Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt – The White House

1:06 P.M. EST

     MS. LEAVITT:  Good afternoon, everyone. 

Q    Good afternoon.

MS. LEAVITT:  How are we?  Good to see all of you.  It’s an honor to be right here with all of you.  A number of acquainted faces within the room, a variety of new faces.

And President Trump is again, and the golden age of America has most positively begun. 

The Senate has already confirmed 5 of President Trump’s distinctive Cupboard nominees: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.  It’s crucial that the Senate continues to substantiate the rest of the president’s well-qualified nominees as shortly as potential.

As you could have seen throughout the previous week, President Trump is tough at work fulfilling the guarantees that he made to the American folks on the marketing campaign path.  Since taking the oath of workplace, President Trump has taken greater than 300 govt actions; secured almost $1 trillion in U.S. investments; deported unlawful alien rapists, gang members, and suspected terrorists from our homeland; and restored frequent sense to the federal authorities.

I wish to take a second to undergo a few of these extraordinary actions. 

On day one, President Trump declared a nationwide emergency at our southern border to finish the four-year-long invasion of unlawful aliens underneath the earlier administration.  Moreover, President Trump signed an govt order to finish catch and launch and end development of his efficient border wall.  Through the use of each lever of his federal energy, President Trump has despatched a loud and clear message to the whole world: America will now not tolerate unlawful immigration. 

And this president expects that each nation on this planet will cooperate with the repatriation of their residents, as confirmed by this weekend, when President Trump swiftly directed his workforce to challenge harsh and efficient sanctions and tariffs on the Colombian authorities upon listening to they have been denied a U.S. navy plane filled with their very own residents who have been deported by this administration.  Inside hours, the Colombian authorities agreed to all of President Trump’s calls for, proving America is as soon as once more revered on the world stage.

So, to international nationals who’re desirous about attempting to illegally enter america, suppose once more.  Beneath this president, you’ll be detained, and you’ll be deported. 

     Day-after-day, People are safer due to the violent criminals that President Trump’s administration is eradicating from our communities.

On January twenty third, ICE New York arrested a Turkish nationwide for entry with out inspection who’s a identified or suspected terrorist.  On January twenty third, ICE San Francisco arrested a citizen of Mexico unlawfully current in america who has been convicted of steady sexual abuse of a kid aged 14 years or youthful.  ICE Saint Paul has arrested a citizen of Honduras who was convicted of fourth-degree legal sexual conduct with a minor.  ICE Buffalo arrested a citizen of Ecuador who has been convicted of rape. 

ICE Boston arrested a citizen of the Dominican Republic who has a legal conviction for second-degree homicide.  This legal was convicted of homicide for beating his pregnant spouse to loss of life in entrance of her five-year-old son. 

     And ICE Saint Paul additionally arrested a citizen of Mexico who was convicted of possessing pornographic materials of a minor on a piece pc.

These are the heinous people that this administration is eradicating from American communities each single day.  And to the courageous state and native regulation enforcement officers, CBP, and ICE brokers who’re serving to within the facilitation of this deportation operation, President Trump has your again and he’s grateful in your arduous work.

On the financial entrance, President Trump took speedy motion to decrease prices for households who’re affected by 4 lengthy years of the Biden administration’s harmful and inflationary insurance policies.  President Trump ordered the heads of all govt departments and companies to assist ship emergency worth reduction to the American folks, untangle our economic system from Biden’s regulatory constraints, and finish the reckless conflict on American power.

President Trump additionally signed sweeping govt orders to finish the weaponization of presidency and restore frequent sense to the federal paperwork.  He directed all federal companies to terminate unlawful variety, fairness, and inclusion packages to assist return America to a merit-based society.

President Trump additionally signed an govt order declaring it’s now the coverage of the federal authorities that there are solely two sexes: female and male.  Sanity has been restored.

Earlier than I take your questions, I wish to level out to — all of you as soon as once more have entry to essentially the most clear and accessible president in American historical past.  There has by no means been a president who communicates with the American folks and the American press corps as brazenly and authentically because the forty fifth and now forty seventh president of america. 

This previous week, President Trump has held a number of information conferences, gaggled on Air Power One a number of instances, and sat down for a two-part interview on Fox Information, which aired final week.  As Politico summed it up finest, “Trump is in all places once more,” and that’s as a result of President Trump has an ideal story to inform in regards to the legendary American revival that’s properly underway.

And in step with this revolutionary media method that President Trump deployed throughout the marketing campaign, the Trump White Home will communicate to all media shops and personalities, not simply the legacy media who’re seated on this room, as a result of apporting — in accordance with latest polling from Gallup, People’ belief in mass media has fallen to a report low.  Thousands and thousands of People, particularly younger folks, have turned from conventional tv shops and newspapers to devour their information from podcasts, blogs, social media, and different impartial shops.

It’s important to our workforce that we share President Trump’s message in all places and adapt this White Home to the brand new media panorama in 2025.  To do that, I’m excited to announce the next adjustments can be made to this historic James S. Brady Briefing Room, the place Mr. Brady’s legacy will endure.

This White Home believes strongly within the First Modification, so it’s why our workforce will work diligently to revive the press passes of the 440 journalists whose passes have been wrongly revoked by the earlier administration. 

We’re additionally opening up this briefing room to new media voices who produce news-related content material and whose outlet isn’t already represented by one of many seats on this room.  We welcome impartial journalists, podcasters, social media influencers, and content material creators to use for credentials to cowl this White Home.  And you’ll apply now on our new web site, WhiteHouse.gov/NewMedia. 

Beginning at the moment, this seat within the entrance of the room, which is normally occupied by the press secretary employees, can be known as the “new media” seat.  My workforce will evaluate the functions and provides credentials to new media candidates who meet our standards and go United States Secret Service necessities to enter the White Home complicated.

So, in mild of those bulletins, our first questions for at the moment’s briefing will go to those new media members whose shops, regardless of being among the most considered information web sites within the nation, haven’t been given seats on this room. 

And earlier than I flip to questions, I do have information instantly from the president of america that was simply shared with me within the Oval Workplace from President Trump instantly — an replace on the New Jersey drones: After analysis and examine, the drones that have been flying over New Jersey in giant numbers have been approved to be flown by the FAA for analysis and varied different causes. 

Many of those drones have been additionally hobbyists — leisure and personal people that get pleasure from flying drones.  In meanti- — within the — in time, it received worse, attributable to curiosity.  This was not the enemy.  A — a press release from the president of america to begin this briefing with some information.

And with that, I’ll flip it over to questions, and we’ll start with our new media members: Mike Allen from Axios, Matt Boyle from Breitbart. 

     Mike, why don’t you go forward.

Q    Thanks very a lot.  Karoline, does the president see something fishy about DeepSeek, both its origins or its value?  And will China’s means to make these fashions faster, cheaper have an effect on our desirous about increasing era information facilities, chip manufacturing?

MS. LEAVITT:  Certain.  The president was requested about DeepSeek final night time on Air Power One when he gaggled for, I feel, the third or fourth time all through the weekend with members of the touring press corps.  The president stated that he believes that this can be a wake-up name to the American AI trade.  The final administration sat on their arms and allowed China to quickly develop this AI program.

And so, President Trump believes in restoring American AI dominance, and that’s why he took very robust govt motion this previous week to signal govt orders to roll again among the onerous rules on the AI trade.  And President Trump has additionally proudly appointed the primary AI and crypto czar at this White Home, David Sacks, whom I spoke with yesterday — very educated on this topic.  And his workforce is right here working each single day to make sure American AI dominance.

As for the nationwide safety implications, I spoke with NSC this morning.  They’re trying into what these could also be, and when I’ve an replace, I’ll share it with you, Mike.

Q    And, Karoline, you say “restore” U.S. dominance.  Is there concern that the U.S. both is falling or has fallen behind?  And the way would the president be sure that the U.S. stays forward?

MS. LEAVITT:  No.  The president is assured that we are going to restore American dominance in AI. 

Matt.

Q    Yeah.  So, Karoline, first off, thanks to you and President Trump for truly giving voices to new media shops that characterize hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of People.  The factor I’d add — the — I’ve received a two-part query for you.  The primary is simply: Are you able to broaden upon what steps the White Home goes to take to convey extra voices, not much less — which is what our founder, Andrew Breitbart, believed in — into this room, the place they rightly belong?

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah, completely.  And as I stated in my opening assertion, Matt, it’s a precedence of this White Home to honor the First Modification.  And it’s a incontrovertible fact that People are consuming their information media from varied totally different platforms, particularly younger folks.  And because the youngest press secretary in historical past, because of President Trump, I take nice pleasure in opening up this room to new media voices to share the president’s message with as many People as potential.

In doing so, primary, we’ll be certain that shops like yours — Axios and Breitbart, that are broadly revered and considered shops — have an precise seat on this room day-after-day.  We additionally, once more, encourage anyone on this nation — whether or not you’re a TikTok content material creator, a blogger, a podcaster — if you’re producing respectable information content material, regardless of the medium, you’ll be allowed to use for press credentials to this White Home. 

And as I stated earlier, our new media web site is WhiteHouse.gov/NewMedia, and so we encourage folks to use.  Once more, so long as you’re creating news-related content material of the day and also you’re a respectable impartial journalist, you’re welcome to cowl this White Home. 

Q    And secondly, Karoline, you sa- — you laid out a number of of the actions that President Trump has taken.  Clearly, it’s a stark distinction to the earlier administration and a breakneck velocity from President Trump.  Can we anticipate that tempo to proceed because the hun- — the — you realize, the primary 100 days strikes alongside right here and past that?

MS. LEAVITT:  Completely.  There isn’t a doubt President Trump has at all times been the toughest working man in politics.  I feel that’s been confirmed over the previous week.  This president has, once more, signed greater than 300 govt orders.  He’s taken historic motion. 

I gaggled aboard Air Power One to mark the primary 100 days of this administration — 4:00 p.m. final Friday — first 100 hours, quite.  And this president did extra within the first 100 hours than the earlier president did within the first 100 days. 

So, President Trump, I feel you may all anticipate to — for him to proceed to work at this breakneck velocity.  So, I hope you’re all able to work very arduous.  I do know that we’re.

Zeke Miller.

Q    Thanks, Karoline.  A query that we’ve requested your predecessors of each events on this job.  Once you’re up right here on this briefing room chatting with the American public, do you view your self and your position as talking on — advocating on behalf of the president, or offering the unvarnished fact that’s, you realize, to not lie, to not obfuscate to the American folks?

MS. LEAVITT:  I decide to telling the reality from this podium each single day.  I decide to talking on behalf of the president of america.  That’s my job. 

And I’ll say it’s very straightforward to talk fact from this podium when you could have a president who’s implementing insurance policies which can be wildly standard with the American folks, and that’s precisely what this administration is doing.  It’s correcting the lies and the wrongs of the previous 4 years, most of the lies which have been instructed to your faces on this very briefing room.  I can’t try this.

However because you introduced up fact, Zeke, I wish to level out, whereas I vow to offer the reality from this podium, we ask that each one of you on this room maintain yourselves to that very same normal.  We all know for a truth there have been lies which have been pushed by many legacy media shops on this nation about this president, about his household, and we is not going to settle for that.  We’ll name you out once we really feel that your reporting is unsuitable or there’s misinformation about this White Home. 

So, sure, I’ll maintain myself to the reality, and I anticipate everybody on this room to do the identical. 

Q    And, Karoline, simply on a substantive query.  Yesterday, the White Home Workplace of Administration and Price range directed an across-the-board freeze with — with some exceptions for particular person help.  We perceive simply federal grants.

MS. LEAVITT:  Proper.

Q    It’s prompted a variety of confusion across the nation amongst Head Begin suppliers, amongst suppliers — from providers to homeless veterans, provid- — you realize, Medicaid suppliers, states saying they’re having bother accessing the portal.  May you set — assist us clear up some confusion —

MS. LEAVITT:  Sure.

Q    — give some certainty to of us?  After which additionally, is that uncertainty — how does that uncertainty service the president’s voters?

MS. LEAVITT:  Effectively, I feel there’s solely uncertainty on this room amongst the media.  There’s no uncertainty on this constructing. 

So, let me present the knowledge and the readability that each one of you want.  This isn’t a blanket pause on federal help in grant packages from the Trump administration.  Particular person help, that features — I’m not naming every little thing that’s included, however simply to present you just a few examples — Social Safety advantages, Medicare advantages, meals stamps, welfare advantages — help that’s going on to people is not going to be impacted by this pause. 

And I wish to make that very clear to any People who’re watching at residence who could also be a little bit bit confused about among the media reporting: This administration — if you’re receiving particular person help from the federal authorities, you’ll nonetheless proceed to obtain that. 

Nonetheless, it’s the duty of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer {dollars}.  That’s one thing that President Trump campaigned on.  That’s why he has launched DOGE, the Division of Authorities Effectivity, who’s working alongside OMB.  And that’s why OMB despatched out this memo final night time, as a result of the president signed an govt order directing OMB to just do this.  And the explanation for that is to make sure that each penny that’s going out the door isn’t conflicting with the manager orders and actions that this president has taken. 

So, what does this pause imply?  It means no extra funding for unlawful DEI packages.  It means no extra funding for the Inexperienced New Rip-off that has ta- — value American taxpayers tens of billions of {dollars}.  It means no extra funding for transgenderism and wokeness throughout our federal paperwork and companies.  No extra funding for Inexperienced New Deal social engineering insurance policies.  Once more, people who find themselves receiving particular person asintan- — help, you’ll proceed to obtain that.

And President Trump is searching for you by issuing this pause as a result of he’s being good steward of your taxpayer {dollars}.

Q    Thanks, Karoline. 

MS. LEAVITT:  Certain.

Q    How lengthy is that this pause going to final?  And the way is the Trump administration recommending that organizations that depend on federal funding make payroll, pay their hire within the meantime?

MS. LEAVITT:  It’s a momentary pause, and the Workplace of Administration and Price range is reviewing the federal funding that has been going out the door, once more, not for particular person help, however for all of those different packages that I discussed.

I additionally spoke with the incoming director of OMB this morning, and he instructed me to inform all of you that the road to his workplace is open for different federal authorities companies throughout the board, and in the event that they really feel that packages are crucial and according to the president’s agenda, then the Workplace of Administration and Price range will evaluate these insurance policies. 

I feel this can be a very accountable measure.  Once more, the previous 4 years, we’ve seen the Biden administration spend cash like drunken sailors.  It’s a giant motive we’ve had an inflation disaster on this nation, and it’s incumbent upon this administration to verify, once more, that each penny is being accounted for truthfully.

Q    Why impose this pause with so little discover?  Why not give organizations extra time to plan for the truth that they’re about to lose, in some circumstances, actually essential federal funding —

MS. LEAVITT:  There was —

Q    — not less than for a — for a time frame?

MS. LEAVITT:  There was discover.  It was the manager order that the president signed. 

There’s additionally a freeze on hiring, as you realize; a regulatory freeze; and there’s additionally a freeze on international assist.  And this can be a — once more, extremely vital to make sure that this administration is considering how arduous the American individuals are working.  And their tax {dollars} truly matter to this administration. 

You recognize, simply throughout this pause, DOGE and OMB have truly discovered that there was $37 million that was about to exit the door to the World Well being Group, which is a company, as you all know, that President Trump, with the swipe of his pen in that govt order, is — now not needs america to be part of.  So, that wouldn’t be according to the president’s agenda. 

DOGE and OMB additionally discovered that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer {dollars} that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza.  That could be a preposterous waste of taxpayer cash. 

So, that’s what this pause is targeted on: being good stewards of tax {dollars}. 

Q    And so, this doesn’t have an effect on —

MS. LEAVITT:  Jennifer.

Q    — Meals on Wheels or Head Begin or catastrophe assist?

MS. LEAVITT:  Once more, it doesn’t have an effect on particular person help that’s going to People.

Q    To observe up on Nancy, do you suppose there can be an inventory of who’s affected and the way a lot cash is affected?  How — how will these contractors and organizations know if they’re truly being — having their funding frozen?

After which, secondly, if you happen to’re prepared, are you able to simply make clear, is the top objective of this to primarily problem Congress or to — to show that the president can withhold federal funding?  Is — in different phrases, is that this an try to choose a struggle to show that he can do that?

MS. LEAVITT:  No, completely not.  Because it says proper right here within the memo, which I’ve — and I’d encourage all of you to learn it — it says, “The American folks elected President Trump to be the president of america and gave him a mandate to extend the impression of each federal greenback.”  “This memo requires federal companies to determine and evaluate all Federal monetary help packages and supporting actions per the president’s insurance policies and necessities.” 

The American folks gave President Trump an awesome mandate on November fifth, and he’s simply attempting to make sure that the tax cash going out the door on this very bankrupt metropolis truly aligns with the desire and the priorities of the American folks. 

(Cross-talk.)

Brian Glenn.

Q    Sure.  Welcome. 

MS. LEAVITT:  Thanks.

Q    You look nice.  You’re doing an ideal job. 

MS. LEAVITT:  Thanks.

Q    You talked about transparency.  And a few of us on this room know the way simply clear President Trump has been the final 5 – 6 years; I feel you’ll do the identical. 

My query is, do you suppose this newest incident with the president of Colombia is indicative of the worldwide, highly effective respect they’ve for President Trump transferring ahead not solely to interact in — in financial diplomacy with these international locations but additionally world peace?

MS. LEAVITT:  Completely.  I’ll echo the reply that the president gave on Air Power One final night time when he was requested a really comparable query by one in every of your colleagues within the media: This signifies peace by means of energy is again, and this president is not going to tolerate unlawful immigration into America’s inside. 

And he expects each nation on this planet, once more, to cooperate with the repatriation of their residents who illegally entered into our nation and broke America’s legal guidelines.  Gained’t be tolerated. 

And as you noticed, the Colombian authorities shortly folded and agreed to all of President Trump’s calls for.  Flights are underway as soon as once more.

(Cross-talk.)

Diana.

Q    Two questions on deportations, if I could.  President Trump had stated on the marketing campaign path that he would deport pro-Hamas college students who’re right here on visas, and on his first day in workplace, he signed an govt order that stated, quote, “The U.S. should be certain that admitted aliens and aliens in any other case already current within the U.S. don’t bear hostile attitudes towards its residents, tradition, authorities, establishments, or founding ideas.”  So, ought to we take this govt order as Trump saying he could be open to de- — deporting these college students who’re right here on visas, however, you realize, maintain pro-Hamas sympathies?

MS. LEAVITT:  The president is open to deporting people who’ve damaged our nation’s immigrations legal guidelines.  So, if they’re right here illegally, then definitely he’s open to deporting them, and that’s what this administration is tough at work at doing. 

We obtain information from DHS and from ICE each single day.  From what we hear on the bottom, ICE brokers are feeling extremely empowered proper now as a result of they really have a pacesetter on this constructing who’s supporting them in doing their jobs that they have been employed to do, which is to detain, arrest, and deport unlawful criminals who’ve invaded our nation’s borders over the previous 4 years.  That’s what the president is dedicated to seeing. 

Q    Yet one more. 

MS. LEAVITT:  Peter.
    
     Q    Simply following up on that, Karoline —

Q    Karoline, if I might ask you in a short time, simply following up on the query on immigration.  First, President Trump, throughout the course of the marketing campaign in 2024, stated the next about unlawful im- — immigration.  He stated, “They’re going again residence the place they belong, and we begin with the criminals.  There are numerous, many criminals.”  NBC Information has discovered that ICE arrested 1,179 undocumented immigrants on Sunday, however almost half of them — 566 of the migrants — seem to don’t have any prior legal report apart from getting into the nation illegally. 

MS. LEAVITT:  (Laughs.)

Q    Is the president nonetheless centered exclusiv- — which is a civil crime, not a — not a — it’s not legal —

MS. LEAVITT:  It’s a federal crime. 

Q    It’s a fed- — so, I’m asking although, he stated he was going to concentrate on these violent offenders first.  So, is violent offenders now not the predicate for these folks to be deported?

MS. LEAVITT:  The president has stated numerous instances on the marketing campaign path — I’ve been with him on the rallies; I do know you’ve been there masking them too, Peter — that he’s centered on launching the biggest mass deportation operation in American historical past of unlawful criminals. 

And if you’re a person, a international nationwide, who illegally enters america of America, you’re, by definition, a legal.  And so, subsequently —

Q    So, to be clear, it’s not completely —

MS. LEAVITT:  — you’re topic deportation. 

Q    I apologize for interrupting.  So, to be clear, it’s not — violent criminals don’t obtain priority when it comes to the deportations going down?

MS. LEAVITT:  The president has additionally stated — two issues could be true on the similar time.  We wish to deport unlawful criminals, unlawful immigrants from this nation.  However the president has stated that, after all, the unlawful dr- — legal drug sellers, the rapists, the murderers, the people who’ve dedicated heinous acts on the inside of our nation and who’ve terrorized law-abiding Americans, completely, these must be the precedence of ICE.  However that doesn’t imply that the opposite unlawful criminals who entered our nation’s borders are off the desk. 

Q    Understood.  Then let me ask you a separate query in regards to the confusion that also exists throughout the nation proper now because it pertains to the — the freeze — or the pause, because it’s described.  President Trump, after all, ran — one of many key coverage gadgets was that he was going to decrease costs, decrease the price of every little thing from groceries, as he usually stated.  However in most of the circumstances, it will appear that a few of these strikes might increase costs for actual People on every little thing from low-income heating — that program; childcare packages.  Will nothing that the president is doing right here, when it comes to the freeze in these packages, increase costs on bizarre People?

MS. LEAVITT:  What explicit actions are you referring to that might —

Q    I’m referring to LHEAP proper now.  That’s the low-income heating program, for instance.  We will discuss — there’s no readability, so I might seek advice from a variety of them.  We don’t know what they’re particularly.  Are you able to inform us that LHEAP — that LIHEAP isn’t a type of affected?

MS. LEAVITT:  So, you’re asking a hypoc- — -thetical based mostly on packages that you may’t even determine?

Q    No, I simply recognized — I —

MS. LEAVITT:  What I can inform you is that the —

Q    Effectively, simply to be — simply to be clear, because you guys haven’t recognized, let’s do it collectively, only for People at residence.  Medicaid, is that affected?

MS. LEAVITT:  I gave you an inventory of examples — Social Safety, Medicare, welfare advantages —

Q    Medicaid too, appropriate?

MS. LEAVITT:  — meals stamps — that won’t be impacted by this federal pause.  I can get you the complete checklist after this briefing from the Workplace of Administration and Price range.

However I do wish to handle the associated fee reducing, as a result of that’s definitely essential, and — and reducing the price of dwelling on this nation.  President Trump has taken historic motion over the previous week to try this.  He truly signed a memorandum to ship emergency worth reduction for American households, which took numerous actions.  I can stroll you thru these. 

He additionally repealed many onerous Biden administration rules.  We all know, over the previous 4 years, American households has been primarily taxed $55,000 in rules from the earlier administration.  President Trump, with the swipe of his pen, rescinded these, which is able to in the end put more cash again within the pockets of the American folks.  So, deregulation is a giant deal. 

After which, with regards to power, I imply, the president signed an govt order to declare a nationwide power emergency right here at residence, which goes to make America power dominant.  We all know that power is likely one of the number-one drivers of inflation, and in order that’s why the president needs to extend our power provide: to convey down prices for People.  The Trump power growth is incoming, and People can anticipate that.

Q    Please share that memo.  Thanks.

MS. LEAVITT:  I’ll.

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Karoline, I feel — among the confusion, I feel, could also be right here with this pause on federal funding.  You’ve made it clear you’re not stopping funds that go on to people, however there definitely are plenty of organizations that obtain funding after which could go alongside a profit — Meals on Wheels, for one.  They supply meals for over 2.2 million seniors. 

What’s the president’s message to People on the market, a lot of whom supported him and voted for him, who’re involved that that is going to impression them instantly, even when, as you stated, the funding isn’t coming on to their pockets?

MS. LEAVITT:  I’ve now been requested and answered this query 4 instances.  To people at residence who obtain direct help from the federal authorities, you’ll not be impacted by this federal freeze.  In reality, OMB simply despatched out a memo to Capitol Hill with Q and A to — to make clear among the questions and the solutions that each one of you’re a- — are asking me proper now. 

Once more, direct help is not going to be impacted.  I’ve been requested and answered about this OMB memo.  There’s many different matters of the day. 

Jacqui Heinrich. 

Q    However on oblique help, Karoline —

Q    Thanks, Karoline.

Q    — if it’s going to a different group after which trickling down?

MS. LEAVITT:  Direct help that’s within the arms of the American folks is not going to be impacted. 

Once more, as I stated to Peter, we’ll proceed to offer that checklist because it involves fruition.  However OMB proper now’s centered on analyzing the federal authorities’s spending, which is precisely what the American folks elected President Trump to do. 

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Thanks, Karoline.

Q    And one query on immigration, Karoline.  On immigration. 

Q    Thanks, Karo- —

Q    Of the three,500 arrests ICE has made thus far since President Trump got here again into workplace, are you able to simply inform us the numbers?  What number of have a legal report versus those that are simply within the nation illegally.

MS. LEAVITT:  All of them, as a result of they illegally broke our nation’s legal guidelines, and, subsequently, they’re criminals, so far as this administration goes.  I do know the final administration didn’t see it that approach, so it’s a giant tradition shift in our nation to view somebody who breaks our immigration legal guidelines as a legal.  However that’s precisely what they’re. 

Jacqui.

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Karoline, on tariffs.

Q    However you made some extent of going with the worst first. 

Q    On tariffs.

Q    All of them have a legal report?

Q    And welcome to the briefing room.

MS. LEAVITT:  In the event that they broke our nation’s legal guidelines, sure, they’re a legal. 

Sure.

Q    Thanks.  On stripping safety particulars for figures like John Bolton, Pompeo, Brian Hook.  Senator Tom Cotton stated that he’s seen the intelligence and the menace from Iran is actual for anybody who performed a job within the Soleimani strike.  He voiced concern it wouldn’t simply impression these people however probably their household, harmless bystanders, associates — anybody who’s close to them once they’re out in public.  Is the president open to reconsidering his determination?

MS. LEAVITT:  The president was requested and answered this yesterday, and he was agency in his determination, regardless of among the feedback that you just had referenced.  And he’s made it very clear that he doesn’t consider American taxpayers ought to fund safety particulars for people who’ve served within the authorities for the remainder of their lives.  And there’s nothing stopping these people that you just talked about from acquiring personal safety. 

That’s the place the president stands on it.  I’ve no updates on that. 

Q    Is there any concern that this determination may jeopardize the administration’s means to rent the very best advisers for these sorts of positions sooner or later?

MS. LEAVITT:  No.  In reality, I’ve talked to the Presidential Personnel Workplace who has instructed me instantly that there’s such an inflow of resumes for this administration that it’s extremely overwhelming.  There isn’t a lack of expertise for the Trump administration. 

Reagan Ree- —

Q    And would he — would he take any duty —

Q    Thanks, Karoline.

Q    — if something occurred to those folks?  Would he really feel in any respect that his determination was a consider that?

MS. LEAVITT:  The president was requested and answered this yesterday.  I’d defer you to his feedback.

Q    Thanks, Karoline.

Q    Karoline —

MS. LEAVITT:  Reagan, because you’re within the again row, I hear y- — the again row hasn’t gotten a lot consideration within the final 4 years —

Q    Sure, thanks.

MS. LEAVITT:  — so I’m pleased to reply your query. 

Q    And I can undertaking.  (Laughter.)

Does the president intend to completely minimize off funding to NGOs which can be bringing unlawful international nationals to the nation, comparable to Catholic Charities?

     MS. LEAVITT:  I’m truly fairly sure that the president signed an govt order that did simply that, and I can level you to that.

     Q    Yet one more, Karoline.

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

Q    President Trump issued an govt order on elevated vetting for refugees in visa functions. 

MS. LEAVITT:  That’s proper.

Q    A part of that order was contemplating an outright ban for international locations which have poor screening processes.  Has the president thought-about but which international locations may fall into this class?  Are international locations like Afghanistan or Syria into consideration for a full ban?

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.  So, the president signed an govt order to streamline the vetting for visa candidates and for unlawful immigrants on this nation who’re coming, after all, from different nations. 

It additionally directed the secretary of State to evaluate the method and ensure that different international locations all over the world are being utterly clear with our nation and the people that they’re sending right here.  And so, the secretary of State has been directed to report again to the president.  I haven’t seen that report but.  We’ve solely been right here for just a few days.

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Karoline, two questions for you.  One on the freeze in federal funding.  Who suggested the president on the legality of telling authorities companies that they don’t should spend cash that was already appropriated by Congress?

MS. LEAVITT:  Effectively, because the OMB memo states, that is definitely throughout the confines of the regulation. 

So, White Home Counsel’s Workplace believes that that is throughout the pe- — president’s energy to do it, and subsequently, he’s doing it.

Q    Okay.  So, they disagree with lawmakers who say that they don’t have the facility to — to freeze this funding?

MS. LEAVITT:  Once more, I’d level you to the language within the memo that clearly states that is throughout the regulation.

Q    And on what occurred on Friday night time.  The — the administration fired a number of inspectors basic with out giving Congress the 30-day legally required notification that they have been being fired.  I feel solely two have been left at DO- — DHS and the DOJ.  After which, yesterday, we noticed a number of prosecutors — I consider 12 — fired from the Justice Division who labored on the investigations into the president.  As you realize, they’re profession prosecutors; subsequently, they’re afforded civil service protections.  How is the administration deciding which legal guidelines to observe and which of them to disregard?

MS. LEAVITT:  So, it’s the perception of this White Home and the White Home Counsel’s Workplace that the president was inside his exe- — govt authority to try this.  He’s the manager of the manager department, and, subsequently, he has the facility to fireplace anybody throughout the govt department that he needs to. 

There’s additionally a case that went earlier than the Supreme Court docket in 2020: Scaila [Seila] Regulation LLC, v. the Customs — the [Consumer Financial Protection] Bureau Safety.  I’d advise you to take a look at that case, and that’s the legality that this White Home has rested on. 

Q    So, you’re assured that if they create lawsuits towards you — these prosecutors who have been fired — that — that they’ll succeed?

MS. LEAVITT:  We’ll win in courtroom, sure.

Q    And did he personally direct this, given they labored on the labeled paperwork investigation and the election interference investigation?

MS. LEAVITT:  This was a memo that went out by the Presidential Personnel Workplace, and the president is the chief of this White Home.  So, sure.

Q    So, it did come from him?

MS. LEAVITT:  Sure, it got here from this White Home.

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Karoline.

MS. LEAVITT:  Sir.

Q    Thanks.  Congrats in your first day behind the rostrum.

MS. LEAVITT:  Thanks.

Q    President Trump ended funding for UNRWA and likewise designated the Houthis a international terrorist group.

MS. LEAVITT:  That’s proper.

Q    Each have been selections that the earlier administration had reversed.  So, right here’s my query: Will there be an investigation into who gave the earlier administration this horrible recommendation?

MS. LEAVITT:  Effectively, that’s an excellent level.  I haven’t heard discussions about such an ins- — investigation, nevertheless it wouldn’t be a foul thought, contemplating that the Houthis cer- — definitely are terrorists.  They’ve launched assaults on U.S. naval ships throughout this world, and so I feel it was a really clever transfer by this administration to redesignate them as a terrorist group, as a result of they’re.  And I feel it was a silly determination by the earlier administration to take action. 

As for an investigation, I’m unsure about that, nevertheless it’s not a foul thought.

(Cross-talk.)

Josh.

Q    Thanks for the query.  I admire it.  Are you able to give us an replace on the president’s plan for his tariff agenda?  He spoke quite a bit about this yesterday, and there’s a few dates developing that —

MS. LEAVITT:  Certain.

Q    — he’s spoken to.  Primary, February 1st.  He’s alluded to each the potential for tariffs for Canada and Mexico but additionally China to take impact on these days.  The place is — what’s he desirous about that?

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

Q    Ought to these international locations anticipate that on the first?

MS. LEAVITT:  Once more, he was requested and answered this query this previous weekend when he took a variety of questions from the press, and he stated that the February 1st date for Canada and Mexico nonetheless holds.

Q    And what in regards to the China 10 % tariff that he additionally had mused about final Tuesday going into impact on the identical date?

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah, the president has stated that he’s very a lot nonetheless contemplating that for February 1st.

Q    After which, individually, yesterday, he talked additionally about sectoral tariffs on, as an example, prescription drugs, in addition to semiconductor pc chips.  He talked about metal, aluminum, and copper.  What’s the timeline on these?  Is {that a} comparable form of “coming days” factor or —

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah, so when the president talked about that in his speech yesterday, that truly wasn’t a brand new announcement.  That was inside a presidential memorandum that he signed in one of many first days right here within the White Home on his America First commerce agenda.  So, there’s extra particulars on these tariffs in there.

So far as a date, I don’t have a particular date to learn out to you, however the president is dedicated to implementing tariffs successfully, similar to he did in his first time period.

Q    After which — after which, lastly, he additionally was requested on the aircraft when he gaggled in regards to the potential for a common tariff.  He was requested perhaps about two and a half %.

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

Q    There was a report about that.  He stated he wished “a lot greater than that.”  Ought to we perceive that these tariffs would add up?  You recognize, in different phrases, you may need country-specific tariffs like Canada, Mexico, China.  You may need sectoral tariffs, like on prescription drugs, in addition to a possible common tariff on prime of that.  Do these stack on one or the opposite, or would one form of take priority over one other?

MS. LEAVITT:  All I can level you to is what the president has stated on this entrance: the February 1st date for Canada and Mexico and likewise the China tariff that he has mentioned.

He rejected the two.5 % tariff.  He stated that was a little bit bit too low.  He needs it to be greater. 

I’ll go away it to him to make any selections on that entrance.

Q    Do you could have any touch upon what the —

(Cross-talk.)

Q    — what the Mexicans and Canadians —

MS. LEAVITT:  Phil.

Q    — have accomplished thus far?  Do you could have any touch upon whether or not that has met the bar of what he needs to see on fentanyl?  Thanks.

MS. LEAVITT:   I — I received’t get forward of the president, once more, on advocating to international nations on what they need to or shouldn’t do to get away from these tariffs.  The president has made it very clear, once more, that he expects each nation round this world to cooperate with the repatriation of their residents.  And the president has additionally put out particular statements when it comes to Canada and Mexico with regards to what he expects when it comes to border safety.

We have now seen a historic degree of cooperation from Mexico.  However, once more, so far as I’m nonetheless monitoring — and that was final night time speaking to the president instantly — February 1st continues to be on the books.

Q    Thanks.

MS. LEAVITT:  Phil.

Q    Thanks, Karoline.  Fast programming notice, after which a query on taxes.

MS. LEAVITT:  A programming notice.

Q    Effectively, when it comes to programming, ought to —

MS. LEAVITT:  That sounds enjoyable. 

Q    — we anticipate to see you right here day-after-day?  How steadily will these —

Q    That’s a very good query.

Q    — press briefings be?

MS. LEAVITT:  It’s a good query, April.

So, look, the president, as you realize, is extremely accessible.  First day right here, he wished all of you within the Oval Workplace.  You bought a 60-minute press convention with the chief of the free world — whereas he was concurrently signing govt orders, I could add.  That’s fairly spectacular.  I don’t suppose the earlier workplace holder would be capable to pull such a factor off. 

So, look, the president is the very best spokesperson that this White Home has, and I can guarantee you that you’ll be listening to from each him and me as a lot as potential.

Q    After which a query about tax cuts.  You recognize, the president has promised to increase the tax cuts from the earlier time period.  I’m curious, you realize, does the president help corresponding spending cuts, as some Republicans have known as for in Congress?  And can the brand new Treasury secretary be main these negotiations with the Hill, as Mnuchin did throughout the first administration?

MS. LEAVITT:  The president is dedicated to each tax cuts and spending cuts.

And he has an ideal workforce negotiating on his behalf, however there’s no higher negotiator than Donald Trump, and I’m positive he’ll be concerned on this reconciliation course of because it strikes ahead.

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Karoline, within the announcement that you just made final night time on the Iron Dome, it stated the president had directed that america will construct this Iron Dome.

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

Q    Once you learn into the manager order, it appeared wanting that.  It requested for a collection of research —

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

Q    — and experiences again on — are you able to inform us whether or not the president has directed this and, if he’s this involved on this challenge, why the suspensions that we noticed listed by OMB included so many alternative nuclear packages, nonproliferation packages, packages to mix down nuclear weapons, and s- — and so forth?

MS. LEAVITT:  To begin with, with regards to the Iron Dome, the manager order directed the implementation of the — of an Iron Dome.  It additionally, as you stated, form of directed analysis and research to see if — or — or how america can go about doing this, notably the Division of Protection.

In the case of the opposite query that you just requested about these particular packages, once more, I’d say, this isn’t a — a ban; this can be a momentary pause and a freeze to make sure that all the cash going out from Washington, D.C., is in align with the president’s agenda.

And because the Workplace of Administration and Price range has updates on what can be kick-started, as soon as once more, I’ll present these to you. 

Q    Are you able to make clear for a sec what you have been saying earlier than on Medicaid?  It wasn’t clear to me whether or not you have been saying that no Medicaid could be minimize off.  Clearly, a variety of this goes to states earlier than it goes to people and so forth.  So, are you guaranteeing right here that no particular person now on Medicaid would see a cutoff due to the pause?

MS. LEAVITT:  I’ll test again on that and get again to you. 

Jon.

Q    Thanks quite a bit, Karoline.  As you realize, within the first week that the president was in workplace, signed an govt order because it pertains to birthright citizenship — attempting to get rid of that.  Now, 22 state legal professional generals have stated that that is unconstitutional.  A federal decide has simply agreed with their argument.  What’s the administration’s argument for removing birthright citizenship?

MS. LEAVITT:  The parents that you just talked about have a proper to have that authorized opinion, however it’s in disagreement with the authorized opinion of this administration. 

This administration believes that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, and that’s the reason President Trump signed that govt order.  Unlawful immigrants who come to this nation and have a toddler should not topic to the legal guidelines of this jurisdiction.  That’s the opinion of this administration. 

We have now already appealed the rul- — the lawsuit that was filed towards this administration, and we’re ready to struggle this all the way in which to the Supreme Court docket if we’ve to, as a result of President Trump believes that this can be a crucial step to safe our nation’s borders and defend our homeland. 

Monica.

Q    After which on international coverage — on international coverage, Karoline —

Q    Thanks, Karoline.  It’s nice to see you, and also you’re doing an ideal —

Q    — on international coverage, if I could.  The president’s dedication to the NATO protection Alliance, is it as robust because the prior administration?  Is it the identical as when he served as president in his first time period in workplace?

MS. LEAVITT:  So long as NATO pays their justifiable share.

And President Trump has known as on NATO Allies to extend their protection spending to five %.  You truly noticed the top of NATO at Davos final week on Bloomberg Tv saying that President Trump is correct and if Europe needs to maintain itself secure, they need to improve their protection spending. 

I’d simply add that there was no better ally to our European allies than President Trump in his first time period.  The world, for all nations in Europe, and, after all, right here at residence was a lot safer due to Presidents Tru- — Trump’s peace by means of energy diplomatic method. 

Monica.

Q    Karoline —

Q    Thanks.  Thanks, Karoline.  And it’s nice to lastly be known as on as properly within the briefing room.  I admire that. 

MS. LEAVITT:  You’re welcome. 

Q    After all, we all know President Trump simply received again from North Carolina and California assembly with victims of pure disasters.  There’s the two-year anniversary of the East Palestine, Ohio, poisonous prepare derailment.  Does the president have any plans to go go to the victims of that poisonous spill or simply go to normally?

MS. LEAVITT:  Not — no plans that I can learn out for you right here.  If that adjustments, I’ll definitely maintain you posted. 

What I can inform you is that President Trump nonetheless talks about his go to to East Palestine, Ohio.  That was one of many turning factors, I’d say, within the earlier election marketing campaign, the place People have been reminded that President Trump is a person of the folks.  And he, as a candidate, visited that city that was simply derailed by the prepare derailment — no pun meant — and he supplied help and hope, similar to I noticed the president do that previous week. 

It was a purposeful determination by this president, on his first home journey, to go to North Carolina and to California to go to with People who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene and likewise by the lethal fires — a pink state and a blue state, each of which really feel forgotten by the earlier administration and the federal authorities.  That has now — that has now ended underneath President Trump. 

He’ll proceed to place People first, whether or not they’re in East Palestine, in Pacific Palisades, or in North Carolina.

(Cross-talk.)

Certain.

Q    Thanks, Karoline.  On California, might you please make clear what the navy did with the water final night time, as referenced within the president’s Reality Social put up?

MS. LEAVITT:  The water has been turned again on in California, and this comes simply days after President Trump visited Pacific Palisades and, as you all noticed, utilized large strain on state and native officers in Pacific Palisades, together with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, to activate the water and to direct that water to locations within the south and in the course of the state which have been extremely dry, which has led to the growth — the speedy growth of those fires.

Q    So, might you make clear what the navy’s position was, the place the water got here from, and the way it received there?

MS. LEAVITT:  Once more, the Military Corps of Engineers has been on the bottom in California to answer the devastation from these wildfires.  And I’d level out that simply days after President Trump visited the devastation from these fires, the water was turned on.  That’s due to the strain marketing campaign he placed on state and native officers there, who clearly lack all frequent sense. 

And I’ll always remember being at that spherical desk with the president final week and listening to the frustration within the voices of Pacific Palisades residents who really feel as if their authorities has simply gone insane.  Earlier than President Trump confirmed up on the scene, Karen Bass was telling personal property homeowners that they must wait 18 months to entry their personal property.

So, this administration, the president and his workforce that’s on the bottom in California — Ric Grenell, who he has designated to supervise this nice disaster — ha- — will proceed to place strain on Karen Bass and state and native officers to permit residents to entry their properties. 

It is a enormous a part of it.  These residents wish to participate in their very own clearing out of their properties.  They need to be capable to try this.  It’s america of America.  What occurred to our freedom?  Clearly, it’s gone in California, however not anymore underneath President Trump.

Q    Karoline —

MS. LEAVITT:  April.

Q    Karoline, welcome to the briefing room.

MS. LEAVITT:  Thanks.

Q    A number of questions.  One on the pause.  Will minority-serving establishments, ideally schools and universities, have these monies held again quickly at this second?

MS. LEAVITT:  Once more, I’ve not seen the whole checklist, as a result of this memo was simply despatched out.  So, I’ll present you all with updates as we obtain them.  Okay?

Q    Karoline —

Q    And secondly — als- —

Q    Karoline.

Q    Additionally, secondly, with regards to immigration, there’s this southern border focus.  What occurs to those that have overstayed their visas?  That’s a part of the damaged immigration system.  In 2023, there was a report by the Biden administration, the Homeland Safety Division, that stated overstays of visas have been 3 times greater than normal.  Will there be a concentrate on the overstays for visas as properly?

MS. LEAVITT:  If a person is overstaying their visa, they’re subsequently an unlawful immigrant residing on this nation, and they’re topic to deportation.  

Q    And in addition, lastly —

MS. LEAVITT:  Sure.

Q    Lastly, as we’re coping with anti-DEI, anti-woke efforts, we perceive this administration might — is considering celebrating Black Historical past Month.  Have you ever received any phrase on that?  Something that you may provide to us?

MS. LEAVITT:  So far as I do know, this White Home definitely nonetheless intends to have fun, and we’ll proceed to have fun American historical past and the contributions that each one People, no matter race, faith, or creed, have made to our nice nation.  And America is again.

Christian Datoc.

Q    Thanks, Karoline.  Simply actual fast.  You talked about the inflation govt order the president signed, however egg costs have skyrocketed since President Trump took workplace.  So, what particularly is he doing to decrease these prices for People?

MS. LEAVITT:  Actually glad you introduced this up, as a result of there’s a variety of reporting on the market that’s placing the onus on this White Home for the elevated value of eggs.  I wish to level out to every one in every of you that, in 2024, when Joe Biden was within the Oval Workplace — or upstairs within the residence sleeping; I’m not so positive — egg costs elevated 65 % on this nation.  We even have seen the price of every little thing, not simply eggs — bacon, groceries, gasoline — have elevated due to the inflationary insurance policies of the final administration.

So far as the egg scarcity, what’s additionally contributing to that’s that the Biden administration and the Division of Agriculture directed the mass killing of greater than 100 million chickens, which has led to an absence of rooster provide on this nation, subsequently an absence of egg provide, which is resulting in the scarcity.

So, I’ll go away you with this level.  That is an instance of why it’s so extremely vital that the Senate strikes swiftly to substantiate all of President Trump’s nominees, together with his nominee for america Division of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, who’s already talking with Kevin Hassett, who’s main the financial workforce right here on the White Home, on how we will handle the egg scarcity on this nation.

As for cots, I laid out — prices — I laid out the plethora of ways in which President Trump has addressed saving prices for the American folks over the previous week.  He appears to be like ahead to persevering with to doing that —

Q    Karoline, what —

MS. LEAVITT:  — within the days forward.

(Cross-talk.)

Thanks, guys, a lot.  I’ll see you quickly.

END                1:52 P.M. EST