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1 00:00:04,471 --> 00:00:05,271 Mr. Earnest: Good afternoon, everybody. 2 00:00:05,271 --> 00:00:07,871 I apologize for the delayed start to today's briefing. 3 00:00:07,874 --> 00:00:09,514 Let's go right to your questions. 4 00:00:09,509 --> 00:00:10,949 Nancy, do you want to get us started? 5 00:00:10,944 --> 00:00:13,044 Nice to see you today. 6 00:00:13,046 --> 00:00:15,686 The Press: Josh, with time running out on the DHS deadline, 7 00:00:15,682 --> 00:00:21,322 is it time for the President to get more directly involved? 8 00:00:21,321 --> 00:00:24,021 Mr. Earnest: Well, Nancy, right now it seems to be an agreement 9 00:00:24,023 --> 00:00:27,823 -- a disagreement, actually -- principally between the 10 00:00:27,827 --> 00:00:29,297 Republican leader of the House and the Republican 11 00:00:29,295 --> 00:00:31,565 leader of the United States Senate. 12 00:00:31,564 --> 00:00:34,464 And again, Republicans made an aggressive case over the course 13 00:00:34,467 --> 00:00:38,367 of last year about why the American people should entrust 14 00:00:38,371 --> 00:00:40,941 the United States Congress to Republican leadership. 15 00:00:40,940 --> 00:00:44,180 And here we are, seven or eight weeks into their tenure, 16 00:00:44,177 --> 00:00:48,947 and they're on the precipice of falling down on the job. 17 00:00:48,948 --> 00:00:52,648 Particularly when -- and that's notable when we're talking 18 00:00:52,652 --> 00:00:54,652 about something as important as funding the Department 19 00:00:54,654 --> 00:00:55,654 of Homeland Security. 20 00:00:55,655 --> 00:00:58,595 So the President remains engaged. 21 00:00:58,591 --> 00:01:01,191 The President is ready to take phone calls as necessary. 22 00:01:01,194 --> 00:01:04,234 But right now, this is not a partisan dispute; 23 00:01:04,230 --> 00:01:08,270 this is a party dispute among leaders in the Republican Party. 24 00:01:08,268 --> 00:01:10,838 Unfortunately, the people who stand to lose 25 00:01:10,837 --> 00:01:13,677 the most from it are the American people. 26 00:01:13,673 --> 00:01:15,043 The Press: Does the President -- is he willing 27 00:01:15,041 --> 00:01:19,751 to accept a CR if this doesn't get resolved? 28 00:01:19,746 --> 00:01:20,676 Mr. Earnest: Well, right now there's 29 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:22,820 no reason that this shouldn't get resolved. 30 00:01:22,816 --> 00:01:27,186 What's being considered by the United States Senate is a piece 31 00:01:27,187 --> 00:01:30,087 of legislation that would fund the Department of Homeland 32 00:01:30,089 --> 00:01:33,389 Security through the remainder of this fiscal year. 33 00:01:33,393 --> 00:01:35,963 It would not include any ideological or politically 34 00:01:35,962 --> 00:01:39,162 motivated riders, but it would reflect the bipartisan 35 00:01:39,165 --> 00:01:42,465 compromise about appropriate funding levels for that agency. 36 00:01:42,469 --> 00:01:46,169 I'm routinely loathe to make predictions about what's 37 00:01:46,172 --> 00:01:49,212 going to happen when it comes to Congress. 38 00:01:49,209 --> 00:01:51,979 But right now, I think everybody expects that 39 00:01:51,978 --> 00:01:53,978 that piece of legislation, once it actually comes 40 00:01:53,980 --> 00:01:56,250 up for a vote, will get bipartisan support. 41 00:01:56,249 --> 00:01:58,419 And so the question then will be whether 42 00:01:58,418 --> 00:02:01,258 or not the Speaker of the House is going to put 43 00:02:01,254 --> 00:02:02,254 it on the floor. 44 00:02:02,255 --> 00:02:04,625 Because, again, we know that if that piece of legislation 45 00:02:04,624 --> 00:02:07,624 that passes the Senate with bipartisan support is put 46 00:02:07,627 --> 00:02:09,627 on the floor of the House of Representatives, 47 00:02:09,629 --> 00:02:11,629 it would also pass with bipartisan support. 48 00:02:11,631 --> 00:02:15,731 So the question right now is a question for senators 49 00:02:15,735 --> 00:02:17,905 in both parties as they consider that piece of legislation. 50 00:02:17,904 --> 00:02:20,474 I think we have an expectation about what that 51 00:02:20,473 --> 00:02:22,443 outcome is going to be. 52 00:02:22,442 --> 00:02:24,642 Then the question I think will rest with the Speaker 53 00:02:24,644 --> 00:02:25,644 of the House. 54 00:02:25,645 --> 00:02:27,645 And if it's necessary for the President to speak to him 55 00:02:27,647 --> 00:02:29,847 directly about how important it is to fund the Department 56 00:02:29,849 --> 00:02:32,249 of Homeland Security, he'll have that conversation. 57 00:02:32,252 --> 00:02:34,322 But I would anticipate that the Speaker of the House 58 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:39,690 understands the stakes of this action. 59 00:02:39,692 --> 00:02:43,492 And we're hopeful that he will take the responsible course 60 00:02:43,496 --> 00:02:46,566 and allow that bipartisan bill that would fund the agency 61 00:02:46,566 --> 00:02:50,236 for the remainder of this year, to come up for a vote 62 00:02:50,236 --> 00:02:52,636 and pass the House of Representatives. 63 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:54,609 The Press: And then I just have one question on Israel. 64 00:02:54,607 --> 00:02:57,347 Is the decision to send Susan Rice and Samantha Power 65 00:02:57,343 --> 00:03:00,083 to AIPAC this weekend, is that sort of an effort to kind 66 00:03:00,079 --> 00:03:02,449 of dial down the rhetoric that's just been getting 67 00:03:02,448 --> 00:03:04,818 hotter and hotter on both sides? 68 00:03:04,817 --> 00:03:07,557 Mr. Earnest: Well, Nancy, I think the participation 69 00:03:07,554 --> 00:03:10,994 of Ambassador Power and National Security Advisor Rice 70 00:03:10,990 --> 00:03:13,090 is consistent with the kind of administration 71 00:03:13,092 --> 00:03:17,062 participation you've seen in previous AIPAC conferences. 72 00:03:17,063 --> 00:03:19,433 The President's spoke a couple of times over 73 00:03:19,432 --> 00:03:21,432 the course of his tenure in the White House. 74 00:03:21,434 --> 00:03:23,434 I know the Vice President has spoken over there 75 00:03:23,436 --> 00:03:25,436 at least once during that conference. 76 00:03:25,438 --> 00:03:27,438 But it's not at all uncommon for senior administration 77 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,440 officials to also speak at that conference, 78 00:03:29,442 --> 00:03:30,782 and that's what will happen this year. 79 00:03:30,777 --> 00:03:35,817 And certainly if it's perceived by some as an effort 80 00:03:35,815 --> 00:03:41,785 to demonstrate bipartisan support for the relationship 81 00:03:41,788 --> 00:03:44,228 between the United States and Israel, then that 82 00:03:44,223 --> 00:03:45,223 would be great. 83 00:03:45,224 --> 00:03:47,224 That would be a great conclusion. 84 00:03:47,226 --> 00:03:49,226 That certainly is the kind of investment that has 85 00:03:49,228 --> 00:03:51,228 characterized this administration's management 86 00:03:51,230 --> 00:03:52,770 of that relationship. 87 00:03:52,765 --> 00:03:54,735 Unfortunately, that's not the way that everyone has 88 00:03:54,734 --> 00:03:57,334 participated in this dispute over the last several weeks. 89 00:03:57,337 --> 00:04:00,607 And we are hopeful that we can get back to a place where 90 00:04:00,607 --> 00:04:03,247 the national security of the United States, most 91 00:04:03,242 --> 00:04:05,882 importantly, but also the national security of Israel, 92 00:04:05,878 --> 00:04:08,448 can be enhanced by ensuring that our relationship 93 00:04:08,448 --> 00:04:13,148 is not subjected to partisan turbulence. 94 00:04:13,152 --> 00:04:14,152 Jeff. 95 00:04:14,153 --> 00:04:16,153 The Press: Josh, what role did the U.S. 96 00:04:16,155 --> 00:04:19,225 play in the un-masking of so-called Jihadi John? 97 00:04:19,225 --> 00:04:23,065 Mr. Earnest: Well, I have seen those reports over the course 98 00:04:23,062 --> 00:04:30,332 of today and I know that there are some media outlets that 99 00:04:30,336 --> 00:04:34,606 are reporting that this suspect has been identified. 100 00:04:34,607 --> 00:04:37,577 What I can tell you is that the United States government 101 00:04:37,577 --> 00:04:41,247 continues to aggressively investigate the individuals 102 00:04:41,247 --> 00:04:45,017 who are responsible for the murder of American citizens. 103 00:04:45,018 --> 00:04:47,618 And at this point, I'm not in a position to either confirm 104 00:04:47,620 --> 00:04:50,690 or deny that the individual named in these reports 105 00:04:50,690 --> 00:04:53,990 is the individual that we're searching for. 106 00:04:53,993 --> 00:04:56,693 But I can tell you that the United States' commitment and 107 00:04:56,696 --> 00:04:59,766 the President's commitment to ensuring that we find and hold 108 00:04:59,766 --> 00:05:02,136 accountable the terrorists who are responsible for 109 00:05:02,135 --> 00:05:05,535 the murders of American citizens has never been stronger. 110 00:05:05,538 --> 00:05:08,038 And we will continue to work closely with our partners 111 00:05:08,041 --> 00:05:10,811 around the globe, including the British government, 112 00:05:10,810 --> 00:05:12,810 to ensure that these terrorists are brought to justice. 113 00:05:12,812 --> 00:05:14,812 The Press: Can you describe that relationship with the British 114 00:05:14,814 --> 00:05:17,684 government in terms of finding this particular individual, 115 00:05:17,684 --> 00:05:21,924 which side was more active or more successful? 116 00:05:21,921 --> 00:05:25,691 Mr. Earnest: Well, I can just say as a general matter, Jeff, 117 00:05:25,692 --> 00:05:27,932 that, as you know, there is a special relationship that exists 118 00:05:27,927 --> 00:05:30,467 between the United States and the United Kingdom that 119 00:05:30,463 --> 00:05:34,133 characterizes our conversations on a wide variety of areas, 120 00:05:34,133 --> 00:05:37,103 but it certainly applies to the area of national security. 121 00:05:37,103 --> 00:05:39,873 And there are extensive law enforcement and intelligence 122 00:05:39,872 --> 00:05:42,972 resources that have been shared between our two countries 123 00:05:42,975 --> 00:05:45,015 as we search for the individuals who are 124 00:05:45,011 --> 00:05:47,511 responsible for the murder of both U.S. citizens 125 00:05:47,513 --> 00:05:50,113 and some British citizens as well. 126 00:05:50,116 --> 00:05:53,216 So this is something that we continue to be focused 127 00:05:53,219 --> 00:05:56,859 on and it continues to be a priority. 128 00:05:56,856 --> 00:05:59,756 The Press: And on one other national security issue -- 129 00:05:59,759 --> 00:06:01,529 Secretary Kerry said on Saturday that the President 130 00:06:01,527 --> 00:06:05,467 will be making decisions in the next few days about Ukraine 131 00:06:05,465 --> 00:06:10,135 and other steps with regard to sanctions or defensive arms. 132 00:06:10,136 --> 00:06:11,706 Can you give us an update on his thinking 133 00:06:11,704 --> 00:06:14,474 and when you expect a decision to be made? 134 00:06:14,474 --> 00:06:16,414 Mr. Earnest: Jeff, I don't have a specific 135 00:06:16,409 --> 00:06:18,409 update in terms of the President's thinking. 136 00:06:18,411 --> 00:06:20,411 Obviously over the last several weeks, 137 00:06:20,413 --> 00:06:24,913 we have seen negotiators from France and Germany and Ukraine 138 00:06:24,917 --> 00:06:29,227 and Russia convene to try to find a diplomatic resolution 139 00:06:29,222 --> 00:06:34,892 to the escalating conflict in eastern Ukraine. 140 00:06:34,894 --> 00:06:40,034 We have expressed concern about the tendency of the Russians 141 00:06:40,032 --> 00:06:45,342 to pretty flagrantly violate the terms of an agreement 142 00:06:45,338 --> 00:06:47,238 that they had just signed. 143 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:52,780 That does put the Russians at greater risk of isolation and of 144 00:06:52,779 --> 00:06:55,779 additional costs being imposed upon them by the international 145 00:06:55,782 --> 00:06:59,182 community I can tell you that the President's 146 00:06:59,185 --> 00:07:02,385 National Security Advisor, Susan Rice, is convening 147 00:07:02,388 --> 00:07:05,828 a meeting today with her counterparts in Italy, France, 148 00:07:05,825 --> 00:07:09,565 the UK, and Germany to discuss this issue further. 149 00:07:09,562 --> 00:07:16,832 All of these countries have both observed the continued Russian 150 00:07:16,836 --> 00:07:19,006 escalation of the situation. 151 00:07:19,005 --> 00:07:23,005 They also have been an important part of coordinating the effort 152 00:07:23,009 --> 00:07:25,709 to impose costs on Russia. 153 00:07:25,711 --> 00:07:29,411 So these kinds of discussions between the United States and 154 00:07:29,415 --> 00:07:31,985 our counterparts are timely. 155 00:07:31,984 --> 00:07:34,554 And I would anticipate we'll have at least some kind 156 00:07:34,554 --> 00:07:36,554 of readout of that meeting later today. 157 00:07:36,556 --> 00:07:38,556 The Press: Should we anticipate that that meeting is a next 158 00:07:38,558 --> 00:07:41,358 step in another set of sanctions against Russia? 159 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:43,630 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think you should just -- 160 00:07:43,629 --> 00:07:45,769 typically -- let me say it this way. 161 00:07:45,765 --> 00:07:47,935 It is not uncommon for the United States and members of the 162 00:07:47,934 --> 00:07:50,734 President's national security team to be in regular touch with 163 00:07:50,736 --> 00:07:54,436 our close allies, including the four that I just named here. 164 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,080 It is notable that we're convening sort of a group 165 00:07:57,076 --> 00:07:59,246 meeting, if you will. 166 00:07:59,245 --> 00:08:02,245 But I don't have any advance readout of decisions that may 167 00:08:02,248 --> 00:08:05,418 or may not be made in the context of that meeting. 168 00:08:05,418 --> 00:08:06,388 Olivier. 169 00:08:06,385 --> 00:08:07,085 The Press: Josh, a couple for you. 170 00:08:07,086 --> 00:08:10,626 One is, will Susan Rice and Samantha Power have a specific 171 00:08:10,623 --> 00:08:14,463 way to rebut Prime Minister Netanyahu's arguments against 172 00:08:14,460 --> 00:08:16,760 an Iran nuclear deal? 173 00:08:16,762 --> 00:08:19,232 Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't have a specific preview 174 00:08:19,232 --> 00:08:22,172 of their remarks. 175 00:08:22,168 --> 00:08:24,568 I'm not sure of the status of Ambassador Power's remarks, 176 00:08:24,570 --> 00:08:26,610 but I know that Dr. Rice's remarks are 177 00:08:26,606 --> 00:08:28,546 still being written at this point. 178 00:08:28,541 --> 00:08:31,411 But I can tell you that, as previous administration 179 00:08:31,410 --> 00:08:35,010 officials have done at previous AIPAC conferences, 180 00:08:35,014 --> 00:08:38,014 it's an opportunity to demonstrate once again 181 00:08:38,017 --> 00:08:41,287 the commitment of this administration and of this 182 00:08:41,287 --> 00:08:44,987 country to close security cooperation with Israel. 183 00:08:44,991 --> 00:08:48,131 Prime Minister Netanyahu himself has observed that the security 184 00:08:48,127 --> 00:08:50,897 cooperation between the Netanyahu administration 185 00:08:50,897 --> 00:08:54,167 and the Obama administration is unprecedented. 186 00:08:54,166 --> 00:08:56,836 He meant that as a compliment, in a positive way. 187 00:08:56,836 --> 00:08:59,936 And I would expect that that's something you would 188 00:08:59,939 --> 00:09:02,479 hear Ambassador Power and Dr. Rice reiterate 189 00:09:02,475 --> 00:09:04,475 in the context of their remarks. 190 00:09:04,477 --> 00:09:06,477 I also would anticipate that you would hear them talk at least 191 00:09:06,479 --> 00:09:10,819 a little bit about why the administration believes that 192 00:09:10,816 --> 00:09:13,586 it serves the national security interests of the United States 193 00:09:13,586 --> 00:09:16,526 and of Israel to try to resolve the international community's 194 00:09:16,522 --> 00:09:20,692 concerns about Iran's nuclear program diplomatically. 195 00:09:23,129 --> 00:09:25,669 But for a more detailed preview, that may 196 00:09:25,665 --> 00:09:27,665 be something that we can provide at a later date. 197 00:09:27,667 --> 00:09:30,537 The Press: And then, on an unrelated note, 198 00:09:30,536 --> 00:09:33,576 Senator Menendez has written a letter to the administration, 199 00:09:33,572 --> 00:09:38,012 asking -- or insisting, rather, that before you take Cuba off 200 00:09:38,010 --> 00:09:42,210 the list of state sponsors of terrorism, if you do, 201 00:09:42,214 --> 00:09:45,584 that the administration address the fate of a number 202 00:09:45,584 --> 00:09:48,324 of fugitives from U.S. justice. 203 00:09:48,321 --> 00:09:50,821 And I'm wondering whether, as a matter of principle, 204 00:09:50,823 --> 00:09:52,593 the President believes that, in fact, 205 00:09:52,591 --> 00:09:55,091 those fugitives should be turned back over to the United States 206 00:09:55,094 --> 00:09:58,334 in the context of these negotiations. 207 00:09:58,331 --> 00:10:00,131 Mr. Earnest: Well, Olivier, I've heard about the letter; 208 00:10:00,132 --> 00:10:01,672 I haven't read the details of it. 209 00:10:01,667 --> 00:10:05,567 I can tell you that when the President announced at the end 210 00:10:05,571 --> 00:10:07,771 of last year that he was prepared to move toward 211 00:10:07,773 --> 00:10:10,913 normalizing relations between the United States and Cuba, 212 00:10:10,910 --> 00:10:14,150 it was part of an effort to change our strategy in terms 213 00:10:14,146 --> 00:10:16,616 of the way the United States has pressured the Cuban 214 00:10:16,615 --> 00:10:21,155 government to protect and advance the basic 215 00:10:21,153 --> 00:10:22,423 human rights of their citizens. 216 00:10:22,421 --> 00:10:28,591 And part of that process was reviewing Cuba's status 217 00:10:28,594 --> 00:10:32,134 on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. 218 00:10:32,131 --> 00:10:34,401 But essentially, these are two separate processes. 219 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:38,770 There is a process between Diplomats of the United States 220 00:10:38,771 --> 00:10:42,671 and Cuba, where they're talking about normalizing relations 221 00:10:42,675 --> 00:10:45,845 between our two countries and reestablishing diplomatic ties. 222 00:10:45,845 --> 00:10:49,785 This review process about Cuba's status on the state 223 00:10:49,782 --> 00:10:52,282 sponsor of terror list is a separate process, 224 00:10:52,284 --> 00:10:54,754 but it's one that's being driven by the State Department 225 00:10:54,754 --> 00:10:56,754 and it's one that's ongoing. 226 00:10:56,756 --> 00:11:02,196 I would draw a bit of a distinction between terrorists 227 00:11:02,194 --> 00:11:06,734 and those who supports terrorism around the globe and people 228 00:11:06,732 --> 00:11:09,502 who are wanted by the United States of America. 229 00:11:09,502 --> 00:11:11,602 They aren't always the same. 230 00:11:11,604 --> 00:11:12,634 Cheryl. 231 00:11:12,638 --> 00:11:15,008 The Press: Thanks. 232 00:11:15,007 --> 00:11:17,007 One of the administration's priorities this year has been 233 00:11:17,009 --> 00:11:20,149 passage of trade promotion authority. 234 00:11:20,146 --> 00:11:24,146 But I'm wondering -- and I know that some of the Cabinet 235 00:11:24,150 --> 00:11:26,720 secretaries have been out talking about it -- can you 236 00:11:26,719 --> 00:11:30,719 say how close you are to getting the votes to passage 237 00:11:30,723 --> 00:11:33,493 of that in Congress. 238 00:11:33,492 --> 00:11:35,092 Mr. Earnest: Well, as I mentioned at the top, 239 00:11:35,094 --> 00:11:38,194 I am always loathe to make predictions about the speed 240 00:11:38,197 --> 00:11:40,467 and efficiency of the United States Congress. 241 00:11:40,466 --> 00:11:44,406 It's not uncommon for them to not meet those expectations. 242 00:11:44,403 --> 00:11:46,003 But I can tell you that this is a process that 243 00:11:46,005 --> 00:11:48,405 the administration remains committed to, 244 00:11:48,407 --> 00:11:51,707 and it's a process that we remain committed to advancing 245 00:11:51,710 --> 00:11:52,980 in bipartisan fashion. 246 00:11:52,978 --> 00:11:55,448 We know that this is a top priority of many 247 00:11:55,448 --> 00:11:57,848 Republicans in the United States Congress. 248 00:11:57,850 --> 00:12:01,150 There are some Democrats who believe that this is a worthy 249 00:12:01,153 --> 00:12:04,853 endeavor, and certainly those Democrats take heart in knowing 250 00:12:04,857 --> 00:12:10,967 that the President is committed to agreements that strengthen 251 00:12:10,963 --> 00:12:13,663 the standing and expand the opportunity of middle-class 252 00:12:13,666 --> 00:12:15,436 families in the United States. 253 00:12:15,434 --> 00:12:19,404 So the President has pretty high standards when 254 00:12:19,405 --> 00:12:21,805 it comes to considering agreements like this. 255 00:12:21,807 --> 00:12:25,447 There is no doubt, however, that rising U.S. 256 00:12:25,444 --> 00:12:29,514 exports have contributed significantly to our country's 257 00:12:29,515 --> 00:12:33,515 economic strength; that throughout the economic 258 00:12:33,519 --> 00:12:35,519 recovery, since the worst downturn since the Great 259 00:12:35,521 --> 00:12:39,691 Depression, increasing exports have contributed to nearly 260 00:12:39,692 --> 00:12:43,632 one-third of our overall economic growth. 261 00:12:43,629 --> 00:12:45,799 We've also seen that exports have increased by roughly 262 00:12:45,798 --> 00:12:51,268 50 percent since 2009, and between 2009 and 2013, 263 00:12:51,270 --> 00:12:54,810 exports have supported an additional 1.6 million 264 00:12:54,807 --> 00:12:56,077 U.S. jobs. 265 00:12:56,075 --> 00:12:59,675 So there are a variety of metrics that indicate how good 266 00:12:59,678 --> 00:13:02,518 trade agreements that open up opportunities in overseas 267 00:13:02,515 --> 00:13:05,115 markets for American goods and services is good for 268 00:13:05,117 --> 00:13:06,457 the U.S. economy. 269 00:13:06,452 --> 00:13:08,452 That's the reason that the President would 270 00:13:08,454 --> 00:13:10,454 be pursuing an agreement along these lines. 271 00:13:10,456 --> 00:13:12,426 And we're going to need to work with Democrats and Republicans 272 00:13:12,424 --> 00:13:14,464 in Congress to try to make some progress on that. 273 00:13:14,460 --> 00:13:16,560 The good news is that I know that there are some Republicans 274 00:13:16,562 --> 00:13:18,702 who agree with the President when he says that. 275 00:13:18,697 --> 00:13:21,537 So we're going to try to capitalize on that possible area 276 00:13:21,534 --> 00:13:23,534 of common ground in an attempt to work with Democrats and 277 00:13:23,536 --> 00:13:27,276 Republicans to try to advance this through the Congress. 278 00:13:27,273 --> 00:13:28,503 Bill. 279 00:13:28,507 --> 00:13:32,207 The Press: Even though you won't say whether -- you won't 280 00:13:32,211 --> 00:13:34,981 address the name of the so-called "Jihadi John," 281 00:13:34,980 --> 00:13:37,020 does the U.S. government know the name? 282 00:13:37,016 --> 00:13:39,886 Mr. Earnest: Well, if you will recall, Bill, 283 00:13:39,885 --> 00:13:42,655 I guess it was the end of last year, I believe, 284 00:13:42,655 --> 00:13:45,895 that the FBI Director, Jim Comey, 285 00:13:45,891 --> 00:13:52,531 had indicated that investigators had zeroed in on an individual, 286 00:13:52,531 --> 00:13:56,331 based on the careful coordination and investigative 287 00:13:56,335 --> 00:14:00,235 work that has been conducted alongside our British allies. 288 00:14:01,273 --> 00:14:03,243 But whether or not the person that's named in those news 289 00:14:03,242 --> 00:14:07,042 reports is the person in question is something 290 00:14:07,046 --> 00:14:09,286 that I can neither confirm, nor deny. 291 00:14:09,281 --> 00:14:10,281 The Press: In terms of the bigger question, though, 292 00:14:10,282 --> 00:14:16,392 there are thousands of people who have reportedly left 293 00:14:16,388 --> 00:14:18,458 the Western world, and hundreds certainly from 294 00:14:18,457 --> 00:14:23,397 the United States, to fight in service of ISIS. 295 00:14:23,395 --> 00:14:25,795 How is it possible to keep track of these people? 296 00:14:25,798 --> 00:14:27,798 Do you have resources to even do that? 297 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,800 Mr. Earnest: Well, there's no doubt that the challenge that 298 00:14:31,804 --> 00:14:35,644 you're raising is a significant one and one that the President 299 00:14:35,641 --> 00:14:39,741 and other world leaders have identified as a risk. 300 00:14:39,745 --> 00:14:43,815 Now, I believe that the latest assessment as it relates to U.S. 301 00:14:43,816 --> 00:14:48,056 citizens is about 100 or 150 individuals who have either 302 00:14:48,053 --> 00:14:50,793 traveled or attempted to travel to that region 303 00:14:50,789 --> 00:14:54,059 of the world to lend support to ISIL. 304 00:14:54,059 --> 00:14:57,099 But the numbers, when you consider people across 305 00:14:57,096 --> 00:14:59,296 the globe, we're talking about people who have traveled 306 00:14:59,298 --> 00:15:04,608 from more than 90 countries and upwards of 20,000 people. 307 00:15:04,603 --> 00:15:06,703 So this is a significant challenge, 308 00:15:06,705 --> 00:15:09,175 and it's a challenge to which we have devoted 309 00:15:09,174 --> 00:15:10,114 significant resources. 310 00:15:10,109 --> 00:15:14,909 There is an effort -- I guess the best illustration of this 311 00:15:14,913 --> 00:15:16,953 is, as you'll recall, the President convened the U.N. 312 00:15:16,949 --> 00:15:19,819 Security Council last fall -- only the second time a U.S. 313 00:15:19,818 --> 00:15:22,618 President has ever done that -- to talk about this precise 314 00:15:22,621 --> 00:15:24,721 issue, about what the international community can do 315 00:15:24,723 --> 00:15:27,963 to improve our coordination as we fight and mitigate 316 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,500 the threat that is posed by foreign fighters. 317 00:15:30,496 --> 00:15:33,666 And we're using significant law enforcement resources -- 318 00:15:33,666 --> 00:15:37,336 INTERPOL, obviously significant intelligence resources are 319 00:15:37,336 --> 00:15:39,736 dedicated to this; there are important homeland security 320 00:15:39,738 --> 00:15:41,738 resources that are involved. 321 00:15:43,475 --> 00:15:45,815 But this is a risk and a challenge, 322 00:15:45,811 --> 00:15:47,811 and one that we are working very hard to mitigate. 323 00:15:47,813 --> 00:15:51,683 The Press: Can the U.S. follow each of the people, 324 00:15:51,684 --> 00:15:53,784 those who have left these shores? 325 00:15:53,786 --> 00:15:57,086 Mr. Earnest: Well, I'd refer you to our national security experts 326 00:15:57,089 --> 00:16:00,329 in terms of how exactly we mitigate this threat. 327 00:16:00,326 --> 00:16:03,026 There are a variety of ways that we do exactly that. 328 00:16:03,028 --> 00:16:07,568 And one of those ways is to do our best to monitor the 329 00:16:07,566 --> 00:16:10,166 movements of individuals that may have traveled to the region 330 00:16:10,169 --> 00:16:13,139 and may be seeking to use their Western passport to travel back. 331 00:16:13,138 --> 00:16:14,508 We're cognizant of that. 332 00:16:14,506 --> 00:16:16,746 The other thing that we are also aware of is trying 333 00:16:16,742 --> 00:16:19,442 to prevent people from going in the first place. 334 00:16:19,445 --> 00:16:23,785 And that was part of what we talked about at the Countering 335 00:16:23,782 --> 00:16:26,552 Violent Extremism Summit here at the White House last week. 336 00:16:26,552 --> 00:16:28,922 But this is part of an ongoing effort to try to prevent 337 00:16:28,921 --> 00:16:30,921 people from even going in the first place, 338 00:16:30,923 --> 00:16:33,023 and there are significant DHS resources 339 00:16:33,025 --> 00:16:34,025 that we can use to do that. 340 00:16:34,026 --> 00:16:35,196 The Press: But the basic question is, 341 00:16:35,194 --> 00:16:37,234 can you monitor them all? 342 00:16:37,229 --> 00:16:39,469 Mr. Earnest: Well, obviously, we're talking about 20,000 343 00:16:39,465 --> 00:16:41,735 people, and there are a variety of ways that we can 344 00:16:41,734 --> 00:16:44,704 counter and mitigate the threat that they pose 345 00:16:44,703 --> 00:16:46,143 to the United States and the West, and we're working 346 00:16:46,138 --> 00:16:48,438 very aggressively to do that. 347 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:50,010 Jim. 348 00:16:50,008 --> 00:16:53,308 The Press: Josh, does the naming of Jihadi John 349 00:16:53,312 --> 00:16:57,412 help or hurt the effort to capture or kill him? 350 00:16:57,416 --> 00:16:59,956 Mr. Earnest: Well, that may be a question that's better posed 351 00:16:59,952 --> 00:17:02,452 to our law enforcement and national security officials 352 00:17:02,454 --> 00:17:07,594 who are responsible for bringing that individual to justice. 353 00:17:07,593 --> 00:17:11,463 And we are focused on making sure that the terrorists 354 00:17:11,463 --> 00:17:13,463 who are responsible for the killing of these 355 00:17:13,465 --> 00:17:15,465 innocent Americans are brought to justice. 356 00:17:15,467 --> 00:17:19,267 But as it relates, again, to these specific reports, 357 00:17:19,271 --> 00:17:23,981 I can neither confirm nor deny their accuracy. 358 00:17:23,976 --> 00:17:24,606 The Press: But the United States, 359 00:17:24,610 --> 00:17:26,280 does it have a position on whether 360 00:17:26,278 --> 00:17:27,448 or not he should be named? 361 00:17:27,446 --> 00:17:32,256 Does it help in finding him or hurt in finding him? 362 00:17:32,251 --> 00:17:32,981 Can you answer that? 363 00:17:32,985 --> 00:17:35,625 Mr. Earnest: Well, I have not seen a specific request 364 00:17:35,621 --> 00:17:38,221 necessarily from this government and I don't believe 365 00:17:38,223 --> 00:17:41,123 there's been one from the British government -- 366 00:17:41,126 --> 00:17:42,426 well, let me say it this way. 367 00:17:42,428 --> 00:17:46,998 I do think that you can infer from 368 00:17:46,999 --> 00:17:52,069 the fact that neither the U.S. government, nor 369 00:17:52,070 --> 00:17:54,340 the British government is confirming the 370 00:17:54,339 --> 00:17:57,209 identity of this individual or the accuracy of these 371 00:17:57,209 --> 00:18:02,449 reports is an indication that the investigation 372 00:18:02,448 --> 00:18:05,488 is one that we are pursuing rather aggressively. 373 00:18:05,484 --> 00:18:08,454 And over the last several months, at least, 374 00:18:08,454 --> 00:18:12,954 our investigators have found it to their advantage to not talk 375 00:18:12,958 --> 00:18:17,898 publicly about the details or progress of that investigation. 376 00:18:17,896 --> 00:18:19,996 But again, as it relates to these reports and their 377 00:18:19,998 --> 00:18:22,538 veracity, I can't confirm or deny them. 378 00:18:22,534 --> 00:18:25,504 The Press: On another subject then, Cuba. 379 00:18:25,504 --> 00:18:29,444 The second round of negotiations begins tomorrow here 380 00:18:29,441 --> 00:18:33,211 in Washington, D.C. What do you expect to be accomplished? 381 00:18:33,212 --> 00:18:34,442 Will there be deliverables? 382 00:18:34,446 --> 00:18:38,956 Will, in fact, embassies be reopened soon? 383 00:18:38,951 --> 00:18:42,021 Mr. Earnest: Jim, it's correct that tomorrow, Friday, 384 00:18:42,020 --> 00:18:44,520 February 27th, the United States will host a delegation 385 00:18:44,523 --> 00:18:46,363 from the Cuban government to discuss 386 00:18:46,358 --> 00:18:49,028 reestablishing diplomatic relations. 387 00:18:49,027 --> 00:18:51,327 The delegation for the United States will be led 388 00:18:51,330 --> 00:18:53,330 by Assistant Secretary of State for Western 389 00:18:53,332 --> 00:18:55,332 Hemisphere Affairs, Roberta Jacobson. 390 00:18:55,334 --> 00:18:57,874 The Cuban delegation will be led by Josefina Vidal, 391 00:18:57,870 --> 00:18:59,870 who's the Director-General of the U.S. 392 00:18:59,872 --> 00:19:01,872 Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 393 00:19:01,874 --> 00:19:04,114 These talks continue the dialogue that was initiated 394 00:19:04,109 --> 00:19:08,009 by the parties on January 22nd in Havana. 395 00:19:08,013 --> 00:19:11,053 These talks also represent a key step in implementing 396 00:19:11,049 --> 00:19:13,289 the new direction in U.S. - Cuba relations 397 00:19:13,285 --> 00:19:16,125 announced by the president last December. 398 00:19:16,121 --> 00:19:17,691 During the talks in Havana, 399 00:19:17,689 --> 00:19:19,329 the parties identified a set of issues that 400 00:19:19,324 --> 00:19:22,124 need to be addressed as we reestablish diplomatic 401 00:19:22,127 --> 00:19:24,367 relations between our countries. 402 00:19:24,363 --> 00:19:26,063 We discussed, among other things, 403 00:19:26,064 --> 00:19:28,064 the opening of embassies in our respective countries, 404 00:19:28,066 --> 00:19:30,066 and stated our expectation that the U.S. 405 00:19:30,068 --> 00:19:32,868 embassy in Havana and the Cuban embassy in Washington 406 00:19:32,871 --> 00:19:35,041 will operate the way diplomatic missions 407 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:36,070 do throughout the world. 408 00:19:36,074 --> 00:19:38,674 And we look forward to building upon our previous conversations 409 00:19:38,677 --> 00:19:42,117 and beginning ways to address these issues that 410 00:19:42,114 --> 00:19:43,114 we have identified. 411 00:19:43,115 --> 00:19:45,855 The Press: Do you expect that they'll be successful this week? 412 00:19:45,851 --> 00:19:47,851 Mr. Earnest: Well, certainly these kinds 413 00:19:47,853 --> 00:19:51,853 of diplomatic exchanges represent an effort 414 00:19:51,857 --> 00:19:54,197 to try to propel our relationship forward. 415 00:19:54,192 --> 00:19:57,932 And again, the President was very clear that it does 416 00:19:57,930 --> 00:20:00,200 reflect a new strategy that we're pursuing. 417 00:20:00,198 --> 00:20:03,138 The previous strategy, one that had been pursued for more than 418 00:20:03,135 --> 00:20:07,735 50 years, was to try to isolate Cuba and to try to use that 419 00:20:07,739 --> 00:20:11,709 isolation as pressure on them to change the way they 420 00:20:11,710 --> 00:20:12,710 treat their citizens. 421 00:20:12,711 --> 00:20:16,181 For 50 years, that strategy was implemented 422 00:20:16,181 --> 00:20:18,081 with very little to show for it. 423 00:20:18,083 --> 00:20:20,383 And the President believes it's time to try a new strategy 424 00:20:20,385 --> 00:20:23,555 where we more thoroughly engage the government, 425 00:20:23,555 --> 00:20:26,725 and more thoroughly engage the people to give them more voice 426 00:20:26,725 --> 00:20:30,765 and to give the Cuban people the opportunity to have more say 427 00:20:30,762 --> 00:20:32,762 in the direction of their country and in the leadership 428 00:20:32,764 --> 00:20:33,964 of their country. 429 00:20:33,966 --> 00:20:36,206 The Press: And, finally, in an interview with Governor Abbott 430 00:20:36,201 --> 00:20:41,141 of Texas, he said that it's not his responsibility -- even 431 00:20:41,139 --> 00:20:45,239 though his lawsuit, in fact, stopped at least temporarily the 432 00:20:45,243 --> 00:20:48,583 President's executive actions -- it's not his responsibility 433 00:20:48,580 --> 00:20:51,480 to figure out what to do with the 11 million undocumented 434 00:20:51,483 --> 00:20:53,223 immigrations who are in this country; 435 00:20:53,218 --> 00:20:55,088 that it's the President's to work with Congress. 436 00:20:55,087 --> 00:20:57,857 Does the President have any new initiatives that he's going to 437 00:20:57,856 --> 00:21:01,556 present to Congress on how to least deal with the 11 million 438 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:07,330 who are here while this court ruling stands? 439 00:21:07,332 --> 00:21:09,032 Mr. Earnest: Well, a number of things come to mind -- I didn't 440 00:21:09,034 --> 00:21:12,434 see the specific interview that you're referencing. 441 00:21:12,437 --> 00:21:14,477 The first thing that comes to mind is I think that everybody 442 00:21:14,473 --> 00:21:18,313 understands that it is unrealistic to suggest that 443 00:21:18,310 --> 00:21:20,650 the United States will devote the resources 444 00:21:20,646 --> 00:21:25,186 to deporting all 11 million people who are here. 445 00:21:25,183 --> 00:21:26,183 It's unrealistic. 446 00:21:26,184 --> 00:21:27,684 It would be cost-prohibitive. 447 00:21:27,686 --> 00:21:29,686 And the President talked a little bit in the town hall 448 00:21:29,688 --> 00:21:31,688 meeting yesterday about the negative economic 449 00:21:31,690 --> 00:21:34,230 consequences that would have for the country. 450 00:21:34,226 --> 00:21:37,196 What the President has cited is that we should actually 451 00:21:37,195 --> 00:21:40,435 bring some accountability to our immigration system. 452 00:21:40,432 --> 00:21:45,342 And one way we can do that is to offer some relief to those 453 00:21:45,337 --> 00:21:47,877 individuals that have family members in this country and that 454 00:21:47,873 --> 00:21:50,113 have been in this country for a number of years. 455 00:21:50,108 --> 00:21:52,578 And by doing so, we can bring them out of the shadows; 456 00:21:52,577 --> 00:21:54,577 we can submit them to background checks; 457 00:21:54,579 --> 00:21:56,719 we can weed out those individuals who may pose a 458 00:21:56,715 --> 00:22:01,555 threat to public safety; and then we can also ensure 459 00:22:01,553 --> 00:22:03,523 that those individuals are paying taxes. 460 00:22:03,522 --> 00:22:05,862 And according to a lot of independent analysis, 461 00:22:05,857 --> 00:22:08,027 that would have very positive economic benefits 462 00:22:08,026 --> 00:22:09,596 for the country. 463 00:22:09,594 --> 00:22:11,864 And we've seen that a number of law enforcement officials, 464 00:22:11,863 --> 00:22:15,733 including some local law enforcement officials in Texas, 465 00:22:15,734 --> 00:22:19,234 have said that it would make their communities safer. 466 00:22:21,673 --> 00:22:22,343 The Press: I understand your position. 467 00:22:22,340 --> 00:22:26,650 Is the President going to Congress now, again, 468 00:22:26,645 --> 00:22:29,015 with a new plan, saying let's deal with this? 469 00:22:29,014 --> 00:22:31,554 Or is he just going to sit back and wait and see whether 470 00:22:31,550 --> 00:22:35,450 or not they adopt Senate did a year ago? 471 00:22:35,454 --> 00:22:37,924 Mr. Earnest: Well, the President is certainly interested 472 00:22:37,923 --> 00:22:40,663 in seeing Congress move forward on compromise, 473 00:22:40,659 --> 00:22:44,299 common-sense immigration reform legislation. 474 00:22:44,296 --> 00:22:47,996 The United States Senate did do that in 2013, 475 00:22:47,999 --> 00:22:51,239 and we certainly would be supportive of the Congress 476 00:22:51,236 --> 00:22:53,706 picking up where they left off, seeing the Senate pass 477 00:22:53,705 --> 00:22:56,245 that legislation and finally have it be brought 478 00:22:56,241 --> 00:22:58,241 to the floor of the House of Representatives. 479 00:22:58,243 --> 00:23:00,413 But the fact is that was something that was blocked 480 00:23:00,412 --> 00:23:02,882 by congressional Republicans for a year and a half. 481 00:23:02,881 --> 00:23:04,881 And there's been no indication that they're prepared 482 00:23:04,883 --> 00:23:07,123 to change their position, at least yet. 483 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:09,889 But if there are additional conversations that members of 484 00:23:09,888 --> 00:23:11,888 Congress want to have with the President about trying 485 00:23:11,890 --> 00:23:14,660 to pass immigration reform legislation, the President 486 00:23:14,659 --> 00:23:16,659 would be happy to have those conversations. 487 00:23:16,661 --> 00:23:18,661 In fact, I'm confident that the President would 488 00:23:18,663 --> 00:23:20,663 be happy to host those conversations. 489 00:23:20,665 --> 00:23:22,635 But we haven't seen a lot of interest in this from 490 00:23:22,634 --> 00:23:24,804 Republicans on Capitol Hill. 491 00:23:24,803 --> 00:23:28,473 And the fact is that means that means that they are continuing 492 00:23:28,473 --> 00:23:33,243 to advance a system that is the closest thing that we have to 493 00:23:33,245 --> 00:23:35,715 amnesty; that right now, because of their failure to act, 494 00:23:35,714 --> 00:23:39,154 and because they're aided and abetted by people like Governor 495 00:23:39,151 --> 00:23:41,351 Abbott, we have 11 million people running around this 496 00:23:41,353 --> 00:23:43,593 country without being held accountable for it. 497 00:23:43,588 --> 00:23:46,358 And the President has proposed a common-sense way 498 00:23:46,358 --> 00:23:48,558 that's well within his executive authority to bring 499 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:50,560 some accountability to the system. 500 00:23:50,562 --> 00:23:52,702 To make these individuals who've been here for some time 501 00:23:52,697 --> 00:23:55,837 submit to a background check, pay their taxes. 502 00:23:55,834 --> 00:23:58,904 It also has the benefit of ensuring that some of these 503 00:23:58,904 --> 00:24:02,674 individuals who have been in this country for a substantial 504 00:24:02,674 --> 00:24:05,374 period of time and are making a tangible contribution to these 505 00:24:05,377 --> 00:24:09,677 communities no longer have to live in fear of one day being 506 00:24:09,681 --> 00:24:11,221 separated from their family. 507 00:24:11,216 --> 00:24:15,016 So the President has been put forward a common-sense solution 508 00:24:15,020 --> 00:24:17,690 both in legislative form; he has also taken steps to try 509 00:24:17,689 --> 00:24:19,689 to address this problem and bring some accountability 510 00:24:19,691 --> 00:24:22,091 to the system using his executive authority. 511 00:24:22,093 --> 00:24:25,163 And, frankly, it is irresponsible for Republicans 512 00:24:25,163 --> 00:24:27,463 to not act on this. 513 00:24:27,465 --> 00:24:28,065 Okay, Ed. 514 00:24:28,066 --> 00:24:30,306 The Press: Josh, are there are any regrets here on the Clinton 515 00:24:30,302 --> 00:24:33,442 Foundation story that the ethics deal that White House aides, 516 00:24:33,438 --> 00:24:36,108 administration officials negotiated with Secretary 517 00:24:36,107 --> 00:24:38,647 Clinton and the Clinton Foundation failed to prevent 518 00:24:38,643 --> 00:24:41,343 the Algerian government from contributing half a million 519 00:24:41,346 --> 00:24:45,586 dollars to the Clinton Foundation the very time that 520 00:24:45,584 --> 00:24:48,954 they were lobbying this White House, the State Department? 521 00:24:48,954 --> 00:24:51,994 Wasn't this what the President was trying to prevent? 522 00:24:51,990 --> 00:24:55,130 Mr. Earnest: Well, Ed, let's go back to 2008. 523 00:24:55,126 --> 00:24:58,666 At the end of 2008, there was a memorandum of understanding 524 00:24:58,663 --> 00:25:03,633 that was drafted between the then-transition team and the 525 00:25:03,635 --> 00:25:07,705 Clinton Foundation, and the goal of that memorandum was to ensure 526 00:25:07,706 --> 00:25:10,746 that the excellent work that is being done at the Clinton 527 00:25:10,742 --> 00:25:12,942 Foundation could continue. 528 00:25:12,944 --> 00:25:18,154 This is work that involves providing HIV and AIDS medicine 529 00:25:18,149 --> 00:25:19,919 to children in Africa. 530 00:25:19,918 --> 00:25:21,918 It involves trying to meet the needs of people who 531 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:22,920 are in extreme poverty. 532 00:25:22,921 --> 00:25:25,861 Later it involved trying to bring relief to the citizens of 533 00:25:25,857 --> 00:25:28,597 Haiti who had been struck by a terrible earthquake -- that they 534 00:25:28,593 --> 00:25:30,733 were doing very important work, and we wanted to make sure that 535 00:25:30,729 --> 00:25:34,469 that work could continue without interfering with 536 00:25:34,466 --> 00:25:37,266 the responsibility of Secretary Clinton to represent 537 00:25:37,269 --> 00:25:39,709 the United States government in an official capacity. 538 00:25:39,704 --> 00:25:44,544 And that memorandum of understanding went beyond the 539 00:25:44,542 --> 00:25:46,882 baseline ethical guidelines. 540 00:25:46,878 --> 00:25:51,318 It put in place some additional requirements to ensure that 541 00:25:51,316 --> 00:25:54,486 we could -- that the Clinton Foundation could continue its 542 00:25:54,486 --> 00:25:57,726 work, and that the Secretary of State could do her work 543 00:25:57,722 --> 00:25:59,922 without even the appearance of a conflict of interest. 544 00:25:59,925 --> 00:26:02,665 And we are -- The Press: But it failed then, 545 00:26:02,661 --> 00:26:04,661 because then a half million dollars came in from 546 00:26:04,663 --> 00:26:06,963 a government that was accused of human rights abuses 547 00:26:06,965 --> 00:26:11,505 and was lobbying this administration for relief. 548 00:26:11,503 --> 00:26:13,843 How do you explain then, given these wonderful ethics rules 549 00:26:13,838 --> 00:26:15,778 that this mistake was made? 550 00:26:15,774 --> 00:26:18,814 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, for compliance with the memorandum 551 00:26:18,810 --> 00:26:20,810 of understanding, I'd refer you to the State Department. 552 00:26:20,812 --> 00:26:23,952 They're ultimately responsible for executing the agreement. 553 00:26:23,949 --> 00:26:26,289 And obviously there was some responsibility at the Clinton 554 00:26:26,284 --> 00:26:27,254 Foundation to live up to it. 555 00:26:27,252 --> 00:26:28,892 The Press: -- the White House's reputation on the line. 556 00:26:28,887 --> 00:26:31,787 This was a negotiation between, as I recall, 557 00:26:31,790 --> 00:26:33,790 very senior people like Valerie Jarrett. 558 00:26:33,792 --> 00:26:35,792 This is not just the State Department, 559 00:26:35,794 --> 00:26:36,794 not just a foundation. 560 00:26:36,795 --> 00:26:38,995 Does the President have any concerns? 561 00:26:38,997 --> 00:26:41,137 You laid out all the wonderful work the foundation does. 562 00:26:41,132 --> 00:26:42,132 No dispute there. 563 00:26:42,133 --> 00:26:44,633 But what about the appearance of impropriety, 564 00:26:44,636 --> 00:26:48,806 these foreign governments trying to get access and wield 565 00:26:48,807 --> 00:26:51,807 influence in this President's administration? 566 00:26:51,810 --> 00:26:54,480 Mr. Earnest: Well, it is the responsibility 567 00:26:54,479 --> 00:27:00,849 of the Department of State to determine how compliance was 568 00:27:00,852 --> 00:27:03,552 enforced when it comes to the memorandum of understanding. 569 00:27:03,555 --> 00:27:04,355 The Press: Or not, right? 570 00:27:04,356 --> 00:27:05,556 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, it's their responsibility 571 00:27:05,557 --> 00:27:07,697 to monitor the agreement. 572 00:27:07,692 --> 00:27:09,692 And so I'd refer you to them for questions about this. 573 00:27:09,694 --> 00:27:11,694 But I can tell you that the President is obviously very 574 00:27:11,696 --> 00:27:13,696 pleased with the way that Secretary Clinton represented 575 00:27:13,698 --> 00:27:15,998 the United States around the globe during her tenure 576 00:27:16,001 --> 00:27:16,901 over in Foggy Bottom. 577 00:27:16,901 --> 00:27:17,971 The Press: Is the President disappointed at all that this 578 00:27:17,969 --> 00:27:20,069 money came in despite the ethics rules? 579 00:27:20,071 --> 00:27:22,371 Mr. Earnest: The President thinks very highly of the work 580 00:27:22,374 --> 00:27:24,244 that Secretary Clinton did while she was in office. 581 00:27:24,242 --> 00:27:24,572 The Press: Okay. 582 00:27:24,576 --> 00:27:26,976 I want to ask you about ISIS and Secretary Kerry. 583 00:27:26,978 --> 00:27:30,118 Yesterday, he testified on Capitol Hill and said, 584 00:27:30,115 --> 00:27:33,185 "Despite ISIL, despite the visible killings that you see 585 00:27:33,184 --> 00:27:35,884 and how horrific they are, we are actually living 586 00:27:35,887 --> 00:27:38,227 in a period of less daily threat to Americans 587 00:27:38,223 --> 00:27:40,763 and to people in the world than normally. 588 00:27:40,759 --> 00:27:42,029 Less deaths. 589 00:27:42,027 --> 00:27:43,897 Less violent deaths." 590 00:27:43,895 --> 00:27:46,695 When you have, tragically, American families have seen 591 00:27:46,698 --> 00:27:50,168 their family members beheaded by ISIS, 592 00:27:50,168 --> 00:27:53,538 we see these images every day -- how could Secretary Kerry 593 00:27:53,538 --> 00:27:55,008 make the claim to the American people, 594 00:27:55,006 --> 00:27:58,346 to the world that we're safer than we were before? 595 00:27:58,343 --> 00:28:00,343 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think he could 596 00:28:00,345 --> 00:28:02,315 do so with the evidence on his side. 597 00:28:02,313 --> 00:28:04,353 What he was able to demonstrate, and I think what he was 598 00:28:04,349 --> 00:28:08,419 discussing, is the success that our military campaign has had 599 00:28:08,420 --> 00:28:12,020 in applying significant pressure to the ISIS leadership; 600 00:28:12,023 --> 00:28:15,463 that there are thousands of strikes that have been conducted 601 00:28:15,460 --> 00:28:18,330 by the United States and our coalition partners to take out 602 00:28:18,329 --> 00:28:20,999 ISIL targets, in some cases, even ISIL leadership targets. 603 00:28:20,999 --> 00:28:23,169 Supply lines have been destroyed, 604 00:28:23,168 --> 00:28:25,168 fighting positions have been destroyed. 605 00:28:25,170 --> 00:28:28,510 And what this has done is it has prevented ISIL from being 606 00:28:28,506 --> 00:28:31,606 able to operate comfortably in Iraq and in Syria. 607 00:28:31,609 --> 00:28:34,809 We have been concerned from the very beginning that ISIL would 608 00:28:34,813 --> 00:28:39,553 attempt to use all of the instability and chaos in Syria 609 00:28:39,551 --> 00:28:42,691 to try to establish a safe haven that they could then use 610 00:28:42,687 --> 00:28:45,527 to launch targets in other locations in the world, 611 00:28:45,523 --> 00:28:47,723 and because of the pressure that we have applied, 612 00:28:47,725 --> 00:28:50,595 because of the strategy that we have pursued to have fighters 613 00:28:50,595 --> 00:28:52,595 on the ground to take the fight to ISIL, 614 00:28:52,597 --> 00:28:55,067 and to back them up with military and coalition 615 00:28:55,066 --> 00:28:58,366 airstrikes, that pressure has been applied and that has 616 00:28:58,369 --> 00:29:03,379 reduced the ability of ISIL to expand their reign of terror. 617 00:29:03,374 --> 00:29:06,244 That said, ISIL continues to be very dangerous, 618 00:29:06,244 --> 00:29:09,644 and there have been tragic incidents of violence in which 619 00:29:09,647 --> 00:29:12,017 Americans have been killed -- The Press: You just said this 620 00:29:12,016 --> 00:29:14,456 is preventing ISIL from expanding their reign of terror? 621 00:29:14,452 --> 00:29:17,592 Mr. Earnest: That's correct, Ed, that we have been concerned that 622 00:29:17,589 --> 00:29:20,489 ISIL would try to establish Syria as a safe haven where 623 00:29:20,492 --> 00:29:24,062 they could then use that area to plan and execute 624 00:29:24,062 --> 00:29:26,062 terror attacks all around the globe. 625 00:29:26,064 --> 00:29:28,064 The Press: Would you disagree with James Clapper, 626 00:29:28,066 --> 00:29:29,336 the President's Director of National Intelligence? 627 00:29:29,334 --> 00:29:30,764 Because he gave very direct testimony today, 628 00:29:30,768 --> 00:29:33,568 among other things, said that 2014 is shaping up to be the 629 00:29:33,571 --> 00:29:38,011 most terror attacks and deaths than the previous 45 years that 630 00:29:38,009 --> 00:29:41,379 this data has been collected, and said that in 55 years 631 00:29:41,379 --> 00:29:44,519 of his personal involvement in intelligence, 632 00:29:44,516 --> 00:29:47,716 he's never seen a bigger threat to the world right now. 633 00:29:47,719 --> 00:29:49,959 How does that square with everything you just said? 634 00:29:49,954 --> 00:29:51,954 He's the President's Director of National Intelligence. 635 00:29:51,956 --> 00:29:53,956 Mr. Earnest: That's right, and he is somebody 636 00:29:53,958 --> 00:29:56,028 who is reviewing this intelligence on a daily basis. 637 00:29:56,027 --> 00:29:58,027 What we're talking about here is their capacity. 638 00:29:58,029 --> 00:30:01,369 Their capacity has been limited because of our efforts in Iraq 639 00:30:01,366 --> 00:30:03,636 and in Syria, because of our efforts to shut down their 640 00:30:03,635 --> 00:30:06,175 financing, because of our efforts to use military airpower 641 00:30:06,171 --> 00:30:09,641 to take out ISIL targets, because of our efforts to arm 642 00:30:09,641 --> 00:30:12,411 and equip fighters on the ground to take the fight to them. 643 00:30:12,410 --> 00:30:14,510 We are seeing the ISIL leadership is not 644 00:30:14,512 --> 00:30:17,552 operating comfortably in that area of the world, 645 00:30:17,549 --> 00:30:20,919 and they're under extensive and extreme pressure. 646 00:30:20,919 --> 00:30:22,919 That does not mean that the threat that they pose has been 647 00:30:22,921 --> 00:30:23,921 eliminated. 648 00:30:23,922 --> 00:30:25,922 There is significant work that remains to be done. 649 00:30:25,924 --> 00:30:27,924 And it's important for us to be vigilant. 650 00:30:27,926 --> 00:30:29,926 It's why we're going to continue to pursue this 651 00:30:29,928 --> 00:30:32,168 multifaceted strategy to shut down their financing, 652 00:30:32,163 --> 00:30:34,163 to try to shut down the flow of foreign fighters, 653 00:30:34,165 --> 00:30:37,235 to try to counter their messaging that radicalizes 654 00:30:37,235 --> 00:30:38,365 people around the globe. 655 00:30:38,369 --> 00:30:41,839 And we're going to continue to train and equip even more 656 00:30:41,839 --> 00:30:44,039 fighters to take the fight to them on the ground. 657 00:30:44,042 --> 00:30:46,712 And we're going to continue this airstrike campaign 658 00:30:46,711 --> 00:30:47,711 against them. 659 00:30:47,712 --> 00:30:52,182 And that has allowed us to make progress against them. 660 00:30:52,183 --> 00:30:54,453 But the effort to degrade and ultimately destroy 661 00:30:54,452 --> 00:30:56,192 them is one that's going to continue. 662 00:30:56,187 --> 00:30:56,787 The Press: And last one. 663 00:30:56,788 --> 00:30:58,628 Last summer you said that a lot of the President's 664 00:30:58,623 --> 00:31:01,793 efforts have brought tranquility to the world. 665 00:31:01,793 --> 00:31:03,293 Do you stand by that? 666 00:31:03,294 --> 00:31:05,964 Mr. Earnest: I stand by the fact that what the President has done 667 00:31:05,964 --> 00:31:09,604 on numerous occasions -- has used American influence, 668 00:31:09,601 --> 00:31:12,901 American diplomacy, and American military power to try 669 00:31:12,904 --> 00:31:14,904 to make the world a safer place for the American people. 670 00:31:14,906 --> 00:31:17,546 And there is no doubt that we face significant threats from 671 00:31:17,542 --> 00:31:20,742 terrorist organizations and others around the globe. 672 00:31:20,745 --> 00:31:22,515 The world is a dangerous place. 673 00:31:22,513 --> 00:31:24,953 But there is no doubt that the President is using his authority 674 00:31:24,949 --> 00:31:27,349 as the Commander-in-Chief to protect the American people 675 00:31:27,352 --> 00:31:30,122 and to make it a safer place for the American people. 676 00:31:30,121 --> 00:31:31,721 Alexis. 677 00:31:31,723 --> 00:31:33,093 The Press: Two quick questions. 678 00:31:33,091 --> 00:31:35,961 Can you indicate what the President's reaction to the FCC 679 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:38,400 ruling on net neutrality is and whether he looks forward 680 00:31:38,396 --> 00:31:42,866 to the government defending the FCC's ruling in court? 681 00:31:42,867 --> 00:31:45,507 Mr. Earnest: Alexis, I have not -- when I walked 682 00:31:45,503 --> 00:31:47,843 up here they had not yet taken the final vote 683 00:31:47,839 --> 00:31:51,539 on this net neutrality provision. 684 00:31:51,542 --> 00:31:55,652 This is an independent process, so what I will say is I know 685 00:31:55,647 --> 00:31:57,617 they're planning to vote on it later today. 686 00:31:57,615 --> 00:31:59,455 Once they take a vote on that measure, 687 00:31:59,450 --> 00:32:02,550 we'll evaluate exactly what it is they voted on -- 688 00:32:02,553 --> 00:32:03,053 The Press: They did. 689 00:32:03,054 --> 00:32:03,784 Mr. Earnest: They did? 690 00:32:03,788 --> 00:32:04,118 Okay. 691 00:32:04,122 --> 00:32:06,622 So our policy team will be taking a look 692 00:32:06,624 --> 00:32:08,324 exactly what it is that they approved. 693 00:32:08,326 --> 00:32:11,526 Early indications were that it was going to be in line and 694 00:32:11,529 --> 00:32:14,599 consistent with the position that the President had 695 00:32:14,599 --> 00:32:15,899 articulated last November. 696 00:32:15,900 --> 00:32:19,100 But we'll take a look at that, and once our policy folks have 697 00:32:19,103 --> 00:32:21,873 had an opportunity to review the policy that they've approved, 698 00:32:21,873 --> 00:32:23,813 we'll have a reaction from the President for you. 699 00:32:23,808 --> 00:32:25,348 The Press: The second question relates to Ukraine. 700 00:32:25,343 --> 00:32:28,383 I wanted to go back to the question of costs 701 00:32:28,379 --> 00:32:30,349 that are on the table. 702 00:32:30,348 --> 00:32:34,988 Is the President supportive of talking to allies about 703 00:32:34,986 --> 00:32:40,796 the potential of coordinating jettisoning Russia from SWIFT? 704 00:32:44,095 --> 00:32:44,825 Mr. Earnest: I don't. 705 00:32:44,829 --> 00:32:46,129 The Press: Okay. 706 00:32:46,130 --> 00:32:51,870 SWIFT is like the ATM, it's like the ability in which 707 00:32:51,869 --> 00:32:55,739 the banking money moves so that Russia can tap into -- 708 00:32:55,740 --> 00:32:56,310 Mr. Earnest: I see. 709 00:32:56,307 --> 00:32:58,607 The Press: And that is one cost 710 00:32:58,609 --> 00:33:01,079 that's been talked about potentially. 711 00:33:01,079 --> 00:33:01,549 Mr. Earnest: I see. 712 00:33:01,546 --> 00:33:03,916 Well, I can tell you that I'm sure my colleagues at the 713 00:33:03,915 --> 00:33:05,985 Treasury Department know a whole lot more about this than I 714 00:33:05,983 --> 00:33:10,523 obviously do, so I'd refer you to them in terms of getting a 715 00:33:10,521 --> 00:33:13,321 better sense about what sort of options they're considering. 716 00:33:13,324 --> 00:33:15,494 We have in the past been reluctant to talk about the 717 00:33:15,493 --> 00:33:18,333 options that we're considering because we wouldn't want to 718 00:33:18,329 --> 00:33:21,229 essentially announce the steps that we are preparing to take 719 00:33:21,232 --> 00:33:23,832 because it would only allow individuals who would be the 720 00:33:23,835 --> 00:33:27,935 targets of those steps to take actions that would move their 721 00:33:27,939 --> 00:33:30,709 money around or shield them from the steps that we're 722 00:33:30,708 --> 00:33:31,478 trying to take. 723 00:33:31,476 --> 00:33:35,716 But for better insight into the policy dilemma, 724 00:33:35,713 --> 00:33:37,713 or at least the policy decision that needs to be made on this, 725 00:33:37,715 --> 00:33:39,885 I'd refer you to the Treasury Department. 726 00:33:39,884 --> 00:33:41,524 April. 727 00:33:41,519 --> 00:33:42,959 The Press: Josh, I want to ask you a couple questions. 728 00:33:42,954 --> 00:33:45,954 With everything that's going on with immigration on the Hill, 729 00:33:45,957 --> 00:33:50,257 yesterday the head of Homeland Security was on the Hill. 730 00:33:50,261 --> 00:33:52,901 Could you give us some information about 731 00:33:52,897 --> 00:33:53,897 his conversations? 732 00:33:53,898 --> 00:33:56,038 Did he have a conversation with the President following 733 00:33:56,033 --> 00:34:00,443 his Hill visit, and what that Hill visit entailed? 734 00:34:00,438 --> 00:34:02,638 Mr. Earnest: I don't believe that the DHS Secretary had an 735 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:04,010 opportunity to speak to the President. 736 00:34:04,008 --> 00:34:05,808 The President was on the road for most of the day yesterday, 737 00:34:05,810 --> 00:34:10,350 and I don't believe that the two of them connected on the phone. 738 00:34:13,251 --> 00:34:16,091 And I'm not aware of all of the meetings that the Secretary had. 739 00:34:16,087 --> 00:34:20,187 I know that for weeks now, he has been meeting with both 740 00:34:20,191 --> 00:34:21,961 Democrats and Republicans. 741 00:34:21,959 --> 00:34:24,059 But he's spending most of his time trying to urge Republicans 742 00:34:24,061 --> 00:34:27,501 to do the responsible thing and ensure that his agency that's 743 00:34:27,498 --> 00:34:29,768 responsible for protecting the homeland of the United States 744 00:34:29,767 --> 00:34:32,637 of America is properly and fully funded through the end 745 00:34:32,637 --> 00:34:34,677 of the year, at least until the end of the fiscal year. 746 00:34:34,672 --> 00:34:39,072 The other irony that struck me about this is that the thing 747 00:34:39,076 --> 00:34:41,516 that we're not debating right now are what the funding levels 748 00:34:41,512 --> 00:34:44,752 should be, that the hard work -- the difficult part of this, 749 00:34:44,749 --> 00:34:46,989 of making policy decisions about what the appropriate funding 750 00:34:46,984 --> 00:34:49,884 levels are and which elements of the Department of Homeland 751 00:34:49,887 --> 00:34:52,127 Security need what level of resources, 752 00:34:52,123 --> 00:34:54,023 that all of that work has been done. 753 00:34:54,025 --> 00:34:55,695 And right now it's just a matter of whether or not 754 00:34:55,693 --> 00:34:57,793 we're going to implement a compromise that just 755 00:34:57,795 --> 00:34:59,595 about everybody has agreed to. 756 00:34:59,597 --> 00:35:05,667 That's what I think is such a disappointing fact about this 757 00:35:05,670 --> 00:35:09,310 situation, is that the hard work of making policy decisions about 758 00:35:09,307 --> 00:35:11,077 the proper funding levels for the Department of Homeland 759 00:35:11,075 --> 00:35:14,545 Security has been done and agreed to across party lines. 760 00:35:14,545 --> 00:35:17,215 Right now, it's just the responsibility of Republican 761 00:35:17,215 --> 00:35:20,055 leaders in Congress to move that bipartisan agreement 762 00:35:20,051 --> 00:35:21,051 across the finish line. 763 00:35:21,052 --> 00:35:24,552 And their failure to do so would have negative 764 00:35:24,555 --> 00:35:26,525 consequences for the country. 765 00:35:27,458 --> 00:35:31,558 The Press: So can you detail and go into specifics about 766 00:35:31,562 --> 00:35:33,062 the negative consequences for the country? 767 00:35:33,064 --> 00:35:36,134 I mean, we hear certain things about how it would affect -- 768 00:35:36,133 --> 00:35:38,673 just broad brushed strokes -- how it would affect 769 00:35:38,669 --> 00:35:42,809 anti-terrorism efforts, and how it would effect this place 770 00:35:42,807 --> 00:35:45,107 as well, and the furloughs, the possible furloughs 771 00:35:45,109 --> 00:35:47,179 of tens of thousands. 772 00:35:47,178 --> 00:35:48,308 Could you go into a little bit more detail about 773 00:35:48,312 --> 00:35:49,352 the negative effects? 774 00:35:49,347 --> 00:35:50,747 Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm sure that the Department of Homeland 775 00:35:50,748 --> 00:35:53,748 Security can get you some more detailed information about this, 776 00:35:53,751 --> 00:35:56,721 but I think generally speaking, I think the most obvious 777 00:35:56,721 --> 00:36:00,261 consequence is that we would have more than 778 00:36:00,258 --> 00:36:04,298 100,000 DHS personnel that are on the frontlines of keeping 779 00:36:04,295 --> 00:36:07,495 the country safe, they would be responsible for showing 780 00:36:07,498 --> 00:36:10,238 up to work on Monday without knowing they're going 781 00:36:10,234 --> 00:36:12,104 to get a paycheck for it. 782 00:36:12,103 --> 00:36:14,643 And knowing the professionalism of these men and women, 783 00:36:14,639 --> 00:36:17,379 I'm confident that they're going to show up and do a good job. 784 00:36:17,375 --> 00:36:19,215 But it certainly isn't fair. 785 00:36:19,210 --> 00:36:21,280 And it certainly doesn't give them the kind of support that 786 00:36:21,279 --> 00:36:25,519 they deserve, for leaders in Congress to not give them 787 00:36:25,516 --> 00:36:27,516 a paycheck because of a political dispute with 788 00:36:27,518 --> 00:36:29,118 the President of the United States who happens 789 00:36:29,120 --> 00:36:31,120 to be in a different party. 790 00:36:31,122 --> 00:36:33,522 Failing to do that would be a failure 791 00:36:33,524 --> 00:36:35,464 of Republican leadership. 792 00:36:35,459 --> 00:36:37,799 And hopefully we're not going to reach that eventuality. 793 00:36:37,795 --> 00:36:41,265 The other consequences are we would see tens of thousands 794 00:36:41,265 --> 00:36:43,905 of other DHS employees be furloughed, 795 00:36:43,901 --> 00:36:45,901 so they wouldn't show up to work. 796 00:36:45,903 --> 00:36:49,573 That can't be good for our Homeland Security. 797 00:36:49,574 --> 00:36:53,774 There's a bunch of other processes that would be stopped 798 00:36:53,778 --> 00:36:55,778 or at least slowed down, particularly as they relate 799 00:36:55,780 --> 00:37:03,150 to processing emergency assistance to states 800 00:37:03,154 --> 00:37:04,284 that need it. 801 00:37:04,288 --> 00:37:07,728 So there is important work that is at risk here, 802 00:37:07,725 --> 00:37:11,565 and hopefully we'll see Republicans and Republican 803 00:37:11,562 --> 00:37:13,562 leaders come to their senses and do the right thing for 804 00:37:13,564 --> 00:37:17,604 the country and move across the finish line a bipartisan 805 00:37:17,602 --> 00:37:20,172 agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security 806 00:37:20,171 --> 00:37:21,171 for the rest of the year. 807 00:37:21,172 --> 00:37:25,042 The Press: And the next subject -- today is February 26th, 808 00:37:25,042 --> 00:37:27,412 the three-year anniversary of the death of Trayvon Martin. 809 00:37:27,411 --> 00:37:30,481 There was an outgrowth of the death of Trayvon Martin here 810 00:37:30,481 --> 00:37:33,051 at the White House with a "My Brother's Keeper" event. 811 00:37:33,050 --> 00:37:36,290 Three years later, what is the President thinking? 812 00:37:36,287 --> 00:37:37,657 What has he learned? 813 00:37:37,655 --> 00:37:40,255 What does he want to do moving forward? 814 00:37:40,257 --> 00:37:41,827 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think the most important lesson for the 815 00:37:41,826 --> 00:37:44,266 President out of this is that there are a lot of important 816 00:37:44,261 --> 00:37:45,901 things that the President of the United States can do without 817 00:37:45,896 --> 00:37:47,796 passing a piece of legislation. 818 00:37:47,798 --> 00:37:49,938 There is no bill that created the "My Brother's Keeper" 819 00:37:49,934 --> 00:37:57,144 initiative, but by mobilizing local elected officials and 820 00:37:57,141 --> 00:37:59,981 leaders in the private sector to try to address this 821 00:37:59,977 --> 00:38:02,417 urgent need in communities across the country, 822 00:38:02,413 --> 00:38:04,413 there's an opportunity to make a real difference. 823 00:38:04,415 --> 00:38:07,215 And the President is pleased that after three years, 824 00:38:07,218 --> 00:38:09,988 that substantial progress has been made on the "My Brother's 825 00:38:09,987 --> 00:38:10,987 Keeper" initiative. 826 00:38:10,988 --> 00:38:13,328 But there's a whole lot more work that needs to be done. 827 00:38:13,324 --> 00:38:17,194 And I do think that this will be an important legacy of -- 828 00:38:17,194 --> 00:38:20,034 the historians who evaluate the presidency 829 00:38:20,031 --> 00:38:22,831 of Barack Obama will take a careful look at. 830 00:38:22,833 --> 00:38:25,573 The Press: So you're saying that this is a heart issue? 831 00:38:25,569 --> 00:38:28,209 To a certain extent that it's trumped -- 832 00:38:28,205 --> 00:38:30,805 this heart issue kind of trumped legislation? 833 00:38:30,808 --> 00:38:33,408 Mr. Earnest: No I'm not saying that. 834 00:38:33,411 --> 00:38:35,511 The case that I'm making is that there is very important work 835 00:38:35,513 --> 00:38:37,913 that can be done in communities all across the country 836 00:38:37,915 --> 00:38:40,485 and that can make a real difference in the lives 837 00:38:40,484 --> 00:38:45,094 of thousands of people that doesn't require legislation; 838 00:38:45,089 --> 00:38:47,129 that the President using his executive authority that the 839 00:38:47,124 --> 00:38:53,164 President can use, capitalizing on his stature at the leader 840 00:38:53,164 --> 00:38:55,464 of the free world, that he can make a real difference 841 00:38:55,466 --> 00:38:57,506 in the lives of people all across the country. 842 00:38:57,501 --> 00:39:00,271 And more importantly, he can mobilize other people 843 00:39:00,271 --> 00:39:02,271 who are concerned about their communities, 844 00:39:02,273 --> 00:39:04,273 who want to get involved in their communities, 845 00:39:04,275 --> 00:39:06,275 to try to address some of these urgent needs. 846 00:39:06,277 --> 00:39:08,517 And the President believes that it's good for those individual 847 00:39:08,512 --> 00:39:10,512 communities, but it's also good for the country. 848 00:39:10,514 --> 00:39:12,454 And he's certainly proud of the progress that's been made 849 00:39:12,450 --> 00:39:15,450 so far, but also recognizes the important work that 850 00:39:15,453 --> 00:39:17,553 needs to be done. 851 00:39:17,555 --> 00:39:18,755 The Press: Did he reach out to Trayvon Martin's family 852 00:39:18,756 --> 00:39:20,026 today at all? 853 00:39:20,024 --> 00:39:21,794 Mr. Earnest: I don't have any conversations with 854 00:39:21,792 --> 00:39:23,862 them to read out at this point. 855 00:39:23,861 --> 00:39:24,491 Michelle. 856 00:39:24,495 --> 00:39:24,825 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 857 00:39:24,829 --> 00:39:26,899 On AIPAC, without the President or the Vice President 858 00:39:26,897 --> 00:39:30,037 or the Secretary of State speaking, this is something 859 00:39:30,034 --> 00:39:32,504 different than in past years, isn't it? 860 00:39:32,503 --> 00:39:33,473 Mr. Earnest: Well, not necessarily. 861 00:39:33,471 --> 00:39:38,711 I know that there are other years in which the 862 00:39:38,709 --> 00:39:41,379 administration has been represented at AIPAC by 863 00:39:41,378 --> 00:39:43,948 individuals other than the President or the Vice President. 864 00:39:43,948 --> 00:39:46,418 I can get you a list of previous speakers. 865 00:39:46,417 --> 00:39:49,317 For like a week I've had a page in my book that described all 866 00:39:49,320 --> 00:39:52,060 the previous speakers at AIPAC, so we can get you that list. 867 00:39:52,056 --> 00:39:53,656 I know that it exists. 868 00:39:53,657 --> 00:39:54,427 The Press: But within this administration? 869 00:39:54,425 --> 00:39:55,695 Mr. Earnest: Yes, within this administration. 870 00:39:55,693 --> 00:39:58,393 So there are two times in which the President has spoken. 871 00:39:58,395 --> 00:40:00,665 The Vice President has spoken to the gathering at least once. 872 00:40:00,664 --> 00:40:05,904 But the other occasions were -- the message from the 873 00:40:05,903 --> 00:40:08,043 administration was delivered by other senior members 874 00:40:08,038 --> 00:40:10,038 of the President's national security team. 875 00:40:10,040 --> 00:40:12,040 And that's the case this year, as well. 876 00:40:12,042 --> 00:40:14,982 The Press: But the delay in deciding and the timing of this, 877 00:40:14,979 --> 00:40:17,379 you have to know that the perception is there that -- 878 00:40:17,381 --> 00:40:20,051 there was tension about this and that it's not going 879 00:40:20,050 --> 00:40:21,420 to be the President. 880 00:40:21,418 --> 00:40:23,218 Mr. Earnest: Well, the other thing that was included in that 881 00:40:23,220 --> 00:40:25,560 sheet that I was given was the time frame under which 882 00:40:25,556 --> 00:40:27,096 these sorts of announcements were made. 883 00:40:27,091 --> 00:40:29,231 So let me follow up with some facts. 884 00:40:29,226 --> 00:40:32,596 But what they indicate is that the story is that it's not 885 00:40:32,596 --> 00:40:35,966 at all uncommon for three or four days before the conference 886 00:40:35,966 --> 00:40:38,966 is slated to begin that the administration announces 887 00:40:38,969 --> 00:40:41,339 the senior administration officials who are participating. 888 00:40:41,338 --> 00:40:45,338 The point here is that the fact that both Ambassador Power 889 00:40:45,342 --> 00:40:48,582 and the National Security Advisor Rice are speaking 890 00:40:48,579 --> 00:40:51,549 to the group, it's indicative of the commitment of this 891 00:40:51,549 --> 00:40:54,989 administration to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, 892 00:40:54,985 --> 00:40:58,155 and that the security cooperation in particular 893 00:40:58,155 --> 00:41:00,855 is one that is, under the leadership of this President, 894 00:41:00,858 --> 00:41:02,698 is unprecedented. 895 00:41:02,693 --> 00:41:07,763 And that's everything from close intel-sharing relations to 896 00:41:07,765 --> 00:41:12,165 working to counter threats from terrorists in the region, 897 00:41:12,169 --> 00:41:15,869 to even providing funding for the Iron Dome program that over 898 00:41:15,873 --> 00:41:20,173 the summer saved the lives of countless innocent Israelis 899 00:41:20,177 --> 00:41:24,017 who were at risk and being targeted by extremists 900 00:41:24,014 --> 00:41:26,114 in Gaza that were firing rockets at them. 901 00:41:26,116 --> 00:41:26,646 So -- 902 00:41:26,650 --> 00:41:27,620 The Press: Is it -- oh, sorry. 903 00:41:27,618 --> 00:41:28,488 Mr. Earnest: That's okay. 904 00:41:28,485 --> 00:41:30,425 The Press: Why isn't the President himself going 905 00:41:30,421 --> 00:41:34,021 to say exactly those things in that forum? 906 00:41:34,024 --> 00:41:38,294 Mr. Earnest: Well, in this case, the President believes that 907 00:41:38,295 --> 00:41:40,895 both Ambassador Power and the National Security Advisor, 908 00:41:40,898 --> 00:41:46,138 Susan Rice, will do a good job of indicating the 909 00:41:46,136 --> 00:41:50,376 administration's commitment to a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, 910 00:41:50,374 --> 00:41:53,374 of indicating that the President and his team are determined to 911 00:41:53,377 --> 00:41:57,077 ensure that that relationship isn't reduced to a relationship 912 00:41:57,081 --> 00:42:00,151 between a couple of political parties but actually reflects 913 00:42:00,150 --> 00:42:03,890 the strong bipartisan consensus that exists in Washington that 914 00:42:03,888 --> 00:42:06,088 the United States national security interests 915 00:42:06,090 --> 00:42:11,460 are enhanced by assisting in the protection 916 00:42:11,462 --> 00:42:13,962 of the national security of our closest ally 917 00:42:13,964 --> 00:42:14,964 in the Middle East. 918 00:42:14,965 --> 00:42:17,635 And we've demonstrated a commitment to that principle 919 00:42:17,635 --> 00:42:19,635 throughout this President's tenure in office, 920 00:42:19,637 --> 00:42:21,637 and that will continue in the years ahead. 921 00:42:21,639 --> 00:42:23,639 The Press: And for the past couple of weeks, 922 00:42:23,641 --> 00:42:27,511 whenever it was asked here, does all of this detract from 923 00:42:27,511 --> 00:42:29,911 that relationship, or could it be destructive, 924 00:42:29,914 --> 00:42:31,914 and you always kind of gave that answer, 925 00:42:31,916 --> 00:42:34,356 what you just said about it being a strong relationship. 926 00:42:34,351 --> 00:42:37,721 But now we're hearing that, yes, this is destructive 927 00:42:37,721 --> 00:42:38,721 to the relationship. 928 00:42:38,722 --> 00:42:41,422 So what has changed in the assessment to actually 929 00:42:41,425 --> 00:42:42,665 be saying those words now? 930 00:42:42,660 --> 00:42:45,960 Mr. Earnest: Well, what we have said all along -- 931 00:42:45,963 --> 00:42:49,803 and the President spoke about this at some length at his news 932 00:42:49,800 --> 00:42:53,070 conference with Chancellor Merkel -- that there is a long 933 00:42:53,070 --> 00:42:55,740 tradition in the United States of ensuring that the 934 00:42:55,739 --> 00:42:58,109 relationship between the United States and Israel isn't just 935 00:42:58,108 --> 00:43:00,878 reduced to a relationship between political parties; 936 00:43:00,878 --> 00:43:04,618 that for a long time, leaders in both parties in this country 937 00:43:04,615 --> 00:43:07,815 and in Israel have sought to try to shield that relationship 938 00:43:07,818 --> 00:43:10,488 from turbulence associated with party politics. 939 00:43:10,487 --> 00:43:12,687 Look, both in the United States and Israel, 940 00:43:12,690 --> 00:43:16,690 we have thriving democracies that occasionally are 941 00:43:16,694 --> 00:43:20,764 characterized by a pretty robust and, in some cases, 942 00:43:20,764 --> 00:43:22,734 even aggressive political debate. 943 00:43:22,733 --> 00:43:24,733 That's one of the things that we actually have 944 00:43:24,735 --> 00:43:25,735 in common with Israel. 945 00:43:25,736 --> 00:43:28,136 It's one of the reasons that we feel a close kinship 946 00:43:28,138 --> 00:43:29,308 with that country. 947 00:43:29,306 --> 00:43:32,806 But for a long time, the relationship between our 948 00:43:32,810 --> 00:43:37,480 countries has been shielded from that occasionally 949 00:43:37,481 --> 00:43:39,951 rambunctious political debate. 950 00:43:39,950 --> 00:43:43,790 And the President believes that that is an important principle 951 00:43:43,787 --> 00:43:45,657 that's worth protecting. 952 00:43:45,656 --> 00:43:48,926 And that's something that he's determined to do, 953 00:43:48,926 --> 00:43:51,166 and it's certainly a message that both Ambassador Power 954 00:43:51,161 --> 00:43:53,531 and Dr. Rice will present when they speak to AIPAC. 955 00:43:53,530 --> 00:43:55,530 The Press: So you're saying that the debate 956 00:43:55,532 --> 00:43:58,372 surrounding this is what's being destructive? 957 00:43:58,369 --> 00:44:01,039 Or is the fact that he's coming here in this way to give this 958 00:44:01,038 --> 00:44:03,808 speech what could be destructive to the relationship? 959 00:44:03,807 --> 00:44:05,807 Mr. Earnest: Well, no, I'm not trying to squelch 960 00:44:05,809 --> 00:44:07,049 a healthy political debate. 961 00:44:07,044 --> 00:44:12,284 What I'm suggesting is that the President believes very strongly 962 00:44:12,282 --> 00:44:15,822 that even the appearance of interfering in party politics 963 00:44:15,819 --> 00:44:18,519 on one side or the other is bad for our broader relationship. 964 00:44:18,522 --> 00:44:21,362 And in fact, that's precisely why the President will not be 965 00:44:21,358 --> 00:44:23,358 meeting with the Prime Minister when he travels 966 00:44:23,360 --> 00:44:25,200 to the U.S. next week. 967 00:44:25,195 --> 00:44:27,365 As you know, the Prime Minister is on the ballot in Israel and 968 00:44:27,364 --> 00:44:30,464 an election is scheduled for just two or three weeks from 969 00:44:30,467 --> 00:44:33,367 now, and the President doesn't want to leave anybody in Israel 970 00:44:33,370 --> 00:44:35,370 with the impression that he's trying to put his thumb 971 00:44:35,372 --> 00:44:38,412 on the scale to support one candidate or another. 972 00:44:38,409 --> 00:44:41,679 What I'm confident of is that whoever wins the election 973 00:44:41,678 --> 00:44:45,318 will continue to have regular consultations with the U.S. 974 00:44:45,315 --> 00:44:49,385 President and that that person will enjoy strong 975 00:44:49,386 --> 00:44:53,486 coordination between our government and theirs. 976 00:44:53,490 --> 00:44:57,160 And the President is committed to that because he believes that 977 00:44:57,161 --> 00:45:01,131 American national security interests are enhanced by it. 978 00:45:01,131 --> 00:45:02,131 Chris. 979 00:45:02,132 --> 00:45:03,132 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 980 00:45:03,133 --> 00:45:04,133 Back on DHS. 981 00:45:04,134 --> 00:45:06,134 You said that the President remains engaged. 982 00:45:06,136 --> 00:45:08,236 What specifically is the President doing to try 983 00:45:08,238 --> 00:45:09,238 to avert a shutdown? 984 00:45:09,239 --> 00:45:11,879 Mr. Earnest: Well, the President, at this point, 985 00:45:11,875 --> 00:45:16,085 stands ready to continue to encourage members of Congress 986 00:45:16,080 --> 00:45:18,320 to take this common-sense step and ensure that 987 00:45:18,315 --> 00:45:20,655 the funding for the Department of Homeland Security 988 00:45:20,651 --> 00:45:22,651 doesn't lapse at the end of the year. 989 00:45:22,653 --> 00:45:25,623 But right now, the principal disagreement is between the 990 00:45:25,622 --> 00:45:27,622 Republican leadership of the House of Representatives 991 00:45:27,624 --> 00:45:29,964 and the Republican leadership in the United States Senate. 992 00:45:29,960 --> 00:45:32,230 The Press: So you think engagement is the most 993 00:45:32,229 --> 00:45:34,099 useful thing right now? 994 00:45:34,098 --> 00:45:34,428 Mr. Earnest: No. 995 00:45:34,431 --> 00:45:37,001 I think the most useful thing is for the President to stand ready 996 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:40,200 to make the case to Republicans that funding the Department of 997 00:45:40,204 --> 00:45:42,274 Homeland Security is a really important thing for them to do. 998 00:45:42,272 --> 00:45:44,272 It's a pretty common-sense case. 999 00:45:44,274 --> 00:45:46,274 I think it's a case that Americans -- I'm sorry -- 1000 00:45:46,276 --> 00:45:48,576 Democrats and Republicans all across the country 1001 00:45:48,579 --> 00:45:50,819 would make to congressional leaders if they had 1002 00:45:50,814 --> 00:45:53,084 the opportunity to make that case. 1003 00:45:53,083 --> 00:45:55,083 And certainly the President will make that 1004 00:45:55,085 --> 00:45:57,085 case if he's given the opportunity as well. 1005 00:45:57,087 --> 00:45:59,087 The Press: So if he's given that opportunity, 1006 00:45:59,089 --> 00:46:00,089 what does that mean? 1007 00:46:00,090 --> 00:46:03,090 Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess it means if there's a need for 1008 00:46:03,093 --> 00:46:05,093 him to have a conversation with Speaker Boehner 1009 00:46:05,095 --> 00:46:07,065 to move this process along, then he'll do it. 1010 00:46:07,064 --> 00:46:09,064 If there's a need for him to have a conversation with Leader 1011 00:46:09,066 --> 00:46:12,536 McConnell this week to move this process along, he'll do it. 1012 00:46:12,536 --> 00:46:15,236 Right now, the issue is that in the United States Senate 1013 00:46:15,239 --> 00:46:18,439 they're poised to approve a full year funding bill for 1014 00:46:18,442 --> 00:46:21,182 the Department of Homeland Security in bipartisan fashion. 1015 00:46:21,178 --> 00:46:23,178 And the question right now is whether or not 1016 00:46:23,180 --> 00:46:25,180 the Speaker of the House is going to put that 1017 00:46:25,182 --> 00:46:27,182 up for a vote in the House of Representatives. 1018 00:46:27,184 --> 00:46:29,184 If he does, no one has any reason to be worried. 1019 00:46:29,186 --> 00:46:31,156 If he does, we know that will strongly pass 1020 00:46:31,155 --> 00:46:33,155 with bipartisan support in the House. 1021 00:46:33,157 --> 00:46:35,157 The President will sign it, and operations at the Department 1022 00:46:35,159 --> 00:46:37,999 of Homeland Security will not just continue uninterrupted, 1023 00:46:37,995 --> 00:46:40,635 but they will get the benefit of certainty, 1024 00:46:40,631 --> 00:46:44,231 knowing that they have a full year funding bill that is at 1025 00:46:44,234 --> 00:46:46,704 appropriate levels for them to do their important work. 1026 00:46:46,703 --> 00:46:48,403 So that's the good outcome. 1027 00:46:48,405 --> 00:46:50,775 That good outcome is entirely possible. 1028 00:46:50,774 --> 00:46:53,544 It just depends on the Speaker of the House demonstrating 1029 00:46:53,544 --> 00:46:57,284 some leadership and doing the responsible thing. 1030 00:46:57,281 --> 00:46:59,451 The Press: I guess I'm just trying to get a sense of what 1031 00:46:59,449 --> 00:47:01,449 the circumstances would be in which he would 1032 00:47:01,451 --> 00:47:03,951 proactively get involved. 1033 00:47:03,954 --> 00:47:06,654 Mr. Earnest: Well, the President has had meetings with members 1034 00:47:06,657 --> 00:47:08,627 of Congress in both parties on a number of occasions 1035 00:47:08,625 --> 00:47:11,195 over the last six or seven weeks. 1036 00:47:11,195 --> 00:47:12,125 The Press: But now the clock is really ticking. 1037 00:47:12,129 --> 00:47:13,129 Mr. Earnest: Yes, now the clock is really ticking. 1038 00:47:13,130 --> 00:47:17,200 But again, this is not a dispute between Congress 1039 00:47:17,201 --> 00:47:18,201 and the administration. 1040 00:47:18,202 --> 00:47:20,202 As I pointed out in response to somebody's question 1041 00:47:20,204 --> 00:47:22,204 earlier, we've done the hard work of figuring 1042 00:47:22,206 --> 00:47:24,206 out what the funding level should be. 1043 00:47:24,208 --> 00:47:26,208 We figured out which programs at the Department of Homeland 1044 00:47:26,210 --> 00:47:28,210 Security deserve which levels of funding, 1045 00:47:28,212 --> 00:47:32,712 and that required a lot of negotiation and compromise and 1046 00:47:32,716 --> 00:47:35,486 work across party lines to reach that agreement. 1047 00:47:35,485 --> 00:47:37,485 That's the hard work of this process. 1048 00:47:37,487 --> 00:47:42,157 The easy work is taking a consensus bipartisan agreement 1049 00:47:42,159 --> 00:47:46,499 and just moving it through the Congress on time. 1050 00:47:46,496 --> 00:47:47,996 When we're talking about something as important as the 1051 00:47:47,998 --> 00:47:50,738 Department of Homeland Security it shouldn't be that difficult. 1052 00:47:50,734 --> 00:47:53,534 All it requires is a little bit of leadership 1053 00:47:53,537 --> 00:47:56,237 and I guess a pretty good dose of responsibility. 1054 00:47:56,240 --> 00:47:58,240 The question is whether or not the Speaker of the House 1055 00:47:58,242 --> 00:48:00,242 is actually going to assume it. 1056 00:48:00,244 --> 00:48:01,074 The Press: Let me just ask you quickly about 1057 00:48:01,078 --> 00:48:04,548 Jihadi John, understanding again that 1058 00:48:04,548 --> 00:48:07,048 the U.S. isn't confirming the name. 1059 00:48:07,050 --> 00:48:13,390 Can we assume, though, that -- whether it's him or others who 1060 00:48:13,390 --> 00:48:16,160 are directly involved -- that they would be on a no-fly list? 1061 00:48:16,159 --> 00:48:18,959 Mr. Earnest: Well, the no-fly list I believe is maintained 1062 00:48:18,962 --> 00:48:20,962 by the Department of Homeland Security, 1063 00:48:20,964 --> 00:48:23,034 so you can check with them about the steps they would take. 1064 00:48:23,033 --> 00:48:27,433 But you can be assured that the United States government 1065 00:48:27,437 --> 00:48:31,037 is using every element at our disposal -- intelligence, 1066 00:48:31,041 --> 00:48:33,781 even our military capability, certainly our law enforcement 1067 00:48:33,777 --> 00:48:36,477 capability and our law enforcement relationships -- 1068 00:48:36,480 --> 00:48:38,880 to bring to justice those individuals who are responsible 1069 00:48:38,882 --> 00:48:40,882 for the slaughter of innocent Americans. 1070 00:48:40,884 --> 00:48:42,084 The Press: And you had mentioned a number. 1071 00:48:42,085 --> 00:48:43,985 What we've heard a lot that there are probably between 1072 00:48:43,987 --> 00:48:46,757 100 and 150 Americans who have gone abroad either 1073 00:48:46,757 --> 00:48:48,827 to train or to fight. 1074 00:48:48,825 --> 00:48:51,925 But then with the three arrests in New York and the statements 1075 00:48:51,928 --> 00:48:54,468 that were made yesterday by James Comey, 1076 00:48:54,464 --> 00:48:57,704 there obviously is another group who have not left 1077 00:48:57,701 --> 00:49:00,001 the United States and perhaps will never leave 1078 00:49:00,003 --> 00:49:01,543 the United States but are still considered 1079 00:49:01,538 --> 00:49:02,408 to pose a threat. 1080 00:49:02,406 --> 00:49:06,076 In fact, what he said yesterday was that the agency is following 1081 00:49:06,076 --> 00:49:09,516 -- has homegrown, violent extremist investigations 1082 00:49:09,513 --> 00:49:11,283 in every state. 1083 00:49:11,281 --> 00:49:16,151 Is there a number that you know of people who are being 1084 00:49:16,153 --> 00:49:18,253 followed who are in that category, as opposed 1085 00:49:18,255 --> 00:49:20,395 to people who have left? 1086 00:49:20,390 --> 00:49:23,390 And is the message -- I don't know -- that we're 1087 00:49:23,393 --> 00:49:26,593 on top of this, or you're at risk wherever you live? 1088 00:49:26,596 --> 00:49:29,596 Mr. Earnest: The message I think is one that we tried to send 1089 00:49:29,599 --> 00:49:32,199 pretty clearly in the context of the Countering Violent Extremism 1090 00:49:32,202 --> 00:49:36,472 Summit last week, and that is that the U.S. 1091 00:49:36,473 --> 00:49:39,943 government is working closely with local officials in 1092 00:49:39,943 --> 00:49:42,513 communities all across the country to combat violent 1093 00:49:42,512 --> 00:49:46,822 extremism and to try to counter the efforts from ISIL and other 1094 00:49:46,817 --> 00:49:50,117 extremist organizations to radicalize vulnerable 1095 00:49:50,120 --> 00:49:53,020 members of the U.S. population. 1096 00:49:53,023 --> 00:49:55,793 And this is something that we continue to be very mindful of. 1097 00:49:55,792 --> 00:49:59,092 And it requires a lot of work, but we certainly have 1098 00:49:59,096 --> 00:50:02,966 gotten excellent cooperation from local law 1099 00:50:02,966 --> 00:50:05,206 enforcement and from community leaders. 1100 00:50:05,202 --> 00:50:10,672 And there are some communities that actually came to the summit 1101 00:50:10,674 --> 00:50:13,274 to participate and share their best practices, 1102 00:50:13,276 --> 00:50:15,846 that some communities have devoted significant time 1103 00:50:15,846 --> 00:50:18,786 and resources to these efforts and actually shown 1104 00:50:18,782 --> 00:50:19,912 some important results. 1105 00:50:19,916 --> 00:50:23,416 And our efforts to replicate that scenario in communities 1106 00:50:23,420 --> 00:50:26,560 across the country is a priority of the administration and one 1107 00:50:26,556 --> 00:50:28,656 that continues every day. 1108 00:50:28,658 --> 00:50:31,458 The Press: I guess the people that I've talked to even who 1109 00:50:31,461 --> 00:50:34,561 have run some of these programs and believe that they're 1110 00:50:34,564 --> 00:50:38,974 useful and important say that's a long-term prospect. 1111 00:50:38,969 --> 00:50:41,469 It isn't something that happens overnight. 1112 00:50:41,471 --> 00:50:44,141 So I guess I'm asking, in a more immediate sense, 1113 00:50:44,141 --> 00:50:46,611 are there any -- do you know of any numbers? 1114 00:50:46,610 --> 00:50:48,680 And should people -- I guess following up a little bit 1115 00:50:48,678 --> 00:50:51,248 on Bill's question -- should people feel confident 1116 00:50:51,248 --> 00:50:54,518 in all 50 states that the resources are there? 1117 00:50:54,518 --> 00:50:57,218 Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't have any numbers like 1118 00:50:57,220 --> 00:50:58,290 that in front of me. 1119 00:50:58,288 --> 00:51:01,888 But I can tell you that the American people can be confident 1120 00:51:01,892 --> 00:51:04,992 that the administration and local law enforcement 1121 00:51:04,995 --> 00:51:08,165 in communities all across the country are keenly aware 1122 00:51:08,165 --> 00:51:14,575 of this risk and implementing a coordinated strategy 1123 00:51:14,571 --> 00:51:16,611 to mitigate it. 1124 00:51:16,606 --> 00:51:17,546 Pam. 1125 00:51:17,541 --> 00:51:18,811 The Press: Thank you. 1126 00:51:18,809 --> 00:51:24,379 Following up on Bill's question, by not publicly unmasking Jihadi 1127 00:51:24,381 --> 00:51:28,351 John and showing maybe he's like kind of an ordinary guy, 1128 00:51:28,351 --> 00:51:33,361 does that raise the risk that he might be more of a celebrity, 1129 00:51:33,356 --> 00:51:35,826 he might become more of a cult figure and maybe more 1130 00:51:35,826 --> 00:51:39,196 of a magnet for the scores of Americans who are trying 1131 00:51:39,196 --> 00:51:41,296 to go over there, and the other Westerners trying 1132 00:51:41,298 --> 00:51:42,298 to go over there? 1133 00:51:42,299 --> 00:51:44,939 Mr. Earnest: Well, these are the kinds of equities 1134 00:51:44,935 --> 00:51:49,235 that I'm confident that our investigators consider. 1135 00:51:49,239 --> 00:51:52,409 Ultimately, the goal here is to keep the American people safe. 1136 00:51:52,409 --> 00:51:54,409 And our counterparts in the UK are 1137 00:51:54,411 --> 00:51:56,411 trying to keep the British people safe. 1138 00:51:58,515 --> 00:52:02,115 That means engaging in and conducting an exhaustive 1139 00:52:02,118 --> 00:52:04,958 investigation to try to bring to justice the individual who is 1140 00:52:04,955 --> 00:52:08,425 responsible for the murder of the citizens in our countries. 1141 00:52:08,425 --> 00:52:14,435 And I'm confident they have evaluated the pros and cons, 1142 00:52:14,431 --> 00:52:20,541 if you will, of offering up more details about the investigation. 1143 00:52:20,537 --> 00:52:23,707 But at this point they have not offered 1144 00:52:23,707 --> 00:52:25,907 up very many details at all. 1145 00:52:25,909 --> 00:52:27,979 That's why I'm certainly not in a position to confirm 1146 00:52:27,978 --> 00:52:31,848 or deny any details that have been reported today. 1147 00:52:31,848 --> 00:52:35,948 But I am confident that if at some point our experts do 1148 00:52:35,952 --> 00:52:39,192 determine that there is a benefit to talking more 1149 00:52:39,189 --> 00:52:41,229 publicly about the progress that the investigation 1150 00:52:41,224 --> 00:52:43,294 has made so far, that they'll do that. 1151 00:52:43,293 --> 00:52:45,433 But they'll do that only if they conclude that that's in the best 1152 00:52:45,428 --> 00:52:47,428 interest of the investigation and in the best interest 1153 00:52:47,430 --> 00:52:49,530 of protecting the American and British people. 1154 00:52:49,533 --> 00:52:52,073 The Press: And when the President invited some 1155 00:52:52,068 --> 00:52:55,038 Muslim leaders to the White House several weeks ago, 1156 00:52:55,038 --> 00:52:57,938 did he made a specific appeal to them to kind of watch 1157 00:52:57,941 --> 00:53:01,681 their communities for extremism and counter any 1158 00:53:01,678 --> 00:53:03,948 kind of efforts that might be going on? 1159 00:53:03,947 --> 00:53:04,977 Mr. Earnest: Well, the thing about this, Pam, 1160 00:53:04,981 --> 00:53:08,451 is that the -- first of all, that that was a conversation 1161 00:53:08,451 --> 00:53:11,491 that covered a pretty wide range of topics. 1162 00:53:11,488 --> 00:53:13,488 But they certainly did talk about this issue 1163 00:53:13,490 --> 00:53:15,490 of countering violent extremism. 1164 00:53:15,492 --> 00:53:19,232 And the fact is the leaders in their community are having 1165 00:53:19,229 --> 00:53:21,999 a conversation about that issue because they want 1166 00:53:21,998 --> 00:53:23,998 to protect the members of their community. 1167 00:53:24,000 --> 00:53:26,570 So they didn't need the President of the United States 1168 00:53:26,570 --> 00:53:28,640 to come in and say to them that they needed 1169 00:53:28,638 --> 00:53:31,208 to look out for members of their community. 1170 00:53:31,207 --> 00:53:33,207 They're leaders in their community because that's 1171 00:53:33,209 --> 00:53:34,609 exactly what they're focused on. 1172 00:53:34,611 --> 00:53:39,481 And it is why we have been successful in working in 1173 00:53:39,482 --> 00:53:42,682 partnership with leaders in the Muslim community to try to 1174 00:53:42,686 --> 00:53:46,626 combat some of the efforts from extremist groups overseas to 1175 00:53:46,623 --> 00:53:49,263 radicalize people in the Muslim community in this country. 1176 00:53:49,259 --> 00:53:53,029 And that has been a successful, fruitful partnership that has 1177 00:53:53,029 --> 00:53:57,229 protected the American people, including American Muslims. 1178 00:53:57,233 --> 00:54:02,273 So that was the nature of at least part of that conversation 1179 00:54:02,272 --> 00:54:05,272 that was convened here at the White House a few weeks ago. 1180 00:54:05,275 --> 00:54:06,975 The Press: And if the government does know the identity 1181 00:54:06,977 --> 00:54:11,217 of Jihadi John, would the Justice Department be already 1182 00:54:11,214 --> 00:54:15,584 preparing to file charges against him? 1183 00:54:15,585 --> 00:54:16,985 Mr. Earnest: That's a question I don't know the answer to. 1184 00:54:16,987 --> 00:54:19,357 You might check with the Department of Justice on that. 1185 00:54:19,356 --> 00:54:20,156 Toluse. 1186 00:54:20,156 --> 00:54:22,326 The Press: A couple quick questions on trade. 1187 00:54:22,325 --> 00:54:22,825 Mr. Earnest: Sure. 1188 00:54:22,826 --> 00:54:24,996 The Press: You said a little bit earlier in the briefing 1189 00:54:24,995 --> 00:54:27,565 that there are a lot of Republicans who would support 1190 00:54:27,564 --> 00:54:30,164 the TPP, and you said there are some Democrats. 1191 00:54:30,166 --> 00:54:33,266 What is the President doing, as the leader of the Democratic 1192 00:54:33,269 --> 00:54:36,639 Party, to get more of his party members to support his agenda? 1193 00:54:36,640 --> 00:54:39,840 And is he willing to compromise on some of his current positions 1194 00:54:39,843 --> 00:54:45,353 to assuage some of the concerns of his party members? 1195 00:54:45,348 --> 00:54:48,648 Mr. Earnest: Well, Toluse, I can tell you that just as a 1196 00:54:48,652 --> 00:54:50,652 practical matter, the President devoted some portion of his 1197 00:54:50,654 --> 00:54:52,624 State of Union address to talking about why this is 1198 00:54:52,622 --> 00:54:54,192 important to the country. 1199 00:54:54,190 --> 00:54:56,990 The President, as you know, today is doing interviews with 1200 00:54:56,993 --> 00:55:00,093 a handful of local television anchors from across the country 1201 00:55:00,096 --> 00:55:03,766 where he's going to make the case that the communities that 1202 00:55:03,767 --> 00:55:07,267 they cover are communities that have benefitted significantly 1203 00:55:07,270 --> 00:55:10,310 from opening up Americans goods and services to overseas 1204 00:55:10,306 --> 00:55:14,776 exports, and that striking additional agreements 1205 00:55:14,778 --> 00:55:16,778 that are good for middle-class families would 1206 00:55:16,780 --> 00:55:18,820 also be good for these individual communities. 1207 00:55:18,815 --> 00:55:23,355 And in some ways, that sort of ground-level advocacy is 1208 00:55:23,353 --> 00:55:26,693 something that I do think will persuade Democrats and 1209 00:55:26,690 --> 00:55:31,390 Republicans, frankly, to take a close look at some of the trade 1210 00:55:31,394 --> 00:55:35,164 agreements that the President is trying to broker. 1211 00:55:35,165 --> 00:55:37,905 And the President continues to have conversations with 1212 00:55:37,901 --> 00:55:40,801 Democrats and Republicans all the time, 1213 00:55:40,804 --> 00:55:43,044 some of which you hear about and some of which you don't, 1214 00:55:43,039 --> 00:55:47,849 in which he makes a very direct case for why what he wants 1215 00:55:47,844 --> 00:55:51,084 to do in terms of trying to reach an agreement with 1216 00:55:51,081 --> 00:55:54,221 a host of other Asia Pacific countries would 1217 00:55:54,217 --> 00:55:56,217 be in the best interest of the United States. 1218 00:55:56,219 --> 00:56:01,189 And one key element of that argument was also a key element 1219 00:56:01,191 --> 00:56:03,231 of the argument that he made during the State of Union, 1220 00:56:03,226 --> 00:56:06,866 that if the United States refuses to or fails to engage 1221 00:56:06,863 --> 00:56:10,233 in this region of the world, that what you'll see is you'll 1222 00:56:10,233 --> 00:56:13,733 see that China, given their own economic aspirations, 1223 00:56:13,737 --> 00:56:15,737 will engage pretty aggressively in that region 1224 00:56:15,739 --> 00:56:18,309 of the world in a way that will be disadvantageous 1225 00:56:18,308 --> 00:56:20,308 to American workers and American businesses 1226 00:56:20,310 --> 00:56:22,510 and American farmers; that they will seek to lower 1227 00:56:22,512 --> 00:56:25,682 the kind of standards that we abide by in this country. 1228 00:56:25,682 --> 00:56:29,622 So it's in our interest to try to go to our partners 1229 00:56:29,619 --> 00:56:33,159 in the Asia Pacific and work with them to abide 1230 00:56:33,156 --> 00:56:36,126 by the kinds of standards that we regularly abide by. 1231 00:56:36,126 --> 00:56:38,596 The benefit of that is the President continues to be 1232 00:56:38,595 --> 00:56:40,895 confident that if American workers and American 1233 00:56:40,897 --> 00:56:43,037 entrepreneurs and American businesses and American 1234 00:56:43,032 --> 00:56:45,202 farmers are given a level playing field, that they 1235 00:56:45,201 --> 00:56:47,941 can't just compete -- they're going to win. 1236 00:56:47,937 --> 00:56:49,937 And that's going to be good for our economy. 1237 00:56:49,939 --> 00:56:51,939 It's going to be good for job creation. 1238 00:56:51,941 --> 00:56:53,941 And that is the strategy, and that's the case that the 1239 00:56:53,943 --> 00:56:57,643 President will be making to members of Congress, 1240 00:56:57,647 --> 00:56:59,647 frankly, in both parties about this issue. 1241 00:56:59,649 --> 00:57:02,619 The Press: Has the White House had a chance to read the op-ed 1242 00:57:02,619 --> 00:57:05,959 by Senator Warren specifically about this issue? 1243 00:57:05,955 --> 00:57:07,755 She raised a number of concerns. 1244 00:57:07,757 --> 00:57:09,627 Do you have a reaction to that? 1245 00:57:09,626 --> 00:57:11,796 Mr. Earnest: I did have a chance to read 1246 00:57:11,795 --> 00:57:13,225 a little bit of the op-ed. 1247 00:57:13,229 --> 00:57:20,839 What I can just say as a general matter is that -- is that what 1248 00:57:20,837 --> 00:57:24,107 is contemplated in the agreement is raising standards, 1249 00:57:24,107 --> 00:57:26,477 including standards that are related to settling 1250 00:57:26,476 --> 00:57:29,616 disputes between companies that are located 1251 00:57:29,612 --> 00:57:33,052 in other countries and the United States. 1252 00:57:33,049 --> 00:57:35,449 And what the President believes we should do is put in a 1253 00:57:35,451 --> 00:57:37,721 framework that holds those other countries that are 1254 00:57:37,720 --> 00:57:40,520 operating in the United States to a higher standard, 1255 00:57:40,523 --> 00:57:43,963 and that failure to include a standard and failure to include 1256 00:57:43,960 --> 00:57:47,700 a mechanism for enforcing that standard will only put American 1257 00:57:47,697 --> 00:57:50,167 workers and American businesses at a disadvantage. 1258 00:57:50,166 --> 00:57:52,836 Again, if we fail to engage in this region of the world, 1259 00:57:52,836 --> 00:57:55,136 we're going to let China write the rules of the road. 1260 00:57:55,138 --> 00:57:57,138 That's not in the best interest of the United States, 1261 00:57:57,140 --> 00:57:59,140 and it's certainly not in the best interest 1262 00:57:59,142 --> 00:58:00,142 of the American economy. 1263 00:58:00,143 --> 00:58:02,083 So what is part of this agreement, 1264 00:58:02,078 --> 00:58:06,348 and where we part ways with the views that are expressed 1265 00:58:06,349 --> 00:58:10,249 in Senator Warren's op-ed, is that we're advocating 1266 00:58:10,253 --> 00:58:12,893 putting in place rigorous standards that raise 1267 00:58:12,889 --> 00:58:13,889 standards for everybody else. 1268 00:58:13,890 --> 00:58:16,360 Because if we know and the President knows that if 1269 00:58:16,359 --> 00:58:19,599 everybody else is abiding by the terms that American businesses 1270 00:58:19,596 --> 00:58:22,066 are, that American businesses are going to thrive. 1271 00:58:22,065 --> 00:58:24,135 And they're going to benefit from access to those overseas 1272 00:58:24,133 --> 00:58:26,673 markets, and that means they're going to hire more people. 1273 00:58:26,669 --> 00:58:30,439 Their bottom line -- at least their profit line is going 1274 00:58:30,440 --> 00:58:33,110 to go up, and that's a good thing for the American economy. 1275 00:58:33,109 --> 00:58:35,409 It's certainly a good thing for job creation. 1276 00:58:35,411 --> 00:58:38,781 And it would be good for our broader national security. 1277 00:58:38,781 --> 00:58:42,381 And the President is going to aggressively make that case. 1278 00:58:42,385 --> 00:58:44,325 The Press: One quick question on the call 1279 00:58:44,320 --> 00:58:47,160 the President made yesterday to Walmart's CEO. 1280 00:58:47,156 --> 00:58:50,826 Is the President doing more of these calls to business leaders 1281 00:58:50,827 --> 00:58:53,827 trying to get them to sort of operate on their own to raise 1282 00:58:53,830 --> 00:58:55,770 the minimum wage since he hasn't gotten much progress 1283 00:58:55,765 --> 00:58:56,865 here in Congress? 1284 00:58:56,866 --> 00:58:59,736 Mr. Earnest: Well, the President -- I don't have any specific 1285 00:58:59,736 --> 00:59:03,236 calls to read out at this point, but the President over the last 1286 00:59:03,239 --> 00:59:06,339 year or so has actually traveled to some businesses 1287 00:59:06,342 --> 00:59:11,552 to give them credit for taking care of their workers. 1288 00:59:11,547 --> 00:59:13,547 You'll recall that when the President was in New York, 1289 00:59:13,549 --> 00:59:16,719 he went by The Gap and picked up a couple of items for members 1290 00:59:16,719 --> 00:59:19,289 of his family to bring attention to the fact that Gap 1291 00:59:19,289 --> 00:59:21,889 had made the decision to raise their workers' pay. 1292 00:59:21,891 --> 00:59:23,891 You'll recall that after the State of Union a year or two 1293 00:59:23,893 --> 00:59:27,293 ago, the President visited a Costco to highlight the success 1294 00:59:27,297 --> 00:59:30,637 that that company had enjoyed at least in part related 1295 00:59:30,633 --> 00:59:33,033 to the workplace policies that they have in place 1296 00:59:33,036 --> 00:59:35,076 for their employees. 1297 00:59:35,071 --> 00:59:37,071 So the President is going to continue to look for 1298 00:59:37,073 --> 00:59:40,343 opportunities to shine a spotlight on those businesses 1299 00:59:40,343 --> 00:59:43,813 that are doing the right thing by giving their workers a raise. 1300 00:59:43,813 --> 00:59:47,183 And again, and this is certainly true of Walmart, 1301 00:59:47,183 --> 00:59:49,983 they didn't do -- they didn't make that decision to change 1302 00:59:49,986 --> 00:59:52,126 their policies, give their workers a raise, 1303 00:59:52,121 --> 00:59:55,121 give them access to more flexible scheduling procedures 1304 00:59:55,124 --> 00:59:57,194 as a favor to the President; they did it because 1305 00:59:57,193 --> 00:59:58,193 it's good business. 1306 00:59:58,194 --> 01:00:00,194 It's good for their bottom line. 1307 01:00:00,196 --> 01:00:01,196 It's good for worker retention. 1308 01:00:01,197 --> 01:00:03,197 And we're confident that other businesses are going 1309 01:00:03,199 --> 01:00:04,269 to reach the same conclusion. 1310 01:00:04,267 --> 01:00:07,337 We just think that, again, that Congress should reach the same 1311 01:00:07,337 --> 01:00:11,277 conclusion, and they should give all American workers a raise. 1312 01:00:11,274 --> 01:00:12,574 Tommy. 1313 01:00:12,575 --> 01:00:13,175 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1314 01:00:13,176 --> 01:00:14,876 I have three quick questions for you. 1315 01:00:14,877 --> 01:00:17,477 First one, on Jihadi John, can you explain what 1316 01:00:17,480 --> 01:00:22,520 value you would put on Jihadi John as a target? 1317 01:00:22,518 --> 01:00:23,048 Mr. Earnest: That's not -- 1318 01:00:23,052 --> 01:00:24,492 The Press: Obviously, he's a symbolic -- 1319 01:00:24,487 --> 01:00:25,487 Mr. Earnest: Yes. 1320 01:00:25,488 --> 01:00:28,128 We remain committed to making sure that the individuals 1321 01:00:28,124 --> 01:00:30,164 who are responsible for the murder of American citizens 1322 01:00:30,159 --> 01:00:31,559 are brought to justice. 1323 01:00:31,561 --> 01:00:34,031 And that makes any individual who is responsible 1324 01:00:34,030 --> 01:00:37,100 for killing Americans a valuable target. 1325 01:00:37,100 --> 01:00:40,300 And the President has and will continue to devote significant 1326 01:00:40,303 --> 01:00:42,303 resources to bringing those individuals to justice. 1327 01:00:42,305 --> 01:00:46,745 The Press: So there's no special attention for him? 1328 01:00:46,743 --> 01:00:51,413 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, you'd have to talk to the Department 1329 01:00:51,414 --> 01:00:54,554 of Justice as they conduct this investigation if you wanted 1330 01:00:54,550 --> 01:00:57,350 a sort of assessment of where he ranks on the list. 1331 01:00:57,353 --> 01:00:59,353 But in the mind of the President, 1332 01:00:59,355 --> 01:01:01,725 he ranks highly on the list because that individual is 1333 01:01:01,724 --> 01:01:03,694 responsible for the murder of innocent Americans, 1334 01:01:03,693 --> 01:01:07,063 and the President is determined to bring them to justice. 1335 01:01:07,063 --> 01:01:09,263 The Press: We heard about this threat from al-Shabaab 1336 01:01:09,265 --> 01:01:11,235 on the Mall of America over the weekend. 1337 01:01:11,234 --> 01:01:13,704 And under current law, as I'm sure you're aware, 1338 01:01:13,703 --> 01:01:16,003 that there's nothing to prevent a couple of lone wolves from 1339 01:01:16,005 --> 01:01:19,045 going to a gun show and getting everything that they need to 1340 01:01:19,042 --> 01:01:21,642 inflict mass causalities at a place like the Mall of America. 1341 01:01:21,644 --> 01:01:24,284 So what I'm wondering is if there is any sort of thought 1342 01:01:24,280 --> 01:01:29,050 being given to close the gun show loophole and strengthen 1343 01:01:29,052 --> 01:01:32,092 background checks in the interest of national security. 1344 01:01:32,088 --> 01:01:33,288 And if there isn't, then why not? 1345 01:01:33,289 --> 01:01:34,319 Mr. Earnest: Well, the President certainly believes that there 1346 01:01:34,323 --> 01:01:37,393 are some common-sense steps that we can take that would ensure 1347 01:01:37,393 --> 01:01:39,393 that we continue to protect the Second Amendment rights 1348 01:01:39,395 --> 01:01:41,635 of law abiding citizens while also making it harder 1349 01:01:41,631 --> 01:01:44,131 for those who shouldn't get guns to get them. 1350 01:01:44,133 --> 01:01:46,573 The President has pushed a variety of legislative 1351 01:01:46,569 --> 01:01:49,369 proposals to try to effectuate those changes. 1352 01:01:49,372 --> 01:01:51,772 The President has also put in place a large number -- 1353 01:01:51,774 --> 01:01:54,614 I think two dozen or so -- executive actions 1354 01:01:54,610 --> 01:01:56,310 to try to take those steps. 1355 01:01:56,312 --> 01:02:03,752 And those executive actions have been important and successful. 1356 01:02:03,753 --> 01:02:06,123 But there is more work that can be done, again, 1357 01:02:06,122 --> 01:02:10,932 to implement common-sense measures that would both protect 1358 01:02:10,927 --> 01:02:13,267 the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans 1359 01:02:13,262 --> 01:02:15,562 while making it harder for those individuals 1360 01:02:15,565 --> 01:02:17,565 who shouldn't have firearms from getting them. 1361 01:02:17,567 --> 01:02:19,767 The Press: Finally, you know that CPAC is going on right now. 1362 01:02:19,769 --> 01:02:25,809 I just got this over my Twitter that Governor Chris Christie has 1363 01:02:25,808 --> 01:02:29,308 said at CPAC that the people here at the White House, 1364 01:02:29,312 --> 01:02:30,952 somebody should tell them to shut up. 1365 01:02:30,947 --> 01:02:33,987 And I'm wondering if you have any reaction to that? 1366 01:02:33,983 --> 01:02:34,913 What happened? 1367 01:02:34,917 --> 01:02:36,787 I mean, it seems like only yesterday that he and the 1368 01:02:36,786 --> 01:02:38,926 President were throwing footballs on the boardwalk -- 1369 01:02:38,921 --> 01:02:39,961 (laughter) 1370 01:02:39,956 --> 01:02:41,596 -- and now this. 1371 01:02:41,591 --> 01:02:44,291 Mr. Earnest: You would have to ask him that. 1372 01:02:44,293 --> 01:02:45,263 Julie. 1373 01:02:45,261 --> 01:02:46,901 The Press: Just to follow up on trade, 1374 01:02:46,896 --> 01:02:49,996 you mentioned one of the aims for today's interviews 1375 01:02:49,999 --> 01:02:52,339 is to persuade Republicans and Democrats that this 1376 01:02:52,335 --> 01:02:53,365 is a good thing. 1377 01:02:53,369 --> 01:02:56,069 Does the President think that right now the support is there 1378 01:02:56,072 --> 01:02:58,712 for trade promotion authority in Congress today? 1379 01:02:58,708 --> 01:03:03,378 And if not, how far away does he think he is to getting the 1380 01:03:03,379 --> 01:03:06,149 support that he would need -- both among Democrats and among 1381 01:03:06,149 --> 01:03:08,319 enough Republicans to make up the difference, 1382 01:03:08,317 --> 01:03:10,617 because there are some Democrats who have said they will never 1383 01:03:10,620 --> 01:03:12,560 support this -- to actually be able to get that through 1384 01:03:12,555 --> 01:03:15,025 and to be able to finish the Trans-Pacific Partnership? 1385 01:03:15,024 --> 01:03:17,024 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think it's hard to assess because there 1386 01:03:17,026 --> 01:03:19,826 isn't specific TPA legislation that's been put forward yet. 1387 01:03:19,829 --> 01:03:21,669 But I know that there are Democrats and Republicans 1388 01:03:21,664 --> 01:03:25,364 on the Hill that are working on that, maybe even as we speak. 1389 01:03:25,368 --> 01:03:29,038 So I think at that point we'll be in a better position 1390 01:03:29,038 --> 01:03:31,578 to start counting votes and getting a sense of where 1391 01:03:31,574 --> 01:03:32,574 people stand on this. 1392 01:03:32,575 --> 01:03:34,945 You're right that there are some people who have -- 1393 01:03:34,944 --> 01:03:36,944 in both parties, frankly -- who have sort of ruled 1394 01:03:36,946 --> 01:03:38,946 it out on principle without even 1395 01:03:38,948 --> 01:03:41,748 considering what the legislation includes. 1396 01:03:41,751 --> 01:03:43,791 But I think the vast majority of members of Congress are 1397 01:03:43,786 --> 01:03:46,686 interested in seeing the specific legislative proposal. 1398 01:03:46,689 --> 01:03:48,729 And that will also give us an opportunity, 1399 01:03:48,724 --> 01:03:50,824 once the proposal has been written, to do two things. 1400 01:03:50,826 --> 01:03:54,226 One is to persuade them of some of the details that are included 1401 01:03:54,230 --> 01:03:56,730 in the proposal, that those would be a good thing. 1402 01:03:56,732 --> 01:03:59,532 It also would allow the legislative process to work. 1403 01:03:59,535 --> 01:04:02,305 If there are specific provisions that members of Congress 1404 01:04:02,305 --> 01:04:04,605 have concerns about, then they can offer up some 1405 01:04:04,607 --> 01:04:07,707 tweaks or some changes or some edits that might 1406 01:04:07,710 --> 01:04:10,950 garner additional broader support. 1407 01:04:10,947 --> 01:04:14,187 And so there will obviously be a legislative process associated 1408 01:04:14,183 --> 01:04:16,753 with this, and the President will be engaged in that process 1409 01:04:16,752 --> 01:04:19,592 in making the case both to Democrats and Republicans that 1410 01:04:19,589 --> 01:04:21,629 this is something that is clearly in the best interest 1411 01:04:21,624 --> 01:04:23,624 of the country and clearly in the best interest 1412 01:04:23,626 --> 01:04:25,596 of the middle-class families that live here. 1413 01:04:25,595 --> 01:04:27,595 The Press: Has the President or anyone at the White House 1414 01:04:27,597 --> 01:04:29,597 weighed in on those negotiations on the front end 1415 01:04:29,599 --> 01:04:31,599 to make sure that the proposal is something that -- 1416 01:04:31,601 --> 01:04:32,671 would be something that he could accept? 1417 01:04:32,668 --> 01:04:34,308 I mean, after all, this is a grant of authority 1418 01:04:34,303 --> 01:04:35,003 to the President. 1419 01:04:35,004 --> 01:04:37,374 So is he going to propose what he thinks it should say? 1420 01:04:37,373 --> 01:04:38,973 Mr. Earnest: Well, I know that there have been 1421 01:04:38,975 --> 01:04:43,175 conversations between White House staff and members 1422 01:04:43,179 --> 01:04:47,379 and staff on Capitol Hill on this topic. 1423 01:04:47,383 --> 01:04:50,853 And so there has been administration-level engagement. 1424 01:04:50,853 --> 01:04:53,523 I don't know of any specific conversations that the President 1425 01:04:53,522 --> 01:04:55,522 has had on this, but I know that he's had the opportunity 1426 01:04:55,524 --> 01:04:57,524 to talk about this to some of the congressional leaders. 1427 01:04:57,526 --> 01:04:59,566 So again, that's part of the legislative process. 1428 01:04:59,562 --> 01:05:02,102 There will be a committee process where this will go 1429 01:05:02,098 --> 01:05:04,898 through the committee, but obviously the leaders 1430 01:05:04,900 --> 01:05:07,400 will have some influence on this as well. 1431 01:05:07,403 --> 01:05:10,303 And the President I know for sure has had some conversations 1432 01:05:10,306 --> 01:05:12,146 with congressional leadership on the issue. 1433 01:05:12,141 --> 01:05:12,811 The Press: Can I follow up? 1434 01:05:12,808 --> 01:05:13,208 Mr. Earnest: Sure, David. 1435 01:05:13,209 --> 01:05:15,679 The Press: Does the President or does the White House believe 1436 01:05:15,678 --> 01:05:19,918 that the TPA bill, once it's introduced in the Senate, 1437 01:05:19,915 --> 01:05:22,355 was going to be a bipartisan effort? 1438 01:05:22,351 --> 01:05:24,851 And does the White House believe it has 1439 01:05:24,854 --> 01:05:28,094 to be a bipartisan effort to have a chance? 1440 01:05:28,090 --> 01:05:29,930 Mr. Earnest: Most congressional observers, 1441 01:05:29,925 --> 01:05:33,065 who may know a little bit more about this process than I do, 1442 01:05:33,062 --> 01:05:36,162 I think do assume that it's going to require Democrats and 1443 01:05:36,165 --> 01:05:37,535 Republicans in both houses of Congress getting 1444 01:05:37,533 --> 01:05:39,633 together to advance this. 1445 01:05:39,635 --> 01:05:43,235 So we are operating from the premise that 1446 01:05:43,239 --> 01:05:45,009 it will require bipartisan support. 1447 01:05:45,007 --> 01:05:47,707 Now, if there is a way for -- well, 1448 01:05:47,710 --> 01:05:50,350 I'm not sure there is another way. 1449 01:05:50,346 --> 01:05:53,346 We are working in bipartisan fashion to try 1450 01:05:53,349 --> 01:05:55,989 to get both Democrats and Republicans to support it. 1451 01:05:55,985 --> 01:05:57,215 The Press: So you think the bill will be introduced 1452 01:05:57,219 --> 01:05:57,719 in bipartisan -- 1453 01:05:57,720 --> 01:05:58,850 Mr. Earnest: That I don't know. 1454 01:05:58,854 --> 01:06:00,154 I think that will depend on the ongoing 1455 01:06:00,156 --> 01:06:02,426 conversations in Congress. 1456 01:06:02,425 --> 01:06:05,625 I think it certainly would be a good and important first 1457 01:06:05,628 --> 01:06:08,928 step for there to be Democrats and Republicans 1458 01:06:08,931 --> 01:06:12,101 who support the first draft of this legislation. 1459 01:06:12,101 --> 01:06:13,371 The Press: And the other thing is, 1460 01:06:13,369 --> 01:06:14,399 I know that on the Hill they're talking about trying 1461 01:06:14,403 --> 01:06:15,573 to do this in the first quarter of the year, 1462 01:06:15,571 --> 01:06:17,911 which would be end of March. 1463 01:06:17,907 --> 01:06:19,707 Does the White House see that as a realistic goal? 1464 01:06:19,709 --> 01:06:21,609 And does the White House and the administration more 1465 01:06:21,610 --> 01:06:25,180 broadly believe that's a mandatory goal to have 1466 01:06:25,181 --> 01:06:27,951 TPA in place that quickly to get TPP done? 1467 01:06:27,950 --> 01:06:30,050 Mr. Earnest: Well, I'm not in a good position 1468 01:06:30,052 --> 01:06:33,452 to sort of assess whether or not that's realistic. 1469 01:06:33,456 --> 01:06:36,926 But obviously, the legislative process is one that sometimes 1470 01:06:36,926 --> 01:06:39,326 can be a little arduous and sometimes take 1471 01:06:39,328 --> 01:06:41,468 a little longer than we would like. 1472 01:06:41,464 --> 01:06:43,464 But this is something that is worthy of careful 1473 01:06:43,466 --> 01:06:45,306 consideration in the Congress. 1474 01:06:45,301 --> 01:06:47,441 And we would like to see it done as quickly as possible, 1475 01:06:47,436 --> 01:06:50,236 but we also want to make sure that it's done in a way that 1476 01:06:50,239 --> 01:06:53,809 can build support among members of Congress in both parties 1477 01:06:53,809 --> 01:06:55,349 so that it can pass. 1478 01:06:55,344 --> 01:06:58,184 So we certainly feel a sense of urgency about it, 1479 01:06:58,180 --> 01:07:00,680 but I wouldn't put a timeframe on it from here right now. 1480 01:07:00,683 --> 01:07:02,723 All right, Bob, I'll give you the last one. 1481 01:07:02,718 --> 01:07:03,688 The Press: Thank you, Josh. 1482 01:07:03,686 --> 01:07:06,126 A couple days ago the President vetoed the Keystone 1483 01:07:06,122 --> 01:07:07,052 XL pipeline bill. 1484 01:07:07,056 --> 01:07:10,296 There aren't enough votes to override. 1485 01:07:10,292 --> 01:07:12,562 The President said he wanted to let the State Department 1486 01:07:12,561 --> 01:07:14,561 review process continue to play itself out. 1487 01:07:14,563 --> 01:07:17,933 Is there any reason to believe -- or any timeline 1488 01:07:17,933 --> 01:07:21,533 for that process to be completed ever? 1489 01:07:21,537 --> 01:07:24,107 Or is it just going to politically be left 1490 01:07:24,106 --> 01:07:26,676 to die of neglect? 1491 01:07:26,675 --> 01:07:30,475 Is there any reason to expect that review process to finish? 1492 01:07:30,479 --> 01:07:34,179 Mr. Earnest: Yes, I think you can expect that the State 1493 01:07:34,183 --> 01:07:37,753 Department will complete the task that is in front of them. 1494 01:07:37,753 --> 01:07:38,753 That's their responsibility, 1495 01:07:38,754 --> 01:07:40,754 and I'm confident that they'll do it. 1496 01:07:40,756 --> 01:07:42,756 I don't know, at this point, exactly what the timeframe for 1497 01:07:42,758 --> 01:07:46,258 that final decision and final review to be completed will be. 1498 01:07:46,262 --> 01:07:47,832 But you can check with the State Department; 1499 01:07:47,830 --> 01:07:49,430 they may be able to give you a better 1500 01:07:49,432 --> 01:07:51,472 estimate of the timeframe that we're looking at here. 1501 01:07:51,467 --> 01:07:52,567 The Press: Also, we're getting into political -- 1502 01:07:52,568 --> 01:07:56,268 the presidential campaign season already. 1503 01:07:56,272 --> 01:07:58,272 Mr. Earnest: Yes, I know, it always seems that way. 1504 01:07:58,274 --> 01:08:00,274 But there is an opportunity for us, 1505 01:08:00,276 --> 01:08:02,276 and certainly the experts at the Department of State and the 1506 01:08:02,278 --> 01:08:05,078 other relevant federal agencies, to evaluate this process without 1507 01:08:05,080 --> 01:08:08,280 the influence of politics -- to really focus on the merits 1508 01:08:08,284 --> 01:08:11,454 and the consequences, and put forward a decision to the 1509 01:08:11,454 --> 01:08:14,194 President about whether or not it is clearly in the national 1510 01:08:14,190 --> 01:08:15,990 interest to construct the pipeline. 1511 01:08:15,991 --> 01:08:19,431 And hopefully we'll get that done soon. 1512 01:08:19,428 --> 01:08:20,328 Thanks, everybody. 1513 01:08:20,329 --> 01:08:20,929 Have a good day.