WEBVTT 00:04.099 --> 00:06.210 It's good there's air conditioning in 00:06.210 --> 00:09.119 here . Very good , it's air conditioned . 00:10.510 --> 00:13.579 Beautiful June day . Hi everybody . 00:15.159 --> 00:19.120 OK . Fox , those folks 00:19.120 --> 00:22.809 at Fox , busy with TV probably . 00:24.290 --> 00:26.290 All right , great , nice to see you 00:26.290 --> 00:28.401 guys again . I , I take it Tommy took 00:28.401 --> 00:30.512 good care of you last week . Uh , you 00:30.512 --> 00:32.734 will have Tommy again a week from today 00:32.734 --> 00:34.957 when I'm , uh , uh , with the secretary 00:34.957 --> 00:37.689 traveling , um , so be prepared . 00:37.770 --> 00:39.881 You've got a week to prepare , but of 00:39.881 --> 00:41.770 course I'll also see you again on 00:41.770 --> 00:41.529 Thursday . We do have some 00:41.529 --> 00:43.889 announcements here first of all , over 00:43.889 --> 00:45.900 the last few days , Americans have 00:45.900 --> 00:48.209 witnessed scenes of lawlessness as 00:48.209 --> 00:51.169 radicals in Los Angeles riot to protect 00:51.169 --> 00:53.669 criminal illegal aliens . Agitators 00:53.669 --> 00:55.836 have attacked law enforcement and shut 00:55.836 --> 00:58.389 down freeways . We remain undeterred in 00:58.389 --> 01:00.556 our commitment to enforce our laws and 01:00.556 --> 01:02.909 secure the border . During recent days , 01:02.990 --> 01:05.046 the administration has taken illegal 01:05.046 --> 01:07.750 alien gang members , child predators , 01:07.809 --> 01:10.309 rapists and burglars off the streets . 01:11.069 --> 01:13.125 Thanks to the historic action across 01:13.125 --> 01:15.458 all of government under President Trump , 01:15.458 --> 01:17.625 the border is more secure than it ever 01:17.625 --> 01:19.791 has been with illegal border crossings 01:19.791 --> 01:21.989 at a historic low . The border crisis 01:21.989 --> 01:23.822 that unfolded under the previous 01:23.822 --> 01:25.933 administration , however , did untold 01:25.933 --> 01:28.199 damage . The big beautiful bill as an 01:28.199 --> 01:30.310 example before Congress will build on 01:30.310 --> 01:32.849 President Trump's progress ensuring we 01:32.849 --> 01:35.650 have the resources to enforce our laws 01:35.919 --> 01:38.389 and secure our border . To that end , 01:38.470 --> 01:40.359 the United States is committed to 01:40.359 --> 01:43.360 disrupting the illicit manufacturer and . 01:43.580 --> 01:45.580 Trafficking of fentanyl , a leading 01:45.580 --> 01:48.139 cause of death of people aged 18 to 49 01:48.139 --> 01:50.459 in the United States . Yesterday , the 01:50.459 --> 01:52.403 United States announced that it is 01:52.403 --> 01:54.699 sanctioninglachapitos , a powerful 01:54.699 --> 01:57.339 faction of the Mexico-based Sinaloa 01:57.339 --> 01:59.900 cartel , along with its two fugitive 01:59.900 --> 02:02.360 leaders . The United States is also 02:02.360 --> 02:04.471 designating a regional network of Los 02:04.471 --> 02:07.010 Chapitos associates and businesses 02:07.339 --> 02:10.580 based in Mazatlan , Mexico . This 02:10.580 --> 02:12.691 network engages in drug trafficking , 02:12.820 --> 02:14.764 extortion , kidnapping , and money 02:14.764 --> 02:16.860 laundering . Under Secretary Marco 02:16.860 --> 02:20.520 Rubio . The the State Department 02:20.520 --> 02:22.687 will continue to protect our nation by 02:22.687 --> 02:24.798 keeping illicit drugs off our streets 02:25.039 --> 02:27.095 and disrupting the revenue streams , 02:27.095 --> 02:29.429 funding Mexico-based cartels , violent 02:29.429 --> 02:31.919 and criminal activity . In addition , 02:32.100 --> 02:34.211 Deputy Secretary of State Christopher 02:34.211 --> 02:36.639 Landau will travel to Mexico , El 02:36.639 --> 02:39.639 Salvador , and Guatemala from June 10th 02:39.639 --> 02:42.320 to the 13th , as detailed in the trip 02:42.320 --> 02:44.598 announcement , quote , in each country , 02:44.759 --> 02:46.370 Deputy Secretary Landau will 02:46.370 --> 02:48.592 participate in a high level bilateral . 02:48.750 --> 02:51.059 Engagements to further strengthen 02:51.059 --> 02:53.740 diplomatic ties and cooperation . He 02:53.740 --> 02:56.300 will engage in discussions to drive the 02:56.300 --> 02:59.139 private sector led economic growth , 02:59.259 --> 03:01.940 boost US commercial investments in our 03:01.940 --> 03:04.051 region , and highlight the importance 03:04.051 --> 03:07.089 of ending illegal immigration . In 03:07.089 --> 03:09.145 addition , uh , there are additional 03:09.145 --> 03:11.256 announcements today , of course , the 03:11.256 --> 03:13.422 United States sanctioned 5 individuals 03:13.422 --> 03:16.210 and 5 sham charities for financially 03:16.210 --> 03:18.610 supporting Hamas under the guise of 03:18.610 --> 03:21.009 humanitarian work . Additionally , we 03:21.009 --> 03:23.065 are targeting a fraudulent charity . 03:23.065 --> 03:25.065 Linked to the Popular Front for the 03:25.065 --> 03:28.380 Liberation of Palestine , the PFLP , 03:28.649 --> 03:30.410 the United States will use all 03:30.410 --> 03:32.929 available tools to prevent abuse of the 03:32.929 --> 03:34.929 nonprofit sector for the benefit of 03:34.929 --> 03:37.490 terrorist groups like Hamas and the 03:37.490 --> 03:41.350 PFLP . We are committed to ensuring a 03:41.350 --> 03:43.389 humanitarian aid can in fact be 03:43.389 --> 03:45.820 delivered by reliable and safe 03:45.820 --> 03:48.199 organizations . Finally , cultural 03:48.199 --> 03:50.520 diplomacy remains an important endeavor 03:50.520 --> 03:52.449 of the Trump administration . The 03:52.449 --> 03:54.330 Kennedy Center exemplifies this 03:54.330 --> 03:56.929 commitment and its gala is tomorrow 03:56.929 --> 04:00.529 night led by the musical Les Miserables . 04:00.570 --> 04:02.809 The center will have a season that will 04:02.809 --> 04:04.865 have Broadway , ballet , opera , and 04:04.865 --> 04:07.330 even Dolly Parton in addition to a lot 04:07.330 --> 04:10.559 of other great things for kids as well 04:11.240 --> 04:13.929 in this world of ours , it sounds very 04:13.929 --> 04:17.850 nice and very appropriate and now to uh . 04:19.299 --> 04:21.410 Your question sounds like Matt Lee is 04:21.410 --> 04:23.577 having is a is aus I hope you might be 04:23.899 --> 04:25.732 some , some golfing . I know you 04:25.732 --> 04:27.955 weren't laughing and you might it would 04:27.955 --> 04:29.899 be good to become perhaps a season 04:29.899 --> 04:29.730 ticket holder to the Kennedy Center . 04:29.739 --> 04:31.683 I'm just saying , but go ahead . I 04:32.489 --> 04:34.600 would be happy to a season ticket 04:34.600 --> 04:37.570 holder and I would love to see Les M 04:37.570 --> 04:39.792 because I never saw it . There you go . 04:39.792 --> 04:41.959 But anyway , um , this is just on your 04:41.959 --> 04:43.903 copper , and then I wanna go shoot 04:43.903 --> 04:46.070 really quickly to the Middle East just 04:46.070 --> 04:48.237 on the top . Uh , the State Department 04:48.237 --> 04:50.348 doesn't have any role in what's going 04:50.348 --> 04:52.570 on in LA in terms of , uh , in terms of 04:52.730 --> 04:55.063 quelling the violence . Is that correct ? 04:55.063 --> 04:57.230 Well , as I , uh , would view it , and 04:57.230 --> 04:59.341 I think that we all know that many of 04:59.341 --> 05:01.008 the aspects regarding illegal 05:01.008 --> 05:03.286 immigration , um , uh , certainly , uh , 05:03.286 --> 05:05.350 on the issue of visas , uh , the 05:05.350 --> 05:07.517 controlling of the border , the design 05:07.517 --> 05:10.190 of foreign terrorist organizations is 05:10.190 --> 05:12.079 one part of a whole of government 05:12.079 --> 05:14.309 effort to keep the country safe , to 05:14.309 --> 05:16.531 keep Americans safe . Don't push me off 05:16.531 --> 05:18.420 here . There's I'm answering your 05:18.420 --> 05:20.587 question . Uh , and so when we see the 05:20.587 --> 05:22.531 dynamic of what's happening in Los 05:22.531 --> 05:24.642 Angeles , uh , it is , I think , uh , 05:24.642 --> 05:26.809 quite appropriate for Americans to see 05:26.809 --> 05:28.976 this , and it is the nature of what we 05:28.976 --> 05:31.142 are working to do together through the 05:31.142 --> 05:33.253 Trump administration . To secure this 05:33.253 --> 05:35.365 country and to secure our streets and 05:35.365 --> 05:37.309 that means yes , removing criminal 05:37.309 --> 05:39.519 illegal aliens uh and and getting them 05:39.519 --> 05:42.000 back to their home countries and 05:42.000 --> 05:44.000 certainly at least getting them off 05:44.000 --> 05:46.111 American streets uh so that Americans 05:46.111 --> 05:48.222 can feel safer in their own homes and 05:48.222 --> 05:50.389 in their own communities and so in the 05:50.389 --> 05:52.556 midst of that when we talk about it of 05:52.556 --> 05:54.722 course it's the state . It's the DOJ , 05:54.722 --> 05:56.611 it's ICE . It's the Department of 05:56.611 --> 05:58.611 Homeland Security . It is the White 05:58.611 --> 06:00.654 House . It is a multitude of 06:00.654 --> 06:03.364 departments working together to 06:03.364 --> 06:05.197 envision and implement President 06:05.197 --> 06:07.875 Trump's vision . OK , the Middle East . 06:08.095 --> 06:10.614 Ambassador Huckabee gave an interview 06:10.614 --> 06:12.781 earlier today , I think it was earlier 06:12.781 --> 06:15.003 today , maybe it was yesterday , but in 06:15.003 --> 06:17.170 which he called into question , didn't 06:17.170 --> 06:19.170 call into question . They basically 06:19.170 --> 06:22.160 said that the The administration is not 06:22.160 --> 06:24.320 particularly interested in seeking a 06:24.320 --> 06:25.950 two-state solution for the 06:27.279 --> 06:29.279 Israel-Palestinian conflict , and I 06:29.279 --> 06:31.168 want to know , I mean , he's been 06:31.168 --> 06:33.168 outspoken on this issue in the past 06:33.168 --> 06:35.390 before he became ambassador , but is he 06:35.390 --> 06:37.760 speaking uh on his own , or is this uh 06:37.760 --> 06:39.871 now administration policy that you're 06:39.871 --> 06:43.630 no longer so um . Interested in in in 06:43.630 --> 06:46.690 that kind of resolution . Well , first 06:46.690 --> 06:48.857 of all , I'm not going to characterize 06:49.049 --> 06:50.993 the ambassador's remarks . I'm not 06:50.993 --> 06:54.450 going to explain them or really comment 06:54.450 --> 06:56.561 on them at all . I think he certainly 06:56.561 --> 06:59.119 speaks for himself at the same time , 06:59.290 --> 07:02.920 of course , uh , ambassadors are um uh 07:03.329 --> 07:05.385 there and they're working with their 07:05.385 --> 07:07.551 host country , but when it comes to uh 07:07.551 --> 07:09.773 American policy and and certainly where 07:09.773 --> 07:11.940 the president stands , I'd suggest you 07:11.940 --> 07:14.218 call the White House . All right , yes , 07:14.218 --> 07:16.440 Andrew Mitchell . Um , hi , thank you , 07:16.440 --> 07:18.519 Timmy . Let me ask you about , uh , 07:18.529 --> 07:21.890 part of the potential enforcement of 07:21.890 --> 07:24.079 the administration's policies to deter 07:24.079 --> 07:27.339 illegal immigration . Um , there is 07:27.339 --> 07:30.559 reporting of a potential plan to send , 07:30.690 --> 07:34.160 uh . Undocumented immigrants or 07:34.160 --> 07:37.320 others who have been detained to 07:37.320 --> 07:40.709 Guantanamo perhaps as soon as tomorrow , 07:41.200 --> 07:43.880 um , while there is a court case 07:43.880 --> 07:47.559 pending to rule out Guantanamo as a 07:47.559 --> 07:49.920 place to send people , saying that it 07:49.920 --> 07:52.087 is not necessary , it is too expensive 07:52.087 --> 07:54.420 and that the conditions are intolerable , 07:54.420 --> 07:56.531 but that this would include Europeans 07:56.531 --> 07:58.970 from allied countries who . Countries 07:58.970 --> 08:01.200 that would willingly accept 08:01.970 --> 08:05.140 deportations of their illegal . Uh 08:06.010 --> 08:09.079 Immigrants here , so , uh , what is the 08:09.079 --> 08:11.399 State Department's position on whether 08:11.399 --> 08:14.619 European illegal immigrants , migrants , 08:15.000 --> 08:17.239 um , who've been detained should be 08:17.239 --> 08:20.079 sent to Guantanamo rather than to their 08:20.079 --> 08:23.679 host countries , including countries uh 08:23.679 --> 08:25.790 that would very willingly accept them 08:25.790 --> 08:28.570 do you think that this would . Damage 08:28.570 --> 08:32.090 relationships with our allies . Well , 08:32.210 --> 08:34.266 first of all , I can tell you that . 08:34.609 --> 08:36.831 This entire dynamic that's it's managed 08:36.831 --> 08:39.010 by DHS first of all uh it's certainly 08:39.010 --> 08:40.954 not a dynamic managed by the state 08:40.954 --> 08:43.090 department um I can also say that of 08:43.090 --> 08:45.719 course it's not new that we are moving 08:45.719 --> 08:47.849 uh criminal illegal aliens to 08:47.849 --> 08:49.849 Guantanamo prior it's not the final 08:49.849 --> 08:51.960 destination it's prior to their being 08:51.960 --> 08:54.520 sent uh to their home country , uh , 08:54.570 --> 08:56.792 but when it comes to each country , I'm 08:56.792 --> 08:58.959 not gonna speak to that , uh , but I , 08:58.959 --> 09:02.710 I would suggest that , uh . Well , 09:03.229 --> 09:05.429 I won't speak to any country when it 09:05.429 --> 09:07.318 comes to the illegal aliens , the 09:07.318 --> 09:09.373 criminal aliens that that may or may 09:09.373 --> 09:11.520 not be sent to Guantanamo Bay that 09:11.520 --> 09:13.469 clearly sits within a diplomatic 09:13.469 --> 09:15.580 framework . You're asking me to speak 09:15.580 --> 09:17.691 on what the secretary or others might 09:17.691 --> 09:19.840 be discussing with uh their foreign 09:19.840 --> 09:22.030 counterparts , and I'm certainly not 09:22.030 --> 09:23.863 going to do that . I'm not gonna 09:23.863 --> 09:26.989 speculate and what nor will I guess or 09:26.989 --> 09:29.229 speculate on the nature of any kind of 09:29.229 --> 09:32.890 uh uh uh . Backlash or the impact on 09:32.890 --> 09:35.057 the State Department . What I can tell 09:35.057 --> 09:37.279 you is that the backlash would be as if 09:37.279 --> 09:39.112 we weren't doing our job . State 09:39.112 --> 09:41.279 departments and the secretary has been 09:41.279 --> 09:43.501 very specific about our role , which is 09:43.501 --> 09:45.557 the vetting of people who are coming 09:45.557 --> 09:47.501 here in the first place , removing 09:47.501 --> 09:49.668 illegal aliens who are here , criminal 09:49.668 --> 09:51.668 illegal aliens , um whether they've 09:51.668 --> 09:51.659 overstayed their visa are here 09:51.659 --> 09:54.340 illegally entirely . We're very focused 09:54.340 --> 09:56.118 on the nature of what the State 09:56.118 --> 09:58.523 Department has as its charge . And this 09:58.523 --> 10:00.690 is a framework again that's as we just 10:00.690 --> 10:02.745 mentioned to Matt where you've got a 10:02.745 --> 10:04.967 whole of government framework . The DHS 10:04.967 --> 10:07.245 is in charge of this particular aspect . 10:07.245 --> 10:09.301 But if the DHS literally would be in 10:09.301 --> 10:11.467 charge , but does the State Department 10:11.467 --> 10:13.579 have a view about what the diplomatic 10:13.579 --> 10:15.853 impact would be on our allies ? Andre , 10:15.922 --> 10:18.232 you know , I'm not here to speak about 10:19.002 --> 10:21.283 the diplomatic opinion or the 10:21.283 --> 10:23.116 speculation of the nature of the 10:23.116 --> 10:25.356 feelings of I . Here to talk about the 10:25.356 --> 10:27.356 specifics , uh , you're right , you 10:27.356 --> 10:29.523 know , the United States has increased 10:29.523 --> 10:31.523 enforcement of immigration laws and 10:31.523 --> 10:33.356 removal of illegal aliens . Uh , 10:33.356 --> 10:33.226 they're being removed because they 10:33.226 --> 10:35.393 didn't have a legal basis to be in the 10:35.393 --> 10:37.448 United States . Uh , these are the , 10:37.448 --> 10:39.504 and the why , you know , the , the , 10:39.504 --> 10:41.670 the visa dynamics , the nature of that 10:41.670 --> 10:43.726 we have the right like every country 10:43.726 --> 10:45.726 does to control who comes in and to 10:45.726 --> 10:47.726 have an interest in who stays , and 10:47.726 --> 10:49.726 that's what this is , this is about 10:49.726 --> 10:51.948 sending people to Guantanamo might have 10:51.948 --> 10:55.780 um a salutary deterrent . Impact would 10:55.780 --> 10:58.880 that help the whole of government 10:58.880 --> 11:00.991 approach which I can say is that this 11:00.991 --> 11:03.359 is a very specific mission to make 11:03.359 --> 11:05.440 American streets safer , and this is 11:05.440 --> 11:07.551 why President Trump was elected to do 11:07.551 --> 11:09.884 exactly this . Yes ma'am . Uh thank you . 11:09.919 --> 11:12.919 Just going back to Matt's comments . I 11:12.919 --> 11:14.808 know you said that the ambassador 11:14.808 --> 11:16.586 speaks for himself , but he was 11:16.586 --> 11:18.641 appointed by the president . He does 11:18.641 --> 11:20.863 represent the US government in Israel , 11:20.863 --> 11:22.808 so . Is it is the is the two-state 11:22.808 --> 11:24.586 solution a goal of the US State 11:24.586 --> 11:26.697 Department currently ? You know , I'm 11:26.697 --> 11:28.975 not going to speak again . What I also , 11:28.975 --> 11:30.975 what I said to Matt and what I keep 11:30.975 --> 11:33.030 saying is I'm not going to parse the 11:33.030 --> 11:35.302 ambassador's remarks . um , uh , that's 11:35.302 --> 11:37.463 not what I'm going to do here and uh 11:37.463 --> 11:39.942 I'm also not going to speak about the 11:39.942 --> 11:43.103 nature of what people say that he was 11:43.103 --> 11:45.325 claiming or not claiming . Not going to 11:45.325 --> 11:47.436 have a speculative conversation about 11:47.436 --> 11:49.325 that right now . If you , I would 11:49.325 --> 11:51.966 suggest that when it comes to the 11:51.966 --> 11:54.077 policy of the United States that sits 11:54.077 --> 11:56.745 with President Donald Trump and he's 11:56.745 --> 11:59.536 just it's like a 15 minute walk away 11:59.536 --> 12:01.776 from this building , call them and in 12:01.776 --> 12:03.943 fact I think they would have an answer 12:03.943 --> 12:05.998 for you , I would think I'm just , I 12:05.998 --> 12:09.940 mean . They of course the president 12:09.940 --> 12:11.884 sets the policy , but Secretary of 12:11.884 --> 12:14.051 State is in charge of foreign policy , 12:14.051 --> 12:17.900 so irrelevant I'm not . Yes , I'm not 12:17.900 --> 12:20.330 going to begin a conversation 12:20.330 --> 12:23.010 speculating that based on a statement 12:23.010 --> 12:25.232 Ambassador Huckabee may or may not have 12:25.232 --> 12:27.288 made . I , I would , I would suggest 12:27.288 --> 12:29.232 when you , when we think about the 12:29.232 --> 12:30.954 policy , yes , Secretary Rubio 12:30.954 --> 12:33.177 implements President Trump's vision for 12:33.177 --> 12:35.549 foreign policy . In speaking on that 12:35.549 --> 12:38.260 issue with everything going on in this 12:38.260 --> 12:40.371 world , we are focused clearly on the 12:40.371 --> 12:42.538 nature of the things that are in front 12:42.538 --> 12:44.760 of us and if you , I would just suggest 12:44.760 --> 12:46.871 calling the White House to get make a 12:46.871 --> 12:49.093 determination of the the Trump policy , 12:49.093 --> 12:51.260 the Trump administration's approach in 12:51.260 --> 12:53.093 this regard . So Secretary Rubio 12:53.093 --> 12:55.093 doesn't make foreign policy . It is 12:55.093 --> 12:57.590 it's his vision and implementation of 12:57.590 --> 12:59.590 President Trump's point of view and 12:59.590 --> 13:01.760 President Trump's vision . And so 13:01.760 --> 13:04.090 that's , that's what Secretary Ruby 13:04.090 --> 13:06.469 does and obviously does it very well . 13:06.799 --> 13:09.580 Yes sir . What's the vision that he's 13:09.580 --> 13:12.119 implemented ? I'm not going to begin to 13:12.119 --> 13:14.175 speculate or go into this . I'm just 13:14.175 --> 13:16.409 not going to go here ladies , ladies , 13:16.500 --> 13:18.722 ladies , if you want to speak about the 13:18.722 --> 13:20.833 national security adviser , also call 13:20.833 --> 13:23.250 the White House . Yes sir , on that , 13:23.580 --> 13:25.636 and this will go ahead , but we have 13:25.636 --> 13:27.747 what we have heard from the president 13:27.747 --> 13:29.858 is he wants the United States to take 13:29.858 --> 13:32.080 over Gaza . Uh , which is obviously one 13:32.080 --> 13:31.900 of the occupied Palestinian territories 13:31.900 --> 13:34.122 and would be part of a future two-state 13:34.122 --> 13:36.067 solution . So is that , I mean , I 13:36.067 --> 13:38.233 haven't , you haven't mentioned that , 13:38.233 --> 13:40.289 but should we assume that is part of 13:40.289 --> 13:42.511 the policy and therefore that opens the 13:42.511 --> 13:44.567 question of what about the West Bank 13:44.567 --> 13:46.622 and East Jerusalem , and is that , I 13:46.622 --> 13:48.789 mean , Ambassador Huckabee seems to be 13:48.789 --> 13:51.011 suggesting . There wouldn't be a future 13:51.011 --> 13:53.067 Palestinian state in those remaining 13:53.067 --> 13:55.233 areas , so we kind of know half of the 13:55.233 --> 13:54.900 answer to the question and that you've 13:54.900 --> 13:58.260 said it's President Trump's view and 13:58.260 --> 14:00.427 decision , and he , he's stated that , 14:00.427 --> 14:02.538 although you haven't restated it here 14:02.538 --> 14:04.649 about Gaza . So it's just if we could 14:04.649 --> 14:06.760 clarify what . Well , there's clearly 14:06.760 --> 14:08.927 there's a focus on Gaza and for a very 14:08.927 --> 14:10.927 good reason . And that's what we're 14:10.927 --> 14:13.149 focused on is the ceasefire is stopping 14:13.149 --> 14:15.371 the carnage , dealing with what's going 14:15.371 --> 14:17.482 on in Gaza , um , after , of course , 14:17.482 --> 14:19.538 the horrific events of October 7th , 14:19.538 --> 14:21.538 the nature of what's happening with 14:21.538 --> 14:23.704 Iran and its death squads of Hamas and 14:23.704 --> 14:25.704 Hezbollah and the Houthis , it is , 14:25.704 --> 14:27.927 it's a , it's a full plate and what one 14:27.927 --> 14:30.038 does is you start . It's you start at 14:30.038 --> 14:32.093 the beginning and you move forward . 14:32.093 --> 14:34.669 We're still working on dealing with 14:34.669 --> 14:37.150 either certainly ceasefire and peace 14:37.150 --> 14:39.190 for Gaza and then of course the 14:39.190 --> 14:41.246 aftermath of that and rebuilding and 14:41.246 --> 14:43.412 dealing with what that means . At some 14:43.412 --> 14:45.468 point in time that will hopefully be 14:45.630 --> 14:47.741 the major conversation here , right , 14:47.741 --> 14:49.852 is in the aftermath in the rebuilding 14:49.852 --> 14:51.963 and how that's happening . Um , and , 14:51.963 --> 14:53.741 and I would expect that to be a 14:53.741 --> 14:55.963 conversation that we'll all be engaging 14:55.963 --> 14:58.019 in , but is it still the policy that 14:58.019 --> 14:59.963 the US should take control of that 14:59.963 --> 15:02.130 territory ? You know , I , I can't , I 15:02.130 --> 15:04.297 don't look , what I've heard President 15:04.297 --> 15:06.519 Trump say and what I know the Secretary 15:06.519 --> 15:08.519 has always said is that Hamas can't 15:08.519 --> 15:10.297 exist , that we've got to get a 15:10.297 --> 15:12.463 ceasefire , that we've got to have new 15:12.463 --> 15:14.408 ideas for making sure this doesn't 15:14.408 --> 15:16.463 happen again and again and again . I 15:16.463 --> 15:18.630 know that the president has called for 15:18.630 --> 15:20.797 new ideas to help make that happen . I 15:20.797 --> 15:22.919 know that he has had some some new 15:22.919 --> 15:25.086 ideas and how to do that . We know the 15:25.086 --> 15:26.975 region has chimed in with what it 15:26.975 --> 15:29.197 believes it can do when it comes to aid 15:29.197 --> 15:31.308 and even rebuilding , but the fact of 15:31.308 --> 15:33.359 the matter is right now Hamas won't 15:33.359 --> 15:36.479 even let the hostages go . Hamas still 15:36.479 --> 15:39.039 won't put its weapons down . Hamas is 15:39.039 --> 15:42.900 still playing games as people still die 15:43.119 --> 15:45.286 as we do work to get food and aid into 15:45.286 --> 15:47.341 that region , so we're still at that 15:47.341 --> 15:49.397 kind of dynamic . And we will get to 15:49.397 --> 15:51.679 the other part , I hope , as soon as we 15:51.679 --> 15:55.520 can . Nadia on the Middle East 15:55.520 --> 15:58.229 again , the Israeli Prime Minister said 15:58.229 --> 16:01.190 today there is significant progress in 16:01.190 --> 16:02.912 releasing the hostages and the 16:02.912 --> 16:05.023 ceasefire . Does the State Department 16:05.023 --> 16:07.134 share his view and also I want to ask 16:07.134 --> 16:09.246 you about the 20 people who have been 16:09.246 --> 16:11.301 killed today around the distribution 16:11.301 --> 16:13.468 center . Last briefing , I believe you 16:13.468 --> 16:14.968 said that the Israelis are 16:14.968 --> 16:17.190 investigating that . I'm just wondering 16:17.190 --> 16:19.412 how these people have been killed daily 16:19.412 --> 16:21.634 now . Not one day passes without people 16:21.634 --> 16:23.301 being killed around this food 16:23.301 --> 16:25.468 distribution center . How can they get 16:25.468 --> 16:27.523 their food safely ? Well , of course 16:27.523 --> 16:29.523 that is exactly what we've all been 16:29.523 --> 16:31.579 working on , right , is getting food 16:31.579 --> 16:33.690 and aid safely in . We also know that 16:33.690 --> 16:36.159 the UN had a horrible dynamic where 16:36.159 --> 16:38.729 they had flour that Um , uh , they 16:38.729 --> 16:40.896 report it was stolen by Hamas and that 16:40.896 --> 16:43.010 the , the problems and as I've said 16:43.010 --> 16:45.343 regularly , we all know it's a war zone . 16:45.343 --> 16:47.454 It's a war zone led by terrorists who 16:47.729 --> 16:50.062 don't care about humanity or the future , 16:50.090 --> 16:52.257 uh , regarding what's happening on the 16:52.257 --> 16:54.479 ground there , I would refer you to the 16:54.479 --> 16:56.679 IDF in Israel , which continues , uh , 16:56.770 --> 16:58.969 of course , to investigate and in the 16:58.969 --> 17:01.599 case of what's being led by . The IDF 17:01.599 --> 17:03.766 in Israel there , I think that's where 17:03.766 --> 17:05.877 you'd need to go in that regard . And 17:05.877 --> 17:08.043 there was a third part . What was this 17:08.043 --> 17:10.210 talking about the significant progress 17:10.210 --> 17:12.432 that Netanyahu is talking about today . 17:12.432 --> 17:14.377 Yes , well , again , yes , I can't 17:14.377 --> 17:16.432 speak to what the Prime Minister has 17:16.432 --> 17:20.329 said anything with you . I can't speak 17:20.329 --> 17:22.496 to that at this point when it comes to 17:22.496 --> 17:24.689 what Netanyahu has said . Said . Yes , 17:24.729 --> 17:26.785 and this will be the end for for for 17:26.785 --> 17:29.118 this particular uh stretch of questions . 17:29.118 --> 17:31.173 Yes , thank you very kindly . Sure , 17:31.290 --> 17:33.512 just to follow up on the questions that 17:33.512 --> 17:35.623 were raised on the two-state solution 17:35.623 --> 17:38.170 and so on . Now we know that President 17:38.170 --> 17:40.280 Trump in his first term came up with 17:40.280 --> 17:42.113 the , you know , the deal of the 17:42.113 --> 17:44.336 century which , you know , spoke almost 17:44.336 --> 17:46.558 in details about about his vision . Let 17:46.558 --> 17:49.579 me ask you this now there are 5.5 17:49.579 --> 17:51.770 million Palestinians in between Gaza 17:52.260 --> 17:54.482 and , and the West Bank , and I want to 17:54.482 --> 17:56.939 ask you , If there is no position of 17:56.939 --> 17:58.828 the State Department at this time 17:58.828 --> 18:00.995 because the State Department is always 18:00.995 --> 18:02.939 what I said was I was not going to 18:02.939 --> 18:05.050 speak about the issue . I did not say 18:05.050 --> 18:07.161 there was no position , sir . Be very 18:07.161 --> 18:09.272 careful because I'm not going to have 18:09.272 --> 18:11.495 you put on the record something that is 18:11.495 --> 18:13.606 entirely not true , and I want you to 18:13.606 --> 18:15.640 proceed with that in mind . OK , I 18:15.640 --> 18:18.660 think . Uh , I wanted to ask you , what 18:18.660 --> 18:20.882 do you consider the Palestinians in the 18:20.882 --> 18:23.104 West Bank ? I mean , I will not provide 18:23.104 --> 18:25.160 to you Mike what I consider , we are 18:25.160 --> 18:27.327 not going to , I will not , you know , 18:27.327 --> 18:29.438 look , it was nice to be able to call 18:29.438 --> 18:31.493 on you Saed . I'd like to be able to 18:31.493 --> 18:33.716 have a question that I can answer , but 18:33.716 --> 18:35.882 you're asking me to speculate . Um , I 18:35.882 --> 18:35.699 would say I will just reiterate as we 18:35.699 --> 18:38.270 move on to another issue . Is that 18:38.270 --> 18:40.260 President Trump is a man who 18:40.260 --> 18:42.149 understands and is working , uh , 18:42.149 --> 18:45.390 really is committed , uh , these 5-6 18:45.390 --> 18:47.612 months , uh , to being a peacemaker and 18:47.612 --> 18:49.612 to changing things that that people 18:49.612 --> 18:51.834 have not been able to change for half a 18:51.834 --> 18:54.168 century , and he is determined to do it . 18:54.168 --> 18:56.168 He cares about everybody . He cares 18:56.168 --> 18:58.168 about the people of Gaza . He cares 18:58.168 --> 19:00.168 about the Israelis . He cares about 19:00.168 --> 19:02.390 Jews . He cares about Christians . This 19:02.390 --> 19:04.229 is a man who who genuinely is 19:04.229 --> 19:06.340 determined to make a difference as an 19:06.340 --> 19:08.550 individual . Uh , this is a a very 19:08.550 --> 19:11.630 fluid situation . He wants solutions . 19:11.790 --> 19:13.901 He wants to make sure that people can 19:13.901 --> 19:15.957 live safely in the world , and , and 19:15.957 --> 19:18.510 we've seen him time and time again make 19:18.510 --> 19:20.069 different decisions , have 19:20.069 --> 19:22.430 consultations , talk to people nobody 19:22.430 --> 19:25.670 thinks he should talk to , he , he can 19:25.670 --> 19:28.349 change his mind . He's , he's clearly 19:28.349 --> 19:30.516 transparent , speaking about what he's 19:30.516 --> 19:32.627 going through and thinking each day . 19:32.670 --> 19:34.726 So when I , when we think about what 19:34.726 --> 19:36.837 the future will look like . It it's , 19:36.837 --> 19:39.059 it's allow us to do the work that we're 19:39.059 --> 19:40.837 doing right now focusing on the 19:40.837 --> 19:42.726 ceasefire , getting aid into that 19:42.726 --> 19:44.892 region , and let the president , who's 19:44.892 --> 19:46.837 determined to deal with all of the 19:46.837 --> 19:48.979 issues in that region , come to the 19:48.979 --> 19:51.660 fore of what happens next , and we will 19:51.660 --> 19:53.882 learn that only from Donald Trump . All 19:53.882 --> 19:55.771 right , so is this other than the 19:55.771 --> 19:57.993 Middle East , where else are we going ? 19:57.993 --> 20:00.160 Uh , but no , and this , this is going 20:00.160 --> 20:02.160 ladies . And gentlemen , ladies and 20:02.160 --> 20:04.286 gentlemen , no , no , I've said no . 20:04.375 --> 20:06.456 Saeed was it ? Now , where are you 20:06.456 --> 20:09.576 coming from ? Iran . All right , we'll 20:09.576 --> 20:12.776 do Iran . Sure . Well , we're going to 20:12.776 --> 20:15.895 do , we're not Gaza and otherwise . 20:16.115 --> 20:18.215 Let's let's move forward . There was 20:18.215 --> 20:20.271 just confusion because the two-state 20:20.271 --> 20:22.437 solution has undergirded US policy for 20:22.437 --> 20:24.271 the past several decades , but I 20:24.271 --> 20:26.491 understand that . That's it's for the 20:26.491 --> 20:28.380 White House . It's , it's for the 20:28.380 --> 20:30.547 future . I will not be commenting from 20:30.547 --> 20:32.921 this podium today , and this is again , 20:32.972 --> 20:35.771 we've got so much more on let's just 20:35.771 --> 20:38.141 move on , please . The question on Iran 20:38.141 --> 20:40.692 is there's been conflicting messages 20:40.692 --> 20:43.251 about whether and where and when a 6th 20:43.251 --> 20:45.584 round of talks with Iran may take place . 20:45.584 --> 20:47.640 Is there clarity on that from the US 20:47.640 --> 20:50.410 perspective ? Uh , uh , I don't know if 20:50.410 --> 20:53.630 you would consider it , um , clarity , 20:54.369 --> 20:56.647 but I can say , I can say a few things , 20:56.900 --> 21:00.280 um . Uh , the president , I think 21:00.280 --> 21:02.002 recently he said he noted that 21:02.002 --> 21:04.002 something would be happening , uh , 21:04.040 --> 21:06.439 soon this week . I think that what I 21:06.439 --> 21:09.119 can just reiterate here is that uh we 21:09.119 --> 21:11.286 would hope and expect that there would 21:11.286 --> 21:13.380 be new additional talks and that in 21:13.380 --> 21:17.319 fact they would be soon but beyond 21:17.319 --> 21:20.089 that , um , I have nothing to preview 21:20.089 --> 21:23.560 but in similar situations uh when we 21:23.560 --> 21:25.560 believe that it would be soon it in 21:25.560 --> 21:27.616 fact . ended up being soon , right ? 21:27.616 --> 21:29.504 The Iranians have concretely said 21:29.504 --> 21:31.782 Sunday in Oman . So if that is not the 21:31.782 --> 21:34.682 US understanding , then I can't 21:35.483 --> 21:37.723 comment on that . Again , the president 21:37.723 --> 21:39.802 mentioned a different day . I think 21:39.802 --> 21:41.802 that there are individuals involved 21:41.802 --> 21:44.024 obviously who are working on this , and 21:44.024 --> 21:46.135 there will be a final determination , 21:46.162 --> 21:48.162 and we will hear about it when that 21:48.162 --> 21:50.218 determination is made . OK , in that 21:50.218 --> 21:53.686 context . Up and then we'll go on . 21:54.206 --> 21:56.206 Thank you . Well , just because the 21:56.206 --> 21:58.373 president also had mentioned that this 21:58.373 --> 21:58.206 Thursday this week would be the sort of 21:58.206 --> 22:00.373 two month deadline for reaching a deal 22:00.373 --> 22:02.039 with Iran or not . When is it 22:02.039 --> 22:03.928 determined that those talks are a 22:03.928 --> 22:06.150 failure and you know you don't progress 22:06.150 --> 22:05.926 to future ? Well , the president makes 22:05.926 --> 22:07.815 that determination and the people 22:07.815 --> 22:09.926 involved , as I've mentioned before , 22:09.926 --> 22:11.982 if you think that if you think about 22:11.982 --> 22:14.148 the deadlines or even as the secretary 22:14.148 --> 22:16.370 said on another situation that it would 22:16.370 --> 22:18.537 be a matter of weeks , the funny thing 22:18.537 --> 22:20.648 about negotiations and discussions is 22:20.648 --> 22:22.870 that things happen . And that there are 22:22.870 --> 22:25.093 conversations and progress is sometimes 22:25.093 --> 22:27.148 made , not tremendous progress , but 22:27.148 --> 22:29.426 enough to keep going . So it is not it , 22:29.426 --> 22:31.648 it is a dynamic as it would be with any 22:31.648 --> 22:33.593 diplomatic uh consideration . That 22:33.593 --> 22:35.704 negotiations are meant to move things 22:35.704 --> 22:37.759 forward and the good news is that in 22:37.759 --> 22:39.815 fact it would appear that things are 22:39.815 --> 22:41.926 moving forward and that's what we all 22:41.926 --> 22:44.093 want . All right , yes sir , moving to 22:44.093 --> 22:46.204 Ukraine's one more now we're thinking 22:46.204 --> 22:48.259 of Lebanon and the other elements of 22:48.259 --> 22:49.982 the Middle East . Did you have 22:49.982 --> 22:52.939 something , sir ? Yes , you , Iran 22:52.939 --> 22:55.106 follow up right . President Trump also 22:55.106 --> 22:57.050 said something about Iran that was 22:57.050 --> 22:59.217 quite interesting yesterday during the 22:59.217 --> 23:01.439 roundtable . He said that Iran has been 23:01.439 --> 23:03.661 helping with the Ceasefire negotiations 23:03.661 --> 23:05.606 in Gaza . Are you able to shed any 23:05.606 --> 23:07.772 light on that ? No , I can't refer you 23:07.772 --> 23:09.772 to the White House in that regard . 23:11.079 --> 23:12.968 Lebanon , yes sir , right there . 23:12.968 --> 23:16.089 Ukraine has been massive drone attacks , 23:16.329 --> 23:18.569 particularly Kiev last night , given 23:18.569 --> 23:21.209 that Ukrainian president said publicly 23:21.209 --> 23:23.320 that they have been asking for . Uh , 23:23.979 --> 23:26.780 permission from the US to purchase air 23:26.780 --> 23:28.947 defense systems that they can mitigate 23:28.947 --> 23:32.060 Russian attacks . Why wouldn't the US 23:32.060 --> 23:34.171 let them purchase air defenses , much 23:34.171 --> 23:36.670 needed air defense systems ? Well , 23:39.239 --> 23:42.150 I can't speak to the details of 23:42.920 --> 23:45.319 purchase decisions or negotiations 23:45.319 --> 23:47.430 about what we're going to allow to be 23:47.430 --> 23:51.079 purchased by an ally that is uh 23:51.079 --> 23:53.380 the Department of Defense effectively 23:53.790 --> 23:56.160 uh what I do know is what the president 23:56.160 --> 23:58.104 has said and what the secretary of 23:58.104 --> 24:00.216 state has said uh in a in a number of 24:00.216 --> 24:02.625 venues is that . We certainly , and 24:02.625 --> 24:04.792 we've been Ukraine's biggest supporter 24:04.792 --> 24:07.515 and defender literally , is that we 24:07.515 --> 24:09.564 want them to have surface to air 24:09.564 --> 24:11.594 missile protections we want we want 24:11.594 --> 24:14.165 them to be able to deal with incoming 24:14.165 --> 24:16.395 missiles . We know that it's been 24:16.395 --> 24:18.506 discussed about our European partners 24:18.506 --> 24:22.354 who have those systems from us to get 24:22.354 --> 24:24.576 them to Ukraine . Uh , there's a number 24:24.576 --> 24:26.632 of different , uh , negotiations and 24:26.632 --> 24:29.670 aspects involved in , uh , this kind of 24:29.880 --> 24:32.102 dynamic that does not involve the State 24:32.102 --> 24:34.213 Department . It's about munitions and 24:34.213 --> 24:36.436 purchasing and all of that , uh , but I 24:36.436 --> 24:38.560 do know is that uh we are doing and 24:38.560 --> 24:40.616 continue to wish to do as much as we 24:40.616 --> 24:42.939 can . Uh , that is , uh , uh , not 24:42.939 --> 24:45.619 disputed , uh , and I , I understand 24:45.619 --> 24:47.841 the Ukrainians who are great friends of 24:47.841 --> 24:50.099 this country and have done there's , 24:50.430 --> 24:53.229 there's no disputing the bravery and 24:53.229 --> 24:55.507 the commitment of the Ukrainian people . 24:55.507 --> 24:57.800 If that was ever in doubt or 24:57.800 --> 25:00.109 questionable , uh , this war and how 25:00.109 --> 25:01.998 they've defended their nation has 25:01.998 --> 25:04.220 dispelled any of that , uh , and , uh , 25:04.220 --> 25:06.387 uh , I had the , the pleasure of being 25:06.387 --> 25:08.869 in a bilap with Ukrainian delegation 25:08.869 --> 25:12.119 recently here . And they are astounding 25:12.119 --> 25:14.286 people and they're remarkable and they 25:14.286 --> 25:17.619 are committed to getting their country 25:17.619 --> 25:20.729 safe and this war to end and so are we , 25:20.969 --> 25:23.136 uh , the United States has proven that 25:23.136 --> 25:25.619 the details of which are many and I 25:25.619 --> 25:27.939 can't speak to that and I certainly 25:27.939 --> 25:31.099 would dispute that we are not letting 25:31.099 --> 25:33.210 Ukraine do something the opposite has 25:33.210 --> 25:35.459 always been the case um our goal is to 25:35.459 --> 25:37.819 make sure that um this uh war comes to 25:37.819 --> 25:40.630 an end . And we've continued to focus 25:40.630 --> 25:42.630 on that . I would appreciate if you 25:42.630 --> 25:45.119 help us clarify , you know , reports 25:45.119 --> 25:47.520 that the United States has redirected 25:47.520 --> 25:51.189 some of the promised defensive weapons 25:51.189 --> 25:53.411 from Ukraine . Well , supposed to go to 25:53.411 --> 25:55.467 Ukraine , but they redirected to the 25:55.467 --> 25:58.040 Middle East . Is that accurate ? You 25:58.040 --> 26:00.207 know , I can't speak to that . That is 26:00.207 --> 26:02.560 not something that if whether it is or 26:02.560 --> 26:04.782 is not happening , it's a decision that 26:05.030 --> 26:08.150 Um , is clearly one based in national 26:08.150 --> 26:09.872 security if it's happening and 26:09.872 --> 26:12.150 certainly a diplomatic framework that 26:12.150 --> 26:14.094 if a decision has been made is not 26:14.094 --> 26:16.261 something I , I'm gonna remark on here 26:16.261 --> 26:18.420 at the podium . No , that that that 26:19.119 --> 26:21.550 that's gonna be it . We're we're we're 26:21.550 --> 26:23.606 moving along here . I want to get as 26:23.606 --> 26:25.939 many people as I can in today . Yes sir . 26:26.603 --> 26:28.652 all parliamentary delegation led by 26:28.652 --> 26:30.819 Bilawal Bhutto Joari was here . Did he 26:30.819 --> 26:32.541 had any meeting with the State 26:32.541 --> 26:35.133 Department and also has US received any 26:35.133 --> 26:37.244 commitment or assurance from Pakistan 26:37.522 --> 26:39.578 that they will stop taking they will 26:39.578 --> 26:41.744 take action against terrorists working 26:41.744 --> 26:43.911 from this ? Well , I can tell you that 26:43.911 --> 26:46.078 State Department officials , including 26:46.078 --> 26:48.133 Undersecretary for Political Affairs 26:48.133 --> 26:49.911 Alison . Met with the Pakistani 26:49.911 --> 26:52.495 parliamentary delegation during a visit 26:52.495 --> 26:55.345 they had to Washington last week . She 26:55.345 --> 26:57.465 reiterated US support for the ongoing 26:57.465 --> 26:59.409 ceasefire , as you might imagine , 26:59.495 --> 27:02.456 thank God , between India and Pakistan . 27:02.735 --> 27:04.957 They also discussed important issues to 27:04.957 --> 27:07.124 the bilateral relationship , including 27:07.124 --> 27:09.770 counterterrorism cooperation . So that 27:09.770 --> 27:12.329 meeting , uh , uh , occurred . We also 27:12.329 --> 27:14.849 know that Deputy Secretary Landau met 27:14.849 --> 27:16.619 with the Indian parliamentary 27:16.619 --> 27:19.209 delegation last week , uh , and he also 27:19.209 --> 27:21.265 reaffirmed the United States' strong 27:21.265 --> 27:24.079 support of India in the fight against 27:24.079 --> 27:26.079 terrorism and strategic partnership 27:26.079 --> 27:28.390 between those two countries . Did you 27:28.390 --> 27:30.390 receive any assurance from Pakistan 27:30.390 --> 27:32.334 that they will take action against 27:32.334 --> 27:34.501 terrorists ? You know , I am not going 27:34.501 --> 27:36.279 to discuss the details of those 27:36.279 --> 27:38.501 conversations . All right , all right , 27:38.501 --> 27:40.668 yes ma'am . Do you have any updates on 27:40.668 --> 27:42.779 the temporary pause on scheduling new 27:42.779 --> 27:42.709 interviews for student visa 27:42.709 --> 27:44.987 applications . Is that still in effect ? 27:44.987 --> 27:47.098 Um , I can tell you , of course , and 27:47.098 --> 27:49.265 that's a good question because there's 27:49.265 --> 27:51.431 so many other conversations about visa 27:51.431 --> 27:53.699 restrictions . Um , I do believe that 27:53.699 --> 27:55.819 uh we are in the process and I don't 27:55.819 --> 27:58.041 know if Tommy , if we've got , we might 27:58.041 --> 28:00.263 have to take this back , uh , that we , 28:00.263 --> 28:02.430 I know last week . That we were in the 28:02.430 --> 28:04.597 process of indicating that it would be 28:04.597 --> 28:06.763 very soon and that people should start 28:06.763 --> 28:08.763 looking for those spaces to open up 28:08.763 --> 28:10.819 regarding appointments . Nothing has 28:10.819 --> 28:12.763 changed in our encouragement still 28:12.763 --> 28:15.097 people to apply for those student visas . 28:15.170 --> 28:17.281 This was a matter of making sure that 28:17.281 --> 28:19.392 the process that we were expecting of 28:19.392 --> 28:21.609 consulates and embassies was proper 28:21.609 --> 28:23.720 when it came to what we expected them 28:23.720 --> 28:25.831 to be able to vet for . Um , and that 28:25.831 --> 28:29.000 process we were told would be rapid , 28:29.329 --> 28:31.385 and I think at this point what I can 28:31.385 --> 28:34.290 reassert here is that people should 28:34.290 --> 28:36.290 watch for those spaces to be open , 28:36.290 --> 28:38.689 should continue to apply . This is not 28:38.689 --> 28:41.770 going to be a lengthy or an ongoing 28:41.770 --> 28:44.359 dynamic . It was meant for a specific 28:44.880 --> 28:47.569 um uh almost an administrative 28:47.569 --> 28:50.170 adjustment . Uh , and I would hope , uh , 28:50.180 --> 28:52.513 perhaps we go back and get more on this , 28:52.579 --> 28:54.690 uh , but I think that that's where it 28:54.690 --> 28:56.746 stands and perhaps on Thursday I can 28:56.746 --> 28:58.801 get even something more specific for 28:58.801 --> 29:00.968 you on the record and another reminder 29:00.968 --> 29:03.079 to the people watching at home when I 29:03.079 --> 29:02.989 say we're going to take something back , 29:03.300 --> 29:05.300 it means that we're going to get an 29:05.300 --> 29:07.078 answer to that question for the 29:07.078 --> 29:09.244 reporter and get it right back to them 29:09.244 --> 29:11.356 as well and so that'll also help us . 29:11.356 --> 29:13.633 For the next briefing also Afghanistan , 29:13.633 --> 29:15.856 yes ma'am . Afghanistan , Afghanistan . 29:17.160 --> 29:20.430 Thank you . Thank you . Let's keep this 29:20.430 --> 29:22.486 in order , please . Let's go ahead . 29:22.486 --> 29:24.652 Thank you so much . Thank you . As you 29:24.652 --> 29:26.874 know , Afghanistan's situation is still 29:26.874 --> 29:26.439 critical , but different people , 29:26.520 --> 29:28.742 different diplomats like Zal Khalizad , 29:28.742 --> 29:30.489 former ambassador in Iraq and 29:30.489 --> 29:34.390 Afghanistan , he has a positive idea . 29:34.930 --> 29:37.819 But unfortunately yesterday there was a , 29:37.910 --> 29:40.949 you know , war started and Taliban 29:40.949 --> 29:43.910 claimed that this is from the ISIS #1 . 29:44.030 --> 29:46.197 Do you think it's still ISIS , ISIS is 29:46.197 --> 29:49.150 still active in Afghanistan ? And my 29:49.150 --> 29:53.020 second question is still some Afghan 29:53.020 --> 29:56.910 who was SIV and P1 or P2 left behind 29:56.910 --> 30:00.670 in Afghanistan , Pakistan , Iran . Do 30:00.670 --> 30:02.892 you have any update for them to come to 30:02.892 --> 30:04.892 the United States , please ? Well , 30:04.892 --> 30:07.059 first , I can't speak right now on the 30:07.059 --> 30:09.114 internal dynamic of what's happening 30:09.114 --> 30:12.349 and , uh , any , um , uh , problem 30:12.349 --> 30:14.550 between people or claims about ISIS 30:14.550 --> 30:16.606 being active and , and violence that 30:16.606 --> 30:18.772 was ensuing , but let's take that back 30:18.772 --> 30:20.939 and see what , what , uh , that is . I 30:20.939 --> 30:23.869 do know , um , that , uh , the for the 30:23.869 --> 30:27.020 visa restrictions , um , and , uh , 30:27.030 --> 30:29.349 Afghanistan that there is . 30:33.040 --> 30:35.719 For the SIV visas , um , the 30:35.719 --> 30:37.830 proclamation that was used announcing 30:37.830 --> 30:39.800 this states that Afghan special 30:39.800 --> 30:43.189 immigrant visas are accepted , uh , uh , 30:43.199 --> 30:45.849 I , I should . Let me I'll say exempted 30:46.180 --> 30:48.180 from the suspension of entry to the 30:48.180 --> 30:50.859 United States . Consular processing of 30:50.859 --> 30:53.770 Afghan SIVs , including Afghan SIV 30:53.770 --> 30:57.089 interviews , continues at US embassies 30:57.089 --> 30:59.540 and consulates around the world . All 30:59.540 --> 31:02.819 right , um , yes sir , thank you , yes 31:02.819 --> 31:05.041 you , yes sir , you , yes , thank you . 31:05.041 --> 31:07.152 All right , if we're , if we're gonna 31:07.152 --> 31:09.208 have . Disruptions we're gonna let's 31:09.208 --> 31:11.208 make it let's let's stop this if we 31:11.208 --> 31:13.319 could , Heather let's move , please . 31:13.319 --> 31:15.486 Let's get , um , we will remove you if 31:15.486 --> 31:17.597 you are not silent right now so we're 31:17.597 --> 31:19.750 gonna be be be respectful to your 31:19.750 --> 31:23.189 fellow journalists and uh thank you , 31:23.349 --> 31:25.405 thank you very much . Thank you very 31:25.405 --> 31:27.516 much . Now we will go . Thank you sir 31:27.516 --> 31:30.180 thank you very much . As you know , the 31:30.180 --> 31:32.939 Iraqi federal government has cut the 31:32.939 --> 31:34.979 budget and salary of the Kurdistan 31:34.979 --> 31:37.729 region . Have you addressed this issue 31:37.729 --> 31:40.369 with Baghdad ? What is your position on 31:40.369 --> 31:42.369 the matter ? And I have yes , we're 31:42.369 --> 31:44.536 aware of this . We are aware of this , 31:44.536 --> 31:47.119 um , and we urge Baghdad and Erbil to 31:47.119 --> 31:48.730 resolve their issues through 31:48.730 --> 31:50.841 constructive dialogue consistent with 31:50.841 --> 31:53.063 their constitutional responsibilities . 31:53.063 --> 31:55.119 Resolving the salaries issue quickly 31:55.119 --> 31:57.341 sends a signal that Iraq is creating an 31:57.341 --> 31:59.563 environment in which US companies would 31:59.563 --> 32:02.650 want to invest . Successful resolution 32:02.650 --> 32:04.770 would also send a positive signal on 32:04.770 --> 32:06.937 broader cooperation for the benefit of 32:06.937 --> 32:09.650 all Iraqis such as reopening the Iraq 32:09.650 --> 32:12.050 Turkey pipeline and additional energy 32:12.050 --> 32:14.689 exploration , including with US 32:14.689 --> 32:17.050 companies when speaking with senior 32:17.050 --> 32:19.599 Iraqi officials such as Prime Minister . 32:19.869 --> 32:22.910 Sudani Secretary Rubio has emphasized 32:22.910 --> 32:25.199 the importance of stability and 32:25.199 --> 32:27.920 prosperity in Iraq and the region . He 32:27.920 --> 32:30.150 has done the same in recent meetings 32:30.150 --> 32:33.000 and conversations with KRG President 32:33.000 --> 32:36.920 Barzani and KRG Prime Minister um uh 32:36.920 --> 32:40.119 Masso Barzani . Uh , US support for a 32:40.119 --> 32:42.239 strong and resilient Iraqi Kurdistan 32:42.239 --> 32:45.719 region remains a crucial element of our 32:45.719 --> 32:48.500 relationship with Iraq . All right , 32:48.959 --> 32:51.400 yes , right . Next , please , we're , I 32:51.400 --> 32:53.567 want , let's get everyone in if we can 32:53.567 --> 32:55.400 here . I'm only gonna ask to get 32:55.400 --> 32:57.733 everybody in sanctions question for you . 32:57.733 --> 32:59.567 Uh , the ICC sanctions that were 32:59.567 --> 33:01.678 announced last Thursday . Two members 33:01.678 --> 33:03.900 of the pretrial chamber that signed off 33:03.900 --> 33:05.733 on the arrest warrants for Prime 33:05.733 --> 33:07.844 Minister Netanyahu , Defense Minister 33:07.844 --> 33:09.789 Galant , were sanctioned , but the 33:09.789 --> 33:09.569 presiding judge , the third judge in 33:09.569 --> 33:12.050 the pretrial chamber of France , was 33:12.050 --> 33:14.400 not sanctioned . What was the reasoning 33:14.400 --> 33:16.410 behind sanctioning only two of the 33:16.410 --> 33:18.410 three members and not the presiding 33:18.410 --> 33:20.466 judge of that chamber ? Yeah , again 33:20.466 --> 33:22.819 that that obviously was a uh internal 33:22.819 --> 33:24.640 diplomatic decision made very 33:24.640 --> 33:26.862 specifically about specific individuals 33:26.862 --> 33:29.510 which I won't discuss . Well , it's , 33:29.520 --> 33:31.949 it's what the decisions that go into 33:31.949 --> 33:34.140 the nature of when to do a sanction . 33:34.430 --> 33:36.439 Obviously there's a combination of 33:36.439 --> 33:38.272 conversations involving national 33:38.272 --> 33:40.439 security , what's in the best interest 33:40.439 --> 33:42.661 of the United States , uh , uh , what's 33:42.661 --> 33:44.939 in the best interests of our diplomacy , 33:44.939 --> 33:47.106 certainly with our ally Israel and our 33:47.106 --> 33:49.161 own national security . The messages 33:49.161 --> 33:51.383 that we send when it comes to expecting 33:51.383 --> 33:53.550 America to be treated with respect and 33:53.550 --> 33:56.859 to be treated with some emoticon of 33:56.859 --> 33:58.470 decency when it comes to the 33:58.470 --> 34:00.500 international scene , I think that 34:00.500 --> 34:02.667 makes that clear , but in the sense of 34:02.667 --> 34:04.889 the details of that , of course I can't 34:04.889 --> 34:07.056 comment on that here . All right , yes 34:07.056 --> 34:08.889 sir , at the end here . I have a 34:08.889 --> 34:11.056 question about foreign aid . Would you 34:11.056 --> 34:10.939 be able to share any update on the 34:10.939 --> 34:13.500 status of ? I understand Secretary 34:13.500 --> 34:16.409 Rubio said last month . In a hearing 34:16.409 --> 34:18.689 before the Senate that 85% of the 34:18.689 --> 34:22.250 program is operational , but now some 34:22.250 --> 34:24.361 activists and congressional Democrats 34:24.361 --> 34:26.649 are disputing that . I do have 34:26.649 --> 34:28.705 something for you here just for some 34:28.705 --> 34:30.927 clarity . Secretary Rubio referenced an 34:30.927 --> 34:33.500 estimated 85% of beneficiaries who 34:33.500 --> 34:35.570 could be receiving life saving 34:35.570 --> 34:37.681 treatment and prevention of mother to 34:37.681 --> 34:40.129 child transmission services based on 34:40.129 --> 34:43.010 the full operational capacity of all 34:43.010 --> 34:46.783 the operational . Active awards is 34:46.783 --> 34:49.013 it's 85% . That is the correct number 34:49.013 --> 34:51.013 that is as of March 24th , 34:51.424 --> 34:54.924 2025 . All right , good . All right , 35:01.474 --> 35:03.196 hold on from Secretary Rubio . 35:03.260 --> 35:06.040 Instructing all chiefs of mission to 35:06.040 --> 35:09.959 abolish all USAID positions , local , 35:10.580 --> 35:13.879 uh , you know , either direct US hires 35:13.879 --> 35:16.949 or local employees and that , that was , 35:17.080 --> 35:19.229 uh , not a surprise . It shouldn't 35:19.229 --> 35:21.396 surprise anyone . A cable is something 35:21.396 --> 35:23.507 sent out from the State Department in 35:23.507 --> 35:25.507 this case , of course , to missions 35:25.507 --> 35:27.673 worldwide , uh , uh , instructing them 35:27.673 --> 35:29.507 to do something essentially that 35:29.507 --> 35:31.673 there's many more uses and reasons for 35:31.673 --> 35:33.229 cables , uh , and sometimes 35:33.229 --> 35:35.396 surprisingly said no one ever they get 35:35.396 --> 35:37.562 leaked uh in this case it was an order 35:37.562 --> 35:39.729 uh regarding positions uh regarding US 35:39.729 --> 35:41.785 aid that they were to be ended . And 35:41.785 --> 35:43.896 that was something that was previewed 35:43.896 --> 35:46.510 in February when we relayed the road 35:46.510 --> 35:48.270 map , if you will , of the 35:48.270 --> 35:51.110 reorganization , the renovation , if 35:51.110 --> 35:53.332 you will , of US aid , making sure that 35:53.332 --> 35:55.979 our aid efforts around the world met 35:55.979 --> 35:58.090 with what was important to the United 35:58.090 --> 36:00.257 States , to the America first agenda . 36:00.257 --> 36:02.590 So this was a cable uh telling uh the 36:02.590 --> 36:05.389 uh uh our our posts exactly what they 36:05.389 --> 36:07.556 were expecting to be told , uh , which 36:07.556 --> 36:09.870 is that those uh positions uh were were 36:09.870 --> 36:12.080 gone and were were being eliminated so 36:12.350 --> 36:14.699 it wasn't a surprise , it's nothing new , 36:15.010 --> 36:17.121 uh , and , uh , it is exactly what we 36:17.121 --> 36:19.288 previewed , uh , in February and March 36:19.288 --> 36:21.288 of this year right , but we , we've 36:21.288 --> 36:23.343 talked to you , yes , um , alright , 36:23.590 --> 36:25.646 now in the back , uh young man right 36:25.646 --> 36:27.979 there , yes , young man without the tie . 36:28.189 --> 36:31.350 That would be yeah , I just , while we 36:31.350 --> 36:34.750 have questions on Israel earlier today , 36:34.790 --> 36:36.957 5 countries . Can you tell me , by the 36:36.957 --> 36:38.901 way , what is your outlet ? Just a 36:38.901 --> 36:41.012 curiosity and your name ? Ryan Morgan 36:41.012 --> 36:43.123 with the Epoch Times . All right , hi 36:43.123 --> 36:45.234 Ryan , welcome aboard . Thank you for 36:45.234 --> 36:47.401 having me . So I was just wondering if 36:47.401 --> 36:49.457 you have a quick comment about the 5 36:49.457 --> 36:51.346 countries that sanctioned Israeli 36:51.346 --> 36:54.949 ministers Emar Ben Geir and Belo 36:54.949 --> 36:58.879 Smotrich today . Yes , um , I do . I 36:58.879 --> 37:01.110 have something for you on that , um , 37:01.159 --> 37:03.840 and let me , let me get that for you . 37:03.879 --> 37:06.030 There's just so much going on today , 37:06.399 --> 37:09.270 um , uh , first of all , um . 37:10.979 --> 37:14.459 We find that extremely unhelpful . It 37:14.459 --> 37:16.790 will do nothing to get us closer to a 37:16.790 --> 37:20.590 ceasefire in Gaza . This again is about 37:20.590 --> 37:22.590 um allied sanctions against Israeli 37:22.590 --> 37:25.290 ministers . Uh they should focus on 37:25.290 --> 37:27.401 this being UK , Canada , Norway , and 37:27.401 --> 37:29.850 New Zealand . Should focus on the real 37:29.850 --> 37:32.489 culprit , which is Hamas . Hamas put 37:32.489 --> 37:34.656 the people of Gaza in the situation by 37:34.656 --> 37:36.545 launching the horrific attacks of 37:36.545 --> 37:38.889 October 7th which killed 6 British 37:38.889 --> 37:42.429 citizens and 46 Americans and continued 37:42.429 --> 37:44.151 to hold hostages , of course , 37:44.151 --> 37:46.429 including the bodies of four Americans . 37:46.530 --> 37:49.300 We remain concerned about any step that 37:49.300 --> 37:52.129 would further isolate Israel from the 37:52.129 --> 37:54.351 international community . If our allies 37:54.351 --> 37:56.649 want to help , they should focus on 37:56.649 --> 37:59.139 supporting Special Envoy Witkoff's 37:59.139 --> 38:01.899 negotiations and backing the Gaza 38:01.899 --> 38:04.010 Humanitarian Foundation when it comes 38:04.010 --> 38:06.520 to food and aid . All right , yes sir , 38:07.219 --> 38:10.689 yes sir . My question is about Ukraine 38:10.689 --> 38:13.649 negotiations . Russians and Ukrainians 38:13.649 --> 38:16.129 came together in Istanbul last week and 38:16.129 --> 38:18.330 they announced a memorandum and result 38:18.330 --> 38:21.129 of that there was an exchange of 38:21.129 --> 38:24.719 prisoners . Um , what is , uh , 38:24.729 --> 38:27.919 your elaboration on that , uh , phase 38:27.919 --> 38:30.729 of the deal and , uh , how do you 38:30.729 --> 38:34.199 follow these negotiations ? Well , um , 38:34.370 --> 38:36.426 the president and the secretary have 38:36.426 --> 38:38.537 been saying for a while that the only 38:38.537 --> 38:40.759 real solution can come with the parties 38:40.759 --> 38:42.759 talking directly , and that is what 38:42.759 --> 38:44.926 we've been seeing here at least , um , 38:44.926 --> 38:47.092 in this regard , um , and , uh , we of 38:47.092 --> 38:49.092 course remain in close contact with 38:49.092 --> 38:51.148 both parties at the highest levels , 38:51.148 --> 38:53.699 and uh we uh uh welcomed the success , 38:53.729 --> 38:55.800 the , the movement of again more 38:56.090 --> 38:58.500 prisoner exchanges , uh , in this case , 38:58.530 --> 39:00.641 of course , the seriously wounded and 39:00.641 --> 39:02.752 young prisoners under the age of 25 . 39:02.752 --> 39:04.641 Um , uh , as well as repatriating 39:04.641 --> 39:06.697 fallen soldiers , which in , in that 39:06.697 --> 39:09.290 instance was about 6000 each horribly , 39:09.610 --> 39:13.320 um , uh , the , um , we're not involved , 39:13.620 --> 39:15.731 right , we're not involved in that as 39:15.731 --> 39:17.842 the State Department if that was your 39:17.842 --> 39:19.898 question in the United States , uh , 39:19.898 --> 39:21.898 this was , uh , uh . Negotiations , 39:21.898 --> 39:24.009 conversations between the two parties 39:24.009 --> 39:26.176 involved , and that's that's all I can 39:26.176 --> 39:28.009 tell you is that we welcome that 39:28.009 --> 39:30.120 progress in the meantime . Are you in 39:30.120 --> 39:32.342 contact with the Turkish authorities in 39:32.342 --> 39:35.320 order to have them involved in some way 39:35.320 --> 39:37.679 to reach a deal between the two parties ? 39:37.760 --> 39:40.639 Well , I obviously won't speak on we 39:40.639 --> 39:43.479 talk with all of our allies on a number 39:43.479 --> 39:45.701 of different reasons all the time , but 39:45.701 --> 39:47.923 I won't discuss what the details are of 39:47.923 --> 39:50.035 those conversations . Yes sir . Thank 39:50.035 --> 39:52.257 you , Tammy . Caution on Iraq . When do 39:52.257 --> 39:54.201 you expect Iran to get back to you 39:54.201 --> 39:57.000 about your proposal , and the president 39:57.000 --> 39:59.360 spoke to Farkas , and he said Iran is 39:59.360 --> 40:01.840 acting much differently in negotiation 40:01.840 --> 40:04.879 than it did just days ago . What's 40:04.879 --> 40:07.489 changed from Iran from recent days . 40:08.110 --> 40:10.443 Well , I don't , I don't speak for Iran , 40:10.830 --> 40:13.110 and I think that what we will find is 40:13.110 --> 40:15.221 as we've discussed the expectation of 40:15.221 --> 40:17.629 further talks and those leading those 40:17.629 --> 40:19.989 talks and handling the situation , I 40:19.989 --> 40:22.211 would hope , as we all do , that we can 40:22.211 --> 40:24.156 finally have some answers and some 40:24.156 --> 40:25.878 agreement when it comes to the 40:25.878 --> 40:27.989 situation on Iraq . You said that you 40:27.989 --> 40:30.267 are encouraging both Erbil and Baghdad , 40:30.267 --> 40:32.100 the Christian region of Iraq and 40:32.100 --> 40:34.211 Baghdad , to solve the issue over the 40:34.211 --> 40:36.322 budget . Are you engaging with them ? 40:36.322 --> 40:38.489 There are reports that recently the US 40:38.489 --> 40:40.322 charged the affairs to the Iraqi 40:40.322 --> 40:42.378 embassy in Baghdad . He met with the 40:42.378 --> 40:44.629 Iraqi Prime Minister and he put direct 40:44.629 --> 40:46.629 pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister to 40:46.629 --> 40:48.462 solve this issue . Now the Iraqi 40:48.462 --> 40:50.296 officials are saying that we are 40:50.296 --> 40:52.407 getting heated from the Washington to 40:52.407 --> 40:54.351 solve this issue . Do you have any 40:54.351 --> 40:56.573 updates in my previous answer to this , 40:56.573 --> 40:58.518 it's clear . Even from this podium 40:58.649 --> 41:00.760 we're we're expressing what we expect 41:00.760 --> 41:03.330 to see and they know what we think and 41:03.330 --> 41:05.274 we've been saying it over and over 41:05.274 --> 41:07.497 again it's it's not I'm not gonna speak 41:07.497 --> 41:09.719 on rumors or single reports or somebody 41:09.719 --> 41:11.774 talking about a charged affair or an 41:11.774 --> 41:13.774 ambassador and what they're talking 41:13.774 --> 41:15.830 about and who they're meeting that's 41:15.830 --> 41:17.997 not going to happen here , but we here 41:17.997 --> 41:20.163 have made it very clear that this is a 41:20.163 --> 41:22.441 situation . Uh , that has to stop , uh , 41:22.441 --> 41:24.330 and , uh , we know that , uh , of 41:24.330 --> 41:26.441 course , as I've noted that resolving 41:26.441 --> 41:28.663 situations like this , uh , will , uh , 41:28.663 --> 41:30.774 entice more companies to get involved 41:30.774 --> 41:32.830 in the area , uh , making everyone's 41:32.830 --> 41:35.108 lives in the region better . All right , 41:35.108 --> 41:37.163 yes sir in the back I was behind the 41:37.163 --> 41:39.386 man with , with no tie , but behind our 41:39.386 --> 41:39.020 friend with no tie . Yes sir , go ahead . 41:40.060 --> 41:42.282 I should wear the tie you have a tie on 41:42.282 --> 41:45.459 that would be you , yes , no , no , you , 41:45.620 --> 41:48.300 you , sir , thank you , thank you . Too 41:48.300 --> 41:50.244 many with no ties these days . All 41:50.244 --> 41:52.078 right , no offense to the no tie 41:52.078 --> 41:54.244 wearers . Thank you so much . So after 41:54.244 --> 41:57.419 the , after the , after the , after the 41:57.419 --> 41:59.586 ceasefire between India and Pakistan , 41:59.586 --> 42:02.300 President Trump offered to mediate on 42:02.300 --> 42:04.580 the issue of Indian-he Kashmir . I was 42:04.580 --> 42:06.691 just wondering what kind of follow up 42:06.691 --> 42:10.433 we are expecting like . move forward 42:10.433 --> 42:12.982 like inviting the leadership of both 42:12.982 --> 42:15.552 the countries or like going to support 42:15.552 --> 42:17.441 UN Security Council resolution on 42:17.441 --> 42:19.873 Kashmir . Well , I obviously I can't 42:19.873 --> 42:21.817 speak to what's on the mind or the 42:21.817 --> 42:24.040 plans of the president . What I do know 42:24.040 --> 42:25.873 is I think we all recognize that 42:25.873 --> 42:28.040 President Trump , in each step that he 42:28.040 --> 42:30.952 takes , it's made to solve generational 42:30.952 --> 42:32.730 differences between countries , 42:32.730 --> 42:35.113 generational war , so it doesn't , 42:35.312 --> 42:37.312 shouldn't surprise anyone that he'd 42:37.312 --> 42:39.486 want to . manage something like that . 42:39.565 --> 42:41.676 He seems very much to be and not just 42:41.676 --> 42:43.787 seems , but he is , has been the only 42:43.787 --> 42:45.732 one to bring certain people to the 42:45.732 --> 42:47.954 table to have conversations that nobody 42:47.954 --> 42:50.176 thought was possible . So while I can't 42:50.176 --> 42:52.232 speak to his plans , the world knows 42:52.232 --> 42:54.365 his nature , and I can't speak to any 42:54.365 --> 42:56.476 details of what he might have in that 42:56.476 --> 42:58.809 regard . You could call the White House . 42:58.809 --> 43:01.032 I have a feeling they would have plenty 43:01.032 --> 43:03.035 to say , but it is an exciting time 43:03.365 --> 43:05.476 that if we can get to a point in that 43:05.476 --> 43:07.870 particular conflict . Thank God , but 43:07.870 --> 43:09.909 also thank Secretary Rubio and and 43:09.909 --> 43:12.590 President Trump and Vice President . It 43:12.590 --> 43:15.020 is , um , it's , it's , it's a very 43:15.020 --> 43:17.187 interesting time and so it's every day 43:17.187 --> 43:19.187 we bring something new , and I hope 43:19.187 --> 43:21.242 perhaps something like that can also 43:21.242 --> 43:20.830 get resolved before the president . 43:20.979 --> 43:22.757 Keeping Americans safe is a top 43:22.757 --> 43:24.812 priority of this administration . An 43:24.812 --> 43:28.510 American citizen has wrote a letter to 43:28.510 --> 43:30.790 Secretary Lincoln demanding to put 43:30.790 --> 43:33.879 sanctions on Indian agents involved in 43:33.879 --> 43:35.969 his assassination attempt . Um , did 43:35.969 --> 43:37.913 you get that letter ? What is your 43:37.913 --> 43:39.802 opinion ? Well , if that's , it's 43:39.802 --> 43:41.969 something I can't speak on , but let's 43:41.969 --> 43:41.860 take that back and , and we'll , we'll 43:41.860 --> 43:44.193 go , we'll go on from there . All right , 43:44.193 --> 43:46.193 now you've , I've already spoken to 43:46.193 --> 43:45.770 some of you with your hands up . Yes , 43:45.850 --> 43:48.072 sir , in the , the blue top , no behind 43:48.072 --> 43:50.183 you , no in the glasses , sir . Yes , 43:50.183 --> 43:53.290 um , uh , as you know very well , um , 43:53.820 --> 43:55.931 new South Korean president Elia Myung 43:55.931 --> 43:57.987 is pursuing , uh , pragmatic foreign 43:57.987 --> 43:59.764 policy which regards , uh , the 43:59.764 --> 44:01.931 alliance with the United States as the 44:01.931 --> 44:04.153 very founding . of his foreign policy , 44:04.153 --> 44:06.209 but pragmatic policy also signals an 44:06.209 --> 44:08.264 openness to stably managed relations 44:08.264 --> 44:10.487 with China . So do you have any comment 44:10.487 --> 44:12.709 on on the new South Korean government's 44:12.709 --> 44:15.399 foreign policy stance ? Well , I don't 44:15.399 --> 44:18.090 what I can tell you is that there was a 44:18.090 --> 44:19.812 call between the president and 44:19.812 --> 44:22.169 President Jae Moon Lee . We can confirm 44:22.169 --> 44:24.600 that that phone call in fact took place 44:24.889 --> 44:27.111 and we refer you to the White House for 44:27.111 --> 44:30.600 those details . And we congratulate 44:30.600 --> 44:33.489 the President on his election as the 44:33.489 --> 44:35.545 president of the Republic of Korea , 44:35.545 --> 44:37.211 and we're confident under his 44:37.211 --> 44:39.330 leadership that our alliance will 44:39.330 --> 44:42.500 continue to thrive and I again for more 44:42.500 --> 44:44.611 perhaps further comment if you'd like 44:44.611 --> 44:46.778 to know what President Trump's view of 44:46.778 --> 44:48.778 that , I suggest you , you call the 44:48.778 --> 44:50.833 White House . All right , now in the 44:50.833 --> 44:53.056 back is gonna be our last question here 44:53.056 --> 44:55.580 to you , sir . And a nice white crisp 44:55.580 --> 44:59.530 shirt and a tie and glasses and there 44:59.530 --> 45:01.363 are sartorial remarks here today 45:01.363 --> 45:04.100 apparently for giving me the 45:04.100 --> 45:07.300 opportunity to sir and your outlet 45:07.300 --> 45:10.239 again , sir . Work for France 24 and a 45:10.239 --> 45:12.649 newspaper . Very good . Welcome aboard . 45:14.159 --> 45:16.215 My question is about Lebanon . There 45:16.215 --> 45:19.479 were reports yesterday that the US is 45:19.479 --> 45:22.320 engaging Israel in some discussions 45:22.320 --> 45:25.439 about the fate of UNIFIL . Would you 45:25.439 --> 45:28.669 please shed some light on 45:30.250 --> 45:32.600 what do you think regarding the 45:32.600 --> 45:34.933 situation of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon ? 45:35.320 --> 45:38.139 And what do you expect from UNIFIL and 45:38.139 --> 45:40.949 from the Lebanese government ? And also 45:40.949 --> 45:43.909 I have a question whether you could you 45:43.909 --> 45:47.709 would confirm that Ambassador Tom Barra 45:47.709 --> 45:50.699 will visit Lebanon next week . Thank 45:50.699 --> 45:53.030 you . All right , well , for the first 45:53.030 --> 45:55.141 part of that , we'll have to take all 45:55.141 --> 45:57.252 of that back . I know that quite some 45:57.252 --> 45:59.419 time ago . Uh , we discussed this here 45:59.419 --> 46:01.530 at the podium , but as we also know , 46:01.649 --> 46:03.770 time changes things , and I want to 46:03.770 --> 46:06.010 make sure I don't want to repeat to you 46:06.010 --> 46:07.954 uh the nature of , of what we were 46:07.954 --> 46:10.010 saying months ago . So let's go back 46:10.010 --> 46:12.232 and we'll get , we'll get those answers 46:12.232 --> 46:14.066 there regarding Ambassador uh uh 46:14.066 --> 46:16.010 Barrick , uh , he is of course our 46:16.010 --> 46:18.121 ambassador to Turkey and he's leading 46:18.121 --> 46:20.066 the way in our effort regarding uh 46:20.066 --> 46:22.177 Syria uh and . Getting Syria , giving 46:22.177 --> 46:24.288 them a chance to to make a difference 46:24.288 --> 46:26.343 and to move into the future . Um , I 46:26.343 --> 46:28.566 also , I think we can get a good answer 46:28.566 --> 46:30.566 from the ambassador about his plans 46:30.566 --> 46:32.621 regarding uh any travel . I'll do my 46:32.621 --> 46:34.899 best for you in that regard , uh , and , 46:34.899 --> 46:36.954 uh , but that's , that's he's a busy 46:36.954 --> 46:39.121 guy . We had him here last week . Uh , 46:39.121 --> 46:42.125 he spoke to , to many here um um in 46:42.125 --> 46:44.125 general , um , off the record for . 46:44.125 --> 46:46.292 Like a meet and greet , but he's a man 46:46.292 --> 46:48.625 who clearly is making a huge difference . 46:48.625 --> 46:50.736 We expect more from him and we'll get 46:50.736 --> 46:52.792 back to you with his travel plans in 46:52.792 --> 46:56.201 the end . All right , the fate of Ms . 46:56.241 --> 46:58.672 Morgan Ortegas because there are a lot 46:58.672 --> 47:02.082 of rumors . Well , I can see myself 47:02.082 --> 47:04.642 answering this question , said no one 47:04.642 --> 47:07.840 ever . I know you answered . Without 47:07.840 --> 47:10.010 answering the question before , well , 47:10.360 --> 47:12.360 I'll I'll be , I'll be , I will not 47:12.360 --> 47:14.520 answer without not answering . No , I 47:14.520 --> 47:16.840 first of all , I will not speak about 47:16.840 --> 47:19.007 personnel dynamics . I'm certainly not 47:19.007 --> 47:21.007 going to address rumors surrounding 47:21.007 --> 47:23.280 those , uh , any personnel dynamics 47:23.280 --> 47:26.110 here regarding , uh , anyone , uh , and , 47:26.159 --> 47:28.270 uh , I'm gonna leave it at that . All 47:28.270 --> 47:30.548 right , thank you everyone . Great job . 47:30.548 --> 47:30.419 I'll see you on Thursday . Thank you 47:30.419 --> 47:31.030 very much .