White House Daily Briefing
April 24, 2024
- Unidentified Speaker: TALKING ABOUT A
PROVISION IN THIS AID PACKAGE.
-
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
I'M GOING TO BE SUPERQUICK.
I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS OVER TO
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JAKE
SULLIVAN WHO IS HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SECURITY
SUPPLEMENTAL THAT THE PRESIDENT
SIGNED THIS MORNING.
AND OUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE, OUR
CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.
JAKE?
ADV.
- SULLIVAN: THANK YOU.
KARIENENE WAS VERY SHORT.
I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO LAY OUT.
I'M SORRY WE ARE LATE FOR THE
PODIUM TODAY BUT IT IS FOR GOOD
REASON, WHICH IS I HAVE JUST
COME FROM BEING WITH THE
PRESIDENT WHEN HE A CHANCE TO
MEET WITH THE FOUR-YEAR-OLD
AMERICAN WHO WAS HELD HOSTAGE BY
HAMAS IN GAZA AND WAS RELEASED
LAST NOVEMBER AS PART OF THE
FIRST HOSTAGE DEAL THE PRESIDENT
WAS ABLE TO HELP BROKER AND
NEGOTIATE.
IT WAS ALSO A REMINDER IN
GETTING TO SEE HER THAT THERE
ARE STILL AMERICANS AND OTHERS
BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY HAMAS AND
WE ARE WORKING DAY IN AND THEY
OUT TO ENSURE ALL OF THEM ALSO
ARE ABLE TO GET SAFELY HOME TO
THEIR LOVED ONES.
THE MAIN REASON I HAVE COME TO
THE PODIUM TODAY IS TO FOLLOW UP
ON THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS FROM
EARLIER TODAY AND THE VERY
IMPORTANT CONSEQUENTIAL VOTE
THAT WAS TAKEN IN THE SENATE
LAST NIGHT AND THE BILL THAT WAS
SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT THIS
MORNING.
THIS MORNING, YOU HEARD
PRESIDENT BIDEN SPEAK ABOUT THE
ARTICLE IMPORTANCE OF THE
NATIONAL SECURITY SUPPLEMENTAL,
WHICH CAME TO THE PRESIDENT'S
DESK AS WE SAID IT WOULD WITH
OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
FROM THE U.S. CONGRESS.
I HAVE STOOD AT THIS PODIUM
NUMEROUS TIMES AND SAID THE ROAD
MAY BE OF TWISTS AND TURNS.
I CANNOT PREDICT WHEN IT WILL
HAPPEN BUT I ALWAYS HAD
CONFIDENCE IT WOULD HAPPEN.
THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE DEEP
RESERVOIR OF SUPPORT THERE IS
FOR UKRAINE AND THAT IS TRUE OF
DEMOCRATS.
IT IS TRUE OF REPUBLICANS.
IT IS TRUE OF INDEPENDENTS.
THAT IS WHAT HAS SHOWN IN THE
VOTES IN THE HOUSE AND THE 79
AYE VOTE WE SAW IN THE SENATE
LAST NIGHT.
THE PASSAGE HAS SENT A POWERFUL
MESSAGE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD
ABOUT THE ENDURING STRENGTH OF
AMERICAN LEADERSHIP.
THE REST OF THE WORLD HAS BEEN
AND CONTINUES TO WATCH CLOSELY.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, GETTING THIS
LEGISLATION THROUGH CONGRESS HAS
BEEN A TOP PRIORITY FOR
PRESIDENT BIDEN SINCE HE FIRST
SUBMITTED HIS UP A MENTAL
REQUEST MORE THAN SIX MONTHS
AGO.
IT GETS TO A CORE TENET OF HIS
FOREIGN-POLICY PHILOSOPHY.
WHEN OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES ARE
STRONGER, WE THE UNITED STATES
AND AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
STRONGER.
WHEN OUR FRIENDS ARE ATTACKED OR
THREATENED, WE THE UNITED STATES
STAND UP FOR THEM.
WE DO OUR PART.
WE KEEP OUR WORD.
WITH THAT SENATOR THIS MORNING,
THE PRESIDENT KEPT AMERICA'S
WORD WE WOULD STAND WITH UKRAINE
THROUGH THICK AND THIN AND THAT
IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WILL DO.
WHEN RUSSIA BEGAN AMASSING
TROOPS ON UKRAINE'S BORDER, THE
PRESIDENT RALLIED THE WORLD TO
RESPOND TO RUSSIA'S AGGRESSION.
HE BUILT A BROAD COALITION THAT
FLOWED CRITICAL AID TO UKRAINE
AS THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE DEFEND
THEMSELVES AND WON THE BATTLE
FOR KYIV AND REGAINED HALF THE
TERRITORY RUSSIA OCCUPIED SINCE
2022.
I THE BILL THE PRESIDENT SIGNED
TODAY AND THE SIGNIFICANT AND
IMMEDIATE MILITARY AID PACKAGE
HE APPROVED ONE MINUTE LATER, IT
WILL SEND UKRAINE THE
SUPPLIES IT NEEDS TO MAKE
SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL
INTEGRITY.
BILL WILL HELP PUNISH ISRAEL'S
AIR DEFENSES WHICH IS MORE
IMPORTANT FOLLOWING IRAN'S
BRAIDS IN UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK
10 DAYS AGO.
IT WILL HELP ENSURE ISRAEL HAS
WHAT IT NEEDS TO DEFEND ITSELF
AGAINST THE REAL THREATS IT
FACES FROM IRAN AS WELL AS
IRAN'S PROXY GROUPS.
THE SUPPLEMENTAL WILL
SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE MILITARY
AND AID FOR PALESTINIAN
CIVILIANS IN GAZA WHO ARE
SUFFERING GRIEVOUSLY.
AS WE WORK TO BUILD ON THE
PROGRESS OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS
IN TERMS OF AN INCREASE IN THE
AMOUNT OF LIFESAVING
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE THAT HAS
BEEN AND MUST CONTINUE TO FLOW
INTO GAZA AND THE QUANTITIES AND
THE TYPE OF HUMAN ITALIAN
ASSISTANCE WE HAVE SEEN INCREASE
OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
WE NEED TO SEE CONTINUED AND
SUSTAINED INCREASES AS WE GO
FORWARD.
THE BILL WILL ALSO ENHANCE AND
EXPAND HUMANITARIAN AID FOR
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY
INSTABILITY, BY CONFLICT, BY
DISASTER ALL OVER THE WORLD
INCLUDING IN HAITI AND SUDAN AND
SOMALIA.
THE BILL MAKES IMPORTANT VESTS
-- IMPORTANT INVESTMENTS IN HER
DEFENSE AND ACTUAL BASE THAT WAS
STRENGTH IN OUR OWN MILITARY AND
IT PROVIDES TIMELY SUPPORT TO
ALLIES AND PARTNERS IN THE INDO
PACIFIC AS WELL.
GETTING THIS BILL PASSED ENTAILS
MONTHS OF ADVOCACY, HANDS-ON
WORK BY PRESIDENT BIDEN HIMSELF,
HIS WHITE HOUSE TEAM, HIS
NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM AND
COUNTLESS BRIEFINGS, MEETINGS,
HEARINGS BY DEPARTMENTS AND
AGENCIES ACROSS OUR GOVERNMENT
FOR THE CONGRESS IN THE HOUSE
AND THE SENATE.
IT WAS A LONG ROAD TO SECURE
THIS FUNDING AND I HAVE TO SAY
STANDING HERE TODAY, IT WAS TOO
LONG.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DELAY
HAVE BEEN FELT IN UKRAINE.
OVER THE PAST SIX MONTH, UKRAINE
HAS HAD TO RATION AMMUNITION.
THAT HAS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF
SOME TERRITORY IN THE EAST.
WHILE TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT
IS GOOD NEWS FOR UKRAINE, THERE
STEER UNDER SEVERE PRESSURE ON
THE BATTLEFIELD.
IT IS POSSIBLE RUSSIA COULD MAKE
ADDITIONAL TACTICAL GAINS ON OF
THE COMING WEEKS.
RUSSIA HAS TRIED TO GRIND OUT
VERY SLOW, COSTLY PROGRESS ON
MULTIPLE FRONTS OVER THE PAST
FEW WEEKS.
THEY ARE THREATENING SETTLEMENTS
TO THE WEST AND THEY ARE RAINING
DOWN ON KHARKIV AND CITIES
ACROSS UKRAINE.
THE FACT AS IT IS GOING TO TAKE
SOME TIME FOR US TO DIG OUT OF
THE HOLE THAT WAS CREATED BY
SIX-MONTH SUB DELAY BEFORE
CONGRESS PASSED THE
SUPPLEMENTAL.
THAT IS WHY THE MINUTE THE
PRESIDENT SIGNED THE
SUPPLEMENTAL, HE TURNED AND
SIGNED A VERY SUBSTANTIAL
DRAWDOWN PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES
URGENTLY NEEDED ARTILLERY, MORE
ARMORED VEHICLES, JAVELINS,
STINGERS AND AIR DEFENSE
INTERCEPTORS AMONG OTHER THINGS.
THESE CAPABILITIES ARE GOING TO
START WEAVING IMMEDIATELY TO
MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.
AT THIS CRITICAL MOMENT, THIS IS
A WAY TO SHOW IN DEED AS WELL AS
IN WORD THE UNITED STATES STANDS
WITH UKRAINE.
AND DESPITE THE CHALLENGES I
HAVE JUST DESCRIBED, I THINK IT
IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
UNDERSCORE AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO
THE REST OF 2024, OUR VIEW IS
UKRAINE RETAINS KEY ADVANTAGES
IN THIS FIGHT.
UKRAINE CAN AND WILL PREVAIL.
THAT WILL BE THANKS TO THE
BRAVERY OF ITS PEOPLE BUT ALSO
THE SUPPORT OF ITS FRIENDS.
FIRST, THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY
REMAINS A RESILIENT, BRAVE AND
EFFECTIVE FIGHTING FORCE.
EVEN AS UKRAINIANS WAITED FOR
U.S. SECURITY ASSISTANCE, THEY
WERE ABLE TO IMPOSE SIGNIFICANT
COST ON RUSSIA.
SINCE THE START OF 2024, WE
ESTIMATE UKRAINE HAS DESTROYED
MORE THAN 700 RUSSIAN ARMORED
VEHICLES AND ROUGHLY 250 RUSSIAN
TANKS.
RUSSIA MEANWHILE HAS HAD TO
CONTINUE TO THROW IT SOLDIERS
INTO THE FIGHT WITHOUT PROPER
TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT.
SECOND, OUR ALLIES AS THE
PRESIDENT SAID THIS MORNING HAVE
BEEN MOBILIZING IN SUPPORT
UKRAINE ALONGSIDE US.
JUST YESTERDAY, THE U.K.
ANNOUNCED A SIGNIFICANT NEW
PACKAGE OF MILITARY AID FOR
UKRAINE ALONGSIDE MAJOR
INVESTMENT SO THEY ARE MAKING IN
THEIR DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE,
PUTTING THEIR DEFENSE BUDGET ON
A PATH TO REACH 2.5% OF THEIR
GDP BY THE END OF THE DECADE.
THE UNITED STATES WELCOMES THESE
MOVES FROM A STALWART ALLY.
GERMANY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE
DONATION OF ANOTHER PATRIOT
SYSTEM TO UKRAINE.
THE CZECH GOVERNMENT HAS RAISED
ENOUGH TO PURCHASE HALF A
MILLION ARTILLERY SHELLS FOR
UKRAINE WITH HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS MORE BEYOND THAT TO
FOLLOW.
ESTONIA ANNOUNCED ITS OWN
AMBITIOUS EFFORT TO SECURE EVEN
MORE ARTILLERY AND OTHER FORMS
OF AMMUNITION FOR UKRAINE.
THIRD, THE UNITED STATES IS
BUILDING UP OUR CAPACITY TO
SUPPORT UKRAINE.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE INVESTING IN
OUR OWN DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF
55 MILLIMETER ARTILLERY ROUNDS.
SINCE THE PART OF THIS CONFLICT,
WE HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED OUR
MONTHLY PRODUCTION OF 155.
BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE WILL
HAVE DOUBLED IT AGAIN.
WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE FROM OUR OWN PRODUCTION
STEADY AND SIGNIFICANT SUPPLIES
OF ARTILLERY TO UKRAINE.
WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING UKRAINE
WITH NEW CAPABILITIES.
I AM ABLE TO CONFIRM AS YOU HAVE
HEARD FROM OTHERS IN FEBRUARY
THE PRESIDENT DIRECTED HIS TEAM
TO PROVIDE UKRAINE WITH A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF MISSILES
FOR USE INSIDE UKRAINE'S
SOVEREIGN TERRITORY.
THAT SHIPMENT STARTED MOVING IN
MARCH AS PART OF THE PDA THE
PRESIDENT AUTHORIZED ON MARCH
12.
THOSE MISSILES HAVE ARRIVED IN
UKRAINE.
THIS FOLLOWED RUSSIA'S USE OF
NORTH KOREA'S BALLISTIC MISSILES
AGAINST UKRAINE AS WELL AS
RUSSIA'S RENEWED AND ESCALATING
ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIAN
INFRASTRUCTURE IN UKRAINE.
UNTIL RECENTLY, AS WE HAVE SAID
ON MANY OCCASIONS, WE WERE
UNABLE TO PROVIDE THESE BECAUSE
OF READINESS CONCERNS.
BEHIND THE SCENES, THE
ADMINISTRATION ACROSS THE BOARD
HAS WORKED TO ADDRESS THOSE
CONCERNS.
WE NOW HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER
COMING OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE
AND ENTERING U.S. STOCKS.
AS A RESULT, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD
WITH PROVIDING THEM WHILE ALSO
SUSTAINING THE READINESS OF THE
U.S. ARMED FORCES.
THE PATH AHEAD WILL NOT BE EASY.
RUSSIA IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO
PRESS ATTACKS AGAINST UKRAINIAN
DEFENSES, BUT FOR THE REASONS I
HAVE LAID OUT, OVER TIME, WE
ASSESS THE UKRAINIANS POSITION
IN THIS CONFLICT WILL IMPROVE
AND WE BELIEVE UKRAINE CAN AND
WILL WIN.
AS I'VE SAID FROM THIS PODIUM
BEFORE, NO ONE IN THIS ROOM AND
NO ONE ANYWHERE ELSE SHOULD
UNDERESTIMATE THE UKRAINIAN
PEOPLE AND NO ONE SHOULD
UNDERESTIMATE PRESIDENT BIDEN'S
RESOLVE AND THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE'S RESOLVE AND THE
BIPARTISAN MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE
AND THE SENATE'S RESOLVE TO
STAND WITH UKRAINE.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR
QUESTIONS.
-
>> THANK YOU, JAKE.
HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT WILL THE
MISSILES HAVE ON THE BATTLEFIELD
IN UKRAINE AND WILL THEY BE SENT
TO UKRAINE AS PART OF THE $60
BILLION AID PACKAGE?
- ADV. SULLIVAN: AS I SAID IN MY
OPENING COMMENTS, WE HAVE SENT
SOME.
WE WILL SEND MORE.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO
SPECIFIC NUMBERS FOR OPERATIONAL
REASONS.
AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE AT THIS
PODIUM AND AS YOU HAVE HEARD
FROM SECRETARY AUSTIN, THE
CHAIRMAN AND OTHER SENIOR
MILITARY OFFICIALS, THERE IS NO
SILVER BULLET SHOULD ONE
CAPABILITY IS NOT GOING TO BE
THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION.
IT IS AN AMALGAMATION OF
COMMUNITIES -- OF CAPABILITIES
THAT COME TOGETHER AND COMBINED
WITH THE BRAVERY AND SKILL OF
UKRAINE'S FIGHTERS THAT WILL
MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS
CONFLICT.
WE THINK IT IS GOOD WE ARE ABLE
TO PROVIDE THEM, THAT I DON'T
EXPECT TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND
SAY ONE CAPABILITY HAS BEEN THE
SILVER BULLET.
-
>> ARE YOU WORRIED IT COULD
PROVOKE RUSSIA?
THEY HAVE SAID SENDING THESE
LONG-RANGE MISSILES COULD BE
CROSSING A REDLINE.
- ADV. SULLIVAN: WHAT WE HAVE SEEN
FROM THE RUSSIANS IS THEIR
WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT LONG-RANGE
MISSILES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES,
SPECIFICALLY NORTH KOREA.
THEY HAVE USED THOSE ON THE
BATTLEFIELD.
THEY HAVE USED THEM TO ATTACK
UKRAINE CIVILIANS AS WELL.
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, NOW WE
HAVE RESOLVED READINESS
CONCERNS, AND ABLE TO STEP UP
AND PROVIDE OUR OWN CAPABILITIES
TO UKRAINE AS PARTNERS OF OURS
HAVE, U.K., THE FRENCH AND
OTHERS, WE THINK IT IS
APPROPRIATE TO DO.
WE THINK IT IS A GOOD CAPABILITY
AT THIS PHASE ON IT A CONFLICT
FOR UKRAINE.
WE WILL STAND BEHIND THAT FOUR
SQUARE.
-
>> ON ISRAEL, THEY HAVE MADE A
NUMBER OF COMMITMENTS IN TERMS
OF WHAT THEY NEED TO DO ON THE
GROUND IN ORDER TO RECEIVE AID
THEY ARE GETTING FROM THE UNITED
STATES.
WITH REPORTS WE HAVE SEEN FROM
MASS GRAVES AT TWO MEDICAL
FACILITIES IN GAZA THEY
DESTROYED, IS THAT YOUR CURRENT
VIEW THEY ARE LIVING UP TO THOSE
COMMITMENTS?
- ADV. SULLIVAN: THOSE REPORTS
WERE DEEPLY DISTURBING.
WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH AT
MULTIPLE LEVELS WITH ISRAELI
GOVERNMENT.
WE WANT ANSWERS.
WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY
WHAT WITH THE
ISRAELIS ON MANY LEVELS.
YOU'VE SEEN SOME PUBLIC
COMMENTARY FROM THE IDF ON THAT,
BUT WE WANT TO KNOW THE
SPECIFICS OF WHAT WE
CIRCUMSTANCES ON THIS WORK, AND
WE WANT TO SEE THIS THOROUGHLY
INVESTIGATED.
I CANNOT SPEAK BEYOND THAT,
BECAUSE, OF COURSE, WE ARE IN
THE EARLY DAYS OF UNDERSTANDING
WHAT HAPPENED.
WE HAVE A SERIES OF COMMITMENTS
FROM THE ISRAELIS WITH
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.
THAT IS THE GONG SHOW?
PRESIDENT BIDEN SPOKE WITH PRIME
MINISTER NETANYAHU A LITTLE MORE
THAN TWO WEEKS AGO, AND IN THE
TIME THAT HAS UNFOLDED SINCE THE
CONVERSATION WITH PRIME MINISTER
NETANYAHU, WE HAVE SEEN A MARKED
INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE THAT HAS
GONE INTO GAZA AND, IMPORTANTLY,
A VERY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN
THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE GOING
INTO NORTHERN GAZA, WHERE THE
U.N. AND OTHERS HAVE TOLD US THE
CHALLENGES OF MALNUTRITION AND
POTENTIAL FAMINE ARE MOST ACUTE.
WE THINK WE HAVE MADE A
SIGNIFICANT SET OF STEPS FORWARD
ON THIS, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE
SUSTAINED, AND HE NEEDS TO BE
INCREASED EVEN FURTHER.
WE HAVE SEEN INITIAL MOVES
THROUGH CROSSINGS IN THE NORTH,
THESE ARE GOOD STEPS, BUT WE
NEED TO SEE THAT EXPANDED,
INSTITUTIONALIZED, AND ENSURE
THAT ON A CITY BASIS, THE LEVEL
AND INTENSITY AND SCOPE OF
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE MEETS
THE NEED, AND WE ARE GOING TO
STAY FOCUSED UNTIL WE ENSURE
THAT THAT IS THE CASE.
-
>> THANKS, JAKE.
WHAT KIND OF MECHANISMS DOES THE
U.S. HAVE IN PLACE TO ENSURE
THAT THESE LONG-RANGE ATTACK
MISSILES WILL ONLY BE USED
WITHIN UKRAINIAN TERRITORY AND
WILL NOT BE FIRED INTO RUSSIAN
TERRITORY?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: WELL, WE NOW HAVE
AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WHERE
WE HAVE TESTED THESE COMMITMENTS
FROM THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT,
WHICH THEY HAVE MADE TO OTHERS
AS WELL, WHERE THEY HAVE SAID WE
WILL ONLY USE THESE ON UKRAINIAN
SOVEREIGN TERRITORY, WE WILL NOT
USE THEM BEYOND THE BORDER OF
UKRAINE.
THEY HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON
THAT COMMITMENT TIME AND TIME
AGAIN WITH RESPECT TO THE
SYSTEMS WE HAVE PROVIDED THEM.
WE BELIEVE THEY WILL FOLLOW
THROUGH ON THIS AS WELL.
-
>> AND REGARDING HAMAS, WE HAVE
SEEN THIS VIDEO NOW, IS IT
BECAUSE IT WAS INSISTING ON
PROVIDE LIFE OR AS A
PROPAGATION?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: WE HAVE INSISTED
ON PROOF OF LIFE, SO THERE HAS
BEEN NO CHANGE IN OUR POSITION
ON PROOF OF LIFE, SO I CANNOT
SPEAK TO WHAT CAUSED THEM TO
RELEASE THE VIDEO AT THIS TIME.
ALL I CAN SAY IS THIS IS AN
INNOCENT YOUNG MAN BEING HELD
HOSTAGE BY A TERRORIST
ORGANIZATION, AND HE SHOULD BE
RELEASED IMMEDIATELY, WITHOUT
CONDITION AND WITHOUT DELAY.
I HAVE NOT HAD THE PERSONAL
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH HIS
PARENTS SINCE THE VIDEO WAS
RELEASED.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FURTHER ON
THIS BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITY
OF THE ISSUE OTHER THAN TO SAY I
WAS SITTING WITH THE PRESIDENT
OF UNITED STATES GOING THROUGH
ALL OF THE AMERICANS BEING HELD
HOSTAGE IN WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT
THEM, WHAT THEIR STATUS IS.
IT IS SOMETHING HE HAS
PERSONALLY VERY FOCUSED ON, EVEN
AS HE CELEBRATES ABIGAIL'S
RELEASE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE A
PARAMOUNT PRIORITY FOR PRESIDENT
BIDEN AND THE UNITED STATES.
-
>> CAN USS HOW RECENT THIS VIDEO
WAS MADE?
DOES HE HAVE SOME SORT OF A DATE
STAMP?
CAN YOU PULL BACK THE CURTAIN ON
ABIGAIL AND HER FAMILY, HOW IS
SHE, HER SPIRITS, HER FAMILY,
WHAT WAS THE MOMENT LIKE?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: THE MOMENT THAT WE
GOT THE VIDEO THAT SHOWED HER,
WE DID IT TO THE FBI HOSTAGE
RECOVERY CELL.
THOSE ARE THE EXPERTS WHO HAVE
THE TECHNICAL CAPACITY TO LOOK
AT THAT VIDEO AND DISCERN OR AT
LEAST ASSESSED WITH AS MUCH
SPECIFICITY THE
ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET AHEAD OF
THE ASSESSMENT TO MAKE ANY
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TIME, RECENCY,
ETC.
I WILL MAKE THOSE DISCUSSIONS,
AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING
PUBLIC, WE CAN SHARE IT WITH
YOU.
PRESIDENT BIDEN CAN SPEAK TO
THIS HIMSELF, BECAUSE THIS WAS
HIS MEETING, HIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE ABIGAIL, TO SEE HER FAMILY,
TO SEE HER SIBLINGS.
ABIGAIL AND HER TWO SIBLINGS AND
HER PARENTS WERE KILLED ON
OCTOBER 7, SO THEY ARE STILL
LIVING WITH THE TRAGEDY OF THAT.
ABIGAIL, OF COURSE, IS LIVING
WITH THE TRAUMA OF HAVING BEEN
HELD CAPTIVE FOR MANY WEEKS.
BUT THIS WAS A MOMENT OF JOY AS
WELL, BECAUSE SHE WAS ABLE TO BE
RETURNED SAFELY TO HER FAMILY.
AND I THINK FOR THE PRESIDENT,
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS IT
WAS A REMINDER OF THE WORK STILL
TO DO AND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS
FOR HIM PERSONALLY AND THE
GOVERNMENT TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN
TO SECURE A CEASE-FIRE AND
HOSTAGE DEAL, SO THAT EVERYBODY
CAN COME HOME.
-
>> THIS BILL ALSO AUTHORIZES THE
PRESIDENT TO EASE -- IS THAT
SOMETHING HE IS PREPARED TO DO
UNILATERALLY, OR WILL HE HAVE TO
CONSULT WITH ALLIES BEFORE
MAKING A DECISION?
- MR. SULLIVAN: WELL, THE G7 HAS
THAT COLLECTIVELY THAT RUSSIA'S
ASSETS ARE GOING TO REMAIN
IMMOBILIZED UNTIL THEY ARE PUT
TO USE FOR RECOVERY IN UKRAINE.
THE PRECISE WAY IN WHICH THAT
HAPPENS, THE MECHANISM IS STILL
BEING, IS STILL A MATTER OF
CONSULTATION WITH OUR EUROPEAN
PARTNERS.
THE IDEAL IS THAT WE ALL MOVE
TOGETHER, THAT EUROPE AND THE
UNITED STATES, ESPECIALLY SINCE
THE BULK OF ASSETS ARE HELD IN
EUROPE, COME UP WITH A COMMON
WAY FORWARD FOR HOW WE ENSURE
THAT THESE SOVEREIGN ASSETS
ACTUALLY GO TO WORK REBUILDING
AND RECONSTRUCTING UKRAINE.
I WILL NOT GO FURTHER THAN THAT
TODAY, BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE
MIDDLE OF INTENSE CONSULTATIONS
WITH OUR EUROPEAN PARTNERS.
I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS GOING TO
BE AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT OF
CONSULTATION AT THE GS SUMMIT IN
JUNE, BUT I WILL LEAVE THAT FOR
TODAY.
-
>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE ROTH
INVASION, WHAT IS THE LATEST ON
THE ISRAELI INVASION, DO YOU
EXPECT THEM TO HOLD OFF?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: I WOULD SAY THAT
YOU HEAR A LOT OF DIFFERENT
PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM DIFFERENT
ISRAELI OFFICIALS, DIFFERENT
MEDIA REPORTS, SOME ON THE
RECORD, SOME OFF THE RECORD,
SOME ON BACKGROUND CIRCLING
DATES, STATING WHAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN DEFINITIVELY, CHANGING
WHAT IS HAPPENING DEFINITIVELY.
I AM ENTIRELY OUT OF THE
BUSINESS AS COMMENTING,
PREDICTING, OR REPRESENT EXACTLY
WHAT ISRAEL WILL DO WHEN IT
COMES TO RAFAH.
THE U.S. POSITION HAS BEEN
CLEAR, I STATED IT FROM THIS
PODIUM, THE PRESIDENT HAS SPOKEN
TO IT, AND WE HAVE HAD DETAILED
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ISRAELIS AS
RECENTLY AS LAST WEEK BY SECURE
VIDEO TO TALK THROUGH NOT JUST
OUR CONCERNS BUT OUR VIEWS THAT
THERE IS A DIFFERENT WAY TO GO
ABOUT DEALING WITH THE HAMAS
THREAT IN RAFAH, AND SUCCEEDING
IN ENSURING THE LONG-TERM
DEFENSE AND SECURITY OF ISRAEL,
WE ARE STILL IN THOSE
CONVERSATIONS AND WE WILL STILL
CONTINUE TO PRESS OUR
PERSPECTIVE.
I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT FOR
TODAY, BECAUSE THAT CONVERSATION
IT MIDSTREAM AND HAS NOT
BEEN CONCLUDED.
-
>> NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS
COULD LEAD TO A NATIONAL BAN.
IN THE MEANTIME, IS IT SAFE FOR
PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CAMPAIGN AND
OTHER ENTITIES TO BE ON TIKTOK?
-
MR. SULLIVAN: I WILL LET
CAMPAIGNS DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES
WHAT TO DO.
THE TERMS OF THE BILL ARE
STRAIGHTFORWARD, TIKTOK
CONTINUES TO OPERATE AS IT IS
RIGHT NOW UNTIL SUCH TIME AS
EITHER THERE IS A INVESTMENT OR
THE TIME THAT YOU REFERRED TO
ELAPSES.
WHAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON WHEN
LIMITING THE BILL IS WORKING
THROUGH THAT INVESTMENT IN A WAY
THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
INTENT OF THE LAW AND CONSISTENT
WITH THE NATIONAL SECURITY
CONCERNS THAT BROUGHT THE LAW
INTO FORCE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
.
-
>>>> CAN UKRAINIANS HAVE ANY
CONFIDENCE THAT THIS FIGHT OVER
MONEY IN CONGRESS WON'T REPEAT
ITSELF NEXT YEAR?
AND HAS WRITTEN PLANNED FOR
THESE -- HAS PUTIN PLANNED FOR
THESE SKIRMISHES IN THE U.S.
CONGRESS AS HE CONTINUES?
-
MR. SULLIVAN: WELL, LOOK, I'VE
SAID THIS BEFORE, AND MAYBE IT
IS EVEN AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY
IT AGAIN THAT DEMOCRACY IS
MESSY.
THERE'S A LOT OF TO'ING AND
FRO'ING, A LOT OF TWISTS AND
TURNS.
BUT WHAT THIS WEEKEND SHOWS IS
THAT, DESPITE A LOT OF EFFORTS,
INCLUDING THE RUSSIANS, TO
REGARD A WAY TO NOT HAVE THIS
BILL PASSED, IT HAS PASSED.
I THINK THE MESSAGE THAT THAT
THING IS THAT AT THE END OF THE
DAY, WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE,
THE UNITED STATES WILL BE THERE
WITH THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR
UKRAINE.
I BELIEVE THAT TODAY.
I BELIEVED THAT ONE YEAR AGO,
AND I BELIEVE THAT WILL BE TRUE
ONE YEAR FROM NOW.
-
>> BECAUSE OF THE SIX-MONTH
DELAY IN CONGRESS, HOW MUCH DID
UKRAINE LOSE ON THE BATTLEFIELD
AS A RESULT OF INACTION?
SECONDLY, HOW LONG DOES THE U.S.
EXPECT THIS $61 BILLION TO LAST
BEFORE IT IS COMPLETELY
WITHDRAWN?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: SO, YOU CAN
MEASURE THE IMPACT IN DIFFERENT
WAYS.
WITH RESPECT TO ACTUAL
TERRITORY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
TAXABLE LOSSES IN THE EAST, NOT
SOME FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURAL
SHIFT IN THE UNDERLYING DYNAMIC
OF THE CONFLICT.
BUT YOU CAN ALSO MEASURE IT JUST
IN TERMS OF THE WEAR AND TEAR IT
PLACES ON A FRONTLINE UNIT, WHO
HAVE TO RATION AMMUNITION
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE
STUDY FLOWS.
AND THAT IS A BIT MORE
INCALCULABLE.
THE PRESIDENT REFERRED IN HIS
REMARKS EARLIER TODAY TO THE
REPORTS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS
LITERALLY CHEERING IN THE
TRENCHES, WATCHING ON THEIR
PHONES AS THE HOUSE PASSED A
BILL OVER THE WEEKEND.
THAT GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW
CLOSELY THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE
U.S. CONGRESS, BECAUSE IT IS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING THEM
THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO PUT UP
THAT FIGHT EFFECTIVELY AND NOT
HAVING THOSE TOOLS.
SO OUR VIEW IS THAT THAT HAS
CAUSED, OBVIOUSLY, SOME
SIGNIFICANT WEAR AND TEAR ON THE
FORCES AS WELL AS SOME TACTICAL
LOSSES ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND
HAS ALSO CREATED THE EXISTING
PRESSURE THAT WE SEE EVEN TODAY
WITH RUSSIAN UNITS PUSHING
FORWARD IN PLACES THEY WERE NOT
PREVIOUSLY PUSHING FORWARD.
BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE, AS I LAID
OUT, MAYBE INTO MUCH DETAIL FOR
SOME OF YOU, THAT THERE ARE
FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURAL DRIVERS
THAT FAVOR UKRAINE HERE.
PART OF THAT IS WHAT THE U.S.
INDUSTRIAL BASE CAN PRODUCE.
PART OF IT IS WHAT THE EUROPEANS
HAVE STEPPED UP TO DO IN REALLY
SIGNIFICANT WAYS OVER THE COURSE
OF THE LAST SIX MONTHS, AND WE
ARE URGING THEM TO KEEP THAT
GOING EVEN AS THE U.S. HAS
DELIVERED $60 BILLION.
PART OF THAT IS ABOUT UKRAINIAN
CAPACITY ITSELF, AND THEN, OF
COURSE, WE ARE ADDING NEW
CAPABILITIES.
SO YOU PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER,
AND I THINK THE CALCULUS OF THE
RUSSIANS OR THE CRITICS OF
UKRAINE TO SAY "TIME IS ON
RUSSIA'S INSIDE," THEY'VE GOT IT
WRONG.
WE BELIEVE FAVORING DEFENDING
ITS OWN TERRITORY, WE BELIEVE
OCCUPATION AND INVASION ZAPS THE
WILL AND THE VITALITY OF A
NATION OVER TIME, AND AS LONG AS
UKRAINE GET THE TOOLS IT NEEDS,
IT CAN DO SO EFFECTIVELY AND CAN
WIN.
WE HAVE NOW TAKEN A STEP FORWARD
AND GIVEN AT THE TOOLS THAT IT
NEEDS TO DEFEND ITSELF.
-
>> IS THERE ANY QUESTION ABOUT
HOW LONG IT WILL LAST?
HOW LONG UNTIL IT COMPLETELY
CALMS DOWN?
CAN IT LASTLY REST OF THIS YEAR?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: I DOING TO
DISSIPATE THAT WITH THE AMOUNT
OF RESOURCES WE HAVE RIGHT NOW,
WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPLY
UKRAINE WITH WHAT HE NEEDS
THROUGH 2024.
-
>> THIS IS SATELLITE IMAGERY OF
TENSE POPPING UP IN RAFAH AS
WELL.
CAN YOU SPEAK WHAT IT IS FOR
FOUR IF IT IS RELATED TO
ISRAEL'S POTENTIAL INVASION IN
RAFAH,
- MR. SULLIVAN: I'VE SEEN
THE REPORTS -- EMINENTLY?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: I'VE SEEN THE
REPORTS PAID I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THEY REFER TO EXACTLY.
NGOS ARE WORKING ON DISTRIBUTION
POINT IN KHAN YOUNIS, NOW THAT
MAJOR MILITARY OPERATIONS THERE
HAVE ABATED.
SO SETTING ASIDE THE QUESTION OF
RAFAH FOR THE MOMENT,
THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY REGARDLESS,
AS THERE CAN AND SHOULD BE IN
GAZA CITY AS WELL, AS WE GET
MORE AID TO THE NORTH.
I CANNOT SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO
THESE REPORTS, HOW THEY RELATE
TO ISRAEL'S FUTURE MILITARY
OPERATION, BECAUSE I'VE ONLY
SEEN THE KIND OF WRITTEN IN THE
NEWSPAPER.
I HAVE NOT YET SEEN EXACT WITH
WHAT THEY ARE ARE REFERRING TO.
BUT WE WILL STAY IN CLOSE TOUCH
NOT JUST WITH THE ISRAELIS BUT
WITH UNITED NATIONS.
ON A DAILY BASIS, AT SENIOR
LEVELS, WE ARE TALKING TO THE
U.N. AS THEY TRY TO COORDINATE
THE HUMANITARIAN ELEMENT OF
THIS.
AND, FRANKLY, FOR THOSE INNOCENT
CIVILIANS WHO ARE NOT IN RAFAH,,
THEY, TOO, NEED SHELTER,
FOOD, IN ADDITION TO ENSURING
THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE
PEOPLE IN RAFAH.
-
>> IS THERE ANYTHING PLANNED
UPCOMING FOR THE CONVERSATION?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: WE HAD AN IN
PERSON ONE PLANT THEM AND AS YOU
ALL MAY HAVE NOTICED, THERE WAS
A SERIES OF EVENTS RELATED TO
ISRAEL OVER THE COURSE OF THE
PAST TWO WEEKS THAT MADE IT
DIFFICULT, FRANKLY, FOR ANYONE
TO LEAVE THEIR DESKS.
I COULD NOT LEAVE MY DESK, AND
MY COUNTERPARTS IN ISRAEL COULD
NOT LEAVE THEIR DESKS, BECAUSE
WE WERE PUTTING TOGETHER A
COALITION WILL DEFEND ISRAEL
AGAINST AN UNPRECEDENTED IRANIAN
ATTACK.
I DO SUSPECT WE WILL GET
TOGETHER FAIRLY SOON, BUT WE
DON'T HAVE A DATE SET CIRCLED
ON THE CALENDAR RIGHT NOW.
-
>> REGARDING STRUCTURAL DAMAGES
IN UKRAINE, UKRAINE IS FACING A
SEVERE TROOP SHORTAGE AT THE
MOMENT.
IS THERE ANYTHING IN THIS
PACKAGE THAT WILL ADDRESS THE
FACT THAT UKRAINE NEEDS MORE
TROOPS ON THE FRONT LINE, AND IT
IS STRUGGLING TO GET THE NUMBERS
THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEM?
-
MR. SULLIVAN: THAT IS A VERY
GOOD QUESTION.
OBVIOUSLY THIS PACKAGE DOES NOT
INCLUDE TROOPS.
IT INTRUDES CAPABILITIES -- AND
INCLUDES CAPE ABILITIES THE
TROOPS WILL NEED, BUT UKRAINE
WILL HAVE TO SUPPLY THE TROOPS.
PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS ALSO WORKING
WITH PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY TO TALK
THROUGH HOW PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY
WAS THINKING ABOUT THE ISSUE OF
MOBILIZATION AND GETTING ENOUGH
FORCES FORWARD TO THE FIGHT.
AND AS YOU KNOW, JUST IN THE
LAST TWO WEEKS, UKRAINE HAS
PASSED THE NEW MOBILIZATION LAW
AND ALSO THE NEW
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, GENERAL CC,
HAD PUT IN PLACE ALONG WITH THE
DEFENSE MINISTER A SERIES OF
PROTOCOLS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER
OF FORCES THAT ARE BEING
LOCALIZED EACH MONTH SO THAT
UKRAINE HAS THE MANPOWER INDIANS
TO GO ALONG WITH THE
CAPABILITIES IT IS NOW GETTING.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO SEE THAT
MONTH BY MONTH AS THEY IMPLEMENT
THE NEW DIRECTIVES FROM THE
MINISTER OF DEFENSE AND THE NEW
COMMANDER OF THE UKRAINIAN ARMED
FORCES.
-
>> THE NORTH KOREAN ENVOY HAS
CONSISTENTLY BEEN TO IRAN, AND
CONSIDERING THEY HAVE DRONES
BASED IN THE CANE TO FIGHT
AGAINST UKRAINIAN FORCES --
MR.
- SULLIVAN: WELL, THE
PRESIDENT TODAY MADE A COMMENT
THAT I WILL JUST REPEAT, WHICH
IS IT HAS BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE
WE WERE NOT ACTUALLY PASSING THE
NECESSARY RESOURCES FOR UKRAINE.
CLINTON WAS LOOKING FOR HIS
FRIENDS -- PUTIN WAS LOOKING
TOWARD HIS FRIENDS.
HE WAS GETTING SUPPORT FOR THE
RUSSIAN DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE
FROM CHINA.
THAT IS NOT LOST ON US.
IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE DEALING
WITH ON ALL THREE FRONTS, AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
YOU HEARD SECRETARY BLINKEN
OBVIOUSLY, WHO IS NOW IN
BEIJING, SPEAK TO OUR CONCERNS
WITH RESPECT TO THE PRC AND IS
SUPPORT FOR RUSSIA'S DEFENSE
INDUSTRIAL BASE.
WE HAVE BEEN VOCAL FROM THIS
PODIUM ABOUT BOTH NORTH
KOREA AND IRAN AND WILL CONTINUE
TO BE.
-
>> IS REALLY GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS ARE SAYING THAT THE
PRESIDENT HAS BACKED DOWN ON
POSSIBLY SANCTIONING THE IDF.
IS THERE ANYTHING UNDER
CONSIDERATION, AND IF NOT, WHY
NOT?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: THIS ONE, I'VE GOT
TO REFER YOU TO THE STATE
DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THEY RUN A
RIGOROUS DETAILED ANALYSIS OF
WHAT IS CALLED THE LAHEY LAW
WHICH LOOKS AT GROSS VIOLATIONS
OF HUMAN RIGHTS BY PARTICULAR
UNITS.
IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR
ME TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF, SO
THE STATE DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE
TO SPEAK TO THAT FEUD I WOULD
ONLY POINT OUT THAT THE
NOMENCLATURE OF SANCTIONS IS NOT
ACCURATE.
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS IF
THE LADY LAW IS IMPLEMENTED, IT
HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR HOW WE DO
WITH A PARTICULAR UNIT, BUT IT
IS NOT COME IN THE CLASSIC
SENSE, A SANCTION.
IT IS SOMETHING WELL KNOWN AND
APPLIED IN MULTIPLE
JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE WORLD,
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE TAKE
CARE TO SEPARATE FROM POLITICS,
TO SEPARATE FROM INCISIONS TAKEN
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
IT IS A STATE DEPARTMENT
ANALYSIS WITH A STATE DEPARTMENT
OUTCOME, AND THEY CAN SPEAK TO
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE
TIME THEY ARE READY TO SPEAK
DIRECTLY.
-
>> YOU SAID THAT A NUMBER OF
STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS,
INCLUDING SOME RECENTLY DEPARTED
FORMER OFFICIALS, HAVE TOLD MY
COLLEAGUES AT THEIR
UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRESIDENT'S
USE ON ISRAEL, TO APPLYING THE
LAHEY LAW, AS YOU JUST
DESCRIBED, CAN YOU TELL US
WHETHER THE PRESIDENT WOULD
INTERVENE IN THAT STATE
DEPARTMENT PROCESS, THAT YOU
REFERRED TO, TO PREVENT THE
LAHEY
THE LADY AT LAW -- THE LEAHY
LAW BEING PLACED ON ISRAEL
?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: IT IS MY STRONG
BELIEF THAT WHOEVER YOU ARE
REFERRING TO HAS NOT SAT IN A
MEETING WITH ISRAEL AND ARE
SPECULATING.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT WILL MAKE
THESE DISCUSSIONS.
THEY WILL MAKE THEM IN AN
ANALYSIS WHEN IT MAY BE
APPROPRIATE AND THE QUESTIONS OF
HOW THAT ALL PLAYS OUT IS BEST
DIRECTED TO THEIR PURVIEW.
-
>> ON UKRAINE, NOW THAT THE
UNITED STATES IS SENDING
LONG-RANGE MISSILE SYSTEMS TO
UKRAINE, DO YOU EXPECT GERMANY
WILL FOLLOW WITH WEAPONS?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: I WOULD REFER YOU
TO BERLIN ON THAT.
YEAH.
-
>> A QUESTION ABOUT A POSSIBLE
INVASION IN RUSSIA --
MR.
- SULLIVAN: AND THE WHAT?
I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT
YOU MEAN BY THAT.
HE IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF
ISRAEL.
WE DEAL WITH WHOEVER IS SITTING
IN THE CHAIR AS THE PRIME
MINISTER OF ISRAEL, BECAUSE
ULTIMATELY THE DECISIONS THAT
ARE TAKEN ARE TAKEN UNDER
LEADERSHIP OF HIS CABINET, SO WE
WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE
PRIME MINISTER.
THE PRESIDENT WELL.
WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH HIS
TEAM.
IN AN EFFORT FOR THEM TO FULLY
UNDERSTAND OUR PERSPECTIVE AND
WHERE WE THINK THE RIGHT STEPS
FORWARD ARE AND TO LISTEN TO
THEM AS WELL.
ULTIMATELY, THE PRESIDENT WILL
MAKE HIS OWN DECISIONS ABOUT
U.S. POLICY, CONSISTENT WITH
U.S. INTERESTS AND VALUES.
-
>> -- WOULD BE PASSED TO IRAN TO
DISCUSS NUCLEAR MISSILES, CROSS
SPACE WITH IRAN, AND YOU KNOW
THAT I RAN USED NORTH KOREAN
MADE MISSILES IN AIRSTRIKES
AGAINST ISRAEL.
WHAT CATH DO YOU PREDICT BETWEEN
NORTH KOREA, RUSSIA, THE MIDDLE
EAST?EPISODICALLY
MR.
- SULLIVAN:, WE'VE SEEN
VARIOUS LINKAGES AND DEFENSE
COOPERATION BETWEEN NORTH KOREA
AND IRAN.
THAT HAS COME AND GONE.
ADD ANDABIDAN FLOWED.
-- EBBED AND FLOWED, WHAT IS
DIFFERENT IF THEY COOPERATION
BETWEEN NORTH KOREA AND RUSSIA
WITH A MASSIVE PROVISION OF
DRONES, MANY DIFFERENT
CAPABILITIES, INCLUDING
ARTILLERY, BALLISTIC MISSILES
THAT GO QUITE A LONG RANGE, PACK
A PUNCH COMMANDER BEING USED TO
TERRORIZE CITIES ACROSS UKRAINE.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A
MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN TO THE
SECURITY OF EUROPE, WAY BEYOND
THE BORDERS OF UKRAINE.
AND COMING TO YOUR QUESTION, WE
ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT
MAY HAPPEN IN THE OTHER
DIRECTION, WHAT IS RUSSIA GOING
TO PROVIDE TO NORTH KOREA OR
IRAN THAT WILL DESTABILIZE THE
INDO PACIFIC WAR THE MIDDLE
EAST?
THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL WATCH
CLOSELY.
-
>> THE WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN, A
RECORD WERE KILLED, WHY IS THE
PRESIDENT NOT GOING?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: THE PRESIDENT WILL
HAVE A LETTER READ.
THE PRESIDENT HAS HAD A
LONG-STANDING PLAN TO GO TO THE
FACILITY IN SYRACUSE.
HE WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT CARE HE
HAS SPOKEN DIRECTLY WITH CHEF
JOSE ANDRES ABOUT THIS TRAGIC
EVENT, AND, OF COURSE, IN THE
IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF IT, HE
PICKED UP THE PHONE AND CALLED
BIBI, AND WHAT HE WAS SPEAKING
ABOUT WITH RESPECT TO THE
PROVISION AND HUMANITARIAN, BUT
THE ADMIN ATTRITION WILL BE WELL
REPRESENTED ON THAT EVENT.
-
>> TWO QUESTIONS.
IRAN HAD A COLLECTION OF
SANCTIONS ON IRAN, NAMELY HUMAN
RIGHTS, DRONES, THERE DEALING
WITH CHINA, THE OIL EXPERTS.
WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION
TRYING TO ACHIEVE WITH THESE SET
OF SANCTIONS THAT IT IS NOT
ALREADY ACHIEVED IN THE PAST
THREE YEARS?
MY SECOND QUESTION IS ABOUT THE
NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE G20, AN
INDEPENDENT PATH, WHICH THEY
CALL FOR THE SUSPENSION OF U.S.
ARMS TRANSFERS TO ISRAEL BECAUSE
THEY ARE ACCUSING ISRAEL DEFENSE
FORCES OF A SYSTEMATIC PATTERN
OF WAR CRIMES.
WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION SAY
ABOUT THAT?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: SO, THE NATIONAL
SECURITY MEMORANDUM 20, WHICH
THE PRESIDENT SIGNED SOME WEEKS
AGO, WE HAVE A REPORT THAT WILL
BE SET SEND UP TO THE CONGRESS IN
EARLY MAY.
THAT REPORT WILL ANALYZE THE
ELEMENTS, AND WE WILL PRESENT
THE FINDINGS OF THAT TO ALL OF
YOU AS WELL.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET AHEAD OF
THAT REPORT.
I THINK WE WILL LET THEM WORK
THROUGH RIGOROUSLY THE ANALYSIS,
WHICH WILL BE DONE ON AN
INTERAGENCY BASIS BY THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT.
YOUR FIRST QUESTION WAS ABOUT
IRAN SANCTIONS.
THE MOMENT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW
IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM WHERE WE
WERE A FEW WEEKS AGO.
YOU'VE ACTUALLY HAD THE G7
CANNOT TOGETHER AND SAY WE NEED
TO OPPOSE ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC
MEASURES, ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON
IRAN FOR THIS BRAZEN AN
UNPRECEDENTED ATTACK ON ISRAEL
WITH MORE THAN 300 MISSILES AND
DRONES FIRED AT ISRAELI
TERRITORY.
THE EU HAS MOVED, THE U.K. HAS
MOVED SOME OF THE UNITED STATES
HAS MOVED, AND WE WILL CONTINUE
TO MOVE, THE EXTRA
PRESSURES WE CAN PLACE AND THE
TYPE OF ISOLATION WE CAN
GENERATE WITH RESPECT TO IRAN,
WHICH IS ACTING IN WAYS THEY ARE
FUNDAMENTALLY DESTABILIZING THE
MIDDLE EAST.
I WILL TAKE ONE LAST QUESTION.
-
>> I HEARD YOU DID NOT GO TO
SAUDI ARABIA PETE I HOPE YOU'RE
FEELING BETTER, BY THE WAY.
-
MR. SULLIVAN: THANK YOU.
>>
-
>> IS THAT BEING RESCHEDULED?
AND CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON
THE NORMALIZATION TALKS BETWEEN
SAUDI ARABIA AND ISRAEL?
MR.
- SULLIVAN: I DO EXPECT TO GET
TO SAUDI ARABIA IN A FEW WEEKS,
THINGS HAVE BEEN IN FLUX, BUT WE
WILL GET IT BACK ON THE
CALENDAR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN COULD
I DO FEEL QUITE A BIT BETTER.
BUT AS ANY OF YOU HAVE CRACKED A
RIB KNOW, IT TAKES A LONG TIME.
CALL ME AT 80% RIGHT NOW.
MEANWHILE, I'M PHYSICALLY
DETERIORATING IN ALL OTHER WAYS.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT THAT IS A MATTER FOR ANOTHER
TIME.
IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE,
NORMALIZATION TALKS, I REALLY
WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SIT WITH THE SENIOR SAUDI
LEADERSHIP, GET THEIR
PERSPECTIVE IN PERSON.
.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO REPORT BACK
TO YOU AFTER THAT.
IT IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO
CONTINUE TO WORK ON, ALTHOUGH
EVERY WEEK OR SO, I READ A NEWS
STORY ABOUT HOW THERE'S A NEW
INITIATIVE, A DIFFERENT
INITIATIVE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS
STEADY, CONSISTENT DIPLOMACY,
AIMING AT AN IN POINT THAT WE
HAVE BEEN QUITE CLEAR ABOUT, BUT
THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY KIND OF
DRAMATIC DEVELOPERS OVER THE
PAST FEW WEEKS.
IT IS SOMETHING WE CONTINUE TO
LOOK AT IT WE WILL TALK WITH THE
SALARYS, WE WILL SEE WHERE WE
ARE -- THE SAUDIS, WE WILL SEE
WHERE WE ARE, AND OBVIOUSLY WE
WILL TALK WITH THE ISRAELIS AS
WELL TO IT WITH THAT, I WILL
TURN IT OVER TO KARINE.
THANK YOU.
-
>> THANK YOU.
>>S
-
>>SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: ALL RIGHT,
THANKS, EVERYBODY.
THANKS, JAKE.
I DO HAVE SOMETHING AT THE TOP
FOR ALL OF YOU COME AND THEN WE
CAN GET INTO Q&A.
OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, OUR
ADMINISTRATION TOOK SEVERAL
STEPS TO PROTECT WORKERS AND
CONSUMERS.
THE FTC BANS NONCOMPETE
AGREEMENTS, WHICH CURRENTLY KEEP
30 MILLION WORKERS NEARLY ONE IN
FIVE, FROM CHANGING JOBS.
THIS ROLE WILL INCREASE WAGES BY
$400 BILLION OVER THE NEXT TWO
YEARS.
-- 10 YEARS.
THE NETWORK EXTENDS OVER TIME
PROTECTIONS TO MILLIONS OF
WORKERS, AS THE PRESIDENT PUT
IT, IF YOU WORK EXTRA HOURS, YOU
DESERVE EXTRA PAY.
THE LATEST THE LABOR DEPARTMENT
IS ALSO PROTECTING RETIREMENTS
CARRIED BY REQUIRING FINANCIAL
ADVISORS TO ACT IN THE SAV
ERS' BEST INTEREST OF ANOTHER
OWN KID THIS WILL SAVE MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS FOR THEIR RETIREMENT
ACCOUNTS.
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT IS
GETTING THE CONSUMER TO GET WHAT
THEY THEY ARE OWED BY
REQUIRING AIRLINES TO GIVE CASH
REFUNDS WHEN FLIGHTS ARE
CANCELED, SIGNIFICANT CHANGED,
CHECKED BAGS ARE SIGNIFICANT
DELAYED, OR SERVICES LIKE WI-FI
ARE NOT PROVIDED.
THE TRANSPORTATION APARTMENT IS
ALSO CRACKING DOWN ON SURPRISE
FEES BY REQUIRING AIRLINES TO
TELL CONSUMERS UPFRONT WHAT THEY
ARE BEING CHARGED FOR, CHECKED
BAGS, CARRY-ON BAGS, AND
CHANGING OR CANCELING A
RESERVATION.
THESE ARE JUST THE LATEST PARTS
OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AGENDA TO
PROTECT WORKERS AND LOWER COSTS.
THE PRESIDENT IS BUILDING AN
ECONOMY THAT LIFTS UP WORKING
AMERICANS AND MIDDLE-CLASS
FAMILIES.
WITH THAT, COLLEEN?
- COLLEEN: THE BACKLASH IS GROWING
AT MOREHOUSE COLLEGE OVER THE
PRESIDENT POSE THE UPCOMING
DRAFT.
I WONDER HOW THE PRESIDENT IS
GOING TO MANAGE THE CONCERNS AS
IT GOES ON?
SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: SO WE KNOW IT
IS AN INCREDIBLY PAINFUL TIME
FOR MANY COMMUNITIES.
YOU HEAR US SAY THAT OFTEN.
YOU HAVE HEARD US MENTION THE
PRESIDENT MEETING WAS DIFFERENT
COMMUNITY LEADERS AND COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, OBVIOUSLY, FROM THE
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, DIFFERENT
GROUPS, TO BE MORE PRECISE,
MUSLIM AMERICANS, PALESTINIAN
AMERICANS, TO HAVE THOSE HONEST
CONVERSATIONS, AND YOU'VE HEARD
THE WHITE HOUSE, YOU'VE HEARD US
TALK ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE
OFFICIALS HAVING REGULAR,
ONGOING MEETINGS WITH THESE
DIFFERENT GROUPS.
AS IT RELATES TO COMMENCEMENT,
THEY ARE ABOUT THE GRADUATES,
RIGHT?
THEY ARE ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES,
IT IS ABOUT THE LOVED ONES, IT
IS ABOUT CELEBRATING
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AMANDA PRESIDENT
IS CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
DOING THAT.
HE'S GOING TO DO THAT AT
MOREHOUSE, HE WILL DO THAT AT
WEST POINT, WHERE HE'S GOING TO
BE THANKING THEM FOR THEIR
SERVICE AND DEFENDING, OBVIOUSLY
FOR DEFENDING OUR NATION.
THE PRESIDENT IS LOOKING FORWARD
TO BEING PART OF THAT.
HE HAS ALWAYS, THIS IS NOT THE
FIRST TIME THAT HE HAS GIVEN
COMMENCEMENT SPEECHES PETE I
UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DIFFERENT
MOMENT IN TIME THAT WE ARE IN,
BUT HE ALWAYS TAKES THIS MOMENT
AS A SPECIAL TIME TO DELIVER
MESSAGES, AND ENCOURAGING
MESSAGE, OF HOKUM UPLIFTING, TO
THE GRADUATES AND THEIR FAMILIES
COME AND WE WILL HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS THAT I JUST
MENTIONED WITH THE DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES ABOUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
WE GET IT.
IT IS PAINFUL TO WE GET THAT.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
.
-
>> IS THERE CONCERN ABOUT
VIOLENCE AT MOREHOUSE?
SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: I'M NOT GOING
TO SPECULATE OR GO INTO
HYPOTHETICALS.
THE PRESIDENT IS LOOKING FORWARD
TO THESE UPCOMING COMMENCEMENT,
MOREHOUSE AND THE UNITED STATES
MILITARY ACADEMY NEXT MONTH, AND
HE HAS DONE THESE MANY TIMES
BEFORE, UNDERSTANDING THE
IMPORTANT MOMENT AND HOW SPECIAL
THAT MOMENT IS FOR THE GRADUATES
AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND HE IS
GOING TO DO HIS BEST TO ME THAT
MOMENT AS IT RELATES TO WHAT IS
GOING ON, THE PAIN THAT
COMMUNITIES ARE FEELING, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
AND BEAT SENSITIVE TO THAT,
UNDERSTANDING WHAT PEOPLE ARE
GOING THROUGH.
-
>> IS IT THE GOAL THAT FEDERAL
LAW TRUMPS STATE LAW OVER THE
ABORTION BAN THERE?
I WONDER HOW WAS IT A MAJOR PART
OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORT
TO PROTECT WOMEN, GIVE
ADDITIONAL HEALTH CARE TO WOMEN.
IF THAT IS ON THE CHOPPING
BLOCK, WHAT ELSE?
SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: I'M GOING TO
BE CAREFUL, BECAUSE IT IS
ONGOING.
PARTS OF THIS, ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE IT IS ONGOING
LEGISLATION, I WOULD HAVE TO
DIRECT TO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE.
THE ADMINISTRATION IS CERTAINLY
GOING TO DEFEND WOMEN'S ABILITY
TO ACCESS EMERGENCY CARE.
THEY SHOULD HAVE UNDER FEDERAL
LAW.
THAT IS A COMMITMENT THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO ENSURE AND SO WE ARE
GOING TO STAY FOCUSED ON THAT.
WE ARE GOING TO LET THE
LITIGATION PROCESS CONTINUE, SO
IT IS NOT GOING TO GET BEYOND
THAT, BUT MORE BROADLY, WE
BELIEVE THAT WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE
DENIED THE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
THAT THEY NEED.
WE HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR IN THE
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION
ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT
WOMEN GET THAT EMERGENCY CARE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LIVES,
WOMEN'S LIVES HERE, AND TO BE
ABLE TO MAKE THOSE ALL IMPORTANT
DECISIONS ON THEIR HEALTH CARE.
WE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT ABOUT
THAT.
WE WILL CONTINUE THAT FIGHT, AND
WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON ENSURING
THAT WE PREVAILED IN THE COURTS.
THAT IS OUR COMMITMENT TO WOMEN.
-
>> THANKS, KARINE.
THE HOUSE SPEAKER IS CALLING ON
THE PRESIDENT OF COLUMBIA TO
RESIGN.
DOES THE PRESIDENT SHARE THAT
VIEW?
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE WAY THE
ADMINISTRATION AT COLUMBIA HAS
HANDLED THINGS?
- SEC. JEAN-PIERRE: COLUMBIA IS A
PRIVATE INSTITUTION.
WE HAVE BEEN VERY CONSISTENT
HEAR ABOUT NOT COMMENTING ON
PERSONNEL MATTERS.
THAT IS SOMETHING FOR THE
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY BOARD AND
THE PRESIDENT TO DECIDE.
OBVIOUSLY IT IS THE SPEAKER
PELOSI PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK FOR
HIMSELF AND WHAT HE SEES.
SO, LOOK, I WOULD SAY MORE
BROADLY, AND THIS IS A DEEPLY
PAINFUL MOMENT FOR MANY
COMMUNITIES, AND WE UNDERSTAND
THAT, BUT THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES
THAT FREE SPEECH DEBATE AND
NONDISCRIMINATION ON COLLEGE
CAMPUSES ARE IMPORTANT.
THEY ARE IMPORTANT AMERICAN
VALUES, AND SO HE WILL ALWAYS BE
VERY CLEAR KID WE WILL ALWAYS BE
VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT HERE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, PROTESTS MUST BE
PRIEST PHONE -- MUST BE
PEACEFUL.
STUDENTS MUST BE SAFE.
WHEN WE SEE VIOLENT RHETORIC, WE
MUST CALL THAT OUT HERE WE SEE
THEM AS RATIONS OR GROTESQUE
ANTI-SEMITIC REMARKS, WE HAVE TO
CALL THAT OUT.
YOU SAW THAT IN THE PRESIDENT'S
STATEMENT ON PASSOVER.
HE TALKED ABOUT THAT COMING HE
TALKED ABOUT TAKING ACTION AND
MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE CALLING
THAT OUTPUT WE WILL CONDUCE DUE
-- OUT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT HERE
WE ARE IMPLEMENT INCOME AS YOU
KNOW, THE FIRST-EVER NATIONAL
STRATEGIC EFFORT TO COUNTER
ANTISEMITISM, BECAUSE THERE
SHOULD BE NO PLACE IN THIS
COUNTRY, WHEN IT RELATES TO THE
TYPE OF HATE.
WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN 2017,
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
THIS PRESIDENT DECIDED TO RUN IN
2020, HE RAN IN 2020 BECAUSE OF
WHAT HE'S ALL IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE
STREETS OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, THE
VILE, JUST HATEFUL RHETORIC THAT
WE WERE SEEING THERE.
SO I THINK COLUMBIA IS GOING TO
HAVE TO SPEAK TO THEIR PERSONNEL
ISSUES, AND WHAT WE WILL SPEAK
TO IS MORE BROADLY WHAT WE
EXPECT AND WHAT WE WANT TO SEE
AND HOW PAINFUL IT IS.
-
>> NOW WITH TIKTOK, NOW THAT THE
PRESIDENT HAS SIGNED THE BILL,
DOES THE WHITE HOUSE HAVE ANY
PREFERENCE AND TO WHETHER TIKTOK
IS SOLD AND REMAINS OPERATIONAL
IN THE U.S., OR ARE YOU
INDIFFERENT ABOUT WHETHER IT
GETS BANNED?
- SEC. JEAN-PIERRE: WELL, FIRST OF
ALL, WE HAVE BEEN CLEAR, MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS HAVE BEEN CLEAR WE
DO NOT WANT TO SEE A BAND.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT A VAN, THIS IS
ABOUT THE VESTMENT.
THIS IS ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY,
NOT CONCERNS ABOUT AMERICANS
USING TIKTOK.
THIS IS ABOUT P.R.C. OWNERSHIP,
RIGHT?
THIS IS ABOUT THE CONTROL OF
TIKTOK.
WE WANT TO BE SUPER CLEAR, AND
THAT IS WHAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR THAT
IS WHAT WE SUPPORTED HIT WE WANT
TO SEE A DIVESTMENT.
WE WANT TO SEE IT BEING SOLD,
AND WE DO NOT SEEK A BAN.
THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS BILL IS
ABOUT.
-
>> IT IS NOT ABOUT A BAND, BUT
THE REALITY IS, IT WILL BE
DIFFICULT, THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT ALSO COULD INTERVENE
AND BLOCK A SALE.
SO IF IT CAME TO IT, WHAT THE
ADMINISTRATION THEN SUPPORT A
BAN?
SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: AS IT RELATES
TO CHINA, THEY SHOULD ALLOW IT,
RIGHT?
THEY SHOULD ALLOW IT TO BE SOLD.
THAT IS WHAT I WILL SAY THERE.
AS IT RELATES TO THE BILL, THE
LAW, THERE IS TIME.
WE HAVE TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.
WE BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE.
THERE ARE ALREADY AMERICAN
INVESTORS WHO ARE WILLING AND
ARE INTERESTED IN BUYING TIKTOK,
SO THE INTEREST IS THERE.
IT IS NOT LIKE THERE IS NOT ANY.
THERE CERTAINLY TIME ON THE
BOOKS TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.
WE DO NOT, THIS IS NOT A BAN,
AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT THE
VESTMENT, AND THAT IS WHAT WE
WANT TO SEE.
YOU ALL HAVE REPORTED ON A,
THERE ARE REPORTS OUT THERE,
THERE'S A NUMBER OF INTERESTED
BUYERS, A NUMBER OF THEM.
YOU GUYS HAVE REPORTED ON THAT I
DON'T HAVE A LIST TO SHARE AND
WE ARE GOING TO LET THAT PROCESS
PLAY OUT, BUT IT HAS BEEN
REPORTED BY ALL OF YOU.
-
>> WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT'S
PERSONAL REACTION TO WHAT YOU
SEE PLAYING OUT?
THE MESSAGE TO ISRAEL, PEOPLE
PEACEFULLY PROTESTING, YOU KNOW,
ALL TYPES OF THINGS.
SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: I THINK THE
PRESIDENT HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR.
HE PUT OUT A STATEMENT.
IN HIS PASSOVER STATEMENT, HE
TALKED ABOUT, WE CANNOT BE
SILENT HERE.
SILENT IS COMPLICIT.
AND WE CAN'T ALLOW THAT.
WE BELIEVED IN FIRST OF THEM IT
WRITES, RIGHT?
-- FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS,
RIGHT?
WE BELIEVE IN PEOPLE BEING ABLE
TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN A
PEACEFUL MANNER COME ABOUT WHEN
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HATEFUL
RHETORIC, WHEN WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT VIOLENCE, WE HAVE TO CALL
THAT OUT.
WE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT ABOUT
IT.
THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN
CONSISTENT ABOUT IT, OBVIOUSLY
SINCE 2017, BUT EVEN BEFORE THAT
, WE HAVE TO CALL OUT HATEFUL,
VIOLENT RHETORIC, BUT WE HAVE TO
MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PEACEFULLY
PROTEST.
-
>> ON THAT SUBJECT, PRESIDENT
BIDEN ONCE TALKED ABOUT THE
VIETNAM WAR PROTEST THAT WAS
USED FOR HE SAID THE REASON HE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE WAS BECAUSE
I AM WHO I AM, I'M NOT BIG ON
FLAK JACKETS AND HAWKEYE
INSURANCE.
IS THAT STILL HIS VIEW ABOUT
PROTEST MOVEMENTS, OR DO WE SEE
THEM AS USEFUL IN SHAPING POLICY
OR SHAPING --
SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: LOOK, WHEN THE
PRESIDENT WAS TALKING ABOUT THE
VIETNAM WAR, THAT WAS A MOMENT
IN TIME, SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW,
WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER AND HOW HE
FELT ABOUT THAT SITUATION, AND
AS PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW, AS
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, WHERE HE
SITS RIGHT NOW BEHIND THAT
RESOLUTE DESK, HE UNDERSTANDS
THAT AS A LEADER IN THIS
COUNTRY, WHEN WE SEE THIS TYPE
OF ANTI-SEMITIC HATE, THIS TYPE
OF ANTI-SEMITIC VILE, WE HAVE TO
BE VERY CLEAR, WE HAVE TO SHOW
MORAL CLARITY, WE HAVE TO CALL
THAT OUT.
I SAID THAT AT THE BEGINNING,
STUDENTS SHOULD FEEL SAFE,
COMMUNITIES SHOULD FEEL SAFE,
AND WE CANNOT STAY SILENT.
OBVIOUSLY IT IS A PAINFUL
MOMENT.
HE UNDERSTANDS THAT.
HE WILL ALWAYS BELIEVE IN FREE
SPEECH AND DEBATE AND NOT
DISCRIMINATION ON COLLEGE
CAMPUSES, AS I SAID WAS AGO.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO
THIS AND PROTEST IN A PEACEFUL
WAY.
I DON'T THINK THAT TAKES AWAY
FROM THE COMMENT THAT YOU JUST
MADE, THAT YOU JUST GAVE BACK TO
ME THAT THE PRESIDENT MADE.
I DO NOT THINK THAT IS ANY
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE
PRESIDENT IS SAYING RIGHT NOW,
RIGHT?
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
PEACEFULLY PROTEST, BUT YOU'VE
GOT TO CALL OUT HATE.
-
>> AND THEN ON TIKTOK, IS THERE
ANY EXPECTATION THAT CHINA COULD
RETALIATE AGAINST U.S. COMPANIES
THAT ARE OPERATING THERE?
SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: I CANNOT SPEAK
FOR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
THAT IS A HYPOTHETICAL.
I CANNOT SPEAK TO THAT.
I CANNOT SPEAK TO THIS LAW, AND
THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING SURE
THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT
DIVESTMENT OF TIKTOK, WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY,
MAKING SURE WE ARE PROTECTING
AMERICANS PRIVACY, AND THAT IS
WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT
AMERICANS USING TIKTOK.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ARE LOOKING
AT HERE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A
DIVESTMENT, THAT, YOU KNOW,
TIKTOK SHOULD NOT BE OWNED OR
AMERICANS SHOULD NOT BE HAVING
TO WORRY ABOUT USING A PLATFORM
THAT IS OWNED BY A COUNTRY THAT
IS TRYING TO HARM US.
THAT IS THE NATIONAL SECURITY
CONCERN HERE.
-
>> IS THIS GOING TO BE A
CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE?
SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY DOJ
WILL BE AWARE OF.
I CANNOT SPEAK TO CHALLENGES.
-
>> WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THESE
ON-CAMPUS PROTESTS REALLY
HEIGHTEN TENSIONS AND
ESCALATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
NOT JUST AT COLUMBIA BUT OTHER
UNIVERSITIES, USC AND IN
CALIFORNIA.
IS THERE ANY CONCERN ABOUT HOW
LAW ENFORCEMENT HANDLING THESE?
- SEC. JEAN-PIERRE: I MEAN, LOOKE,
I CANNOT SPEAK TO WHAT IS GOING
ON ON THE GROUND.
UT, WHAT IS HAPPENING IS
HAPPENING NOW, SO I HAVE NO IDEA
HOW THAT IS BEING DEALT ON THE
GROUND.
BUT, LOOK, WE HAVE BEEN VERY
CLEAR PIT WE WANT TO SEE THIS
BEING PEACEFUL.
WE UNDERSTAND IT IS CONCERNING.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT COMMUNITIES
FEEL SAFE AND IMPORTANT THAT
COMMUNITIES FEEL STUDENTS FEEL SAFE.
THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE.
IT SHOULD NOT BE VIOLENT.
IT SHOULD NOT BE HATEFUL
RHETORIC HERE, AND THAT IS WHAT
WE WILL KEEP SAYING, AND WE WILL
LET THE UNIVERSITIES HANDLE THE
PROCESS ON HOW THEY ARE DOING ON
THE GROUND.
-
>> IF I COULD GO BACK TO UKRAINE
FOR JUST A MOMENT, PRESIDENT
ZELENSKYY SAID HE AND PRESIDENT
BIDEN DISCUSSED THE GLOBAL
SUMMIT COMING UP SOON.
WHAT IS THE WHITE HOUSE VIEW AT
THIS POINT ON WHAT THE SUMMIT
CAN ACHIEVE?
SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: NOTHING TO
SHARE WITH YOU ON THE
PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE.
OBVIOUSLY IT IS AN IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION THAT UKRAINE SHOULD
BE PART OF.
WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY CLEAR
ABOUT THAT.
.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE
BEYOND THAT.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT THE PRESIDENT OF
UKRAINE, OBVIOUSLY PRESIDENT
ZELENSKYY NEEDS TO LEAD ON.
I JUST DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO
SHARE.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SHARED OUR
COMMITMENT TO UKRAINE, AGAINST
RUSSIA'S AGGRESSION COULD WE
HAVE BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT
ABOUT THAT.
AND WE BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE
THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO
FIGHT FOR THEIR DEMOCRACY, TO
FIGHT THEIR FREEDOM, AND WE
BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL
PREVAIL GET I WILL NOT GET AHEAD
OF A POTENTIAL SUMMIT.
-
>> TWO QUESTIONS.
FIRST, THE PRESIDENT EXPRESSED
SOME REGRET ABOUT THE BORDER
SECURITY BILL NOT BEING PART OF
THE GOVERNMENTAL, BUT HE ALSO
SAID HE WILL ADDRESS THAT AT
ANOTHER TIME.
DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATE?
SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: I ALSO THINK
MITCH MCCONNELL MADE A STATEMENT
ABOUT IT AS WELL PIT I WOULD
CERTAINLY POINT YOU TO WHAT HE
SAID ABOUT THE BORDER SECURITY
BILL.
I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT,
RIGHT?
BECAUSE IT IS A BIPARTISAN
EFFORT, AND WE NEED BOTH SIDES.
THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN VERY
CLEAR COULD WE NEED THAT
BIPARTISAN BORDER SECURITY BILL,
THE NEGOTIATION THAT CAME
TOGETHER ON THAT, AND WE NEED TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH IT HIDDEN CAME
OUT FROM THE SENATE.
WE HEARD BACK FROM THE FORMER
PRESIDENT WHO SAID DON'T MOVE
FORWARD, TOLD REPUBLICANS TO
REJECT IT.
THEY DID.
THAT IS UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TOUGHEST ON
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FAIREST,
HAD THE PRESIDENT HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SIGNED INTO LAW,
YOU KNOW, IT WOULD HAVE
ADDRESSED A LOT OF THE CONCERNS
THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE THAT WE
ARE SEEING, THE CHALLENGES THAT
WE ARE SEEING AT THE BORDER.
I MEAN, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.
YOU ALL LISTENED TO THE
PRESIDENT, RIGHT?
HE WILL TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
SAY WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE BORDER SECURITY
NEGOTIATION OR THE PLAN THAT
CAME OUT OF THE NEGOTIATION, BUT
HE WANTS TO SEE THAT.
IT IS A CONCERN THAT THE
MAJORITY OF AMERICANS HAVE, SO
WE WANT TO SEE THAT MOVE
FORWARD, AND I THINK MITCH
MCCONNELL SPOKE FOR HIMSELF.
-
>> CAN WE INTERPRET HIM SAYING
HE IS GOING TO COME BACK TO IT,
HE WILL DO SOMETHING CITED
ACTION?
-
SEC. JEAN-PIERRE: WELL, LOOK, WE
HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR.
NO EXECUTIVE ACTION IS GOING TO
DO WHAT THAT BORDER SECURITY
PLAN WOULD HAVE DONE, RIGHT?
WE BELIEVE THAT WAS A COME IN
ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD, TO DEAL
WITH THE CHALLENGES AT THE
BORDER COMING TO DEAL WITH WHAT
WE HAVE BEEN SEEING WITH
IMMIGRATION, A BROKEN
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE
SEEN FOR DECADES, THAT IS THE
WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WILL LOOK AT OUR
OPTIONS, BUT WE BELIEVE THERE IS
STILL AN OPPORTUNITY HERE, AND I
THINK LEADER MCCONNELL WAS
PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT THAT, TOO,
TODAY.
GO AHEAD.
-
>> THE PRESIDENT SAID IN 2017,
UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP, IF
PRESIDENT BIDEN IS ELECTED COME
IT WOULD BE DEAD AND GONE
FOREVER.
THAT INCLUDED TAX CUTS ACROSS
THE BOARD, THE TAX RATE OF
VARIOUS LEVELS OF INCOME.
THE PRESIDENT SAYING HE WOULD
GIVE IT THE ENTIRE TAX BILL AND
NOT ALLOW THE TAX CREDIT
--
SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: I THINK THE
PRESIDENT WAS TRYING TO MAKE
CLEAR THAT THE 2017 TAX BILL IS
SOMETHING THAT IS FOR
BILLIONAIRES AND CORPORATIONS,
AND THAT IS NOT WHAT HE IS FOR,
RIGHT?
HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THE
WORKING CLASS GETS THEIR FAIR
SHARE COME AND HE WANTS TO MAKE
SURE THE BILLIONAIRES AND
CORPORATIONS PAY WHAT THEY OWE.
AND SO HE IS TALKING ABOUT AN
ECONOMY, THE TYPE OF ECONOMY HE
WANTS TO BUILD.
.
YOU HEAR HIM SAY IT ALL THE
TIME, AND ECONOMY IS BEST BUILT
FROM THE BOTTOM UP AND MIDDLE
OUT THAT DOES NOT LEAVE OUT
THE MIDDLE CLASS, THAT BUILDS
INTO THE MIDDLE CLASSED.
THAT IS WHAT HE IS TRIED TO
SPEAK TO MORE BROADLY AND HOW
BILLIONAIRES AND CORPORATIONS
HAVE TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.
HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CLEAR ABOUT
THAT.
THE 2017 TAX BILL DOES NOT DO
THAT.
DOES THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.
THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM
REPUBLICANS COME UP WITH A PUT
OUT THEIR BUDGET RECENTLY, THAT
IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
THEY WANT TO GIVE THEM A BREAK
COME AND WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANT
TO DO IS GET MIDDLE-CLASS A
BREAK, AND YOU SEEN THAT, FROM
LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN
PASSED, TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE
DO NOT LEAVE COMMUNITIES
BEHIND, COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
BEEN LEFT BEHIND FOR DECADES
NOW.
PETER COME I HAVE TO GOING TO
THE OVAL OFFICE.
-
>> ARIZONA STATE HOUSE LAWMAKERS
JUST PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD
REPEAL THE NEAR TOTAL BAN ON
ABORTION IN THE STATE, THE
PRESIDENT'S VIEW ON THAT.
SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: YOU'VE HEARD
US TALK ABOUT THE 1864 LAW AND
HOW IT SETS US BACK.
1864.
WE ARE IN 2024, AND THERE IS A
LAW THAT THEY WANTED TO MOVE
FORWARD WITHOUT OBVIOUSLY WOULD
HURT WOMEN, WOULD HURT
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, WOULD HURT
OBVIOUSLY WOMEN TO MAKE A
DECISION ABOUT THEIR HEALTH
CARE.
AND I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT REPORT,
BUT IF THIS IS THE CASE, THAT IT
HAS BEEN REPEALED IN ONE OF THE
CHAMBERS, THAT IS A GOOD THING,
RIGHT?
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION, WE ARE MOVING
FORWARD TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN
2024, WHEN WE SHOULD BE
PROTECTING OUR FREEDOM,
PROTECTING A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO
MAKE A VERY PERSONAL DECISION
ABOUT HER BODY.
-
>> LAST OF A REAL QUICKLY, I
KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO GO, BUT
MENTIONING THE WORD TIKTOK,
MAYBE THAT'S ONE WORK OF A
TIKTOK, THERE ISBETWEEN THE TWO,
IF YOU HAD AN ELEVATOR PITCH,
THERE ARE 170 MILLION AMERICANS
WHO USE TIKTOK RIGHT NOW, WHAT
IS THE SIMPLE STATEMENT FOR
AMERICANS RIGHT NOW WHO SAY
THERE THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES IS IN FAVOR OF
BANNING AN APPLICATION THAT I
RELY ON, IN SOME CASES FOR MY
LIVELIHOOD.
SEC.
- JEAN-PIERRE: THIS IS NOT A
BAN, THIS IS ABOUT DIVESTMENT,
THIS IS ABOUT OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY.
WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT WE DON'T
WANT AMERICANS TO USE TIKTOK.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ARE SAYING.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
AMERICANS ARE PROTECTED, AND
THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
AND SO WE BELIEVE THIS LAW WOULD
GET US THERE.
WE BELIEVE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO
DIVEST, THAT TIKTOK WILL BE ABLE
TO DIVEST.
WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS
INTEREST IN FOLKS WHO WANT TO
BUY TIKTOK, AND WE WANT TO GET
THERE.
THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO PROTECT
AMERICANS, HE WANTS TO PROTECT
AMERICANS PRIVACY.
HE WANTS TO PROTECT AMERICANS
FROM A COUNTRY IN THIS INSTANCE
THAT ONCE YOU POTENTIALLY DO US
HARM.
WE ARE NOT SAYING WE DO NOT WANT
TIKTOK TO EXIST.
WE ARE NOT SAYING WE DO NOT WANT
AMERICANS TO USE TIKTOK.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS DONE
IN A WAY THAT WE PROTECT OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY AND WE PROTECT
AMERICANS.
ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY COME I'VE GOT
TO GO TO THE OVAL.
THANKS, EVERYBODY.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
I GUESS I WILL SEE YOU IN NEW
YORK.
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