English subtitles for clip: File:11-30-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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Nice to see you all.

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I do not have any
announcements at the top,

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so we can go straight
to your questions.

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Darlene, do you
want to start?

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The Press: I have a couple
different topics today.

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Mr. Earnest: Okay.

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The Press: First, Donald
Trump this morning said

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that he was going to be
stepping away from the

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business to focus on
running the country,

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because that's
more important.

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And I was wondering if
that announcement comes as

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welcome news to
this White House.

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Mr. Earnest: Well,
Darlene, ultimately the

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relevant observers here
will have to conclude

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based on the details of
the announcement once

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it's been made.

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So there's obviously an
Office of Government

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Ethics that is charged
with significant

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responsibilities in
terms of ensuring that

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government officials
are adhering to

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ethical standards.

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Certainly, Congress has
oversight responsibilities

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that should transcend
partisan loyalty.

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Congress has an
institutional

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responsibility to provide
oversight, even if it is a

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Republican-led Congress
and Republican-led

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Oversight Committee.

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They have responsibilities
of providing oversight,

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even if it's a
Republican-led administration.

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In addition to that, all
of you are going to have

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to spend some time
demanding transparency and

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demanding some answers
to tough questions.

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And I know at least the
people in this room are

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pretty good at that.

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And ultimately the
American public will be

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counting on you to get
answers to determine

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whether or not the
questions that have been

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raised or the questions
that may still persist in

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their mind have been
satisfied based on the

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steps that the
President-elect will announce.

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None of that is
for me to judge.

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What I can tell you is
what President Obama's

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approach has been, and it
has simply been to abide

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by an extraordinarily
high standard of not just

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following the letter of
ethical requirements, but

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following the spirit
of those ethical

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requirements, and even
going to great lengths to

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avoid even the appearance
of a potential

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conflict of interest.

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For example, when
President Obama took

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office, he, with the
exception of his home in

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Chicago, basically
liquidated his assets and

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purchased Treasury bonds.

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He did that at a time when
interest rates in

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this country were at
historic lows.

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It was not a particularly
lucrative investment,

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you might say.

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But the President was
willing to put his own

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financial interests aside
and focus on

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running on the country.

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And he benefitted
from that.

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He's obviously not been
implicated or involved in

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any sort of
personal scandal.

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He's demanded that the
same kind of standard be

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met by people who
have served in

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this administration.

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And I think that's why
you've seen, over eight

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years, thousands of people
have served in the Obama

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administration, and
there's been no major and

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personal scandal among a
senior official in the

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Obama administration.

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And that's because of the
commitment -- at least in

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part because of the
commitment -- to this high

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ethical standard.

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But ultimately, the
President-elect will have

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to determine what sort of
standard he will abide by

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and what sort of standard
he'll ask those who serve

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in his administration
to abide by.

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The Press: House Democrats
have reelected Nancy

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Pelosi as their leader.

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Is there any comment from
the White House on that?

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I know the President was
very positive about her at

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the news conference
in Peru when he got

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a question about it.

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Is there anything
more to add?

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Mr. Earnest: Not really --
primarily because this is

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a decision for House
Democrats to make in terms

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of how best to organize
themselves and who should

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lead their caucus.

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The President has spoken
on more occasions than I

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can count about how
this country and his

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administration has
benefitted from the kind

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of leadership and
toughness and character

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that Leader Pelosi has
demonstrated throughout

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her career in the House
of Representatives, but

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particularly over the last
eight year in which she

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served in a leadership
position while President

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Obama has been in office.

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They haven't agreed on
every issue, the President

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and the Democratic Leader
in the House, but they

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have been able to work
effectively together.

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And the President himself
has said on many occasions

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that so many of the
accomplishments of this

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administration would not
have been possible without

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the skill, toughness,
values, and leadership

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of Nancy Pelosi.

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The Press: Finally, the
President has a meeting

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this afternoon with
the Nobel Laureates.

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Is it a practice to invite
all of the prize-winners

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to come to meet
with the President?

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Can you say who will be
attending that meeting?

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Mr. Earnest: What we have
done every year is we've

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invited those Americans
who have been awarded a

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Nobel Prize to come and
visit with the President

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prior to the -- prior to
traveling to Norway

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to accept the prize.

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So the President is
looking forward to

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renewing that
tradition again.

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And I believe that several
of the winners, but not

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all of them, will be in
attendance at the White House.

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Those of you who are
wondering, unfortunately

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Bob Dylan will not be at
the White House today, so

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everybody can relax.

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But we can get you a list
of those who will be

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participating in that
greet with the President

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later this afternoon.

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The Press: Did Bob Dylan
give a reason for

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why he can't be here
this afternoon?

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Mr. Earnest: He didn't.

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I know that he has
indicated publicly that

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he's honored to have
received the Nobel Prize,

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but I know that he's also
indicated that he does not

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intend to travel to Norway
to participate in the

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ceremonies in which he'd
be awarded the prize.

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Again, based on what I've
seen in published reports,

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I think the Norwegians are
hopeful that he'll choose

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another time over the
course of the coming year

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to travel to Norway and
give a speech and

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accept his prize.

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But that will
be up to him.

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There have been previous
occasions -- at least one

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previous occasion where
Mr. Dylan has had an

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opportunity to visit the
White House, and the

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President enjoyed
meeting him there.

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But he'll not
be here today.

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Ayesha.

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The Press: Thank you.

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So, late yesterday,
Carrier announced a deal

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with President-elect
Donald Trump to keep close

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to a thousand jobs at an
air conditioner

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plant in Indianapolis.

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I guess all of the details
of the deal haven't

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been announced.

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But I was wondering, does
the White House have any

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thoughts on kind of the
strategy that has been

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employed to maybe lean on
a private company to get

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them to keep jobs in the
U.S.? Is that a strategy

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that the White House
approves of, that thinks

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it's a good thing to do?

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I guess I just wanted
thoughts on that.

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Mr. Earnest: Well,
obviously we haven't seen

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the details of the
announcement from the

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company, but we'll
obviously -- or the early

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indications are that
this is good news.

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And obviously we'd
welcome that good news.

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I know that the
President-elect has

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indicated that he
deserves credit for

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that announcement.

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And I guess what I would
observe is that if he is

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successful in doing that
804 more times, then he

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will meet the record of
manufacturing jobs that

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were created in the United
States while President

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Obama was in office.

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There were 805,000
manufacturing jobs that

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weren't just protected
or saved, but actually

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created while President
Obama was in office.

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So President Obama has
set a high standard, and

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President-elect Trump can
meet that standard if this

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Carrier deal is completed
in the way that he expects

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that it will be.

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If he does that 804 more
times, then he will have

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matched the standard
established by President

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Obama -- at least when it
comes to manufacturing jobs.

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The one difference
would be that the

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President-elect is talking
about protecting jobs, and

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the metric I'm using is
actually creating jobs.

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If you go to protecting
jobs, there are more than

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a million jobs in the
industrial Midwest that

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were saved when President
Obama made the decision to

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rescue the American
auto industry.

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And the long-term benefits
of that fateful decision

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that was not initially
popular has yielded a

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substantial benefit for
the entire country, but

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certainly for the
industrial Midwest.

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The Press: But are there
any thoughts on kind of

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like a personal
intervention, the use of

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the bully pulpit maybe to
kind of protect American

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jobs or keep companies
from moving overseas?

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I mean, was there --
I guess, is there any

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position on whether
that's a good use of the

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authority of
the presidency?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I think when it comes to

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the announcement from
Carrier, we'll wait to

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see the details.

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But the indications are
that it's good news.

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And we'd welcome that.

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As it relates to the
governing strategy, I

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think it remains to be
seen whether or not that's

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one that can be applied
to other situations.

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Again, the President-elect
will certainly have an

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opportunity to lay out his
strategy when it comes

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to the economy.

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But he's indicated that
he intends to pursue a

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different economic
strategy than this

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administration pursued.

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And we'll all have an
opportunity to evaluate

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whether or not that's
likely to meet the rather

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high bar that's been
established by the

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strategy put forward
by President Obama.

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The Press: On another
topic, the U.N.

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Security Council has
imposed new sanctions on

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North Korea on Wednesday.

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I was wondering, how do
these sanctions -- or is

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there hope that these
sanctions will have an

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impact where other
sanctions have not?

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How do these maybe differ?

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And would they be able to
bring about some type of

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change in the North
Korean regime?

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Mr. Earnest: Well,
Ayesha, this U.N.

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Security Council
resolution represents

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weeks of hard-nosed
diplomacy.

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In order to pass a U.N.

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Security Council
resolution, it requires

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not just the approval of
the United States and some

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of our European allies,
it also includes -- or

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requires not just
the consent but the

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cooperation of both
Russia and China.

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Those are two countries
with whom the United

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States has on occasion --
and as it relates to some

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issues -- a rather
complicated relationship.

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But in this case, we have
succeeded in brokering a

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diplomatic agreement among
every member of the U.N.

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Security Council to put
forward a tough new

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resolution that will apply
additional pressure to the

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North Korean regime.

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There are a couple of
things that I can cite for

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you, and for more details
I'd refer you to my

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colleagues in Ambassador
Powers' office.

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But the first thing -- and
I think this is the most

251
00:10:50,883 --> 00:10:54,954
notable one -- is that
this resolution will

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00:10:54,954 --> 00:10:56,888
impose a hard, binding
cap on North Korea's

253
00:10:57,556 --> 00:10:59,291
coal exports.

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00:10:59,291 --> 00:11:03,863
Coal exports are North
Korea's largest source

255
00:11:04,230 --> 00:11:06,065
of external revenue.

256
00:11:06,065 --> 00:11:10,136
And we know that a
significant portion of

257
00:11:10,369 --> 00:11:16,675
that revenue is plowed
into their nuclear program.

258
00:11:18,277 --> 00:11:20,046
So putting in place this
hard cap and closing

259
00:11:20,279 --> 00:11:22,782
loopholes that they've
previously exploited to

260
00:11:23,015 --> 00:11:24,949
get around previous
sanctions is a

261
00:11:25,451 --> 00:11:27,319
substantial development.

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00:11:30,222 --> 00:11:33,125
The resolution also
strengthens and expands a

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00:11:33,325 --> 00:11:36,495
range of sectoral
sanctions on other exports

264
00:11:36,762 --> 00:11:38,997
from the DPRK.

265
00:11:38,998 --> 00:11:42,334
And these are exports,
aside from coal, that the

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00:11:42,935 --> 00:11:45,337
North Koreans use to
raise hard currency.

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00:11:46,705 --> 00:11:48,441
And when you're the
subject of so many

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00:11:48,974 --> 00:11:51,077
sanctions like the North
Koreans are, raising that

269
00:11:51,310 --> 00:11:53,746
hard currency is
difficult to do.

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00:11:54,213 --> 00:11:56,082
We've made it even harder
and applied even more

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00:11:56,415 --> 00:12:02,353
economic pressure in those
areas where we know that

272
00:12:02,655 --> 00:12:04,824
the North Koreans are
using revenue to fund

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their nuclear program.

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00:12:06,392 --> 00:12:09,161
And I think this does send
a clear signal about the

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00:12:09,895 --> 00:12:13,899
resolve -- not just of the
United States and South

276
00:12:14,266 --> 00:12:16,569
Korea and Japan -- but
rather of countries around

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00:12:16,569 --> 00:12:21,540
the world to compelling
the North Korean

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00:12:21,540 --> 00:12:24,709
government to come into
compliance with their

279
00:12:24,710 --> 00:12:26,612
international obligations
as it relates to their

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00:12:26,879 --> 00:12:29,215
nuclear program.

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00:12:29,215 --> 00:12:30,349
Michelle.

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00:12:30,349 --> 00:12:30,783
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

283
00:12:31,050 --> 00:12:33,886
So do you think that these
new sanctions have a much

284
00:12:34,153 --> 00:12:35,721
greater likelihood of
changing North

285
00:12:35,721 --> 00:12:37,056
Korean behavior?

286
00:12:37,056 --> 00:12:39,091
I mean, where do they
rank in terms of

287
00:12:39,725 --> 00:12:40,593
past sanctions?

288
00:12:40,593 --> 00:12:42,795
I know you explained
the cap and the revenue

289
00:12:43,162 --> 00:12:45,164
streams, but what do you
think in terms of

290
00:12:45,464 --> 00:12:47,066
this working?

291
00:12:47,066 --> 00:12:48,467
Mr. Earnest: Well, it
certainly ratchets up

292
00:12:48,767 --> 00:12:50,736
pressure on the North
Korean government in a way

293
00:12:51,570 --> 00:12:53,572
that they have not
experienced before.

294
00:12:54,673 --> 00:12:56,242
This will put real
pressure on the North

295
00:12:56,509 --> 00:12:58,177
Korean government to
evaluate the strategy

296
00:12:58,410 --> 00:13:03,449
that they have pursued.

297
00:13:03,449 --> 00:13:07,118
I don't think anybody
outside of the North

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00:13:07,119 --> 00:13:12,892
Korean government can
predict exactly whether or

299
00:13:12,892 --> 00:13:15,761
not this will lead to the
kind of change in their

300
00:13:15,761 --> 00:13:17,963
behavior that
we'd like to see.

301
00:13:17,963 --> 00:13:23,636
But we do know that this
will increase the pressure

302
00:13:23,636 --> 00:13:25,570
and it will make things
more difficult for the

303
00:13:25,571 --> 00:13:26,672
North Korean government,
both in terms of leading

304
00:13:26,672 --> 00:13:28,140
that country, but also
in terms of investing in

305
00:13:28,407 --> 00:13:30,676
their nuclear program.

306
00:13:30,676 --> 00:13:31,977
It will deepen their
isolation, and it makes

307
00:13:32,378 --> 00:13:38,684
clear that it's getting
harder and harder for them

308
00:13:38,918 --> 00:13:40,586
to extract much sympathy
from other countries

309
00:13:40,819 --> 00:13:41,554
in the region.

310
00:13:41,987 --> 00:13:44,522
This is a pretty
united front.

311
00:13:44,523 --> 00:13:47,259
This is a united front
that is being presented by

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00:13:47,259 --> 00:13:49,328
the international
community, including the

313
00:13:49,328 --> 00:13:53,031
Russians and the Chinese,
about the need for the

314
00:13:53,032 --> 00:13:54,867
North Koreans to
change their behavior.

315
00:13:54,867 --> 00:13:56,135
Will they actually do it?

316
00:13:56,135 --> 00:13:57,569
Time will tell.

317
00:13:57,570 --> 00:13:59,772
The Press: These are based
on past sanctions and

318
00:13:59,772 --> 00:14:01,407
behavior continuing.

319
00:14:01,407 --> 00:14:04,310
If these new sanctions
don't change behavior, is

320
00:14:04,310 --> 00:14:07,012
their still room for
additional sanctions?

321
00:14:07,012 --> 00:14:09,582
Is that going to be the
pattern for the indefinite

322
00:14:09,582 --> 00:14:10,883
future, do you think?

323
00:14:10,883 --> 00:14:12,051
Mr. Earnest: Well,
hopefully that won't be

324
00:14:12,051 --> 00:14:13,652
the pattern because
hopefully this will apply

325
00:14:13,652 --> 00:14:14,787
the necessary pressure to
get them to

326
00:14:14,787 --> 00:14:16,355
change their behavior.

327
00:14:16,355 --> 00:14:17,323
We'll see.

328
00:14:17,323 --> 00:14:19,124
But there always is an
opportunity for

329
00:14:19,124 --> 00:14:20,259
us to go farther.

330
00:14:20,259 --> 00:14:24,296
But we're not putting
sanctions in place as

331
00:14:24,296 --> 00:14:25,731
a punitive measure.

332
00:14:25,731 --> 00:14:26,999
We're not putting
sanctions in place just

333
00:14:26,999 --> 00:14:29,301
for the sake of putting
in place sanctions.

334
00:14:29,301 --> 00:14:30,936
We're putting in place
sanctions with the hope

335
00:14:30,936 --> 00:14:33,572
that it will bring about a
change in behavior for the

336
00:14:33,572 --> 00:14:35,941
North Korean government,
and a possibility for the

337
00:14:35,941 --> 00:14:39,745
international community
to more deeply and

338
00:14:39,745 --> 00:14:42,781
constructively engage the
North Korean regime --

339
00:14:42,781 --> 00:14:44,049
bring them out of the
shadows, bring them into

340
00:14:44,049 --> 00:14:46,018
the international
community, and actually

341
00:14:46,018 --> 00:14:48,220
bring relief to the
millions of people in

342
00:14:48,220 --> 00:14:52,891
North Korea who live under
an oppressive regime

343
00:14:52,891 --> 00:14:54,959
in extraordinarily
harsh condition.

344
00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:55,728
The Press: But there's
going to be a point at

345
00:14:55,728 --> 00:14:57,630
which there's not going to
be much more you can

346
00:14:57,863 --> 00:14:59,098
do in the way of
sanctions, right?

347
00:14:59,398 --> 00:15:01,166
Are we reaching
that point now?

348
00:15:01,166 --> 00:15:03,269
Mr. Earnest: Well,
again, I think that this

349
00:15:03,769 --> 00:15:06,205
certainly represents a
substantial escalation in

350
00:15:06,538 --> 00:15:08,507
pressure on the North
Korean regime, and

351
00:15:09,775 --> 00:15:12,343
hopefully it will lead to
the kind of changes

352
00:15:12,344 --> 00:15:13,279
that we'd like to see.

353
00:15:13,279 --> 00:15:14,380
Is there room
to go further?

354
00:15:14,380 --> 00:15:15,914
I'm sure there always is.

355
00:15:15,914 --> 00:15:17,449
But hopefully that
won't be necessary, and

356
00:15:17,449 --> 00:15:20,051
hopefully we'll see a
change from the North

357
00:15:20,052 --> 00:15:26,358
Koreans that will address
the significant concerns

358
00:15:26,358 --> 00:15:31,096
harbored around the world
about North Korea's

359
00:15:31,096 --> 00:15:33,966
provocations and their
willingness to shirk their

360
00:15:33,966 --> 00:15:35,801
international -- their
responsibilities when it

361
00:15:35,801 --> 00:15:39,571
comes to developing
a nuclear program.

362
00:15:39,571 --> 00:15:39,972
The Press: Okay.

363
00:15:39,972 --> 00:15:43,776
And on this Carrier deal,
sources are saying now

364
00:15:43,776 --> 00:15:47,279
that it wasn't the promise
of incentives from the

365
00:15:47,279 --> 00:15:50,015
state to keep some of
these jobs here, but it

366
00:15:50,015 --> 00:15:53,485
was the threat of a
35 percent tariff on

367
00:15:53,485 --> 00:15:54,853
Carrier's products.

368
00:15:54,853 --> 00:15:56,488
What do you think of that?

369
00:15:56,488 --> 00:15:59,158
And is that something that
President Obama would have

370
00:15:59,158 --> 00:16:01,960
done in his attempts to
build manufacturing jobs?

371
00:16:02,995 --> 00:16:05,998
Mr. Earnest: Well,
again, I'll let the

372
00:16:05,998 --> 00:16:08,634
President-elect's team
describe what kind of

373
00:16:08,634 --> 00:16:10,135
strategy they are going
to choose to implement.

374
00:16:11,637 --> 00:16:14,406
I think it's been quite
clear the strategy that

375
00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:17,576
President Obama has sought
to implement, and one of

376
00:16:17,810 --> 00:16:19,944
those strategies was
actually predicated on

377
00:16:19,945 --> 00:16:24,650
successfully renegotiating
NAFTA to level the playing

378
00:16:24,650 --> 00:16:27,486
field for American workers
and American businesses so

379
00:16:28,787 --> 00:16:30,856
that the American economy
could enjoy

380
00:16:30,856 --> 00:16:33,292
substantial benefits.

381
00:16:33,292 --> 00:16:38,464
And threats of levying
additional tariffs is not

382
00:16:38,897 --> 00:16:41,266
a tactic that this
administration chose to

383
00:16:41,567 --> 00:16:46,505
pursue, but we may have an
opportunity to test the

384
00:16:46,505 --> 00:16:48,273
theory that's been
put forward by the

385
00:16:48,273 --> 00:16:48,974
President-elect about
whether or not that is

386
00:16:49,408 --> 00:16:54,613
a smart, sustainable
strategy.

387
00:16:54,613 --> 00:16:56,115
Chris.

388
00:16:56,115 --> 00:16:58,784
The Press: Josh, the
Defense Authorization bill

389
00:16:59,184 --> 00:17:01,185
that the Republican
lawmakers have agreed to

390
00:17:02,521 --> 00:17:04,656
omits the controversial
language that would have

391
00:17:05,324 --> 00:17:07,192
undermined President
Obama's executive order

392
00:17:07,192 --> 00:17:09,294
barring anti-LGBT
discrimination on

393
00:17:09,294 --> 00:17:11,163
federal contractors.

394
00:17:11,163 --> 00:17:11,497
Do Republicans

395
00:17:11,497 --> 00:17:12,498
(inaudible)

396
00:17:12,498 --> 00:17:16,101
for leaving out
that provision?

397
00:17:16,101 --> 00:17:19,405
Mr. Earnest: Well, what I
can tell you is that, as

398
00:17:20,372 --> 00:17:22,508
of just a few minutes ago,
we had actually not seen

399
00:17:22,808 --> 00:17:25,644
the final text
of the bill yet.

400
00:17:27,913 --> 00:17:30,282
Typically, the bill is
hundreds of pages long,

401
00:17:30,616 --> 00:17:33,218
and it takes some time to
review the text of the

402
00:17:33,585 --> 00:17:37,790
bill and determine exactly
what the consequences are

403
00:17:37,790 --> 00:17:39,124
of those measures.

404
00:17:39,124 --> 00:17:40,859
So I can't make a grand
pronouncement at this

405
00:17:40,859 --> 00:17:44,797
point about our position
on the legislation.

406
00:17:44,797 --> 00:17:47,599
What we have been told
is the so-called Russell

407
00:17:47,599 --> 00:17:51,003
Amendment is not in
that legislation.

408
00:17:51,603 --> 00:17:53,205
We'll obviously take a
look to see --

409
00:17:55,507 --> 00:17:57,910
to confirm that.

410
00:17:57,910 --> 00:18:03,649
But no, I don't think you
get credit for deciding

411
00:18:03,649 --> 00:18:05,617
not to discriminate
against somebody.

412
00:18:05,617 --> 00:18:08,520
I think that is behavior
that we would expect of

413
00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,590
everybody in the country,
particularly people who

414
00:18:11,590 --> 00:18:15,226
are elected to represent
their fellow citizens in

415
00:18:15,227 --> 00:18:17,229
the United
States Congress.

416
00:18:17,229 --> 00:18:19,298
The Press: Assuming that
is correct that it's not

417
00:18:19,298 --> 00:18:22,034
in the bill, to what
extent is that an empty

418
00:18:22,034 --> 00:18:23,936
victory, considering that
Republicans could just do

419
00:18:23,936 --> 00:18:26,839
that again next Congress
without a veto threat, or

420
00:18:26,839 --> 00:18:29,041
President Trump could just
dismantle the executive

421
00:18:29,041 --> 00:18:30,742
order on his own volition?

422
00:18:30,742 --> 00:18:31,643
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I'm not going to speculate

423
00:18:31,643 --> 00:18:32,945
about what may happen
after President Obama

424
00:18:32,945 --> 00:18:33,846
leaves office.

425
00:18:33,846 --> 00:18:36,548
Obviously the
Republican-led Congress

426
00:18:36,548 --> 00:18:37,649
and the Republican
President will have to

427
00:18:37,883 --> 00:18:39,551
determine what kind of
policies they want to pursue.

428
00:18:40,719 --> 00:18:42,321
But we obviously have
spent a lot of time over

429
00:18:42,321 --> 00:18:43,554
the course of this year
talking about the fact

430
00:18:43,555 --> 00:18:47,559
that elections
have consequences.

431
00:18:47,559 --> 00:18:50,128
And it's possible that
this is one way in which

432
00:18:50,128 --> 00:18:51,763
elections would
have consequences.

433
00:18:51,763 --> 00:18:52,464
The Press: Do you expect
the President will

434
00:18:52,464 --> 00:18:53,966
sign the NDAA?

435
00:18:53,966 --> 00:18:56,001
Mr. Earnest: Again, we
haven't seen the text of

436
00:18:56,001 --> 00:18:58,170
it, but we'll
obviously review it.

437
00:18:58,170 --> 00:18:59,204
That may take
a little time.

438
00:18:59,204 --> 00:19:02,107
But once we've reached a
conclusion about whether

439
00:19:02,107 --> 00:19:06,311
or not the President will
sign it, we'll let you know.

440
00:19:06,311 --> 00:19:07,579
Scott.

441
00:19:07,579 --> 00:19:08,914
The Press: Josh, the
President has been a big

442
00:19:08,914 --> 00:19:12,551
promoter of loan
forgiveness plans for

443
00:19:12,551 --> 00:19:14,586
college students that tie
their payments

444
00:19:14,586 --> 00:19:15,687
to their income.

445
00:19:15,687 --> 00:19:17,255
GAO has got a report out
today saying that's going

446
00:19:17,256 --> 00:19:19,491
to be more costly than
advertised; it also

447
00:19:19,491 --> 00:19:21,360
criticized the way that
the Education Department

448
00:19:21,360 --> 00:19:23,195
counts for it.

449
00:19:23,195 --> 00:19:24,530
Any reaction to that?

450
00:19:24,530 --> 00:19:25,964
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
seen the actual report.

451
00:19:25,964 --> 00:19:27,599
I can tell you the
President has placed a

452
00:19:27,599 --> 00:19:31,136
priority on making sure
that graduating students

453
00:19:31,136 --> 00:19:33,138
are treated fairly by the
Department of Education

454
00:19:33,138 --> 00:19:36,841
and by lenders when it
comes to their student loans.

455
00:19:36,842 --> 00:19:38,377
One idea that this
administration has

456
00:19:38,377 --> 00:19:42,047
pioneered is the idea of
income-based repayment,

457
00:19:42,047 --> 00:19:45,884
which essentially allows
students or recent

458
00:19:45,884 --> 00:19:50,355
graduates to cap their
loan repayments every

459
00:19:50,355 --> 00:19:55,193
month at 10 percent
of their income.

460
00:19:55,193 --> 00:19:59,731
This is a way that we can
ensure that graduates are

461
00:19:59,731 --> 00:20:01,600
fulfilling their basic
responsibility to repay

462
00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:04,937
the government for the
money that they've borrowed.

463
00:20:04,937 --> 00:20:06,604
But we want to make
sure that when students

464
00:20:06,605 --> 00:20:09,708
graduate, that they're not
saddled with so much debt

465
00:20:09,708 --> 00:20:14,379
that they're essentially
penalized financially for

466
00:20:14,379 --> 00:20:19,517
pursuing college
education opportunities.

467
00:20:19,518 --> 00:20:24,156
So the strategy that we've
put forward has benefitted

468
00:20:24,156 --> 00:20:26,725
thousands of students
across the country.

469
00:20:26,725 --> 00:20:30,829
There are many thousands
more that have not availed

470
00:20:30,829 --> 00:20:33,532
themselves of the
opportunity that is part

471
00:20:33,532 --> 00:20:35,199
of the income-based
repayment program.

472
00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:38,403
And so certainly if there
are students or recent

473
00:20:38,403 --> 00:20:40,806
graduates out there that
are struggling to repay

474
00:20:40,806 --> 00:20:42,541
their loans, we would
encourage them to contact

475
00:20:42,541 --> 00:20:44,376
the Department of
Education and learn more

476
00:20:44,376 --> 00:20:46,411
about income-based
repayment.

477
00:20:46,411 --> 00:20:51,183
And we can probably, in
many cases, design a

478
00:20:51,183 --> 00:20:53,185
strategy that allows you
to keep your commitment to

479
00:20:53,185 --> 00:20:54,620
the government, to the
American people, for the

480
00:20:54,620 --> 00:20:56,388
money that you've
borrowed, and to get a

481
00:20:56,388 --> 00:20:58,156
college education, but we
can do that in a way that

482
00:20:58,156 --> 00:21:00,826
doesn't pose an undue
financial hardship as you

483
00:21:00,826 --> 00:21:05,330
go and try to get
started on a career.

484
00:21:05,330 --> 00:21:06,631
Gardiner.

485
00:21:06,632 --> 00:21:09,267
The Press: Elizabeth
Warren came out today and

486
00:21:09,267 --> 00:21:11,169
blasted the 21st Century
Cures Act, saying it's a

487
00:21:11,169 --> 00:21:15,774
giveaway to industry, that
it's corruption at its worst.

488
00:21:15,774 --> 00:21:17,642
The administration has
been supportive of the

489
00:21:17,643 --> 00:21:19,645
21st Century
Cures Act before.

490
00:21:19,645 --> 00:21:21,980
Where are you
now on the bill?

491
00:21:21,980 --> 00:21:23,115
Mr. Earnest: Gardiner,
just last night we issued

492
00:21:23,115 --> 00:21:26,051
a detailed statement of
administration policy that

493
00:21:26,051 --> 00:21:27,351
sort of walks through
a lot of the details.

494
00:21:27,352 --> 00:21:31,123
So I'd refer you to that
particular statement.

495
00:21:31,123 --> 00:21:33,692
But, in general, what I
can tell you is that the

496
00:21:33,692 --> 00:21:36,261
legislation includes
important funding for

497
00:21:36,261 --> 00:21:38,330
things like the
President's BRAIN

498
00:21:38,330 --> 00:21:41,265
Initiative that would
turbo-charge the amount of

499
00:21:41,266 --> 00:21:44,369
research that's done
into the human brain.

500
00:21:44,369 --> 00:21:47,072
It would dedicate
significant funding

501
00:21:47,072 --> 00:21:48,806
streams to the Vice
President's Cancer

502
00:21:48,807 --> 00:21:53,979
Moonshot initiative,
and would augment the

503
00:21:53,979 --> 00:21:56,982
government's ability to
organize research and

504
00:21:56,982 --> 00:22:01,485
focus it on those projects
that are likely to lead to

505
00:22:01,486 --> 00:22:04,890
the kind of breakthroughs
that could save lives.

506
00:22:04,890 --> 00:22:08,026
The money also -- or the
bill also includes funding

507
00:22:08,026 --> 00:22:17,636
for offering assistance to
those who are addicted to

508
00:22:17,636 --> 00:22:19,771
heroin and opioids.

509
00:22:19,771 --> 00:22:23,575
This is the epidemic of
addiction that we've seen

510
00:22:23,575 --> 00:22:26,344
all across the country
as plaguing far too many

511
00:22:26,344 --> 00:22:28,113
communities and families.

512
00:22:28,113 --> 00:22:32,050
And there has been a
deficit of resources

513
00:22:32,050 --> 00:22:34,886
dedicated to making sure
that those people who are

514
00:22:34,886 --> 00:22:37,755
trying to get help for
their addiction can get it.

515
00:22:37,756 --> 00:22:41,793
And so as with any piece
of legislation that is

516
00:22:41,793 --> 00:22:44,361
passed by a Republican
Congress and signed into

517
00:22:44,362 --> 00:22:46,698
law by a Democratic
President, it's going to

518
00:22:46,698 --> 00:22:48,100
require some compromise.

519
00:22:48,100 --> 00:22:49,400
There are some elements
of the bill that the

520
00:22:49,401 --> 00:22:52,304
administration
doesn't support.

521
00:22:52,304 --> 00:22:54,272
I'm confident that there
are some parts of the bill

522
00:22:54,272 --> 00:22:56,975
that some Republicans
don't support either.

523
00:22:56,975 --> 00:22:59,745
But at the end of day, I
think the bill will get

524
00:22:59,745 --> 00:23:01,847
overall support from
Democrats and Republicans

525
00:23:01,847 --> 00:23:03,915
because of some of the
priorities that

526
00:23:03,915 --> 00:23:06,485
I've identified.

527
00:23:06,485 --> 00:23:07,519
John.

528
00:23:07,519 --> 00:23:08,920
The Press: I wanted to
ask a quick follow-up on

529
00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:10,422
Leader Pelosi.

530
00:23:10,422 --> 00:23:14,626
Did the President go out
and try to whip up any

531
00:23:14,626 --> 00:23:17,295
votes for her, or make any
phone calls on her behalf?

532
00:23:17,295 --> 00:23:18,330
Mr. Earnest: The President
was not involved in the

533
00:23:18,330 --> 00:23:21,832
leadership race among
House Democrats.

534
00:23:21,833 --> 00:23:26,671
The President, as he has
done in previous contested

535
00:23:26,671 --> 00:23:33,578
party races in Congress,
has essentially said that

536
00:23:33,578 --> 00:23:35,046
it's their responsibility
to make that decision.

537
00:23:35,046 --> 00:23:40,485
And I think everyone is
keenly aware of his warm

538
00:23:40,485 --> 00:23:42,987
feelings for Leader
Pelosi, but ultimately

539
00:23:42,988 --> 00:23:45,390
it's the responsibility of
House Democrats to make

540
00:23:45,390 --> 00:23:47,359
the decision about
who should lead them.

541
00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:49,060
The Press: I also wanted
to ask you about any White

542
00:23:49,060 --> 00:23:50,495
House reaction, or
reaction from the

543
00:23:50,495 --> 00:23:54,431
President, on the district
attorney's decision down

544
00:23:54,432 --> 00:23:56,902
in North Carolina to
not pursue any

545
00:23:56,902 --> 00:23:57,969
sort of charges.

546
00:23:57,969 --> 00:24:00,572
He said that the officer
who killed Keith Scott

547
00:24:00,572 --> 00:24:02,506
acted lawfully.

548
00:24:02,507 --> 00:24:03,575
I was wondering if there
was any sort of

549
00:24:03,575 --> 00:24:04,676
reaction to that.

550
00:24:04,676 --> 00:24:07,178
Mr. Earnest: Well, as
we've discussed in other

551
00:24:07,179 --> 00:24:10,015
settings, John, the White
House is not going to get

552
00:24:10,015 --> 00:24:12,651
involved in handicapping
or second-guessing

553
00:24:12,651 --> 00:24:16,121
criminal investigations.

554
00:24:16,121 --> 00:24:20,091
As this investigation
was opened by the local

555
00:24:20,091 --> 00:24:22,694
district attorney, there
were statements from the

556
00:24:22,694 --> 00:24:24,229
Department of Justice
indicating that they were

557
00:24:24,229 --> 00:24:27,866
going to monitor the
situation in Charlotte,

558
00:24:27,866 --> 00:24:30,135
and so I certainly don't
want to say anything that

559
00:24:30,135 --> 00:24:31,770
could be viewed as
prejudging or getting

560
00:24:31,770 --> 00:24:33,405
ahead of any sort of
decision that

561
00:24:33,405 --> 00:24:34,906
they may announce.

562
00:24:34,906 --> 00:24:36,474
But I'm confident that
my colleagues at the

563
00:24:36,474 --> 00:24:38,577
Department of Justice
are aware of this

564
00:24:38,577 --> 00:24:41,880
announcement, have
followed through on their

565
00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:43,682
commitment to continue to
monitor the situation.

566
00:24:43,682 --> 00:24:46,251
But for any reaction,
I'd refer you to them.

567
00:24:46,251 --> 00:24:47,853
The Press: So DOJ's
decision will be

568
00:24:47,853 --> 00:24:50,956
completely independent
of DA account?

569
00:24:50,956 --> 00:24:52,357
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
think the Department of

570
00:24:52,357 --> 00:24:55,327
Justice's decision will be
independent of any sort of

571
00:24:55,327 --> 00:24:58,263
personal feelings that the
President of the United

572
00:24:58,263 --> 00:25:00,130
States may have about
the decision made by the

573
00:25:00,131 --> 00:25:02,067
district attorney.

574
00:25:02,067 --> 00:25:03,902
What impact the district
attorney's decision has on

575
00:25:03,902 --> 00:25:05,303
the Department of Justice
is something you should

576
00:25:05,303 --> 00:25:07,639
ask the Department
of Justice.

577
00:25:07,639 --> 00:25:08,240
Kevin.

578
00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:09,174
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

579
00:25:09,174 --> 00:25:10,108
I wanted to ask you
about the wildfires

580
00:25:10,108 --> 00:25:10,876
in Tennessee.

581
00:25:10,876 --> 00:25:12,944
Three people have died;
more than 150 homes and

582
00:25:12,944 --> 00:25:16,214
businesses have been
destroyed by the wildfires.

583
00:25:16,214 --> 00:25:17,983
Can you give us an update
on what the administration

584
00:25:17,983 --> 00:25:20,952
is doing to help the
folks in the state?

585
00:25:20,952 --> 00:25:22,621
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
obviously our thoughts and

586
00:25:22,621 --> 00:25:24,489
prayers are with the
people of Tennessee who

587
00:25:24,489 --> 00:25:26,691
are dealing with a very
difficult situation right now.

588
00:25:26,691 --> 00:25:32,898
The wildfire in that part
of the country is a very

589
00:25:32,898 --> 00:25:34,499
serious situation and
there are lives that

590
00:25:34,499 --> 00:25:36,568
have been lost.

591
00:25:36,568 --> 00:25:39,504
Less importantly, there's
been property that's been

592
00:25:39,504 --> 00:25:41,539
lost as well.

593
00:25:41,539 --> 00:25:43,675
And obviously the thoughts
and prayers of the entire

594
00:25:43,675 --> 00:25:46,778
country are with that
community that has been so

595
00:25:46,778 --> 00:25:49,214
negatively affected by
the situation there.

596
00:25:49,214 --> 00:25:50,514
There are a couple of
steps that the federal

597
00:25:50,515 --> 00:25:52,450
government has taken to
provide support to local

598
00:25:52,450 --> 00:25:54,886
officials who are dealing
with this situation.

599
00:25:54,886 --> 00:25:57,254
The first is, my
colleagues at FEMA have

600
00:25:57,255 --> 00:26:00,258
provided a Fire Management
Assistance Grant -- an

601
00:26:00,258 --> 00:26:02,961
FMAG -- to local officials
to provide them some

602
00:26:02,961 --> 00:26:07,232
additional resources to
deal with that situation.

603
00:26:07,232 --> 00:26:15,974
There also are a couple
of teams of firefighting

604
00:26:15,974 --> 00:26:18,510
experts that have
been deployed.

605
00:26:18,510 --> 00:26:22,480
These are experts that
serve in a variety of

606
00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:23,415
federal agencies.

607
00:26:23,415 --> 00:26:26,418
Some of them are actually
employed by state

608
00:26:26,418 --> 00:26:29,053
agencies, but they work
effectively with federal

609
00:26:29,054 --> 00:26:30,922
partners and are actually
being deployed to

610
00:26:30,922 --> 00:26:34,192
Tennessee to help
officials there develop a

611
00:26:34,192 --> 00:26:36,561
strategy to make sure that
-- to try to contain the

612
00:26:36,561 --> 00:26:38,396
fire as quickly as
possible before more lives

613
00:26:38,396 --> 00:26:41,899
are lost and before
more property is lost.

614
00:26:41,900 --> 00:26:43,535
I understand that there
was some rainfall

615
00:26:43,535 --> 00:26:45,704
overnight, which hopefully
will have at least some

616
00:26:45,704 --> 00:26:47,105
positive impact.

617
00:26:47,105 --> 00:26:48,440
But I also understand
that that rainfall was

618
00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:51,343
accompanied by some
rather high winds.

619
00:26:51,343 --> 00:26:54,713
So we're hoping that the
weather will continue to

620
00:26:54,713 --> 00:26:58,550
contribute positively to
extinguishing this fire as

621
00:26:58,550 --> 00:26:59,951
soon as possible.

622
00:26:59,951 --> 00:27:01,619
But obviously this is a
very serious situation.

623
00:27:01,619 --> 00:27:04,389
And significant resources
have been mobilized by the

624
00:27:04,389 --> 00:27:06,491
federal government to
offer our assistance to

625
00:27:06,491 --> 00:27:07,926
state and local officials
who are dealing

626
00:27:07,926 --> 00:27:08,927
with it firsthand.

627
00:27:08,927 --> 00:27:10,160
The Press: Does this
warrant a federal

628
00:27:10,161 --> 00:27:11,563
disaster declaration?

629
00:27:11,563 --> 00:27:13,365
And has the President
personally been in contact

630
00:27:13,365 --> 00:27:14,599
with the government?

631
00:27:14,599 --> 00:27:15,399
Mr. Earnest: The President
has been briefed

632
00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:16,267
on the situation.

633
00:27:16,267 --> 00:27:19,804
I don't know that he's
spoken to the governor.

634
00:27:19,804 --> 00:27:22,140
As it relates to the kind
of federal assistance that

635
00:27:22,140 --> 00:27:24,175
we can provide, the
financial assistance

636
00:27:24,175 --> 00:27:27,946
through an FMAG and the
technical assistance

637
00:27:27,946 --> 00:27:30,115
through the team of
experts that I have made

638
00:27:30,115 --> 00:27:32,817
reference to earlier are
the most immediate, urgent

639
00:27:32,817 --> 00:27:34,319
way for the federal
government to offer

640
00:27:34,319 --> 00:27:36,321
any assistance.

641
00:27:36,321 --> 00:27:38,889
But down the line, I
wouldn't necessarily rule

642
00:27:38,890 --> 00:27:43,161
out the eventual
declaration of an emergency.

643
00:27:43,161 --> 00:27:46,498
But we'll have to exactly
take a look at the scope

644
00:27:46,498 --> 00:27:49,267
of the damage and make a
determination from there.

645
00:27:49,267 --> 00:27:50,101
The Press: I want to
draw your attention to

646
00:27:50,101 --> 00:27:52,270
something that's
happening in Syria.

647
00:27:52,270 --> 00:27:55,974
It has been reported that
Israeli jets have executed

648
00:27:55,974 --> 00:27:57,242
some airstrikes
in the area.

649
00:27:57,242 --> 00:27:59,444
I'm curious --
has the U.S.

650
00:27:59,444 --> 00:28:01,413
military, to your
knowledge, been in contact

651
00:28:01,413 --> 00:28:04,516
with the Russians in terms
of de-confliction in the

652
00:28:04,516 --> 00:28:07,352
airspace over Syria, or
with the Israelis as that

653
00:28:07,352 --> 00:28:11,189
area continues to suffer
from numerous airstrikes?

654
00:28:11,189 --> 00:28:12,757
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
as it relates to Israeli

655
00:28:12,757 --> 00:28:14,959
military action and
reports of their military

656
00:28:14,959 --> 00:28:17,262
action, I'd refer you to
the Israeli government.

657
00:28:17,262 --> 00:28:19,297
I won't have any
comment on that.

658
00:28:19,297 --> 00:28:20,832
As it relates to the U.S.

659
00:28:20,832 --> 00:28:22,400
military action inside
of Syria, there is a

660
00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:28,139
sustained air campaign
being waged by U.S.

661
00:28:28,139 --> 00:28:32,010
military pilots against
ISIL targets in Syria.

662
00:28:32,010 --> 00:28:34,679
And that bombing campaign
has resulted in senior

663
00:28:34,679 --> 00:28:36,648
ISIL officials --
including some who are

664
00:28:36,648 --> 00:28:38,983
responsible for external
plotting -- being taken

665
00:28:38,983 --> 00:28:41,052
off the battlefield in
the last few months.

666
00:28:41,052 --> 00:28:43,620
So we've applied
substantial pressure to

667
00:28:43,621 --> 00:28:47,392
ISIL targets through
a robust U.S.

668
00:28:47,392 --> 00:28:51,563
military bombing campaign.

669
00:28:51,563 --> 00:28:54,766
And there is a low-level
channel that's been

670
00:28:54,766 --> 00:28:57,335
established with the
Russians to ensure that we

671
00:28:57,335 --> 00:29:02,440
can successfully
de-conflict our military

672
00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:04,442
efforts with any efforts
that the Russians

673
00:29:04,442 --> 00:29:06,544
may have ongoing.

674
00:29:06,544 --> 00:29:08,580
That is different than,
and stops short of,

675
00:29:08,580 --> 00:29:10,482
cooperating or
coordinating

676
00:29:10,482 --> 00:29:12,383
with them militarily.

677
00:29:12,383 --> 00:29:14,185
But we are in contact
enough to make sure that

678
00:29:14,185 --> 00:29:18,022
our military pilots can
operate free of any

679
00:29:18,022 --> 00:29:22,193
interference by Russians
who also may be engaged in

680
00:29:22,193 --> 00:29:24,028
military activities
in the region.

681
00:29:24,028 --> 00:29:24,629
The Press: Lastly, I want
to ask you

682
00:29:24,629 --> 00:29:26,063
a domestic question.

683
00:29:26,064 --> 00:29:27,699
And this is a little bit
of a hypothetical, but

684
00:29:27,699 --> 00:29:29,701
maybe you can be
instructive on it.

685
00:29:29,701 --> 00:29:32,670
As it relates to sanctuary
cities, there has been

686
00:29:32,670 --> 00:29:36,541
some suggestion that the
federal government could

687
00:29:36,541 --> 00:29:39,777
apply pressure on
so-called sanctuary cities

688
00:29:39,777 --> 00:29:41,946
if they fail to
comply with the law.

689
00:29:41,946 --> 00:29:44,849
That's been talked about
at length as a possibility

690
00:29:44,849 --> 00:29:46,783
under a Trump
administration.

691
00:29:46,784 --> 00:29:49,120
Broadly speaking from
the Obama administration

692
00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:52,991
perspective, is that a
good use of the federal

693
00:29:52,991 --> 00:29:56,060
government's cudgel, if
you will, to get the

694
00:29:56,060 --> 00:29:59,129
cities to follow the
law as it relates to

695
00:29:59,130 --> 00:30:01,633
immigration or any other?

696
00:30:01,633 --> 00:30:03,034
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
think, Kevin, the fact

697
00:30:03,034 --> 00:30:05,803
that we're even having a
discussion about sanctuary

698
00:30:05,803 --> 00:30:08,406
cities is an indication
of just how broken our

699
00:30:08,406 --> 00:30:10,707
immigration system is.

700
00:30:10,708 --> 00:30:13,077
And this is a good example
of why President Obama

701
00:30:13,077 --> 00:30:14,946
fought so hard to try
to reform our broken

702
00:30:14,946 --> 00:30:15,947
immigration system.

703
00:30:15,947 --> 00:30:18,315
And he did succeed in
working with Democrats and

704
00:30:18,316 --> 00:30:20,718
Republicans in the
Senate to put forward a

705
00:30:20,718 --> 00:30:23,855
common-sense bill that
would have made a historic

706
00:30:23,855 --> 00:30:26,424
investment in border
security, but also made

707
00:30:26,424 --> 00:30:29,027
some common-sense reforms
to our immigration system

708
00:30:29,027 --> 00:30:32,197
that would have ensured
that people who have been

709
00:30:32,197 --> 00:30:35,199
in the United States for a
substantial period of time

710
00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:37,902
are essentially given an
opportunity to come out of

711
00:30:37,902 --> 00:30:39,003
the shadows.

712
00:30:39,003 --> 00:30:43,174
Now, they are in some
cases asked to pay a fine.

713
00:30:43,174 --> 00:30:44,542
They got to pay taxes.

714
00:30:44,542 --> 00:30:46,744
They got to go through
a background check.

715
00:30:46,744 --> 00:30:52,817
There are onerous
obstacles that have

716
00:30:52,817 --> 00:30:55,687
to be overcome.

717
00:30:55,687 --> 00:30:59,122
But yet there is a path to
resolving this situation.

718
00:30:59,123 --> 00:31:03,828
And failing to act on
comprehensive immigration

719
00:31:03,828 --> 00:31:06,129
reform -- something that
had bipartisan support not

720
00:31:06,130 --> 00:31:07,765
just in Washington,
D.C. but all across the

721
00:31:07,765 --> 00:31:09,267
country -- there is
a reason that law

722
00:31:09,267 --> 00:31:12,637
enforcement organizations,
faith-based communities,

723
00:31:12,637 --> 00:31:15,639
the business community are
all strongly supportive of

724
00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:16,774
comprehensive
immigration reform.

725
00:31:16,774 --> 00:31:17,941
They understand the
benefits that are

726
00:31:17,942 --> 00:31:19,177
possible, and they
understand that the

727
00:31:19,177 --> 00:31:20,911
current system we
have is broken.

728
00:31:20,912 --> 00:31:22,313
And the fact that there
is a discussion about

729
00:31:22,313 --> 00:31:29,087
sanctuary cities is just
one symptom of a much more

730
00:31:29,087 --> 00:31:31,222
significant affliction
that continues to

731
00:31:31,222 --> 00:31:32,257
plague this country.

732
00:31:32,257 --> 00:31:36,227
And this is a problem that
would have been solved had

733
00:31:36,227 --> 00:31:39,831
Republicans in the House
of Representatives not

734
00:31:39,831 --> 00:31:43,767
blocked or prevented a
vote on this bipartisan

735
00:31:43,768 --> 00:31:45,903
bill that had
passed the Senate.

736
00:31:45,903 --> 00:31:47,205
The Press: Even if I were
to cede that -- and I

737
00:31:47,205 --> 00:31:48,872
think there's a lot there
that I think most people

738
00:31:48,873 --> 00:31:51,609
would certainly agree with
you on -- isn't it the

739
00:31:51,609 --> 00:31:53,477
responsibility of these
cities and communities to

740
00:31:53,478 --> 00:31:55,313
still follow the law?

741
00:31:55,313 --> 00:31:56,581
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
the President has made

742
00:31:56,581 --> 00:31:59,917
clear that when it comes
to our immigration policy,

743
00:31:59,917 --> 00:32:04,088
it's important for federal
law to reflect that we are

744
00:32:04,088 --> 00:32:05,389
a nation of laws, but
we're also a

745
00:32:05,390 --> 00:32:07,292
nation of immigrants.

746
00:32:07,292 --> 00:32:09,327
And it shouldn't
be that hard.

747
00:32:09,327 --> 00:32:11,829
In fact, it's not that
hard to reconcile those

748
00:32:11,829 --> 00:32:14,098
two important priorities.

749
00:32:14,098 --> 00:32:17,335
And the bipartisan
legislation that advanced

750
00:32:17,335 --> 00:32:19,103
through the Senate with
the strong support of the

751
00:32:19,103 --> 00:32:21,406
administration certainly
did effectively balance

752
00:32:21,406 --> 00:32:23,241
those two priorities.

753
00:32:23,241 --> 00:32:25,476
But the failure to balance
those priorities in our

754
00:32:25,476 --> 00:32:30,214
federal law has a number
of difficult consequences.

755
00:32:30,214 --> 00:32:31,515
And again, the fact that
we have to talk about

756
00:32:31,516 --> 00:32:34,619
sanctuary cities I think
is one example of that.

757
00:32:34,619 --> 00:32:35,386
The Press: Last one.

758
00:32:35,386 --> 00:32:37,955
On OPEC apparently cutting
production, is the White

759
00:32:37,955 --> 00:32:39,223
House aware of this?

760
00:32:39,223 --> 00:32:42,126
And is there a concern
here that that will have a

761
00:32:42,126 --> 00:32:45,562
major impact on, broadly,
gas prices in particular

762
00:32:45,563 --> 00:32:46,731
for American citizens?

763
00:32:46,731 --> 00:32:48,266
Mr. Earnest: I've seen
that news report.

764
00:32:48,266 --> 00:32:51,402
I'm not aware of any
specific briefing that the

765
00:32:51,402 --> 00:32:55,273
U.S. government has
received on that vote.

766
00:32:55,273 --> 00:32:56,774
I know there have been
previous occasions where

767
00:32:56,774 --> 00:33:00,277
there have been statements
submitted by OPEC that

768
00:33:00,278 --> 00:33:04,449
didn't actually result in
the policy change that

769
00:33:04,449 --> 00:33:07,618
they said that
they were pursuing.

770
00:33:07,618 --> 00:33:11,022
So we'll obviously watch
and see what impact

771
00:33:11,022 --> 00:33:14,325
this statement has.

772
00:33:14,325 --> 00:33:15,093
Philip.

773
00:33:15,093 --> 00:33:16,027
The Press: Thank you.

774
00:33:16,027 --> 00:33:17,995
On the funeral of Fidel
Castro in Cuba this

775
00:33:17,995 --> 00:33:20,298
weekend, it's a
relatively long affair.

776
00:33:20,298 --> 00:33:22,066
So I'm wondering whether
at some point the

777
00:33:22,066 --> 00:33:27,438
President is expected
to watch parts of the funeral.

778
00:33:27,438 --> 00:33:30,375
And will he be updated
regularly by Ben Rhodes,

779
00:33:30,375 --> 00:33:33,478
who is there
for the funeral?

780
00:33:33,478 --> 00:33:34,679
Mr. Earnest: I don't
anticipate that the

781
00:33:34,679 --> 00:33:36,881
President will watch any
of the proceedings

782
00:33:36,881 --> 00:33:38,349
on television.

783
00:33:38,349 --> 00:33:42,186
Mr. Rhodes and our
diplomat in Cuba,

784
00:33:42,186 --> 00:33:47,492
Ambassador DeLaurentis,
participated in a memorial

785
00:33:47,492 --> 00:33:49,127
service last night.

786
00:33:49,127 --> 00:33:53,798
But I'm not aware that
either of them intends to

787
00:33:53,798 --> 00:33:55,900
be a part of all of the
activities over the

788
00:33:55,900 --> 00:33:57,668
next three days.

789
00:33:57,668 --> 00:33:59,803
The two of them were in
attendance last night

790
00:33:59,804 --> 00:34:02,340
representing the
United States.

791
00:34:02,340 --> 00:34:04,509
But Mr. Rhodes remains in
Cuba today because he's

792
00:34:04,509 --> 00:34:08,545
been -- he had previously
planned to travel to Cuba

793
00:34:08,545 --> 00:34:11,482
this week to have meetings
with government officials

794
00:34:11,482 --> 00:34:13,351
and officials at the U.S.

795
00:34:13,351 --> 00:34:17,488
embassy to discuss the
continued effort to

796
00:34:17,487 --> 00:34:20,323
implement a policy of
normalizing relations

797
00:34:20,324 --> 00:34:23,327
between our two countries.

798
00:34:23,327 --> 00:34:25,630
But the last I heard
is that he's actually

799
00:34:25,630 --> 00:34:27,298
planning to come
back tonight.

800
00:34:27,297 --> 00:34:28,799
So I don't think that --
I know that he won't be

801
00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:30,768
there and participating
in the events that are

802
00:34:30,768 --> 00:34:33,603
planned over the
next several days.

803
00:34:33,603 --> 00:34:35,739
The Press: Any details by
any chance of who exactly

804
00:34:35,739 --> 00:34:37,707
those meetings were with
and what they might

805
00:34:37,708 --> 00:34:38,776
have been about?

806
00:34:38,775 --> 00:34:40,076
Mr. Earnest: Not at this
point, but when he gets

807
00:34:40,077 --> 00:34:41,746
back we'll see if we can
get you a readout of

808
00:34:41,746 --> 00:34:44,581
his engagements while
he was there.

809
00:34:44,581 --> 00:34:45,817
The Press: The phone
calls between the

810
00:34:45,817 --> 00:34:47,318
President-elect and the
President -- you gave some

811
00:34:47,318 --> 00:34:51,055
details yesterday and said
that, I believe all the

812
00:34:51,054 --> 00:34:53,390
phone calls or most of
them emanated from the

813
00:34:53,391 --> 00:34:55,159
President-elect's office.

814
00:34:55,159 --> 00:34:56,994
Have there been any cases
where a call has been

815
00:34:56,994 --> 00:34:59,163
initiated here at the
White House and went to

816
00:34:59,163 --> 00:35:03,201
Donald Trump, to the
President-elect, from here?

817
00:35:03,201 --> 00:35:05,336
Mr. Earnest: My
understanding -- and

818
00:35:05,336 --> 00:35:06,471
again, I can't account
for all of their

819
00:35:06,471 --> 00:35:08,906
conversations, but my
understanding at least of

820
00:35:08,906 --> 00:35:12,210
the phone calls that have
been discussed publically,

821
00:35:12,210 --> 00:35:13,911
those were calls that
were initiated by the

822
00:35:13,911 --> 00:35:15,213
President-elect.

823
00:35:15,213 --> 00:35:18,349
The Press: Do you expect
that to even itself out a

824
00:35:18,349 --> 00:35:20,485
little bit from now
until the inauguration?

825
00:35:20,485 --> 00:35:21,719
Mr. Earnest: I don't know.

826
00:35:21,719 --> 00:35:22,553
We'll have to see.

827
00:35:22,553 --> 00:35:24,288
But I can't guarantee that
we'll be talking about

828
00:35:24,288 --> 00:35:27,024
those conversations
publically.

829
00:35:27,024 --> 00:35:27,625
Jordan.

830
00:35:27,625 --> 00:35:29,327
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

831
00:35:29,327 --> 00:35:32,497
Senate Majority Leader
McConnell said today that

832
00:35:32,497 --> 00:35:35,700
the Senate is going to
vote on the Iran Sanctions

833
00:35:35,700 --> 00:35:38,069
Act this week and that's
expected to pass.

834
00:35:38,069 --> 00:35:40,204
And I'm wondering whether
President Obama would veto

835
00:35:40,204 --> 00:35:42,940
that bill if it
reached his desk.

836
00:35:42,940 --> 00:35:45,510
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jordan,
as we have said on a

837
00:35:45,510 --> 00:35:50,281
number of occasions, the
administration continues

838
00:35:50,281 --> 00:35:53,384
to retain substantial
authorities that can be

839
00:35:53,384 --> 00:35:57,688
used to impose financial
sanctions on

840
00:35:57,688 --> 00:36:00,258
the Iranian regime.

841
00:36:00,258 --> 00:36:01,325
There are a variety of
reasons why we would

842
00:36:01,325 --> 00:36:03,194
want to do that.

843
00:36:03,194 --> 00:36:04,695
The first is, we've seen
the Iranians on a number

844
00:36:04,695 --> 00:36:08,432
of occasions take steps
with regard to their

845
00:36:08,432 --> 00:36:10,801
ballistic missile program
that are inconsistent with

846
00:36:10,801 --> 00:36:13,136
U.N. Security Council
resolutions.

847
00:36:13,137 --> 00:36:17,275
We have seen direct
evidence of the Iranians

848
00:36:17,275 --> 00:36:22,046
sponsoring terrorism.

849
00:36:22,046 --> 00:36:28,152
We have seen ample
evidence that the Iranians

850
00:36:28,152 --> 00:36:34,492
aren't living up to
generally accepted norms

851
00:36:34,492 --> 00:36:36,227
when it comes to
protecting the basic

852
00:36:36,227 --> 00:36:38,962
universal human rights
of the Iranian people.

853
00:36:38,963 --> 00:36:41,766
All those are reasons that
Iran could be subject to

854
00:36:41,766 --> 00:36:48,306
financial sanctions
-- and they have been.

855
00:36:48,306 --> 00:36:49,907
These are financial
sanctions imposed by the

856
00:36:49,907 --> 00:36:51,609
Obama administration
against the Iranian

857
00:36:51,609 --> 00:36:55,112
government and other
Iranian entities because

858
00:36:55,112 --> 00:36:57,615
of our concerns
about those areas.

859
00:36:57,615 --> 00:37:00,584
So we retain substantial
authority to impose

860
00:37:00,585 --> 00:37:05,089
additional sanctions
if they are warranted.

861
00:37:05,089 --> 00:37:08,225
We know that there is a
renewed interest -- or

862
00:37:08,225 --> 00:37:10,995
there is interest in
Congress in giving the

863
00:37:10,995 --> 00:37:16,100
administration
additional authority.

864
00:37:16,100 --> 00:37:17,735
We'll take a look at
what bill is passed and

865
00:37:17,735 --> 00:37:22,373
determine whether or not
the President will sign it.

866
00:37:22,373 --> 00:37:25,042
But for those in Congress
who are interested in

867
00:37:25,042 --> 00:37:26,344
making sure the
administration has

868
00:37:26,344 --> 00:37:29,046
sufficient authority, I
can confirm that we do,

869
00:37:29,046 --> 00:37:30,381
and I can confirm that we
have not been shy

870
00:37:30,381 --> 00:37:31,816
about using it.

871
00:37:31,816 --> 00:37:33,651
The Press: It sounds like
you think this legislation

872
00:37:33,651 --> 00:37:34,819
is unnecessary.

873
00:37:34,819 --> 00:37:36,387
Is that correct?

874
00:37:36,387 --> 00:37:41,325
Mr. Earnest: Well, there
are plenty of times where

875
00:37:41,325 --> 00:37:43,527
the President has signed
into law bills that

876
00:37:43,527 --> 00:37:47,632
Congress has passed
that we're not sure are

877
00:37:47,632 --> 00:37:49,700
entirely necessary.

878
00:37:49,700 --> 00:37:54,772
So I would avoid reading
in too much -- reading too

879
00:37:54,772 --> 00:37:58,976
much into my comments
about whether or not the

880
00:37:58,976 --> 00:37:59,777
President will sign it.

881
00:37:59,777 --> 00:38:00,578
We'll see what Congress
passes, if

882
00:38:00,578 --> 00:38:02,546
they pass something.

883
00:38:02,546 --> 00:38:04,415
And we'll let you know if
the President

884
00:38:04,415 --> 00:38:05,783
intends to sign it.

885
00:38:05,783 --> 00:38:08,152
Jean.

886
00:38:08,152 --> 00:38:10,254
The Press:
Thank you, Josh.

887
00:38:10,254 --> 00:38:12,089
Today, a U.N.

888
00:38:12,089 --> 00:38:16,594
Security Council
resolution adopted new

889
00:38:16,594 --> 00:38:19,096
sanctions against
North Korea.

890
00:38:19,096 --> 00:38:22,500
What is the difference
between the (inaudible)

891
00:38:22,500 --> 00:38:26,137
and the new sanctions
on North Korea?

892
00:38:26,137 --> 00:38:28,239
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jean,
as I mentioned earlier,

893
00:38:28,239 --> 00:38:33,444
the most substantial
difference is the new

894
00:38:33,444 --> 00:38:39,917
sanctions regime includes
a hard, binding cap on

895
00:38:39,917 --> 00:38:43,054
North Korean coal exports.

896
00:38:43,054 --> 00:38:47,758
This is significant
because we know that North

897
00:38:47,758 --> 00:38:49,660
Korea gets more revenue
from their coal exports

898
00:38:49,660 --> 00:38:51,862
than anywhere else,
and we know they use a

899
00:38:51,862 --> 00:38:53,898
substantial portion of
that revenue to fund their

900
00:38:53,898 --> 00:38:55,232
nuclear program.

901
00:38:55,232 --> 00:38:57,868
So putting in place this
hard, binding cap is going

902
00:38:57,868 --> 00:39:00,805
to limit their
ability to do that.

903
00:39:00,805 --> 00:39:03,741
There are other sectors of
the economy that will also

904
00:39:03,741 --> 00:39:08,779
face tougher penalties
and tougher sanctions.

905
00:39:08,779 --> 00:39:10,715
And again, we know that's
important because those

906
00:39:10,715 --> 00:39:13,050
sectoral sanctions are
related to exports and we

907
00:39:13,050 --> 00:39:15,619
know that exports are the
best way for the North

908
00:39:15,619 --> 00:39:17,955
Korean regime to get
access to hard currency.

909
00:39:17,955 --> 00:39:20,357
We know a lot of that hard
currency is then used to

910
00:39:20,357 --> 00:39:23,094
invest in their
nuclear program.

911
00:39:23,094 --> 00:39:30,601
So there are some other
steps that relate to

912
00:39:30,601 --> 00:39:33,003
preventing the North
Koreans from generating

913
00:39:33,003 --> 00:39:35,806
revenue by using their
real property

914
00:39:35,806 --> 00:39:38,442
holdings overseas.

915
00:39:38,442 --> 00:39:39,977
There are additional
prohibitions that are put

916
00:39:39,977 --> 00:39:42,312
in place on public and
private support for trade

917
00:39:42,313 --> 00:39:46,550
with the North
Korean government.

918
00:39:46,550 --> 00:39:49,720
So for a more detailed
run-down on how all this

919
00:39:49,720 --> 00:39:52,455
would work, I'd refer you
to my colleagues in the

920
00:39:52,456 --> 00:39:54,058
office of Ambassador
Power, who has obviously

921
00:39:54,058 --> 00:39:57,895
done remarkable work to
organize the international

922
00:39:57,895 --> 00:40:01,999
community around this set
of sanctions that actually

923
00:40:01,999 --> 00:40:05,336
represents a substantial
escalation in the pressure

924
00:40:05,336 --> 00:40:07,971
that's being applied
against North Korea

925
00:40:07,972 --> 00:40:11,142
because of their
nuclear program.

926
00:40:11,142 --> 00:40:16,212
The Press: What if
China rejects this?

927
00:40:16,213 --> 00:40:17,448
Mr. Earnest: I'm sorry?

928
00:40:17,448 --> 00:40:21,085
The Press: Do you think
Chinese will agree to this?

929
00:40:21,085 --> 00:40:22,419
Mr. Earnest: Well, our
expectation is that the

930
00:40:22,419 --> 00:40:24,254
Chinese will
agree to this.

931
00:40:24,255 --> 00:40:28,459
The Chinese obviously have
a veto power at the U.N.

932
00:40:28,459 --> 00:40:30,161
Security Council.

933
00:40:30,161 --> 00:40:35,800
And based on this
difficult, weeks-long

934
00:40:35,800 --> 00:40:38,869
negotiation with the
members of the Security

935
00:40:38,869 --> 00:40:41,539
Council, the indication
is that the Chinese

936
00:40:41,539 --> 00:40:45,843
government is prepared to
support a resolution like

937
00:40:45,843 --> 00:40:48,913
what I've just described
-- which is a good thing,

938
00:40:48,913 --> 00:40:50,514
an important step, and is
an indication that the

939
00:40:50,514 --> 00:40:54,418
international community is
presenting a united front

940
00:40:54,418 --> 00:40:58,088
in confronting North Korea
for their nuclear program.

941
00:40:58,088 --> 00:40:59,657
The Press: One
more question.

942
00:40:59,657 --> 00:41:04,295
Japan and South Korea,
China will hold a

943
00:41:04,295 --> 00:41:09,867
trilateral summit meeting
at Tokyo next month.

944
00:41:09,867 --> 00:41:12,837
What is your
comment on that?

945
00:41:12,837 --> 00:41:15,372
Mr. Earnest: Well, what we
have often said is that we

946
00:41:15,372 --> 00:41:21,078
believe the United States
benefits from our allies

947
00:41:21,078 --> 00:41:24,348
having a constructive,
productive relationship

948
00:41:24,348 --> 00:41:26,317
with China.

949
00:41:26,317 --> 00:41:28,819
After all, President Obama
meets with his Chinese

950
00:41:28,819 --> 00:41:30,788
counterpart with some
regularity; he just did it

951
00:41:30,788 --> 00:41:35,659
a couple of weeks ago
when we were in Peru.

952
00:41:35,659 --> 00:41:39,597
So we obviously would
welcome both greater

953
00:41:39,597 --> 00:41:42,399
cooperation between our
South Korean and

954
00:41:42,399 --> 00:41:45,402
Japanese allies on a
range of issues.

955
00:41:45,402 --> 00:41:47,838
And if they can cooperate
in terms of strengthening

956
00:41:47,838 --> 00:41:51,442
and improving their
relationship with China --

957
00:41:51,442 --> 00:41:53,677
making it more productive
and constructive --

958
00:41:53,677 --> 00:41:56,714
there's nothing wrong
with that at all from

959
00:41:56,714 --> 00:41:58,883
the standpoint of the
United States.

960
00:41:58,883 --> 00:41:59,649
The Press: Does U.S.

961
00:41:59,650 --> 00:42:02,786
agree with the South
Korea and Japan military

962
00:42:02,786 --> 00:42:05,556
security agreement?

963
00:42:05,556 --> 00:42:07,124
Mr. Earnest: Well, we
certainly have encouraged

964
00:42:07,124 --> 00:42:09,292
our allies in South Korea
and Japan to intensify

965
00:42:09,293 --> 00:42:11,996
their efforts to
coordinate on a range of

966
00:42:11,996 --> 00:42:15,933
issues, including on a
range of security issues.

967
00:42:15,933 --> 00:42:17,468
Again, we believe that
that will enhance the

968
00:42:17,468 --> 00:42:19,370
national security of our
two allies, and we believe

969
00:42:19,370 --> 00:42:20,904
that that's a good thing
for the United States.

970
00:42:20,905 --> 00:42:23,173
So the United States,
including President Obama

971
00:42:23,173 --> 00:42:25,542
himself, has played a
central role in trying to

972
00:42:25,542 --> 00:42:29,380
facilitate warmer, more
effective relations

973
00:42:29,380 --> 00:42:34,518
between two of our most
important allies in Asia.

974
00:42:34,518 --> 00:42:39,823
And we've obviously seen
South Korea and Japan make

975
00:42:39,823 --> 00:42:42,192
some really important
strides in terms of

976
00:42:42,192 --> 00:42:45,095
improving their
relationship and having

977
00:42:45,095 --> 00:42:48,332
more effective
coordination on a range of

978
00:42:48,332 --> 00:42:49,700
issues including a range
of national security

979
00:42:49,700 --> 00:42:50,500
issues, and that's
something that we

980
00:42:50,501 --> 00:42:53,904
have long encouraged
them to do.

981
00:42:53,904 --> 00:42:55,873
John.

982
00:42:55,873 --> 00:42:56,740
The Press:
Thank you, Josh.

983
00:42:56,740 --> 00:43:00,009
Has the administration's
effort to transfer

984
00:43:00,010 --> 00:43:03,781
detainees at the prison
facility at Guantanamo

985
00:43:03,781 --> 00:43:06,884
ceased since the election
-- the presidential

986
00:43:06,884 --> 00:43:08,118
election three weeks ago?

987
00:43:08,118 --> 00:43:09,353
Mr. Earnest: No.

988
00:43:09,353 --> 00:43:12,690
The Press: And what are
the plans, as it relates

989
00:43:12,690 --> 00:43:14,491
to the remaining detainees
at Guantanamo, from this

990
00:43:14,491 --> 00:43:18,729
point forward, leading
up to Inauguration Day?

991
00:43:18,729 --> 00:43:21,064
Mr. Earnest: Well, we're
going to continue to do

992
00:43:21,065 --> 00:43:23,133
the difficult, diplomatic
spade work that's

993
00:43:23,133 --> 00:43:27,571
necessary to transfer as
many of those detainees as

994
00:43:27,571 --> 00:43:32,142
possible that have been
cleared for transfer by

995
00:43:32,142 --> 00:43:35,479
the national security
experts who are

996
00:43:35,479 --> 00:43:37,381
viewing their case files.

997
00:43:37,381 --> 00:43:39,450
Those transfers obviously
are contingent on a range

998
00:43:39,450 --> 00:43:43,252
of security requirements
that ensure that those

999
00:43:43,253 --> 00:43:45,923
individuals can't pose
an undue threat to U.S.

1000
00:43:45,923 --> 00:43:49,026
national security after
they're transferred.

1001
00:43:49,026 --> 00:43:50,426
That's the reason it
requires a bit of

1002
00:43:50,427 --> 00:43:53,464
diplomacy to ask other
countries to assume

1003
00:43:53,464 --> 00:43:55,566
this responsibility.

1004
00:43:55,566 --> 00:44:01,638
But there are dozens of
Gitmo detainees that have

1005
00:44:01,638 --> 00:44:05,976
been cleared for transfer
by national security

1006
00:44:05,976 --> 00:44:07,544
experts that have reviewed
their files, and we just

1007
00:44:07,544 --> 00:44:10,881
need to do the diplomatic
work that's necessary to

1008
00:44:10,881 --> 00:44:14,618
find an appropriate
place to send them.

1009
00:44:14,618 --> 00:44:15,986
The Press: As you know,
President-elect Trump has

1010
00:44:15,986 --> 00:44:19,857
spoken often about how he
would like to keep the

1011
00:44:19,857 --> 00:44:22,125
prison facility at
Guantanamo open when he

1012
00:44:22,126 --> 00:44:23,861
becomes President.

1013
00:44:23,861 --> 00:44:27,698
Has the administration
consulted with the Trump

1014
00:44:27,698 --> 00:44:32,803
transition team in any way
about plans to transfer

1015
00:44:32,803 --> 00:44:36,040
any detainees from
Guantanamo to third countries?

1016
00:44:36,040 --> 00:44:36,673
Mr. Earnest: I can't
speak to any

1017
00:44:36,673 --> 00:44:38,274
specific conversations.

1018
00:44:38,275 --> 00:44:41,645
I can tell you that there
are individuals who have

1019
00:44:41,645 --> 00:44:44,248
been designated by the
President-elect to serve

1020
00:44:44,248 --> 00:44:47,851
as the lead of his
transition team both as it

1021
00:44:47,851 --> 00:44:49,653
relates to the National
Security Council, but also

1022
00:44:49,653 --> 00:44:57,461
other agencies that do
work on the prison at

1023
00:44:57,461 --> 00:44:59,395
Guantanamo Bay, including
at the Department of

1024
00:44:59,396 --> 00:45:01,732
Defense and the
Department of State.

1025
00:45:01,732 --> 00:45:03,500
I would certainly assume
that some of those

1026
00:45:03,500 --> 00:45:06,103
conversations have
included a discussion

1027
00:45:06,103 --> 00:45:08,739
about the prison at
Guantanamo Bay and helping

1028
00:45:08,739 --> 00:45:11,175
them understand the policy
that we have pursued.

1029
00:45:11,175 --> 00:45:16,680
And it's a policy that we
will pursue until January

1030
00:45:16,680 --> 00:45:17,080
20th, as long as President
Obama remains President of

1031
00:45:17,081 --> 00:45:17,448
the United States.

1032
00:45:17,448 --> 00:45:18,582
The Press: So the
administration feels then

1033
00:45:18,582 --> 00:45:20,584
a need to consult with
the Trump transition team

1034
00:45:20,584 --> 00:45:27,223
about any plans that it
may have to transfer

1035
00:45:27,224 --> 00:45:28,225
detainees from Guantanamo?

1036
00:45:28,225 --> 00:45:29,526
Mr. Earnest: I think,
John, what I'm trying to

1037
00:45:29,526 --> 00:45:31,895
say is I'm not going the
get into the specific

1038
00:45:31,895 --> 00:45:33,663
details of their
conversations.

1039
00:45:33,664 --> 00:45:36,433
I can tell you that
senior officials at the

1040
00:45:36,433 --> 00:45:39,103
Department of State, at
the Department of Defense

1041
00:45:39,103 --> 00:45:40,604
and at the National
Security Council are

1042
00:45:40,604 --> 00:45:45,274
committed to what the
President has made a top

1043
00:45:45,275 --> 00:45:46,443
priority, which is a
smooth and effective

1044
00:45:46,443 --> 00:45:47,744
transition to the
next presidency.

1045
00:45:47,744 --> 00:45:50,614
That's going to include
a detail discussion of

1046
00:45:50,614 --> 00:45:52,382
complicated issues that
those agencies

1047
00:45:52,382 --> 00:45:53,517
are dealing with.

1048
00:45:53,517 --> 00:45:56,520
So, to the extent that we
want the incoming team to

1049
00:45:56,520 --> 00:45:59,423
have a good understanding
of what our policy has

1050
00:45:59,423 --> 00:46:01,859
been with regard to the
prison at Guantanamo Bay,

1051
00:46:01,859 --> 00:46:04,027
understand the steps that
we're taking to review the

1052
00:46:04,027 --> 00:46:07,564
case files of individual
detainees, to understand

1053
00:46:07,564 --> 00:46:10,000
the steps that we take
to negotiate with other

1054
00:46:10,000 --> 00:46:12,569
countries to understand
what sort of security

1055
00:46:12,569 --> 00:46:18,375
requirements we insist on
when those prisoners are

1056
00:46:18,375 --> 00:46:20,644
-- those detainees are
transferred -- that's a

1057
00:46:20,644 --> 00:46:23,680
good thing and that will
ensure a smooth and

1058
00:46:23,680 --> 00:46:25,982
effective transition.

1059
00:46:25,983 --> 00:46:28,485
But this is a policy that
will remain in place until

1060
00:46:28,485 --> 00:46:31,655
President Obama leaves
office on January 20th.

1061
00:46:31,655 --> 00:46:33,924
After that and what policy
will be in place after

1062
00:46:33,924 --> 00:46:35,559
that is something that the
President-elect and his

1063
00:46:35,559 --> 00:46:36,894
team will have
to work out.

1064
00:46:36,894 --> 00:46:38,662
The Press: One
final thing on this.

1065
00:46:38,662 --> 00:46:40,297
There is only one
President at a time.

1066
00:46:40,297 --> 00:46:42,900
There is only one
Commander-in-Chief at a time.

1067
00:46:42,900 --> 00:46:46,403
Does what you're saying,
Josh, does it mean that

1068
00:46:46,403 --> 00:46:51,107
the Trump transition team
has no essentially veto

1069
00:46:51,108 --> 00:46:54,845
authority on any detainees
that could be transferred

1070
00:46:54,845 --> 00:46:57,981
to third countries?

1071
00:46:57,981 --> 00:46:59,383
Mr. Earnest: Yes, of
course not, they don't.

1072
00:46:59,383 --> 00:47:02,618
The decision that's made
to transfer individuals is

1073
00:47:02,619 --> 00:47:05,689
based on a review of their
case file by national

1074
00:47:05,689 --> 00:47:07,558
security experts at a
variety of national

1075
00:47:07,558 --> 00:47:09,526
security agencies,
including the intelligence

1076
00:47:09,526 --> 00:47:12,629
community, the Department
of Defense and others.

1077
00:47:12,629 --> 00:47:14,665
Once they have reached
a determination that a

1078
00:47:14,665 --> 00:47:19,536
detainee is eligible
for transfer, then the

1079
00:47:19,536 --> 00:47:23,640
Department of State goes
to work in trying to do

1080
00:47:23,640 --> 00:47:25,342
some diplomacy with
another country to get

1081
00:47:25,342 --> 00:47:28,412
them to accept the
transfer of this detainee

1082
00:47:28,412 --> 00:47:33,250
under a set of security
requirements that limit

1083
00:47:33,250 --> 00:47:36,687
the ability of that
detainee to pose any risk

1084
00:47:36,687 --> 00:47:39,556
to the United States or
our interests or our allies.

1085
00:47:39,556 --> 00:47:42,125
So that's difficult work,
but that's work that we've

1086
00:47:42,125 --> 00:47:44,928
been doing for almost
eight years now and that's

1087
00:47:44,928 --> 00:47:49,732
work that will continue
at least through January 20th.

1088
00:47:49,733 --> 00:47:51,501
After that, the
President-elect's team

1089
00:47:51,501 --> 00:47:52,569
will have to decide how
they want to

1090
00:47:52,569 --> 00:47:54,504
handle that situation.

1091
00:47:54,504 --> 00:47:55,205
Mark.

1092
00:47:55,205 --> 00:47:56,940
The Press: Josh, have the
Obamas bought a home

1093
00:47:56,940 --> 00:48:00,344
in Rancho Mirage?

1094
00:48:00,344 --> 00:48:01,044
Mr. Earnest: I know
there's been some

1095
00:48:01,044 --> 00:48:02,011
reporting speculating that
they were

1096
00:48:02,012 --> 00:48:03,113
considering doing that.

1097
00:48:03,113 --> 00:48:06,482
I don't have any updates
on any real

1098
00:48:06,483 --> 00:48:08,986
estate transactions.

1099
00:48:08,986 --> 00:48:13,589
Obviously the First Family
still owns a home on the

1100
00:48:13,590 --> 00:48:17,794
South Side of Chicago, and
we have publicly discussed

1101
00:48:17,794 --> 00:48:20,964
their intent to remain in
Washington for a couple of

1102
00:48:20,964 --> 00:48:22,899
years after President
Obama leaves the White

1103
00:48:22,899 --> 00:48:25,435
House, and they'll be
renting a home here in the

1104
00:48:25,435 --> 00:48:26,470
Washington area.

1105
00:48:26,470 --> 00:48:31,241
But for any transactions
beyond that, I can't

1106
00:48:31,241 --> 00:48:32,743
confirm those reports.

1107
00:48:32,743 --> 00:48:34,578
The Press: Or Hawaii?

1108
00:48:34,578 --> 00:48:35,412
Mr. Earnest: Obviously
the President has great

1109
00:48:35,412 --> 00:48:38,749
affection for Hawaii, but
I'm not aware of any real

1110
00:48:38,749 --> 00:48:45,288
estate transactions that
he's made there at this point.

1111
00:48:45,289 --> 00:48:46,657
The Press: How many
receptions are the Obamas

1112
00:48:46,657 --> 00:48:50,394
hosting in this final
cycle, do you know?

1113
00:48:50,394 --> 00:48:51,761
Mr. Earnest: For
the holiday season?

1114
00:48:51,762 --> 00:48:52,829
Many.

1115
00:48:52,829 --> 00:48:54,998
I don't have the exact
count, but we can look

1116
00:48:54,998 --> 00:48:55,599
that up for you.

1117
00:48:55,599 --> 00:49:02,039
The First Lady's office
has been doing the work of

1118
00:49:02,039 --> 00:49:04,675
organizing many of these
activities, but we'll see

1119
00:49:04,675 --> 00:49:06,977
if we can contact them on
your behalf and

1120
00:49:06,977 --> 00:49:08,278
get you an answer.

1121
00:49:08,278 --> 00:49:09,178
JC.

1122
00:49:09,179 --> 00:49:12,616
The Press: Speaking of
executive residences, the

1123
00:49:12,616 --> 00:49:15,352
First Lady has often
described the rigors of

1124
00:49:15,352 --> 00:49:17,487
living here at the White
House as kind of living

1125
00:49:17,487 --> 00:49:20,290
above the store.

1126
00:49:20,290 --> 00:49:21,758
Obviously there are
advantages of the

1127
00:49:21,758 --> 00:49:25,361
President living in this
particular executive mansion.

1128
00:49:25,362 --> 00:49:30,167
It seems that Mr. Trump
may become sort of -- or

1129
00:49:30,167 --> 00:49:32,502
his family certainly a
part-time resident

1130
00:49:32,502 --> 00:49:34,538
of the White House.

1131
00:49:34,538 --> 00:49:36,440
What are the thoughts
of this administration,

1132
00:49:36,440 --> 00:49:38,875
especially when it comes
to the national security

1133
00:49:38,875 --> 00:49:42,245
areas, being close to the
Situation Room, literally

1134
00:49:42,245 --> 00:49:46,583
within minutes, that Mr.
Trump may somehow be a

1135
00:49:46,583 --> 00:49:49,820
bi-city resident -- or his
family certainly will be?

1136
00:49:49,820 --> 00:49:51,021
Mr. Earnest: Well,
listen, obviously the

1137
00:49:51,021 --> 00:49:52,689
President-elect and his
family will have to

1138
00:49:52,689 --> 00:49:55,192
determine what sort of
living arrangement makes

1139
00:49:55,192 --> 00:49:56,760
the most sense for them.

1140
00:49:56,760 --> 00:49:57,661
And that's obviously not
something I'm going

1141
00:49:57,661 --> 00:49:59,963
to second-guess.

1142
00:49:59,963 --> 00:50:01,998
We've made clear that
when President Obama is

1143
00:50:01,998 --> 00:50:05,435
traveling, he essentially
takes the inner workings

1144
00:50:05,435 --> 00:50:08,270
of the White House with
him so that he can execute

1145
00:50:08,271 --> 00:50:12,209
all of the duties that he
has as President of

1146
00:50:12,209 --> 00:50:13,410
the United States.

1147
00:50:13,410 --> 00:50:16,812
And he's able to do that
from aboard an aircraft

1148
00:50:16,813 --> 00:50:17,914
and he's able to do that
from overseas

1149
00:50:17,914 --> 00:50:21,685
when he's traveling.

1150
00:50:21,685 --> 00:50:23,286
So I certainly wouldn't
anticipate that the

1151
00:50:23,286 --> 00:50:24,588
President-elect would
encounter any difficult in

1152
00:50:24,588 --> 00:50:27,290
trying to do that
from New York City.

1153
00:50:27,290 --> 00:50:29,326
But, look --

1154
00:50:29,326 --> 00:50:31,762
The Press: But if he's --

1155
00:50:31,762 --> 00:50:32,896
Mr. Earnest: Well, look,
as far as I can tell, he

1156
00:50:32,896 --> 00:50:35,832
has for a number of years
enjoyed the benefits of

1157
00:50:35,832 --> 00:50:40,103
living above the store in
Trump Tower, and so maybe

1158
00:50:40,103 --> 00:50:44,107
he would appreciate the
benefits of living above

1159
00:50:44,107 --> 00:50:45,475
the store here in
Washington, too.

1160
00:50:45,475 --> 00:50:48,211
But ultimately, that will
be for him and his family

1161
00:50:48,211 --> 00:50:51,548
to decide, and I wouldn't
second-guess or criticize

1162
00:50:51,548 --> 00:50:53,082
that decision one
way or the other.

1163
00:50:53,083 --> 00:50:55,419
Tara.

1164
00:50:55,419 --> 00:50:56,553
The Press: I have a
question about Guantanamo.

1165
00:50:56,553 --> 00:50:58,388
I understand that
transfers will still take

1166
00:50:58,388 --> 00:51:00,056
place and they're still
being planned -- the

1167
00:51:00,056 --> 00:51:02,626
transfers of detainees
out of Guantanamo.

1168
00:51:02,626 --> 00:51:04,561
But I'm wondering about
the briefings that you're

1169
00:51:04,561 --> 00:51:07,330
having for the incoming
members, like Mike Pompeo,

1170
00:51:07,330 --> 00:51:09,065
who is from Kansas.

1171
00:51:09,065 --> 00:51:11,768
I know there was some
history of him in

1172
00:51:11,768 --> 00:51:13,703
Guantanamo, and I wondered
if you had talked to him

1173
00:51:13,703 --> 00:51:15,939
in the past about maybe
the possibility of moving

1174
00:51:15,939 --> 00:51:18,841
detainees to Kansas or how
you might build on that.

1175
00:51:18,842 --> 00:51:21,144
Mr. Earnest: I can't
speak to what sort of

1176
00:51:21,144 --> 00:51:22,312
conversations may have
occurred with

1177
00:51:22,312 --> 00:51:25,982
Congressman Pompeo.

1178
00:51:25,982 --> 00:51:28,351
He obviously is somebody
that has -- I believe he

1179
00:51:28,351 --> 00:51:30,787
served on the House
Intelligence Committee, so

1180
00:51:30,787 --> 00:51:34,457
he is conversed in
many of these issues.

1181
00:51:34,458 --> 00:51:35,692
So I'm confident he's had
some discussions with

1182
00:51:35,692 --> 00:51:38,161
senior administration
officials about our

1183
00:51:38,161 --> 00:51:40,497
approach to a range of
these national security

1184
00:51:40,497 --> 00:51:42,332
issues, including our
efforts to close the

1185
00:51:42,332 --> 00:51:43,834
prison at Guantanamo Bay.

1186
00:51:43,834 --> 00:51:45,100
But I can't speak to the
details of any of

1187
00:51:45,101 --> 00:51:47,437
those discussions.

1188
00:51:47,437 --> 00:51:49,072
The Press: -- spoke with
him, did you, about, like,

1189
00:51:49,072 --> 00:51:52,309
anything related to
Kansas or the transfers?

1190
00:51:52,309 --> 00:51:54,411
You didn't know
him from before?

1191
00:51:54,411 --> 00:51:56,112
Mr. Earnest:
Me, personally?

1192
00:51:56,112 --> 00:51:57,614
No, I've never had the
pleasure of meeting

1193
00:51:57,614 --> 00:51:59,082
Congressman Pompeo.

1194
00:51:59,082 --> 00:52:01,384
I'll give this gentleman
in the back the

1195
00:52:01,384 --> 00:52:04,688
last question.

1196
00:52:04,688 --> 00:52:05,789
The Press: I wanted to
ask about the Nobel

1197
00:52:05,789 --> 00:52:07,724
Prize award meeting
this afternoon.

1198
00:52:07,724 --> 00:52:15,532
I was wondering if you
could comment on how well

1199
00:52:15,532 --> 00:52:19,503
the President feels that
he has lived up to his own

1200
00:52:19,503 --> 00:52:22,405
award -- the Nobel Peace
Prize that he was awarded

1201
00:52:22,405 --> 00:52:25,509
seven years ago, over
the last seven years.

1202
00:52:25,509 --> 00:52:27,878
Mr. Earnest: Look, I
think that's an excellent

1203
00:52:27,878 --> 00:52:30,213
question, one I'm sure
the President can answer

1204
00:52:30,213 --> 00:52:31,948
better than I can.

1205
00:52:31,948 --> 00:52:35,085
What --

1206
00:52:35,085 --> 00:52:36,720
The Press: -- come out --

1207
00:52:36,720 --> 00:52:37,453
Mr. Earnest:
Well, we'll see.

1208
00:52:37,454 --> 00:52:39,789
(laughter)

1209
00:52:39,789 --> 00:52:45,862
The one thing I guess I
would encourage those who

1210
00:52:45,862 --> 00:52:46,763
are interested in this
question to do is to go

1211
00:52:46,763 --> 00:52:47,931
back and look at the
speech that the President

1212
00:52:47,931 --> 00:52:50,233
delivered in December of
2009 -- maybe you've done

1213
00:52:50,233 --> 00:52:53,904
this -- in which the
President talked about

1214
00:52:53,904 --> 00:52:56,406
what his approach to being
the President of the

1215
00:52:56,406 --> 00:53:00,176
United States would be and
how that was consistent

1216
00:53:00,176 --> 00:53:07,116
with the aspirations that
were represented by the

1217
00:53:07,117 --> 00:53:11,454
committee's decision to
award him the Nobel Prize.

1218
00:53:11,454 --> 00:53:15,892
And I feel confident in
telling you that the

1219
00:53:15,892 --> 00:53:21,765
President feels that he's
lived up to the standard

1220
00:53:21,765 --> 00:53:22,098
that he has set for
himself in that speech.

1221
00:53:22,098 --> 00:53:24,366
He acknowledged that his
first responsibility and

1222
00:53:24,367 --> 00:53:27,037
his first duty as
President of the United

1223
00:53:27,037 --> 00:53:31,006
States is to protect
the American people.

1224
00:53:31,007 --> 00:53:38,682
And in some cases, that
has required him ordering

1225
00:53:38,682 --> 00:53:42,084
the United States military
to kill people who are

1226
00:53:42,085 --> 00:53:45,855
trying to kill Americans.

1227
00:53:45,855 --> 00:53:48,825
What the President has
also tried to do is to use

1228
00:53:48,825 --> 00:53:55,497
other elements of American
power to advance our

1229
00:53:55,498 --> 00:53:58,668
values and our interests
around the world.

1230
00:53:58,668 --> 00:54:01,004
And that's something
that a U.S.

1231
00:54:01,004 --> 00:54:05,208
President is uniquely
positioned to do.

1232
00:54:05,208 --> 00:54:06,676
And many of you who have
had an opportunity to

1233
00:54:06,676 --> 00:54:09,078
cover President Obama as
he's traveled around the

1234
00:54:09,079 --> 00:54:11,881
world, have seen that he's
spent time in intensive

1235
00:54:11,881 --> 00:54:14,783
discussions with other
world leaders about

1236
00:54:14,784 --> 00:54:16,286
military campaigns.

1237
00:54:16,286 --> 00:54:19,289
He's taken advantage of
the opportunity to thank

1238
00:54:19,289 --> 00:54:22,158
our men and women in
uniform for their service

1239
00:54:22,158 --> 00:54:25,629
in protecting this country
when they're deployed at

1240
00:54:25,629 --> 00:54:28,832
bases overseas, in many
cases far away from their

1241
00:54:28,832 --> 00:54:30,500
families and loved ones.

1242
00:54:30,500 --> 00:54:33,036
He's had an opportunity to
thank them firsthand for

1243
00:54:33,036 --> 00:54:34,638
their willingness to put
their lives in harm's way

1244
00:54:34,638 --> 00:54:35,705
to protect America.

1245
00:54:35,705 --> 00:54:40,143
But the President has
also spent a lot of time

1246
00:54:40,143 --> 00:54:41,311
meeting with opposition
figures in other

1247
00:54:41,311 --> 00:54:44,180
countries, meeting with
activists in other

1248
00:54:44,180 --> 00:54:46,549
countries who fighting
for greater

1249
00:54:46,549 --> 00:54:47,984
freedom and liberty.

1250
00:54:47,984 --> 00:54:49,452
The President has met with
entrepreneurs in other

1251
00:54:49,452 --> 00:54:51,855
countries -- people who
are seeking to build a

1252
00:54:51,855 --> 00:54:55,091
stronger economy and a
better life for them and

1253
00:54:55,091 --> 00:54:59,863
their family in a way
that contributes to their

1254
00:54:59,863 --> 00:55:02,131
community and for
their country.

1255
00:55:02,132 --> 00:55:04,334
All of that is consistent
with the basic

1256
00:55:04,334 --> 00:55:06,435
responsibilities of the
President of the United

1257
00:55:06,436 --> 00:55:10,073
States, consistent with
the kinds of values that

1258
00:55:10,073 --> 00:55:11,908
we cherish in this
country, and in the

1259
00:55:11,908 --> 00:55:14,810
President's mind,
consistent with the

1260
00:55:14,811 --> 00:55:18,381
aspirations that were
exhibited by the committee

1261
00:55:18,381 --> 00:55:19,649
when they decided to award
him the Nobel Prize

1262
00:55:19,649 --> 00:55:21,084
in the first place.

1263
00:55:21,084 --> 00:55:24,087
So many people made the
observation in 2009 that

1264
00:55:24,087 --> 00:55:30,360
President Obama hadn't
earned the Nobel Prize.

1265
00:55:30,360 --> 00:55:33,463
And I don't think anybody
saw a particularly

1266
00:55:33,463 --> 00:55:38,134
aggressive argument from
the President at that time.

1267
00:55:38,134 --> 00:55:40,036
But people will have an
opportunity now, after

1268
00:55:40,036 --> 00:55:43,907
almost eight years that
the President has served

1269
00:55:43,907 --> 00:55:45,008
in office, to evaluate
whether or not, based on

1270
00:55:45,008 --> 00:55:49,479
his record of protecting
the American people and

1271
00:55:49,479 --> 00:55:52,182
advancing our interests
around the globe, whether

1272
00:55:52,182 --> 00:55:53,316
or not he's lived up to
the aspirations of the

1273
00:55:53,316 --> 00:55:55,518
Nobel committee.

1274
00:55:55,518 --> 00:55:57,487
And the President is quite
proud of his record.

1275
00:55:57,487 --> 00:55:58,121
Thanks, everybody.

1276
00:55:58,121 --> 00:55:59,823
We'll see you tomorrow.

1277
00:55:59,823 --> 00:56:01,891
And maybe even
later tonight.