English subtitles for clip: File:2-27-17- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr Spicer: Wow,
that's a crowd.

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I hope everyone had
a great weekend.

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Good afternoon.

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Before I begin, I wanted
to introduce the Director

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of the Office of
Management and Budget,

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Mick Mulvaney, to talk
to you a bit about the

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President's budget.

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When Director Mulvaney is
finished, we will allow

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him to take a few
questions and then resume

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the briefing and all the
fun that goes with it.

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So without any further
ado, Director Mulvaney.

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Direcotr Mulvaney:
Thanks very much.

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I want to talk for a few
minutes about the budget

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blueprint that most of you
know the President

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started speaking about this
morning with

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the governors.

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I'll talk a little bit
about what it is and what

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it isn't, and then talk
about where we are in the

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budget process and what
it looks like from here.

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First of all, what this
isn't: This is not a

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full-blown budget.

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That will not
come until May.

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So you're not going to see
anything in here that has

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to do with mandatory
spending, entitlement

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reforms, tax policies,
revenue projections, or

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the infrastructure plan.

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This blueprint was never
going to be that, as I

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made clear during my
Senate confirmation.

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It is a topline
number only.

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As for what it is, these
are the President's

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policies, as reflected
in topline

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discretionary spending.

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To that end, it is a true
America-first budget.

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It will show the President
is keeping his promises

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and doing exactly what he
said he was going to do

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when he ran for office.

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It prioritizes rebuilding
the military, including

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restoring our nuclear
capabilities; protecting

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the nation and securing
the border; enforcing the

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laws currently on the
books; taking care of

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vets; and increasing
school choice.

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And it does all of that
without adding to the

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currently projected
FY 2018 deficit.

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The top line defense
discretionary number is

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$603 billion.

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That's a $54-billion
increase -- it's one of

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the largest
increases in history.

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It's also the number that
allows the President to

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keep his promise to undo
the military sequester.

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The topline nondefense
number will be

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$462 billion.

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That's a $54-billion
savings.

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It's the largest-proposed
reduction since the early

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years of the Reagan
administration.

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The reductions in
nondefense spending follow

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the same model -- it's
the President keeping his

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promises and doing exactly
what he said he

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was going to do.

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It reduces money that we
give to other nations, it

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reduces duplicative
programs, and it

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eliminates programs
that simply don't work.

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The bottom line is this:
The President is going to

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protect the country and do
so in exactly the same way

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that every American family
has had to do over the

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last couple years,
and that's

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prioritize spending.

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The schedule from here --
these numbers will go out

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to the agencies today in a
process that we

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describe as passback.

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Review from agencies are
due back to OMB over the

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course of the next couple
days, and we'll spend the

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next week or so working on
a final budget blueprint.

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We expect to have that
number to Congress

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by March 16th.

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That puts us on schedule
for a full budget --

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including all the things I
mentioned, this one does

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not include -- with all
the larger policy issues

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in the first part of May.

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So with that, I'll take
a couple questions.

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Yes, sir.

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The Press: Mr. Director,
in order to get to your

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topline on the rest of the
nondiscretionary -- or

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rest of the discretionary
budget, if you're not

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going to touch veterans
benefits, you need to

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slice about 12 percent off
of the rest of government.

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Can't you do that without
affecting the services the

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government provides for --

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DIrector Mulvaney: And that's part of what this

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process is this week.

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The numbers go out, and
the numbers -- each agency

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will get its topline
number along with

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recommendations from OMB
as to how we think they

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can hit that number.

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And they may come back to
us and say, yeah, we think

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that's a good way to reach
that number, or they may

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come back to us with
other suggestions.

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That's what
this process is.

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I think it's fairly
unusual for us to be

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coming to you this early
in the process, but we

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wanted to let everybody
know exactly

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where we were.

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The Press: But we're not
talking about 2 or 3

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percent -- we're talking
about double-digit

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reductions, and
that's a lot.

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Director Mulvaney: There's
going to be a lot of

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programs that -- again,
you can expect to see

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exactly what the President
said he was going to do.

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Foreign aid, for example
-- the President said

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we're going to spend less
money overseas and spend

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more of it here.

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That's going to be
reflected in the number we

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send to the State
Department.

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The Press: Thank
you very much.

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One quick follow
on foreign aid.

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That accounts for less
than 1 percent of

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overall spending.

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And I just spoke with an
analyst who said even if

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you zero that out, it
wouldn't pay for one year

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of the budget increases
that are being

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proposed right now.

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So how do you
square that amount?

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So why not tackle
entitlements, which are

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the biggest driver,
especially when a lot of

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Republicans over the years
have said that they need

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to be taxed?

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Director Mulvaney: Sure.

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On your foreign aid, it's
the same answer I just

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gave, which is, yes, it's
a fairly part of the

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discretionary budget, but
it's still consistent with

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what the President said.

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When you see these
reductions, you'll be able

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to tie it back to a speech
the President gave or

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something the President
has said previously.

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He's simply going to -- we
are taking his words and

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turning them into
policies and dollars.

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So we will be spending
less overseas and spending

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more back home.

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I forgot your
second question.

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The Press: O
entitlements, why not

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address entitlements,
which is the biggest

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driver of spending?

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Director Mulvaney: It's
very unusual to -- this is

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a budget blueprint -- what
some folks used to call a

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skinny budget -- and
it would not be at all

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unusual for larger policy
decisions, including tax

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reform, revenue
projections not to be

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included in this budget.

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That will come in -- The
Press: Down the line?

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The Press: Sir --
The Press: Hold on.

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So down the line, could we
see some type of budget

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that deals with
entitlements?

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Director Mulvaney: The
full budget will contain

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the entire spectrum of
the President's proposed

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policy changes.

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The Press: Director, on
rebuilding the military,

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can you talk a little
bit about more of the

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breakdown of that?

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Can you go into a
little bit more detail?

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Director Mulvaney: No, I
can't -- because, again,

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where we are in this
process is that the

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numbers going to the DOD
today and over the course

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of the next 10 days to two
weeks, we'll be coming up

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with those types
of details.

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I've got time
for one more.

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The Press: Will you be
asking the military --

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you're going to increase
the military budget, but

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are you going to at least
ask the people in the

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Defense Department to take
a look at their budget and

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say, hey, where can we at
least cut or at least look

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and make sure that we're
spending the right amount

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of money?

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Is part of that is going
to be part of the process?

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Director Mulvaney:
Well, absolutely.

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That's part of what
Secretary Mattis and I

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have already talked.

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He's interested in driving
more efficiencies into the

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Defense Department.

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OMB is also going to be
involved with him on the

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procurement process.

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All of that will be
incorporated in our larger

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budget in May.

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The Press: So it's not
just like a blanket --

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"Here, we're going to
throw money at you, do

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what you want"?

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Director Mulvaney: No, sir.

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No, sir.

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Last one.

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The Press: Does this
account for spending for

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the President's wall,
either in the $30 billion

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we've heard you're going
to request for this year

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or the $54
billion increase?

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Does that include money
for the wall, how to pay

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for the wall?

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Director Mulvaney: I
would be more likely --

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excuse me, a
little bit of both.

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We do expect to include
some money in a future

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supplemental for 2017
for the wall, and a 2018

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budget will also contain
some longer-term dollars

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for that.

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The Press: So it will be
split up between the two.

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Director Mulvaney: I
believe that to

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be the case.

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Thank you all very much.

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Mr Spicer: Thank
you, Director.

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So let me get back to --
I'll be right there in

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a second, April.

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This morning, the
President dropped by the

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National Governors
Association meeting, where

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49 governors from both
states and territories

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joined Cabinet members and
senior White House staff

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to discuss where they can
work together to rebuild

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the country and
restart the economy.

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While at the meeting, the
President delivered a

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statement on his
forthcoming budget

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proposal, which he'll
submit March 16th, as you

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just heard the
Director mention.

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The President's budget
will, first and foremost,

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keep Americans safe.

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That means investing in
both our nation's physical

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and financial security.

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We will rebuild the
nation's military.

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An increase in defense
spending, including

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increased funding for our
veterans and our border,

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will be matched by equal
reductions in

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nondefense programs.

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The savings in our budget
will come from looking at

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outdated and
duplicative programs.

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The reductions spending
will be sensible and

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rational, but they
will also be tough.

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With our nation's debt
spiraling out of control,

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we simply must take a look
at the way we're spending

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taxpayers' dollars.

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Families across the
country are being forced

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to make difficult choices,
because for too long the

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federal government has not
treated their money with

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the respect they deserve.

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The national debt
exploded under the last

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administration from $10.6
billion [trillion] on

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January 20th, 2009 to
$19.9 trillion the day

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before -- sorry, those are
both trillions -- the day

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before the President's
-- President

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Trump's inaugural.

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Every child born in
America this year will

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inherit an average of
over $60,000 in debt.

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And that, frankly,
is too much.

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Our budget will restore
respect for taxpayers'

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dollars while funding all
the necessary programs to

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keep our country
safe and prospering.

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00:08:05,051 --> 00:08:06,381
This meeting with
the governors was a

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00:08:06,385 --> 00:08:08,385
continuation of a weekend
of engagement and

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00:08:08,387 --> 00:08:10,257
discussion between
the governors and

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00:08:10,256 --> 00:08:11,486
the administration.

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00:08:11,490 --> 00:08:12,930
The President and the
First Lady welcomed the

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00:08:12,925 --> 00:08:14,925
governors last night to
the White House for the

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00:08:14,927 --> 00:08:16,297
Annual Governors Ball.

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00:08:16,295 --> 00:08:17,965
And yesterday, the Vice
President had a very

257
00:08:17,964 --> 00:08:19,864
productive meeting with
several governors.

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00:08:19,866 --> 00:08:21,566
The administration is
proud to be working with

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00:08:21,567 --> 00:08:23,337
the governors on
rebuilding our nation's

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00:08:23,336 --> 00:08:26,306
infrastructure, reforming
our healthcare system, and

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00:08:26,305 --> 00:08:28,145
putting Americans
back to work.

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00:08:28,140 --> 00:08:29,940
I know that Obamacare, in
particular, was put into

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00:08:29,942 --> 00:08:31,812
place without a lot of
input from governors.

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00:08:31,811 --> 00:08:33,781
We're committed to
consulting and including

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00:08:33,779 --> 00:08:36,779
them on this and so many
other subjects as we solve

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00:08:36,782 --> 00:08:38,852
the nation's biggest
issues together.

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00:08:38,851 --> 00:08:40,591
Later this morning, the
President had a listening

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00:08:40,586 --> 00:08:42,486
session with some of
our country's leading

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00:08:42,488 --> 00:08:44,658
healthcare insurance
companies.

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00:08:44,657 --> 00:08:46,727
Interestingly, on
yesterday's ABC "This

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00:08:46,726 --> 00:08:49,096
Week," Minority Leader
Pelosi actually laid out a

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00:08:49,095 --> 00:08:52,165
great outline of how to
judge Obamacare's success

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00:08:52,164 --> 00:08:54,034
based on what it was
supposed to achieve.

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00:08:54,033 --> 00:08:56,973
She said, "It had three
goals: One, to lower the

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00:08:56,969 --> 00:09:00,409
cost, the other to expand
benefits, and the third to

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00:09:00,406 --> 00:09:03,846
improve and increase
access." So let's go

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00:09:03,843 --> 00:09:05,313
through her criteria.

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00:09:05,311 --> 00:09:08,681
Lowering costs: While this
year all four tiers of

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00:09:08,681 --> 00:09:11,281
Obamacare insurance plans
are facing double-digit

280
00:09:11,284 --> 00:09:13,254
increases in
average premiums.

281
00:09:13,252 --> 00:09:15,892
Just to take a look at
one set of premiums, for

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00:09:15,888 --> 00:09:18,488
standard silver plans in
the states, 63 percent

283
00:09:18,491 --> 00:09:21,231
increase in Tennessee,
69 percent increase in

284
00:09:21,227 --> 00:09:24,497
Oklahoma, and a staggering
116 percent

285
00:09:24,497 --> 00:09:26,297
increase in Arizona.

286
00:09:26,299 --> 00:09:28,739
On expanding benefits: In
reality, the new law's

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00:09:28,734 --> 00:09:31,904
mandates have led to max
cancellations of coverage,

288
00:09:31,904 --> 00:09:34,444
soaring out-of-pocket
costs, and declining

289
00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:35,270
enrollment figures.

290
00:09:35,274 --> 00:09:38,344
Millions are choosing to
pay a tax over buying the

291
00:09:38,344 --> 00:09:40,384
government-mandate
insurance.

292
00:09:40,379 --> 00:09:42,519
Increased access: With
insurance fleeing the

293
00:09:42,515 --> 00:09:45,415
marketplace, Americans are
facing a dwindling number

294
00:09:45,418 --> 00:09:48,258
of insurance choices with
17 percent of Americans

295
00:09:48,254 --> 00:09:50,824
left with only one insurer
option available

296
00:09:50,823 --> 00:09:52,363
in their exchange.

297
00:09:52,358 --> 00:09:54,458
Insurers will be
indispensable partners in

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00:09:54,460 --> 00:09:57,100
the transition period out
of Obamacare into the

299
00:09:57,096 --> 00:09:59,166
Patients First plan the
President will be working

300
00:09:59,165 --> 00:10:01,035
with Congress to
put in its place.

301
00:10:01,033 --> 00:10:03,203
The President's plan will
encourage innovation,

302
00:10:03,202 --> 00:10:05,072
modernize our healthcare
system, and provide

303
00:10:05,071 --> 00:10:07,511
immediate relief, and
ensure access to quality,

304
00:10:07,506 --> 00:10:09,446
truly affordable care.

305
00:10:09,442 --> 00:10:10,872
This afternoon, the
President had lunch with

306
00:10:10,876 --> 00:10:13,416
Vice President Pence
and Ambassador Haley.

307
00:10:13,412 --> 00:10:15,312
Afterwards, he's having a
meeting with Speaker Ryan

308
00:10:15,314 --> 00:10:17,984
and Majority
Leader McConnell.

309
00:10:17,984 --> 00:10:19,484
And then following that,
he's going to be meeting

310
00:10:19,485 --> 00:10:21,255
with Secretary of
State Tillerson.

311
00:10:21,253 --> 00:10:23,223
The Secretary is coming
off a very successful trip

312
00:10:23,222 --> 00:10:26,192
to Mexico that -- he was
joined by Secretary of

313
00:10:26,192 --> 00:10:27,192
Homeland Security Kelly.

314
00:10:27,193 --> 00:10:30,063
I'm sure the President
is looking forward to

315
00:10:30,062 --> 00:10:31,662
discussing that trip
with the Secretary.

316
00:10:31,664 --> 00:10:33,204
Also this afternoon, the
Vice President will be

317
00:10:33,199 --> 00:10:34,899
speaking to an
extraordinary group of 60

318
00:10:34,900 --> 00:10:36,640
presidents of Historically
Black Colleges

319
00:10:36,635 --> 00:10:37,305
and Universities.

320
00:10:37,303 --> 00:10:39,403
There will be a pool spray
at the top of the event,

321
00:10:39,405 --> 00:10:41,545
and the Vice President's
office will release his

322
00:10:41,540 --> 00:10:43,680
remarks and photos
following the event.

323
00:10:43,676 --> 00:10:46,946
We can also expect a
meeting with the President

324
00:10:46,946 --> 00:10:48,116
with them as well.

325
00:10:48,114 --> 00:10:50,214
This evening, the
President will have dinner

326
00:10:50,216 --> 00:10:51,546
with regional press
affiliates that are going

327
00:10:51,550 --> 00:10:53,990
to be in town for the
joint session of Congress.

328
00:10:53,986 --> 00:10:55,786
While it's tradition for
representatives from the

329
00:10:55,788 --> 00:10:57,428
networks to meet with the
President before his joint

330
00:10:57,423 --> 00:11:00,593
address, this is the first
time, to my knowledge at

331
00:11:00,593 --> 00:11:02,533
least, that the
opportunity has been

332
00:11:02,528 --> 00:11:04,428
expanded to include
representation from 18

333
00:11:04,430 --> 00:11:06,430
regional outlets from
around the country.

334
00:11:06,432 --> 00:11:07,972
Tomorrow, the President
will also have the

335
00:11:07,967 --> 00:11:09,967
traditional lunch with
the network anchors.

336
00:11:09,969 --> 00:11:12,209
Beyond the so-called "big
five" networks, we've also

337
00:11:12,204 --> 00:11:13,874
opened it up and invited
outlets including

338
00:11:13,873 --> 00:11:19,143
Telemundo, Univision, CBN,
EWTN, OANN, PBS, C-SPAN,

339
00:11:19,145 --> 00:11:20,575
and TV1.

340
00:11:20,579 --> 00:11:22,179
Tonight, the President
looks forward to seeing

341
00:11:22,181 --> 00:11:24,351
his nominee for the
Secretary of Commerce,

342
00:11:24,350 --> 00:11:26,320
Wilbur Ross, confirmed
by the Senate.

343
00:11:26,318 --> 00:11:28,488
Secretary-designate Ross
has been an important

344
00:11:28,487 --> 00:11:30,327
champion for
U.S.-struggling industries

345
00:11:30,322 --> 00:11:31,622
in the private sectors.

346
00:11:31,624 --> 00:11:33,464
And pending his
confirmation this evening,

347
00:11:33,459 --> 00:11:35,229
he'll now do in the same
post on behalf of the

348
00:11:35,227 --> 00:11:37,167
American people what
he has done in

349
00:11:37,163 --> 00:11:38,293
private sector.

350
00:11:38,297 --> 00:11:40,297
Assuming everything goes
according to the plan in

351
00:11:40,299 --> 00:11:42,099
the Senate tonight,
we expect to have his

352
00:11:42,101 --> 00:11:44,801
swearing-in tomorrow
here at the White House.

353
00:11:44,804 --> 00:11:46,374
Also tomorrow, the
President will deliver his

354
00:11:46,372 --> 00:11:48,772
first address to both
houses of Congress.

355
00:11:48,774 --> 00:11:50,314
In his speech, the
President will lay out an

356
00:11:50,309 --> 00:11:52,609
optimistic vision for
the country, crossing

357
00:11:52,611 --> 00:11:54,211
traditional lines of
party, race,

358
00:11:54,213 --> 00:11:56,183
socioeconomic status.

359
00:11:56,182 --> 00:11:58,182
As I said before, the
theme will be the renewal

360
00:11:58,184 --> 00:11:59,884
of the American spirit.

361
00:11:59,885 --> 00:12:01,885
He will invite Americans
of all backgrounds to come

362
00:12:01,887 --> 00:12:03,887
together in the service of
a stronger and brighter

363
00:12:03,889 --> 00:12:06,089
future for our nation.

364
00:12:06,092 --> 00:12:08,432
In addition to laying out
the concrete steps the

365
00:12:08,427 --> 00:12:10,097
President has already
taken to make the American

366
00:12:10,096 --> 00:12:13,096
Dream possible for all of
our people, he will talk

367
00:12:13,099 --> 00:12:14,429
about the bold agenda --
he wants to

368
00:12:14,433 --> 00:12:15,673
work with Congress.

369
00:12:15,668 --> 00:12:18,468
This includes tax and
regulatory reform to

370
00:12:18,471 --> 00:12:20,811
provide relief to
hardworking Americans and

371
00:12:20,806 --> 00:12:23,576
their businesses, making
the workplace better for

372
00:12:23,576 --> 00:12:26,316
working parents, ensuring
the families who have

373
00:12:26,312 --> 00:12:29,282
suffered under Obamacare's
skyrocketing rates see it

374
00:12:29,281 --> 00:12:30,721
replaced with a
patient-centered

375
00:12:30,716 --> 00:12:33,416
alternative, making sure
every child in America has

376
00:12:33,419 --> 00:12:35,919
access to a good
education, a rebuilding of

377
00:12:35,921 --> 00:12:37,521
our military and
fulfilling of our

378
00:12:37,523 --> 00:12:40,223
commitments to veterans to
whom we obviously owe a

379
00:12:40,226 --> 00:12:41,796
great deal of gratitude.

380
00:12:41,794 --> 00:12:44,294
You can expect to see a
speech grounded firmly in

381
00:12:44,296 --> 00:12:47,336
solving real problems for
every American -- how can

382
00:12:47,333 --> 00:12:48,703
we make sure that every
American who needs a

383
00:12:48,701 --> 00:12:51,101
better job get one, how
can we get kids who are

384
00:12:51,103 --> 00:12:53,543
trapped in failing schools
into better ones, how we

385
00:12:53,539 --> 00:12:55,879
can keep gangs and drug
violence out of our

386
00:12:55,875 --> 00:12:57,405
neighborhoods
and communities.

387
00:12:57,409 --> 00:12:59,179
The President will address
the Americans who have

388
00:12:59,178 --> 00:13:00,778
been waiting for help from
their leaders for too

389
00:13:00,779 --> 00:13:02,549
long, and let them know
that help is

390
00:13:02,548 --> 00:13:04,018
finally on the way.

391
00:13:04,016 --> 00:13:05,586
With respect to the
speech, we will be having

392
00:13:05,584 --> 00:13:07,724
a background briefing
sometime this evening here

393
00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:08,450
in the briefing room.

394
00:13:08,454 --> 00:13:11,224
We will provide additional
details later

395
00:13:11,223 --> 00:13:12,263
in the afternoon.

396
00:13:12,258 --> 00:13:14,058
As you might already know,
the Department of Defense

397
00:13:14,059 --> 00:13:16,299
presented its preliminary
plan to the White House

398
00:13:16,295 --> 00:13:17,425
today to defeat ISIS.

399
00:13:17,429 --> 00:13:19,899
This plan has been
delivered by Secretary

400
00:13:19,899 --> 00:13:22,669
Mattis, who is currently
briefing the principals on

401
00:13:22,668 --> 00:13:24,968
the option presented today
in seeking their

402
00:13:24,970 --> 00:13:26,810
input and feedback.

403
00:13:26,805 --> 00:13:28,545
Finally, I wanted to note
the President continues to

404
00:13:28,541 --> 00:13:31,481
be deeply disappointed and
concerned by the reports

405
00:13:31,477 --> 00:13:34,847
of further vandalism at
Jewish community -- Jewish

406
00:13:34,847 --> 00:13:35,717
cemeteries, rather.

407
00:13:35,714 --> 00:13:38,254
The cowardly destruction
in Philadelphia this

408
00:13:38,250 --> 00:13:40,390
weekend comes on top of
similar accounts from

409
00:13:40,386 --> 00:13:42,556
Missouri and threats
made to Jewish community

410
00:13:42,555 --> 00:13:43,955
centers around
the country.

411
00:13:43,956 --> 00:13:46,456
The President continues
to condemn these and any

412
00:13:46,458 --> 00:13:49,198
other form of anti-Semitic
and hateful acts in the

413
00:13:49,195 --> 00:13:50,595
strongest terms.

414
00:13:50,596 --> 00:13:52,366
From our country's
founding, we've been

415
00:13:52,364 --> 00:13:53,934
dedicated to protecting
the freedom of our

416
00:13:53,933 --> 00:13:55,733
citizens' rights
to worship.

417
00:13:55,734 --> 00:13:57,904
No one in America should
feel afraid to follow the

418
00:13:57,903 --> 00:14:01,073
religion of their choosing
freely and openly.

419
00:14:01,073 --> 00:14:02,773
The President is dedicated
to preserving this

420
00:14:02,775 --> 00:14:04,915
originating principle
of our nation.

421
00:14:04,910 --> 00:14:06,250
And while we're at it, I
don't want to get ahead of

422
00:14:06,245 --> 00:14:08,445
the law enforcement, but
I was asked the other day

423
00:14:08,447 --> 00:14:11,847
about the story in Kansas
-- the shooting in Kansas.

424
00:14:11,850 --> 00:14:14,490
And while the story is
evolving, early reports

425
00:14:14,486 --> 00:14:16,726
out of Kansas are
equally disturbing.

426
00:14:16,722 --> 00:14:19,092
So with that, I'll be glad
to take your questions. Jon.

427
00:14:19,091 --> 00:14:22,331
The Press: Sean, there's a
report this morning that

428
00:14:22,328 --> 00:14:27,598
you reached out directly
to CIA Director Pompeo.

429
00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,200
Did you directly contact
Director Pompeo and ask

430
00:14:30,202 --> 00:14:32,602
him to knock down the New
York Times story on the

431
00:14:32,605 --> 00:14:33,275
Russia connection?

432
00:14:33,272 --> 00:14:33,972
Mr Spicer: Thanks, Jon.

433
00:14:33,973 --> 00:14:36,643
Let me kind of, if I may,
walk through the

434
00:14:36,642 --> 00:14:37,312
entire timeline.

435
00:14:37,309 --> 00:14:38,079
I think it's important.

436
00:14:38,077 --> 00:14:40,947
As I mentioned I think a
week ago, the New York

437
00:14:40,946 --> 00:14:42,846
Times published a story
about what they called

438
00:14:42,848 --> 00:14:46,248
"contacts" between members
of the Trump campaign and

439
00:14:46,252 --> 00:14:48,252
Russian officials.

440
00:14:48,254 --> 00:14:50,524
The FBI deputy director
was at a meeting here at

441
00:14:50,522 --> 00:14:52,062
the White House
that morning.

442
00:14:52,057 --> 00:14:54,697
After the meeting
concluded, he asked the

443
00:14:54,693 --> 00:14:56,393
chief of staff to stand
back a second, he wanted

444
00:14:56,395 --> 00:14:59,195
to tell him that the
report in the New York

445
00:14:59,198 --> 00:15:01,368
Times was "BS."

446
00:15:01,367 --> 00:15:03,267
For viewers at home, I
think you can pretty much

447
00:15:03,269 --> 00:15:05,869
figure what that means,
but I'll leave it at that.

448
00:15:05,871 --> 00:15:08,071
At that time, the chief of
staff said, thank you for

449
00:15:08,073 --> 00:15:10,743
sharing that with me, can
we let other people know

450
00:15:10,743 --> 00:15:12,613
that the story
is not accurate.

451
00:15:12,611 --> 00:15:14,311
Throughout the day, they
went back and forth to see

452
00:15:14,313 --> 00:15:15,753
what they thought
was appropriate.

453
00:15:15,748 --> 00:15:19,188
Finally, came to the
conclusion that they did

454
00:15:19,184 --> 00:15:21,354
not want to get in the
process of knocking down

455
00:15:21,353 --> 00:15:23,993
every story that
they had issues with.

456
00:15:23,989 --> 00:15:26,559
They then -- we then were
informed that other people

457
00:15:26,558 --> 00:15:28,728
had come to the same
conclusions, including --

458
00:15:28,727 --> 00:15:31,127
at that time, Chairman
Devin Nunes had told us,

459
00:15:31,130 --> 00:15:32,460
hey, I've been knocking
this down,

460
00:15:32,464 --> 00:15:33,904
telling reporters.

461
00:15:33,899 --> 00:15:37,669
We shared a number with
him of a reporter that had

462
00:15:37,670 --> 00:15:39,000
contacted us.

463
00:15:39,004 --> 00:15:40,944
And again, when the
reporters contact us and

464
00:15:40,939 --> 00:15:42,279
we said, no, that's not
-- to the best of our

465
00:15:42,274 --> 00:15:44,544
knowledge that's not true,
they were asking us, can

466
00:15:44,543 --> 00:15:46,713
you point to -anybody else
that can

467
00:15:46,712 --> 00:15:48,252
substantiate this?

468
00:15:48,247 --> 00:15:51,217
And I think we did a good
job of saying, sure, we

469
00:15:51,216 --> 00:15:53,616
will share with reporters
other people who have come

470
00:15:53,619 --> 00:15:55,059
to the same conclusion.

471
00:15:55,054 --> 00:15:56,624
So I won't go into
the specifics.

472
00:15:56,622 --> 00:15:59,422
I will say that I think
we did our job very

473
00:15:59,425 --> 00:16:02,295
effectively by making sure
that reporters who had had

474
00:16:02,294 --> 00:16:05,164
questions about the
accuracy and the claims

475
00:16:05,164 --> 00:16:07,064
made in The New York
Times, that we were

476
00:16:07,066 --> 00:16:09,566
pointing them to
subject-matter experts who

477
00:16:09,568 --> 00:16:11,808
understood whether or not
that story was

478
00:16:11,804 --> 00:16:13,004
accurate or not.

479
00:16:13,005 --> 00:16:14,875
And I think just to
continue to be very, very

480
00:16:14,873 --> 00:16:19,143
clear on this -- it was
about the accuracy of the

481
00:16:19,144 --> 00:16:21,384
reporting and the claims
that were made in there,

482
00:16:21,380 --> 00:16:23,220
plain and simple -- about
whether or not a story

483
00:16:23,215 --> 00:16:25,285
that appeared in The New
York Times was accurate.

484
00:16:25,284 --> 00:16:27,154
And individual after
individual continued to

485
00:16:27,152 --> 00:16:29,292
say that, as far as they
knew, they weren't.

486
00:16:29,288 --> 00:16:31,388
I think most of you
probably saw Chairman

487
00:16:31,390 --> 00:16:33,190
Nunes's comments
this morning.

488
00:16:33,192 --> 00:16:36,032
He was very clear, number
one, that he reached out

489
00:16:36,028 --> 00:16:40,098
to us to say, I've been
telling people, reporters,

490
00:16:40,099 --> 00:16:42,939
that these allegations and
descriptions in The New

491
00:16:42,935 --> 00:16:44,675
York Times are
not accurate.

492
00:16:44,670 --> 00:16:46,610
And then we shared that
information with him.

493
00:16:46,605 --> 00:16:50,205
But he came to us to share
that he equally had that

494
00:16:50,209 --> 00:16:53,349
issue brought up to him,
he was briefed and saw "no

495
00:16:53,345 --> 00:16:55,145
evidence" that the
story was accurate.

496
00:16:55,147 --> 00:17:00,987
So the answer is, we
have continued to give

497
00:17:00,986 --> 00:17:05,226
reporters information and
sources that went to the

498
00:17:05,224 --> 00:17:07,694
accuracy, or lack thereof,
of a report that

499
00:17:07,693 --> 00:17:08,393
was in a newspaper.

500
00:17:08,394 --> 00:17:12,634
And I think Chairman Nunes
also equally said it's

501
00:17:12,631 --> 00:17:15,371
interesting how we
literally were engaging

502
00:17:15,367 --> 00:17:17,407
with the press, saying, if
you have a question about

503
00:17:17,403 --> 00:17:19,773
the sourcing on this --
obviously, when brought to

504
00:17:19,772 --> 00:17:22,472
our attention, we said,
it's not accurate as we

505
00:17:22,474 --> 00:17:25,244
know, but then most of you
and your colleagues who

506
00:17:25,244 --> 00:17:27,244
had inquired would say,
well, that's great, I'm

507
00:17:27,246 --> 00:17:28,576
sure you're saying
this, but who else can

508
00:17:28,580 --> 00:17:29,850
corroborate this?

509
00:17:29,848 --> 00:17:33,188
So our job was to continue
to -- when informed --

510
00:17:33,185 --> 00:17:36,255
share sources who had
equally come to the same

511
00:17:36,255 --> 00:17:38,425
conclusion that the Times
story was not accurate.

512
00:17:38,424 --> 00:17:41,264
The Press: You don't think
there's something strange

513
00:17:41,260 --> 00:17:42,800
about -- something odd
about the White House

514
00:17:42,795 --> 00:17:44,865
Press Secretary getting
the CIA director on the

515
00:17:44,863 --> 00:17:47,403
phone to knock down
a story about an

516
00:17:47,399 --> 00:17:48,269
investigation?

517
00:17:48,267 --> 00:17:50,037
Mr Spicer: No, no, but
see, respectfully, you're

518
00:17:50,035 --> 00:17:52,905
using words like "knock
down." There was a story

519
00:17:52,905 --> 00:17:54,975
in a newspaper -- The
Press: Was it disputed?

520
00:17:54,973 --> 00:17:55,643
Mr Spicer: Hold on.

521
00:17:55,641 --> 00:17:58,141
No, no -- there was
reporters coming to us

522
00:17:58,143 --> 00:18:00,743
saying, there is a story
out there, what's your

523
00:18:00,746 --> 00:18:01,416
take on it?

524
00:18:01,413 --> 00:18:02,913
And our answer was,
we don't believe it's

525
00:18:02,915 --> 00:18:04,555
accurate, we don't* [do]
believe it's false.

526
00:18:04,550 --> 00:18:06,520
But obviously that's
our take on it.

527
00:18:06,518 --> 00:18:09,158
And reporters were saying
to us, well, is there

528
00:18:09,154 --> 00:18:12,094
anybody that you can point
to to substantiate

529
00:18:12,090 --> 00:18:12,860
this claim?

530
00:18:12,858 --> 00:18:15,528
Now, remember, this all
started with the FBI

531
00:18:15,527 --> 00:18:19,397
coming to us, bringing to
our attention, saying that

532
00:18:19,398 --> 00:18:22,438
the story in the Times was
not accurate -- in fact,

533
00:18:22,434 --> 00:18:25,604
it was BS -- and all we
did was simply say, that's

534
00:18:25,604 --> 00:18:28,274
great, could you tell
other reporters the same

535
00:18:28,273 --> 00:18:29,913
thing you're telling us?

536
00:18:29,908 --> 00:18:31,978
And I would think that
other reporters, yourself

537
00:18:31,977 --> 00:18:34,047
included, would think that
that would be a helpful

538
00:18:34,046 --> 00:18:36,246
thing to get the
story straight.

539
00:18:36,248 --> 00:18:38,988
All we sought to do was to
actually get an

540
00:18:38,984 --> 00:18:40,384
accurate report out.

541
00:18:40,385 --> 00:18:42,125
And again, I think
Chairman Nunes this

542
00:18:42,120 --> 00:18:46,160
morning, over and over and
over and over again, made

543
00:18:46,158 --> 00:18:48,098
it very clear that no
evidence that has been

544
00:18:48,093 --> 00:18:50,063
brought to his attention
suggests that that

545
00:18:50,062 --> 00:18:51,462
reporting was accurate.

546
00:18:51,463 --> 00:18:56,103
So, respectfully, I think
it's interesting that I'm

547
00:18:56,101 --> 00:18:58,101
being asked what's
appropriate when what

548
00:18:58,103 --> 00:19:01,243
we're doing is actually
urging reporters to engage

549
00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:03,140
with subject-matter
experts who can

550
00:19:03,141 --> 00:19:04,981
corroborate whether or not

551
00:19:04,977 --> 00:19:06,047
something is accurate or not.

552
00:19:06,044 --> 00:19:07,914
The Press: Should there
be a special prosecutor?

553
00:19:07,913 --> 00:19:09,713
Darrell Issa has called
for a special prosecutor

554
00:19:09,715 --> 00:19:10,385
to look into this.

555
00:19:10,382 --> 00:19:11,822
Mr Spicer: And I guess
my question would be, a

556
00:19:11,817 --> 00:19:13,187
special prosecutor
for what?

557
00:19:13,185 --> 00:19:14,525
The Press: To look
into the whole Russia

558
00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:15,850
connection, the whole
Russia influencing -- Mr

559
00:19:15,854 --> 00:19:16,684
Spicer: And here's
my -- right.

560
00:19:16,688 --> 00:19:18,358
And I guess my -- The
Press: I mean, he was part

561
00:19:18,357 --> 00:19:20,327
of the campaign, so -- I
mean, Sessions was part of

562
00:19:20,325 --> 00:19:22,395
the campaign, the
Attorney General.

563
00:19:22,394 --> 00:19:23,094
Mr Spicer: I understand.

564
00:19:23,095 --> 00:19:24,465
But here's my question,
Jonathan: We have now for

565
00:19:24,463 --> 00:19:28,003
six months heard story
after story come out about

566
00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,800
unnamed sources say the
same thing over and over

567
00:19:30,802 --> 00:19:34,602
again, and nothing has
come of it, right?

568
00:19:34,606 --> 00:19:36,176
We've heard the same
people, the same

569
00:19:36,174 --> 00:19:37,774
anecdotes, and we've heard

570
00:19:37,776 --> 00:19:39,316
reports over and over again.

571
00:19:39,311 --> 00:19:42,351
And as Chairman Nunes made
very clear today, he has

572
00:19:42,347 --> 00:19:44,287
seen nothing that
corroborates that.

573
00:19:44,283 --> 00:19:46,223
So at what point -- you
got to ask yourself, what

574
00:19:46,218 --> 00:19:48,018
are you investigating?

575
00:19:48,020 --> 00:19:49,350
The Press: Well, Russian
interference -- I mean,

576
00:19:49,354 --> 00:19:50,024
beyond the context.

577
00:19:50,022 --> 00:19:51,492
Mr Spicer: No, and I think
that both the House and

578
00:19:51,490 --> 00:19:52,490
the Senate have
looked at it.

579
00:19:52,491 --> 00:19:54,231
You know as well as I do
that the intelligence

580
00:19:54,226 --> 00:19:55,966
community has looked
at it as well.

581
00:19:55,961 --> 00:19:56,631
There's a big difference.

582
00:19:56,628 --> 00:19:59,928
I think that Russia's
involvement in activity

583
00:19:59,932 --> 00:20:02,102
has been investigated
up and down.

584
00:20:02,100 --> 00:20:04,140
So the question becomes
at some point, if there's

585
00:20:04,136 --> 00:20:05,976
nothing to further
investigate, what are you

586
00:20:05,971 --> 00:20:08,011
asking people
to investigate?

587
00:20:08,006 --> 00:20:10,506
I mean, Chairman Nunes
spoke very clearly today

588
00:20:10,509 --> 00:20:13,909
when asked over and over
and over again about all

589
00:20:13,912 --> 00:20:16,452
of this, and said that
he has seen nothing that

590
00:20:16,448 --> 00:20:18,418
leads him to believe
that there's there.

591
00:20:18,417 --> 00:20:20,957
The President has spoken
forcefully time and time

592
00:20:20,953 --> 00:20:22,383
again that he has no
interests in Russia, he

593
00:20:22,387 --> 00:20:25,757
hasn't talked to people in
Russia in years, and yet

594
00:20:25,757 --> 00:20:27,557
you keep asking --
and when I say "you,"

595
00:20:27,559 --> 00:20:30,399
collectively -- to try
to find something that

596
00:20:30,395 --> 00:20:33,865
seemingly, at least the
reporting that I'm seeing

597
00:20:33,865 --> 00:20:37,565
in different
organizations, suggests

598
00:20:37,569 --> 00:20:40,739
that there's nothing new
that's being reported.

599
00:20:40,739 --> 00:20:42,539
It's the same stuff over
and over again that we've

600
00:20:42,541 --> 00:20:44,381
heard for literally
six months.

601
00:20:44,376 --> 00:20:46,276
And so the question
becomes at some point,

602
00:20:46,278 --> 00:20:47,978
what do you need to
further investigate if

603
00:20:47,980 --> 00:20:49,380
there is nothing
that has come out?

604
00:20:49,381 --> 00:20:51,721
The Press: Can you not
categorically deny there

605
00:20:51,717 --> 00:20:53,787
were no contacts between
the Russians and anybody

606
00:20:53,785 --> 00:20:54,515
on the campaign?

607
00:20:54,519 --> 00:20:55,859
Mr Spicer: I can't deny
-- I can't -- I guess my

608
00:20:55,854 --> 00:20:57,194
question is -- The
Press: That's what the

609
00:20:57,189 --> 00:20:57,859
investigation
would look at.

610
00:20:57,856 --> 00:20:58,686
Mr Spicer: Right.

611
00:20:58,690 --> 00:21:01,990
And I guess my point is,
is that you've had the

612
00:21:01,994 --> 00:21:04,334
intelligence community
look at Russia's

613
00:21:04,329 --> 00:21:06,069
involvement in
the election.

614
00:21:06,064 --> 00:21:09,034
You had the House and
Senate both do the same.

615
00:21:09,034 --> 00:21:11,774
And so what I'm trying to
ascertain is that at what

616
00:21:11,770 --> 00:21:14,310
point -- how many people
have to say that there's

617
00:21:14,306 --> 00:21:15,306
nothing there before you

618
00:21:15,307 --> 00:21:17,377
realize there's nothing there?

619
00:21:17,376 --> 00:21:19,646
I can't say unequivocally
-- all I'm saying is, the

620
00:21:19,645 --> 00:21:22,945
people who have done the
investigating about Russia

621
00:21:22,948 --> 00:21:25,188
overall and its activities
in the United States,

622
00:21:25,183 --> 00:21:28,253
specifically now with
respect to our election,

623
00:21:28,253 --> 00:21:31,353
haven't provided anything
that leads me to believe

624
00:21:31,356 --> 00:21:33,326
or should lead you to
believe -- and I continue

625
00:21:33,325 --> 00:21:35,225
to see reports coming
from -- there were media

626
00:21:35,227 --> 00:21:36,897
sources saying when they
checked in with law

627
00:21:36,895 --> 00:21:38,365
enforcement, or
intelligence community

628
00:21:38,363 --> 00:21:41,303
sources, there's nothing
more than has been

629
00:21:41,299 --> 00:21:43,869
previously reported
over and over again.

630
00:21:43,869 --> 00:21:46,309
So, at some point, you do
have to ask yourself, what

631
00:21:46,304 --> 00:21:48,074
are you actually
looking for?

632
00:21:48,073 --> 00:21:49,613
How many times do you
have to come to the same

633
00:21:49,608 --> 00:21:52,578
conclusion before
you take the answer?

634
00:21:52,577 --> 00:21:53,977
And that's
where I -- Mara.

635
00:21:53,979 --> 00:21:56,449
The Press: Just to be
clear, did you -- just to

636
00:21:56,448 --> 00:21:58,218
follow up on that, did you
personally reach

637
00:21:58,216 --> 00:21:58,886
out to Pompeo?

638
00:21:58,884 --> 00:22:00,424
Mr Spicer: I'm not going
to discuss what

639
00:22:00,419 --> 00:22:01,149
we did internally.

640
00:22:01,153 --> 00:22:04,193
I'm just going to say that
when we shared -- we did

641
00:22:04,189 --> 00:22:07,029
our job about making sure
that when people had --

642
00:22:07,025 --> 00:22:09,425
reporters had questions,
we let them know what

643
00:22:09,428 --> 00:22:13,128
subject-matter experts
were available to discuss

644
00:22:13,131 --> 00:22:14,631
the accuracy of the
newspaper story. Mara.

645
00:22:14,633 --> 00:22:16,403
The Press: Yeah, I'm sure
people will come back to

646
00:22:16,401 --> 00:22:19,071
this, but I actually have
a budget question, which

647
00:22:19,071 --> 00:22:22,311
is: During the campaign,
the President said he was

648
00:22:22,307 --> 00:22:25,207
not going to touch
Medicare or Social Security.

649
00:22:25,210 --> 00:22:27,010
His Treasury Secretary
repeated that.

650
00:22:27,012 --> 00:22:29,512
It sounded like the OMB
Director was leaving that

651
00:22:29,514 --> 00:22:31,114
as an open question, TBD.

652
00:22:31,116 --> 00:22:34,086
I'm just wondering, what's
the state of the promise?

653
00:22:34,086 --> 00:22:37,486
That we won't touch it for
current retirees -- Mr

654
00:22:37,489 --> 00:22:39,789
Spicer: What the OMB
Director made clear

655
00:22:39,791 --> 00:22:40,621
is how it works.

656
00:22:40,625 --> 00:22:42,265
The budget is dealing with
the topline

657
00:22:42,260 --> 00:22:43,460
discretionary numbers.

658
00:22:43,462 --> 00:22:46,402
Policy decisions are
not part of the budget.

659
00:22:46,398 --> 00:22:49,138
That was what he was being
asked and what he -- so I

660
00:22:49,134 --> 00:22:50,804
just want to be clear in
terms of what it was.

661
00:22:50,802 --> 00:22:51,502
And again, I think --

662
00:22:51,503 --> 00:22:52,843
The Press: -- the state of the promise.

663
00:22:52,838 --> 00:22:54,168
In other words what
is the promise.

664
00:22:54,172 --> 00:22:54,842
Mr Spicer: Right.

665
00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:56,170
And I think the state of
the promise is clear.

666
00:22:56,174 --> 00:22:57,574
And I think, as you point
out, he had made the

667
00:22:57,576 --> 00:22:59,346
promise, he stands
by the promise.

668
00:22:59,344 --> 00:23:00,944
The Treasury Secretary --
The Press: But what

669
00:23:00,946 --> 00:23:01,616
is the promise?

670
00:23:01,613 --> 00:23:02,913
Current retirees?

671
00:23:02,914 --> 00:23:03,484
People near retirement? Anybody paying into --

672
00:23:03,482 --> 00:23:04,112
Mr Spicer: I will follow up

673
00:23:04,116 --> 00:23:05,086
specifically on that.

674
00:23:05,083 --> 00:23:07,423
But I think the President
has made very clear that

675
00:23:07,419 --> 00:23:10,389
it's not his intent to do
-- he wants to focus on

676
00:23:10,388 --> 00:23:13,228
the discretionary side;
that entitlement reform is

677
00:23:13,225 --> 00:23:15,295
not -- that, with respect
to those programs that he

678
00:23:15,293 --> 00:23:17,563
mentioned, he
stands by his word. Fred.

679
00:23:17,562 --> 00:23:23,802
The Press: I wanted to
ask a couple issues.

680
00:23:23,802 --> 00:23:26,342
An executive order on
religious freedom had

681
00:23:26,338 --> 00:23:28,408
previously been
in the works.

682
00:23:28,406 --> 00:23:30,146
Will that still come?

683
00:23:30,142 --> 00:23:32,482
And if it does, will it
extend beyond

684
00:23:32,477 --> 00:23:33,207
religious freedom?

685
00:23:33,211 --> 00:23:35,451
Mr Spicer: I'm
sorry, Fred, what?

686
00:23:35,447 --> 00:23:38,017
The Press: Will it extend
beyond the

687
00:23:38,016 --> 00:23:38,746
Johnson Amendment?

688
00:23:38,750 --> 00:23:41,720
Mr Spicer: I think we've
discussed executive orders

689
00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:44,020
in the past, and for the
most part we're not going

690
00:23:44,022 --> 00:23:46,722
to get into discussing
what may or may not come

691
00:23:46,725 --> 00:23:48,055
until we're ready
to announce it.

692
00:23:48,059 --> 00:23:50,199
So I'm sure as we move
forward

693
00:23:50,195 --> 00:23:51,295
we'll have something.

694
00:23:51,296 --> 00:23:51,966
Olivier.

695
00:23:51,963 --> 00:23:53,133
The Press: Thanks, Sean.

696
00:23:53,131 --> 00:23:55,671
The Press: I'm
sorry, just one more.

697
00:23:55,667 --> 00:23:57,867
The issue of
types of reforms.

698
00:23:57,869 --> 00:24:00,769
Will there be -- how
committed is the

699
00:24:00,772 --> 00:24:02,972
administration to a
border adjustment tax?

700
00:24:02,974 --> 00:24:06,614
And is there any concern
that there won't be enough

701
00:24:06,611 --> 00:24:09,551
conservative support for
that; that it could block

702
00:24:09,548 --> 00:24:11,348
any meaningful tax
reform long-term?

703
00:24:11,349 --> 00:24:13,389
Mr Spicer: Well, I'm not
going to get into the

704
00:24:13,385 --> 00:24:15,255
specifics of tax
reform today.

705
00:24:15,253 --> 00:24:17,793
The President has made
clear that we'll have an

706
00:24:17,789 --> 00:24:19,529
outline of the
plan very soon.

707
00:24:19,524 --> 00:24:21,594
But what I will say is
that I think he has talked

708
00:24:21,593 --> 00:24:24,893
about the concerns that
he has with current

709
00:24:24,896 --> 00:24:28,266
regulatory and tax policy
that benefit people from

710
00:24:28,266 --> 00:24:30,336
moving out of the country
and shipping jobs -- or

711
00:24:30,335 --> 00:24:33,375
products back in while
shedding American workers.

712
00:24:33,371 --> 00:24:36,711
He will continue to fight
for policies that promote

713
00:24:36,708 --> 00:24:38,908
manufacturing and job
creation in the United

714
00:24:38,910 --> 00:24:41,250
States, and supports
American workers.

715
00:24:41,246 --> 00:24:43,416
So I don't want to get
ahead of the exact

716
00:24:43,415 --> 00:24:44,185
nature of the policy.

717
00:24:44,182 --> 00:24:45,982
He has been seeking
a lot of input.

718
00:24:45,984 --> 00:24:48,254
As I mentioned earlier,
he's going to talk today

719
00:24:48,253 --> 00:24:51,053
with Speaker Ryan and
Senator McConnell.

720
00:24:51,056 --> 00:24:54,526
I know that both the joint
session, the status of

721
00:24:54,526 --> 00:24:56,726
repeal and replace, and
I'm sure some discussion

722
00:24:56,728 --> 00:24:58,298
of tax reform will
probably come up.

723
00:24:58,296 --> 00:25:00,766
But there's a lot -- we're
continuing to move forward

724
00:25:00,765 --> 00:25:01,435
and work with them.

725
00:25:01,433 --> 00:25:02,103
Olivier.

726
00:25:02,100 --> 00:25:02,770
The Press: Thanks.

727
00:25:02,767 --> 00:25:03,467
A couple on the
ISIS strategy.

728
00:25:03,468 --> 00:25:06,268
Can you just get to the
timetable from now, now

729
00:25:06,271 --> 00:25:07,911
that you received
it -- what happens?

730
00:25:07,906 --> 00:25:09,876
And there's a report that
you're asking for $30

731
00:25:09,875 --> 00:25:12,245
billion in emergency
defense spending on top of

732
00:25:12,244 --> 00:25:14,014
the $54 [billion]
in the budget.

733
00:25:14,012 --> 00:25:14,912
Is that true?

734
00:25:14,913 --> 00:25:16,983
Does that cover the
new ISIS strategy?

735
00:25:16,982 --> 00:25:19,352
Can you explain what's
different between the two?

736
00:25:19,351 --> 00:25:20,551
Mr Spicer: Thank you.

737
00:25:20,552 --> 00:25:22,622
Right now, literally, that
principals meeting -- or

738
00:25:22,621 --> 00:25:25,021
principals meeting that I
mentioned at the beginning

739
00:25:25,023 --> 00:25:26,153
is happening as we speak.

740
00:25:26,157 --> 00:25:29,057
So Secretary Mattis was
coming over to brief the

741
00:25:29,060 --> 00:25:32,000
principals as far
as the ISIS plan.

742
00:25:31,997 --> 00:25:35,797
And again, part of it was
to make sure that he fully

743
00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:37,440
discusses the
recommendations that he's

744
00:25:37,435 --> 00:25:40,335
making and seek the input
and feedback of the other

745
00:25:40,338 --> 00:25:41,808
principals downstairs.

746
00:25:41,806 --> 00:25:44,346
That can help guide where
we go from here,

747
00:25:44,342 --> 00:25:45,482
how we go.

748
00:25:45,477 --> 00:25:47,917
With respect to the
funding, I think Director

749
00:25:47,913 --> 00:25:49,713
Mulvaney noted that there
will be a supplemental

750
00:25:49,714 --> 00:25:50,654
at some point.

751
00:25:50,649 --> 00:25:52,249
Right now the focus is on
the budget, and then

752
00:25:52,250 --> 00:25:53,180
we'll go from there.

753
00:25:53,184 --> 00:25:53,854
John Gizzi.

754
00:25:53,852 --> 00:25:55,592
The Press:
Thank you, Sean.

755
00:25:55,587 --> 00:25:56,687
Two brief questions.

756
00:25:56,688 --> 00:25:59,688
First, I read your
statement at the Thursday

757
00:25:59,691 --> 00:26:01,931
briefing to Governor
Malloy of Connecticut

758
00:26:01,927 --> 00:26:03,427
during the NGA meeting.

759
00:26:03,428 --> 00:26:06,998
And he responded -- and I
quote -- "Sean didn't read

760
00:26:06,998 --> 00:26:10,298
a thing that I said."
He said that he -- in

761
00:26:10,302 --> 00:26:12,902
Connecticut, they are
already working to get

762
00:26:12,904 --> 00:26:15,904
criminals who are in the
country illegally out.

763
00:26:15,907 --> 00:26:19,247
His objection was to going
into warming centers or

764
00:26:19,244 --> 00:26:21,484
schools where officials
might frighten children.

765
00:26:21,479 --> 00:26:24,079
Your response to the
Governor on that?

766
00:26:24,082 --> 00:26:26,822
Mr Spicer: Well, again,
I was asked specifically

767
00:26:26,818 --> 00:26:28,958
what his stance -- what
the comments were with

768
00:26:28,954 --> 00:26:30,154
respect to
sanctuary cities.

769
00:26:30,155 --> 00:26:32,695
And again, I would
reiterate, with all due

770
00:26:32,691 --> 00:26:34,861
respect to the Governor,
I'm not here to pick a

771
00:26:34,859 --> 00:26:35,899
fight with the Governor.

772
00:26:35,894 --> 00:26:37,594
I enjoyed my time going
to school in the

773
00:26:37,595 --> 00:26:38,495
state of Connecticut.

774
00:26:38,496 --> 00:26:41,396
I have a kind affection
of the Nutmeg State.

775
00:26:41,399 --> 00:26:44,399
But the reality is, I
think that there's

776
00:26:44,402 --> 00:26:45,132
a difference.

777
00:26:45,136 --> 00:26:47,306
Whether or not what he
wants to do is state

778
00:26:47,305 --> 00:26:50,545
funds, maybe -- without
knowing the exact nature

779
00:26:50,542 --> 00:26:53,312
of how he's funding,
what he's funding,

780
00:26:53,311 --> 00:26:54,141
it's difficult.

781
00:26:54,145 --> 00:26:57,015
The question I was asked
at the time was on how we

782
00:26:57,015 --> 00:26:58,015
would be handling it.

783
00:26:58,016 --> 00:26:59,756
And I think the answer,
whether it's Connecticut

784
00:26:59,751 --> 00:27:02,491
or California, is that
the President's executive

785
00:27:02,487 --> 00:27:05,687
order and the President's
commitment is to make sure

786
00:27:05,690 --> 00:27:09,160
that tax dollars are not
used to support programs

787
00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:10,700
that are helping people
who are not in the country

788
00:27:10,695 --> 00:27:13,295
legally and who are not
citizens entitled to them.

789
00:27:13,298 --> 00:27:15,738
The Press: One more
question, Sean.

790
00:27:15,734 --> 00:27:16,904
Mr Spicer: Okay.

791
00:27:16,901 --> 00:27:17,701
Starting early.

792
00:27:17,702 --> 00:27:18,372
(Laughter.)

793
00:27:18,370 --> 00:27:20,440
The Press: For 58 years, when

794
00:27:20,438 --> 00:27:23,578
Presidents have gone to
Rome, they've always met

795
00:27:23,575 --> 00:27:26,715
the Pope, going back to
when President Eisenhower

796
00:27:26,711 --> 00:27:28,251
met Pope John XXIII.

797
00:27:28,246 --> 00:27:31,786
Now, one year ago this
week, candidate Trump had

798
00:27:31,783 --> 00:27:34,523
a disagreement with this
Pope and an

799
00:27:34,519 --> 00:27:35,589
exchange of words.

800
00:27:35,587 --> 00:27:38,087
When he goes to Rome in
May for his first European

801
00:27:38,089 --> 00:27:40,289
trip, will he meet
with this Pope?

802
00:27:40,291 --> 00:27:42,031
Mr Spicer: That's
a great question.

803
00:27:42,027 --> 00:27:45,197
Obviously, I would be
a huge fan of that.

804
00:27:45,196 --> 00:27:48,636
But I'm not going to -- I
don't think we're at that

805
00:27:48,633 --> 00:27:50,673
place in the planning
process to make an

806
00:27:50,668 --> 00:27:53,208
announcement on any
visits with the Pope. Blake.

807
00:27:53,204 --> 00:27:55,244
The Press:
Sean, thank you.

808
00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:58,110
Two budget questions,
if you don't mind.

809
00:27:58,109 --> 00:28:01,179
Mr. Mulvaney, I believe,
just said that what the

810
00:28:01,179 --> 00:28:03,019
administration plans on
putting forward doesn't

811
00:28:03,014 --> 00:28:05,914
add to the current deficit
projection, which the CBO

812
00:28:05,917 --> 00:28:07,617
says is about
$560 billion.

813
00:28:07,619 --> 00:28:10,689
But he didn't say that it
would significantly draw

814
00:28:10,688 --> 00:28:11,688
from that either.

815
00:28:11,689 --> 00:28:14,429
So my first question is,
is the administration

816
00:28:14,426 --> 00:28:16,126
comfortable putting
something forward that

817
00:28:16,127 --> 00:28:18,827
might rack up deficits of
potentially hundreds of

818
00:28:18,830 --> 00:28:19,860
billions of dollars?

819
00:28:19,864 --> 00:28:22,404
Mr Spicer: Well, I
think -- I'm trying to

820
00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:23,840
understand the question a
little, if you can help me

821
00:28:23,835 --> 00:28:24,735
with this. Because he --

822
00:28:24,736 --> 00:28:26,336
The Press:
He said it wasn't going

823
00:28:26,337 --> 00:28:27,107
to add to it.

824
00:28:27,105 --> 00:28:27,775
Mr Spicer: Right.

825
00:28:27,772 --> 00:28:29,442
The Press: So my question
is, he didn't necessarily

826
00:28:29,441 --> 00:28:31,181
say it was going to
cut from it, either.

827
00:28:31,176 --> 00:28:33,146
If it doesn't cut from it,
potentially it could be

828
00:28:33,144 --> 00:28:34,484
hundreds of
billions in deficit.

829
00:28:34,479 --> 00:28:36,049
And I'm curious -- Mr
Spicer: Right, no, but I

830
00:28:36,047 --> 00:28:37,387
think -- correct me if
I'm wrong -- I mean, he

831
00:28:37,382 --> 00:28:39,722
basically made it very
clear it doesn't add to

832
00:28:39,717 --> 00:28:41,787
the projected
baseline deficit.

833
00:28:41,786 --> 00:28:44,686
So that continues
to be the goal.

834
00:28:44,689 --> 00:28:46,089
And I think as we continue
to work through this

835
00:28:46,091 --> 00:28:48,231
process, the passback, you
know, it can

836
00:28:48,226 --> 00:28:48,926
work both ways.

837
00:28:48,927 --> 00:28:51,827
We could identify further
savings and reductions

838
00:28:51,830 --> 00:28:54,300
through working with the
agencies and departments,

839
00:28:54,299 --> 00:28:56,099
but we're going to make
sure that the topline

840
00:28:56,101 --> 00:28:59,901
number we maintain is as
close to that as possible.

841
00:28:59,904 --> 00:29:01,904
And as we go through this
-- I mean, this is the

842
00:29:01,906 --> 00:29:03,906
beginning of the process
as the director noted.

843
00:29:03,908 --> 00:29:06,708
We send the number to the
department or the agency,

844
00:29:06,711 --> 00:29:08,611
give them some ideas, how
we came up with this, and

845
00:29:08,613 --> 00:29:12,813
then they come back to us
and either justify why a

846
00:29:12,817 --> 00:29:16,457
particular program or
office, or what have you,

847
00:29:16,454 --> 00:29:19,424
needs to stay in existence
or why maybe not the

848
00:29:19,424 --> 00:29:20,794
reduction that is offered.

849
00:29:20,792 --> 00:29:22,762
But it's a back-and-forth
process that will occur

850
00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:23,700
over the next few weeks.

851
00:29:23,695 --> 00:29:25,965
So to get ahead of
it is the problem.

852
00:29:25,964 --> 00:29:27,864
The Press: Let me ask you
what Nancy Pelosi -- to

853
00:29:27,866 --> 00:29:30,066
just get a quick reaction
to Nancy Pelosi.

854
00:29:30,068 --> 00:29:32,808
She put out a statement
and said the following:

855
00:29:32,804 --> 00:29:34,304
"Five weeks into his
administration, President

856
00:29:34,305 --> 00:29:37,405
Trump has not introduced
a single jobs bill." Your

857
00:29:37,408 --> 00:29:39,478
reaction to that
would be what?

858
00:29:39,477 --> 00:29:42,217
Mr Spicer: He's
created a lot of jobs.

859
00:29:42,213 --> 00:29:44,453
I think that's -- he's
continuing to work with

860
00:29:44,449 --> 00:29:47,819
Congress on both repealing
and replacing Obamacare,

861
00:29:47,819 --> 00:29:48,489
tax reform.

862
00:29:48,486 --> 00:29:51,356
And, fundamentally, both
of those two items alone I

863
00:29:51,356 --> 00:29:53,396
think can help spur a
lot of economic growth.

864
00:29:53,391 --> 00:29:57,901
The meetings that we've
had with the CEOs, the

865
00:29:57,896 --> 00:30:02,136
health insurers -- there
are so many things that

866
00:30:02,133 --> 00:30:05,103
are both job-killing and
that can be done to help

867
00:30:05,103 --> 00:30:08,043
promote a better
regulatory and tax climate

868
00:30:08,039 --> 00:30:09,779
that lead to job creation.

869
00:30:09,774 --> 00:30:12,114
I think that's one of the
biggest problems right now

870
00:30:12,110 --> 00:30:13,950
is that people in
Washington aren't

871
00:30:13,945 --> 00:30:16,645
necessarily talking to job
creators and saying, what

872
00:30:16,648 --> 00:30:19,188
is the impediment that
you have to hiring more

873
00:30:19,184 --> 00:30:19,914
American workers?

874
00:30:19,918 --> 00:30:21,588
What are the impediments
that you have to

875
00:30:21,586 --> 00:30:23,356
manufacturing more,
to building here?

876
00:30:23,354 --> 00:30:26,554
The meetings and the
actions that the President

877
00:30:26,558 --> 00:30:29,728
has taken on both
regulatory and other

878
00:30:29,727 --> 00:30:34,367
matters have helped
spur job creation.

879
00:30:34,365 --> 00:30:36,135
You've heard these
companies come in over and

880
00:30:36,134 --> 00:30:39,634
over again -- the
automakers, airlines,

881
00:30:39,637 --> 00:30:42,407
Sprint -- I mean, the list
goes on and on and on of

882
00:30:42,407 --> 00:30:44,077
people saying to the
President, because of your

883
00:30:44,075 --> 00:30:46,275
agenda, because of your
vision, we're willing to

884
00:30:46,277 --> 00:30:48,047
commit to hiring
additional people to

885
00:30:48,046 --> 00:30:49,916
manufacturing more.

886
00:30:49,914 --> 00:30:51,714
That's how jobs are
created -- it's not

887
00:30:51,716 --> 00:30:53,086
through the government.

888
00:30:53,084 --> 00:30:55,184
And too often, it's the
government regulations

889
00:30:55,186 --> 00:30:57,926
that stifle and
prevent job creation.

890
00:30:57,922 --> 00:31:00,362
And I think the President,
as a businessman, fully

891
00:31:00,358 --> 00:31:02,928
appreciates and
understands how this works

892
00:31:02,927 --> 00:31:06,067
and what some of those
impediments do to creating

893
00:31:06,064 --> 00:31:08,434
jobs and to growing
the economy.

894
00:31:08,433 --> 00:31:11,833
And so I would just say
that you haven't seen

895
00:31:11,836 --> 00:31:12,506
anything yet.

896
00:31:12,503 --> 00:31:13,843
It's going to continue
to be the case. Trey.

897
00:31:13,838 --> 00:31:14,668
The Press: Thanks, Sean.

898
00:31:14,672 --> 00:31:16,512
Is there concern in the
administration that a

899
00:31:16,507 --> 00:31:18,507
large-scale military
buildup will appear

900
00:31:18,509 --> 00:31:20,149
threatening to other
countries around the world

901
00:31:20,144 --> 00:31:22,484
and lead to some sort
of arms race with other

902
00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:23,150
countries?

903
00:31:23,147 --> 00:31:25,487
Mr Spicer: No, I think
when you look at the state

904
00:31:25,483 --> 00:31:27,383
of some of the
infrastructure in our

905
00:31:27,385 --> 00:31:29,055
military, whether it's the
age of our ships or our

906
00:31:29,053 --> 00:31:31,493
planes or some of the
other hardware that

907
00:31:31,489 --> 00:31:36,129
exists, you recognize that
we need to rebuild a lot

908
00:31:36,127 --> 00:31:37,057
of these things.

909
00:31:37,061 --> 00:31:40,531
The size of our Navy has
gone down significantly.

910
00:31:40,531 --> 00:31:42,901
And there are new needs
and new -- and when you

911
00:31:42,900 --> 00:31:45,840
look at the commitment
that you have to make not

912
00:31:45,837 --> 00:31:48,777
just in one year but in
several years, for a lot

913
00:31:48,773 --> 00:31:52,173
of these programs -- ships
and tanks, even weapons

914
00:31:52,176 --> 00:31:55,946
systems -- they don't get
built in a month or a day.

915
00:31:55,947 --> 00:31:58,787
You have to make a
commitment early on to

916
00:31:58,783 --> 00:32:00,583
make the investment
because of the time that

917
00:32:00,585 --> 00:32:03,125
it takes to procure
them, to build them, the

918
00:32:03,121 --> 00:32:04,451
research and development
that goes into it.

919
00:32:04,455 --> 00:32:06,725
And so I would just
suggest to you that this

920
00:32:06,724 --> 00:32:09,724
is the first step in
making sure we make the

921
00:32:09,727 --> 00:32:12,227
commitment to a military
that through, especially

922
00:32:12,230 --> 00:32:14,570
through the sequester the
last few years, has not

923
00:32:14,565 --> 00:32:16,265
gotten the funding it
needs to get

924
00:32:16,267 --> 00:32:16,937
off life support.

925
00:32:16,934 --> 00:32:19,334
There are a lot of things
that are being taken care

926
00:32:19,337 --> 00:32:21,977
of for the military where
they're just continuing to

927
00:32:21,973 --> 00:32:26,313
-- they're not putting the
systems and the projects

928
00:32:26,311 --> 00:32:29,011
in place to allow the
military to keep up with

929
00:32:29,013 --> 00:32:30,383
the times, and
that's a problem. Major.

930
00:32:30,381 --> 00:32:32,281
The Press: Sean, one
investigation question and

931
00:32:32,283 --> 00:32:33,053
one budget question.

932
00:32:33,051 --> 00:32:35,651
As you may be aware, Bill
Owens, the father of

933
00:32:35,653 --> 00:32:37,753
William "Ryan" Owens, gave
an interview with the

934
00:32:37,755 --> 00:32:39,995
Miami Herald over the
weekend and he said, "The

935
00:32:39,991 --> 00:32:42,531
government owes my son an
investigation." On behalf

936
00:32:42,527 --> 00:32:45,067
of the President of the
United States, is the

937
00:32:45,063 --> 00:32:47,033
President open to an
investigation to the

938
00:32:47,031 --> 00:32:47,861
raid in Yemen?

939
00:32:47,865 --> 00:32:50,405
And the father of Ryan
Owens called that a

940
00:32:50,401 --> 00:32:51,071
"stupid" mission.

941
00:32:51,069 --> 00:32:53,209
Is there something that
you'd like to communicate

942
00:32:53,204 --> 00:32:55,174
to him about that mission
that might

943
00:32:55,173 --> 00:32:56,003
persuade him otherwise?

944
00:32:56,007 --> 00:32:57,407
Mr Spicer:
Yeah, thank you.

945
00:32:57,408 --> 00:32:59,808
That's multi-part, so let
me kind of walk

946
00:32:59,811 --> 00:33:01,241
through it slowly.

947
00:33:01,245 --> 00:33:06,185
First of all, I can't
possibly imagine what he's

948
00:33:06,184 --> 00:33:09,754
going through in terms
of the loss of his son.

949
00:33:09,754 --> 00:33:12,524
I can tell him that on
behalf of the President,

950
00:33:12,523 --> 00:33:18,993
his son died a hero and
the information that he

951
00:33:18,996 --> 00:33:24,266
was able to help obtain
through that raid, as I've

952
00:33:24,268 --> 00:33:25,968
said before, is going
to safe American lives.

953
00:33:25,970 --> 00:33:27,870
It's going to protect
our country more.

954
00:33:27,872 --> 00:33:30,312
So he made a sacrifice
to this country.

955
00:33:30,308 --> 00:33:32,708
He was on his
12th deployment.

956
00:33:32,710 --> 00:33:35,110
And I know that his wife,
when she spoke to the

957
00:33:35,113 --> 00:33:38,613
President, knows that he
did this because he loved

958
00:33:38,616 --> 00:33:41,286
it, he cared
about our nation.

959
00:33:41,285 --> 00:33:44,455
And the mission was
successful in helping

960
00:33:44,455 --> 00:33:47,195
prevent a future attack or
attacks on this nation.

961
00:33:47,191 --> 00:33:51,161
It obtained a lot of
information that will

962
00:33:51,162 --> 00:33:53,462
help us keep safe.

963
00:33:53,464 --> 00:33:57,334
With respect to his
request, it is standard

964
00:33:57,335 --> 00:33:59,735
operating procedure for
the Department of Defense

965
00:33:59,737 --> 00:34:02,777
to undergo what they
call a 15-6 review.

966
00:34:02,774 --> 00:34:06,774
That review, in this
case, is three-pronged.

967
00:34:06,778 --> 00:34:08,478
Because there was a
fatality and a loss of

968
00:34:08,479 --> 00:34:10,749
life, there's that.

969
00:34:10,748 --> 00:34:12,348
Because there were
civilians involved,

970
00:34:12,350 --> 00:34:13,020
that's another.

971
00:34:13,017 --> 00:34:16,687
And then third is because
there was hardware -- a

972
00:34:16,687 --> 00:34:17,757
helicopter that
was damaged.

973
00:34:17,755 --> 00:34:19,425
That is a separate.

974
00:34:19,424 --> 00:34:23,964
So, in fact, there will be
three reviews done by the

975
00:34:23,961 --> 00:34:25,761
Department of Defense
because of the

976
00:34:25,763 --> 00:34:26,663
nature of this.

977
00:34:26,664 --> 00:34:33,104
But, again, I can't stress
enough that on behalf of

978
00:34:33,104 --> 00:34:37,574
the President, on behalf
of this nation, we express

979
00:34:37,575 --> 00:34:41,945
our condolences, extend
our prayers to him

980
00:34:41,946 --> 00:34:42,946
during this time.

981
00:34:42,947 --> 00:34:43,877
The Press: As you
said, that is

982
00:34:43,881 --> 00:34:44,681
standard procedure.

983
00:34:44,682 --> 00:34:46,352
Is there anything the
President is particularly

984
00:34:46,350 --> 00:34:50,320
curious about with this
mission, in that it was

985
00:34:50,321 --> 00:34:52,561
brought to him, he
authorized it quickly?

986
00:34:52,557 --> 00:34:54,897
Does he believe in the
main it was carried out

987
00:34:54,892 --> 00:34:58,032
well and there's nothing
that he's particularly

988
00:34:58,029 --> 00:35:01,599
curious about in the way
either the helicopter was

989
00:35:01,599 --> 00:35:03,939
damaged, fatality, the
civilian casualties --

990
00:35:03,935 --> 00:35:05,505
anything of the like?

991
00:35:05,503 --> 00:35:07,903
Mr Spicer: Well, number
one, I've walked through

992
00:35:07,905 --> 00:35:11,405
the timetable previously
in terms of how long this

993
00:35:11,409 --> 00:35:14,909
had been planned for,
dating well back into the

994
00:35:14,912 --> 00:35:16,052
previous administration.

995
00:35:16,047 --> 00:35:19,717
And as you know, their
recommendation at the time

996
00:35:19,717 --> 00:35:21,457
was to wait for
a moonless night.

997
00:35:21,452 --> 00:35:24,152
That night wasn't going
to occur during President

998
00:35:24,155 --> 00:35:25,355
Obama's administration.

999
00:35:25,356 --> 00:35:28,526
And so when General Mattis
got into the Department of

1000
00:35:28,526 --> 00:35:31,296
Defense, he was briefed
up on the status of the

1001
00:35:31,295 --> 00:35:33,665
thing, made aware of when
the next time was go.

1002
00:35:33,664 --> 00:35:37,204
We went through the
process to ensure that we

1003
00:35:37,201 --> 00:35:39,701
continued to believe that
the mission -- the way it

1004
00:35:39,704 --> 00:35:41,944
was going to be conducted
and the results of the

1005
00:35:41,939 --> 00:35:46,309
mission would be
worthy of action.

1006
00:35:46,310 --> 00:35:48,780
The conclusion continued
to be, as it was prior,

1007
00:35:48,779 --> 00:35:51,379
that we should
move forward.

1008
00:35:51,382 --> 00:35:55,682
As I mentioned before, I
think you can't ever say

1009
00:35:55,686 --> 00:35:59,256
that, when there's most
importantly loss of life

1010
00:35:59,257 --> 00:36:02,057
and people injured,
that it's

1011
00:36:02,059 --> 00:36:03,329
100 percent successful.

1012
00:36:03,327 --> 00:36:07,197
But I think when you look
at what the stated goal of

1013
00:36:07,198 --> 00:36:09,538
that mission was -- it
was an information- and

1014
00:36:09,534 --> 00:36:11,734
intelligence-gathering
mission.

1015
00:36:11,736 --> 00:36:12,766
And it achieved
its objectives.

1016
00:36:12,770 --> 00:36:14,140
So, again, I would express
our thoughts and our

1017
00:36:14,138 --> 00:36:19,148
prayers and our
condolences to all of the

1018
00:36:22,947 --> 00:36:27,347
people in Chief Owens's
family and his friends,

1019
00:36:27,351 --> 00:36:29,351
his shipmates.

1020
00:36:31,155 --> 00:36:34,925
But it's something that,
as a SEAL and as somebody

1021
00:36:34,926 --> 00:36:39,526
who deployed 12 times, he
knew that this was part of

1022
00:36:39,530 --> 00:36:41,170
the job and he knew
what he was doing.

1023
00:36:41,165 --> 00:36:44,965
And so we're very
comfortable with how the

1024
00:36:44,969 --> 00:36:49,469
mission was executed, and
we'll let the Department

1025
00:36:49,473 --> 00:36:53,913
of Defense go through that
review process and then

1026
00:36:53,911 --> 00:36:54,741
see where that leads us.

1027
00:36:54,745 --> 00:36:57,285
But I think to get ahead
of the three separate

1028
00:36:57,281 --> 00:36:59,821
reviews that are being
done by the Department of

1029
00:36:59,817 --> 00:37:01,687
Defense would be probably
a little

1030
00:37:01,686 --> 00:37:02,916
irresponsible at this time.

1031
00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:04,160
The Press: Sean --

1032
00:37:04,155 --> 00:37:05,995
Mr Spicer: Major gets two, too.

1033
00:37:05,990 --> 00:37:08,460
The Press: Just real
quick on the budget.

1034
00:37:08,459 --> 00:37:11,259
As you're aware, to undo
the defense sequester, you

1035
00:37:11,262 --> 00:37:14,332
have to get 60 votes in
the Senate because you

1036
00:37:14,332 --> 00:37:16,202
have a separate domestic
sequester number

1037
00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:16,870
and defense.

1038
00:37:16,867 --> 00:37:19,267
Are you confident with
these numbers and with

1039
00:37:19,270 --> 00:37:21,440
this kind of heavy
discretionary spending cut

1040
00:37:21,439 --> 00:37:23,909
proposed, you can get the
60 votes to

1041
00:37:23,908 --> 00:37:24,808
change the law?

1042
00:37:24,809 --> 00:37:26,979
Because without that
change in law, the

1043
00:37:26,978 --> 00:37:29,148
proposal is just that
-- it doesn't

1044
00:37:29,146 --> 00:37:29,816
become operational.

1045
00:37:29,814 --> 00:37:32,854
Mr Spicer: I think that
when it comes to our

1046
00:37:32,850 --> 00:37:34,390
nation's security,
specifically our nation's

1047
00:37:34,385 --> 00:37:36,555
military, I don't think
that it's a

1048
00:37:36,554 --> 00:37:37,224
partisan issue.

1049
00:37:37,221 --> 00:37:39,821
I think that senators from
across the country --

1050
00:37:39,824 --> 00:37:42,694
whether you're talking
about Florida or whether

1051
00:37:42,693 --> 00:37:45,793
you've got an Army
installation or a Navy

1052
00:37:45,796 --> 00:37:51,106
base, you understand the
state of repair that many

1053
00:37:51,102 --> 00:37:56,242
of our planes, ships and
other hardware is in.

1054
00:37:56,240 --> 00:37:59,610
And I think that there is
a bipartisan commitment to

1055
00:37:59,610 --> 00:38:04,480
give the military and its
members the equipment and

1056
00:38:04,482 --> 00:38:06,722
the tools it needs to
succeed and

1057
00:38:06,717 --> 00:38:07,417
protect this country.

1058
00:38:07,418 --> 00:38:08,518
So I do feel confident.

1059
00:38:08,519 --> 00:38:09,189
April.

1060
00:38:09,186 --> 00:38:11,886
The Press: Sean, I have
a couple of budgetary

1061
00:38:11,889 --> 00:38:13,159
questions for you.

1062
00:38:13,157 --> 00:38:15,697
One, at the press
conference, President

1063
00:38:15,693 --> 00:38:19,063
Trump talked about the
fix for inner cities.

1064
00:38:19,063 --> 00:38:23,263
What is the investment in
this budget when it comes

1065
00:38:23,267 --> 00:38:25,767
to a fix for inner cities?

1066
00:38:25,770 --> 00:38:27,410
Mr Spicer: It's
a good try.

1067
00:38:27,405 --> 00:38:30,505
I think the Director was
very clear -- The Press:

1068
00:38:30,508 --> 00:38:31,878
That's one -- Mr Spicer:
mean, part of the process

1069
00:38:31,876 --> 00:38:34,216
today was to start that
passback process that he

1070
00:38:34,211 --> 00:38:36,711
talked about, where we're
going to the various

1071
00:38:36,714 --> 00:38:38,784
departments, whether it's
HUD or DOT, and giving

1072
00:38:38,783 --> 00:38:41,053
them that topline number
and then hearing back.

1073
00:38:41,052 --> 00:38:44,122
So I don't want to get
into a specific number

1074
00:38:44,121 --> 00:38:46,691
with you before we get
too far down the process.

1075
00:38:46,691 --> 00:38:48,631
I think that's a
conversation that we're

1076
00:38:48,626 --> 00:38:51,526
going to have with the
agencies and then we will

1077
00:38:51,529 --> 00:38:54,099
have subsequently with
Congress when they start

1078
00:38:54,098 --> 00:38:55,638
drafting their
resolutions.

1079
00:38:55,633 --> 00:38:58,573
The Press: Okay, a
follow-up on this, but I

1080
00:38:58,569 --> 00:39:00,139
do have a
question on HBCUs.

1081
00:39:00,137 --> 00:39:01,477
See, he talked
about healthcare.

1082
00:39:01,472 --> 00:39:03,812
He talked about education
and he talked about crime.

1083
00:39:03,808 --> 00:39:05,608
He needs to talk
about Chicago and

1084
00:39:05,609 --> 00:39:06,309
law enforcement.

1085
00:39:06,310 --> 00:39:08,750
So you don't have any kind
of budgetary numbers when

1086
00:39:08,746 --> 00:39:09,916
it comes to it?

1087
00:39:09,914 --> 00:39:11,684
And healthcare is a piece
that is one of the line

1088
00:39:11,682 --> 00:39:12,552
items for this budget.

1089
00:39:12,550 --> 00:39:13,420
Mr Spicer: That's right.

1090
00:39:13,417 --> 00:39:15,217
And I'm not saying that
we don't have numbers.

1091
00:39:15,219 --> 00:39:17,219
I'm saying that we're
not giving them out.

1092
00:39:17,221 --> 00:39:18,961
That's a big difference.

1093
00:39:18,956 --> 00:39:19,626
The Press: (Inaudible.)

1094
00:39:19,623 --> 00:39:20,523
Mr Spicer: I know.

1095
00:39:20,524 --> 00:39:21,194
(Laughter.)

1096
00:39:21,192 --> 00:39:22,522
You're going
to do a good job trying.

1097
00:39:22,526 --> 00:39:23,226
(Laughter.)

1098
00:39:23,227 --> 00:39:25,067
But as the
Director noted on this,

1099
00:39:25,062 --> 00:39:28,662
that they have come up
with topline numbers based

1100
00:39:28,666 --> 00:39:31,436
on their going through
each of these agencies'

1101
00:39:31,435 --> 00:39:34,275
budget, and saying, hey,
there's a duplicative

1102
00:39:34,271 --> 00:39:34,941
program here.

1103
00:39:34,939 --> 00:39:37,179
In some cases, maybe they
give them more, maybe they

1104
00:39:37,174 --> 00:39:37,904
give them less.

1105
00:39:37,908 --> 00:39:39,878
Part of it is to begin
that conversation, that

1106
00:39:39,877 --> 00:39:43,747
process, with the
departments and agencies

1107
00:39:43,748 --> 00:39:45,348
to figure out what
those investments are.

1108
00:39:45,349 --> 00:39:47,319
Maybe it's repurposing
existing funds in a

1109
00:39:47,318 --> 00:39:49,318
different way.

1110
00:39:49,320 --> 00:39:52,390
So it's not necessarily
a zero-sum game.

1111
00:39:52,389 --> 00:39:55,089
There is a way that a
department can reallocate

1112
00:39:55,092 --> 00:39:59,132
money to a program that
might end up benefitting

1113
00:39:59,130 --> 00:40:03,300
because there is a
duplicative or out-of-date

1114
00:40:03,300 --> 00:40:07,000
program or office that
that savings could be

1115
00:40:07,004 --> 00:40:07,674
applied to something.

1116
00:40:07,671 --> 00:40:09,771
But I don't want to get
ahead of the process right

1117
00:40:09,774 --> 00:40:11,574
now, only to say that we
are at the very

1118
00:40:11,575 --> 00:40:12,245
beginning of it.

1119
00:40:12,243 --> 00:40:13,543
The Press: And
one on HBCUs.

1120
00:40:13,544 --> 00:40:14,444
Mr Spicer: Yes.

1121
00:40:14,445 --> 00:40:16,615
The Press: The President
is going to see the

1122
00:40:16,614 --> 00:40:18,984
80-plus presence of HBCUs
with the

1123
00:40:18,983 --> 00:40:20,113
Vice President today.

1124
00:40:20,117 --> 00:40:23,287
Some of them are very
concerned as to what this

1125
00:40:23,287 --> 00:40:25,987
executive order looks
like, and they are waiting

1126
00:40:25,990 --> 00:40:28,290
to hear the commitment
before they say, "I'm all

1127
00:40:28,292 --> 00:40:30,732
in." What is the
commitment that this

1128
00:40:30,728 --> 00:40:32,968
President is trying to
make when it comes to

1129
00:40:32,963 --> 00:40:37,703
HBCUs to ensure, I guess,
their future, or deal with

1130
00:40:37,701 --> 00:40:39,901
funding for research
projects, what have you,

1131
00:40:39,904 --> 00:40:42,374
or moving it out of the
Department of Education to

1132
00:40:42,373 --> 00:40:43,943
the purview of
the White House?

1133
00:40:43,941 --> 00:40:46,041
What is the commitment
that he's going to

1134
00:40:46,043 --> 00:40:46,843
give to them?

1135
00:40:46,844 --> 00:40:48,944
Mr Spicer: So, look, I
don't generally speak

1136
00:40:48,946 --> 00:40:50,546
about executive orders
until they're finalized.

1137
00:40:50,548 --> 00:40:54,248
I will just say that one
of the things that I think

1138
00:40:54,251 --> 00:40:56,951
there's commitment from
this White House to do is

1139
00:40:56,954 --> 00:40:58,824
to look at the various
resources throughout the

1140
00:40:58,823 --> 00:41:01,493
federal government
that support HBCUs.

1141
00:41:01,492 --> 00:41:05,632
So, for example, the
Department of Defense has

1142
00:41:05,629 --> 00:41:08,869
ROTC and NROTC programs.

1143
00:41:08,866 --> 00:41:11,936
Are they being properly
-- is that funding being

1144
00:41:11,936 --> 00:41:13,936
properly executed
and spent.

1145
00:41:13,938 --> 00:41:16,638
There's programs within
each of the departments --

1146
00:41:16,640 --> 00:41:18,810
the Department of
Education, the Department

1147
00:41:18,809 --> 00:41:21,679
of Housing and Urban
Development -- that affect

1148
00:41:21,679 --> 00:41:27,619
grants or programs or
direct funding that go to

1149
00:41:27,618 --> 00:41:29,688
HBCUs for various
different things, whether

1150
00:41:29,687 --> 00:41:32,287
it's construction
projects, or teaching

1151
00:41:32,289 --> 00:41:34,089
programs, or
mentorship programs.

1152
00:41:34,091 --> 00:41:36,361
Whatever it is, they span
throughout the

1153
00:41:36,360 --> 00:41:37,930
entire government.

1154
00:41:37,928 --> 00:41:41,068
And I think that what we
are committed to doing is

1155
00:41:41,065 --> 00:41:45,735
ensuring that there
is a high level of

1156
00:41:45,736 --> 00:41:48,006
understanding and
commitment, that goes

1157
00:41:48,005 --> 00:41:50,505
straight to the President,
of how we harness those

1158
00:41:50,507 --> 00:41:53,347
resource within the
government, and make sure

1159
00:41:53,344 --> 00:41:54,674
that they're doing what
they're supposed

1160
00:41:54,678 --> 00:41:55,348
to be doing.

1161
00:41:55,346 --> 00:41:59,146
So it's one thing to
have them, right, spread

1162
00:41:59,149 --> 00:42:00,619
throughout the
different departments.

1163
00:42:00,618 --> 00:42:02,918
It's another thing to make
sure that there's a direct

1164
00:42:02,920 --> 00:42:05,120
pipeline to the President
of the United States that

1165
00:42:05,122 --> 00:42:07,092
those programs are being
executed in a way that's

1166
00:42:07,091 --> 00:42:11,131
benefitting the future
of HBCUs and the various

1167
00:42:11,128 --> 00:42:13,468
projects and teaching
that goes on there.

1168
00:42:13,464 --> 00:42:16,464
The Press: And so what
are you saying -- there's

1169
00:42:16,467 --> 00:42:19,267
going to be a piece that
is going to basically go

1170
00:42:19,270 --> 00:42:21,510
throughout all the
agencies to make sure that

1171
00:42:21,505 --> 00:42:24,605
there is some kind of
commitment to HBCUs and

1172
00:42:24,608 --> 00:42:27,148
contract of like, let's
say engineering for some

1173
00:42:27,144 --> 00:42:29,844
schools, or in research
for other schools?

1174
00:42:29,847 --> 00:42:33,587
Mr Spicer: Yeah, I would
say -- I think I'm going

1175
00:42:33,584 --> 00:42:35,924
to stick to waiting until
we announce it to get

1176
00:42:35,920 --> 00:42:36,690
out a lot more.

1177
00:42:36,687 --> 00:42:38,927
The Press: Is that
today or tomorrow?

1178
00:42:38,923 --> 00:42:40,253
Mr Spicer: I anticipate
it very soon.

1179
00:42:40,257 --> 00:42:40,927
How is that?

1180
00:42:40,925 --> 00:42:42,255
I want to give myself
a little wiggle room.

1181
00:42:42,259 --> 00:42:42,929
Phil Rucker.

1182
00:42:42,927 --> 00:42:43,797
The Press: Yeah,
Sean, thanks.

1183
00:42:43,794 --> 00:42:45,894
A budget-related question,
but on infrastructure.

1184
00:42:45,896 --> 00:42:47,996
The President has
repeatedly, including

1185
00:42:47,998 --> 00:42:51,368
today, again, called for a
major infrastructure plan

1186
00:42:51,368 --> 00:42:54,068
to the tune a trillion
dollars -- roads, bridges,

1187
00:42:54,071 --> 00:42:56,071
tunnels, you name it.

1188
00:42:56,073 --> 00:42:58,373
Can you explain where that
money is going to come

1189
00:42:58,375 --> 00:43:00,445
from, how it fits into the
budget that's under review

1190
00:43:00,444 --> 00:43:02,514
right now, and what the
timeline for that

1191
00:43:02,513 --> 00:43:03,313
project would be?

1192
00:43:03,314 --> 00:43:07,114
Mr Spicer: So I think
that would be part of a

1193
00:43:07,117 --> 00:43:08,757
longer-term discussion
that we're

1194
00:43:08,752 --> 00:43:10,352
having with Congress.

1195
00:43:10,354 --> 00:43:11,924
As you know, the President
got in

1196
00:43:11,922 --> 00:43:13,392
office 30-some-odd days ago.

1197
00:43:13,390 --> 00:43:15,760
The idea of getting a
budget is -- you know,

1198
00:43:15,759 --> 00:43:17,759
it's commonly referred to
as a skinny budget -- is

1199
00:43:17,761 --> 00:43:21,101
to get the government to
continue to be funding and

1200
00:43:21,098 --> 00:43:22,468
it will be something that
we'll work with Congress.

1201
00:43:22,466 --> 00:43:23,136
I understand your point.

1202
00:43:23,133 --> 00:43:25,073
The President continues to
talk about the status --

1203
00:43:25,069 --> 00:43:26,399
The Press: -- a
priority for him.

1204
00:43:26,403 --> 00:43:27,303
Mr Spicer: It is.

1205
00:43:27,304 --> 00:43:27,974
Absolutely.

1206
00:43:27,972 --> 00:43:29,372
But I think that we've got
to make sure that it's

1207
00:43:29,373 --> 00:43:30,743
done right and that we
work with Congress.

1208
00:43:30,741 --> 00:43:33,111
I think, as you correctly
mention, there's obviously

1209
00:43:33,110 --> 00:43:34,410
a funding
mechanism to this.

1210
00:43:34,411 --> 00:43:36,611
And we've already talked
about things like

1211
00:43:36,613 --> 00:43:41,453
comprehensive tax reform
that could add to that

1212
00:43:41,452 --> 00:43:42,422
discussion.

1213
00:43:42,419 --> 00:43:44,389
And so I just -- I
understand what you're

1214
00:43:44,388 --> 00:43:46,488
asking in terms of how
this would be funded and

1215
00:43:46,490 --> 00:43:49,190
when it will be coming,
and the pay-fors, but

1216
00:43:49,193 --> 00:43:50,793
we're working with
Congress to have

1217
00:43:50,794 --> 00:43:51,464
that discussion.

1218
00:43:51,462 --> 00:43:53,102
I think that comes
probably outside of the

1219
00:43:53,097 --> 00:43:53,827
budget discussion.

1220
00:43:53,831 --> 00:43:56,001
The Press: And so how does
he square that with the

1221
00:43:56,000 --> 00:43:58,300
need to tighten the belt,
which he also talked about

1222
00:43:58,302 --> 00:44:00,002
today -- we've been
spending too much as a

1223
00:44:00,004 --> 00:44:01,804
government and we need
to cut our spending?

1224
00:44:01,805 --> 00:44:03,145
Mr Spicer: Right, but I
think -- but in the same

1225
00:44:03,140 --> 00:44:04,480
manner that we're
presenting the budget.

1226
00:44:04,475 --> 00:44:06,675
So we're talking about
adding $54 million -- $54

1227
00:44:06,677 --> 00:44:08,277
trillion, rather -- a
billion dollars to --

1228
00:44:08,278 --> 00:44:08,948
thank you.

1229
00:44:08,946 --> 00:44:11,546
Appreciate the help here.

1230
00:44:11,548 --> 00:44:12,388
(Laughter.)

1231
00:44:12,383 --> 00:44:15,053
But we're
looking to add

1232
00:44:15,052 --> 00:44:15,752
that to defense.

1233
00:44:15,753 --> 00:44:17,183
And so what it means is
that we have to look

1234
00:44:17,187 --> 00:44:19,187
through other programs
to find reductions

1235
00:44:19,189 --> 00:44:20,059
in savings.

1236
00:44:20,057 --> 00:44:22,297
I think that same kind of
discussion would happen

1237
00:44:22,292 --> 00:44:23,632
with respect to
infrastructure, not

1238
00:44:23,627 --> 00:44:24,967
necessarily the savings
piece, but the funding

1239
00:44:24,962 --> 00:44:26,292
piece; that there's
several ways -- and I know

1240
00:44:26,296 --> 00:44:27,636
that there's a lot of
discussion, private-public

1241
00:44:27,631 --> 00:44:29,001
partnerships that he
is started to have a

1242
00:44:28,999 --> 00:44:30,339
discussion with in terms
of the funding mechanism.

1243
00:44:30,334 --> 00:44:31,664
And so all I'm trying to
get at is that there are

1244
00:44:31,668 --> 00:44:33,008
various ways to do this
funding without just

1245
00:44:33,003 --> 00:44:34,343
relying on the American
taxpayer in terms of

1246
00:44:34,338 --> 00:44:35,008
additional taxes.

1247
00:44:35,005 --> 00:44:36,345
There are spending
reductions, there are

1248
00:44:36,340 --> 00:44:37,710
other funding mechanisms,
and I think, in due

1249
00:44:37,708 --> 00:44:39,048
course, we will get around
to that discussion.

1250
00:44:39,043 --> 00:44:40,373
The Press: And just
related to that, he

1251
00:44:40,377 --> 00:44:42,547
mentioned in his remarks
about infrastructure today

1252
00:44:42,546 --> 00:44:45,016
that as he drives through
the Queens-Midtown tunnel

1253
00:44:45,015 --> 00:44:46,355
and the Lincoln tunnel,
he worries about

1254
00:44:46,350 --> 00:44:47,920
ceiling tiles falling.

1255
00:44:47,918 --> 00:44:50,858
Is there a specific
incident he was talking

1256
00:44:50,854 --> 00:44:55,824
about where people have
been injured, or is that

1257
00:44:59,396 --> 00:45:04,136
just a fear of his?

1258
00:45:04,134 --> 00:45:08,874
Mr Spicer: I don't know.

1259
00:45:08,872 --> 00:45:10,772
I'll ask.

1260
00:45:10,774 --> 00:45:11,704
(Laughter.)

1261
00:45:11,708 --> 00:45:14,078
But I'm sure
Secret Service will take

1262
00:45:14,078 --> 00:45:16,948
care of the -- alleviating
the medium concerns.

1263
00:45:16,947 --> 00:45:17,617
Hold on.

1264
00:45:17,614 --> 00:45:18,284
Alexis.

1265
00:45:18,282 --> 00:45:19,682
The Press: Sean, I
have two questions.

1266
00:45:19,683 --> 00:45:20,713
First, one on healthcare.

1267
00:45:20,717 --> 00:45:24,117
Because the OMB director
was signaling that the

1268
00:45:24,121 --> 00:45:27,921
complete budget would be
made ready early May, and

1269
00:45:27,925 --> 00:45:30,495
the President today
described how complicated

1270
00:45:30,494 --> 00:45:33,864
he had discovered that
the healthcare repeal and

1271
00:45:33,864 --> 00:45:37,704
replace has become, can
you describe when it is

1272
00:45:37,701 --> 00:45:41,271
that the President would
present his framework for

1273
00:45:41,271 --> 00:45:42,871
an overhaul of healthcare?

1274
00:45:42,873 --> 00:45:45,213
Is it going to be included
in the budget so we would

1275
00:45:45,209 --> 00:45:46,009
see it before May?

1276
00:45:46,009 --> 00:45:48,209
Mr Spicer: I don't think
you're going to see it in

1277
00:45:48,212 --> 00:45:48,882
the budget, no.

1278
00:45:48,879 --> 00:45:50,519
That's not the appropriate
vehicle for it.

1279
00:45:50,514 --> 00:45:52,514
I think I've
mentioned it before.

1280
00:45:52,516 --> 00:45:55,316
I think you would drive --
or at least the leading

1281
00:45:55,319 --> 00:45:58,159
option, before I get
locked into something, is

1282
00:45:58,155 --> 00:46:02,555
to add Obamacare to the
FY17 budget process and

1283
00:46:02,559 --> 00:46:04,299
put it through
reconciliation.

1284
00:46:04,294 --> 00:46:06,064
So that would happen
outside of the current

1285
00:46:06,063 --> 00:46:06,763
budget structure.

1286
00:46:06,763 --> 00:46:09,963
But I think he has also
been very clear that he

1287
00:46:09,967 --> 00:46:12,407
wants this outline within
a matter of weeks, and

1288
00:46:12,402 --> 00:46:14,502
that we continue to have
these discussions with

1289
00:46:14,505 --> 00:46:16,035
House and Senate
leadership, with Ways and

1290
00:46:16,039 --> 00:46:19,009
Means, and Energy and
Commerce, and then similar

1291
00:46:19,009 --> 00:46:21,149
on Senate finance
on the Senate side.

1292
00:46:21,145 --> 00:46:25,445
So when he talks to
Speaker Ryan and Leader

1293
00:46:25,449 --> 00:46:28,089
McConnell today, I'm sure
that conversation

1294
00:46:28,085 --> 00:46:28,755
will continue.

1295
00:46:28,752 --> 00:46:30,822
The Press: Just to follow
up on healthcare, because

1296
00:46:30,821 --> 00:46:33,021
not every ingredient in
the Affordable Care Act

1297
00:46:33,023 --> 00:46:34,393
can be handled in
reconciliation.

1298
00:46:34,391 --> 00:46:37,161
That's why I was asking
about the elements of it

1299
00:46:37,161 --> 00:46:38,791
that we see in the budget.

1300
00:46:38,795 --> 00:46:39,895
Mr Spicer: That's right.

1301
00:46:39,897 --> 00:46:42,367
The Press: So we will
see some of those?

1302
00:46:42,366 --> 00:46:44,606
Mr Spicer: Well, there's
several pieces

1303
00:46:44,601 --> 00:46:45,371
of Obamacare.

1304
00:46:45,369 --> 00:46:47,509
Some can be done by
executive order, some get

1305
00:46:47,504 --> 00:46:49,304
done with 50 votes,
some have to be done

1306
00:46:49,306 --> 00:46:50,676
specifically in
reconciliation.

1307
00:46:50,674 --> 00:46:52,374
I think counter to Major's
point on a previous

1308
00:46:52,376 --> 00:46:54,516
question, that there are
certain things that have

1309
00:46:54,511 --> 00:46:57,451
to be done in certain ways
legislatively, and to

1310
00:46:57,447 --> 00:47:00,387
create a comprehensive and
holistic approach to both

1311
00:47:00,384 --> 00:47:01,414
repealing it and
replacing it.

1312
00:47:01,418 --> 00:47:02,858
And we're aware of that.

1313
00:47:02,853 --> 00:47:04,623
We're working with the
House and the Senate to

1314
00:47:04,621 --> 00:47:05,321
make that happen.

1315
00:47:05,322 --> 00:47:07,322
The Press: And
my second topic.

1316
00:47:07,324 --> 00:47:08,694
Mr Spicer: Of course.

1317
00:47:08,692 --> 00:47:10,062
The Press: All right.

1318
00:47:10,060 --> 00:47:12,760
The immigration executive
order, the travel ban --

1319
00:47:12,763 --> 00:47:15,463
is the President going
to address the American

1320
00:47:15,465 --> 00:47:18,505
people and Congress in his
speech tomorrow night and

1321
00:47:18,502 --> 00:47:20,202
specifically describe and
defend the

1322
00:47:20,204 --> 00:47:20,874
immigration ban?

1323
00:47:20,871 --> 00:47:23,911
And when will we see the
revised executive order?

1324
00:47:23,907 --> 00:47:27,007
Mr Spicer: So we're not
going to -- I would not

1325
00:47:27,010 --> 00:47:30,480
anticipate the speech
being a defense of

1326
00:47:30,480 --> 00:47:32,120
legislation and
executive orders.

1327
00:47:32,115 --> 00:47:34,985
I don't think many
previous Presidents have

1328
00:47:34,985 --> 00:47:37,685
gotten through and used
that as a

1329
00:47:37,688 --> 00:47:39,758
legislative walkthrough.

1330
00:47:39,756 --> 00:47:43,556
But you will hear about
his commitment to

1331
00:47:43,560 --> 00:47:46,130
immigration and his desire
for border security, and

1332
00:47:46,129 --> 00:47:48,869
what it means not just
about keeping the nation

1333
00:47:48,865 --> 00:47:51,705
safe, but what impact it's
having on the economy.

1334
00:47:51,702 --> 00:47:55,372
So you will hear a lot
about immigration tomorrow

1335
00:47:55,372 --> 00:47:59,112
night, and he will talk
about why it matters and

1336
00:47:59,109 --> 00:48:01,009
the goal that we have
and why we should come

1337
00:48:01,011 --> 00:48:02,041
together on
areas like this.

1338
00:48:02,045 --> 00:48:03,815
The Press: Can I follow
up on that, Sean?

1339
00:48:03,814 --> 00:48:04,484
Mr Spicer: Hold on.

1340
00:48:04,481 --> 00:48:05,151
Katelyn.

1341
00:48:05,148 --> 00:48:06,488
The Press: Where's
the next order?

1342
00:48:06,483 --> 00:48:07,153
Mr Spicer: Oh, I'm sorry.

1343
00:48:07,150 --> 00:48:08,490
The next order I think
we should have it out

1344
00:48:08,485 --> 00:48:09,155
probably middle
of this week.

1345
00:48:09,152 --> 00:48:10,492
Looking towards the
middle of the week.

1346
00:48:10,487 --> 00:48:11,857
And we'll have further
updates as we get through

1347
00:48:11,855 --> 00:48:12,525
the schedule.

1348
00:48:12,522 --> 00:48:13,862
I think obviously our
priority right now today

1349
00:48:13,857 --> 00:48:15,197
was the really get the
budget process kicked off,

1350
00:48:15,192 --> 00:48:21,662
and then continue to
prepare for the

1351
00:48:21,665 --> 00:48:22,335
joint session.

1352
00:48:22,332 --> 00:48:23,002
Katelyn.

1353
00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:23,770
The Press: Thank you.

1354
00:48:23,767 --> 00:48:26,267
The Press: Sean, can
I follow on that?

1355
00:48:26,270 --> 00:48:28,470
Mr Spicer: You
will in a second.

1356
00:48:28,472 --> 00:48:30,972
The Press: An internal
report in 2015 identified

1357
00:48:30,974 --> 00:48:32,844
$125 billion in wasteful
Pentagon spending.

1358
00:48:32,843 --> 00:48:35,983
So how can you justify
adding $54 billion to the

1359
00:48:35,979 --> 00:48:36,649
defense budget?

1360
00:48:36,647 --> 00:48:39,417
Is that going to go
to hiring soldiers or

1361
00:48:39,416 --> 00:48:40,346
bureaucrats or
contractors?

1362
00:48:40,350 --> 00:48:42,550
And is the President
concerned with wasteful

1363
00:48:42,552 --> 00:48:43,792
spending at the DOD?

1364
00:48:43,787 --> 00:48:45,687
Mr Spicer: Of course
he's concerned.

1365
00:48:45,689 --> 00:48:47,229
He's concerned with
wasteful spending

1366
00:48:47,224 --> 00:48:48,194
throughout the government.

1367
00:48:48,191 --> 00:48:50,991
But I think there's also
a big difference between

1368
00:48:50,994 --> 00:48:53,494
rooting out waste and
fraud in various programs

1369
00:48:53,497 --> 00:48:55,367
and offices, and
understanding that when

1370
00:48:55,365 --> 00:48:57,865
you're talking about
adding to the fleet or

1371
00:48:57,868 --> 00:49:00,368
increasing airplane costs,
that that can't be driven

1372
00:49:00,370 --> 00:49:01,340
just through those.

1373
00:49:01,338 --> 00:49:04,138
And the commitment that
you have to make to

1374
00:49:04,141 --> 00:49:06,341
purchase some of those
very-needed upgrades to

1375
00:49:06,343 --> 00:49:09,143
our infrastructure and to
our arsenal and to planes

1376
00:49:09,146 --> 00:49:11,346
and ships doesn't just
come through that.

1377
00:49:11,348 --> 00:49:14,148
Because even if you could
start to really identify,

1378
00:49:14,151 --> 00:49:16,991
you really wouldn't be
able to make the financial

1379
00:49:16,987 --> 00:49:20,087
commitment that needs to
be done to rebuild some of

1380
00:49:20,090 --> 00:49:22,930
the ships and planes in
particular that need a

1381
00:49:22,926 --> 00:49:24,796
substantial investment
on the front end.

1382
00:49:24,795 --> 00:49:25,465
John.

1383
00:49:25,462 --> 00:49:27,602
The Press: If I could
just follow on

1384
00:49:27,597 --> 00:49:28,297
Alexis's question.

1385
00:49:28,298 --> 00:49:31,068
The 9th Circuit Court of
Appeals has just denied

1386
00:49:31,068 --> 00:49:33,568
your request to suspend
proceedings in regard to

1387
00:49:33,570 --> 00:49:34,810
the initial
executive order.

1388
00:49:34,805 --> 00:49:37,305
That order came out just
within the last

1389
00:49:37,307 --> 00:49:37,977
few minutes.

1390
00:49:37,974 --> 00:49:40,744
So do you plan to continue
defending your first

1391
00:49:40,744 --> 00:49:42,014
executive order in court?

1392
00:49:42,012 --> 00:49:46,112
And what's the purpose of
doing that as opposed to

1393
00:49:46,116 --> 00:49:47,916
simply rescinding it and
then rendering

1394
00:49:47,918 --> 00:49:48,788
that case moot?

1395
00:49:48,785 --> 00:49:51,355
Mr Spicer: Well, I haven't
been able to read my phone

1396
00:49:51,355 --> 00:49:52,225
while this has happened.

1397
00:49:52,222 --> 00:49:55,192
So I -- The Press: That's
why I read -- Mr Spicer:

1398
00:49:55,192 --> 00:49:55,862
(Laughter.)

1399
00:49:55,859 --> 00:49:56,589
Thank you, I appreciate it.

1400
00:49:56,593 --> 00:49:59,163
So with all due respect, I
would ask that I be able

1401
00:49:59,162 --> 00:50:00,762
to get back to you
tomorrow on that after we

1402
00:50:00,764 --> 00:50:04,034
consult with the Counsel's
Office and go through the

1403
00:50:04,034 --> 00:50:06,604
briefing and the -- excuse
me, the reading of what

1404
00:50:06,603 --> 00:50:07,433
the court has said.

1405
00:50:07,437 --> 00:50:10,007
But give me a little time,
let me get off the podium

1406
00:50:10,006 --> 00:50:11,806
-- The Press: I mean, the
rescinding it question

1407
00:50:11,808 --> 00:50:14,878
still stands, regardless
of the -- Mr Spicer: I

1408
00:50:14,878 --> 00:50:17,118
understand that, and I
think that the President

1409
00:50:17,114 --> 00:50:18,754
has made a commitment
right now to continue to

1410
00:50:18,749 --> 00:50:19,479
defend what we did.

1411
00:50:19,483 --> 00:50:20,383
The Press: For
what reason?

1412
00:50:20,384 --> 00:50:21,154
Mr Spicer: Hold on.

1413
00:50:21,151 --> 00:50:22,891
Because this is the
strategy that -- he

1414
00:50:22,886 --> 00:50:25,856
believes that we have the
authority vested

1415
00:50:25,856 --> 00:50:26,656
in U.S. code.

1416
00:50:26,656 --> 00:50:29,796
I've talked about this
extensively in the past.

1417
00:50:29,793 --> 00:50:32,633
And I think that if you'll
allow me, once we get done

1418
00:50:32,629 --> 00:50:33,999
with the briefing, I
will follow up with the

1419
00:50:33,997 --> 00:50:34,767
Counsel's Office.

1420
00:50:34,765 --> 00:50:36,295
The Press: But the point
that some of us are trying

1421
00:50:36,299 --> 00:50:38,599
to understand is, if you
have a new executive order

1422
00:50:38,602 --> 00:50:41,242
that you believe addresses
the concerns of the many

1423
00:50:41,238 --> 00:50:44,008
courts who have weighed in
on this, why continue to

1424
00:50:44,007 --> 00:50:46,377
defend an executive
order that -- Mr Spicer:

1425
00:50:46,376 --> 00:50:47,716
Because he's -- I mean,
because we were right

1426
00:50:47,711 --> 00:50:48,381
the first time.

1427
00:50:48,378 --> 00:50:49,718
And I think that -- The
Press: Are you trying

1428
00:50:49,713 --> 00:50:50,413
to prove a point?

1429
00:50:50,414 --> 00:50:51,744
Mr Spicer: Hold on -- no,
but I think that it's not

1430
00:50:51,748 --> 00:50:53,388
a question of
proving a point.

1431
00:50:53,383 --> 00:50:55,723
It's that the manner in
which it was done in the

1432
00:50:55,719 --> 00:51:00,389
first place was what we
believe and continue to

1433
00:51:00,390 --> 00:51:02,960
believe was the right way
to address this problem.

1434
00:51:02,959 --> 00:51:05,629
And while the second
executive order attempts

1435
00:51:05,629 --> 00:51:10,169
to address the court's
concerns that they made,

1436
00:51:10,167 --> 00:51:12,167
the goal is obviously to
maintain the way that we

1437
00:51:12,169 --> 00:51:15,409
did it the first time
because we believe that

1438
00:51:15,405 --> 00:51:17,445
the law is very clear
about giving the President

1439
00:51:17,441 --> 00:51:18,671
the authority that he
needs to

1440
00:51:18,675 --> 00:51:19,375
protect the country.

1441
00:51:19,376 --> 00:51:23,976
So just dropping that is
not necessarily the

1442
00:51:23,980 --> 00:51:24,710
most prudent thing.

1443
00:51:24,714 --> 00:51:26,984
And I think part of it is
for us to recoup right

1444
00:51:26,983 --> 00:51:29,953
now, figure out what the
court has said, and then

1445
00:51:29,953 --> 00:51:30,753
reassess the strategy.

1446
00:51:30,754 --> 00:51:32,924
But I don't want to get
ahead, as you point out,

1447
00:51:32,923 --> 00:51:34,863
you're reading it to me
now -- I would like the

1448
00:51:34,858 --> 00:51:37,528
opportunity to maybe go
read it and actually have

1449
00:51:37,527 --> 00:51:39,527
a lawyer read it -- since
that won't do very much.

1450
00:51:39,529 --> 00:51:40,199
Go ahead.

1451
00:51:40,197 --> 00:51:41,497
The Press:
Sean, thank you.

1452
00:51:41,498 --> 00:51:43,698
On anti-Semitism, that was
a good, strong statement.

1453
00:51:43,700 --> 00:51:46,200
Is there anything that the
federal government can do

1454
00:51:46,203 --> 00:51:47,333
to protect Jewish
institutions?

1455
00:51:47,337 --> 00:51:49,577
Are there any leads
who is doing this?

1456
00:51:49,573 --> 00:51:51,243
And also on sequester,
when can

1457
00:51:51,241 --> 00:51:52,071
sequester be lifted?

1458
00:51:52,075 --> 00:51:54,015
Mr Spicer: When
can it be lifted?

1459
00:51:54,010 --> 00:51:54,850
The Press: Yes.

1460
00:51:54,845 --> 00:51:56,985
Mr Spicer: I think we've
got to go through the

1461
00:51:56,980 --> 00:51:59,550
process to lift the
sequester, and so we'll

1462
00:51:59,549 --> 00:52:00,219
deal with that.

1463
00:52:00,217 --> 00:52:02,057
With respect to some of
the activity that we've

1464
00:52:02,052 --> 00:52:05,122
seen at Jewish cemeteries
in particular -- look, I

1465
00:52:05,121 --> 00:52:06,991
think we have to work with
law enforcement at a local

1466
00:52:06,990 --> 00:52:08,090
and state level.

1467
00:52:08,091 --> 00:52:10,291
I'll leave it to the
Department of Justice to

1468
00:52:10,293 --> 00:52:12,263
comment further on what
additional steps

1469
00:52:12,262 --> 00:52:13,132
can be made.

1470
00:52:13,129 --> 00:52:15,229
But I think -- as has
been pointed out multiple

1471
00:52:15,232 --> 00:52:17,772
times, I think one of the
things that we can do is

1472
00:52:17,767 --> 00:52:19,867
speak from this podium,
in particular, and other

1473
00:52:19,870 --> 00:52:23,770
places to make sure that
every American understands

1474
00:52:23,773 --> 00:52:28,643
what our values are, and
that that kind of behavior

1475
00:52:28,645 --> 00:52:32,685
and activity is wrong and
won't be tolerated, and

1476
00:52:32,682 --> 00:52:34,552
the highest levels of
government denounce it.

1477
00:52:34,551 --> 00:52:36,621
So I think it
starts at that.

1478
00:52:36,620 --> 00:52:38,390
And then I think there's a
law enforcement component

1479
00:52:38,388 --> 00:52:40,388
that I would ask you
to touch base with.

1480
00:52:40,390 --> 00:52:42,430
The Press: Sean,
two on the budget.

1481
00:52:42,425 --> 00:52:43,295
Mr Spicer: Yes.

1482
00:52:43,293 --> 00:52:45,593
The Press: I understand
this is a blueprint.

1483
00:52:45,595 --> 00:52:47,935
I understand the President
has previously said he

1484
00:52:47,931 --> 00:52:49,401
doesn't want to
touch entitlements.

1485
00:52:49,399 --> 00:52:52,369
But why does he think it's
the right move to break

1486
00:52:52,369 --> 00:52:54,609
with years of Republican
orthodoxy, House Speaker

1487
00:52:54,604 --> 00:52:57,304
Paul Ryan, who have
said that any sensible

1488
00:52:57,307 --> 00:52:58,977
long-term budget needs
to include

1489
00:52:58,975 --> 00:52:59,645
entitlement reform?

1490
00:52:59,643 --> 00:53:02,413
Mr Spicer: Look, I'm just
going to -- I think the

1491
00:53:02,412 --> 00:53:05,682
President understands the
commitment that was made

1492
00:53:05,682 --> 00:53:08,052
to seniors in particular
and that it's a

1493
00:53:08,051 --> 00:53:09,121
sacred bond and a trust.

1494
00:53:09,119 --> 00:53:11,959
And I think -- look, Mara
asked this earlier -- I

1495
00:53:11,955 --> 00:53:14,625
think let me get back to
you on the specifics.

1496
00:53:14,624 --> 00:53:16,764
But I think he made a
commitment to

1497
00:53:16,760 --> 00:53:17,430
the American people.

1498
00:53:17,427 --> 00:53:19,367
And one of the things that
I think the President

1499
00:53:19,362 --> 00:53:21,432
continues to get high
marks on is that

1500
00:53:21,431 --> 00:53:23,071
regardless of whether you
voted for him or not, or

1501
00:53:23,066 --> 00:53:24,406
you agree with his
policies, he's a

1502
00:53:24,401 --> 00:53:25,301
man of his word.

1503
00:53:25,302 --> 00:53:28,072
And he has followed up on
the promises that he made

1504
00:53:28,071 --> 00:53:29,571
to the American people.

1505
00:53:29,573 --> 00:53:31,143
And I think
that's important.

1506
00:53:31,141 --> 00:53:33,541
Now, again, I think that
we will continue to work

1507
00:53:33,543 --> 00:53:35,543
with Congress.

1508
00:53:35,545 --> 00:53:39,715
But the President
understands that we have

1509
00:53:39,716 --> 00:53:41,456
commitments that we've
made on the entitlement

1510
00:53:41,451 --> 00:53:44,751
side, in particular, and
especially on the senior

1511
00:53:44,754 --> 00:53:47,094
side with respect to
Social Security that

1512
00:53:47,090 --> 00:53:47,820
need to be maintained.

1513
00:53:47,824 --> 00:53:51,724
And so he's going to keep
this word to the

1514
00:53:51,728 --> 00:53:52,398
American people.

1515
00:53:52,395 --> 00:53:54,295
The Press: But if you talk
to some economic analysts,

1516
00:53:54,297 --> 00:53:55,837
they say Social Security,
Medicare won't be there in

1517
00:53:55,832 --> 00:53:57,202
a number of years if
we don't address the

1518
00:53:57,200 --> 00:53:57,870
fundamental problems.

1519
00:53:57,867 --> 00:53:59,207
Mr Spicer: And I
think that -- right.

1520
00:53:59,202 --> 00:54:01,472
And so for right now, I
think the budget that

1521
00:54:01,471 --> 00:54:05,071
we're laying out deals on
the discretionary side.

1522
00:54:05,075 --> 00:54:06,545
You've heard the
President's priorities and

1523
00:54:06,543 --> 00:54:08,343
commitment, especially
when it comes to

1524
00:54:08,345 --> 00:54:09,515
protecting this country.

1525
00:54:09,512 --> 00:54:10,852
And if we have anything
further,

1526
00:54:10,847 --> 00:54:11,517
I'll let you know.

1527
00:54:11,514 --> 00:54:12,854
The Press: And one
more -- Sean, one more.

1528
00:54:12,849 --> 00:54:14,189
Is there an internal
leak inquiry right now?

1529
00:54:14,184 --> 00:54:15,984
Mr Spicer: Not
that I'm aware of.

1530
00:54:15,986 --> 00:54:17,826
The Press: Thank
you very much, Sean.

1531
00:54:17,821 --> 00:54:19,661
I have two questions on
U.S.-China relationship,

1532
00:54:19,656 --> 00:54:20,426
if I may.

1533
00:54:20,423 --> 00:54:21,463
Mr Spicer: You may.

1534
00:54:21,458 --> 00:54:22,488
The Press: Thank you.

1535
00:54:22,492 --> 00:54:24,062
Mr Spicer: Everyone
else gets two.

1536
00:54:24,060 --> 00:54:26,400
The Press: First of all,
since President Trump took

1537
00:54:26,396 --> 00:54:28,766
office, China sends
it very first senior

1538
00:54:28,765 --> 00:54:31,705
official, State Counselor
Yang Jiechi, to visit

1539
00:54:31,701 --> 00:54:32,971
Washington, D.C. today.

1540
00:54:32,969 --> 00:54:37,209
Will there will be a
meeting with in the White

1541
00:54:37,207 --> 00:54:39,747
House, and what's the
White House's

1542
00:54:39,743 --> 00:54:41,413
expectation of his visit?

1543
00:54:41,411 --> 00:54:44,051
Mr Spicer: So the State
Counselor, and for those

1544
00:54:44,047 --> 00:54:47,087
of you not schooled in the
Chinese government, is

1545
00:54:47,083 --> 00:54:51,323
basically the equivalent
of our NSA Director -- NSC

1546
00:54:51,321 --> 00:54:51,991
Director, correct?

1547
00:54:51,988 --> 00:54:53,128
The Press: Yes.

1548
00:54:53,123 --> 00:54:56,393
Mr Spicer: So the
Ambassador and the State

1549
00:54:56,393 --> 00:54:57,623
Counselor came today.

1550
00:54:57,627 --> 00:55:00,067
They had a
meeting with H.R.

1551
00:55:00,063 --> 00:55:02,103
McMaster, Jared Kushner,
and I think some others

1552
00:55:02,098 --> 00:55:04,098
sat in on the meeting.

1553
00:55:04,100 --> 00:55:07,070
They had a delegation
of six people here.

1554
00:55:07,070 --> 00:55:09,610
After the meeting ended,
I believe the State

1555
00:55:09,606 --> 00:55:12,646
Counselor was taken and
had an opportunity to say

1556
00:55:12,642 --> 00:55:14,182
hi to the President
before he left.

1557
00:55:14,177 --> 00:55:17,547
This is an opportunity to
begin that conversation

1558
00:55:17,547 --> 00:55:19,887
and talk to them on shared
interests of

1559
00:55:19,883 --> 00:55:20,613
national security.

1560
00:55:20,617 --> 00:55:21,947
The Press: Sean -- Mr
Spicer: Sorry, hold on.

1561
00:55:21,951 --> 00:55:22,621
He gets one more.

1562
00:55:22,619 --> 00:55:23,289
Everybody else did.

1563
00:55:23,286 --> 00:55:24,656
The Press: Can I
have a follow up?

1564
00:55:24,654 --> 00:55:25,994
Mr Spicer: Hold on,
hold on, hold on.

1565
00:55:25,989 --> 00:55:27,319
Let me just --
everybody else got two.

1566
00:55:27,323 --> 00:55:29,393
The Press: Yes, just this
morning, President Trump

1567
00:55:29,392 --> 00:55:33,462
mentioned about his pick
for ambassador to China,

1568
00:55:33,463 --> 00:55:36,003
Governor -- Mr
Spicer: Branstad.

1569
00:55:35,999 --> 00:55:37,539
The Press: Branstad.

1570
00:55:37,534 --> 00:55:39,804
Governor Branstad
apparently has a really

1571
00:55:39,803 --> 00:55:41,133
positive view on China.

1572
00:55:41,137 --> 00:55:42,237
Mr Spicer: Yeah.

1573
00:55:42,238 --> 00:55:45,208
The Press: So how
confident the President is

1574
00:55:45,208 --> 00:55:47,808
on the Governor's
confirmation to get all

1575
00:55:47,811 --> 00:55:49,681
the support in the Senate?

1576
00:55:49,679 --> 00:55:52,219
Mr Spicer: Oh, I think
he'll receive tremendous

1577
00:55:52,215 --> 00:55:53,685
support --
bipartisan support.

1578
00:55:53,683 --> 00:55:59,793
Governor Branstad has been
-- is a true -- he has

1579
00:55:59,789 --> 00:56:01,089
huge ties on both sides.

1580
00:56:01,091 --> 00:56:03,391
I think he's one of the
longest serving governors

1581
00:56:03,393 --> 00:56:04,493
ever, definitely in Iowa.

1582
00:56:04,494 --> 00:56:06,594
And I think that he has
tremendous respect from

1583
00:56:06,596 --> 00:56:09,196
both sides of the aisle
not just for how he's

1584
00:56:09,199 --> 00:56:12,439
handled himself as a
governor in Iowa, but his

1585
00:56:12,435 --> 00:56:15,405
deep understanding and
ties to China and to

1586
00:56:15,405 --> 00:56:17,675
China's economy and
to Chinese officials.

1587
00:56:17,674 --> 00:56:20,314
And I think he's going
to do a phenomenal job

1588
00:56:20,310 --> 00:56:21,180
representing our nation.

1589
00:56:21,177 --> 00:56:23,747
He starts with a deep
understanding of the

1590
00:56:23,747 --> 00:56:26,087
Chinese economy, the
Chinese government, and

1591
00:56:26,082 --> 00:56:28,452
that is going to really
serve our nation well. Mara.

1592
00:56:28,451 --> 00:56:30,321
The Press: Can I just have
a follow-up on China?

1593
00:56:30,320 --> 00:56:30,990
Thank you.

1594
00:56:30,987 --> 00:56:32,327
Because I know I
got one before.

1595
00:56:32,322 --> 00:56:32,992
Mr Spicer: You did.

1596
00:56:32,989 --> 00:56:33,759
The Press: I
appreciate that.

1597
00:56:33,757 --> 00:56:35,557
A lot of people voted for
Donald Trump because they

1598
00:56:35,558 --> 00:56:37,998
felt -- they agreed
with him that the U.S.

1599
00:56:37,994 --> 00:56:40,294
was getting ripped
off by China.

1600
00:56:40,296 --> 00:56:43,136
And after the election, he
made the call to Taiwan,

1601
00:56:43,133 --> 00:56:44,103
which he was praised for.

1602
00:56:44,100 --> 00:56:46,240
Then he told Fox News --
he said, "I don't know why

1603
00:56:46,236 --> 00:56:49,276
we have to be bound by a
one-China policy unless we

1604
00:56:49,272 --> 00:56:52,042
make a deal with China
having to do with other

1605
00:56:52,041 --> 00:56:53,711
things, including trade."
Then he reaffirmed

1606
00:56:53,710 --> 00:56:54,540
the one-China policy.

1607
00:56:54,544 --> 00:56:57,044
So what did he get in
return from China

1608
00:56:57,046 --> 00:56:57,886
for doing that?

1609
00:56:57,881 --> 00:56:59,681
Mr Spicer: Well, he
had a conversation

1610
00:56:59,682 --> 00:57:00,552
with President Xi.

1611
00:57:00,550 --> 00:57:03,020
I'm not going to get
into the details of it.

1612
00:57:03,019 --> 00:57:07,729
But at the President's --
President Xi's request and

1613
00:57:07,724 --> 00:57:10,264
after a discussion, the
President reaffirmed the

1614
00:57:10,260 --> 00:57:12,000
one-China policy.

1615
00:57:11,995 --> 00:57:14,465
The President is not one
to discuss his

1616
00:57:14,464 --> 00:57:16,304
negotiating tactics. So I --

1617
00:57:16,299 --> 00:57:21,469
The Press: But
did he get something?

1618
00:57:21,471 --> 00:57:22,811
Can he assure the American
people he got something?

1619
00:57:22,806 --> 00:57:24,176
Mr Spicer: The President
always gets something. Ryan.

1620
00:57:24,174 --> 00:57:24,844
The Press: Well,
what was it?

1621
00:57:24,841 --> 00:57:25,511
What was it?

1622
00:57:25,508 --> 00:57:26,848
The Press: Sean, two
quick follow-ups.

1623
00:57:26,843 --> 00:57:28,183
First of all, I noticed
earlier today there were a

1624
00:57:28,178 --> 00:57:29,508
lot of Republican
governors out here but not

1625
00:57:29,512 --> 00:57:30,182
very many Democratic
governors.

1626
00:57:30,180 --> 00:57:32,680
Is this administration
actively attempting to

1627
00:57:32,682 --> 00:57:34,552
reach out to the other
side of the aisle

1628
00:57:34,551 --> 00:57:35,451
for compromise?

1629
00:57:35,451 --> 00:57:36,851
Mr Spicer: Yeah.

1630
00:57:36,853 --> 00:57:39,893
I think if you saw the
remarks during this pool

1631
00:57:39,889 --> 00:57:43,889
opportunity, the President
talked about some of the

1632
00:57:43,893 --> 00:57:45,593
conversations he had with
Governor McAuliffe in

1633
00:57:45,595 --> 00:57:46,965
Virginia in particular.

1634
00:57:46,963 --> 00:57:49,763
But they were here last
night, they had dinner

1635
00:57:49,766 --> 00:57:51,866
with their wives
and husbands.

1636
00:57:51,868 --> 00:57:57,708
It was an opportunity to
really talk to the Cabinet

1637
00:57:57,707 --> 00:57:59,947
and get to know each other
and talk about priorities.

1638
00:57:59,943 --> 00:58:02,113
I will say that -- it's
interesting,

1639
00:58:02,111 --> 00:58:03,211
I mentioned Obamacare.

1640
00:58:03,213 --> 00:58:05,813
When one of the things
that was brought up by the

1641
00:58:05,815 --> 00:58:07,615
governors -- and I've got
to be honest, I wasn't

1642
00:58:07,617 --> 00:58:09,287
picking which governors
and thinking of party --

1643
00:58:09,285 --> 00:58:11,355
but it came up over and
over again that they

1644
00:58:11,354 --> 00:58:14,624
actually -- several of
them commented on how

1645
00:58:14,624 --> 00:58:17,394
appreciative they have
been in terms of seeking

1646
00:58:17,393 --> 00:58:20,793
their input on not
just healthcare but

1647
00:58:20,797 --> 00:58:23,737
infrastructure and
Medicaid, in particular,

1648
00:58:23,733 --> 00:58:26,803
and other areas that fall
into their thing -- to

1649
00:58:26,803 --> 00:58:27,473
their wheelhouse.

1650
00:58:27,470 --> 00:58:29,910
So I think -- just so
we're clear, the dialogue

1651
00:58:29,906 --> 00:58:35,216
that exists between this
administration and this

1652
00:58:35,211 --> 00:58:37,711
President and governors I
think is a very

1653
00:58:37,714 --> 00:58:39,384
refreshing move forward.

1654
00:58:39,382 --> 00:58:42,582
The Press: And then my
point -- a follow-up, a

1655
00:58:42,585 --> 00:58:43,255
quick follow-up.

1656
00:58:43,253 --> 00:58:44,583
I want to clarify a little
bit of something that

1657
00:58:44,587 --> 00:58:47,827
happened Thursday and
Friday about the "public

1658
00:58:47,824 --> 00:58:48,794
enemy" statement.

1659
00:58:48,791 --> 00:58:50,491
Are you saying that all of
the press is

1660
00:58:50,493 --> 00:58:51,263
the public enemy?

1661
00:58:51,261 --> 00:58:53,031
People who didn't vote
for the President?

1662
00:58:53,029 --> 00:58:55,729
Just the people in this
room, or -- is it just

1663
00:58:55,732 --> 00:58:57,372
Bill Maher and maybe
Warren Beatty?

1664
00:58:57,367 --> 00:59:00,337
Can you clarify what
we're talking about?

1665
00:59:00,336 --> 00:59:01,676
Mr Spicer: I think the
President made clear in

1666
00:59:01,671 --> 00:59:03,741
his tweet that he was
referring to the fake news

1667
00:59:03,740 --> 00:59:10,650
and people who ascribe to
pushing fake stories is

1668
00:59:10,647 --> 00:59:11,677
where his target was.

1669
00:59:11,681 --> 00:59:12,651
The Press: Thanks
a lot, Sean.

1670
00:59:12,649 --> 00:59:15,549
As you know, more than 60
Democrats either boycotted

1671
00:59:15,551 --> 00:59:17,121
or skipped the
President's inauguration.

1672
00:59:17,120 --> 00:59:19,990
What kind of reception do
you think the President

1673
00:59:19,989 --> 00:59:22,529
will get tomorrow evening
from Democrats in the

1674
00:59:22,525 --> 00:59:25,395
House and Senate when he
gives his joint address?

1675
00:59:25,395 --> 00:59:30,505
Mr Spicer: Well, I
hope a very robust and

1676
00:59:30,500 --> 00:59:32,040
applause-filled reception.

1677
00:59:32,035 --> 00:59:35,705
The speech, as I
mentioned, breaks down a

1678
00:59:35,705 --> 00:59:37,805
lot of barriers that
have traditionally been

1679
00:59:37,807 --> 00:59:39,507
political barriers in
terms of areas where I

1680
00:59:39,509 --> 00:59:43,749
think we should find
agreement that reaffirm

1681
00:59:43,746 --> 00:59:45,686
the President's desire
to unite the country and

1682
00:59:45,682 --> 00:59:48,552
unite our parties in areas
of shared common ground.

1683
00:59:48,551 --> 00:59:52,391
And I think the things
that he's talking about --

1684
00:59:52,388 --> 00:59:54,528
increasing the support
to our military, our

1685
00:59:54,524 --> 00:59:58,464
veterans; helping children
get an education -- those

1686
00:59:58,461 --> 01:00:01,031
are things that hopefully
we can all come together

1687
01:00:01,030 --> 01:00:02,670
and think are shared
American values,

1688
01:00:02,665 --> 01:00:03,535
regardless of party.

1689
01:00:03,533 --> 01:00:07,703
I hope that we see a
tremendous amount of

1690
01:00:07,704 --> 01:00:10,874
support for the President
and his policies and his

1691
01:00:10,873 --> 01:00:11,773
vision tomorrow night.

1692
01:00:11,774 --> 01:00:16,814
He recognizes the problems
that our nation faces, but

1693
01:00:16,813 --> 01:00:18,913
he also charts a
vision forward.

1694
01:00:18,915 --> 01:00:22,955
And I think it's one that
if people are honest, that

1695
01:00:22,952 --> 01:00:25,922
they will agree that it
really isn't a political

1696
01:00:25,922 --> 01:00:29,362
agenda as much as an
agenda for this country

1697
01:00:29,359 --> 01:00:31,599
and one to move
us forward.

1698
01:00:31,594 --> 01:00:37,764
So I think that we'll have
to wait and see, but I can

1699
01:00:37,767 --> 01:00:39,107
tell you that I think it
will be a

1700
01:00:39,102 --> 01:00:39,772
positive move forward.

1701
01:00:39,769 --> 01:00:40,439
Zeke.

1702
01:00:40,436 --> 01:00:41,236
The Press: Thanks, Sean.

1703
01:00:41,237 --> 01:00:43,177
Couple follow-ups to
Olivier's question earlier

1704
01:00:43,172 --> 01:00:44,242
about the ISIS review.

1705
01:00:44,240 --> 01:00:45,010
It's day 30.

1706
01:00:45,008 --> 01:00:47,278
The memorandum the
President signed 30 days

1707
01:00:47,276 --> 01:00:49,116
ago said that he was
supposed to be briefed.

1708
01:00:49,112 --> 01:00:52,352
Can you give us a more
-- a timeline on when

1709
01:00:52,348 --> 01:00:54,488
specifically President
Trump will be involved --

1710
01:00:54,484 --> 01:00:55,514
I know you mentioned
there's a principals

1711
01:00:55,518 --> 01:00:56,788
meeting earlier today --
what the timeline of the

1712
01:00:56,786 --> 01:00:57,956
review is?

1713
01:00:57,954 --> 01:00:59,924
And then separately, you
mentioned that Secretary

1714
01:00:59,922 --> 01:01:01,192
Mattis was the one who's
presenting it to the

1715
01:01:01,190 --> 01:01:02,760
principals committee.

1716
01:01:02,759 --> 01:01:04,959
The memorandum included
things other than just the

1717
01:01:04,961 --> 01:01:09,001
military; it included
public diplomacy efforts

1718
01:01:08,998 --> 01:01:10,598
to cut off financial
ties to ISIS.

1719
01:01:10,600 --> 01:01:11,430
What were the other

1720
01:01:11,434 --> 01:01:12,264
Cabinet secretaries involved?

1721
01:01:12,268 --> 01:01:13,808
What is sort of -- what
got us here and where do

1722
01:01:13,803 --> 01:01:14,373
we go from here?

1723
01:01:14,370 --> 01:01:14,840
Mr Spicer: Thank you.

1724
01:01:14,837 --> 01:01:18,007
Let me, if I may, get
briefed on who and what

1725
01:01:18,007 --> 01:01:20,577
occurred in the principals
meeting to the extent that

1726
01:01:20,576 --> 01:01:22,676
it's available, and I'd be
glad to get back to you

1727
01:01:22,678 --> 01:01:24,048
tomorrow on that.

1728
01:01:24,047 --> 01:01:27,047
I just don't have that
information available.

1729
01:01:27,050 --> 01:01:28,380
Gabi.

1730
01:01:28,384 --> 01:01:29,014
The Press: Thanks, Sean.

1731
01:01:30,086 --> 01:01:31,426
Palm Beach County has said
that it's costing $60,000

1732
01:01:32,588 --> 01:01:35,388
a day in overtime pay
every time the President

1733
01:01:35,391 --> 01:01:37,631
comes to visit
West Palm Beach.

1734
01:01:37,627 --> 01:01:39,327
He's slated to go there
again this weekend

1735
01:01:39,328 --> 01:01:41,068
according to some reports.

1736
01:01:41,064 --> 01:01:44,004
Is the President taking
any steps to ensure that

1737
01:01:44,000 --> 01:01:46,500
taxpayers aren't saddled
with tremendous costs in

1738
01:01:46,502 --> 01:01:48,372
his travel habits,
considering he was so

1739
01:01:48,371 --> 01:01:50,871
critical of his
predecessor on

1740
01:01:50,873 --> 01:01:52,243
that matter?

1741
01:01:52,241 --> 01:01:56,681
Mr Spicer: Well, Gabi, the
security for the President

1742
01:01:56,679 --> 01:01:59,349
and the First Family is
set by the Secret Service.

1743
01:01:59,348 --> 01:02:01,948
As you know, they
determine the security

1744
01:02:01,951 --> 01:02:04,791
measures that need to
be taken to protect the

1745
01:02:04,787 --> 01:02:07,257
President -- frankly,
any President.

1746
01:02:07,256 --> 01:02:09,626
So I'm going to leave it
up to the Secret Service

1747
01:02:09,625 --> 01:02:12,825
to decide what security
measures and steps are

1748
01:02:12,829 --> 01:02:14,829
taken to protect
the President.

1749
01:02:14,831 --> 01:02:17,501
And, as you know, I mean,
this -- depending on -- it

1750
01:02:17,500 --> 01:02:19,440
transcends
administrations.

1751
01:02:19,435 --> 01:02:22,035
Wherever the President
goes, they need to make

1752
01:02:22,038 --> 01:02:23,308
sure that the President
and the First

1753
01:02:23,306 --> 01:02:23,806
Family is safe.

1754
01:02:23,806 --> 01:02:28,546
That's something that I
think -- we rely on the

1755
01:02:28,544 --> 01:02:31,044
Secret Service to make
those determinations.

1756
01:02:31,047 --> 01:02:33,387
They continue to do a
phenomenal job making sure

1757
01:02:33,382 --> 01:02:35,952
that the First Family and
the President and the Vice

1758
01:02:35,952 --> 01:02:38,022
President are protected,
and we have full

1759
01:02:38,020 --> 01:02:40,190
confidence in the
decisions that they make.

1760
01:02:40,189 --> 01:02:41,959
So thank you
guys very much.

1761
01:02:41,958 --> 01:02:42,628
We'll have a briefing
tomorrow -- later today

1762
01:02:42,625 --> 01:02:45,825
on the state.

1763
01:02:45,828 --> 01:02:46,458
The Press:
Approximate time?

1764
01:02:46,462 --> 01:02:46,892
Mr Spicer: What's that?

1765
01:02:46,896 --> 01:02:47,766
The Press:
Approximate time?

1766
01:02:47,763 --> 01:02:49,503
Mr Spicer: I would look
in the 6 o'clock hour.

1767
01:02:49,499 --> 01:02:50,729
The Press: Here?

1768
01:02:50,733 --> 01:02:51,503
Mr Spicer: Yes, here.

1769
01:02:51,501 --> 01:02:52,501
The Press: After 6:00?

1770
01:02:52,502 --> 01:02:56,202
Mr Spicer: I get to
see you here again.

1771
01:02:56,205 --> 01:02:57,605
I would plan
on around 6:00.

1772
01:02:57,607 --> 01:02:59,547
We'll have
further guidance.

1773
01:02:59,542 --> 01:03:01,142
And I don't anticipate
it being long.

1774
01:03:01,144 --> 01:03:02,714
I think we're just going
to walk through the -- off

1775
01:03:02,712 --> 01:03:03,242
camera.

1776
01:03:03,246 --> 01:03:05,486
We'll walk through the
themes of the speech, take

1777
01:03:05,481 --> 01:03:07,721
any questions, and then
try to get some additional

1778
01:03:07,717 --> 01:03:10,187
information, depending on
where the President is in

1779
01:03:10,186 --> 01:03:11,256
his read-through.

1780
01:03:11,254 --> 01:03:12,454
The Press: No briefing
tomorrow, right?

1781
01:03:12,455 --> 01:03:13,725
Mr Spicer: No
briefing tomorrow.

1782
01:03:13,723 --> 01:03:15,593
If you don't want one, you
don't have to have one.

1783
01:03:15,591 --> 01:03:16,791
The Press: You said you'd
get back to us on a couple

1784
01:03:16,792 --> 01:03:17,532
of issues tomorrow.

1785
01:03:17,527 --> 01:03:19,597
Mr Spicer: Well, I'm --
it's April that brought

1786
01:03:19,595 --> 01:03:20,565
up no briefing.

1787
01:03:20,563 --> 01:03:21,733
If you guys want to vote

1788
01:03:21,731 --> 01:03:22,561
-- The Press: No, no, no,

1789
01:03:22,565 --> 01:03:24,205
but tradition is there's
no briefing on -- that's

1790
01:03:24,200 --> 01:03:24,700
why I'm asking.

1791
01:03:24,700 --> 01:03:25,100
Mr Spicer: I know.

1792
01:03:25,101 --> 01:03:26,901
We will do something
for you, I promise. We ill make sure we --

1793
01:03:26,903 --> 01:03:27,873
The Press: Is it
going to be a gaggle like last Friday, or is it

1794
01:03:28,604 --> 01:03:29,074
going to be --

1795
01:03:29,071 --> 01:03:29,571
Mr Spicer:
No, no, we will

1796
01:03:29,572 --> 01:03:30,142
get back to you.

1797
01:03:30,139 --> 01:03:32,279
I'm sure you'll see my
face here tomorrow.

1798
01:03:32,275 --> 01:03:33,375
Thank you very much.

1799
01:03:33,376 --> 01:03:33,946
I'll see you
guys tomorrow.