Karoline Leavitt (00:00):
Good afternoon everybody.
Audience (00:07):
Good afternoon.
Karoline Leavitt (00:09):
I apologize for my tardiness today, so let's get right to it. We'll begin today with some scheduling announcements for President Trump's upcoming trip to Asia. Tomorrow night at 11:00 P.M., the president will depart the White House to fly to Malaysia where he will arrive on Sunday morning, local time. It's a long flight. President Trump will participate in a bilateral meeting with the prime minister of Malaysia in the afternoon, and then he will attend the ASEAN leaders working dinner that evening. On Monday morning, local time, the president will fly to Tokyo. Tuesday morning local time, President Trump will participate in a bilateral meeting with the new prime minister of Japan. On Wednesday morning local time, the president will fly to Busan where he will participate in a bilateral meeting with the president of the Republic of Korea, deliver keynote remarks at the APEC CEO luncheon, and then participate in a US APEC leaders working dinner.
(01:07)
On Thursday morning local time, President Trump will participate in a bilateral meeting with President Xi of the People's Republic of China before departing to return home to Washington D.C. On Thursday night, upon arrival in Washington, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will participate in Halloween at the White House, where they will welcome law enforcement, military, and foster families, and I know many of us look forward to that. In other news, we are now on day 23 of the Democrat government shutdown. Senate Democrats have voted 12 separate times now to keep the government closed. Innocent Americans are suffering every day as a result.
(01:48)
More than 500,000 civilian federal employees will miss a full paycheck tomorrow. Thousands of small business loans are going unapproved each month. This means almost $4 billion in capital is being withheld from small businesses across the country. The Democrat shutdown is also causing severe impacts at airports across the country, and one single day this week, the FAA had to issue ground stops impacting flights at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport, 13,000 air traffic controllers who ensure that we all fly safely are continuing to work without pay.
(02:28)
This is egregious and truly sad. Some of them are reportedly being forced to turn to driving for Uber and taking on other second jobs to make ends meet as the Democrats continue to shut down the government. Pilots are calling on Democrats to end this dangerous political game. The president of the Southwest Airlines Pilot Association called for the clean continuing resolution to be passed saying, "Our air traffic controllers and the broader air traffic system are already operating under immense pressure. A government shutdown only compounds that stress and threatens the efficiency of our skies." The Airline Pilots Association International, which represents more than 80,000 pilots, is sounding the alarm as well. They said, "This shutdown is undermining our system's safety. Resources are stretched thin, negotiations are delayed, and strain grows daily." With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, we are nearing the busiest travel period of the entire year when millions of Americans will go to airports to spend time with their loved ones.
(03:31)
Let us be very clear from the White House today. If the Democrats continue to keep the government closed, we fear there will be significant flight delays, disruptions, and cancellations in major airports across the country this holiday season. If Democrats continue to shut down the government, they will also be shutting down American air travel. The White House is in constant communication with the air traffic controllers, with the airline associations, and with them, we urge Democrats to please pass the continuing resolution so we can just end this madness and this chaos and reopen the government. These are very avoidable consequences. The unnecessary pain, unfortunately, does not end there. Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP, which provides food benefits to low-income families, is beginning to lapse this week in some states. If Democrats continue to hold Americans but hostage, there will not be enough funds to provide SNAP benefits for more than 40 million Americans on November 1st.
(04:32)
That is next week. Democrats are solely responsible for all of this unnecessary pain. Why are they doing it? To give taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits to illegal aliens, some of whom are violent criminals. During the four years of Joe Biden's administration, the Democrats forced border patrol to admit illegal aliens into our country with no legal status and minimal screening. A significant number of these individuals are the worst of the worst criminals, rapists, pedophiles, murderers, and even members of the terrorist watch list. Despite having no legal status, paroled aliens were able to file for work authorization, receive social security numbers, and access other benefits like Medicaid that are meant for Americans. Since I have found many in this room to repeatedly deny the reality that Democrats gave Medicaid benefits to illegals and they continue to seek to do just that, I've brought a few verified examples for you today.
(05:29)
These are examples of some of the illegals who received Medicaid benefits under President Biden's leadership, and this is what Democrats are wanting to do. This is why they are continuing to keep the government closed. An illegal alien from Laos was arrested for murder, robbery, and felony possession of a firearm, an illegal alien from Guatemala who was arrested for rape and burglary, an illegal alien from El Salvador who was arrested for strangulation, DUI, and burglary, an illegal alien from Mexico who was arrested for attempted murder. The Democrats open border policies allowed these threats into our country, and then they provided them with free healthcare. The president and Republicans through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act implemented a common sense reform to end this fraudulent scheme, but that's why the Democrats are continuing to shut down the federal government. They are trying to reverse this and restore taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal aliens like these.
(06:28)
Throughout this shutdown, Democrats have said this quiet part out loud. Senator Chuck Schumer, the leader of the caucus that is refusing to open the government, said, "Every day gets better as the shutdown continues." Ask the air traffic controllers if every day is getting better, Senator Schumer, and they will tell you absolutely not." House Democrat Katherine Clark said, "There are going to be families that are going to suffer. We take that responsibility seriously, but this is one of the few leverage points that we have." Here is a House Democrat who is admitting that they are using Americans who are suffering as political leverage. And Senator Bernie Sanders said, "If you reopen the government, we lose our leverage." This is pure partisan games. A senior Democrat aide said the party will not end the shutdown "short of planes falling out of the sky." That is truly a disturbing statement.
(07:25)
The Democrats clearly don't care about this suffering. They care about playing political games against President Trump, and this dangerous charade needs to end. The president and Republican's position has been clear and unchanged. Pass a clean nonpartisan funding bill to reopen the government, and then we can talk about all of the partisan issues that the Democrats wish to. If you're watching at home, we urge you to call your Democrat senators and tell them to put our country over their party and reopen the government today. Here in our new media seat, we have Brittany Gibson of Axios. Brittany, why don't you start us off for our Q&A today. Thank you for being here.
Brittany Gibson (08:03):
Two questions if I may. First is we understand that the president, Republicans will not negotiate on ACA extensions until the government reopens. If and when that happens, what does the president think should be, or what are his plans for preventing rising healthcare costs for immigrants?
Karoline Leavitt (08:21):
It's a very good question, and I'll leave that to the president to negotiate that when Democrats vote to reopen the government. When it comes to lowering healthcare costs, the president is deeply committed to this. It's why he has spent so much time and effort negotiating with big pharma to lower the healthcare costs of prescription drugs. All of you have been in the Oval Office for multiple different announcements. We've had these most favored nations deals with these large pharmaceutical companies committing to lowering drug costs in this country. So it's something the president wants to do. And Brittany, one more point. I'll just point out the irony. In Democrats holding the government and the American public hostage over a healthcare system that they created,
Karoline Leavitt (09:00):
The healthcare system was called Obamacare. Why? Because Democrats and President Obama implemented, and Republicans have always said it's a broken system. Yes, but they caused it, and now, they want to shut down the government to fix it? We need to open the government and then we can have these very important conversations about healthcare.
Brittany Gibson (09:17):
Thank you, and the second on H-1Bs and foreign students. During the campaign, President Trump said he wanted to make it easier for foreign students to work at U.S. Companies, staple a green card to every diploma, but the changes from several agencies now on H-1Bs are adding more obstacles to that the administration is being sued over those changes. Can you explain the changes to the President's thinking on H-1Bs?
Karoline Leavitt (09:39):
Administration will fight these lawsuits in court. The President's main priority has always been to put American workers first, and also, to strengthen our visa system. We know for far too long, the H-1B visa system has been spammed with fraud, basically, and that's driven down American wages. So the President wants to refine this system, which is part of the reason he implemented these new policies. These actions are lawful. They are necessary and we'll continue to fight this battle in court. Garrett.
Garrett (10:09):
Two questions on different topics, if you'll indulge me.
Karoline Leavitt (10:11):
Sure.
Garrett (10:11):
On the pardon of Changpeng Zhao, apologies if I'm mispronouncing that name, finance has significant business interests with World Liberty Financial, the President's family's crypto company. How do you respond to allegations from Democrats that this is a corrupt act?
Karoline Leavitt (10:26):
I would respond and say the President is exercising his constitutional authority to grant clemency requests, and the {resident and the White House have a very thorough examination of every pardon request that comes to the President's desk. It is thoroughly reviewed by the White House Counsel Office, and I spoke with our great White House Counsel about the pardon after it happened. This was an overly prosecuted case by the Biden administration.
(10:49)
Even the judge in the case admitted that the Biden administration was pursuing a egregious over-sentencing of this individual and the previous administration was very hostile to the cryptocurrency industry. So the President wants to correct this overreach of the Biden administration's misjustice, and he exercised his constitutional authority to do so, and to the Democrats, I would just say, there's nothing more corrupt than what President Biden did on his way out the door, pardoning his extremely corrupt son in many of his associates.
Garrett (11:21):
On the ballroom, first of which would probably be several questions about this today, I imagine.
Karoline Leavitt (11:29):
Is it a big story?
Garrett (11:29):
It seems that way. The President's cost estimate has changed several times. Think it's up to 300 million now. Given the nature of all this, will the White House commit to releasing all of the donors and how much they're spending and how much of his own money the President is putting on the line to this?
Karoline Leavitt (11:44):
We have released the full list of donors thus far. Perhaps there will be more people who want to generously contribute to this project, and the President, yes, has committed his own resources and when he releases that information, which I'm very confident he will, you will all see that.
Garrett (12:00):
We'll see a dollar figure from the President?
Karoline Leavitt (12:02):
Yes, you will.
Garrett (12:03):
Okay.
Karoline Leavitt (12:03):
I would also just add, the President has been incredibly transparent. I would reject any notion otherwise when it comes to this ballroom project. It's something he personally has obviously taken an interest into and has talked with all of you in this room many times about. You have seen the model in the Oval Office. Last night, he showed that for you. But when this plan was presented and when these renderings, as soon as they were complete, the President directed me to come out here and to share them with all of you. I did an entire opening remarks about what this ballroom project was going to look like.
(12:35)
With any construction project, there are changes over time as you assess what the project is going to look like, and we'll continue to keep you apprised of all of those changes. But just trust the process. This is going to be a magnificent addition to the White House for many years to come, and it's not costing the taxpayers anything. The President is privately funding this ballroom addition to the White House grounds. Jennifer?
Jennifer (12:58):
To follow up on that, one thing that's not in the President's model is the East Wing Bunker, the President's Emergency Operations Center. Can you see if his update, that 300 million, does that include the cost for upgrading that bunker?
Karoline Leavitt (13:10):
Look, like any security enhancements that are made on the White House grounds, those will be made and maintained by United States Secret Service. As for the cost of the ballroom and the construction itself, all of that is going to be, like I've said, privately funded and paid for by the President himself and many generous patriots who have stepped up.
Jennifer (13:28):
It's included in that funding?
Karoline Leavitt (13:30):
Correct.
Jennifer (13:30):
Okay. Then can you say… Well, that's right. I'll skip that one.
Karoline Leavitt (13:35):
Thanks Weijia?
Weijia (13:36):
Thank you, Karoline. One more request.
Karoline Leavitt (13:39):
Okay.
Weijia (13:39):
So the White House has explained that the reason you didn't submit construction plans to the NCPC is because that commission along with others don't have oversight over demolitions, but only over construction. So far, you haven't built anything. So can you help us understand, can the President tear down anything he wants without oversight? Could he demolish this building, or say, the Jefferson Memorial?
Karoline Leavitt (14:07):
So it's not the President who came up with that legal opinion himself. That's a legal opinion that's been held by the NCPC for many years. It's written. So we can get you that background and that research if you wish to include it in your reporting because it is very important. They have ruled consistently. Their general counsel has said, when it comes to phase one of this project, the tearing down of the current East Wing structure, a submission is not required legally for that, only for vertical construction will a submission be required, and that's a legal opinion from them, and we are following that legal opinion.
(14:43)
Again, I would just add, can any President do such a thing to the White House grounds? There have been many presidents in the past who have made their mark on this beautiful White House complex. This briefing room, as you all know, was not once a briefing room. It was a swimming pool. There have been presidents who have completely torn down the executive mansion. If you look at what President Truman did as some of the photos of the construction project that took place in those years.
(15:07)
I think sitting here today, we're all grateful for those efforts and the modifications that happened at that time. again, in due time, the East Wing is going to be more beautiful and modern than ever before. In addition, there will be a big, beautiful ballroom that can hold big parties and state visits for generations to come.
Weijia (15:24):
So it sounds like the answer is, yes, he can tear down whatever he wants, and then, secondly, I mean-
Karoline Leavitt (15:30):
Wait. That's not what we're saying. That's a legal opinion that's been held for many years, and-
Weijia (15:34):
Converting it?
Karoline Leavitt (15:34):
No, it's something that presidents have done for years and years. In fact, I have some photos here. Thank you, Pat, to show you the construction that's taken place on the White House grounds. This is the construction of the West Wing in 1902. Look at this, the construction of the West Terrace in 1902.
(15:50)
These images look quite similar to what you and the American people are seeing today, the construction of the East Terrace as well.
Weijia (15:56):
And demolishing. The demolition.
Karoline Leavitt (15:57):
Look at the construction of the West Wing expansion in 1934. So, look, this is a legal opinion that's been held for many years. Look. This is 1950.
Weijia (16:05):
That goes with the construction.
Karoline Leavitt (16:06):
It looks a lot like what you seeing today.
Weijia (16:08):
Can he demolish anything he wants without oversight?
Karoline Leavitt (16:10):
What do you think that rubble is? How did that rubble get there? [inaudible 00:16:13].
Weijia (16:13):
Right. So I'm asking, and then-
Karoline Leavitt (16:18):
Reagan?
Weijia (16:18):
… back to-
Reagan (16:18):
[Inaudible 00:16:18]-
Karoline Leavitt (16:18):
Go ahead, Reagan.
Weijia (16:18):
… many of them are-
Karoline Leavitt (16:18):
Reagan, go ahead.
Reagan (16:18):
Two questions, one on immigration and another on Venezuela. It's being reported that the semi-truck driver suspected killing three people in a DUI crash is an illegal immigrant-
Karoline Leavitt (16:28):
Correct.
Reagan (16:28):
… who came in under the Biden administration. Do you know if California gave him a commercial driver's license? Then it also appears that California largely has not been cooperating with English proficiency standards. I'm wondering if the administration has any further plans to punish the state.
Karoline Leavitt (16:43):
Yes, I can confirm that California gave this individual license, and it is something that the Department of Transportation has already looked into. I know Secretary Duffy, who's doing a phenomenal job, has spoken on this many times in the crackdown, that the Department of Transportation is taking on these licenses that are wrongfully being issued to people who clearly do not deserve to uphold these positions.
(17:05)
As for this case, in California, on October 22nd, ICE lodged an immigration detainer for this individual following his arrest by local authorities in California on charges, as you know, of manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence. He killed three people, and he first entered the United States in 2022 through the southern border, and he was released into our country by the previous administration. So now, ICE has lodged a separate detainer for this individual, and these tragedies are following a disturbing pattern of these criminal illegal aliens being issued commercial vehicle licenses. So yes, the Department of Transportation is absolutely cracking down on that. I defer you to them for any specifics.
Reagan (17:47):
Venezuela, President Trump has said Maduro doesn't want to mess with the United States, and this administration is continuing to position more military assets towards Venezuela. I'm wondering if the end goal of this narco-terrorist war is to implement
Reporters (18:00):
… implement a regime change in Venezuela?
Karoline Leavitt (18:02):
The president has spoken on that, Reagan, and I certainly won't get ahead of him. What we've made very clear is that this administration is not going to tolerate international narco-terrorist organizations from trafficking drugs into the United States.
(18:16)
And these cartels over time have grown more armed, well-organized and violent. They have financial means, sophistication and capabilities needed to operate in the way this administration has, and they have illegally caused the deaths of tens of thousands of American citizens each year.
(18:32)
So that's where we are right now with respect to Venezuela, but also any country that is sending, purposefully, illegal narco-terrorists to the United States of America to bring illegal drugs. Why don't we go in the back?
Reporters (18:45):
The US and Colombia relationship right now is at one of its lowest points in decades. We heard what President Gustavo Petro had to say about President Trump. We heard yesterday the response from President Trump. Is there any kind of compromises or gestures from the Colombian president that President Trump would like to see in order to de-escalate the tensions? Is it possible, a de-escalation?
Karoline Leavitt (19:08):
I don't think we're seeing de-escalation from the unhinged leader of Colombia right now, and I don't think the President frankly is interested in that at this point. He spoke on this yesterday and I don't have anything to add to his comments. Go ahead.
Reporters (19:23):
Thank you, Karoline.
(19:23)
Thank you. Thank you.
(19:23)
In addition to the ballroom and the Rose Garden patio-
Karoline Leavitt (19:26):
I'm going to the back. Sorry. Go ahead.
Reporters (19:28):
In addition to the ballroom and the Rose Garden patio, is the President looking at any other renovations or significant projects here at the White House?
Karoline Leavitt (19:35):
Not to my knowledge, no. But he's a builder at heart clearly and so his heart and his mind is always churning about how to improve things here on the White House grounds. But at this moment in time, of course, the ballroom is really the President's main priority. Kristin.
Reporters (19:50):
Karoline, thank you. Last week, President Trump announced that he had a productive call with Vladimir Putin. They scheduled a meeting in Hungary. Since then, he has canceled a meeting and he has imposed sanctions on Russia oil companies. Can you talk about what changed that led to this dramatic shift or even just what occurred in the last week that got us from point A to point B?
Karoline Leavitt (20:10):
Sure. Look, the President has always maintained that he would implement sanctions on Russia when he felt it was appropriate and necessary, and yesterday was that day. I think the President has also long expressed his frustration with Vladimir Putin and frankly both sides of this war.
(20:26)
And he's always said, "In order to negotiate a good peace deal, both sides need to be interested in a good peace deal." And he feels as though, unfortunately, from the Russian side as of late, he has not seen enough interest and enough action in terms of moving the ball forward towards peace.
(20:42)
And so a meeting between these two leaders is not completely off the table. I think the President and the entire administration hopes that one day that can happen again, but we want to make sure that there's a tangible positive outcome out of that meeting and that it's a good use of the President's time.
(20:57)
Of course, he's traveling to Asia next week. He has a number of events coming up here on the home front as well. He's been incredibly busy, as you all know, you're all tired from covering him and his movements every day. And so we want to make sure it's a good use of the President's time and the President doesn't want to waste his time and he said that.
Reporters (21:13):
[inaudible 00:21:14] between the Secretary of State and Lavrov that led President Trump to believe that President Putin or the Russians did not want a peace deal?
Karoline Leavitt (21:20):
That was not the sole reason, no. I think the Secretary Rubio felt that was actually a productive call. But again, the President wants to make sure that a meeting between himself and President Putin will be a good use of his time.
Reporters (21:31):
But what exactly led to President Trump not believing after his call on Thursday, where he said he did think he wanted peace and wanted a peace deal too, believing that Russians were not?
Karoline Leavitt (21:41):
Again, the President wants to see action, not just talk and I think the President is extremely motivated by the success of his peace deal in the Middle East to get things done, and he wants this war to come to an end. He's been saying it now for nine months, being in office. And he's grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress from both sides of this war. Marianne.
Reporters (22:02):
Two quick construction questions if I can. You mentioned any construction project comes with changes. The President had initially said that this project wouldn't interfere with or touch the current structure. Now he says to do this properly, he realized that the East Wing had to be demolished.
(22:16)
This is the People's House. Why not inform the public of that change and when it was decided that the East Wing would have to be demolished?
Karoline Leavitt (22:24):
Look, again, with any construction project changes come and we have informed all of you. We've been keeping you apprised of this project. We've shown you the renderings, and if you look at the renderings, it's very clear the East Wing was going to be modernized. Instead, in fact, I said that in the briefing when we initially introduced this plan to all of you and to the public.
Reporters (22:43):
But modernize and tearing down are two different things.
Karoline Leavitt (22:45):
Well, again, the President, the plans changed when the President heard council from the architects and the construction companies who said that in order for this East Wing to be modern and beautiful for many, many years to come, for it to be a truly strong and stable structure, this phase one that we're now in was necessary.
(23:02)
And the President wants to do right by the People's House and so that's exactly what he's doing. It's going to be, again, like I said, much more stable, strong, secure, and more beautiful than ever once it's complete.
Reporters (23:13):
Where will those be, the First Lady's offices, the Social Secretary's office?
Karoline Leavitt (23:16):
In the East Wing.
Reporters (23:17):
They will be back where they were?
Karoline Leavitt (23:17):
Yes. [inaudible 00:23:19].
Reporters (23:19):
Thank you. Cattle ranchers who supported the President's election have raised some concerns about plans to deport people from Argentina. How will the Trump administration support those farmers?
Karoline Leavitt (23:29):
Look, the President hears those concerns. He addressed them yesterday himself. President loves our ranchers, and our ranchers love our president. And in fact, the President did a lot for them in his first term here. They are struggling because of the many horrible policies of the previous administration.
(23:43)
President loves our ranchers and he also loves American consumers, and he wants to do right by both. So, the immediate solution to the problem of the rising cost of beef, the President wants to bring that down is we have to increase our supply and so that's what he's doing with respect to these imports.
(23:58)
But the President also is looking out for our ranchers with a long-term plan that was released by the secretary of agriculture yesterday. It's a three-part plan. It's very extensive in detail that I would encourage all of you to read through it, but there's really three points to this plan that the President has agreed upon and has entrusted Secretary Rollins to implement.
(24:16)
Number one, strengthening US cattle production through increased grazing access, endangered species reforms, enhanced disaster relief, increased access to capital and reducing costs for new and young ranchers.
(24:28)
We want to incentivize more Americans to get into this noble profession. Lowering long-term costs by cutting inspection costs, increasing market options for consumers with product of USA labeling and ensuring consumers know that they are eating American beef. It's a good incentive for the American consumer.
(24:44)
And lastly, growing the domestic herd while boosting long-term demand to reduce prices for consumers while growing the markets for our ranchers. So, President hears them, he has to address both of these problems for the ranchers, but also for the American consumer. He promised to lower costs and that's what he's committed to doing.
Reporters (25:00):
Karoline, I thank you. Two questions, not on the ballroom. The first is there's a Democrat in Texas who's actually running for Congress who said last night during an interview when talking about fighting Republicans and this administration, quote, "If you hit me in my face, I'm not going to punch you back in your face, I'm going to go across your neck."
(25:19)
This has obviously really upset those folks over at Turning Point USA after the Charlie Kirk assassination. What is your response to that kind of rhetoric?
Karoline Leavitt (25:26):
It's very jarring rhetoric, and I think it's very unacceptable. I hope the people of Texas will do the right thing and reject this person's candidacy. It should have no place in American politics.
Reporters (25:37):
And then just a quick second question on oversight Democrats that are saying that they're creating this master ICE tracker basically tracking all ICE activity. We've seen the protests in New York just yesterday. Homeland Security is saying that this sounds like obstruction of justice. What do you say?
Karoline Leavitt (25:55):
Again, this is actively putting the lives of our ICE agents at risk. We've seen media outlets, in fact, in this room also write stories about ICE tracker apps that Democrats and other left-wing activists have created to track the location of ICE agents on the ground in our communities.
(26:12)
Again, I've said this repeatedly and I will continue to say it, the men and women of ICE are outstanding people. I wish a Democrat on Capitol Hill would actually have the courage or the guts to stand up to their party and sit down with some of these men and women who are doing this incredibly difficult job of enforcing our federal immigration laws.
(26:31)
They are, again, simply trying to enforce the law and do their jobs and if Democrats spent a little bit more time understanding that and also focusing on the people who they are trying to get out of our country every single day.
(26:43)
As I spoke about earlier, three innocent people in California are dead because an illegal alien who Democrats let into this country was wrongfully issued a trucker's driving license and clearly was not fit for the job because he was driving intoxicated and killed three innocent people.
(26:59)
Democrats should focus
Karoline Leavitt (27:00):
… focus a little bit more on that. Stop trying to fight this president and this administration on every turn and restore law and order. That's all that we and these brave men and women of ICE are trying to do. Mary?
Mary (27:10):
Thanks, Karoline. I have two questions. One on San Francisco and one on the No Kings protesters. On San Francisco, the president said that he had a call with the mayor and he was planning on surging there, but now because the mayor really wants to fix it up himself, they're going to do that. Is this what Trump hopes happens in pretty much every city?
Karoline Leavitt (27:27):
The president hopes, and I've said this so many times, and I think the president's conversation with the San Francisco mayor last night and his statement today prove the president is willing to work with anyone across the aisle, across the country to do the right thing and clean up America's cities. He is genuinely interested in this effort to make our streets safer, to make our cities safe and clean again. And he heard from the mayor last night who told him that he is going to earnestly try to make his city better on his own. The president heard him out, he said, "Okay, I'll give you a chance. We'll be watching and if you need us, we are here. And if I feel as though you continue to fail your citizens, the federal government may have to step in." But we'll continue to watch San Francisco. And that law enforcement operation has now been paused.
Mary (28:15):
Thank you. And then on the No Kings protesters, I saw videos of people explicitly calling for violence against Stephen Miller, against the President. Shirts saying, we don't have enough assassins, calling for more political violence. Does the president want to see arrests here and are we going to see arrests of these types of explicit calls to violence?
Karoline Leavitt (28:31):
I would think myself the president, and everyone here at the White House certainly hopes that anyone who is making violent illegal threats in that way against public officials will be arrested and prosecuted.
(28:42)
Marilyn, sure.
Marilyn (28:43):
Thank you. Two questions. Will the president support the Senate ending the legislative filibuster to end the shutdown?
Karoline Leavitt (28:51):
This is something I haven't heard the president talk about much, so I don't want to speak on him for it. I'll let him answer that question himself.
Marilyn (28:56):
Do you have an update on the NASA administrator nominee? Do you plan to nominate anyone soon or does the president nominate anyone?
Karoline Leavitt (29:06):
I don't think so. Sorry. I'll leave that to the president himself. He'll make a decision in due time, and when he does, you will hear directly from him as you always do. We'll give our friends in the back a chance. Yes?
Reporters (29:18):
As you mentioned at the top of the briefing, USDA has warned that it will run out of funds to pay full SNAP benefits next month if the shutdown continues, Senator Hawley is floating a bill that would ensure SNAP benefits are continued to pay during the shutdown. Would the president support such a move? And you also announced that the administration was using tariff revenue to keep weight going during the shutdown. How long will that last? And is anything similar being considered for SNAP?
Karoline Leavitt (29:47):
Yes, the administration would absolutely support that legislation. We hoped that it would come over the finish line, but the bill that will get everyone paid and put everyone back to work is the clean continuing resolution. That's what the president and Republicans want to see. Ed, go ahead, Ed.
Ed (30:04):
Thanks. Here on the Russian sanctions again, how much pressure do you think that this sanctioning these two Russian companies actually puts on President Putin? Because the last administration sanctioned two other oil companies. How much I pressure is this really?
Karoline Leavitt (30:18):
A lot. If you read the sanctions and look at them, they're pretty hefty. And I saw some international news out of China this morning that they're scaling back oil purchases from Russia. We know India has done the same at the request of the president. President has also pushed European countries, our allies to please stop their purchases of Russian oil as well. So it's full court press for sure. And we expect that these sanctions are going to do harm as the Secretary of Treasury said yesterday.
Ed (30:43):
Could there be more? Is this just the first step or could there be more sanctions?
Karoline Leavitt (30:47):
I'll leave that to the president to decide. Sure.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
We've seen the video or heard the NBA gambling involved in the gambling issue there. Does the President gamble? What does he think about that?
Karoline Leavitt (30:58):
You know, I'm not sure. I don't think he does. I've been with him quite some time and I have not seen him gamble before. I don't think he's a big gambler, but you can ask him yourself next time you have a chance to, Ed. Go ahead.
Jake (31:11):
Thank you, Karoline.
Karoline Leavitt (31:12):
Hi Jake, and then we'll go to you.
Jake (31:13):
Thank you.
Karoline Leavitt (31:14):
You're welcome.
Jake (31:16):
Two quick questions back to the ballroom. It is a very spectacular ballroom according to the renderings. And if it's half as nice as the one in Mar-a-Lago, then future Presidents are really going to appreciate it.
Karoline Leavitt (31:25):
They will. Thank you, Jake.
Jake (31:28):
First, is there an official name? Are we calling it the Trump Ballroom or does the president have a vision for what the name for the ballroom is going to be?
Karoline Leavitt (31:37):
There will be an official name. I will let the president announce that once he firmly decides on it.
Jake (31:42):
My second question is, so looking at these renderings, and it kind of got me thinking he's likely going to go down as the greatest builder of this era, and you've been in on a lot of those meetings with him. To your knowledge, has the subject of rebuilding the Holy Temple in Jerusalem come up?
Karoline Leavitt (32:01):
It has not. No, it has not.
Jake (32:05):
You don't know what his thoughts on that?
Karoline Leavitt (32:05):
I don't. I'm sorry, Jake. Go ahead.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
Karoline, on the CC pardon, could this clear the way for finance to resume US operations?
Karoline Leavitt (32:13):
I won't get ahead of that. That's something for Treasury or the Departments of Commerce to comment on. So you're welcome to ask them.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
And then one follow-up question, any more details on the president's Walter Reed visit. The readout from his doctor mentioned advanced imaging. What procedure was he referring to?
Karoline Leavitt (32:30):
Advanced imaging is something that presidents receive and people receive when they go to the doctor, and so we provide a detailed readout of that physical. And I would encourage you back to that. Presidents and I… I don't know the exact imaging that took place, but as the physician's note said, the president is in incredibly good shape and I think that's evidenced here every single day.
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Karoline-
Karoline Leavitt (32:52):
Danny.
Danny (32:53):
Thanks, Caroline. Back to the ballroom I'm afraid. I just wanted to ask because in July the White House said that it would cost 200 million. Yesterday the president said 300 million. Is 300 million now the operative figure and why did it go up by so much?
Karoline Leavitt (33:08):
300 million is the figure, and again, it's not going to cost the taxpayers a dime. So we look forward to this project continuing and we will continue to keep everyone apprised on it. Perhaps the president will even bring you all out to see it one day at the appropriate time. You're also going to hear from the president directly in about an hour, he's hosting an event with the Homeland Security Task Force. This was a newly created federal task force that the president and his law enforcement team have put together. I would encourage you all to tune into the remarks. They have really done a tremendous job at refocusing how federal law enforcement and local law enforcement work together. There will be some local sheriffs and law enforcement officials in attendance as well, and they'll be talking about the success and the many arrests they have made of drug traffickers and cartel members all across the country by just simply working together. So we will see you at the event. Thank you.
Speaker 3 (33:56):
Thank you, Karoline.
Speaker 4 (33:57):
Thank you, Karoline.