Karoline Leavitt holds a White House press briefing.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good afternoon, everybody.
00:07How are we?
00:08Good to see you all.
00:10I have a few announcements off the top today.
00:12On April 14th, President Trump will welcome
00:15President Bukele of El Salvador for an official
00:18working visit here at the White House.
00:20They will discuss El Salvador's partnership on
00:22using their Supermax prison for Tren de Aragua
00:24and MS-13 gang members, and how El Salvador's
00:27cooperation with the United States has become a
00:30model for others to work with this administration.
00:33On April 17th, President Trump will welcome
00:36Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney of Italy for an
00:39official working visit at the White House as well.
00:41The President's thoughts also remain with the
00:44families and communities experiencing devastating
00:46loss from the severe storms and flooding
00:49affected several states across the central U.S.
00:52President Trump approved emergency declarations
00:55for Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee, allowing
00:58FEMA to provide federal assistance like equipment
01:01and resources to support state and local emergency
01:04response officials who are leading this response
01:06on the ground.
01:07Last night, the Supreme Court delivered a massive
01:10legal victory to the Trump administration and
01:12allowed us to continue removing foreign
01:15terrorist invaders under the Alien Enemies Act.
01:18This was a smackdown to a rogue, left-wing,
01:21low-level district court judge who have
01:24relentlessly tried to stop President Trump from
01:27using his core constitutional powers as
01:29head of the executive branch and as Commander-in-Chief.
01:33The highest court in the land made it clear that
01:35the President of the United States has the power
01:38to protect our homeland and forcibly remove foreign
01:41terrorists who pose a grave threat to families
01:44and communities.
01:45Thank you to the Supreme Court for upholding the
01:47rule of law and protecting the Constitution.
01:51Our message to the Monster, Tren de Aragua, and MS-13
01:54terrorists still hiding illegally inside our
01:56country is clear.
01:58Deport yourself now, or you will be locked up and
02:01sent back to your home country.
02:03On another matter, the historic Liberation Day
02:05announcement last week by President Trump made it
02:08very clear that the era of American economic
02:13surrender is over.
02:15President Trump is no longer going to allow
02:17American workers and companies to be ripped off
02:20at the hands of foolish trade practices that
02:22shipped away millions of high-paying jobs and
02:25hollowed-out communities across the country.
02:28It's America first all the way.
02:31And despite fearmongering by the media, the world
02:33is clearly responding to President Trump's approach.
02:36Just yesterday, President Trump held a bilateral
02:39meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
02:41here at the White House.
02:43The Prime Minister pledged to immediately
02:45eliminate America's trade deficit with Israel and
02:48remove their trade barriers.
02:50Israel's proactive approach should serve as a
02:52model for the rest of the world.
02:54Also yesterday, the President spoke with
02:57Japan's Prime Minister, who wants to
02:58negotiate as well.
03:00The President also spoke to the Acting President of
03:02South Korea this morning.
03:04He has tasked Secretary Besant and U.S.
03:07Trade Representative Jameson Greer to lead
03:09these talks.
03:10In total, since the Liberation Day
03:11announcement, nearly 70 countries have already
03:14reached out to the President to begin a
03:16negotiation.
03:17Countries are falling over themselves to reform their
03:20unfair trade practices and free open their markets
03:23to our country.
03:24Why?
03:25Because these countries greatly respect President
03:28Trump and the sheer power of the American market.
03:31These countries realize they've gotten filthy
03:33rich over the past few decades by imposing
03:36substantial tariffs on American-made products and
03:39ridiculous non-monetary barriers to block out
03:42American industry.
03:43The jig is up.
03:45Past American Presidents sat by and let this
03:47happen, but President Trump stood up for our
03:49country, and he is saying no more.
03:52The President's message has been simple and
03:54consistent from the beginning.
03:56To countries around the world, bring us your best
03:58offers, and he will listen.
04:00Deals will only be made if they benefit American
04:03workers and address our nation's crippling trade
04:06deficits.
04:07America does not need other countries as much as
04:09other countries need us, and President Trump knows
04:12this.
04:13He's going to use the leverage of our markets
04:15and our country to the advantage of the people he
04:17was sworn in to represent.
04:20On the other hand, countries like China,
04:22who have chosen to retaliate and try to
04:24double down on their mistreatment of American
04:26workers, are making a mistake.
04:28President Trump has a spine of steel, and he
04:30will not break, and America will not break
04:33under his leadership.
04:34He is guided by a firm belief that America must
04:37be able to produce essential goods for our
04:39own people and export them to the rest of the world.
04:42A strong America cannot be solely dependent on
04:45foreign countries for our food, medicines, and
04:48critical minerals, and America must always
04:50maintain a robust defense supply chain.
04:54Reprioritizing and strengthening our
04:56manufacturing industry are essential national and
04:58economic security issues of the utmost importance
05:01to President Trump.
05:02By focusing on supercharging the
05:04onshoring of American manufacturing, the
05:06President is already delivering on his promise
05:08to usher in an economic golden age for our
05:11country.
05:12Just look at Friday's jobs report, which smashed
05:15expectations for the second straight month.
05:18The American economy added 228,000 jobs, nearly
05:22100,000 more jobs than economists predicted, and
05:26the fourth highest month for private payroll growth
05:28in the past two years.
05:30There was also a sharp increase in
05:31transportation, construction, and
05:34warehousing employment.
05:35And in just 11 weeks, President Trump has
05:38secured more than $1.5 trillion in private
05:41sector investment.
05:42This is a half trillion dollars more than Joe
05:44Biden secured in his entire term.
05:46This record-breaking private sector investment
05:49will create roughly 350,000 American jobs
05:52and counting.
05:53If you add up all of the investment pledges from
05:55foreign governments, President Trump has
05:57secured an incredible $5 trillion in total
06:00investments already.
06:02In the months ahead, President Trump's pro-
06:04growth economic agenda will be fully realized.
06:07The largest deregulatory effort in American
06:09history is underway.
06:11Unnecessary, burdensome, costly red tape is being
06:14eliminated by this entire federal government every
06:16day, driving down costs and massively boosting
06:19small businesses.
06:21So far, President Trump's deregulation effort has
06:23already saved Americans more than $180 billion,
06:27equivalent to $2,100 per family of four.
06:31The President's drill-baby drill energy agenda, which
06:33he will discuss later this evening in the East Room,
06:36is capitalizing on the abundance of natural
06:39resources under our feet to generate more affordable
06:41electricity, cheap gas, and quality new jobs.
06:45All of this will combine to end the Biden-imposed cost
06:48of living crisis that's absolutely crushed
06:50American families.
06:52Under President Trump, the American energy industry
06:54will lead the globe over the next century,
06:56delivering lower prices and significantly
06:59strengthening our country's economic position.
07:02At the President's direction, Republicans
07:04in Congress are working quickly to pass one big,
07:07beautiful bill, which will also include the largest
07:10tax cut in American history.
07:12As President Trump has said, the House must pass
07:15this budget resolution quickly.
07:17Here in our new media seat today, we have Jasmine
07:20Wright, the White House reporter for Notice.
07:22Notice is a nonprofit and nonpartisan news site
07:25which launched in early 2024.
07:27They've gained millions of readers across
07:29the country since.
07:30Newsroom's goal is both to inform readers and train
07:32the next generation of politics and policy journalists.
07:35They also partner with state newsrooms to give
07:38local communities more knowledge of what their
07:40representatives are doing in Washington, D.C.
07:43With that, please kick us off.
07:44Jasmine.
07:44The Press Thanks so much, Caroline.
07:45A couple questions for you.
07:47The first one being, can you explain the White
07:49House's evolution from this is not a negotiation
07:53on tariffs to countries should pitch us and start
07:56negotiations on tariffs?
07:57Ms. McEnany Sure.
07:57As the President said yesterday, Jasmine,
07:59both things can be true at the same time.
08:01And it is a non-negotiable position that the United
08:04States has faced a national security and
08:06economic crisis because of the unfair trade practices
08:09by countries around the world.
08:11As for the President, I have maintained this position.
08:13The entire administration has always said that
08:15President Trump is willing to pick up the phone and talk.
08:18And the President met with his trade team this
08:20morning, and he directed them to have tailor-made
08:24trade deals with each and every country that calls
08:27up this administration to strike a deal.
08:30And listen, in each and every one of these trade
08:32deals should be tailored and unique based on that
08:34country's markets, based on that country's exports,
08:38the imports here in the United States of America.
08:40What makes the most sense for the American worker
08:43and for our industry?
08:44The President is focused on putting America first.
08:47The Press So was the evolution not factored in
08:51or determined by kind of the tumult in the stock market?
08:54Was that not part of the consideration to start
08:56making these negotiations and deals?
08:58Ms. McEnany Again, I would reject that there was
08:59an evolution.
09:00On day one, we had said that the President will
09:02always pick up the phone for other nations and other
09:05companies that call this administration.
09:07The President always has a listening ear.
09:09And it's a non-negotiable fact that America has
09:12faced a national security and economic crisis for
09:15many decades, and President Trump is just the
09:17first to address this.
09:18The Press And then, my last question, how will
09:19negotiations change how much revenue the White
09:22House is planning to make from the tariffs?
09:24Ms. McEnany Well, that has yet to be seen.
09:26But as the President said, the reciprocal tariffs,
09:29which will continue to go in effect as these deals
09:31are negotiated and ongoing, will generate
09:34trillions of dollars in revenue to the United States.
09:36And this is twofold.
09:37The President wants to onshore jobs here to the
09:40United States of America.
09:41He wants to boost our manufacturing industry.
09:44He also wants to tackle these crippling deficits
09:47with almost every single country around the world.
09:49Jackie.
09:50The Press Thanks, Caroline.
09:51The Treasury Secretary, Scott Besant, warned that
09:53some of these negotiations might take up to months,
09:55that we could be doing this through April, May,
09:59and into June.
09:59And then you had Kevin Hassett say it's going to
10:01take a lot for the President to put his
10:03signature on the line because he wants to make
10:04sure there's a good deal for America.
10:07Is the President operating on any sort of a timeline
10:10or deadline where he wants this completed by?
10:12Ms. McEnany Well, we always move at Trump speed
10:14here at the White House, which is incredibly fast.
10:17I know you all know that from covering this White
10:19House day to day.
10:20The President likes to get things done.
10:22But he's very much focused on ensuring that these
10:24deals are good for the American worker, they are
10:27good for American manufacturing, and again,
10:29that they tackle these crippling deficits with
10:31these countries.
10:32All options are on the table for each country.
10:34But again, these are going to be tailor-made deals.
10:38They are not going to be off-the-rack deals, as the
10:40President has called it.
10:42And he has directed his entire trade team to be
10:44part of this effort.
10:45So that includes Secretary Besant and our National
10:48Economic Director, Kevin Hassett.
10:49It also includes Secretary Lutnick, Peter Navarro,
10:52the entire trade team, Jameson Greer, who was on
10:54the Hill today.
10:55Everybody who was involved in this incredible, fair,
10:58reciprocal trade agenda will continue to be involved
11:01in negotiating these deals.
11:02The Press.
11:03And then yesterday, Goldman Sachs put out a
11:04research note.
11:06It put the odds of a recession at 45 percent
11:09within the next 12 months, up from 35 percent.
11:12But Peter Navarro guaranteed last night no
11:15recession.
11:16Does the President agree with him on that?
11:18I know the President in the past has been leery of
11:21making definitive statements on that.
11:22Ms. McEnany.
11:23I can speak for the President, and I can
11:24speak for the optimism that he sees in our
11:26economy every day.
11:27Again, when you talk about the massive
11:29deregulatory efforts that are happening across the
11:31board, when you talk about how oil prices are
11:34down, gas prices are down, egg prices are down, we're
11:37cutting costs for the American worker, for the
11:40American consumer.
11:41We also see trillions of dollars of investments
11:43pouring into this country every day, and we're
11:45working hard now on the tariff side of the
11:48President's economic agenda.
11:49But don't forget, the next side of this is tax cuts,
11:52and we're counting on Capitol Hill to get those
11:54done, the largest tax cuts in history.
11:56Does that mean that without that, those tax
11:59cuts coming through, that the likelihood of a
12:01recession is greater?
12:03No, that's not what I said.
12:04I'm just saying be mindful of the whole-of-
12:06government economic approach that this
12:08administration is taking every day.
12:10Sure.
12:11Go ahead.
12:12Thank you, Caroline.
12:14You just said that one of the reasons these tariffs
12:17are going into effect is that some countries have
12:19been ripping off the United States.
12:21But some of the tariffs target countries like
12:24Madagascar, Bangladesh, with very high levels of
12:26poverty.
12:27So can you explain how the President wants to correct
12:29the deficit with those countries?
12:31Is there a plan, for example, to onshore the
12:34textile industry that these countries are known
12:37because?
12:38And, you know, just, like, can you be specific about
12:40those, like, low-income countries?
12:42Sure.
12:42Well, first of all, the reciprocal tariff rates
12:44that were implemented by country were focused on
12:47the monetary tariff that those countries have
12:50imposed on the United States, but also the
12:51non-monetary tariff barriers.
12:53And the regulations, if you will, that have been
12:55put into effect over the years, making it harder
12:58for America to export to these countries.
13:00These were very carefully crafted numbers.
13:03There was also a 10 percent baseline tariff
13:06across the board, as well, as you know.
13:07Moving forward, the President will talk to
13:10any country that picks up the phone to call.
13:12And I can tell you, the phones have been ringing
13:14off the hook, wanting to talk to this
13:16administration, this President, and his trade
13:18team to try to strike a deal.
13:19And it's because the world knows that they need the
13:22United States of America.
13:23They need our markets.
13:24They need our consumer.
13:25The President has a lot of leverage on his side
13:28because he has the best economy and the best
13:29country in the world that he leads, and he knows that.
13:32And it's about dang time we finally have a
13:34President who uses that economic leverage to
13:36benefit American workers.
13:38And that's what the President is trying to do.
13:40Maggie.
13:41Caroline, thanks.
13:42Does the President endorse something that
13:44Howard Lettnick said on television this weekend,
13:45which was that the army of millions and millions of
13:48human beings screwing in little screws to make
13:50iPhones, that that kind of thing is going to be
13:52moving to the U.S.?
13:53Is that how the President envisions
13:54manufacturing shifting?
13:55And if so, how long would that take, roughly?
13:58The President wants to increase manufacturing
14:00jobs here in the United States of America, but
14:02he's also looking at advanced technologies.
14:04He's also looking at AI and emerging fields that
14:07are growing around the world that the United
14:09States needs to be a leader in as well.
14:10So there's an array of diverse jobs, more
14:13traditional manufacturing jobs, as you discussed,
14:15but also jobs in advanced technologies.
14:18The President is looking at all of those.
14:19He wants them to come back home.
14:21But iPhones specifically, is that something that
14:23he thinks is the kind of technology that can move
14:25to the U.S.?
14:25Absolutely.
14:26He believes we have the labor, we have the
14:28workforce, we have the resources to do it.
14:30And as you know, Apple has invested $500 billion
14:33here in the United States.
14:34So if Apple didn't think the United States could
14:36do it, they probably wouldn't have put up that
14:38big chunk of change.
14:39Elena.
14:40Hi, Caroline.
14:41It's clear the President has gotten the world's
14:43attention with these tariffs.
14:45Is there — is he considering at all
14:47potentially holding off on imposing some of them
14:50before the deadline or maybe later, you know,
14:53reversing them because he's having these
14:55negotiations and having these good talks with
14:57other leaders?
14:58The President was asked and answered this
15:00yesterday.
15:01He said he's not considering an extension
15:03or a delay.
15:03I spoke to him before this briefing.
15:05That was not his mindset.
15:06He expects that these tariffs are going to go
15:09into effect.
15:09And you said something very important, Elena,
15:11in your question.
15:12You said the President has captivated the attention
15:14of the world.
15:15Absolutely, he has.
15:16And it's about time we have a President in the
15:19Oval Office who is putting the world on notice and
15:21is putting the American people first and, again,
15:23is using the leverage of the United States to
15:26negotiate good trade deals.
15:27I have just a quick follow-up.
15:29There's been some public sparring between Elon
15:32Musk and the President's trade advisor, Peter
15:34Navarro, on some of these tariffs.
15:35Musk actually referred to Navarro today as being,
15:37quote, dumber than a sack of bricks.
15:40Are you at all — or is the administration and
15:42the President at all concerned that this is
15:43maybe impacting the public's understanding of
15:46these tariffs?
15:46It might be messing with the message on it?
15:48No, look, these are obviously two
15:50individuals who have very different views on trade
15:53and on tariffs.
15:55Boys will be boys, and we will let their public
15:58sparring continue.
15:59And you guys should all be very grateful that we
16:01have the most transparent administration in
16:03history.
16:03And I think it also speaks to the President's
16:06willingness to hear from all sides, that he has
16:09people at the highest levels of this government
16:11in this White House who have very diverse opinions
16:14on very diverse issues.
16:15But the President takes all opinions in mind, and
16:17then he makes the best decision based on the
16:20best interests of the American public.
16:22Deanna.
16:22Thanks, Caroline.
16:24On Truth Social today, Trump was talking about
16:26one-stop shopping talks with foreign leaders — you
16:30know, bringing leaders to the U.S., to Washington,
16:33and talking to them about tariffs, but also other
16:36topics.
16:37So is that part of his strategy, to bring the
16:40leaders to Washington and trying to get deals, you
16:44know, outside of tariffs on foreign policy issues
16:47as well?
16:48I think the President, again, is going to have a
16:51custom, tailor-made approach to each and
16:53every country.
16:53And if that means discussions of foreign
16:55aid, of our military presence in these
16:58countries, how those troops are paid for come
17:00to the table, that could be part of the negotiation
17:03in these economic negotiations.
17:04But it's the President's economic team who will be
17:06leading these.
17:07These are tariff and trade negotiations.
17:10And, yes, they will be one-stop shopping for
17:12each and every country.
17:13They will be, as the President said again,
17:15tailor-made, not off the rack, to each and every
17:18country, based on America's needs.
17:20Go ahead.
17:20Go ahead.
17:21Go ahead.
17:22Good.
17:22And can you confirm —
17:23So, President Trump has designated Tren de
17:25Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization
17:28and deported its members while also moving to
17:30restrict Venezuela's oil exports.
17:32Is the administration preparing additional
17:34military or economic actions against Venezuela
17:37and the Maduro regime?
17:38And my second question is about Supreme Court
17:41Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
17:42Does the administration have a comment on her
17:44decision to go with the liberals and go, actually,
17:47with the Tren de Araguas?
17:48This is the same justice that actually sided
17:50against January 6th hostages last year.
17:53So, is the administration of a comment?
17:54Are they disappointed in Supreme Court Justice
17:57Amy Coney Barrett?
17:58To your first question, I don't have any actions
18:00to read out in terms of Venezuela.
18:02The President has imposed secondary tariffs on the
18:04Maduro regime and on Venezuela in the form of
18:08oil, which is obviously going to have a crippling
18:11effect on the Maduro regime.
18:12And that's the intended effect of this
18:14administration.
18:15As for the justice you mentioned, as for the
18:17Supreme Court, we've made our feelings very clear.
18:20We believe this was a massive victory.
18:22Certainly, we wish this was a nine-to-nothing
18:24decision because we firmly believe that the
18:26President was well within his constitutional
18:28authority.
18:28And the Supreme Court made that very clear last
18:31night, and they put Judge Boasberg in his place.
18:33We called on the Supreme Court to rein in these
18:35judges who are acting as judicial activists, not
18:38real arbiters of the truth and the law.
18:40And that's exactly what we saw the Supreme Court do
18:42yesterday.
18:44Christian.
18:44Thanks, Caroline.
18:45Now that the President's reciprocal tariffs are
18:48here, going into effect tomorrow, what's the
18:51status of the ERS?
18:53When will they actually start collecting revenue?
18:56And will that be nested under CBP or somewhere
18:59else entirely?
18:59It's something Secretary Lutnick has taken up, so
19:02I'd defer you to the Department of Commerce.
19:04But it's something that he and the President believe
19:06quite strongly in, and it's something — it's a
19:08promise that they intend to keep to the
19:10American people.
19:10Quickly, can you explain why the President opted to
19:13send Secretary Hegseth to the dignified transfer
19:18last week instead of attending himself?
19:20Sure.
19:20Secretary Hegseth was there to represent the
19:23administration.
19:24The President has expressed his condolences to
19:26these families, as have I, from this podium.
19:28Shelby.
19:30The President's trade representative this
19:31morning told senators that the President does not
19:34intend on carving out exemptions for products
19:37and companies when it comes to tariffs.
19:39But would the administration consider
19:41changing that stance?
19:42Should bankruptcies begin among U.S.
19:44companies who are dependent on China trade?
19:46I won't get ahead of the President on any
19:48exemptions or his decision on that.
19:49I will leave that to him.
19:50But again, we're looking at this country by
19:52country and based on the needs of the American
19:55people and the American workforce.
19:56And one more.
19:57Can you walk us through how this specific tariff
20:00plan was decided on and which advisor came up
20:03with it?
20:04The reciprocal tariff plan?
20:05It was a plan that was discussed by the
20:07President's entire trade team over the course of
20:10many, many meetings, and the President ultimately
20:12decided on which way to go.
20:14A few proposals were given to the President.
20:16There was debate and discussion, and the
20:18President made his decision.
20:20And as you've seen very publicly, the entire
20:21trade team is on board with this plan and the
20:23negotiations that will ensue because of it.
20:26Sure.
20:26Caroline.
20:27On Iran, given what's going to be happening on
20:29Saturday, what exactly is the current
20:32administration doing to stop Iran's funding of
20:34terrorist aggression worldwide that the
20:36previous administration wasn't doing?
20:39Well, first of all, when it comes to Saturday, I
20:41won't get ahead of the President.
20:43He has said there will be direct talks with Iran on
20:45Saturday.
20:46I won't further any details from this podium
20:48for obvious reasons, security reasons.
20:51It will, you know, provide an update, as we always
20:53have.
20:54However, when it comes to Iran, the President has
20:56reimposed crippling sanctions on the Iranian
20:59regime, and he's made it very clear to Iran they
21:01have a choice to make.
21:02You can strike a deal with the President, you can
21:04negotiate, or there will be hell to pay.
21:07And as the President said yesterday, if they don't
21:09choose to move forward with diplomacy in a deal,
21:11which is the direction we do see them headed in,
21:13there will be grave consequences to bear.
21:15To the back row.
21:16Go ahead.
21:16Thanks, Caroline.
21:17On the President's threat yesterday on social media
21:19to increase tariffs against China by an
21:21additional 50 percent in response to their
21:23retaliation, has he signed anything in terms of an
21:27executive order, any documentation around that?
21:29Will that additional 50 percent go into effect
21:32tomorrow?
21:32They will be going into effect at 12.01 a.m.
21:35tonight, so effectively tomorrow.
21:37Yes.
21:38Will you work on that today?
21:39Of course, as always.
21:40To the gentleman in front of you, because that's who
21:42I originally called on.
21:43Go ahead.
21:44Over the weekend, President Trump said that
21:46he would be willing to have U.S.
21:48citizens deported to El Salvador with the
21:50cooperation of President Bukele.
21:52How would that work legally, and how many
21:53people would potentially be available for that
21:57operation?
21:58So, the President has discussed this idea quite
22:00a few times publicly.
22:02He's also discussed it privately.
22:04You're referring to the President's idea for
22:06American citizens to potentially be deported.
22:10These would be heinous, violent criminals who
22:13have broken our nation's laws repeatedly.
22:16And these are violent, repeat offenders in
22:18American streets.
22:19The President has said, if it's legal, right?
22:22If there is a legal pathway to do that.
22:24He's not sure.
22:24We are not sure.
22:25If there is, it's an idea that he has simply
22:27floated and has discussed very publicly, as in the
22:30effort of transparency.
22:31Reagan.
22:32Thank you, Caroline.
22:33There's been more reporting coming out now
22:35about President Biden's decline while in the
22:37White House.
22:38Is the White House considering releasing the
22:40audio of Biden's interview with Special Counsel
22:42Rafferty to the public, which the former
22:45President had previously blocked?
22:47I don't have an update on that, but I can
22:49certainly check.
22:50I think the American people would be quite
22:52interested to hear that tape, but I'll double
22:54check on the release of it.
22:56Michael.
22:57Thank you, Caroline.
22:57On Saturday, during meetings with Iran,
23:02President Trump says high-level officials will
23:04be meeting directly with Iranian officials.
23:07We're hearing some pushback from Iran now,
23:09saying those talks will be indirect.
23:11Can you clarify?
23:12They will be direct talks on Saturday, and I won't
23:14get ahead of the President on any further details.
23:17Jennifer.
23:18Yeah, two things.
23:18On the Israel tariffs, can you give us an update on
23:21the discussion on relaxing those tariffs?
23:23And then I had another question about the Doge
23:25team after that.
23:26That discussion is ongoing.
23:27I don't have any definitive details to iron
23:31out for you here.
23:32And then the President, on Thursday, told us that
23:34there was an incredible discovery that the Doge
23:37team had made.
23:37He called it horrible and incredible.
23:39Can you reveal that yet, give us details on what
23:42it was about?
23:42There has been a discovery.
23:44I hate to leave you hanging on a cliff, but I
23:46don't want to get ahead of the President on that.
23:48But I can confirm there has been a discovery.
23:50It's just not quite yet ready for release.
23:52Sure.
23:53Go ahead.
23:53Caroline, thank you.
23:54I was calling on the young lady behind you, but
23:57I'll come to you after, Ed.
23:58All right.
23:59Not discriminating here.
23:59Go ahead.
24:00The President is meeting today with House
24:02Republicans.
24:02Can you say who is in that meeting and his message
24:05to Republicans that are skeptical of the Senate
24:07passed budget framework?
24:08Sure.
24:09The President will be meeting with Republican
24:11lawmakers today here at the White House to talk
24:13to them about the framework that the Senate passed.
24:16The President was very quick to put out a
24:18statement about his support for the
24:20reconciliation package that the Senate passed,
24:22and he is counting on House Republicans to pass it.
24:26The Republicans received an overwhelming mandate
24:28from the American public to govern.
24:30We have an extraordinary opportunity.
24:32There are key promises that the American — that
24:35the President made to the American people in this
24:37bill — tax cuts, securing the border,
24:40deregulation, unleashing the might of American energy.
24:43These are good things for the American people.
24:45The President wants to see this get done, and
24:47that's why he's engaging with lawmakers today.
24:49And just a quick follow-up on tariffs.
24:50Kevin Hassett said today that the administration
24:52is prioritizing talks with Japan and South Korea.
24:55Other trading partners — are there other countries
24:58on that list that you guys can name publicly that
25:00you're having serious discussions with?
25:02Sure.
25:03As you have heard from various administration
25:05officials, myself included, there have been
25:07nearly 70 countries that have reached out to the
25:10administration.
25:10Last time I checked, but again, I hear the phones
25:12are ringing off the hook.
25:13There are foreign leaders who want to fly to
25:15Washington tonight and get on a plane to negotiate
25:18with this country, which shows you the leverage
25:21that the President is using.
25:22It shows you the rest of the world needs the
25:23United States of America to do business with.
25:27Israel, obviously.
25:28Yesterday, you heard a public statement from
25:29Prime Minister Netanyahu.
25:31The President has detailed his calls with the
25:33leaders of Japan and South Korea.
25:36We are going to prioritize our allies and our
25:38partners around the world first when it comes to
25:40these negotiations, and the trade team will be
25:43divvying them up again to make tailor-made trade
25:45deals around the world.
25:46Ed, go ahead.
25:46As promised.
25:47Yes, thank you.
25:48You mentioned the 70 countries or so.
25:52I'm curious, though, under what conditions at
25:53this point would President Trump talk to President
25:55Xi about tariffs?
25:57Look, I just spoke to the President about this, and
25:59he believes that China wants to make a deal with
26:01the United States.
26:02He believes China has to make a deal with the
26:04United States.
26:05It was a mistake for China to retaliate.
26:07The President, when America is punched, he
26:10punches back harder.
26:11That's why there will be 104 percent tariffs going
26:15into effect on China tonight at midnight.
26:18But the President believes that Xi and China want to
26:20make a deal.
26:21We just don't know how to get that started.
26:22And the President also wanted me to tell all of
26:24you that if China reaches out to make a deal, he'll
26:27be incredibly gracious, but he's going to do what's
26:29best for the American people.
26:30So China has to call first?
26:31The Chinese want to make a deal.
26:33They just don't know how to do it.
26:34But the President will be implementing these 104
26:37percent tariffs on China tonight.
26:39And under what conditions might he consider lowering
26:42tariffs on China at this point?
26:43It would be imprudent of me to tell you those
26:45conditions here from the podium.
26:46Can I follow up?
26:47Sure.
26:48Gabe.
26:48Thanks, Caroline.
26:50With regards to the Supreme Court ruling on the
26:52Alien Enemies Act, you're right, it was a win for
26:55the administration.
26:56But the justices also said that deportees are
26:59entitled to due process.
27:00Does the administration agree with that?
27:02That's not quite true, Gabe.
27:03They said that they are entitled to a habeas
27:06petition, and we are going to continue to comply
27:09with the law.
27:10And we are wholly confident that every
27:12single person that has been deported under the Alien
27:14Enemies Act, every person that will continue to be
27:17deported under the Alien Enemies Act qualifies for
27:21that deportation.
27:21NBC News is reporting that the administration is
27:25considering drone strikes on drug cartels in Mexico,
27:29citing several officials.
27:31This morning, Mexico's President was asked about
27:33that, and she said that we reject any of those actions.
27:36Your response?
27:37I saw that reporting.
27:38I don't want to confirm it from this podium.
27:40I don't want to comment on it because I'm not sure.
27:42But I would defer you to the National Security Council.
27:45So, you haven't confirmed the report, but with
27:48Mexico's President saying that she rejects any of
27:50that, what would your response be?
27:53How is the relationship, then, between Mexico's
27:56President and the White House right now over
27:58targeting drug cartels?
27:59Well, first of all, the relationship between
28:01President Scheinbaum and President Trump is quite
28:04good, and I think both world leaders would tell
28:06you that.
28:06The President has been engaged directly with
28:09President Scheinbaum on a number of different
28:10topics, particularly when it comes to clamping down
28:14on the Mexican drug cartels, on clamping down
28:16on illegal immigration, human trafficking, drug
28:19trafficking through our southern border.
28:20She's taken significant steps towards doing that.
28:23But as for that specific report, again, I'm not
28:24going to comment.
28:25Hi, Caroline.
28:26Sure.
28:26Two questions on trade.
28:28First, as a part of these negotiations, is it
28:31possible for countries to lower their tariffs below
28:34that 10 percent, a bare minimum that's been set?
28:38Again, I'll leave that to the President to make
28:39those determinations, but I can tell you that 10
28:42percent universal baseline will go into effect as
28:44these negotiations are ongoing.
28:46Got it.
28:46And then, what is your thinking just as far as
28:49low-labor-cost countries?
28:51Like, if you've got a country like Vietnam that
28:52wants to negotiate, but obviously they have some
28:55advantages in terms of trade, in terms of the
28:58people there are not paid as much as American
29:00citizens, what is kind of the thinking?
29:02Can they still achieve a good kind of trade
29:05outcome with the United States?
29:06Well, again, you're right to point out that
29:07different countries have different labor markets.
29:10They have different skills, if you will,
29:13different resources.
29:14And the President is going to take all of that
29:16into account.
29:16His team will take all of that into account when
29:18they're negotiating these deals.
29:20I do just want to point out one thing, that the
29:22President, everybody in Washington, whether they
29:25want to admit it or not, knows that this President
29:28is right when it comes to tariffs and when it comes
29:30to trade.
29:31In fact, Democrats have long said that the United
29:34States of America has been ripped off by the
29:37countries around the world.
29:38They just don't want to admit it now because it's
29:39President Trump who is saying that.
29:41In June of 1996, Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House
29:45floor.
29:45She urged her colleagues at the time to fight
29:47against the status quo trade policies that had
29:50contributed to America's trade deficit with China.
29:52In fact, Nancy Pelosi said, how far does China
29:55have to go?
29:56How much more repression?
29:57How big a trade deficit?
29:58How many jobs have to be lost for the American
30:01workers?
30:01How much dangerous proliferation has to exist
30:04before members of this House of Representatives
30:06will say, I will not endorse the status quo?
30:09Those are the words of Nancy Pelosi in 1996.
30:12Well, President Trump is finally answering her
30:14call.
30:15Twenty-seven years later, Nancy Pelosi can thank
30:18President Trump today for the 104 percent
30:20retaliatory tariff that will be going into effect
30:22on China.
30:23In 2007, Chuck Schumer spoke of our nation's
30:26crippling trade deficit, saying, these are the
30:28kinds of records the American people don't want
30:31us to be breaking.
30:32The administration needs to move beyond words.
30:34Take action now to reverse a trend that
30:36threatens our prospects for future economic
30:38growth.
30:39And Chuck Schumer said that in 2007.
30:42Finally, in 2025, President Trump is taking
30:46action.
30:46Recently defeated Democrat Sherrod Brown said
30:49on deficits in 2012 that our deficit then at China
30:53had reached an all-time high, and it was on pace
30:55to recede.
30:57Last year's record, the trade deficit had cost
30:59American workers millions of jobs at the time.
31:02These are the words of Democrats years ago.
31:05It is about time America finally has a President
31:08who is taking action to restore those millions of
31:10jobs back to the United States of America to
31:13boost our manufacturing industry.
31:15He's doing what's right for the American people.
31:17It will take a lot of labor.
31:18It will take a lot of effort.
31:20That's exactly what the American people elected
31:22this President to do.
31:22He will be talking about our energy agenda at
31:25three o'clock today.
31:26Over in the East Room, as you all know, he will be
31:28signing a bill to unleash the might of our
31:32beautiful, clean coal industry in this country,
31:35which is a reliable energy source also for AI.
31:38There's a great story in Bloomberg today, actually,
31:41about the executive order that will be signed later.
31:43So we'll see you all there.
31:43I'll let the President speak more.
31:45We'll see you later.
31:45Thanks, guys.