our 1297 01:01:37,026 --> 01:01:41,166 society is a critical part of criminal justice reform. 1298 01:01:41,164 --> 01:01:43,864 Giving people a second chance, particularly people 1299 01:01:43,866 --> 01:01:48,736 who have paid their debt to society, is a priority not 1300 01:01:48,738 --> 01:01:50,738 just to the administration, but I think to the 1301 01:01:50,740 --> 01:01:51,740 American people. 1302 01:01:51,741 --> 01:01:53,741 And, again, this goes to something that Speaker Ryan 1303 01:01:53,743 --> 01:01:56,783 talked about last week, in talking about how his faith 1304 01:01:56,779 --> 01:02:01,649 and his sense of values animates his view of the 1305 01:02:01,651 --> 01:02:04,391 importance of giving people a second chance. 1306 01:02:04,387 --> 01:02:07,657 And there are already a whole host of significant 1307 01:02:07,657 --> 01:02:11,297 obstacles that people reentering society and 1308 01:02:11,294 --> 01:02:16,864 coming out of incarceration face -- from finding a job 1309 01:02:16,866 --> 01:02:18,866 to finding a support network. 1310 01:02:21,404 --> 01:02:26,074 And to throw up or to erect barriers to being able to 1311 01:02:26,075 --> 01:02:31,615 find housing is going to make it quite difficult for 1312 01:02:31,614 --> 01:02:35,154 individuals who are emerging from our criminal justice 1313 01:02:35,151 --> 01:02:38,121 system to establish the kind of basis that they'll need 1314 01:02:38,121 --> 01:02:43,161 to find a job and to build a new life for themselves. 1315 01:02:43,159 --> 01:02:47,359 So obviously this is a policy that was carefully 1316 01:02:47,363 --> 01:02:50,663 considered by Secretary Castro, but it's one that 1317 01:02:50,666 --> 01:02:52,136 the administration as a whole 1318 01:02:52,135 --> 01:02:53,335 enthusiastically supports. 1319 01:02:53,336 --> 01:02:55,336 The Press: And just one question on the North 1320 01:02:55,338 --> 01:02:56,338 Carolina law. 1321 01:02:56,339 --> 01:02:58,339 In the course of the President's time in office, 1322 01:02:58,341 --> 01:03:01,311 is there another time that you can recall the 1323 01:03:01,310 --> 01:03:04,650 administration has done an agency-wide review of 1324 01:03:04,647 --> 01:03:08,517 potential retaliatory response to a state law that 1325 01:03:08,518 --> 01:03:11,358 in the eyes of the administration violated 1326 01:03:11,354 --> 01:03:15,254 whether it's civil rights or other principles? 1327 01:03:15,258 --> 01:03:17,898 Mr. Earnest: I think what you'd probably have to do is 1328 01:03:17,894 --> 01:03:19,894 to check with individual agencies because obviously 1329 01:03:19,896 --> 01:03:21,896 this is not a review that was ordered by the White 1330 01:03:21,898 --> 01:03:24,598 House but rather these were individual agencies who were 1331 01:03:24,600 --> 01:03:29,910 consulting the laws that are -- who are consulting the 1332 01:03:29,906 --> 01:03:32,276 laws that are on the books and the policies that have 1333 01:03:32,275 --> 01:03:34,275 been in place under this administration to determine 1334 01:03:34,277 --> 01:03:37,277 whether some sort of response is necessary. 1335 01:03:37,280 --> 01:03:42,790 I don't think this is something that is outside of 1336 01:03:42,785 --> 01:03:45,025 standard operating procedure. 1337 01:03:45,021 --> 01:03:47,121 But you'd have to talk to individual agencies to 1338 01:03:47,123 --> 01:03:50,093 determine exactly what that standard operating procedure is. 1339 01:03:50,092 --> 01:03:51,632 Anita. 1340 01:03:51,627 --> 01:03:54,167 The Press: Can you talk a little bit about the 1341 01:03:54,163 --> 01:03:55,963 President's trip on Thursday, just the first 1342 01:03:55,965 --> 01:03:57,135 part, the Chicago part? 1343 01:03:57,133 --> 01:03:59,473 Obviously he's talked about the Supreme Court before. 1344 01:03:59,468 --> 01:04:02,808 What's the new message and why Chicago, Illinois? 1345 01:04:02,805 --> 01:04:05,845 Is he going to call out certain senators? 1346 01:04:05,841 --> 01:04:07,881 Mr. Earnest: Well, why Chicago? 1347 01:04:07,877 --> 01:04:09,877 The President, you may recall, taught 1348 01:04:09,879 --> 01:04:12,719 constitutional law at the University of Chicago. 1349 01:04:12,715 --> 01:04:16,315 And returning to that venue to have a discussion about 1350 01:04:16,319 --> 01:04:18,789 the constitutional responsibilities before the 1351 01:04:18,788 --> 01:04:22,488 United States Senate. 1352 01:04:22,491 --> 01:04:23,591 And it will be an opportunity for the 1353 01:04:23,593 --> 01:04:29,463 President to discuss why he considers his responsibility 1354 01:04:29,465 --> 01:04:32,405 to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court so important. 1355 01:04:32,401 --> 01:04:34,401 I'm confident that he'll spend a little time talking 1356 01:04:34,403 --> 01:04:39,243 about how he arrived at the decision to nominate Chief 1357 01:04:39,242 --> 01:04:43,742 Judge Garland for this important position. 1358 01:04:43,746 --> 01:04:47,216 And I'm confident that the President will reiterate a 1359 01:04:47,216 --> 01:04:50,486 case that you've heard him make a number of times now 1360 01:04:50,486 --> 01:04:53,626 that the Senate should set aside partisan 1361 01:04:53,623 --> 01:04:55,763 considerations and actually focus on their 1362 01:04:55,758 --> 01:04:57,758 constitutional responsibility. 1363 01:04:59,528 --> 01:05:02,568 He'll say that the Senate -- members of the Senate should 1364 01:05:02,565 --> 01:05:03,895 do their job. 1365 01:05:03,899 --> 01:05:09,639 And that's an argument that you've heard him make 1366 01:05:09,639 --> 01:05:13,039 before, but making it in a venue where the President 1367 01:05:13,042 --> 01:05:15,712 has previously talked about the importance of 1368 01:05:15,711 --> 01:05:18,681 constitutional law is the idea behind Thursday's event. 1369 01:05:18,681 --> 01:05:20,951 The Press: Do you think he'll mention certain 1370 01:05:20,950 --> 01:05:21,950 specific senators? 1371 01:05:21,951 --> 01:05:22,951 He hasn't really done that. 1372 01:05:22,952 --> 01:05:24,852 Mr. Earnest: I don't know necessarily whether or not 1373 01:05:24,854 --> 01:05:29,624 he will mention certain senators, although I suspect 1374 01:05:29,625 --> 01:05:32,425 that, for example, Leader McConnell or Chairman 1375 01:05:32,428 --> 01:05:34,798 Grassley's name might come up. 1376 01:05:34,797 --> 01:05:36,797 They have a pretty important role in this process that 1377 01:05:36,799 --> 01:05:39,699 they're not playing right now, and that's sort of the 1378 01:05:39,702 --> 01:05:40,702 whole point here. 1379 01:05:40,703 --> 01:05:44,003 The Press: And then since he is going back home, so to 1380 01:05:44,006 --> 01:05:46,246 speak -- and he did the same thing, Springfield, a couple 1381 01:05:46,242 --> 01:05:48,882 months ago -- just wondering, sort of, is he 1382 01:05:48,878 --> 01:05:49,878 feeling nostalgic? 1383 01:05:49,879 --> 01:05:53,449 This is the second time he's gone to deliver sort of a 1384 01:05:53,449 --> 01:05:56,249 speech about something important to him that he 1385 01:05:56,252 --> 01:05:57,252 wants to talk about. 1386 01:05:57,253 --> 01:05:58,223 The other was partisan politics and dysfunction 1387 01:05:58,220 --> 01:06:00,690 in Washington. 1388 01:06:00,690 --> 01:06:01,690 What's going on? 1389 01:06:01,691 --> 01:06:04,991 He feeling his last year -- Mr. Earnest: Well, I think 1390 01:06:04,994 --> 01:06:11,304 what's going on is that both locations are appropriate 1391 01:06:11,300 --> 01:06:18,140 ways to illustrate how consistently the President 1392 01:06:18,140 --> 01:06:22,510 has fought for a whole set of values and principles 1393 01:06:22,511 --> 01:06:26,781 even before he entered the White House. 1394 01:06:26,782 --> 01:06:29,252 So when it came to Springfield, the President 1395 01:06:29,251 --> 01:06:32,421 devoted a significant portion of his speech before 1396 01:06:32,421 --> 01:06:37,461 the Illinois legislature to talking about how important 1397 01:06:37,460 --> 01:06:40,430 it was to the success of the Illinois legislature for 1398 01:06:40,429 --> 01:06:44,269 Democrats and Republicans to be able to work together. 1399 01:06:44,266 --> 01:06:46,306 That's something that the Illinois legislature did 1400 01:06:46,302 --> 01:06:50,502 effectively when Senator Obama was there. 1401 01:06:50,506 --> 01:06:55,946 And there's a similar parallel that the President 1402 01:06:55,945 --> 01:06:58,385 is hoping to draw by traveling to the University 1403 01:06:58,381 --> 01:06:59,811 of Chicago. 1404 01:06:59,815 --> 01:07:02,655 Prior to entering the White House, prior to running for 1405 01:07:02,651 --> 01:07:05,791 the United States Senate, the President spent a lot of 1406 01:07:05,788 --> 01:07:08,688 time thinking about and writing about and talking 1407 01:07:08,691 --> 01:07:12,261 about and teaching constitutional principles. 1408 01:07:12,261 --> 01:07:14,561 And many of those constitutional principles 1409 01:07:14,563 --> 01:07:19,233 are now in the broader discussion about whether or 1410 01:07:19,235 --> 01:07:22,135 not the Senate is going to do its job, and whether or 1411 01:07:22,138 --> 01:07:25,738 not individual senators are going to do their jobs when 1412 01:07:25,741 --> 01:07:27,741 it comes to fulfilling their constitutional 1413 01:07:27,743 --> 01:07:33,553 responsibility to evaluate and give a fair hearing and 1414 01:07:33,549 --> 01:07:35,949 an up or down vote to the President's nominee to the 1415 01:07:35,951 --> 01:07:37,851 Supreme Court. 1416 01:07:37,853 --> 01:07:38,993 Cheryl. 1417 01:07:38,988 --> 01:07:39,758 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1418 01:07:39,755 --> 01:07:41,995 OMB completed its review of the fiduciary 1419 01:07:41,991 --> 01:07:43,991 rule yesterday. 1420 01:07:43,993 --> 01:07:46,263 And do you expect the President to roll out that 1421 01:07:46,262 --> 01:07:47,662 rule this week? 1422 01:07:47,663 --> 01:07:52,803 Mr. Earnest: I don't have any updates beyond what OMB 1423 01:07:52,802 --> 01:07:54,272 has said about that rule. 1424 01:07:54,270 --> 01:07:57,870 We've made a strong case about why this is -- why 1425 01:07:57,873 --> 01:08:04,913 some changes were necessary, that right now there are too 1426 01:08:04,914 --> 01:08:09,984 many financial advisors that are not putting their 1427 01:08:09,985 --> 01:08:11,655 clients' interests first. 1428 01:08:11,654 --> 01:08:17,664 And by not doing that, we've seen a waste of some $17 1429 01:08:21,530 --> 01:08:24,570 billion in retirement savings. 1430 01:08:24,567 --> 01:08:28,337 That's not -- given that the President has made 1431 01:08:28,337 --> 01:08:31,607 retirement security a top priority, we believe, 1432 01:08:31,607 --> 01:08:34,207 frankly, that we should standardize best practices 1433 01:08:34,210 --> 01:08:38,410 across the industry, particularly when it comes 1434 01:08:38,414 --> 01:08:40,554 to offering retirement advice. 1435 01:08:40,549 --> 01:08:43,549 The good news here is that for financial advisors who 1436 01:08:43,552 --> 01:08:48,192 are already placing their customers' interests at the 1437 01:08:48,190 --> 01:08:50,430 top of the list, they don't have to do 1438 01:08:50,426 --> 01:08:52,166 anything differently. 1439 01:08:52,161 --> 01:08:55,361 But this is a regulation that, if and when 1440 01:08:55,364 --> 01:08:58,034 implemented, would just focus on those individuals, 1441 01:08:58,033 --> 01:09:02,473 those financial advisors who are not putting their 1442 01:09:02,471 --> 01:09:06,111 customers' interests first, and that for all of the 1443 01:09:06,108 --> 01:09:09,408 hullabaloo about this, that's why the President and 1444 01:09:09,411 --> 01:09:11,411 the administration think this is a pretty 1445 01:09:11,413 --> 01:09:12,413 common-sense rule. 1446 01:09:12,414 --> 01:09:13,414 The Press: So no timing update? 1447 01:09:13,415 --> 01:09:15,285 Because Speaker Ryan last week was very concerned 1448 01:09:15,284 --> 01:09:16,354 about this rule. 1449 01:09:16,352 --> 01:09:19,052 Mr. Earnest: I don't have a timing update, but we'll 1450 01:09:19,054 --> 01:09:20,854 keep you posted. 1451 01:09:20,856 --> 01:09:21,856 Mark. 1452 01:09:21,857 --> 01:09:25,397 The Press: Josh, can you say whether Senegal asked that 1453 01:09:25,394 --> 01:09:29,664 its acceptance of the two detainees be portrayed as a 1454 01:09:29,665 --> 01:09:33,405 humanitarian gesture as part of the deal to accepting them? 1455 01:09:33,402 --> 01:09:35,402 Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware of any specific requests 1456 01:09:35,404 --> 01:09:37,404 there were made by the Republic of Senegal. 1457 01:09:37,406 --> 01:09:40,146 But I can tell you that it's not the first time that I or 1458 01:09:40,142 --> 01:09:42,142 my counterparts in the administration have 1459 01:09:42,144 --> 01:09:44,144 described these kinds of transfers as a 1460 01:09:44,146 --> 01:09:45,146 humanitarian gesture. 1461 01:09:45,147 --> 01:09:49,417 The Press: I wanted to ask this follow-up question 1462 01:09:49,418 --> 01:09:51,288 about what the President said on Friday at his 1463 01:09:51,287 --> 01:09:53,057 press conference. 1464 01:09:53,055 --> 01:09:54,185 Why does the U.S. 1465 01:09:54,189 --> 01:09:57,359 think that India and Pakistan pose an immediate 1466 01:09:57,359 --> 01:09:59,329 challenge when it comes to nuclear security? 1467 01:09:59,328 --> 01:10:01,728 What are the challenges coming from, and what did -- 1468 01:10:01,730 --> 01:10:03,800 he is doing to address that? 1469 01:10:03,799 --> 01:10:07,369 Mr. Earnest: Well, I can tell you that the 1470 01:10:07,369 --> 01:10:10,609 President's comments were motivated by the concern 1471 01:10:10,606 --> 01:10:14,846 that we have about nuclear and missile developments in 1472 01:10:14,843 --> 01:10:16,483 South Asia. 1473 01:10:16,478 --> 01:10:18,518 In particular, we're concerned by the increased 1474 01:10:18,514 --> 01:10:20,514 security challenges that accompany growing 1475 01:10:20,516 --> 01:10:23,986 stockpiles, particularly tactical nuclear weapons 1476 01:10:26,455 --> 01:10:29,395 that are designed for use on the battlefield. 1477 01:10:29,391 --> 01:10:33,801 And these systems are a source of concern because 1478 01:10:33,796 --> 01:10:37,296 they're susceptible to theft due to their size and mode 1479 01:10:37,299 --> 01:10:40,199 of employment. 1480 01:10:40,202 --> 01:10:46,442 Essentially, by having these smaller weapons, the 1481 01:10:46,442 --> 01:10:51,952 threshold for their use is lowered, and the risk that a 1482 01:10:51,947 --> 01:10:57,987 conventional conflict between India and Pakistan 1483 01:10:57,987 --> 01:11:04,597 could escalate to include the use of nuclear weapons. 1484 01:11:04,593 --> 01:11:07,863 So this is why the administration has regularly 1485 01:11:07,863 --> 01:11:12,103 expressed concern about any sort of tactical 1486 01:11:12,101 --> 01:11:13,701 nuclear weapon. 1487 01:11:13,702 --> 01:11:19,472 And our hope is that improvements in bilateral 1488 01:11:19,475 --> 01:11:22,975 relations between India and Pakistan could greatly 1489 01:11:22,978 --> 01:11:25,018 enhance prospects for lasting peace, stability and 1490 01:11:25,014 --> 01:11:27,884 prosperity in the region. 1491 01:11:27,883 --> 01:11:30,623 And it is important, and the United States has made this 1492 01:11:30,619 --> 01:11:34,319 case to both countries, that there be a sustained and 1493 01:11:34,323 --> 01:11:37,793 resilient dialogue between the two neighbors. 1494 01:11:37,793 --> 01:11:40,833 And we're encouraging all parties in the region to act 1495 01:11:40,829 --> 01:11:43,969 with maximum restraint and to work collaboratively 1496 01:11:43,966 --> 01:11:46,736 toward reducing tensions in the region. 1497 01:11:46,735 --> 01:11:48,735 Obviously, the United States benefits from the 1498 01:11:48,737 --> 01:11:50,737 partnership that we have with both countries. 1499 01:11:50,739 --> 01:11:51,739 We value it. 1500 01:11:51,740 --> 01:11:53,880 And it's why we continue to make the case to our 1501 01:11:53,876 --> 01:11:57,376 partners both in India and Pakistan that deescalating 1502 01:11:57,379 --> 01:12:00,519 the tension between these two countries -- or between 1503 01:12:00,516 --> 01:12:03,286 the two countries is a priority. 1504 01:12:03,285 --> 01:12:05,685 And we've certainly made clear the concerns that we 1505 01:12:05,688 --> 01:12:10,528 have about the development of tactical nuclear weapons, 1506 01:12:10,526 --> 01:12:12,526 or so-called battlefield nuclear weapons. 1507 01:12:12,528 --> 01:12:16,128 The Press: And the issue was discussed with the Indian 1508 01:12:16,131 --> 01:12:18,601 and Pakistan delegations at the Nuclear Security Summit 1509 01:12:18,600 --> 01:12:20,100 last week? 1510 01:12:20,102 --> 01:12:23,502 Mr. Earnest: In general, I can tell you that these are 1511 01:12:23,505 --> 01:12:28,815 issues that we have raised with both countries directly. 1512 01:12:28,811 --> 01:12:30,811 I don't have a lot of information about individual 1513 01:12:30,813 --> 01:12:33,913 conversations with countries to discuss from here, but I 1514 01:12:33,916 --> 01:12:36,916 can tell you that this is a view that we have raised 1515 01:12:36,919 --> 01:12:39,389 directly with both India and Pakistan. 1516 01:12:39,388 --> 01:12:41,988 The Press: They are saying that the President's 1517 01:12:41,990 --> 01:12:43,830 statements sort of reflects a U.S. 1518 01:12:43,826 --> 01:12:47,426 lack of understanding of India's defense postures. 1519 01:12:47,429 --> 01:12:49,329 Many security experts both in the U.S. 1520 01:12:49,331 --> 01:12:52,631 and in India say that it does -- comes from China, 1521 01:12:52,634 --> 01:12:54,474 and it's -- all modernization is based 1522 01:12:54,470 --> 01:12:55,800 towards that -- 1523 01:12:55,804 --> 01:12:58,944 Mr. Earnest: Say the last part again. 1524 01:12:58,941 --> 01:13:01,911 The Press: India's military modernization is based 1525 01:13:01,910 --> 01:13:04,810 towards its defense posture with -- the security that 1526 01:13:04,813 --> 01:13:08,183 comes mostly from China, not from any other country, and 1527 01:13:08,183 --> 01:13:10,023 the U.S., too, is part of India's defense 1528 01:13:10,018 --> 01:13:11,918 modernization program. 1529 01:13:11,920 --> 01:13:14,690 How do you react to India's concerns on that? 1530 01:13:14,690 --> 01:13:17,090 Mr. Earnest: Well, I will say that the United States 1531 01:13:17,092 --> 01:13:22,262 is committed to developing the U.S.-India relationship 1532 01:13:22,264 --> 01:13:24,764 into one of the defining partnerships of the 1533 01:13:24,767 --> 01:13:26,267 21st century. 1534 01:13:26,268 --> 01:13:29,768 And that includes pursuing the strategic security 1535 01:13:29,772 --> 01:13:33,312 dialogue that provides a dedicated venue to exchange 1536 01:13:33,308 --> 01:13:37,678 ideas on India's intentions and defense needs, and to 1537 01:13:37,679 --> 01:13:40,319 discuss issues that they may have related to 1538 01:13:40,315 --> 01:13:41,885 strategic stability. 1539 01:13:41,884 --> 01:13:44,824 So these are the kinds of conversations that we have 1540 01:13:44,820 --> 01:13:46,660 with our Indian counterparts. 1541 01:13:46,655 --> 01:13:51,795 And we're certainly aware of the unique region of the 1542 01:13:51,794 --> 01:13:54,094 world in which India is located. 1543 01:13:54,096 --> 01:14:00,106 And we certainly appreciate the need India has to take 1544 01:14:02,971 --> 01:14:06,141 the necessary steps to defend themselves. 1545 01:14:06,141 --> 01:14:08,781 But the goal of the Nuclear Security Summit, as 1546 01:14:08,777 --> 01:14:13,217 described earlier, was to eventually create a world 1547 01:14:13,215 --> 01:14:14,585 without nuclear weapons. 1548 01:14:14,583 --> 01:14:16,683 And that is a longer-term goal, and one that the 1549 01:14:16,685 --> 01:14:23,995 President has long prioritized. 1550 01:14:23,992 --> 01:14:26,392 And the President does believe that that is 1551 01:14:26,395 --> 01:14:29,865 something that can be pursued consistent with the 1552 01:14:29,865 --> 01:14:31,835 relevant national security interests of countries 1553 01:14:31,834 --> 01:14:32,864 around the world. 1554 01:14:32,868 --> 01:14:35,108 And we're certainly going to be particularly concerned 1555 01:14:35,103 --> 01:14:38,173 about and attuned to the national security concerns 1556 01:14:38,173 --> 01:14:40,173 that are expressed by close partners of the United 1557 01:14:40,175 --> 01:14:41,175 States like India. 1558 01:14:41,176 --> 01:14:46,746 And that said, we do believe that evolving in this 1559 01:14:46,748 --> 01:14:49,018 direction is something that won't just enhance the 1560 01:14:49,017 --> 01:14:51,657 national security of the United States, it will also 1561 01:14:51,653 --> 01:14:54,593 enhance the national security of India. 1562 01:14:54,590 --> 01:14:55,320 Thanks a lot, everybody. 1563 01:14:55,324 --> 01:14:56,154 We'll see you tomorrow.