English subtitles for clip: File:The President Speaks at the G7 Summit in Germany.webm
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1 00:00:00,567 --> 00:00:02,967 President Obama: Good afternoon. 2 00:00:02,969 --> 00:00:05,939 Let me begin by once again thanking Chancellor Merkel 3 00:00:05,939 --> 00:00:08,409 and the people of Bavaria and Germany for their 4 00:00:08,408 --> 00:00:10,808 extraordinary hospitality here at the G7. 5 00:00:10,810 --> 00:00:15,480 My stay here has been extraordinary. 6 00:00:15,482 --> 00:00:16,612 I wish I could stay longer. 7 00:00:16,616 --> 00:00:22,756 And one of the pleasures of being President is scouting 8 00:00:22,756 --> 00:00:25,296 out places that you want to come back to, 9 00:00:25,291 --> 00:00:28,031 where you don't have to spend all your time 10 00:00:28,027 --> 00:00:29,897 in a conference room. 11 00:00:29,896 --> 00:00:32,166 The setting is breathtaking. 12 00:00:32,165 --> 00:00:35,205 Our German friends have been absolutely wonderful, 13 00:00:35,201 --> 00:00:37,841 and the success of this summit is a tribute 14 00:00:37,837 --> 00:00:40,607 to their outstanding work. 15 00:00:40,607 --> 00:00:43,947 The G7 represents some of the largest economies in the world. 16 00:00:43,943 --> 00:00:47,083 But in our G7 partners, the United States also 17 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,950 embraces some of our strongest allies and closest 18 00:00:49,949 --> 00:00:51,719 friends in the world. 19 00:00:51,718 --> 00:00:54,358 So, even as we work to promote the growth that 20 00:00:54,354 --> 00:00:57,054 creates jobs and opportunity, we're also 21 00:00:57,056 --> 00:00:59,896 here to stand up for the fundamental principles that 22 00:00:59,893 --> 00:01:04,293 we share as democracies: for freedom; for peace; 23 00:01:04,297 --> 00:01:07,297 for the right of nations and peoples 24 00:01:07,300 --> 00:01:10,940 to decide their own destiny; for universal human 25 00:01:10,937 --> 00:01:13,707 rights and the dignity of every human being. 26 00:01:13,706 --> 00:01:16,606 And I'm pleased that here in KrĂźn, 27 00:01:16,609 --> 00:01:20,309 we showed that on the most pressing global challenges, 28 00:01:20,313 --> 00:01:23,813 America and our allies stand united. 29 00:01:23,817 --> 00:01:27,057 We agree that the best way to sustain the global 30 00:01:27,053 --> 00:01:30,853 economic recovery is by focusing on jobs and growth. 31 00:01:30,857 --> 00:01:33,527 That's what I'm focused on in the United States. 32 00:01:33,526 --> 00:01:35,526 On Friday, we learned that our economy created 33 00:01:35,528 --> 00:01:40,368 another 280,000 jobs in May -- the strongest month 34 00:01:40,366 --> 00:01:43,406 of the year so far -- and more than 3 million new 35 00:01:43,403 --> 00:01:46,903 jobs over the past year, nearly the fastest pace 36 00:01:46,906 --> 00:01:48,476 in over a decade. 37 00:01:48,475 --> 00:01:51,245 We've now seen five straight years of private sector 38 00:01:51,244 --> 00:01:54,814 job growth -- 12.6 million new jobs created -- 39 00:01:54,814 --> 00:01:57,054 the longest streak on record. 40 00:01:57,050 --> 00:01:59,050 The unemployment rate is near its lowest level 41 00:01:59,052 --> 00:02:00,122 in seven years. 42 00:02:00,119 --> 00:02:03,359 Wages for American workers continue to rise. 43 00:02:03,356 --> 00:02:05,626 And since I took office, the United States 44 00:02:05,625 --> 00:02:08,395 has cut our deficit by two-thirds. 45 00:02:08,394 --> 00:02:11,534 So, in the global economy, America 46 00:02:11,531 --> 00:02:14,201 is a major source of strength. 47 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:17,670 At the same time, we recognize that the global economy, 48 00:02:17,670 --> 00:02:20,140 while growing, is still not performing at its full 49 00:02:20,139 --> 00:02:24,209 potential, And we agreed on a number of necessary steps. 50 00:02:24,210 --> 00:02:26,780 Here in Europe, we support efforts to find a path 51 00:02:26,779 --> 00:02:29,719 that enables Greece to carry out key reforms 52 00:02:29,716 --> 00:02:32,956 and return to growth within a strong, stable 53 00:02:32,952 --> 00:02:35,352 and growing Eurozone. 54 00:02:35,355 --> 00:02:38,225 I updated my partners on our effort with Congress to pass 55 00:02:38,224 --> 00:02:41,624 trade promotion authority so we can move ahead with TPP 56 00:02:41,628 --> 00:02:45,668 in the Asia Pacific region, and T-TIP here in Europe -- 57 00:02:45,665 --> 00:02:47,705 agreements with high standards to protect 58 00:02:47,700 --> 00:02:51,200 workers, public safety and the environment. 59 00:02:51,204 --> 00:02:53,204 We continue to make progress toward 60 00:02:53,206 --> 00:02:57,346 a strong global climate agreement this year in Paris. 61 00:02:57,343 --> 00:02:59,643 All the G7 countries have now put forward our 62 00:02:59,646 --> 00:03:03,786 post-2020 targets for reducing carbon emissions, 63 00:03:03,783 --> 00:03:06,253 and we'll continue to urge other significant emitters 64 00:03:06,252 --> 00:03:07,892 to do so as well. 65 00:03:07,887 --> 00:03:10,487 We'll continue to meet our climate finance commitments 66 00:03:10,490 --> 00:03:12,990 to help developing countries transition 67 00:03:12,992 --> 00:03:16,462 to low-carbon growth. 68 00:03:16,462 --> 00:03:20,062 As we've done in the U.S., the G7 agreed on the need 69 00:03:20,066 --> 00:03:23,036 to integrate climate risks into development assistance 70 00:03:23,036 --> 00:03:25,906 and investment programs across the board, and to 71 00:03:25,905 --> 00:03:28,045 increase access to risk insurance to help 72 00:03:28,041 --> 00:03:31,141 developing countries respond to and recover from 73 00:03:31,144 --> 00:03:33,484 climate-related disasters. 74 00:03:33,479 --> 00:03:35,479 And building on the Power Africa initiative 75 00:03:35,481 --> 00:03:38,421 I launched two years ago, the G7 will work to mobilize 76 00:03:38,418 --> 00:03:43,088 more financing for clean-energy projects in Africa. 77 00:03:43,089 --> 00:03:45,559 With respect to security, the G7 remains 78 00:03:45,558 --> 00:03:48,858 strongly united in support for Ukraine. 79 00:03:48,861 --> 00:03:51,561 We'll continue to provide economic support and technical 80 00:03:51,564 --> 00:03:53,864 assistance that Ukraine needs as it moves ahead 81 00:03:53,866 --> 00:03:56,566 on critical reforms to transform its economy 82 00:03:56,569 --> 00:03:59,009 and strengthen its democracy. 83 00:03:59,005 --> 00:04:01,005 As we've seen again in recent days, 84 00:04:01,007 --> 00:04:03,007 Russian forces continue to operate 85 00:04:03,009 --> 00:04:05,809 in eastern Ukraine, violating Ukraine's sovereignty 86 00:04:05,812 --> 00:04:08,312 and territorial integrity. 87 00:04:08,314 --> 00:04:11,254 This is now the second year in a row that the G7 has met without 88 00:04:11,250 --> 00:04:15,360 Russia -- another example of Russia's isolation -- and every 89 00:04:15,355 --> 00:04:18,125 member of the G7 continues to maintain sanctions 90 00:04:18,124 --> 00:04:22,794 on Russia for its aggression against Ukraine. 91 00:04:22,795 --> 00:04:25,435 Now, it's important to recognize the Russian economy 92 00:04:25,431 --> 00:04:27,701 has been seriously weakened. 93 00:04:27,700 --> 00:04:31,100 The ruble and foreign investment are down; Inflation is up. 94 00:04:31,104 --> 00:04:33,504 The Russian central bank has lost more than 95 00:04:33,506 --> 00:04:36,746 $150 billion in reserves. 96 00:04:36,743 --> 00:04:38,743 Russian banks and firms are virtually locked out 97 00:04:38,745 --> 00:04:40,615 of the international markets. 98 00:04:40,613 --> 00:04:43,113 Russian energy companies are struggling to import 99 00:04:43,116 --> 00:04:45,186 the services and technologies they need 100 00:04:45,184 --> 00:04:48,024 for complex energy projects. 101 00:04:48,021 --> 00:04:51,561 Russian defense firms have been cut off from key technologies. 102 00:04:51,557 --> 00:04:53,327 Russia is in deep recession. 103 00:04:53,326 --> 00:04:56,296 So Russia's actions in Ukraine are hurting 104 00:04:56,295 --> 00:05:00,165 Russia and hurting the Russian people. 105 00:05:00,166 --> 00:05:03,636 Here at the G7, we agreed that even as we will continue to seek 106 00:05:03,636 --> 00:05:06,936 a diplomatic solution, sanctions against Russia will 107 00:05:06,939 --> 00:05:09,979 remain in place so long as Russia continues to violate 108 00:05:09,976 --> 00:05:12,946 its obligations under the Minsk agreements. 109 00:05:12,945 --> 00:05:14,945 Our European partners reaffirmed that they will 110 00:05:14,947 --> 00:05:17,647 maintain sanctions on Russia until the Minsk agreements 111 00:05:17,650 --> 00:05:19,950 are fully implemented, which means extending 112 00:05:19,952 --> 00:05:24,522 the EU's existing sectoral sanctions beyond July. 113 00:05:24,524 --> 00:05:27,224 And the G7 is making it clear that, if necessary, 114 00:05:27,226 --> 00:05:29,226 we stand ready to impose additional, 115 00:05:29,228 --> 00:05:33,068 significant sanctions against Russia. 116 00:05:33,066 --> 00:05:35,606 Beyond Europe, we discussed the negotiations over 117 00:05:35,601 --> 00:05:39,001 Iran's nuclear program, and we remain united heading into 118 00:05:39,005 --> 00:05:41,175 the final stages of the talks. 119 00:05:41,174 --> 00:05:44,874 Iran has a historic opportunity to resolve the international 120 00:05:44,877 --> 00:05:47,547 community's concerns about its nuclear program, 121 00:05:47,547 --> 00:05:51,417 and we agreed that Iran needs to seize that opportunity. 122 00:05:51,417 --> 00:05:54,687 Our discussions with Prime Minister Abadi of Iraq, 123 00:05:54,687 --> 00:06:00,197 President Caid Essebsi of Tunisia 124 00:06:00,193 --> 00:06:02,633 and President Buhari of Nigeria were a chance 125 00:06:02,628 --> 00:06:07,338 to address the threats of ISIL and Boko Haram. 126 00:06:07,333 --> 00:06:10,373 The G7 countries, therefore, agreed to work -- together 127 00:06:10,369 --> 00:06:12,809 and with our partners -- to further coordinate 128 00:06:12,805 --> 00:06:15,645 our counterterrorism efforts. 129 00:06:15,641 --> 00:06:19,181 As many of the world's leading partners in global development 130 00:06:19,178 --> 00:06:22,778 -- joined by leaders of Ethiopia, Liberia, Nigeria, 131 00:06:22,782 --> 00:06:25,822 Senegal and the African Union -- we discussed how 132 00:06:25,818 --> 00:06:29,358 to maximize the impact of our development partnerships. 133 00:06:29,355 --> 00:06:31,855 We agreed to continue our landmark initiative to promote 134 00:06:31,858 --> 00:06:34,998 food security and nutrition -- part of our effort 135 00:06:34,994 --> 00:06:37,934 to lift 500 million people in developing countries 136 00:06:37,930 --> 00:06:41,530 out of hunger and malnutrition by 2030. 137 00:06:41,534 --> 00:06:43,534 We'll continue to work with our partners 138 00:06:43,536 --> 00:06:46,806 in West Africa to get Ebola cases down to zero. 139 00:06:46,806 --> 00:06:48,846 And as part of our Global Health Security Agenda, 140 00:06:48,841 --> 00:06:52,441 I'm pleased that the G7 made a major commitment to help 141 00:06:52,445 --> 00:06:55,685 60 countries over the next five years achieve specific 142 00:06:55,681 --> 00:06:59,581 targets to better prevent, detect and respond 143 00:06:59,585 --> 00:07:04,195 to future outbreaks before they become epidemics. 144 00:07:04,190 --> 00:07:06,430 And finally, I want to commend Chancellor Merkel for ensuring 145 00:07:06,425 --> 00:07:10,125 that this summit included a focus on expanding educational 146 00:07:10,129 --> 00:07:12,929 and economic opportunities for women and girls. 147 00:07:12,932 --> 00:07:15,902 The G7 committed to expanding career training 148 00:07:15,902 --> 00:07:19,302 for women in our own countries, and to increase technical 149 00:07:19,305 --> 00:07:22,205 and vocational training in developing countries, 150 00:07:22,208 --> 00:07:24,408 which will help all of our nations prosper. 151 00:07:24,410 --> 00:07:27,180 So, again, I want to thank Angela and the people 152 00:07:27,180 --> 00:07:30,480 of Germany for their extraordinary hospitality. 153 00:07:30,483 --> 00:07:32,923 I leave here confident that when it comes to the key challenges 154 00:07:32,919 --> 00:07:36,619 of our time, America and our closest allies stand 155 00:07:36,622 --> 00:07:38,062 shoulder to shoulder. 156 00:07:38,057 --> 00:07:40,297 So with that, I will take some questions. 157 00:07:40,293 --> 00:07:44,863 And I will start off with Jeff Mason of Reuters. 158 00:07:44,864 --> 00:07:46,734 The Press: Thank you, Mr. President. 159 00:07:46,732 --> 00:07:48,772 After your meetings here, you mentioned Greece 160 00:07:48,768 --> 00:07:50,608 in your opening statement. 161 00:07:50,603 --> 00:07:52,603 Do you believe that the Europeans are being 162 00:07:52,605 --> 00:07:54,605 too tough on Greece in these talks? 163 00:07:54,607 --> 00:07:57,177 And what else needs to be done on both sides to ensure there's 164 00:07:57,176 --> 00:07:59,776 a deal and to ensure that there isn't the undue harm 165 00:07:59,779 --> 00:08:01,779 to financial markets that you've warned about? 166 00:08:01,781 --> 00:08:04,851 And on a separate and somewhat related topic, 167 00:08:04,851 --> 00:08:11,591 the French told reporters today that you said to G7 leaders 168 00:08:11,591 --> 00:08:14,531 that you're concerned that the dollar is too strong. 169 00:08:14,527 --> 00:08:16,427 What did you say exactly? 170 00:08:16,429 --> 00:08:19,299 And are you concerned that the dollar is too strong? 171 00:08:19,298 --> 00:08:26,238 President Obama: First of all, don't believe unnamed quotes. 172 00:08:26,239 --> 00:08:27,939 I did not say that. 173 00:08:27,940 --> 00:08:33,480 And I make a practice of not commenting on the daily 174 00:08:33,479 --> 00:08:37,449 fluctuations of the dollar or any other currency. 175 00:08:39,619 --> 00:08:45,189 With respect to Greece, I think that not only our G7 partners 176 00:08:45,191 --> 00:08:48,361 but the IMF and other institutions that were 177 00:08:48,361 --> 00:08:52,331 represented here feel a sense of urgency in finding 178 00:08:52,331 --> 00:08:56,671 a path to resolve the situation there. 179 00:08:56,669 --> 00:09:02,979 And what it's going to require is Greece being serious about 180 00:09:02,975 --> 00:09:09,215 making some important reforms not only to satisfy creditors, 181 00:09:09,215 --> 00:09:12,615 but, more importantly, to create a platform whereby 182 00:09:12,618 --> 00:09:15,588 the Greek economy can start growing again and prosper. 183 00:09:15,588 --> 00:09:21,828 And so the Greeks are going to have to follow through and make 184 00:09:21,827 --> 00:09:24,597 some tough political choices that will be good 185 00:09:24,597 --> 00:09:26,667 for the long term. 186 00:09:26,666 --> 00:09:28,666 I also think it's going to be important for 187 00:09:30,937 --> 00:09:34,077 the international community and the international financial 188 00:09:34,073 --> 00:09:39,313 agencies to recognize the extraordinary challenges 189 00:09:39,312 --> 00:09:41,612 that Greeks face. 190 00:09:41,614 --> 00:09:46,014 And if both sides are showing a sufficient flexibility, 191 00:09:46,018 --> 00:09:48,118 then I think we can get this problem resolved. 192 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:53,230 But it will require some tough decisions for all involved, 193 00:09:53,225 --> 00:09:56,665 and we will continue to consult with all the parties 194 00:09:56,662 --> 00:09:59,332 involved to try to encourage that kind of outcome. 195 00:09:59,332 --> 00:10:00,262 The Press: Are you confident it will happen 196 00:10:00,266 --> 00:10:02,436 before the deadline? 197 00:10:02,435 --> 00:10:04,875 President Obama: I think that everybody wants to make it 198 00:10:04,870 --> 00:10:08,010 happen and they're working hard to get it done. 199 00:10:08,007 --> 00:10:11,007 Nedra. 200 00:10:11,010 --> 00:10:11,840 The Press: Thank you, Mr. President. 201 00:10:11,844 --> 00:10:15,184 How frustrated are you that after you personally raised your 202 00:10:15,181 --> 00:10:18,121 concerns about cybersecurity with the Chinese President 203 00:10:18,117 --> 00:10:20,117 that a massive attack on U.S. personnel 204 00:10:20,119 --> 00:10:22,259 files seems to have originated from China? 205 00:10:22,254 --> 00:10:25,654 Was the Chinese government involved? 206 00:10:25,658 --> 00:10:27,658 And separately, as a sports fan, can you give 207 00:10:27,660 --> 00:10:30,360 us your reaction to the FIFA bribery scandal? 208 00:10:30,363 --> 00:10:31,363 Thank you. 209 00:10:31,364 --> 00:10:34,204 President Obama: With respect to FIFA, 210 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:40,470 I cannot comment on a pending case by our Attorney General. 211 00:10:40,473 --> 00:10:46,483 I will say that in conversations I've had here in Europe, 212 00:10:49,982 --> 00:10:52,552 people think it is very important for FIFA 213 00:10:52,551 --> 00:10:57,391 to be able to operate with integrity and transparency 214 00:10:57,390 --> 00:10:58,390 and accountability. 215 00:10:58,391 --> 00:11:04,401 And so as the investigation and charges proceed, 216 00:11:09,035 --> 00:11:13,605 I think we have to keep in mind that although football -- 217 00:11:13,606 --> 00:11:17,446 soccer -- depending on which side of the Atlantic you 218 00:11:17,443 --> 00:11:22,753 live on, is a game, it's also a massive business. 219 00:11:22,748 --> 00:11:26,518 It is a source of incredible national pride, 220 00:11:26,519 --> 00:11:28,419 and people want to make sure that it operates 221 00:11:28,421 --> 00:11:30,591 with integrity. 222 00:11:30,589 --> 00:11:33,829 The United States, by the way, since we keep on getting better 223 00:11:33,826 --> 00:11:41,566 and better at each World Cup, we want to make sure that 224 00:11:41,567 --> 00:11:44,207 a sport that's gaining popularity is conducted 225 00:11:44,203 --> 00:11:48,643 in an upright manner. 226 00:11:52,244 --> 00:11:58,114 I don't want to discuss -- because we haven't publicly 227 00:11:58,117 --> 00:12:05,587 unveiled who we think may have engaged in these cyber-attacks 228 00:12:05,591 --> 00:12:08,761 -- but I can tell you that we have known for a long 229 00:12:08,761 --> 00:12:12,161 time that there are significant vulnerabilities and that these 230 00:12:12,164 --> 00:12:14,964 vulnerabilities are going to accelerate as time goes 231 00:12:14,967 --> 00:12:19,977 by, both in systems within government and within 232 00:12:19,972 --> 00:12:21,842 the private sector. 233 00:12:21,841 --> 00:12:25,181 This is why it's so important that Congress moves forward on 234 00:12:25,177 --> 00:12:28,677 passing cyber legislation -- cybersecurity legislation that 235 00:12:28,681 --> 00:12:34,851 we've been pushing for; why, over the last several years, 236 00:12:34,854 --> 00:12:38,354 I've been standing up new mechanisms inside of government 237 00:12:38,357 --> 00:12:41,357 for us to investigate what happens and to start finding 238 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:44,330 more effective solutions. 239 00:12:44,330 --> 00:12:45,930 Part of the problem is, is that we've got 240 00:12:45,931 --> 00:12:47,901 very old systems. 241 00:12:47,900 --> 00:12:55,940 And we discovered this new breach in OPM precisely because 242 00:12:55,941 --> 00:13:00,151 we've initiated this process of inventorying and upgrading 243 00:13:00,146 --> 00:13:04,946 these old systems to address existing vulnerabilities. 244 00:13:04,950 --> 00:13:09,050 And what we are doing is going agency by agency, 245 00:13:09,054 --> 00:13:13,094 and figuring out what can we fix with better 246 00:13:13,092 --> 00:13:19,002 practices and better computer hygiene by personnel, 247 00:13:18,998 --> 00:13:22,098 and where do we need new systems and new infrastructure 248 00:13:22,101 --> 00:13:24,801 in order to protect information not just 249 00:13:24,803 --> 00:13:27,573 of government employees or government activities, 250 00:13:27,573 --> 00:13:31,243 but also, most importantly, where there's an interface 251 00:13:31,243 --> 00:13:35,783 between government and the American people. 252 00:13:35,781 --> 00:13:37,981 And this is going to be a big project and we're going 253 00:13:37,983 --> 00:13:40,753 to have to keep on doing it, because both state 254 00:13:40,753 --> 00:13:46,323 and non-state actors are sending everything they've 255 00:13:46,325 --> 00:13:50,525 got at trying to breach these systems. 256 00:13:50,529 --> 00:13:53,699 In some cases, it's non-state actors who are engaging 257 00:13:53,699 --> 00:13:57,169 in criminal activity and potential theft. 258 00:13:57,169 --> 00:14:01,939 In the case of state actors, they're probing for intelligence 259 00:14:01,941 --> 00:14:06,641 or, in some cases, trying to bring down systems 260 00:14:06,645 --> 00:14:09,585 in pursuit of their various foreign policy objectives. 261 00:14:09,582 --> 00:14:11,722 In either case, we're going to have to be much 262 00:14:11,717 --> 00:14:14,887 more aggressive, much more attentive than we have been. 263 00:14:14,887 --> 00:14:17,357 And this problem is not going to go away. 264 00:14:17,356 --> 00:14:19,496 It is going to accelerate. 265 00:14:19,491 --> 00:14:22,631 And that means that we have to be as nimble, 266 00:14:22,628 --> 00:14:25,828 as aggressive, and as well-resourced 267 00:14:25,831 --> 00:14:29,371 as those who are trying to break into these systems. 268 00:14:29,368 --> 00:14:32,438 Justin Sink. 269 00:14:32,438 --> 00:14:33,978 The Press: Thanks, Mr. President. 270 00:14:33,973 --> 00:14:35,503 I wanted to ask about two things that were 271 00:14:35,507 --> 00:14:37,947 on the agenda at the G7 this weekend. 272 00:14:37,943 --> 00:14:40,483 The first was the Islamic State. 273 00:14:40,479 --> 00:14:42,019 You said yesterday, ahead of your meeting with 274 00:14:42,014 --> 00:14:44,214 Prime Minister Cameron, that you'd assess what 275 00:14:44,216 --> 00:14:46,016 was working and what wasn't. 276 00:14:46,018 --> 00:14:48,758 So I'm wondering, bluntly, what is not working 277 00:14:48,754 --> 00:14:50,594 in the fight against the Islamic State. 278 00:14:50,589 --> 00:14:53,529 And in today's bilateral with Prime Minister Abadi, 279 00:14:53,525 --> 00:14:55,525 you pledged to step up assistance to Iraq. 280 00:14:55,527 --> 00:14:57,467 I'm wondering if that includes additional U.S. 281 00:14:57,463 --> 00:14:58,863 military personnel. 282 00:14:58,864 --> 00:15:01,664 Separately, on trade, Chancellor Merkel said today 283 00:15:01,667 --> 00:15:04,407 that she was pleased you would get fast track authority. 284 00:15:04,403 --> 00:15:06,443 I'm wondering if that means that you gave her or other leaders 285 00:15:06,438 --> 00:15:08,608 here assurance that it would go through the House. 286 00:15:08,607 --> 00:15:10,907 And if it doesn't, what does it say about your ability 287 00:15:10,909 --> 00:15:13,449 to achieve meaningful agreements with Congress 288 00:15:13,445 --> 00:15:15,445 for the remainder of your time in office? 289 00:15:15,447 --> 00:15:17,447 President Obama: Well, on the latter question, 290 00:15:17,449 --> 00:15:19,489 I'm not going to hypothesize about not getting it done. 291 00:15:19,485 --> 00:15:21,125 I intend to get it done. 292 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,290 And, hopefully, we're going to get a vote soon 293 00:15:23,289 --> 00:15:28,629 because I think it's the right thing to do. 294 00:15:28,627 --> 00:15:36,437 With respect to ISIL, we have made significant progress in 295 00:15:36,435 --> 00:15:43,445 pushing back ISIL from areas in which they had occupied 296 00:15:43,442 --> 00:15:48,682 or disrupted local populations, but we've also seen areas 297 00:15:48,681 --> 00:15:51,921 like in Ramadi where they're displaced in one place 298 00:15:51,917 --> 00:15:53,717 and then they come back in, in another. 299 00:15:53,719 --> 00:15:56,759 And they're nimble, and they're aggressive, 300 00:15:56,755 --> 00:15:59,325 and they're opportunistic. 301 00:15:59,325 --> 00:16:03,395 So one of the areas where we're going to have to improve 302 00:16:03,395 --> 00:16:08,165 is the speed at which we're training Iraqi forces. 303 00:16:08,167 --> 00:16:10,307 Where we've trained Iraqi forces directly 304 00:16:10,302 --> 00:16:15,472 and equipped them, and we have a train-and-assist posture, 305 00:16:15,474 --> 00:16:18,074 they operate effectively. 306 00:16:18,077 --> 00:16:23,517 Where we haven't, morale, lack of equipment, 307 00:16:23,515 --> 00:16:25,915 et cetera, may undermine the effectiveness 308 00:16:25,918 --> 00:16:27,188 of Iraqi security forces. 309 00:16:27,186 --> 00:16:30,456 So we want to get more Iraqi security forces trained, 310 00:16:30,456 --> 00:16:34,126 fresh, well-equipped and focused. 311 00:16:34,126 --> 00:16:37,396 And President Abadi wants the same thing. 312 00:16:37,396 --> 00:16:42,866 So we're reviewing a range of plans for how we might do that, 313 00:16:42,868 --> 00:16:46,238 essentially accelerating the number of Iraqi forces 314 00:16:46,238 --> 00:16:49,238 that are properly trained and equipped and have 315 00:16:49,241 --> 00:16:51,311 a focused strategy and good leadership. 316 00:16:51,310 --> 00:16:57,420 And when a finalized plan is presented to me by the Pentagon, 317 00:16:57,416 --> 00:17:00,656 then I will share it with the American people. 318 00:17:00,652 --> 00:17:07,162 We don't yet have a complete strategy because it requires 319 00:17:07,159 --> 00:17:10,299 commitments on the part of the Iraqis, as well, 320 00:17:10,295 --> 00:17:13,435 about how recruitment takes place, 321 00:17:13,432 --> 00:17:15,002 how that training takes place. 322 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,300 And so the details of that are not yet worked out. 323 00:17:18,303 --> 00:17:19,973 The Press: Is it fair to say that additional military 324 00:17:19,972 --> 00:17:21,672 personnel -- U.S. military personnel are 325 00:17:21,673 --> 00:17:24,313 of what's under consideration? 326 00:17:24,309 --> 00:17:28,109 President Obama: I think what is fair to say is that all the 327 00:17:28,113 --> 00:17:33,283 countries in the international coalition are prepared 328 00:17:33,285 --> 00:17:36,685 to do more to train Iraqi security forces 329 00:17:36,688 --> 00:17:42,528 if they feel like that additional work is being 330 00:17:42,528 --> 00:17:43,928 taken advantage of. 331 00:17:43,929 --> 00:17:47,929 And one of the things that we're still seeing is -- 332 00:17:47,933 --> 00:17:50,733 in Iraq -- places where we've got more training 333 00:17:50,736 --> 00:17:53,176 capacity than we have recruits. 334 00:17:53,172 --> 00:17:56,512 So part of my discussion with Prime Minister Abadi 335 00:17:56,508 --> 00:18:00,348 was how do we make sure that we get more recruits in. 336 00:18:00,345 --> 00:18:03,615 A big part of the answer there is our outreach 337 00:18:03,615 --> 00:18:05,515 to Sunni tribes. 338 00:18:05,517 --> 00:18:09,017 We've seen Sunni tribes who are not only willing 339 00:18:09,021 --> 00:18:12,621 and prepared to fight ISIL, but have been successful 340 00:18:12,624 --> 00:18:14,894 at rebuffing ISIL. 341 00:18:14,893 --> 00:18:18,593 But it has not been happening as fast as it needs to. 342 00:18:18,597 --> 00:18:23,167 And so one of the efforts that I'm hoping 343 00:18:23,168 --> 00:18:25,508 to see out of Prime Minister Abadi, 344 00:18:25,504 --> 00:18:31,314 and the Iraqi legislature when they're in session, 345 00:18:31,310 --> 00:18:35,110 is to move forward on a National Guard law that would 346 00:18:35,113 --> 00:18:40,323 help to devolve some of the security efforts 347 00:18:40,319 --> 00:18:44,719 in places like Anbar to local folks, and to get 348 00:18:44,723 --> 00:18:48,193 those Sunni tribes involved more rapidly. 349 00:18:48,193 --> 00:18:53,903 This is part of what helped defeat AQI -- the precursor 350 00:18:53,899 --> 00:18:59,309 of ISIL -- during the Iraq War in 2006. 351 00:18:59,304 --> 00:19:01,844 Without that kind of local participation, 352 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:03,440 even if you have a short-term success, 353 00:19:03,442 --> 00:19:09,082 it's very hard to hold those areas. 354 00:19:09,081 --> 00:19:12,581 The other area where we've got to make a lot 355 00:19:12,584 --> 00:19:17,624 more progress is on stemming the flow of foreign fighters. 356 00:19:17,623 --> 00:19:19,963 Now, you'll recall that I hosted a U.N. 357 00:19:19,958 --> 00:19:25,528 General Security Council meeting specifically on this issue, 358 00:19:25,531 --> 00:19:30,471 and we've made some progress, but not enough. 359 00:19:30,469 --> 00:19:33,369 We are still seeing thousands of foreign fighters 360 00:19:33,372 --> 00:19:37,472 flowing into, first, Syria, and then, oftentimes, 361 00:19:37,476 --> 00:19:39,846 ultimately into Iraq. 362 00:19:39,845 --> 00:19:45,015 And not all of that is preventable, but a lot 363 00:19:45,017 --> 00:19:48,857 of it is preventable -- if we've got better 364 00:19:48,854 --> 00:19:50,794 cooperation, better coordination, 365 00:19:50,789 --> 00:19:54,959 better intelligence, if we are monitoring what's happening 366 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,660 at the Turkish-Syria border more effectively. 367 00:19:57,663 --> 00:20:02,303 This is an area where we've been seeking deeper cooperation 368 00:20:02,301 --> 00:20:05,241 with Turkish authorities who recognize it's a problem 369 00:20:05,237 --> 00:20:12,077 but haven't fully ramped up the capacity they need. 370 00:20:12,077 --> 00:20:14,677 And this is something that I think we got to spend 371 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:15,450 a lot of time on. 372 00:20:15,447 --> 00:20:19,247 If we can cut off some of that foreign fighter flow 373 00:20:19,251 --> 00:20:23,491 then we're able to isolate and wear out ISIL forces that 374 00:20:23,488 --> 00:20:24,658 are already there. 375 00:20:24,656 --> 00:20:27,296 Because we're taking a lot of them off the battlefield, 376 00:20:27,292 --> 00:20:29,092 but if they're being replenished, 377 00:20:29,094 --> 00:20:32,494 then it doesn't solve the problem over the long term. 378 00:20:32,497 --> 00:20:34,367 The final point that I emphasized to Prime Minister 379 00:20:34,366 --> 00:20:41,806 Abadi is the political agenda of inclusion remains as important 380 00:20:41,807 --> 00:20:45,907 as the military fight that's out there. 381 00:20:45,911 --> 00:20:53,051 If Sunnis, Kurds, and Shia all feel as if they're concerns 382 00:20:53,051 --> 00:20:57,221 are being addressed, and that operating within a legitimate 383 00:20:57,222 --> 00:21:04,032 political structure can meet their need for security, 384 00:21:04,029 --> 00:21:06,099 prosperity, non-discrimination, 385 00:21:06,098 --> 00:21:08,038 then we're going to have much easier time. 386 00:21:08,033 --> 00:21:10,873 And the good news is Prime Minister Abadi is very much 387 00:21:10,869 --> 00:21:12,939 committed to that principle. 388 00:21:12,938 --> 00:21:16,638 But, obviously, he's inheriting a legacy of a lot of mistrust 389 00:21:16,642 --> 00:21:18,912 between various groups in Iraq -- he's having 390 00:21:18,910 --> 00:21:20,380 to take a lot of political risks. 391 00:21:20,379 --> 00:21:22,849 In some cases, there are efforts to undermine those 392 00:21:22,848 --> 00:21:26,148 efforts by other political factions within Iraq. 393 00:21:26,151 --> 00:21:29,651 And so we've got to continue to monitor that and support 394 00:21:29,655 --> 00:21:34,325 those who are on the right side of the issue there. 395 00:21:34,326 --> 00:21:36,826 Colleen Nelson. 396 00:21:37,362 --> 00:21:38,632 The Press: Thank you, Mr. President. 397 00:21:38,630 --> 00:21:41,430 You mentioned that the U.S. and its European allies have 398 00:21:41,433 --> 00:21:45,073 reached a consensus on extending the sanctions against Russia. 399 00:21:45,070 --> 00:21:48,740 Is there a consensus, though, about what specifically 400 00:21:48,740 --> 00:21:52,880 the next step should be if Russia continues to violate 401 00:21:52,878 --> 00:21:54,678 the Minsk agreement? 402 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,620 And also, can you deter Russian aggression 403 00:21:57,616 --> 00:22:00,156 in other parts of Eastern Europe without a permanent 404 00:22:00,152 --> 00:22:01,852 U.S. troop presence? 405 00:22:01,853 --> 00:22:03,623 And separately, I wanted to ask you about 406 00:22:03,622 --> 00:22:09,832 the possibility that extend late into your term. 407 00:22:09,828 --> 00:22:11,528 Do you think that there's anything more that you 408 00:22:11,530 --> 00:22:13,700 can do for the people who would have benefitted 409 00:22:13,699 --> 00:22:15,969 from that program and now are in limbo? 410 00:22:15,967 --> 00:22:18,437 And how do you view the possibility of your term 411 00:22:18,437 --> 00:22:24,977 ending without accomplishing your goals on immigration? 412 00:22:26,411 --> 00:22:30,111 President Obama: On Ukraine and Russia and Minsk, 413 00:22:30,115 --> 00:22:36,025 there is strong consensus that we need to keep pushing 414 00:22:36,021 --> 00:22:41,661 Russia to abide by the terms of the Minsk agreement; 415 00:22:41,660 --> 00:22:44,300 we need to continue to support and encourage Ukraine 416 00:22:44,296 --> 00:22:48,496 to meet its obligations under Minsk -- that until 417 00:22:48,500 --> 00:22:53,270 that's completed, sanctions remain in place. 418 00:22:53,271 --> 00:22:58,881 There was discussion about additional steps that we might 419 00:22:58,877 --> 00:23:09,057 need to take if Russia, working through separatists, 420 00:23:09,054 --> 00:23:14,464 doubled down on aggression inside of Ukraine. 421 00:23:14,459 --> 00:23:18,599 Those discussions are taking place at a technical level, 422 00:23:18,597 --> 00:23:21,697 not yet at a political level -- because I think the first goal 423 00:23:21,700 --> 00:23:24,800 here going into a European Council meeting that's coming 424 00:23:24,803 --> 00:23:29,813 up is just rolling over the existing sanctions. 425 00:23:29,808 --> 00:23:34,148 But I think at a technical level, we want to be prepared. 426 00:23:34,146 --> 00:23:37,086 Our hope is, is that we don't have to take additional 427 00:23:37,082 --> 00:23:43,792 steps because the Minsk agreement is met. 428 00:23:43,789 --> 00:23:46,529 And I want to give enormous credit to Chancellor Merkel, 429 00:23:46,525 --> 00:23:49,595 along with President Hollande, who have shown 430 00:23:49,594 --> 00:23:51,764 extraordinary stick-to-itiveness 431 00:23:51,763 --> 00:23:58,433 and patience in trying to get that done. 432 00:23:58,436 --> 00:24:06,346 Ultimately, this is going to be an issue for Mr. Putin. 433 00:24:06,344 --> 00:24:08,914 He's got to make a decision: Does he continue to wreck his 434 00:24:08,914 --> 00:24:16,754 country's economy and continue Russia's isolation in pursuit 435 00:24:16,755 --> 00:24:24,795 of a wrong-headed desire to re-create the glories 436 00:24:24,796 --> 00:24:27,466 of the Soviet empire? 437 00:24:27,465 --> 00:24:34,035 Or does he recognize that Russia's greatness does not 438 00:24:34,039 --> 00:24:36,839 depend on violating the territorial integrity 439 00:24:36,842 --> 00:24:39,182 and sovereignty of other countries? 440 00:24:39,177 --> 00:24:44,417 And as I mentioned earlier, the costs that the Russian people 441 00:24:44,416 --> 00:24:46,786 are bearing are severe. 442 00:24:46,785 --> 00:24:49,425 That's being felt. 443 00:24:49,421 --> 00:24:55,131 It may not always be understood why they're suffering, 444 00:24:55,126 --> 00:25:00,266 because of state media inside of Russia and propaganda coming 445 00:25:00,265 --> 00:25:08,875 out of state media in Russia and to Russian speakers. 446 00:25:08,874 --> 00:25:10,744 But the truth of the matter is, is that 447 00:25:10,742 --> 00:25:12,912 the Russian people would greatly benefit. 448 00:25:12,911 --> 00:25:15,781 And, ironically, one of the rationales that Mr. Putin 449 00:25:15,780 --> 00:25:19,180 provided for his incursions into Ukraine 450 00:25:19,184 --> 00:25:21,924 was to protect Russian speakers there. 451 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,920 Well, Russian speakers inside of Ukraine are precisely 452 00:25:24,923 --> 00:25:29,223 the ones who are bearing the brunt of the fighting. 453 00:25:29,227 --> 00:25:30,527 Their economy has collapsed. 454 00:25:30,528 --> 00:25:32,128 Their lives are disordered. 455 00:25:32,130 --> 00:25:33,330 Many of them are displaced. 456 00:25:33,331 --> 00:25:36,271 Their homes may have been destroyed. 457 00:25:36,268 --> 00:25:37,798 They're suffering. 458 00:25:37,802 --> 00:25:41,202 And the best way for them to stop suffering 459 00:25:41,206 --> 00:25:47,276 is if the Minsk agreement is fully implemented. 460 00:25:48,980 --> 00:25:50,520 Oh, immigration. 461 00:25:50,515 --> 00:25:53,385 With respect to immigration, obviously, 462 00:25:53,385 --> 00:25:58,185 I'm frustrated by a district court ruling that now 463 00:25:58,189 --> 00:26:00,829 is winding its way through the appeals process. 464 00:26:00,825 --> 00:26:08,235 We are being as aggressive as we can legally to, 465 00:26:08,233 --> 00:26:10,603 first and foremost, appeal that ruling, 466 00:26:10,602 --> 00:26:15,272 and then to implement those elements of immigration 467 00:26:15,273 --> 00:26:19,643 executive actions that were not challenged in court. 468 00:26:19,644 --> 00:26:22,344 But, obviously, the centerpiece, 469 00:26:22,347 --> 00:26:25,717 one of the key provisions for me was being able 470 00:26:25,717 --> 00:26:30,857 to get folks who are undocumented to go through 471 00:26:30,855 --> 00:26:33,955 a background check -- criminal background check -- 472 00:26:33,959 --> 00:26:38,429 pay back taxes, and then have a legal status. 473 00:26:38,430 --> 00:26:43,470 And that requires an entire administrative apparatus 474 00:26:43,468 --> 00:26:48,578 and us getting them to apply and come clean. 475 00:26:48,573 --> 00:26:52,213 I made a decision, which I think is the right one, 476 00:26:52,210 --> 00:26:56,550 that we should not accept applications until 477 00:26:56,548 --> 00:26:59,918 the legal status of this is clarified. 478 00:26:59,918 --> 00:27:01,358 I am absolutely convinced this 479 00:27:01,353 --> 00:27:06,623 is well within my legal authority, 480 00:27:06,624 --> 00:27:10,224 Department of Homeland Security's legal authority. 481 00:27:10,228 --> 00:27:15,068 If you look at the precedent, if you look at the traditional 482 00:27:15,066 --> 00:27:19,206 discretion that the executive branch possesses when it comes 483 00:27:19,204 --> 00:27:23,074 to applying immigration laws, I am convinced that what we're 484 00:27:23,074 --> 00:27:25,574 doing is lawful, and our lawyers are 485 00:27:25,577 --> 00:27:27,617 convinced that what we're doing is lawful. 486 00:27:27,612 --> 00:27:32,782 But the United States is a government of laws and 487 00:27:32,784 --> 00:27:37,224 separations of power, and even if it's an individual 488 00:27:37,222 --> 00:27:40,222 district court judge who's making this determination, 489 00:27:40,225 --> 00:27:44,025 we've got to go through the process to challenge it. 490 00:27:44,029 --> 00:27:48,299 And until we get clarity there, I don't want to bring 491 00:27:48,299 --> 00:27:53,239 people in, have them apply and jump through a lot of hoops 492 00:27:53,238 --> 00:27:57,778 only to have it deferred and delayed further. 493 00:27:57,776 --> 00:28:00,476 Of course, there's one really great way to solve this problem, 494 00:28:00,478 --> 00:28:03,348 and that would be Congress going ahead and acting, 495 00:28:03,348 --> 00:28:08,118 which would obviate the need for executive actions. 496 00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:11,459 The majority of the American people I think still 497 00:28:11,456 --> 00:28:13,596 want to see that happen. 498 00:28:13,591 --> 00:28:18,201 I suspect it will be a major topic of the next 499 00:28:18,196 --> 00:28:20,766 presidential campaign. 500 00:28:20,765 --> 00:28:23,935 And so we will continue to push as hard as we can 501 00:28:23,935 --> 00:28:29,505 on all fronts to fix a broken immigration system. 502 00:28:29,507 --> 00:28:35,917 Administratively, we'll be prepared if and when we get the 503 00:28:35,914 --> 00:28:37,814 kind of ruling that I think we should have gotten in the first 504 00:28:37,816 --> 00:28:42,216 place about our authorities to go ahead and implement. 505 00:28:42,220 --> 00:28:45,920 But ultimately, this has never fully 506 00:28:45,924 --> 00:28:49,664 replaced the need for Congress to act. 507 00:28:49,661 --> 00:28:55,231 And my hope is, is that after a number of the other 508 00:28:55,233 --> 00:28:58,433 issues that we're working on currently get cleared, 509 00:28:58,436 --> 00:29:05,206 that some quiet conversations start back up again, 510 00:29:05,210 --> 00:29:07,250 particularly in the Republican Party, 511 00:29:07,245 --> 00:29:10,115 about the shortsighted approach that they're taking when 512 00:29:10,115 --> 00:29:12,315 it comes to immigration. 513 00:29:12,317 --> 00:29:13,017 Okay. 514 00:29:13,017 --> 00:29:15,087 Christi Parsons. 515 00:29:15,086 --> 00:29:16,826 The Press: Thank you, Mr. President. 516 00:29:16,821 --> 00:29:19,021 More than six million Americans may soon lose 517 00:29:19,023 --> 00:29:21,493 health insurance if the Supreme Court this month backs 518 00:29:21,493 --> 00:29:24,363 the latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act. 519 00:29:24,362 --> 00:29:27,062 A growing number of states are looking for assistance as they 520 00:29:27,065 --> 00:29:29,835 face the prospect that their residents may lose federal 521 00:29:29,834 --> 00:29:33,974 insurance subsidies and their insurance markets may collapse. 522 00:29:33,972 --> 00:29:36,972 Yet, your administration has given very little 523 00:29:36,975 --> 00:29:40,015 to no guidance on how states can prepare. 524 00:29:40,011 --> 00:29:42,511 What can you tell state leaders and advocates 525 00:29:42,514 --> 00:29:45,154 who worry that health care markets in half the country 526 00:29:45,150 --> 00:29:46,920 may be thrown into chaos? 527 00:29:46,918 --> 00:29:49,518 President Obama: What I can tell state leaders 528 00:29:49,521 --> 00:29:58,531 is, is that under well-established precedent, 529 00:30:00,064 --> 00:30:08,574 there is no reason why the existing exchanges 530 00:30:08,573 --> 00:30:14,983 should be overturned through a court case. 531 00:30:14,979 --> 00:30:18,449 It has been well documented that those who passed this 532 00:30:18,449 --> 00:30:23,859 legislation never intended for folks who were going 533 00:30:23,855 --> 00:30:26,825 through the federal exchange not to have their 534 00:30:26,824 --> 00:30:29,464 citizens get subsidies. 535 00:30:29,460 --> 00:30:31,160 That's not just the opinion of me; 536 00:30:31,162 --> 00:30:33,702 that's not just the opinion of Democrats; 537 00:30:33,698 --> 00:30:34,998 that's the opinion of the Republicans who worked 538 00:30:34,999 --> 00:30:37,769 on the legislation. 539 00:30:37,769 --> 00:30:40,469 The record makes it clear. 540 00:30:40,471 --> 00:30:47,041 And under well-established statutory interpretation, 541 00:30:47,045 --> 00:30:53,285 approaches that have been repeatedly employed -- not just 542 00:30:53,284 --> 00:30:57,994 by liberal, Democratic judges, but by conservative judges 543 00:30:57,989 --> 00:31:04,659 like some on the current Supreme Court -- you interpret 544 00:31:04,662 --> 00:31:07,632 a statute based on what the intent and meaning 545 00:31:07,632 --> 00:31:12,472 and the overall structure of the statute provides for. 546 00:31:12,470 --> 00:31:18,740 And so this should be an easy case. 547 00:31:18,743 --> 00:31:20,243 Frankly, it probably shouldn't even have 548 00:31:20,245 --> 00:31:21,945 been taken up. 549 00:31:21,946 --> 00:31:27,156 And since we're going to get a ruling pretty quick, 550 00:31:27,151 --> 00:31:33,091 I think it's important for us to go ahead and assume that 551 00:31:33,091 --> 00:31:36,531 the Supreme Court is going to do what most legal scholars 552 00:31:36,527 --> 00:31:40,397 who've looked at this would expect them to do. 553 00:31:40,398 --> 00:31:43,968 But, look, I've said before and I will repeat again: If, 554 00:31:43,968 --> 00:31:48,408 in fact, you have a contorted reading of the statute 555 00:31:48,406 --> 00:31:57,646 that says federal-run exchanges don't provide 556 00:31:57,649 --> 00:32:02,149 subsidies for folks who are participating in those 557 00:32:02,153 --> 00:32:06,893 exchanges, then that throws off how that exchange operates. 558 00:32:06,891 --> 00:32:12,301 It means that millions of people who are obtaining 559 00:32:12,297 --> 00:32:16,597 insurance currently with subsidies suddenly aren't 560 00:32:16,601 --> 00:32:19,071 getting those subsidies; many of them can't afford it; 561 00:32:19,070 --> 00:32:24,380 they pull out; and the assumptions that the insurance 562 00:32:24,375 --> 00:32:27,075 companies made when they priced their insurance 563 00:32:27,078 --> 00:32:28,948 suddenly gets thrown out the window. 564 00:32:28,946 --> 00:32:31,316 And it would be disruptive -- not just, by the way, 565 00:32:31,316 --> 00:32:34,356 for folks in the exchanges, but for those 566 00:32:34,352 --> 00:32:36,892 insurance markets in those states, generally. 567 00:32:36,888 --> 00:32:40,728 So it's a bad idea. 568 00:32:40,725 --> 00:32:46,635 It's not something that should be done based on a twisted 569 00:32:46,631 --> 00:32:51,371 interpretation of four words in -- as we were reminded 570 00:32:51,369 --> 00:32:55,369 repeatedly -- a couple-thousand-page 571 00:32:55,373 --> 00:32:58,413 piece of legislation. 572 00:32:58,409 --> 00:33:00,749 What's more, the thing is working. 573 00:33:00,745 --> 00:33:02,645 I mean, part of what's bizarre about this whole 574 00:33:02,647 --> 00:33:07,317 thing is we haven't had a lot of conversation about the 575 00:33:07,318 --> 00:33:10,588 horrors of Obamacare because none of them come to pass. 576 00:33:10,588 --> 00:33:14,188 You got 16 million people who've gotten health insurance. 577 00:33:14,192 --> 00:33:15,962 The overwhelming majority of them are 578 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:17,900 satisfied with the health insurance. 579 00:33:17,895 --> 00:33:19,865 It hasn't had an adverse effect on people who 580 00:33:19,864 --> 00:33:22,334 already had health insurance. 581 00:33:22,333 --> 00:33:24,773 The only effect it's had on people who already had health 582 00:33:24,769 --> 00:33:26,209 insurance is they now have an assurance that they won't 583 00:33:26,204 --> 00:33:28,374 be prevented from getting health insurance if they've 584 00:33:28,373 --> 00:33:30,243 got a preexisting condition, and they get additional 585 00:33:30,241 --> 00:33:33,741 protections with the health insurance that they do have. 586 00:33:33,745 --> 00:33:37,545 The costs have come in substantially lower than 587 00:33:37,548 --> 00:33:41,758 even our estimates about how much it would cost. 588 00:33:41,753 --> 00:33:47,123 Health care inflation overall has continued 589 00:33:47,125 --> 00:33:50,425 to be at some of the lowest levels in 50 years. 590 00:33:50,428 --> 00:33:53,028 None of the predictions about how this wouldn't 591 00:33:53,030 --> 00:33:56,370 work have come to pass. 592 00:33:56,367 --> 00:34:06,047 And so I'm -- A, I'm optimistic that the Supreme Court 593 00:34:06,043 --> 00:34:11,383 will play it straight when it comes to the interpretation. 594 00:34:11,382 --> 00:34:14,222 And, B, I should mention that if it didn't, 595 00:34:14,218 --> 00:34:17,988 Congress could fix this whole thing with 596 00:34:17,989 --> 00:34:21,689 a one-sentence provision. 597 00:34:21,692 --> 00:34:26,432 But I'm not going to go into a long speculation 598 00:34:26,431 --> 00:34:29,601 anticipating disaster. 599 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:31,400 The Press: But you're a plan-ahead kind of guy. 600 00:34:31,402 --> 00:34:33,802 Why not have a plan B? 601 00:34:33,805 --> 00:34:36,445 President Obama: Well, you know, I want to just 602 00:34:36,441 --> 00:34:44,251 make sure that everybody understands that you 603 00:34:44,248 --> 00:34:48,418 have a model where all the pieces connect. 604 00:34:48,419 --> 00:34:57,329 And there are a whole bunch of scenarios not just 605 00:34:57,328 --> 00:34:59,898 in relation to health care, but all kinds of stuff 606 00:34:59,897 --> 00:35:05,307 that I do, where if somebody does something that 607 00:35:05,303 --> 00:35:11,873 doesn't make any sense, then it's hard to fix. 608 00:35:11,876 --> 00:35:14,246 And this would be hard to fix. 609 00:35:14,245 --> 00:35:17,385 Fortunately, there's no reason to have to do it. 610 00:35:17,381 --> 00:35:19,421 It doesn't need fixing. 611 00:35:19,417 --> 00:35:20,487 All right? 612 00:35:20,485 --> 00:35:21,385 Thank you very much. 613 00:35:21,385 --> 00:35:23,085 Thank you to the people of Germany and Bavaria. 614 00:35:23,087 --> 00:35:24,557 You guys were wonderful hosts.