On Monday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre held a White House press briefing with Admiral John Kirby.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Yeah.
00:01Yeah, I did.
00:02I just thought.
00:03Oh.
00:30Good afternoon, everyone.
00:57So you just heard from my colleague over at the State Department, who has confirmed
01:01that Hamas sent a response.
01:03I'm going to turn things over very quickly to my colleague, Admiral John Kirby, who will
01:08share more updates in the region.
01:11Good afternoon, everybody.
01:16As Karine noted, there has been a response from Hamas to the hostage deal.
01:22We're currently reviewing that response, and we're discussing it with our partners in the
01:27region.
01:28Director Burns, as you know, is there, and he's working this in real time on the ground.
01:33I won't be able to comment any further on this until we know where things stand.
01:37I hope you can understand that.
01:38I know everybody's curious about what's in this response, what the Israeli reaction to
01:42it is.
01:43I'm just not going to get ahead of the process.
01:45We want to get these hostages out.
01:47We want to get a ceasefire in place for six weeks.
01:49We want to increase humanitarian assistance, and the last thing that I want to do is say
01:52anything at this podium that's going to put that process at risk.
01:56Regardless, as we've said before, we still believe that reaching an agreement is the
02:00absolute best outcome, not only for the hostages but for the Palestinian people, and we're
02:04not going to stop working to that outcome.
02:06Now, as you know, the President talked with Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning.
02:10The call lasted about 30 minutes and was constructive.
02:13The President reaffirmed his message on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.
02:19The two leaders discussed the shared commitment of Israel and the United States to remember
02:23the six million Jews who were systematically targeted and slaughtered in the Holocaust,
02:28one of the darkest chapters in human history, and to forcefully act against anti-Semitism
02:33and all forms of hate-fueled violence.
02:35Now, of course, the two leaders spoke about our efforts to secure the hostage deal, including
02:40through these ongoing talks today.
02:42During the call, at the President's urging, Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed to ensure
02:46that the Kerem Shalom crossing is back open for humanitarian assistance for those in need.
02:52And I also want to take a moment to address the latest reports now out of RAFA, which
02:56was also a topic of discussion on the call.
02:59I'll reiterate again that we cannot and we will not speak for IDF operations, but we've
03:06made clear our views about operations in RAFA that could potentially put more than a million
03:11innocent people at greater risk.
03:14During his call with Prime Minister Netanyahu, the President again made this clear.
03:18He also made clear that we continue to believe that the hostage deal is the best way to avoid
03:23that sort of an outcome while securing the release of those hostages.
03:26And as I said, those conversations continue.
03:28Just one more thing.
03:30President Biden hosted His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan for lunch at the White House
03:35that probably wrapped up here just recently.
03:38They discussed the strong partnership between the United States and Jordan.
03:41They also spoke about the situation in Gaza, of course, including efforts to secure the
03:45hostage deal and to get more humanitarian assistance into the civilians of Gaza.
03:50We're going to have a more detailed readout of that conversation here very, very soon.
03:56Just don't have it right now, but you'll be seeing it shortly.
03:59As far as you can tell, which proposal did Hamas accept?
04:05I'm not going to get into that, Steve.
04:06And is the issue over how long a ceasefire would last?
04:10Again, you're asking me for the parameters around the response and the deal itself, and
04:14I'm just not going to do that.
04:15And lastly, Israel has called on people in Rafa to evacuate.
04:20Does that presage a full-scale assault?
04:22What are we seeing?
04:24As I said in my opening statement, I'm not going to speak for IDF operations or their
04:28military intentions and plans.
04:30They should be the ones to answer those kinds of questions.
04:33What I can only reiterate is that we've been consistent, and the President was consistent
04:38again this morning, that we don't support ground operations in Rafa.
04:42That would put the majority or even any of the civilians there at any greater risk.
04:48We want to see their safety and security allowed for and factored in.
04:51Good.
04:52Noting your caveats at the top, are you able to say whether Hamas was agreeing to something
04:58that had been discussed over the last several days?
05:01Again, without getting into the details of it – and Director Burns is still talking
05:05to partners about this – there have been ongoing negotiations and talks here.
05:13For weeks.
05:15And the Director traveled recently to see if we can't bring this thing home.
05:20And again, without speaking about the details of the response by Hamas, I think it's safe
05:26to conclude that that response came as a result or at the end of these continued discussions
05:32that Director Burns was part of.
05:33And when do you think you'll have a better sense of what is happening?
05:36When will you get a readout from Director Burns later today, early tomorrow?
05:40I don't know.
05:41The Secretary has been briefed on the response.
05:45He's aware of where the situation – where the process is.
05:49What you're asking me is, like, when are we going to get, like, a final –
05:51What did the answer get?
05:53Yeah, a final table slap here.
05:56There is a process that has been worked in the past and will be worked this time.
06:02You get a response by Hamas, we're going to have to evaluate that, we're going to
06:05see what's in it.
06:06Certainly, the Israelis get it – must have a chance to look at this and to evaluate it.
06:12And Director Burns, as we speak, literally as you and I are talking, having these conversations
06:17with partners in the region, it would be great – I'm sure we'd all like to have an
06:21answer as soon as possible, but I just don't want to get ahead of that process.
06:24And a quick follow-up on the readout.
06:25When do you expect the Karem Shalom crossing to reopen, or is it already reopened?
06:31It should be open very, very soon.
06:33Prime Minister Netanyahu committed to opening it on the call this morning, so at 2.30 is
06:38it open?
06:39I don't know.
06:40But he assured the President that it would be reopened, and it had been closed for several
06:44days.
06:45Okay.
06:46And one more.
06:47Cindy McCain, the executive director of the World Food Program, said over the weekend
06:48that northern Gaza is in a, quote, full-fledged famine.
06:49Is that the assessment of the U.S. government as well?
06:50The UN has not declared a famine in Gaza writ large, but I don't want to understate
07:01the degree of need here and the dire situation that so many people in Gaza are in, particularly
07:07with respect to food and water.
07:08So it is not a great situation, clearly, and that's why, again, we're working so hard
07:13to get this deal in place so we can keep that humanitarian assistance up at a higher level.
07:17Good.
07:18Thank you.
07:19I understand you don't want to get into the specifics here, but is it your understanding
07:21that this is Hamas's final offer?
07:23I mean, is there still room to negotiate here?
07:25I think it's going to depend on our evaluation and the Israelis' evaluation of the response
07:30and where we go from here.
07:31And as Steve mentioned, the Israelis are already warning people to evacuate Gaza.
07:35If they do go through with this operation, is the U.S. willing to consider putting limits
07:40or conditions on aid to Israel?
07:42I won't get ahead of where we are right now, Mary, in the process here, and I'm certainly
07:46not going to speak to hypothetical operations that haven't happened yet.
07:49I think we just have to see what transpires.
07:53The President was very direct, and consistently so this morning, that we don't want to see
07:59major ground operations in Rafah that put these people at greater risk.
08:02But a month ago, the Administration did make clear that the U.S. would change its approach,
08:06right, if Israel didn't take significant steps to address the humanitarian crisis.
08:10That's right.
08:11Does that still hold?
08:12Is it possible that the U.S. could change course if the humanitarian process isn't improved?
08:17Of course.
08:18We always – no, we always have the right to adjust our policies as appropriate, and
08:22that has not changed, no.
08:23And presumably, an operation in Rafah would jeopardize steps to address the humanitarians?
08:28All I can say is we've been very direct and very consistent in our views of concerns
08:33about operations in Rafah.
08:36Does the U.S. currently have any sense of whether Israel is inclined or not inclined
08:41to accept this deal?
08:43I won't speak for the Israelis.
08:46When the President and the Prime Minister spoke earlier today, was this specific framework
08:51discussed, and did the President encourage or pressure on the Prime Minister to accept
08:56this framework?
08:57You're talking about the – what the – what Hamas says they responded to.
09:01So just – and just so you have the tick-tock here, when they were talking this morning,
09:05we did not have news that Hamas had responded.
09:08So that news broke after the call.
09:12That said, as I mentioned in my opening statement, of course, they talked about the hostage deal
09:15and the importance of getting it secured.
09:18So you're saying when the two leaders spoke, Hamas had not yet accepted this framework
09:21–
09:22Correct.
09:23It would be wrong for you to conclude that the call this morning was about having the
09:32Israelis accept the Hamas response.
09:34The Hamas response hadn't happened yet.
09:36Did he broadly encourage the Prime Minister to get yes to some sort of deal?
09:42As he has consistently, with Prime Minister Netanyahu, urged that we get this deal secured.
09:48But it wasn't a pressure call.
09:51It wasn't about twisting his arm towards a certain set of parameters.
09:55Director Burns is in the region having these conversations with the Israelis, the Qataris,
09:59the Egyptians, as – again, as we speak, and that's the forum for working out the
10:04parameters of it.
10:05But the President clearly talked to the Prime Minister about the importance of getting a
10:08deal done, yeah.
10:09And John, what is the President's position on a limited operation in Jaraffa?
10:15I think I – I don't think I can answer it any differently than I did with Mary.
10:19We've been very clear that we don't support a major ground operation in Jaraffa, operations
10:23in general that put at greater risk the more than a million people that are sheltering
10:28there.
10:29And the question right now is a hypothetical.
10:33I mean, we're aware they dropped leaflets.
10:35We're aware that they're warning people to evacuate.
10:40I let them speak to their operations and to their intents – intentions.
10:45Nothing's changed about where we are with respect to operations in Jaraffa that could
10:48put those people at greater risk.
10:49Right.
10:50But you know that they are asking people in the area to evacuate, and the possibility
10:53of a limited Jaraffa operation is on the table.
10:56So I'm asking, does the President believe that Israel can execute a limited operation
11:00in Jaraffa while adequately protecting the lives of civilians there?
11:04The President doesn't want to see operations in Jaraffa that put at greater risk the more
11:10than a million people that are seeking refuge there.
11:12So he wouldn't support a limited operation in Jaraffa?
11:15I think I've answered the question.
11:18Picking up on the timeline, so prior to Hamas saying that they accepted this proposal, what,
11:24as you understood them to be, were the sticking points for either Hamas or the Israelis in
11:30the deal that had been on the table?
11:31I'm not going to get into that.
11:32Okay.
11:33Did it involve Rafah in any way?
11:36I'm not going to talk about the parameters of the proposal that was – worked before
11:42this Hamas response, and I'm certainly not going to talk about the response right now.
11:45I mean, I do understand the curiosity, and you guys are all asking exactly the right
11:49questions, all very fair.
11:51But I really do hope you understand that the last thing I would ever want to do from this
11:55podium is say something that could put this very sensitive process at greater risk.
11:58We are at a critical stage right now.
12:02We got a response from Hamas.
12:03Now Director Burns is working through that, trying to assess it, working with the Israelis.
12:07I mean, my goodness, folks, I don't know that it gets any more sensitive than right
12:11now.
12:12And the worst thing that we can do is start speculating about what's in it.
12:14And one more thing on Rafah.
12:16What was your understanding why the Israelis were only evacuating part of Rafah at this
12:22time?
12:23You'd have to talk to the Israelis.
12:24Go ahead, Dan.
12:25Thanks, Karine.
12:26Thanks, Admiral.
12:27You've previously said several times that the ball is in the court of Hamas in previous
12:31stages of negotiations.
12:32Would it be fair to say now that the ball is in Israel's court?
12:35It's going to depend on what the response actually says and the conversations that we
12:40have with the Israelis about what – where we go from here.
12:43And just one other thing, if I can ask.
12:45Do you have any sense that Israel is currently using this threat or the start of an operation
12:51in Rafah as a means of putting pressure on Hamas at this stage of the negotiation?
12:55Again, you'd have to talk to the Israelis about their intentions.
12:57Frank.
12:58You said that they – that you did not know the news during the call, but were you surprised
13:04by – was the White House surprised by Hamas saying that they have reached a deal or agreeing
13:11to the agreement?
13:13I don't think we had a heads-up about it.
13:15We knew that, as I've said publicly, they had a proposal in front of them, and as was
13:21– I was just reminded of the fact that I've said many times it was – the ball was in
13:26Hamas's court.
13:27So we certainly knew that they had it before them and we were waiting on word.
13:33We had hoped that there would be word very, very soon.
13:37We certainly hoped that there could be word today.
13:40But did we know the exact moment that al-Jazeera was able to break the news that Hamas had
13:45a response?
13:46No.
13:47We didn't predict that particular moment.
13:48Are you encouraged that they're – that you are at this sensitive point?
13:52You've been talking about it's a very sensitive point, it's important.
13:55We'll be encouraged when we get a deal in place and we can start seeing hostages get
13:59back with their families.
14:00That'll be encouraging.
14:01And if I can, what role, if any, do you feel like the leaflets and the pressure of an evacuation
14:07or the announcement of evacuating, do you think that had any role in triggering Hamas?
14:13I don't think we know that.
14:14Matt.
14:15John, can you talk a little bit about the timeline, as the administration understands
14:20it, of those evacuations?
14:22How much time do people have to leave?
14:24Did you guys put any demands on the Israelis in terms of how those evacuations are to take
14:29place under the parameters that you guys have talked about?
14:31We're asking questions of the Israelis about what their intentions are here and what the
14:37larger purpose of this evacuation is and sort of where they're wanting to go.
14:42I think to answer your question, though, you'd really have to go to the Israelis to speak
14:47to their military operations and plans.
14:48I'm not going to get ahead of that.
14:50But are we curious about the timing and the intent and where they're going?
14:55Yes, absolutely.
14:56And the President expressed our curiosity about that on the call today.
15:00But more than curiosity, are you expressing what you want to see happen in terms of those
15:05evacuations, how they take place, whether Israel is prepared for people moving around
15:09within the area?
15:10I would just say, again, without – I don't want to get ahead of operations that haven't
15:14happened.
15:15I don't want to speak for the Israeli military.
15:17I can just say that we don't want to see operations in and around Rafah that make it
15:26harder for the people that are seeking refuge there and shelter to be safe and secure.
15:32And we have made that case privately to the Israelis.
15:37The President did it again today with the Prime Minister of Directly.
15:41We certainly made it publicly.
15:42We've been very, very consistent about that.
15:44Go ahead.
15:45Hey, Jacob.
15:46Hey, Karine.
15:47John, noting everything that you've said about the concerns expressed by the U.S. about
15:52the risk to Palestinians in Gaza with a full-scale operation, is the U.S. still aligned with
15:58Israel in its intention to eliminate the terrorist threat posed by Hamas?
16:04Of course.
16:06And is there any feeling that Hamas may be trying to trick the public in some way?
16:15You heard Israeli officials commenting on this latest proposal as a trick, and there's
16:21been a lot of pressure to – go ahead.
16:24No, I'm – just go ahead.
16:26Sorry.
16:27I'm listening.
16:28There's been a lot of pressure on the administration to make sure that the needs of Palestinians
16:34are being served and that the U.S. support for Israel isn't overhanded.
16:41And you had the report come out earlier today or maybe yesterday that the U.S. was potentially
16:46weighing withholding an arms shipment to Israel.
16:49Is there any concern that Hamas was trying to capitalize on that public pressure and
16:57play a trick, as Israeli officials put it?
16:59I mean, I don't think there's any possible way I can answer that question unless I got
17:04between the ears of Mr. Sinwar, and that's a place I really don't want to be.
17:07I think that is a great question for him.
17:11You know, it's interesting.
17:13I stand up here and answer questions, Karine does, Matt Miller at the State Department,
17:17Pentagon colleagues, the President does, Prime Minister Netanyahu does, and the IDF military
17:22spokesman does.
17:23You know who hasn't answered a single question about his intentions and what games he might
17:28be playing or where he intends to take this?
17:31Mr. Sinwar, the head of Hamas.
17:33And I think it's high time that he answers some of these questions and he come clean
17:37about what his intentions are.
17:38I don't know.
17:39All I know is we've got a response.
17:42Bill Burns is looking at that response.
17:43He's talking to the Israelis about it.
17:45And we'll see where this goes.
17:47Hopefully, hopefully, whatever's in this thing, hopefully it can lead to those hostages
17:53getting out real, real soon with their families where they need to be.
17:56And as each day passes, their lives get further at risk.
18:01So time is really of the essence here.
18:02Well, noting your answer, is it still a good idea to try to negotiate with terrorists then?
18:08It's not like we sit down pie in the sky and say, hey, today's a good day, let's negotiate
18:15with terrorists.
18:18You've got to negotiate with who you've got to negotiate to get people back with their
18:20families.
18:21So frankly, if there's a better idea to get those hostages home with their families, I
18:25think we'd love to hear them.
18:27I just don't think there's another way to do it.
18:29There's no other way to do it, quite frankly.
18:30You've got to negotiate through Qatar with Hamas to get those folks back with their families.
18:36That's the hard work of diplomacy.
18:38Sometimes it means you've got to sit across the table from some really bad folks that
18:42you'd rather not have to talk to.
18:44But they've got those hostages and we want them back.
18:47But the U.S. backs Israel's intention to eliminate Hamas.
18:49We of course back their right and responsibility to go after the Hamas threat, to eliminate
18:54that threat.
18:55Now look, Jackie, I've said many times here, you're not going to eliminate an ideology
18:59through military operations.
19:01But does Israel have a right and responsibility to eliminate a threat that they suffered on
19:06the 7th of October?
19:07A hundred percent, absolutely they do, and we've been nothing but very steadfast on that.
19:12Thanks, Frank.
19:13Thanks, John.
19:15Speaking about a tech talk, what prompted this morning's call?
19:18I think you've heard me say many times, they talk as appropriate.
19:23And given where we were in the hostage deal negotiations, given where we were with humanitarian
19:32assistance and Karam Shalom being shut down for several days, certainly given where we
19:37were with expectations in Rafah, this made all the sense in the world for today to be
19:42the day that the President and Prime Minister Netanyahu speak.
19:44But when exactly was the call set up?
19:46Was it this morning?
19:47Was it yesterday after the rocket attack that killed the three Israelis?
19:50I would tell you the initial planning for the call took place late in the weekend, is
19:55about what I'd say.
19:56And one more on a different topic.
19:58Why did the U.S. halt an ammunition shipment to Israel last week?
20:03Yeah, look, I've seen the press reporting on this.
20:05All I can tell you is that, to Jackie's question, our support for Israel's security remains
20:11ironclad.
20:12And I'm not going to get into the specifics of one shipment over another.
20:17Our NBC is reporting that it included 2,000 POM bombs that may have been used in Rafah.
20:22Did concerns over Rafah and what the Israelis could use this ammunition for, did that play
20:28any role in halting that shipment?
20:30I don't have a better answer for you other than the one I just gave you.
20:33I just want to go at that question one more time.
20:37Why did the United States put a pause on an arms shipment to Israel?
20:43Is that reporting correct?
20:44I'm not going to confirm that reporting.
20:47Okay.
20:48Just on another topic – well, same topic, different question – over the weekend, the
20:52Queen of Jordan said in an interview that the United States is giving the world mixed
20:57messages and offering both expressions of concern and support for Gaza, in addition
21:04to providing arms to Israel.
21:07Can you comment at all on this – on her criticism or her critique of the United States'
21:12position?
21:13I'm not going to – I don't think it would be appropriate to get into a back-and-forth
21:18here from the podium on this.
21:20We have said that two things can be true at once, and they are.
21:25Israel has a right and a responsibility to defend itself, and we're going to continue
21:29to provide for their security and help them with that.
21:31And at the same time, they have a right and an obligation to be careful about civilian
21:36casualties and getting more humanitarian assistance in, and that's why we're working so hard
21:39on this hostages deal.
21:41And that's why the American – the President and the United States continue to lead the
21:45world in terms of actually making a difference in that outcome, making life better for the
21:50Palestinian people.
21:51No other country is doing more than the United States to try to increase that assistance
21:55and get this ceasefire in place.
21:57And just really quickly, the Israelis stopped the broadcast of Al Jazeera over the weekend.
22:03Can you comment on whether that's an appropriate action for a United States ally?
22:08We don't support that action.
22:10As we said very clearly on World Press Freedom Day on Friday – I know Karine talked about
22:14this – the work of independent journalism around the world is absolutely vital.
22:19It's important to an informed citizenry and public, but it's also important to help
22:24inform the policymaking process.
22:27So we don't support that at all.
22:29Can the President bring it up at all in his call?
22:31The focus of the call was on the hostage deal and on Rafa.
22:35I'm going to give it to Al Jazeera.
22:36But you saw my – sorry, you saw – I think I put a statement out this morning on that,
22:40so we have officially reacted to it.
22:42Good.
22:43I'll just –
22:44Sorry.
22:45Thank you so much, Karine.
22:46Thank you, John.
22:47Is the Administration planning on discussing the banning of Al Jazeera in Israel with the
22:52Israeli Government?
22:55We just celebrated the freedom of press here in the United States and across the globe,
22:59and then this decision came, and it was really a big shock.
23:02Has the Administration raised this issue with the Government of Israel?
23:05We have raised this issue, and I've made a public statement about it.
23:09And on the – on Rafa, has Israel presented or provided the Administration with a comprehensive
23:17plan for Rafa until now?
23:20No.
23:21Good.
23:23I want to take you back to this report on whether shipments were paused.
23:27Okay.
23:28Are the reports wrong?
23:30I'm not going to confirm the press reporting yet.
23:32What I've said is our security commitments to Israel are ironclad.
23:37The President pushed very hard to get that supplemental funding so that we can continue
23:41to help Israel with its security needs.
23:44You can appreciate the ambiguity makes it sound like it's true.
23:48I can't speak for what you appreciate in my answer.
23:51All I can do is tell you that my answer is not going to change.
23:54All right.
23:55What is the definition of an assault or attack on Rafa in the view of the White House that
24:01would be seen as impermissible?
24:03There hasn't been an assault or an attack in terms of a ground operation at this time,
24:07so let's not get ahead of where we are.
24:10The President did express, again, our concerns about operations in Rafa that would put at
24:16risk these people trying to find shelter there.
24:21I think it would be a futile exercise for me to get up here and give you a laundry list
24:28of what would or would not compose some kind of ground operation in Rafa.
24:36We have to – well, let me put it another way.
24:39The IDF has to speak to what their intentions and their plans are.
24:43Ground operation versus missiles that may be landing over Rafa tonight, which is what we're hearing.
24:49Well, it doesn't matter whether it's missiles or rockets.
24:54Things that kill innocent people, that's not okay.
24:58And again, the President made it clear that we don't want to see operations in Rafa that
25:02put at risk those million and a half people that are there.
25:05How does the President assess Bill Burns' ongoing attempts to make sure this deal comes together?
25:11I guess sideway of getting that sort of – talking to the parameters of the deal.
25:14I appreciate that.
25:15He's very grateful for –
25:16No, I was more generally interested in what he thinks of the CIA director's work on this.
25:20Really?
25:21Yes.
25:22Excellent.
25:23I'm sorry.
25:24I impugned your question.
25:25Look, I think he's very grateful for the work that Director Burns and the whole team
25:29has been doing to try to get us to this point.
25:32But it only really matters if we can get the deal in place.
25:36And I'm sure Director Burns would agree with me on that.
25:40And those hostages can get home.
25:42But he's done terrific work thus far, and I know that he wants to see that get this
25:47across the finish line just as much as we do.
25:50Thank you.
25:51Great.
25:52Admiral, on a different topic.
25:53Reports breaking this last few minutes that a U.S. soldier has been detained in Russia.
25:57This apparently happened in the last few days.
25:59The reporting is he had been stationed in Korea, traveled to Russia on his own.
26:03He's been accused of some sort of theft.
26:05Is the administration aware of this report?
26:08Yes.
26:10I can't really say much about it right now, Jonathan.
26:12I hope you can understand that.
26:13And certainly it's a better question put to our DOD colleagues.
26:16But we are aware of this case.
26:18And another matter just related to Russia.
26:20There's been threats from Moscow in the last couple of days about striking British
26:25military facilities because of the – and also simulating nuclear drills as it sharply
26:30rises.
26:31Tensions because of weapons manufactured in the U.K. being used in the conflict.
26:34This says it could potentially apply to other allied countries as well, theoretically the
26:38United States.
26:39Do you have a response to that?
26:40Well, what I'd say, number one, is it's just reckless and irresponsible for the leader
26:46of a major nuclear-armed power to be saber-rattling the way that he is with respect to potential
26:53use for nuclear weapons.
26:57We're – obviously, we monitor this and have continued to monitor this very closely.
27:01I can tell you we've seen nothing, even despite the reckless rhetoric, that would
27:06to change our strategic deterrent posture.
27:08And look, lastly, if Mr. Putin and Russian officials are worried about their troops in
27:18Ukraine getting hit with weapons from other countries, then the easiest thing to do is
27:23just take your troops and leave.
27:25There are reports of AFP right now that Israel is committing airstrikes on Rafa, intense
27:33airstrikes on Rafa right now.
27:35What would that timing mean to the relationship between President and Prime Minister?
27:40Well, sir, you know something I don't know.
27:42I haven't seen those reports.
27:43I can't confirm it.
27:44I'll just go back to what I've said, I don't know, half a dozen, if not more, times
27:48today.
27:49We don't support operations in Rafa that put people at greater risk.
27:52Thank you.
27:53Thank you, Kellyanne, and thank you, John.
27:57I just wanted to make it clear that regarding the limit on the refined petroleum provided
28:05by Russia to North Korea, the annual refined petroleum limit under U.N. sanctions against
28:13North Korea is 500,000 barrels.
28:16But last week you said that the limit was exceeded at 165,000 barrels in March alone.
28:27So how many barrels were supplied in January and February?
28:33I will have to take that question and get back to you.
28:36I didn't bring the barrel data with me today.
28:39One more quick question again.
28:42State Department spokesperson Miller said that sanctions against this will be imposed
28:51this month, and North Korea oil tanker sanctioned by the U.N. is currently staying in Chinese
29:02water.
29:03So is China included sanctions this time, or U.N. sanctions against Russia and sanctions
29:13against China all together?
29:16I will admit that I will owe you now yet another answer.
29:19I'll get back to you with something more detailed.
29:21I will only just say to exit myself from this question gracefully that we want everybody
29:31to enforce the sanctions that are against North Korea appropriately and consistently.
29:36And not everybody does.
29:37And North Korea has benefited from sanctions evasions by countries in the region and beyond
29:41the region.
29:42I'll leave it at that.
29:43Okay.
29:44Amir, we've got to start wrapping up.
29:45Thank you very much, Karim.
29:46Thank you very much, John.
29:47I have a question on Russia and growing ties between China and Russia.
29:52Putin is reportedly visiting China this month.
29:56Right before this visit, just last week, we learned that Russian police raided the homes
30:02of Falun Gong practitioners in Russia.
30:04This is a group persecuted in China and detained several of them.
30:09Does the White House have any reaction to this?
30:11And I have a follow-up on that.
30:13I haven't seen the reports about the detention of these individuals.
30:17If they're true, certainly that would be concerning to us.
30:21But I'd probably refer you to the State Department to speak a little bit more about that than
30:26I can.
30:27Just again, writ large, we have seen China and Russia try to grow closer together.
30:33We believe a big reason for that is, frankly, the United States and putting themselves in
30:40positions to either oppose our foreign policy objectives or to try to be an obstacle to
30:46them in many, many different ways.
30:49So it's concerning to us.
30:52The most specific concern that we have right now is the fact that some Chinese companies
30:56are providing microelectronics and components so that Mr. Putin can continue his defense
31:01industrial base improvements and developments and put weapons in the field that just kill
31:05innocent Ukrainians.
31:06And again, we've been – we've made those concerns clear directly to our Chinese counterparts
31:13and at the UN.
31:15All right.
31:16Jared.
31:17Do you have the last question?
31:18Do you have the last question?
31:19Yeah, I did want to ask – just a clarification first on the King's visit.
31:22Is he meeting with any other senior defense department, anybody?
31:27Not that I'm aware of.
31:28So this wasn't like a broader bilateral kind of –
31:30No.
31:31The President hosted him for lunch.
31:33They've done this before in the past.
31:35And secondly, can you give us an –
31:36I can't.
31:37But look, I can't speak to his whole schedule while he's in town.
31:39So I'm not aware of any other meetings, but that doesn't mean that he's got some
31:42–
31:43But it wasn't like a broader bilateral here at the White House?
31:44No.
31:45On the pier, the temporary pier, if you could give us an update on that and whether or not
31:49like a ceasefire would need to be in place for that to be fully implemented and operational.
31:53A ceasefire doesn't have to be in place for the pier to operate.
31:57Now, obviously, it's a whole heck of a lot easier if there's no fighting going on,
32:02but it doesn't have to be.
32:03In fact, one of the big issues that we are still working out is what the force protection
32:08laydown would look like and how the – not just the people operating the pier, but the
32:12material itself can be safe from any attack.
32:16As far as I know – and again, you should go to the Pentagon for more detail – the
32:20– essentially, the pier itself has been constructed.
32:24It is not in place because last week they had some weather issues in the Eastern Med
32:29so they weren't able to put it in place.
32:31You should go to the Pentagon for like where it is right now.
32:33As I understand it, it is still not being put into place.
32:37Then you've got to anchor it and you've got to make sure you build a causeway so you
32:40can get to and from it.
32:42So there's still a lot of work that has to be done to get it operational, and that
32:45would include the force protection laydown.
32:47But no, the short answer to your question is you don't have to have a ceasefire in
32:50place to use the temporary pier.
32:51Thank you, Admiral.
32:52Appreciate it.
32:53Thank you, Karine.
32:54Appreciate you.
32:55Appreciate your patience.
32:56Thank you.
32:57Thanks.
32:58All right.
32:59I do have a couple things at the top.
33:00We wanted to get to the Admiral at the beginning.
33:04So tomorrow the President will deliver remarks during the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's
33:09Sacred Days of Remembrance ceremony.
33:11You can expect the President to make clear that during these sacred days of remembrance
33:15we honor the memory of the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust and we recommit to
33:21heeding the lessons of this dark chapter never again.
33:24He will speak to the horrors of October 7th when Hamas unleashed the deadliest day for
33:29Jewish people since the Holocaust, and he will speak to how since October 7th we've
33:35seen an alarming rise in anti-Semitism in the U.S., in our cities, our communities,
33:39and on our campuses.
33:41The President will touch on how his national strategy to counter anti-Semitism is putting
33:48the full force of the federal government behind protecting the Jewish community and that all
33:53Americans must stand united against anti-Semitism.
33:56He will reaffirm that we respect and protect the fundamental right to free speech, but
34:03there is no place on any campus or anywhere for anti-Semitism.
34:08There is no place for hate speech or threats of violence against the Jewish people.
34:16Next today, as part of the Economic Opportunity Tour, Vice President Harris is traveling to
34:21Michigan to announce $100 million in funding and resources for small and medium-sized auto
34:27manufacturers and auto workers.
34:29The Vice President will also announce actions to expand workforce training and improve job
34:34quality in the EV supply chain.
34:37For decades, trickle-down economics drove manufacturers overseas.
34:43Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration's Investing in America agenda, companies are
34:48making historic investments in EV battery supply manufacturing.
34:52More than 20 auto and battery plants have been announced.
34:56After no net new plants opened under the previous administration, historic contracts secured
35:02by the UAW and the Big Three automakers in Detroit, as well as recent organizing victories
35:09like Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tennessee, ensure that these jobs of the future will
35:15provide comparable wages, retirement security, and respect at work.
35:20These actions build on the Biden-Harris administration's ongoing work to ensure that the workers and
35:25businesses that built the auto industry remain community anchors for generations to come.
35:31And finally, I want to acknowledge some important news.
35:34While the previous administrations oversaw the largest one-year increase in murders ever
35:41recorded under this president's leadership, President Biden, violent crime is at a nearly
35:4750-year low.
35:49Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of law enforcement and community leaders, Americans
35:54are safer from violent crime today than they were a year ago.
35:59Violent crime declined across every category in the first quarter of 2024, and murders
36:05are down 17 percent.
36:08Let me be clear here.
36:09This reduction in crime is no accident.
36:12President Biden and his administration are taking historic action to make our communities
36:16safer and give our law enforcement officers the tools they need to protect and serve.
36:22We are stopping the flow of illegal guns and making the largest ever federal investment
36:27in fighting and preventing crime through the American Rescue Plan, which every Republican
36:33in Congress voted against.
36:36But we can't stop now.
36:37Through the Safe America Plan, the President is calling on Congress to invest $37 billion
36:44to support law enforcement and crime prevention.
36:47Every family deserves to live in a safe community.
36:51With that, so may I?
36:53You had another school, Columbia University, announce this morning that they're canceling
36:56commencement ceremonies.
36:57I'm wondering if the White House is concerned that the situation on college campuses is
37:01not calming down, just like what the President said last week.
37:04So I want to quote what the President said from last week, as you laid that out for me.
37:10And here's a quote.
37:11Peaceful protests in America.
37:12Violent protest is not protected.
37:14Peaceful protest is.
37:16It's against the law when violence occurs.
37:19Destroying property is not a peaceful protest.
37:22It's against the law.
37:23Vandalism.
37:24Trespassing.
37:25Breaking windows.
37:26Shutting down campuses.
37:27Forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations.
37:30None of this is a peaceful protest.
37:32And it is unfortunate that a small group, a small group of people, went too far and
37:38cost their classmates this important event.
37:41We've talked about it many times from here.
37:43When it comes to commencement day and when it comes to speaking at commencement events,
37:48this is something that the President has done for some time now.
37:51And he understands that this is a moment of joy, a moment of celebration.
37:55And we feel for them.
37:57We feel for each of the graduates.
38:00And we're going to continue to reiterate the President's comments and statements
38:05and what we've said from this podium to call for protests peacefully.
38:10And that's what we're going to continue to do.
38:12But we do feel for them.
38:14These are graduates who are going to miss out on an incredibly important day of commencement.
38:20Does the White House anticipate any issues or how are you preparing for any potential
38:24issues when he delivers the remarks at Morehouse?
38:27I'm not going to speculate on what might happen, might not happen, obviously, when
38:32it comes to any type of – when it comes to events and security.
38:36That's something that Secret Service obviously is going to deal with and figure that out
38:42on their end.
38:43But I'm not going to speculate from here.
38:46I'm just going to reiterate what I just said about how the President truly enjoys
38:50doing commencement speeches.
38:51He understands how important – not just for the graduate, but the families and the
38:54loved ones that are there to celebrate a really, truly important day.
38:59And so that's what we're looking forward to.
39:01As you know, the President is also going to go to West Point and honor those who serve
39:07to protect our country.
39:10And so – and will continue to do that, obviously.
39:13And so that's what he's going to look forward to, really being there for the graduates
39:16and lifting them up in this moment.
39:22Congressman Ro Khanna said that the President should and will be out visiting these campuses
39:27among the protests – amid the protests.
39:30Is there any plan for him to get out there and talk to students right now?
39:34No.
39:35Okay.
39:36Lastly, GW's President has called for Metro Police in D.C. to intervene to dismantle
39:44what they've deemed an illegal encampment.
39:47And D.C. police have so far refused to respond to that call.
39:52It's happening in the President's backyard.
39:55Is there any reaction from the White House on what should happen?
39:58So that is something that I'm going to leave to the local law enforcement and the
40:02universities for them to figure out, for them to work it through.
40:05They know what is happening on the ground, and we've always been very clear about that
40:08and will continue to be clear about that.
40:10We're going to continue to call for peaceful protest.
40:14And dissent cannot lead to disorder.
40:18And so I'm going to continue to be very, very clear, as the President has been, as
40:22I have been, and so many of us here in this administration has been.
40:26Any idea why D.C. police would not respond to this call?
40:29I would refer you to the D.C. police.
40:31That's something for them to speak to.
40:33And then, lastly, on these reported plans for the U.S. to bring over Palestinian refugees
40:40potentially, is there anything you can tell us about where we are in the works with that?
40:44And I know it would have to depend on coordination with Egypt, which so far has been resistant
40:50to cooperate on this.
40:52What can you tell us about those plans?
40:54I don't have anything further to announce.
40:56I know I was asked this question a couple times last week.
40:58I just don't have anything else to share.
41:00Is it a broad-brush speech or will he get into some specifics of the Gaza conflict?
41:05I'm not going to get ahead of the President too much.
41:08Obviously, it is a day of remembrance.
41:10You know the term.
41:12We, as I just stated at the top, never forget or never again.
41:15And so, certainly, the President will talk about that day and how horrific it was for
41:21the Jewish Americans, Jewish community.
41:23I just don't want to get too far ahead.
41:25But, obviously, it's an important day for not just Jewish Americans, but Americans more broadly.
41:33Thanks, Corrine.
41:34Given the key role that Jordan has played over the last several months in the Middle
41:37East, especially on humanitarian aid, and the day's development, there was obviously
41:41a lot of news value to the King's visit today.
41:44Why didn't we see the President and the King together for a photo op?
41:47Why was that closed press?
41:49So, look, we try to do everything that we can, obviously, to give you all as much access,
41:54to give the press as much access.
41:56It is sometimes, the visitor, the visiting country, have, you know, they have their own
42:02requests, and we try to certainly accommodate their requests as well.
42:08And so, look, we will try every turn at every of these events to make sure that there is
42:15press access in this particular instance.
42:18It was a private lunch, and we try to also accommodate the visitors that come here as well.
42:23The King did not want to do anything on camera?
42:25I would leave it up to the King and his team to speak to that.
42:30But again, we try to also accommodate the visiting country as well.
42:34And if there's any news from the Israeli side on this, where things stand, should we expect
42:40to hear from the President today or this evening on this?
42:43I don't have anything of note or any changes to the President's schedule at this time.
42:48Obviously, if there are any changes, you all will be one of the first, if not the first,
42:52to know.
42:53I just don't have anything at this time.
42:54The President was going to speak tomorrow, so stay tuned.
42:58Okay.
42:59Go ahead, Annie.
43:00Thank you.
43:01I just wanted to go again at the speech the President is giving tomorrow.
43:06I mean, just given the context in which he's giving it, where there's, you know, 34,000
43:13people have died in Gaza, he's going to be talking about never again and a genocide.
43:19And he's protested almost everywhere he goes, you know, with that moniker of Genocide Joe.
43:29I'm just wondering, how is he going to sort of thread the needle of addressing a genocide
43:37that happened quite a while ago, while there are some people who are saying that there's
43:41one happening right now that he bears some responsibility for?
43:44And I understand that that's not the view of the administration, but it's still a very
43:48lengthy line to walk.
43:49And I'm just wondering if you can share any sort of thought as to whether he may be trying
43:53to send a subtle message with the speech at all, or if there's any sort of nod to the
43:59broader context in which the speech is being given.
44:01So, I'm going to let the President speak for himself.
44:03I gave a broad stroke of the day and how important it's going to be for the President to speak
44:10on this day of remembrance, the ceremony.
44:13So, just going to be really mindful there.
44:16On your broader question, look, the President understands that this is an incredibly painful
44:21time.
44:22And we have said that over and over again, and we understand that.
44:26And he also respects the right of all Americans to peacefully protest.
44:31And also, with the understanding and the knowledge of having those conversations, those sometimes
44:38really tough conversations with community leaders, and we have done that.
44:43On the White House, you've heard from senior White House officials, or you've heard us
44:46talk about senior White House officials going across the country, having those conversations
44:50with Muslim leaders, Arab leaders, Palestinian leaders, in talking through this painful moment.
44:57And I would also say that this is why this hostage deal is so important.
45:03This is why we continue to work around the clock.
45:06This is why Director Burns is there, meeting, and obviously meeting, continuing to meet
45:11with partners in the region to try to get to this deal, so we can get that all-important
45:16humanitarian aid, get that ceasefire that is much needed, and also make sure that we
45:22get the hostages home, which also, American hostages are part of those hostages, and we
45:27need to get them home to their loved ones.
45:30So, that's what we're going to continue to do.
45:32The President will speak for himself tomorrow, so I would say tune in, listen to what he
45:37has to say, but we understand how painful this is for many, many communities across
45:43this country.
45:44Thanks.
45:45Q Has he had any input from any of those communities
45:46that you mentioned?
45:47Like, as he's been sort of rustling with his speech and working on it, have any of those
45:51communities had any input into what he should say or what John should say?
45:54MS.
45:55NULAND I can't speak to that question about input
45:57from communities, but the President understands how important this moment is.
46:01And I would say this is a President that tends to meet the moment when it comes to speeches
46:05and remarks like these.
46:06He understands what's going on, has his fingers on the pulse as far as what people are feeling.
46:12And so, I'm just not going to get beyond that, and I would say tune in.
46:15Go ahead, Gabriel.
46:16Q Just really quickly, what's your response to
46:18Kristi Noem's comments implying that commanders should be put down?
46:21MS.
46:22NULAND Look, you know, when we learned last week,
46:25obviously, like all of you, in her book, that she killed her puppy, you heard me say that
46:31was very, very sad.
46:33We find her comments from yesterday disturbing.
46:38We find them absurd.
46:42And here, this is a country that loves dogs.
46:46And you have a leader talking about putting dogs down, killing them.
46:52And that's a disturbing statement to say.
46:55I would say to her is she probably should stop digging herself in a hole.
47:01Thanks, everybody.
47:02Q Where is Commander now?
47:04MS.
47:05NULAND So, Commander – we said this back in the
47:07fall – Commander is living with family members.
47:10Q Where, in Delaware?
47:11MS.
47:12NULAND In Delaware.
47:13Yeah, in Delaware.
47:14Yes.
47:15We said this before.
47:16All right.
47:17Thanks, everybody.
47:18See you tomorrow.