English subtitles for clip: File:4-12-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

1
00:00:02,035 --> 00:00:04,805
Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

2
00:00:04,804 --> 00:00:06,104
You seem pretty
cheery today,

3
00:00:06,106 --> 00:00:08,346
which I'm pleased to hear.

4
00:00:08,341 --> 00:00:09,811
I do not have any
announcements at the top,

5
00:00:09,809 --> 00:00:11,209
so we can go straight
to questions.

6
00:00:11,211 --> 00:00:12,311
Kathleen, do you
want to start?

7
00:00:12,312 --> 00:00:14,152
The Press: Sure.

8
00:00:14,147 --> 00:00:18,287
I just wanted to go back to
the President's remarks

9
00:00:18,284 --> 00:00:19,524
this morning.

10
00:00:19,519 --> 00:00:23,519
He inched a little closer to
perhaps

11
00:00:23,523 --> 00:00:25,593
endorsing Hillary Clinton, with

12
00:00:25,592 --> 00:00:29,132
his comments
about future generations

13
00:00:29,129 --> 00:00:32,199
being surprised that a woman
could hold the Oval Office.

14
00:00:32,198 --> 00:00:33,698
Is that what he
meant by that?

15
00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:37,370
Again, leaning into the idea
that he's rooting for her.

16
00:00:37,370 --> 00:00:39,410
Mr. Earnest: I think the
President was leaning into

17
00:00:39,406 --> 00:00:41,176
the idea of a
value statement,

18
00:00:41,174 --> 00:00:44,474
that the United States is
a country where people who

19
00:00:44,477 --> 00:00:49,817
work hard and are willing to
play by the rules are not

20
00:00:49,816 --> 00:00:53,416
going to be limited by their
last name or what they look

21
00:00:53,420 --> 00:00:56,090
like or their religion
or even their gender,

22
00:00:56,089 --> 00:00:59,629
but rather that America is
a place where if you work

23
00:00:59,626 --> 00:01:01,626
hard, your dreams
can come true.

24
00:01:01,628 --> 00:01:03,268
And the President wants to
preserve that promise for

25
00:01:03,263 --> 00:01:05,003
future generations.

26
00:01:04,998 --> 00:01:06,898
The President has certainly
talked about that quite a

27
00:01:06,900 --> 00:01:11,740
bit and certainly when it
comes -- and it certainly

28
00:01:11,738 --> 00:01:17,278
applies to the scenario when
women are competing for the

29
00:01:17,277 --> 00:01:19,277
highest elected
office in the land,

30
00:01:19,279 --> 00:01:21,579
and that they should be
evaluated based on their

31
00:01:21,581 --> 00:01:25,281
ideas and their values
and their agenda.

32
00:01:25,285 --> 00:01:28,785
And it's the kind of country
I think that we all aspire

33
00:01:28,788 --> 00:01:31,858
to, and that certainly is
the value that the President

34
00:01:31,858 --> 00:01:33,328
was giving voice to today.

35
00:01:33,326 --> 00:01:36,326
The Press: So is he ready
to see a woman President?

36
00:01:36,329 --> 00:01:39,199
Mr. Earnest: I think the
President indicated in his

37
00:01:39,199 --> 00:01:41,199
remarks that the country
is ready for that.

38
00:01:41,201 --> 00:01:46,811
But the candidates are going
to be evaluated based on

39
00:01:46,806 --> 00:01:53,346
their values and on their
priorities and on their agenda.

40
00:01:53,346 --> 00:01:58,716
Well, look, there already
has been a tough debate

41
00:01:58,718 --> 00:02:01,858
already about who the
next President will be,

42
00:02:01,855 --> 00:02:04,555
and that debate will only
intensify in advance

43
00:02:04,557 --> 00:02:05,997
of November.

44
00:02:05,992 --> 00:02:08,692
And that's the way that
we're going to choose

45
00:02:08,695 --> 00:02:09,895
our next President.

46
00:02:09,896 --> 00:02:13,396
And the President will be an
eager participant

47
00:02:13,399 --> 00:02:14,439
in that process.

48
00:02:14,434 --> 00:02:17,574
The Press: And then
one more on politics.

49
00:02:17,570 --> 00:02:20,910
There is an announcement of
remarks coming from Speaker Ryan

50
00:02:20,907 --> 00:02:24,147
later this afternoon,
as I'm sure you're aware.

51
00:02:24,143 --> 00:02:26,213
Do you think Democrats
should be preparing for the

52
00:02:26,212 --> 00:02:29,412
possibility that he could
be the Republican nominee?

53
00:02:29,415 --> 00:02:32,755
Mr. Earnest: Well, it's
my understanding that the

54
00:02:32,752 --> 00:02:35,652
meeting that Speaker Ryan
has convened is to assure

55
00:02:35,655 --> 00:02:36,825
everybody, including
Democrats,

56
00:02:36,823 --> 00:02:40,063
that people don't need to be
concerned about the prospect

57
00:02:40,059 --> 00:02:42,059
of him running for
President anytime soon,

58
00:02:42,061 --> 00:02:43,061
at least not this year.

59
00:02:43,062 --> 00:02:46,702
But I'll let him speak for
himself about his own plans.

60
00:02:46,699 --> 00:02:52,609
I think Democrats are going
to have a forceful argument

61
00:02:52,605 --> 00:02:54,245
to make, and the President
will be part

62
00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:56,080
of making that argument.

63
00:02:56,075 --> 00:02:58,245
In some ways, he
already has been.

64
00:02:58,244 --> 00:03:01,544
But there will be plenty of
time to consider exactly how

65
00:03:01,548 --> 00:03:04,588
that argument lines up and
who the candidates will be

66
00:03:04,584 --> 00:03:06,084
over the course
of this year.

67
00:03:06,085 --> 00:03:08,785
And Republicans have
their own process that's

68
00:03:08,788 --> 00:03:14,228
established for nominating
a candidate for President.

69
00:03:14,227 --> 00:03:21,837
They have their own set of
rules that guide how that

70
00:03:21,834 --> 00:03:24,104
process will work.

71
00:03:24,103 --> 00:03:26,743
And I understand that
Speaker Ryan is the chair of

72
00:03:26,739 --> 00:03:30,639
the Republican convention,
so he certainly -- I suspect

73
00:03:30,643 --> 00:03:34,813
he's spent a little time
brushing up on the finer

74
00:03:34,814 --> 00:03:38,184
points of those rules
over the last few weeks.

75
00:03:38,184 --> 00:03:41,654
And ultimately, it will be
up to Republicans to decide

76
00:03:41,654 --> 00:03:44,324
who they want to represent
their party

77
00:03:44,324 --> 00:03:45,324
in the general election.

78
00:03:45,325 --> 00:03:47,965
The Press: So Democrats
should take that at face value?

79
00:03:47,961 --> 00:03:52,161
They should not do any
preparation or at all be

80
00:03:52,165 --> 00:03:53,465
ready for the --

81
00:03:53,466 --> 00:03:54,296
Mr. Earnest: I think that

82
00:03:54,300 --> 00:03:55,940
Speaker Ryan is hoping that
everybody will take him at

83
00:03:55,935 --> 00:03:58,375
face value when he delivers
his comments later today.

84
00:03:58,371 --> 00:04:00,941
But I'll let him
speak for himself.

85
00:04:00,940 --> 00:04:02,140
The Press: And
just one more,

86
00:04:02,141 --> 00:04:05,481
looking ahead to next week.

87
00:04:05,478 --> 00:04:09,178
I assume the White House
is following sort of the

88
00:04:09,182 --> 00:04:13,582
fallout from the Panama
Papers and that Cameron has

89
00:04:13,586 --> 00:04:17,726
been caught up in
some discussion.

90
00:04:17,724 --> 00:04:20,394
I'm wondering if you could
just tell me whether or not

91
00:04:20,393 --> 00:04:23,193
the White House is following
that and if we should expect

92
00:04:23,196 --> 00:04:25,766
the President to defend the
Prime Minister in any way on

93
00:04:25,765 --> 00:04:28,235
this front when he's
there next week.

94
00:04:28,234 --> 00:04:30,504
Mr. Earnest: Well, I know
that the White House has

95
00:04:30,503 --> 00:04:32,273
been following this story.

96
00:04:32,271 --> 00:04:34,271
There's been a lot of
reporting that's been

97
00:04:34,273 --> 00:04:38,713
generated by journalists who
have analyzed the data that

98
00:04:38,711 --> 00:04:40,111
was released.

99
00:04:40,113 --> 00:04:45,883
And in some cases, this has
caused politicians in places

100
00:04:45,885 --> 00:04:49,325
like Iceland and
China and, yes,

101
00:04:49,322 --> 00:04:53,762
some places in Europe who
have been connected to that

102
00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:55,800
information in one
way or another.

103
00:04:55,795 --> 00:04:58,095
I know what Prime Minister
Cameron has done is he's

104
00:04:58,097 --> 00:05:00,637
released an unprecedented
amount of information about

105
00:05:00,633 --> 00:05:05,473
his taxes in order to help
his constituents understand

106
00:05:05,471 --> 00:05:08,111
exactly what
has taken place.

107
00:05:08,107 --> 00:05:12,077
I don't know to what extent
that will satisfy the

108
00:05:12,078 --> 00:05:14,548
inquiries that he and his
office have received.

109
00:05:14,547 --> 00:05:20,457
But the argument that the
President made when speaking

110
00:05:20,453 --> 00:05:23,253
from this podium last week
is that the United States

111
00:05:23,256 --> 00:05:26,926
has been a strong advocate
of greater transparency in

112
00:05:26,926 --> 00:05:28,896
the international
financial system.

113
00:05:28,895 --> 00:05:31,235
And there are a number
of steps that the Obama

114
00:05:31,230 --> 00:05:34,770
administration has advanced
in pursuit of that goal,

115
00:05:34,767 --> 00:05:37,467
but there obviously is more
work that we believe

116
00:05:37,470 --> 00:05:38,470
can be done.

117
00:05:38,471 --> 00:05:40,911
This is an important
principle because we know

118
00:05:40,907 --> 00:05:45,307
that there are bad actors
that capitalize on the

119
00:05:45,311 --> 00:05:47,881
opaque nature of some
international financial

120
00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:52,250
transactions to try to
launder money, to evade U.S.

121
00:05:52,251 --> 00:05:59,221
sanctions, and to store
the profits of corruption.

122
00:05:59,225 --> 00:06:02,795
So greater transparency into
those transactions would

123
00:06:02,795 --> 00:06:05,065
enhance the ability of
the United States and our

124
00:06:05,064 --> 00:06:09,164
international partners
to combat those efforts.

125
00:06:09,168 --> 00:06:11,168
So we're going to
continue to advocate

126
00:06:11,170 --> 00:06:12,170
for transparency.

127
00:06:12,171 --> 00:06:14,571
And it sounds like Prime
Minister Cameron has opted

128
00:06:14,574 --> 00:06:17,044
for greater transparency
to help the British people

129
00:06:17,043 --> 00:06:21,083
understand exactly his
role in this story.

130
00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:26,920
And I don't know whether or
not this will continue to be

131
00:06:26,919 --> 00:06:29,359
the topic of intense
interest when

132
00:06:29,355 --> 00:06:33,255
President Obama travels to
London next week.

133
00:06:33,259 --> 00:06:35,259
I would anticipate that
while the President is in

134
00:06:35,261 --> 00:06:37,261
London, he'll have an
opportunity to take

135
00:06:37,263 --> 00:06:39,903
questions from all of you,
and we'll see at that point

136
00:06:39,899 --> 00:06:42,399
whether or not you and
your British counterparts

137
00:06:42,401 --> 00:06:45,101
consider this to
be a relevant,

138
00:06:45,104 --> 00:06:46,474
newsworthy topic
at that point.

139
00:06:46,472 --> 00:06:50,212
The Press: Another likely
topic will be Brexit.

140
00:06:50,209 --> 00:06:53,609
Can you describe whether or
not the President -- what we

141
00:06:53,613 --> 00:06:55,213
should expect from
him on that front,

142
00:06:55,214 --> 00:06:58,184
and whether or not he's at
all concerned about meddling

143
00:06:58,184 --> 00:07:04,694
or weighing in too much on
an issue --

144
00:07:04,690 --> 00:07:07,060
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't have any specific set of remarks

145
00:07:07,059 --> 00:07:08,159
to preview for you.

146
00:07:08,161 --> 00:07:11,861
The position that we have
previously expressed is that

147
00:07:11,864 --> 00:07:16,974
the United States benefits
from a strong UK that's part

148
00:07:16,969 --> 00:07:18,439
of the EU.

149
00:07:18,437 --> 00:07:21,837
And ultimately, the British
people will have to decide

150
00:07:21,841 --> 00:07:26,511
exactly what they want the
future to hold with regard

151
00:07:26,512 --> 00:07:27,952
to their country's
relationship with the rest

152
00:07:27,947 --> 00:07:30,047
of Europe.

153
00:07:30,049 --> 00:07:33,819
And I think that,
in any case,

154
00:07:33,820 --> 00:07:36,990
the President will respect
the sovereignty of the UK

155
00:07:36,989 --> 00:07:38,989
and the right of the
British people

156
00:07:38,991 --> 00:07:39,991
to make that determination.

157
00:07:39,992 --> 00:07:43,862
But when the President is
taking questions from the

158
00:07:43,863 --> 00:07:46,233
press corps, I wouldn't be
surprised if this is at that

159
00:07:46,232 --> 00:07:49,002
point considered a
newsworthy topic that comes up.

160
00:07:52,672 --> 00:07:55,772
Tim.

161
00:07:55,775 --> 00:07:58,345
The Press: I want to talk
about Brazil a little bit.

162
00:07:58,344 --> 00:08:03,654
Lots of difficult news
as Brazil -- more votes

163
00:08:03,649 --> 00:08:06,219
expected on impeachment
proceedings for

164
00:08:06,219 --> 00:08:08,689
President Rousseff in coming days.

165
00:08:08,688 --> 00:08:12,558
And then today, the IMF
downgraded its forecast of

166
00:08:12,558 --> 00:08:17,398
the economy -- going to
shrink 3.8 percent this year

167
00:08:17,396 --> 00:08:20,936
instead of 3.5 percent.

168
00:08:20,933 --> 00:08:27,703
Just wondering how the White
House -- how concerned is it

169
00:08:27,707 --> 00:08:30,507
that these economic
problems could hit

170
00:08:30,509 --> 00:08:32,879
the U.S. eventually.

171
00:08:32,879 --> 00:08:34,479
Mr. Earnest: I did not see
the news about the new

172
00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:36,650
economic assessment
from the IMF.

173
00:08:36,649 --> 00:08:42,489
But the kinds of political
challenges that's facing the

174
00:08:42,488 --> 00:08:46,528
government in Brazil does
not typically have a

175
00:08:46,525 --> 00:08:48,865
positive impact on the
broader economic outlook

176
00:08:48,861 --> 00:08:49,861
of the country.

177
00:08:49,862 --> 00:08:55,672
So I'm not surprised to hear
that assessment from the IMF.

178
00:08:55,668 --> 00:08:57,668
I don't think any
of the developments,

179
00:08:57,670 --> 00:08:59,670
either in the political
realm or in the economic

180
00:08:59,672 --> 00:09:01,842
realm, have changed the
President's assessment of

181
00:09:01,841 --> 00:09:04,141
the situation there.

182
00:09:04,143 --> 00:09:06,143
When the President did his
news conference in Argentina

183
00:09:06,145 --> 00:09:10,045
alongside President Macri,
the President voiced his

184
00:09:10,049 --> 00:09:16,159
confidence in the durability
of the Brazilian government

185
00:09:16,155 --> 00:09:22,165
and Brazilian democracy
to weather the political

186
00:09:24,263 --> 00:09:27,503
crosswinds that they're
enduring right now.

187
00:09:27,500 --> 00:09:32,200
And the President had
confidence in the ability of

188
00:09:32,204 --> 00:09:35,504
that governing system to
resolve the concerns that

189
00:09:35,508 --> 00:09:40,748
have been raised and allow
the Brazilian government and

190
00:09:40,746 --> 00:09:43,016
the Brazilian people
to move forward.

191
00:09:43,015 --> 00:09:45,985
They obviously have
a busy summer ahead.

192
00:09:45,985 --> 00:09:51,955
There are Olympic Games that
they're preparing to host

193
00:09:51,958 --> 00:09:54,128
that will put Brazil
in the spotlight.

194
00:09:56,395 --> 00:10:04,275
And we certainly are hopeful
that the British government

195
00:10:04,270 --> 00:10:07,510
will be able -- or that the
Brazilian government will

196
00:10:07,506 --> 00:10:09,506
confront these challenges,
will deal with them

197
00:10:09,508 --> 00:10:12,508
according to the rules
that are codified in their

198
00:10:12,511 --> 00:10:14,881
constitution and in their
system of government,

199
00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:16,880
and move forward
in a way that can,

200
00:10:16,882 --> 00:10:24,692
over the longer term, begin
to strengthen their economy.

201
00:10:24,690 --> 00:10:28,690
Obviously, when you have a
country as large as Brazil

202
00:10:28,694 --> 00:10:33,164
that has as many economic
ties with the United States,

203
00:10:33,165 --> 00:10:37,235
it's in our interest to
see their economy strong.

204
00:10:37,236 --> 00:10:41,336
It's in our interest to
see the country's economy

205
00:10:41,340 --> 00:10:44,780
develop in a way that they
can continue to be an

206
00:10:44,777 --> 00:10:48,347
important trading partner
with the United States.

207
00:10:48,347 --> 00:10:52,517
Prior to the President's
trip to Brazil in the first

208
00:10:52,518 --> 00:10:55,358
term of his presidency, we
spent a decent amount of

209
00:10:55,354 --> 00:10:57,424
time talking about how
important those economic

210
00:10:57,423 --> 00:11:01,063
ties were, and how direct
the consequences are for our

211
00:11:03,662 --> 00:11:08,232
trade relationship, both
here in the United States

212
00:11:08,234 --> 00:11:09,234
when it comes
to our economy,

213
00:11:09,235 --> 00:11:12,935
but also the impact that
it has on the economy of Brazil.

214
00:11:12,938 --> 00:11:18,248
But, look, even in light of
the developments that you

215
00:11:18,244 --> 00:11:21,444
have cited, the United
States and President Obama

216
00:11:21,447 --> 00:11:25,817
himself have confidence
in the durability of the

217
00:11:25,818 --> 00:11:29,688
Brazilian democracy to
weather those challenges.

218
00:11:29,688 --> 00:11:33,258
The Press: And I know you
haven't seen all the details

219
00:11:33,259 --> 00:11:36,729
of the IMF -- the
wider IMF report today,

220
00:11:36,729 --> 00:11:43,599
but they're also quite
gloomy about the global economy.

221
00:11:43,602 --> 00:11:49,412
Japan, Russia and Brazil
all don't pan out too well.

222
00:11:49,408 --> 00:11:52,878
How worried is the White
House that if this continues

223
00:11:52,878 --> 00:11:57,848
it will lead to more global
protectionist sentiment?

224
00:11:57,850 --> 00:12:02,020
Mr. Earnest: Well, over
the last couple of years,

225
00:12:02,021 --> 00:12:07,331
the President's economists
have noted that the chief

226
00:12:07,326 --> 00:12:09,066
headwinds to the U.S. economy

227
00:12:09,061 --> 00:12:13,971
right now are
emanating from overseas.

228
00:12:13,966 --> 00:12:15,966
There is a direct
impact on the U.S.

229
00:12:15,968 --> 00:12:18,168
economy that is deeply
integrated with the global

230
00:12:18,170 --> 00:12:24,710
economy when we see some of
our partners encounter some

231
00:12:24,710 --> 00:12:26,710
economic difficulties.

232
00:12:27,980 --> 00:12:32,150
But this also goes to the
argument that the President

233
00:12:32,151 --> 00:12:35,291
himself has made
quite a bit, recently,

234
00:12:35,287 --> 00:12:37,287
that the United States has
an economy that's the envy

235
00:12:37,289 --> 00:12:39,429
of the world -- that the
United States' economy is

236
00:12:39,425 --> 00:12:44,595
durable, that the United
States' economy is strong.

237
00:12:44,597 --> 00:12:49,967
And the investments that --
and the strategy that we

238
00:12:49,969 --> 00:12:54,769
committed to in the
President's first couple of

239
00:12:54,773 --> 00:12:57,843
years of his presidency are
now reaping significant

240
00:12:57,843 --> 00:13:00,483
benefits for the American
people and the American economy.

241
00:13:00,479 --> 00:13:02,419
That's a good thing.

242
00:13:02,414 --> 00:13:05,914
And it is what
makes the U.S.

243
00:13:05,918 --> 00:13:08,318
economy the envy
of the world.

244
00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:14,430
And the President's view is
that even in this situation

245
00:13:14,426 --> 00:13:16,726
where some of our
significant trading partners

246
00:13:16,729 --> 00:13:21,129
are encountering some
economic difficulties,

247
00:13:21,133 --> 00:13:23,903
this would be exactly the
wrong time to retrench.

248
00:13:23,903 --> 00:13:26,073
What we should be
doing is helping U.S.

249
00:13:26,071 --> 00:13:27,441
businesses look for
additional

250
00:13:27,439 --> 00:13:29,279
opportunities overseas.

251
00:13:29,275 --> 00:13:31,275
We know that's good for
our broader economy.

252
00:13:31,277 --> 00:13:32,277
It's good for creating jobs.

253
00:13:32,278 --> 00:13:33,948
It's good for
economic growth.

254
00:13:33,946 --> 00:13:36,586
We know that actually places
upward pressure on wages --

255
00:13:36,582 --> 00:13:38,582
that jobs in the United
States that are tied to

256
00:13:38,584 --> 00:13:42,084
exports actually pay
higher, on average,

257
00:13:42,087 --> 00:13:44,057
than the typical
American job.

258
00:13:44,056 --> 00:13:46,196
That is all the more reason
that we should be looking

259
00:13:46,192 --> 00:13:49,562
for additional opportunities
to help American businesses

260
00:13:49,562 --> 00:13:50,592
do business overseas.

261
00:13:50,596 --> 00:13:52,736
And that's one of the
reasons that the President

262
00:13:52,731 --> 00:13:57,241
continues to be an ardent
advocate of congressional

263
00:13:57,236 --> 00:13:59,606
approval for the
Trans-Pacific Partnership.

264
00:13:59,605 --> 00:14:02,975
This would expand
the ability of U.S.

265
00:14:02,975 --> 00:14:07,445
businesses to engage in
commerce with countries in

266
00:14:07,446 --> 00:14:12,856
the Asia Pacific region,
some of whom are the most

267
00:14:12,851 --> 00:14:20,491
economically dynamic
countries in the world.

268
00:14:20,492 --> 00:14:25,432
And that is the path to the
kind of economic growth and

269
00:14:25,431 --> 00:14:27,671
success that the President
would like to see

270
00:14:27,666 --> 00:14:30,836
the United States enjoy over
the long term.

271
00:14:30,836 --> 00:14:31,806
Justin.

272
00:14:31,804 --> 00:14:33,974
The Press: While the
President was speaking at

273
00:14:33,973 --> 00:14:38,043
UChicago last week, he said
that he saw encryption as

274
00:14:38,043 --> 00:14:40,543
one of the major judicial
issues of the time,

275
00:14:40,546 --> 00:14:43,916
and judges sort of sorting
out the difference between

276
00:14:43,916 --> 00:14:46,416
privacy and security.

277
00:14:46,418 --> 00:14:48,118
And so I'm wondering if
that's another signal,

278
00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:50,490
especially in light of
the draft that's been

279
00:14:50,489 --> 00:14:54,929
circulating on Capitol Hill
and leaked in part last

280
00:14:54,927 --> 00:14:57,367
week, that the President
prefers Congress not act

281
00:14:57,363 --> 00:15:02,003
here, and that this issue
be sort of decided in

282
00:15:02,001 --> 00:15:05,141
combination between the
courts and the sort of

283
00:15:05,137 --> 00:15:06,507
broader national
conversation he's talked

284
00:15:06,505 --> 00:15:09,045
about and you've
talked about.

285
00:15:09,041 --> 00:15:11,141
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
just restate the principle

286
00:15:11,143 --> 00:15:13,083
-- and I think
it's worth doing.

287
00:15:13,078 --> 00:15:20,988
The President believes
in strong encryption.

288
00:15:20,986 --> 00:15:22,786
He believes that strong
encryption has important

289
00:15:22,788 --> 00:15:27,598
value both for our economy
and our national security.

290
00:15:27,593 --> 00:15:29,633
He also believes that strong
encryption can be critical

291
00:15:29,628 --> 00:15:31,268
in protecting privacy.

292
00:15:31,263 --> 00:15:32,463
All those are good things.

293
00:15:32,464 --> 00:15:33,364
All those are things that
the President

294
00:15:33,365 --> 00:15:34,365
strongly believes.

295
00:15:34,366 --> 00:15:36,806
And it's why he believes
that strong encryption

296
00:15:36,802 --> 00:15:39,242
should be robustly deployed.

297
00:15:39,238 --> 00:15:46,078
At the same time, we should
not set up a situation where

298
00:15:46,078 --> 00:15:49,618
bad actors -- terrorists --
can essentially establish a

299
00:15:49,615 --> 00:15:52,155
safe haven in cyberspace.

300
00:15:52,151 --> 00:15:54,551
And I recognize, and the
President recognizes,

301
00:15:54,553 --> 00:15:58,393
that there is some tension
in those principles.

302
00:15:58,390 --> 00:16:03,560
And resolving that tension
both in the near term,

303
00:16:03,562 --> 00:16:05,562
but also over the longer,
will be challenging.

304
00:16:05,564 --> 00:16:07,564
And one of the reasons that
that will be challenging is

305
00:16:07,566 --> 00:16:10,136
not just because these are
principles that are really

306
00:16:10,135 --> 00:16:14,105
important, but these are
also principles that we're

307
00:16:14,106 --> 00:16:16,906
trying to enforce in a
very dynamic environment.

308
00:16:16,909 --> 00:16:21,749
Technology companies are
regularly innovating and

309
00:16:21,747 --> 00:16:28,187
finding new ways to
encrypt information.

310
00:16:28,187 --> 00:16:31,727
And ensuring that we have a
policy and a resolution of

311
00:16:31,724 --> 00:16:34,624
those two principles
that can adapt to that

312
00:16:34,626 --> 00:16:37,196
ever-changing environment
will be critical to the

313
00:16:37,196 --> 00:16:41,096
long-term success of this
policymaking process.

314
00:16:41,100 --> 00:16:44,200
What I will say is, after
describing how complex that

315
00:16:44,203 --> 00:16:47,403
situation is, I'll just
observe that there are some

316
00:16:47,406 --> 00:16:51,246
quite simple things that
Congress has struggled to do.

317
00:16:51,243 --> 00:16:53,243
I think the example that's
at the front of my mind

318
00:16:53,245 --> 00:16:56,515
today is, the administration
two months ago put forward a

319
00:16:56,515 --> 00:17:00,385
specific, documented
requested for $1.9 billion

320
00:17:00,386 --> 00:17:03,526
in funding to fight Zika.

321
00:17:03,522 --> 00:17:08,192
This is a virus that we know
threatens pregnant women and

322
00:17:08,193 --> 00:17:10,093
their newborn children.

323
00:17:10,095 --> 00:17:13,395
This is a virus that our
scientists and public health

324
00:17:13,399 --> 00:17:15,499
professionals are
increasingly worried about.

325
00:17:15,501 --> 00:17:19,171
But yet we haven't seen
Congress do anything on a

326
00:17:19,171 --> 00:17:22,611
common-sense matter of
public health and public safety.

327
00:17:22,608 --> 00:17:24,878
That's quite a
disappointment,

328
00:17:24,877 --> 00:17:29,417
and I think it reflects the
level of dysfunction in

329
00:17:29,415 --> 00:17:31,715
Congress right now,
particularly because we see

330
00:17:31,717 --> 00:17:34,757
too many Republicans
dragging their feet to act

331
00:17:34,753 --> 00:17:36,753
on what should be a rather
common-sense piece

332
00:17:36,755 --> 00:17:39,055
of legislation.

333
00:17:39,057 --> 00:17:42,197
That does diminish my
expectations when it comes

334
00:17:42,194 --> 00:17:45,564
to assessing Congress's
ability to tackle something

335
00:17:45,564 --> 00:17:49,764
as complicated as an
encryption policy.

336
00:17:49,768 --> 00:17:51,938
The Press: Well, does that
mean that you don't think

337
00:17:51,937 --> 00:17:54,107
Congress will
pass something?

338
00:17:54,106 --> 00:17:57,306
And whether they have not
passed Zika funding or not

339
00:17:57,309 --> 00:17:58,979
taken a vote on your
Supreme Court justice,

340
00:17:58,977 --> 00:18:02,417
do you think that they are
not capable of passing

341
00:18:02,414 --> 00:18:05,484
legislation that adequately
addresses this issue?

342
00:18:05,484 --> 00:18:07,384
Mr. Earnest: I think
both are in doubt.

343
00:18:07,386 --> 00:18:10,126
Both their ability to pass
legislation and their

344
00:18:10,122 --> 00:18:13,992
ability to put together
constructive legislation

345
00:18:13,992 --> 00:18:19,332
that would pass are
both questions that are

346
00:18:19,331 --> 00:18:20,331
significantly in doubt.

347
00:18:20,332 --> 00:18:23,402
The Press: Russia and Saudi
Arabia have reportedly

348
00:18:23,402 --> 00:18:25,902
reached an agreement to
freeze oil production.

349
00:18:25,904 --> 00:18:27,874
So I'm wondering if
that's something the U.S.

350
00:18:27,873 --> 00:18:30,273
was in touch with
Saudi Arabia about,

351
00:18:30,275 --> 00:18:34,945
if it's something that we
expect to hear about next

352
00:18:34,947 --> 00:18:38,617
week, because it kind of
cuts both ways economically.

353
00:18:38,617 --> 00:18:41,217
Because it would probably
increase gas prices,

354
00:18:41,220 --> 00:18:43,290
but could give a
boost to the U.S.

355
00:18:43,288 --> 00:18:46,358
energy sector -- whether
this is an agreement that

356
00:18:46,358 --> 00:18:48,358
the White House supports.

357
00:18:48,360 --> 00:18:50,660
Mr. Earnest: I haven't seen
the news reports about this.

358
00:18:50,662 --> 00:18:52,602
I have been asked about
previous news reports

359
00:18:52,598 --> 00:18:55,098
hinting at an agreement like
this that did not prove to

360
00:18:55,100 --> 00:18:57,400
-- that didn't pan out and
that didn't prove to be true.

361
00:18:57,402 --> 00:19:00,142
So why don't we take a
closer look at this specific

362
00:19:00,138 --> 00:19:03,178
news report before
commenting on it.

363
00:19:03,175 --> 00:19:04,875
But we'll take a look
and get back to you.

364
00:19:04,877 --> 00:19:06,347
The Press: And one last one.

365
00:19:06,345 --> 00:19:08,315
Is it fair to read the
President's comments earlier

366
00:19:08,313 --> 00:19:11,613
today that female soccer
players should have their

367
00:19:11,617 --> 00:19:14,517
work equally valued as an
endorsement of the U.S.

368
00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:18,460
Women's National Team's
complaint to the Equal

369
00:19:18,457 --> 00:19:20,627
Employment Opportunity
Commission?

370
00:19:20,626 --> 00:19:25,026
And if so, or even if it's
more of a broad push by the

371
00:19:25,030 --> 00:19:27,370
President, does he think
there should be any sort of

372
00:19:27,366 --> 00:19:28,096
change in U.S.

373
00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:33,370
soccer since women are paid
dramatically less than males?

374
00:19:33,372 --> 00:19:34,802
Mr. Earnest: I think the
point of the President's

375
00:19:34,806 --> 00:19:37,176
remarks today was just to
acknowledge the facts of

376
00:19:37,175 --> 00:19:39,415
that specific situation.

377
00:19:39,411 --> 00:19:41,681
What sort of ruling is
handed down by the EEOC is

378
00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:43,720
something that the
commissioners there will

379
00:19:43,715 --> 00:19:45,085
have to conclude
on their own.

380
00:19:45,083 --> 00:19:47,883
I think the President is
just sort of acknowledging

381
00:19:47,886 --> 00:19:50,186
the paid disparity that
exists in a variety of

382
00:19:50,188 --> 00:19:54,658
professions, including when
it comes to the best soccer

383
00:19:54,660 --> 00:19:56,600
players in the world.

384
00:19:56,595 --> 00:19:59,595
And that's what the
President was alluding to.

385
00:19:59,598 --> 00:20:01,098
The Press: On the U.S.

386
00:20:01,099 --> 00:20:03,599
National Team, as the
President of the United States,

387
00:20:03,602 --> 00:20:05,242
would he like to see
something change at U.S.

388
00:20:05,237 --> 00:20:08,007
soccer, whether it be
leadership or whether it be

389
00:20:08,006 --> 00:20:10,506
them adopting a
different pay structure?

390
00:20:10,509 --> 00:20:12,149
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
haven't talked to him about

391
00:20:12,144 --> 00:20:14,714
this specific issue.

392
00:20:14,713 --> 00:20:19,423
And I'm certainly not versed
in all of the policies that

393
00:20:19,418 --> 00:20:24,858
may govern the setting of
salaries for the men's and

394
00:20:24,856 --> 00:20:26,096
women's team.

395
00:20:26,091 --> 00:20:29,561
I think the President's
observation today, however,

396
00:20:29,561 --> 00:20:34,001
is that there is a
significant disparity based

397
00:20:33,999 --> 00:20:39,039
solely on the gender
of the players,

398
00:20:39,037 --> 00:20:41,037
and that seems unfair.

399
00:20:42,307 --> 00:20:44,307
What consequences that has
for policy decisions that

400
00:20:44,309 --> 00:20:49,079
eventually have to be made,
I'll acknowledge that I

401
00:20:49,081 --> 00:20:51,081
don't know what that
policy process is.

402
00:20:51,083 --> 00:20:56,553
But I think that disparity
and the inherent unfairness

403
00:20:56,555 --> 00:21:00,925
of that disparity I think is
pretty obvious to anybody

404
00:21:00,926 --> 00:21:02,926
who's been paying attention
-- and the President has

405
00:21:02,928 --> 00:21:04,628
been paying attention.

406
00:21:04,630 --> 00:21:05,460
Bill.

407
00:21:05,464 --> 00:21:07,664
The Press: Does the
President think that the CPT

408
00:21:07,666 --> 00:21:11,636
joke shared by Secretary
Clinton and Mayor de Blasio

409
00:21:11,637 --> 00:21:14,437
is in poor taste?

410
00:21:14,439 --> 00:21:15,309
Mr. Earnest: I
will admit, Bill,

411
00:21:15,307 --> 00:21:21,477
I didn't see the joke
that you're referring to.

412
00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,250
The Press: CPT was used
as basically a racial

413
00:21:24,249 --> 00:21:28,489
reference, but they claim
that it was actually a

414
00:21:28,487 --> 00:21:30,687
politician reference.

415
00:21:30,689 --> 00:21:35,499
But questions have been
raised about the propriety

416
00:21:35,494 --> 00:21:39,234
of the use of the phrase.

417
00:21:39,231 --> 00:21:40,801
Mr. Earnest: Well, it's hard
for me to comment on it

418
00:21:40,799 --> 00:21:41,869
because I just haven't --

419
00:21:41,867 --> 00:21:43,197
The Press: Is he aware of it?

420
00:21:43,201 --> 00:21:44,371
Mr. Earnest: I'm not sure
that the President is aware

421
00:21:44,369 --> 00:21:44,969
of it.

422
00:21:44,970 --> 00:21:46,940
I haven't spoken
to him about it.

423
00:21:46,938 --> 00:21:47,938
The Press: Why
don't you ask him?

424
00:21:47,939 --> 00:21:49,839
Mr. Earnest: Okay, will do.

425
00:21:49,841 --> 00:21:50,571
Kevin.

426
00:21:50,575 --> 00:21:51,875
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

427
00:21:51,877 --> 00:21:54,147
Does the President
believe that, before now,

428
00:21:54,146 --> 00:21:57,086
Americans were ready
for a female President,

429
00:21:57,082 --> 00:21:59,752
or just now?

430
00:21:59,751 --> 00:22:06,091
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the President has believed

431
00:22:06,091 --> 00:22:07,431
for some time that the
country is ready

432
00:22:07,426 --> 00:22:09,966
for a woman President.

433
00:22:09,961 --> 00:22:11,001
The Press: This
is not novel,

434
00:22:10,996 --> 00:22:13,536
this is not America is
finally getting it right?

435
00:22:13,532 --> 00:22:15,802
He feels like this has
always been the case?

436
00:22:15,801 --> 00:22:16,571
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
know if it's always been the

437
00:22:16,568 --> 00:22:19,738
case, but I think it has
been the case for some time

438
00:22:19,738 --> 00:22:24,408
now that the country is
ready for a woman to be

439
00:22:24,409 --> 00:22:26,649
elected President of
the United States.

440
00:22:26,645 --> 00:22:28,745
Look, for the reason that
the President traveled to

441
00:22:28,747 --> 00:22:35,287
this location, this newly
designated national

442
00:22:35,287 --> 00:22:39,987
monument, is to acknowledge
the fact that for more than

443
00:22:39,991 --> 00:22:43,061
our country's history -- if
I'm doing the math right;

444
00:22:43,061 --> 00:22:45,901
I think I am -- for more
than half of our country's

445
00:22:45,897 --> 00:22:49,867
history, women were
denied the right to vote.

446
00:22:49,868 --> 00:22:53,168
And that certainly is going
to inhibit the ability of a

447
00:22:53,171 --> 00:22:55,271
woman to serve as President
of the United States.

448
00:22:55,273 --> 00:22:59,113
But only because of the
progress that many women --

449
00:22:59,111 --> 00:23:02,951
and men -- fought for, we
have made our country more

450
00:23:02,948 --> 00:23:05,688
fair, that we have made
our country more just,

451
00:23:05,684 --> 00:23:09,324
and we certainly have
enhanced the justice that is

452
00:23:09,321 --> 00:23:11,521
built into our
voting system.

453
00:23:11,523 --> 00:23:16,933
And it is only because of
that hard-won progress that

454
00:23:16,928 --> 00:23:22,668
we have reached a situation
more recently that it is

455
00:23:22,667 --> 00:23:24,667
possible for a woman to be
elected President of the

456
00:23:24,669 --> 00:23:27,039
United States, that that's
a practical reality.

457
00:23:27,038 --> 00:23:28,038
That's a good thing.

458
00:23:28,039 --> 00:23:33,309
And that reflects what our
founders envisioned in terms

459
00:23:33,311 --> 00:23:35,681
of forming a more
perfect union.

460
00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,650
Now, the irony is that we
see too many Republicans on

461
00:23:38,650 --> 00:23:41,850
the other side of aisle
trying to use the voting

462
00:23:41,853 --> 00:23:49,633
system to make it
harder for Americans,

463
00:23:49,628 --> 00:23:53,628
who are otherwise eligible
to vote, to cast a ballot.

464
00:23:53,632 --> 00:23:58,742
And that's moving in
the wrong direction.

465
00:23:58,737 --> 00:24:01,537
And the irony is and the
disappointment is that some

466
00:24:01,540 --> 00:24:05,980
Republicans have
acknowledged that this is a

467
00:24:05,977 --> 00:24:10,747
purely -- that they have a
purely partisan motive for

468
00:24:10,749 --> 00:24:14,019
trying to erode the progress
that we have made

469
00:24:14,019 --> 00:24:17,119
in our system of voting.

470
00:24:17,122 --> 00:24:24,332
And that's something
that we need to improve.

471
00:24:24,329 --> 00:24:25,329
The Press: Does the
President feel like he's

472
00:24:25,330 --> 00:24:29,000
done -- well, let me ask
this way: Is he satisfied

473
00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:32,440
from Ledbetter to today in
the advancement that he has

474
00:24:32,437 --> 00:24:37,007
made to ensure equal
pay for equal work?

475
00:24:37,008 --> 00:24:41,278
And if he's dissatisfied,
what's the source of

476
00:24:41,279 --> 00:24:42,549
that dissatisfaction?

477
00:24:42,547 --> 00:24:43,887
And what's he
doing about it?

478
00:24:43,882 --> 00:24:46,452
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
the President has taken a

479
00:24:46,451 --> 00:24:50,991
number of steps since being
elected President to try to

480
00:24:50,989 --> 00:24:54,789
make equal pay for equal
work a reality in this country.

481
00:24:54,793 --> 00:24:57,093
And you alluded to the fact
that the very first bill

482
00:24:57,095 --> 00:24:59,065
that the President signed
into law was the

483
00:24:59,064 --> 00:25:01,264
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

484
00:25:01,266 --> 00:25:04,006
That made it easier for
workers to get access to

485
00:25:04,002 --> 00:25:08,172
information and to take
their case to court to

486
00:25:08,173 --> 00:25:10,273
ensure that they were being
treated fairly

487
00:25:10,275 --> 00:25:11,945
by their employer.

488
00:25:11,943 --> 00:25:13,943
But the President has done
a number of other things,

489
00:25:13,945 --> 00:25:17,345
including creating the
National Equal Pay Task Force.

490
00:25:17,349 --> 00:25:19,349
He has advocated for the
passage of the

491
00:25:19,351 --> 00:25:20,951
Paycheck Fairness Act.

492
00:25:20,952 --> 00:25:23,652
The President issued even
an executive order that

493
00:25:23,655 --> 00:25:25,655
prohibits federal
contractors from

494
00:25:25,657 --> 00:25:28,297
discriminating against
employees who inquire about

495
00:25:28,293 --> 00:25:29,993
their level of compensation.

496
00:25:29,995 --> 00:25:31,995
And we've been working
closely with both the

497
00:25:31,997 --> 00:25:36,437
Department of Labor and the
EEOC to better target the

498
00:25:36,434 --> 00:25:38,174
enforcement of
equal pay laws.

499
00:25:38,169 --> 00:25:41,169
There are already some rules
that are on the books that

500
00:25:41,172 --> 00:25:45,242
could be effectively used to
ensure that people are being

501
00:25:45,243 --> 00:25:47,613
treated fairly.

502
00:25:47,612 --> 00:25:51,412
The President has often made
the case that this isn't

503
00:25:51,416 --> 00:25:54,986
just an issue for women;
that a lot of the women who

504
00:25:54,986 --> 00:25:56,986
are being discriminated
against in the workplace and

505
00:25:56,988 --> 00:26:01,458
are not getting the same
amount of pay for their work

506
00:26:01,459 --> 00:26:05,529
that their male colleagues
are getting are women who

507
00:26:05,530 --> 00:26:10,700
are part of two-paycheck
households.

508
00:26:10,702 --> 00:26:12,702
They have a husband who is
also working hard trying to

509
00:26:12,704 --> 00:26:15,104
put food on the table,
and they've got kids that

510
00:26:15,106 --> 00:26:16,706
they're trying
to provide for.

511
00:26:16,708 --> 00:26:18,808
So this isn't just
a women's issue.

512
00:26:18,810 --> 00:26:21,450
This is a families' issue.

513
00:26:21,446 --> 00:26:26,216
And it's among the reasons
that the President has been

514
00:26:26,217 --> 00:26:31,887
such an ardent advocate of
this policy because his top

515
00:26:31,890 --> 00:26:33,890
domestic priority has
been to expand economic

516
00:26:33,892 --> 00:26:35,892
opportunity for
the middle class.

517
00:26:35,894 --> 00:26:37,894
And if we're going to
do that successfully,

518
00:26:37,896 --> 00:26:40,366
we need to make sure that
those families that require

519
00:26:40,365 --> 00:26:43,105
or rely on two paychecks
to pay the bills,

520
00:26:43,101 --> 00:26:45,141
that both of those
paychecks are fair.

521
00:26:45,136 --> 00:26:48,306
The Press: So what grade
are we talking about?

522
00:26:48,306 --> 00:26:49,306
An "A"?

523
00:26:49,307 --> 00:26:50,307
A "B"?

524
00:26:50,308 --> 00:26:51,308
An "I" for incomplete?

525
00:26:51,309 --> 00:26:53,309
Mr. Earnest: Well, look,
there are a lot of people

526
00:26:53,311 --> 00:26:55,311
who can observe the
progress that we've made,

527
00:26:55,313 --> 00:26:57,313
and I'll let them draw
their own conclusions.

528
00:26:57,315 --> 00:26:59,315
But certainly the President
is proud of the progress

529
00:26:59,317 --> 00:27:01,317
that we have made to make
our country more fair,

530
00:27:01,319 --> 00:27:03,319
to make sure that that
fairness actually shows up

531
00:27:03,321 --> 00:27:04,321
in the paycheck every month.

532
00:27:04,322 --> 00:27:06,322
The Press: How interested
is the President in

533
00:27:06,324 --> 00:27:09,994
declassifying the 28 pages
of the 9/11 Joint Report?

534
00:27:09,995 --> 00:27:13,495
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President is certainly

535
00:27:13,498 --> 00:27:19,508
somebody who has advocated
for reforms to our country's

536
00:27:23,174 --> 00:27:25,214
classification system.

537
00:27:25,210 --> 00:27:31,050
You'll recall back in 2009,
the President issued an

538
00:27:31,049 --> 00:27:34,949
executive order that
essentially established the

539
00:27:34,953 --> 00:27:40,963
National Declassification
Center that would expedite

540
00:27:40,959 --> 00:27:44,129
the consideration for
declassification of a number

541
00:27:44,129 --> 00:27:46,129
of government records.

542
00:27:47,766 --> 00:27:51,166
There's also an effort
underway to establish an

543
00:27:51,169 --> 00:27:54,469
open and uniform system
for placing controls on

544
00:27:54,472 --> 00:27:57,142
sensitive but unclassified
information so we can ensure

545
00:27:57,142 --> 00:28:00,042
that information is handled
appropriately when it's

546
00:28:00,045 --> 00:28:03,645
sensitive, but also that
we can live up to the

547
00:28:03,648 --> 00:28:06,348
President's commitment to
transparency that should

548
00:28:06,351 --> 00:28:10,591
apply even in a national
security setting.

549
00:28:10,588 --> 00:28:12,588
I can't tell you whether or
not the President has read

550
00:28:12,590 --> 00:28:13,590
these 28 pages.

551
00:28:13,591 --> 00:28:15,591
I can tell you that the
Office of the Director of

552
00:28:15,593 --> 00:28:17,693
National Intelligence
is currently doing a

553
00:28:17,695 --> 00:28:20,565
declassification
review of those pages.

554
00:28:20,565 --> 00:28:24,635
And the President certainly
has confidence in the

555
00:28:24,636 --> 00:28:27,506
ability of those national
security professionals to

556
00:28:27,505 --> 00:28:30,175
consider those
documents for release.

557
00:28:30,175 --> 00:28:32,315
The Press: You said you
can't tell me if he

558
00:28:32,310 --> 00:28:33,310
has read them.

559
00:28:33,311 --> 00:28:34,451
Has he been asked?

560
00:28:34,446 --> 00:28:36,186
Have you asked
him personally?

561
00:28:36,181 --> 00:28:37,151
Has he taken a look?

562
00:28:37,148 --> 00:28:38,118
This is in news.

563
00:28:38,116 --> 00:28:39,246
He's insatiably curious.

564
00:28:39,250 --> 00:28:41,150
I imagine that
he has access,

565
00:28:41,152 --> 00:28:43,092
that he probably
has seen them, no?

566
00:28:43,088 --> 00:28:44,318
Mr. Earnest: I just -- I
don't know whether

567
00:28:44,322 --> 00:28:45,152
or not he's --

568
00:28:45,156 --> 00:28:46,296
The Press: You haven't had a chance to ask him?

569
00:28:46,291 --> 00:28:47,291
Mr. Earnest: I have not
asked him about that.

570
00:28:47,292 --> 00:28:48,832
The Press: I'd appreciate
if you get the opportunity,

571
00:28:48,827 --> 00:28:50,257
I'd certainly like to get --

572
00:28:50,261 --> 00:28:50,961
Mr. Earnest: Got a long

573
00:28:50,962 --> 00:28:51,892
list of questions for him
today, I guess here, huh?

574
00:28:51,896 --> 00:28:52,766
(laughter)

575
00:28:52,764 --> 00:28:53,494
The Press: Yes.

576
00:28:53,498 --> 00:28:54,668
Double work.

577
00:28:54,666 --> 00:28:56,836
Just one last
button-up on that one.

578
00:28:56,835 --> 00:29:00,935
Given the suggestion -- and
I'm reading it now and I've

579
00:29:00,939 --> 00:29:05,609
read almost all of the 858
pages -- that there is a

580
00:29:05,610 --> 00:29:07,810
section that is not
classified that reads in

581
00:29:07,812 --> 00:29:11,252
part: "The joint inquiry
developed information

582
00:29:11,249 --> 00:29:15,549
suggesting specific sources
of foreign support for some

583
00:29:15,553 --> 00:29:18,493
of the September 11th
hijackers while they were in

584
00:29:18,490 --> 00:29:19,490
the United States."

585
00:29:19,491 --> 00:29:22,691
It has also been alleged or
suggested by some that that

586
00:29:22,694 --> 00:29:24,064
support may have
come, in fact,

587
00:29:24,062 --> 00:29:27,332
from the Saudi leadership
in the kingdom.

588
00:29:27,332 --> 00:29:30,432
Ahead of the trip there, do
you suspect this will be

589
00:29:30,435 --> 00:29:32,005
part of the conversation?

590
00:29:32,003 --> 00:29:34,503
And have you heard an
allegation such as the one

591
00:29:34,506 --> 00:29:35,476
I've just offered?

592
00:29:35,473 --> 00:29:37,213
Mr. Earnest: Well, this
something -- this actually

593
00:29:37,208 --> 00:29:38,608
was an allegation that was
considered by

594
00:29:38,610 --> 00:29:39,810
the 9/11 Commission.

595
00:29:39,811 --> 00:29:41,951
This was the outside
group that was formed.

596
00:29:41,946 --> 00:29:45,446
And there were national
security experts who

597
00:29:45,450 --> 00:29:49,490
investigated 9/11 and issued
a report both chronicling

598
00:29:49,487 --> 00:29:51,487
what they knew
about what happened,

599
00:29:51,489 --> 00:29:55,529
and proposing a set of
reforms that they encouraged

600
00:29:55,527 --> 00:29:56,857
the government to implement
to try to prevent it from

601
00:29:56,861 --> 00:29:58,701
happening in the future.

602
00:29:58,696 --> 00:30:01,166
A part of the conclusion of
that report states:

603
00:30:01,166 --> 00:30:03,406
"Saudi Arabia has long been
considered the primary

604
00:30:03,401 --> 00:30:05,071
source of al Qaeda funding.

605
00:30:05,069 --> 00:30:07,069
But we have found no
evidence that the Saudi

606
00:30:07,071 --> 00:30:09,871
government as an institution
or senior Saudi officials

607
00:30:09,874 --> 00:30:12,814
individually funded
the organization."

608
00:30:12,810 --> 00:30:18,650
So there already has been a
close look at the kind of

609
00:30:18,650 --> 00:30:20,790
support that al Qaeda,
including al Qaeda in the

610
00:30:20,785 --> 00:30:22,925
United States may
have received.

611
00:30:22,921 --> 00:30:25,621
And this was included in a
declassified 9/11 Commission

612
00:30:25,623 --> 00:30:27,723
Report that was released
a number of years ago.

613
00:30:27,725 --> 00:30:30,565
The Press: So it is not
likely -- just to button it

614
00:30:30,562 --> 00:30:34,102
up -- that this will be a
topic of conversation during

615
00:30:34,098 --> 00:30:35,068
the visit?

616
00:30:35,066 --> 00:30:36,766
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
know whether or not this

617
00:30:36,768 --> 00:30:38,308
will come up.

618
00:30:38,303 --> 00:30:40,873
The fact that it's been in
the news more recently might

619
00:30:40,872 --> 00:30:42,472
change that equation.

620
00:30:42,473 --> 00:30:47,643
But I think it's true that
the people who have looked

621
00:30:47,645 --> 00:30:49,715
carefully at this, the
experts who have looked

622
00:30:49,714 --> 00:30:52,254
carefully at this and put
together the 9/11 report did

623
00:30:52,250 --> 00:30:57,020
not find any direct links
between the Saudi government

624
00:30:57,021 --> 00:31:00,691
providing support, financial
support to al Qaeda.

625
00:31:00,692 --> 00:31:02,022
The Press: The senior
Saudi government.

626
00:31:02,026 --> 00:31:02,896
They don't say anything
about

627
00:31:02,894 --> 00:31:04,564
the junior Saudi government.

628
00:31:04,562 --> 00:31:06,532
Mr. Earnest: The Saudi
government as an institution

629
00:31:06,531 --> 00:31:07,701
is the way they
described it,

630
00:31:07,699 --> 00:31:09,899
and that's what I
was referring to.

631
00:31:09,901 --> 00:31:10,671
Jerome.

632
00:31:10,668 --> 00:31:11,398
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

633
00:31:11,402 --> 00:31:13,072
Secretary of State John
Kerry said yesterday that

634
00:31:13,071 --> 00:31:15,441
everybody should
visit Hiroshima.

635
00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:18,380
Does the President want to
go to Hiroshima in May?

636
00:31:18,376 --> 00:31:20,176
Mr. Earnest: Does the
President count as "everybody"?

637
00:31:20,178 --> 00:31:21,048
The Press: Well,
he said "everybody, "

638
00:31:21,045 --> 00:31:23,245
-- and I mean
"everybody," I quote him.

639
00:31:23,248 --> 00:31:24,578
Does the President
want to go in May?

640
00:31:24,582 --> 00:31:27,582
And then how likely
is it to happen?

641
00:31:27,585 --> 00:31:29,725
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
an update in terms of the

642
00:31:29,721 --> 00:31:33,491
itinerary of the President's
trip to Asia in May.

643
00:31:33,491 --> 00:31:37,461
He obviously will be in
Japan for the G7 summit there.

644
00:31:37,462 --> 00:31:41,332
And I don't know at this
point whether or not any

645
00:31:41,332 --> 00:31:45,602
side trips will be on the
President's itinerary.

646
00:31:45,603 --> 00:31:48,143
The President, on
previous trips to Japan,

647
00:31:48,139 --> 00:31:50,379
has sort of faced a question
about whether or not to

648
00:31:50,375 --> 00:31:53,875
include a stop in Hiroshima.

649
00:31:53,878 --> 00:31:59,888
And look, the symbol of
Hiroshima is the significant

650
00:32:09,727 --> 00:32:12,867
and even, in some ways,
tragic ability that mankind

651
00:32:12,864 --> 00:32:17,774
has to wreak terrible
destruction.

652
00:32:17,769 --> 00:32:23,439
And one of the reasons that
the President has started

653
00:32:23,441 --> 00:32:28,511
and routinely convened a
Nuclear Security Summit is

654
00:32:28,513 --> 00:32:33,683
in pursuit of a world
without nuclear weapons.

655
00:32:33,685 --> 00:32:38,055
And that continues to
be a long-term goal.

656
00:32:38,056 --> 00:32:40,526
The President himself has
indicated that that's

657
00:32:40,525 --> 00:32:42,765
unlikely -- that goal is
unlikely to be achieved

658
00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:46,100
during his lifetime, but
there certainly is progress

659
00:32:46,097 --> 00:32:48,297
that we can make in
pursuit of that goal.

660
00:32:48,299 --> 00:32:52,869
And one place to start is
by better safeguarding and

661
00:32:52,870 --> 00:32:56,970
securing nuclear weapon
-- nuclear materials and

662
00:32:56,974 --> 00:33:00,914
nuclear-weapon technology
that could spread and that

663
00:33:00,912 --> 00:33:02,082
could proliferate.

664
00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:06,880
That's been the
point of the summit.

665
00:33:06,884 --> 00:33:10,524
So obviously there's
probably -- symbolically,

666
00:33:10,521 --> 00:33:12,421
there's no more powerful
illustration of that

667
00:33:12,423 --> 00:33:18,363
commitment than the city
that contained the victims

668
00:33:18,363 --> 00:33:22,233
of the first use
of that weapon.

669
00:33:22,233 --> 00:33:24,233
But at this point, I don't
have an update for you on

670
00:33:24,235 --> 00:33:27,335
his itinerary, but
we'll keep you posted.

671
00:33:27,338 --> 00:33:28,438
Chris.

672
00:33:28,439 --> 00:33:30,139
The Press: Josh, another
anti-transgender bathroom

673
00:33:30,141 --> 00:33:32,741
bill, much like the
controversial North Carolina

674
00:33:32,744 --> 00:33:35,084
law, is percolating
in Tennessee.

675
00:33:35,079 --> 00:33:36,919
The state attorney
general, a Republican,

676
00:33:36,914 --> 00:33:38,814
said the measure could
result in the loss of an

677
00:33:38,816 --> 00:33:41,556
estimated $1.2 billion
for the state

678
00:33:41,552 --> 00:33:43,192
and Title 9 funding.

679
00:33:43,187 --> 00:33:45,127
Does the administration
agree that the measure could

680
00:33:45,123 --> 00:33:47,193
result in loss of federal
funding for the state?

681
00:33:47,191 --> 00:33:49,361
Mr. Earnest: Well, this is
a question that individual

682
00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:52,100
agencies have been
considering after previous

683
00:33:52,096 --> 00:33:55,236
states have passed
these bills into law.

684
00:33:55,233 --> 00:33:57,203
I don't know what mechanism
is in place for individual

685
00:33:57,201 --> 00:34:00,301
agencies to consider those
kinds of questions in

686
00:34:00,304 --> 00:34:02,144
advance of a law
being passed,

687
00:34:02,140 --> 00:34:04,510
but you can check with the
Department of Education for

688
00:34:04,509 --> 00:34:05,709
greater clarity on that.

689
00:34:05,710 --> 00:34:12,480
What I can tell you is that
the administration is firmly

690
00:34:12,483 --> 00:34:15,953
committed to promoting and
defending equal rights of

691
00:34:15,953 --> 00:34:19,193
all Americans, including
LGBT Americans.

692
00:34:19,190 --> 00:34:25,260
And specific laws like this
that seek to target and

693
00:34:25,263 --> 00:34:29,463
marginalize one small
segment of the population is

694
00:34:29,467 --> 00:34:31,467
nothing less than
mean-spirited.

695
00:34:31,469 --> 00:34:34,239
That was true when they
passed similar provisions in

696
00:34:34,238 --> 00:34:36,908
places like North
Carolina and Mississippi,

697
00:34:36,908 --> 00:34:40,748
and it's true even as it's
being considered in a place

698
00:34:40,745 --> 00:34:42,115
like Tennessee.

699
00:34:42,113 --> 00:34:45,683
What's also true in
Tennessee is that the state

700
00:34:45,683 --> 00:34:49,183
has thrived economically
in part because of their

701
00:34:49,187 --> 00:34:52,757
ability to make their case
to businesses across the

702
00:34:52,757 --> 00:34:54,957
country that they've got
a great climate

703
00:34:54,959 --> 00:34:57,229
for doing business.

704
00:34:57,228 --> 00:34:59,228
Passing mean-spirited
bills through the state

705
00:34:59,230 --> 00:35:02,430
legislature is not a good endorsement

706
00:35:02,433 --> 00:35:04,433
of your business climate.

707
00:35:05,470 --> 00:35:07,670
And ultimately, individual
businesses will have to make

708
00:35:07,672 --> 00:35:09,672
their own decisions
about this.

709
00:35:11,576 --> 00:35:16,946
I think what is also true is
that states like Tennessee

710
00:35:16,948 --> 00:35:19,548
and, to a certain extent,
North Carolina and

711
00:35:19,550 --> 00:35:26,320
Mississippi, have a long
history even over the last

712
00:35:26,324 --> 00:35:29,124
couple of generations of
working through questions

713
00:35:29,126 --> 00:35:30,126
of civil rights.

714
00:35:30,127 --> 00:35:33,727
And President Obama has
talked on a number of

715
00:35:33,731 --> 00:35:35,731
occasions about the
important progress that our

716
00:35:35,733 --> 00:35:39,433
country has made with
regard to civil rights.

717
00:35:39,437 --> 00:35:43,777
This is a good illustration
that the fight for civil

718
00:35:43,774 --> 00:35:47,644
rights is not over, and
demanding equality for every

719
00:35:47,645 --> 00:35:50,485
American and ensuring that
those Americans are not

720
00:35:50,481 --> 00:35:57,851
singled out or targeted
because of their sex or

721
00:35:57,855 --> 00:36:02,095
their race or what
their last name is,

722
00:36:02,093 --> 00:36:07,563
or their religion, or who
they love or who they are is

723
00:36:07,565 --> 00:36:08,565
a struggle that continues.

724
00:36:08,566 --> 00:36:10,536
And the President,
every time,

725
00:36:10,535 --> 00:36:13,075
is going to be on the side
of equality and fairness and

726
00:36:13,070 --> 00:36:15,240
justice for every American.

727
00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:18,739
The Press: The reviews for
the federal agencies of the

728
00:36:18,743 --> 00:36:21,343
North Carolina and
Mississippi laws remain ongoing.

729
00:36:21,345 --> 00:36:23,885
Do you have an expectation
for when they'll be complete?

730
00:36:23,881 --> 00:36:25,021
Mr. Earnest: I don't have
an expectation for that.

731
00:36:25,016 --> 00:36:27,286
You'll have to talk to the
individual agencies about that.

732
00:36:27,285 --> 00:36:28,215
They're obviously
coordinating their

733
00:36:28,219 --> 00:36:31,159
activities among themselves,
and they're obviously doing

734
00:36:31,155 --> 00:36:32,725
this work in conjunction
with the Department of

735
00:36:32,723 --> 00:36:34,493
Justice, because there are
important legal questions

736
00:36:34,492 --> 00:36:36,132
that have to be resolved.

737
00:36:36,127 --> 00:36:37,997
But I don't have an update
for you in terms of when

738
00:36:37,995 --> 00:36:40,135
that work will be concluded.

739
00:36:40,131 --> 00:36:41,031
Suzanne.

740
00:36:41,032 --> 00:36:43,032
The Press: CNN interviewed
former Mexican President

741
00:36:43,034 --> 00:36:46,774
Vicente Fox, obviously
talking about Donald Trump

742
00:36:46,771 --> 00:36:49,341
and his proposals,
his politics.

743
00:36:49,340 --> 00:36:51,940
It's not the first
time he has criticized,

744
00:36:51,943 --> 00:36:54,143
saying that he's "arrogant,"
he's "egocentric, "

745
00:36:54,145 --> 00:36:56,715
and he also called
him a "dictator."

746
00:36:56,714 --> 00:36:59,214
But he did have a message
for the American people.

747
00:36:59,216 --> 00:37:02,216
He said, "Wake up, America."

748
00:37:02,219 --> 00:37:05,089
Does the President feel as
if the American people need

749
00:37:05,089 --> 00:37:07,359
to "wake up" during
this election?

750
00:37:07,358 --> 00:37:09,598
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the President -- let me say

751
00:37:09,594 --> 00:37:10,394
a couple things about that.

752
00:37:10,394 --> 00:37:12,934
The first is that I think
the President has observed

753
00:37:12,930 --> 00:37:14,930
in public on a number
of occasions that he is

754
00:37:14,932 --> 00:37:17,802
confident that Mr. Trump
will not be elected President.

755
00:37:17,802 --> 00:37:19,802
That's something that
the President, himself,

756
00:37:19,804 --> 00:37:22,674
has said directly.

757
00:37:22,673 --> 00:37:26,043
More generally, the reason
that we have elections in

758
00:37:26,043 --> 00:37:30,113
this country is it's an
opportunity for the American

759
00:37:30,114 --> 00:37:34,884
people to consider the
values and agenda and track

760
00:37:34,885 --> 00:37:38,085
record of those who are
competing for the highest

761
00:37:38,089 --> 00:37:39,089
elected office in the land.

762
00:37:39,090 --> 00:37:42,330
And the decision that is
ultimately reached by the

763
00:37:42,326 --> 00:37:48,266
voters is one that has
significant consequences.

764
00:37:48,265 --> 00:37:51,265
The American people have
chosen to invest significant

765
00:37:51,268 --> 00:37:54,768
power and authority in the
President of the United

766
00:37:54,772 --> 00:37:59,312
States, and making this
decision is an important one.

767
00:37:59,310 --> 00:38:01,310
It's one that has
significant consequences not

768
00:38:01,312 --> 00:38:03,312
just for the United States
but for other countries

769
00:38:03,314 --> 00:38:04,314
around the world.

770
00:38:04,315 --> 00:38:06,285
And I think that's part of
what -- it sounds like,

771
00:38:06,283 --> 00:38:08,283
at least -- I didn't
see the interview,

772
00:38:08,285 --> 00:38:10,285
but it sounds like that's
part of what President Fox

773
00:38:10,287 --> 00:38:12,057
was referring to.

774
00:38:12,056 --> 00:38:14,396
Again, ultimately the
President will have an

775
00:38:14,392 --> 00:38:17,462
opportunity to make clear
why he believes the

776
00:38:17,461 --> 00:38:21,461
Democratic nominee is the
one that should be elected

777
00:38:21,465 --> 00:38:24,105
and is the one
that he prefers.

778
00:38:24,101 --> 00:38:26,101
But he'll have an
opportunity to make that

779
00:38:26,103 --> 00:38:28,443
case certainly once the
Democratic Party has chosen

780
00:38:28,439 --> 00:38:34,849
a nominee, and presumably
he will join that debate in

781
00:38:34,845 --> 00:38:37,645
earnest once the Republicans
have chosen their nominee

782
00:38:37,648 --> 00:38:38,788
as well.

783
00:38:38,783 --> 00:38:39,653
The Press: And
interestingly,

784
00:38:39,650 --> 00:38:41,320
the Freedom of Information
Act -- some of

785
00:38:41,318 --> 00:38:45,088
Bill Clinton's presidential
papers were released today.

786
00:38:45,089 --> 00:38:47,659
And this was back
in October of 1999,

787
00:38:47,658 --> 00:38:50,558
when there was a possibility
that Donald Trump would be

788
00:38:50,561 --> 00:38:53,661
running in an independent
party for President,

789
00:38:53,664 --> 00:38:55,134
for the nomination.

790
00:38:55,132 --> 00:38:58,102
And these are notes
from his aides,

791
00:38:58,102 --> 00:39:00,702
President Clinton's aides,
before he was preparing for

792
00:39:00,705 --> 00:39:04,875
a CBS News interview -- if
asked about whether or not

793
00:39:04,875 --> 00:39:08,475
his own problems in the
White House, his scandal,

794
00:39:08,479 --> 00:39:11,749
contributed to celebrities
wanting to be President.

795
00:39:11,749 --> 00:39:15,989
And his aides said here,
according to the notes,

796
00:39:15,986 --> 00:39:18,786
that he responds saying, "I
think it may say something

797
00:39:18,789 --> 00:39:20,959
about the way the media
covers politics these days,

798
00:39:20,958 --> 00:39:22,758
but I have the utmost
confidence in the American

799
00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:25,530
people to sort out the
wheat from the chaff.

800
00:39:25,529 --> 00:39:27,469
Regardless of who runs for
President or how they're

801
00:39:27,465 --> 00:39:29,865
covered, the public
eventually sees through all

802
00:39:29,867 --> 00:39:30,997
the smoke and mirrors.

803
00:39:31,001 --> 00:39:33,241
They, after all, have the
ultimate power

804
00:39:33,237 --> 00:39:35,037
at the ballot box."

805
00:39:35,039 --> 00:39:36,979
Does President Obama
see it that way?

806
00:39:36,974 --> 00:39:39,344
And what do you make of
the fact that there's that

807
00:39:39,343 --> 00:39:42,543
argument that was
made 17 years ago?

808
00:39:42,546 --> 00:39:47,456
Mr. Earnest: Look, I think
it sounds like based on what

809
00:39:47,451 --> 00:39:50,121
you've read that President
Clinton was expressing the

810
00:39:50,121 --> 00:39:52,421
same kind of confidence in
the American people and the

811
00:39:52,423 --> 00:39:55,623
American voters that
President Obama has

812
00:39:55,626 --> 00:39:57,626
routinely expressed
confidence in.

813
00:39:57,628 --> 00:40:01,828
and it doesn't mean that
every election goes down

814
00:40:01,832 --> 00:40:05,132
exactly the way the
President would hope,

815
00:40:05,136 --> 00:40:07,506
but it does mean that,
particularly in a national

816
00:40:07,505 --> 00:40:11,245
election that will get
as much attention as the

817
00:40:11,242 --> 00:40:13,812
presidential election will,
the President does continue

818
00:40:13,811 --> 00:40:16,251
to have an abiding
confidence in the American

819
00:40:16,247 --> 00:40:19,417
people and in American
voters to take their

820
00:40:19,416 --> 00:40:21,416
responsibility to choose
the next President quite

821
00:40:21,418 --> 00:40:26,528
seriously and to do the
diligent work required to

822
00:40:26,524 --> 00:40:27,924
make the best choice.

823
00:40:27,925 --> 00:40:30,265
The Press: And finally,
Defense Secretary Carter has

824
00:40:30,261 --> 00:40:32,731
formally notified Egypt
and Israel that the U.S.

825
00:40:32,730 --> 00:40:37,100
is considering reconfiguring
its resources in the Sinai

826
00:40:37,101 --> 00:40:42,041
by increasing its reliance
on remote sensory technology

827
00:40:42,039 --> 00:40:44,909
as opposed to troops because
of the threat of ISIS.

828
00:40:44,909 --> 00:40:46,109
Can you confirm that?

829
00:40:46,110 --> 00:40:47,040
Mr. Earnest: What I can
tell you is that

830
00:40:47,044 --> 00:40:50,684
the United States remains

831
00:40:50,681 --> 00:40:53,021
as committed
as ever to the success of a

832
00:40:53,017 --> 00:40:56,687
multinational force
and observers.

833
00:40:56,687 --> 00:40:59,827
This is part of the treaty
that was signed between

834
00:40:59,824 --> 00:41:02,994
Israel and Egypt, and the
United States has played an

835
00:41:02,993 --> 00:41:06,733
important role in ensuring
the success of that treaty.

836
00:41:06,730 --> 00:41:11,300
And what is true is that
since the decisions were

837
00:41:11,302 --> 00:41:17,642
made about how to observe
that treaty and its entering

838
00:41:17,641 --> 00:41:22,051
into effect, there have been
great advances in technology

839
00:41:22,046 --> 00:41:25,746
that will allow some of the
work that is currently done

840
00:41:25,749 --> 00:41:32,589
by MFO forces in the Sinai
to be supplemented

841
00:41:32,590 --> 00:41:36,390
with new technology.

842
00:41:36,393 --> 00:41:39,463
This has the potential
to actually make this

843
00:41:39,463 --> 00:41:41,503
monitoring effort
even more effective.

844
00:41:41,498 --> 00:41:48,438
And the changes that the
Department of Defense is

845
00:41:48,439 --> 00:41:51,979
prepared to make are
consistent with this desire

846
00:41:51,976 --> 00:41:57,116
to supplement our efforts
with new technology.

847
00:41:57,114 --> 00:42:01,454
What sort of impact that has
on the presence of the

848
00:42:01,452 --> 00:42:04,122
U.S. military in the
Sinai Peninsula,

849
00:42:04,121 --> 00:42:07,591
I'd refer you to the
Department of Defense on that.

850
00:42:07,591 --> 00:42:10,291
But I can tell you as a
policy matter that the U.S.

851
00:42:10,294 --> 00:42:14,494
commitment to this treaty
and this mission has never

852
00:42:14,498 --> 00:42:16,338
been stronger.

853
00:42:16,333 --> 00:42:19,603
And that's evidenced by the
fact that the United States

854
00:42:19,603 --> 00:42:22,403
government is prepared to
deploy new equipment and new

855
00:42:22,406 --> 00:42:25,646
technology to supplement the
ongoing efforts of those

856
00:42:25,643 --> 00:42:28,213
forces that have been in the
Sinai Peninsula

857
00:42:28,212 --> 00:42:29,582
for several decades now.

858
00:42:29,580 --> 00:42:32,250
The Press: -- it's more
dangerous on the ground for

859
00:42:32,249 --> 00:42:36,049
U.S. troops because of
the threat of ISIS?

860
00:42:36,053 --> 00:42:37,053
Mr. Earnest:
Well, obviously,

861
00:42:37,054 --> 00:42:39,054
we're aware of the threat
from extremists in that part

862
00:42:39,056 --> 00:42:40,056
of the world.

863
00:42:40,057 --> 00:42:44,927
That threat has been in
existence since those forces

864
00:42:44,929 --> 00:42:45,859
were deployed there.

865
00:42:45,863 --> 00:42:47,093
And there have been a number
of steps that have been

866
00:42:47,097 --> 00:42:54,207
taken over the years to
enhance the force protection

867
00:42:54,204 --> 00:42:55,304
measures that are in place.

868
00:42:55,306 --> 00:43:00,546
But the policy changes that
are being implemented by the

869
00:43:00,544 --> 00:43:04,284
Department of Defense
are a reflection of newly

870
00:43:04,281 --> 00:43:09,491
available technology that
can ensure the success of

871
00:43:09,486 --> 00:43:13,086
this MFO operation.

872
00:43:13,090 --> 00:43:13,990
Jordan.

873
00:43:13,991 --> 00:43:14,591
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

874
00:43:14,591 --> 00:43:17,091
I want to ask you about
comments made by New Orleans

875
00:43:17,094 --> 00:43:19,494
Saints head coach Sean
Payton after one of his

876
00:43:19,496 --> 00:43:21,536
players was shot dead
over the weekend.

877
00:43:21,532 --> 00:43:24,172
He said, "I hate guns."

878
00:43:24,168 --> 00:43:27,108
And he said, "If that
opinion in Louisiana is

879
00:43:27,104 --> 00:43:29,274
super unpopular, so be it."

880
00:43:29,273 --> 00:43:32,673
And that "I guess the idea
that we need them to fend

881
00:43:32,676 --> 00:43:34,416
off intruders, that's some
silly stuff

882
00:43:34,411 --> 00:43:35,681
we're hanging on to."

883
00:43:35,679 --> 00:43:37,349
I'm wondering if the White
House agrees with those

884
00:43:37,348 --> 00:43:40,618
comments, and if anyone from
the White House has reached

885
00:43:40,617 --> 00:43:43,587
out to Sean Payton as a
potential ally

886
00:43:43,587 --> 00:43:46,127
in your gun control efforts.

887
00:43:46,123 --> 00:43:47,693
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
of any conversations with

888
00:43:47,691 --> 00:43:49,761
Coach Payton about
this specific issue.

889
00:43:49,760 --> 00:43:54,870
It sounds like he's somebody
who was speaking from a

890
00:43:54,865 --> 00:44:01,875
position of great tragedy,
and he clearly has lost a

891
00:44:01,872 --> 00:44:05,372
former player and somebody
who he's said publicly meant

892
00:44:05,376 --> 00:44:06,406
a lot to him.

893
00:44:06,410 --> 00:44:14,250
And there's a lot of pain
and emotion in that quote

894
00:44:14,251 --> 00:44:16,251
and in that expression.

895
00:44:18,589 --> 00:44:22,959
The policy position that the
administration has taken is

896
00:44:22,960 --> 00:44:25,700
somewhat different
than that,

897
00:44:25,696 --> 00:44:29,966
but the administration has
been forceful in advocating

898
00:44:29,967 --> 00:44:33,437
for the adoption of
common-sense measures that

899
00:44:33,437 --> 00:44:35,437
would keep guns out of
the hands of people who

900
00:44:35,439 --> 00:44:37,609
shouldn't have them.

901
00:44:37,608 --> 00:44:41,548
And we can do that in a
variety of ways without

902
00:44:41,545 --> 00:44:44,645
undermining the
constitutional rights of

903
00:44:44,648 --> 00:44:45,918
law-abiding Americans.

904
00:44:45,916 --> 00:44:48,086
And the President continues
to be a forceful advocate

905
00:44:48,085 --> 00:44:50,085
for those kinds of policies.

906
00:44:51,522 --> 00:44:55,792
It's unclear what exactly
transpired on Saturday night

907
00:44:55,793 --> 00:44:59,963
that resulted in the
death of Will Smith,

908
00:44:59,963 --> 00:45:02,533
the former New Orleans
Saints football player.

909
00:45:02,533 --> 00:45:04,533
That situation is still
under investigation.

910
00:45:04,535 --> 00:45:06,535
It's unclear whether or not
a different policy could

911
00:45:06,537 --> 00:45:09,977
have prevented
that loss of life.

912
00:45:13,811 --> 00:45:20,821
But, look, it does serve to
illustrate that gun violence

913
00:45:20,818 --> 00:45:22,388
is too common
in our society.

914
00:45:22,386 --> 00:45:30,026
And there are things that we
can do to reduce

915
00:45:30,027 --> 00:45:31,027
that gun violence.

916
00:45:31,028 --> 00:45:33,868
We can't prevent every act
of violence from occurring,

917
00:45:33,864 --> 00:45:36,404
but we can certainly take
some common-sense steps that

918
00:45:36,400 --> 00:45:39,500
would reduce gun violence
that don't undermine the

919
00:45:39,503 --> 00:45:41,703
constitutional rights of
law-abiding Americans.

920
00:45:41,705 --> 00:45:45,245
And the President believes
strongly that those measures

921
00:45:45,242 --> 00:45:47,512
should be taken, and he's
going to continue to

922
00:45:47,511 --> 00:45:49,511
advocate for them.

923
00:45:49,513 --> 00:45:50,583
Olivier.

924
00:45:50,581 --> 00:45:51,811
The Press: Josh, I have a
couple

925
00:45:51,815 --> 00:45:53,555
about classified information.

926
00:45:53,550 --> 00:45:54,950
The first, I'm trying to
understand what you said,

927
00:45:54,952 --> 00:45:57,052
that the President is
getting information from the

928
00:45:57,054 --> 00:46:03,094
news media about the ongoing
troubles with

929
00:46:03,093 --> 00:46:05,933
Secretary of State Clinton's emails.

930
00:46:05,929 --> 00:46:09,669
He's never received an
aide's assessment of the

931
00:46:09,666 --> 00:46:12,436
technical national security
or political ramifications

932
00:46:12,436 --> 00:46:13,436
of this controversy?

933
00:46:13,437 --> 00:46:15,437
Mr. Earnest: I can
tell you, Olivier,

934
00:46:15,439 --> 00:46:17,439
that the President has
-- and I mentioned this

935
00:46:17,441 --> 00:46:20,141
yesterday -- but the
President has neither asked

936
00:46:20,144 --> 00:46:25,114
for, nor received a briefing
on the confidential elements

937
00:46:25,115 --> 00:46:28,585
of the ongoing
investigation.

938
00:46:28,585 --> 00:46:30,455
Obviously, the President
has talked about this issue

939
00:46:30,454 --> 00:46:32,354
publicly because he's read
the newspaper and there have

940
00:46:32,356 --> 00:46:35,126
been many details of the
case that have been reported

941
00:46:35,125 --> 00:46:39,195
publicly -- in large part
because Secretary Clinton

942
00:46:39,196 --> 00:46:41,336
has asked that her emails
in question

943
00:46:41,331 --> 00:46:42,771
be released publicly.

944
00:46:42,766 --> 00:46:45,366
And there are thousands,
tens of thousands of pages

945
00:46:45,369 --> 00:46:48,469
of emails that all of you
have combed through

946
00:46:48,472 --> 00:46:50,642
and reported on.

947
00:46:50,641 --> 00:46:53,341
And that has informed
the President

948
00:46:53,343 --> 00:46:54,343
about the situation.

949
00:46:54,344 --> 00:46:57,444
The President also can draw
upon his own knowledge of

950
00:46:57,447 --> 00:46:59,347
her work there.

951
00:46:59,349 --> 00:47:03,619
But it is true that the
President has not received a

952
00:47:03,620 --> 00:47:07,690
specific briefing -- and he
hasn't asked for one -- on

953
00:47:07,691 --> 00:47:11,831
the confidential, ongoing
investigation that's being

954
00:47:11,828 --> 00:47:13,998
conducted by the
Department of Justice.

955
00:47:13,997 --> 00:47:14,797
The Press: Okay.

956
00:47:14,798 --> 00:47:18,138
And then I was struck,
watching the briefing

957
00:47:18,135 --> 00:47:20,835
yesterday, how much distance
you put between the

958
00:47:20,837 --> 00:47:25,377
administration and the
prosecution of leakers and

959
00:47:25,375 --> 00:47:27,345
whistleblowers and
the like yesterday.

960
00:47:27,344 --> 00:47:29,514
Because when you talk about
no one with politics in

961
00:47:29,513 --> 00:47:32,483
their job description shapes
these investigations -- the

962
00:47:32,482 --> 00:47:34,482
President appoints
the Attorney General;

963
00:47:34,484 --> 00:47:36,854
the President nominates
a number of federal prosecutors.

964
00:47:36,853 --> 00:47:38,853
The President, as we've
seen on immigration,

965
00:47:38,855 --> 00:47:43,025
has fairly wide latitude in
deciding the priorities of

966
00:47:43,026 --> 00:47:46,866
prosecution, where these law
enforcement resources go.

967
00:47:46,863 --> 00:47:50,303
How can you -- I mean,
it really sounded to me

968
00:47:50,300 --> 00:47:52,300
yesterday like you were
putting an enormous amount

969
00:47:52,302 --> 00:47:54,302
of distance between the
President

970
00:47:54,304 --> 00:47:55,304
and those prosecutions.

971
00:47:55,305 --> 00:47:57,305
Can you elaborate on what
you were trying to say?

972
00:47:57,307 --> 00:47:59,307
Mr. Earnest: I guess the
point that I was trying to

973
00:47:59,309 --> 00:48:03,579
make -- and I was trying to
be intentionally strong --

974
00:48:03,580 --> 00:48:07,650
there is a question about
this principle of whether or

975
00:48:07,651 --> 00:48:10,721
not criminal investigations
are going to be conducted

976
00:48:10,721 --> 00:48:13,961
independent of political
influence --

977
00:48:13,957 --> 00:48:14,827
The Press: So individual ones,
though, right?

978
00:48:14,825 --> 00:48:16,225
Because you're not disputing
that the President sets the

979
00:48:16,226 --> 00:48:18,196
tone, the Attorney
General sets the tone,

980
00:48:18,195 --> 00:48:19,765
there are guidelines?

981
00:48:19,763 --> 00:48:24,373
When Eric Holder enacts new
guidelines covering the way

982
00:48:24,368 --> 00:48:26,708
the Justice Department will
handle, say, reporters,

983
00:48:26,703 --> 00:48:30,103
in one of these cases,
they're shaping the general

984
00:48:30,107 --> 00:48:32,107
tenor of these
investigations, right?

985
00:48:32,109 --> 00:48:34,109
You're saying -- what you're
talking about are individual

986
00:48:34,111 --> 00:48:35,111
ones, aren't you?

987
00:48:35,112 --> 00:48:39,512
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess
I'm not sure that I detect a --

988
00:48:39,516 --> 00:48:40,756
The Press: Well, in
principle versus

989
00:48:40,751 --> 00:48:43,091
in a specific case.

990
00:48:43,086 --> 00:48:50,866
Mr. Earnest: Well, look,
this question -- well,

991
00:48:50,861 --> 00:48:53,061
let me say it more
affirmatively.

992
00:48:53,063 --> 00:48:56,263
The President is committed
-- as he described to

993
00:48:56,266 --> 00:49:00,436
Chris Wallace from Fox News, the
President is committed to

994
00:49:00,437 --> 00:49:04,907
ensuring that individuals
who have conducted criminal

995
00:49:04,908 --> 00:49:10,848
prosecutions do their work
without influence from

996
00:49:10,847 --> 00:49:14,047
politicians or anybody
that's involved in politics.

997
00:49:14,051 --> 00:49:17,021
Criminal prosecutions must
be conducted

998
00:49:17,020 --> 00:49:18,990
and guided by the facts.

999
00:49:18,989 --> 00:49:22,329
They must be led in the
direction that the evidence

1000
00:49:22,326 --> 00:49:23,926
takes them.

1001
00:49:23,927 --> 00:49:28,497
And that is the way that we
can ensure that people can

1002
00:49:28,498 --> 00:49:31,298
have confidence in our
criminal justice system.

1003
00:49:31,301 --> 00:49:34,101
If people feel like the
facts of an investigation

1004
00:49:34,104 --> 00:49:36,104
are not being guided by
the evidence but are being

1005
00:49:36,106 --> 00:49:38,506
guided by the politics,
that's going to undermine

1006
00:49:38,508 --> 00:49:41,548
our basic conception
of justice.

1007
00:49:41,545 --> 00:49:42,715
And it should.

1008
00:49:42,713 --> 00:49:45,713
And that is true regardless
of which party

1009
00:49:45,716 --> 00:49:47,386
is in the White House.

1010
00:49:47,384 --> 00:49:49,984
In fact, I think that's why
there was so much concern

1011
00:49:49,986 --> 00:49:52,456
raised in the previous
administration when there

1012
00:49:52,456 --> 00:49:55,996
was evidence that politics
was interfering with

1013
00:49:55,992 --> 00:50:00,562
decisions about hiring U.S. attorneys

1014
00:50:00,564 --> 00:50:05,164
across the country
-- that this goes to a core

1015
00:50:05,168 --> 00:50:08,608
principle that is
unique in America.

1016
00:50:08,605 --> 00:50:11,045
I acknowledge that there are
also other countries where

1017
00:50:11,041 --> 00:50:14,241
we regularly travel where
there is a little more

1018
00:50:14,244 --> 00:50:18,444
tolerance for political
influence in the criminal

1019
00:50:18,448 --> 00:50:21,388
justice system and in the
law enforcement system.

1020
00:50:21,385 --> 00:50:23,885
We don't have that
tolerance in this country.

1021
00:50:23,887 --> 00:50:29,457
And I think the President --
I haven't looked recently at

1022
00:50:29,459 --> 00:50:32,559
the President's remarks
when he introduced Attorney

1023
00:50:32,562 --> 00:50:35,632
General Lynch as his nominee
for that important role,

1024
00:50:35,632 --> 00:50:39,172
but it's worth going back --
and I'll do it

1025
00:50:39,169 --> 00:50:40,339
when we're done here.

1026
00:50:40,337 --> 00:50:43,737
I'm confident that one of
the reasons the President

1027
00:50:43,740 --> 00:50:47,910
chose her for this job is
because of her career-long

1028
00:50:47,911 --> 00:50:51,911
commitment to focusing
on facts and evidence,

1029
00:50:51,915 --> 00:50:55,355
and not considering politics
when making law enforcement

1030
00:50:55,352 --> 00:50:57,192
or prosecutorial decisions.

1031
00:50:57,187 --> 00:50:59,687
She had a long track record
of that because she was the

1032
00:50:59,689 --> 00:51:01,829
U.S. attorney for the Eastern
District of New York,

1033
00:51:01,825 --> 00:51:06,095
where she handled a series
of high-profile cases where

1034
00:51:06,096 --> 00:51:07,996
politics threatened
to intrude,

1035
00:51:07,998 --> 00:51:09,998
and she was steadfast
about preventing

1036
00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:11,070
that from happening.

1037
00:51:11,067 --> 00:51:14,767
So I think that should be
an indication both of the

1038
00:51:14,771 --> 00:51:16,771
President's commitment
to this principle,

1039
00:51:16,773 --> 00:51:18,543
but also an indication that
the President has chosen the

1040
00:51:18,542 --> 00:51:19,642
right person for the job.

1041
00:51:19,643 --> 00:51:21,313
The President has chosen
somebody who doesn't just

1042
00:51:21,311 --> 00:51:23,511
believe in this
principle, but who,

1043
00:51:23,513 --> 00:51:24,683
over the course
of her career,

1044
00:51:24,681 --> 00:51:27,751
has demonstrated a
commitment to this principle

1045
00:51:27,751 --> 00:51:32,461
even in a difficult
environment.

1046
00:51:32,456 --> 00:51:34,086
There are some pretty
high-profile criminal cases

1047
00:51:34,090 --> 00:51:36,790
in New York that she was
responsible for handling.

1048
00:51:36,793 --> 00:51:41,433
And she has demonstrated
throughout her career an

1049
00:51:41,431 --> 00:51:45,201
ability to keep those
political forces at bay and

1050
00:51:45,202 --> 00:51:48,302
make sure that prosecutorial
decisions were being made

1051
00:51:48,305 --> 00:51:50,275
based on the facts
and on the evidence,

1052
00:51:50,273 --> 00:51:51,273
and not on politics.

1053
00:51:51,274 --> 00:51:53,474
And that certainly is
the expectation that the

1054
00:51:53,477 --> 00:51:56,477
President has for the way
that she does her job on a

1055
00:51:56,480 --> 00:51:58,480
daily basis as
Attorney General,

1056
00:51:58,482 --> 00:52:00,482
and it's his expectation
that that's the way that she

1057
00:52:00,484 --> 00:52:04,384
and the investigators
who are taking a look at

1058
00:52:04,387 --> 00:52:06,387
Secretary Clinton's email
system will

1059
00:52:06,389 --> 00:52:07,389
do their job as well.

1060
00:52:07,390 --> 00:52:08,890
Does that answer
your question?

1061
00:52:08,892 --> 00:52:10,892
The Press: No, but we
can take this up later.

1062
00:52:10,894 --> 00:52:12,734
I don't want to monopolize
the rest of the briefing.

1063
00:52:12,729 --> 00:52:13,099
Mr. Earnest: Okay.

1064
00:52:13,096 --> 00:52:15,236
I'm not trying to
intentionally avoid

1065
00:52:15,232 --> 00:52:16,102
answering your question.

1066
00:52:16,099 --> 00:52:17,769
The Press: I'm not
impugning her record

1067
00:52:17,767 --> 00:52:18,607
or her principles.

1068
00:52:18,602 --> 00:52:21,202
I just don't know that there
would have been this many

1069
00:52:21,204 --> 00:52:28,214
prosecutions of this many
leakers if this were not a

1070
00:52:28,211 --> 00:52:31,211
priority of the President or
the people that he nominates

1071
00:52:31,214 --> 00:52:32,414
to key positions.

1072
00:52:32,415 --> 00:52:34,685
So what I'm saying is that
these -- you talked about

1073
00:52:34,684 --> 00:52:37,824
these prosecutions yesterday
in terms that to me,

1074
00:52:37,821 --> 00:52:39,821
at least, sounded like you
were trying to push them off

1075
00:52:39,823 --> 00:52:41,523
and put them --
you said, well,

1076
00:52:41,525 --> 00:52:43,525
some of these started in the
previous administration,

1077
00:52:43,527 --> 00:52:45,527
these are all
independent prosecutors.

1078
00:52:45,529 --> 00:52:47,529
And what I'm saying is,
as we know from -- again,

1079
00:52:47,531 --> 00:52:49,531
as we know from
immigration policy,

1080
00:52:49,533 --> 00:52:52,603
the President can set
general principles for how

1081
00:52:52,602 --> 00:52:55,142
these law enforcement
resources are allocated.

1082
00:52:55,138 --> 00:52:57,678
And so I just don't -- I
just was not eager to let

1083
00:52:57,674 --> 00:53:00,214
you push these off
and say, essentially,

1084
00:53:00,210 --> 00:53:02,480
these aren't really --
this is not our record,

1085
00:53:02,479 --> 00:53:06,849
this is these anonymous
provisional prosecutors

1086
00:53:06,850 --> 00:53:08,020
doing this.

1087
00:53:08,018 --> 00:53:09,418
Mr. Earnest: Well, look, I
guess the other way I could

1088
00:53:09,419 --> 00:53:11,619
try to answer your question
is to -- you sort of posed

1089
00:53:11,621 --> 00:53:12,791
the counterfactual, right?

1090
00:53:12,789 --> 00:53:15,659
That if the President hadn't
sort of raised this publicly

1091
00:53:15,659 --> 00:53:19,699
as an issue of concern,
protecting classified,

1092
00:53:19,696 --> 00:53:23,396
sensitive national
security information,

1093
00:53:23,400 --> 00:53:25,370
that maybe the Department of
Justice would have handled

1094
00:53:25,368 --> 00:53:27,308
it differently.

1095
00:53:27,304 --> 00:53:32,204
I guess the way that I would
pose it back to you is,

1096
00:53:32,208 --> 00:53:35,078
if there were evidence that
the President were having

1097
00:53:35,078 --> 00:53:37,078
those kinds of conversations
with the Department of

1098
00:53:37,080 --> 00:53:39,420
Justice, like that
information is not really

1099
00:53:39,416 --> 00:53:42,616
that important, you
don't need to prosecute,

1100
00:53:42,619 --> 00:53:44,259
that would be a huge story.

1101
00:53:44,254 --> 00:53:45,254
That would be
a huge problem.

1102
00:53:45,255 --> 00:53:47,225
Because I think the question
that you would rightfully

1103
00:53:47,223 --> 00:53:49,823
raise is, did the President
reach out to the Department

1104
00:53:49,826 --> 00:53:51,826
of Justice and those
prosecutors to raise

1105
00:53:51,828 --> 00:53:53,828
concerns about the case
because he didn't think the

1106
00:53:53,830 --> 00:53:55,500
information was
that sensitive?

1107
00:53:55,498 --> 00:53:57,868
Or is it because this is an
individual who voted for him

1108
00:53:57,867 --> 00:54:00,007
or contributed
to his campaign?

1109
00:54:00,003 --> 00:54:02,303
Or somebody who had written
an op-ed favorable of his

1110
00:54:02,305 --> 00:54:04,605
national security policy?

1111
00:54:04,608 --> 00:54:08,048
Any time that the President
-- that there is evidence

1112
00:54:08,044 --> 00:54:10,714
that a President would
somehow intervene or try to

1113
00:54:10,714 --> 00:54:13,554
influence the outcome of an
individual prosecution would

1114
00:54:13,550 --> 00:54:14,850
be a significant problem.

1115
00:54:14,851 --> 00:54:16,851
And there would rightly
be questions raised.

1116
00:54:19,356 --> 00:54:21,356
So as others were sort
of entertaining the

1117
00:54:21,358 --> 00:54:23,358
counterfactuals, I think the
counterfactual that I would

1118
00:54:23,360 --> 00:54:25,360
raise is, what if the
President did express some

1119
00:54:25,362 --> 00:54:26,362
preference on this?

1120
00:54:26,363 --> 00:54:28,563
I think reasonably all
of you would be really

1121
00:54:28,565 --> 00:54:30,065
uncomfortable with that.

1122
00:54:30,066 --> 00:54:32,666
As an American, I
think I would be, too.

1123
00:54:32,669 --> 00:54:34,809
Because I think the problem
-- the concern that would be

1124
00:54:34,804 --> 00:54:38,104
raised is, is this decision
that's supposed to be made

1125
00:54:38,108 --> 00:54:40,348
be a career federal
prosecutor being made on the

1126
00:54:40,343 --> 00:54:42,943
merits, or is it being
influenced by a politician

1127
00:54:42,946 --> 00:54:44,946
that may have an
ulterior motive?

1128
00:54:44,948 --> 00:54:47,518
The Press: This is where the
general principle versus an

1129
00:54:47,517 --> 00:54:51,887
individual case distinction
come in, for me.

1130
00:54:51,888 --> 00:54:53,758
Mr. Earnest: But we can
certainly continue this.

1131
00:54:53,757 --> 00:54:55,227
And I think that there are
--

1132
00:54:55,225 --> 00:54:56,125
The Press: Thank you.

1133
00:54:56,126 --> 00:54:58,496
Mr. Earnest: The last thing
I will say on this is that I

1134
00:54:58,495 --> 00:55:04,335
have asked for more publicly
available information about

1135
00:55:04,334 --> 00:55:08,204
sort of what is often cited
in terms of these questions

1136
00:55:08,204 --> 00:55:12,744
about how the Department of
Justice has chosen to pursue

1137
00:55:12,742 --> 00:55:15,882
investigations of people
who are accused of leaking

1138
00:55:15,879 --> 00:55:17,679
classified information.

1139
00:55:17,681 --> 00:55:21,621
And so we can talk about it
in the briefing tomorrow,

1140
00:55:21,618 --> 00:55:24,458
or in private tomorrow if
everybody else is bored with

1141
00:55:24,454 --> 00:55:25,894
this conversation.

1142
00:55:25,889 --> 00:55:27,989
But there is more that I
hope that I can present

1143
00:55:27,991 --> 00:55:29,261
that we can discuss.

1144
00:55:29,259 --> 00:55:30,259
Mark.

1145
00:55:30,260 --> 00:55:34,300
The Press: Josh, is the NSC
meeting tomorrow at CIA a

1146
00:55:34,297 --> 00:55:37,737
decision-making meeting
about ISIS strategy

1147
00:55:37,734 --> 00:55:39,334
or just an update?

1148
00:55:39,335 --> 00:55:41,775
Mr. Earnest: Well,
tomorrow's meeting is

1149
00:55:41,771 --> 00:55:49,341
consistent with the regular
cadence of meetings that the

1150
00:55:49,345 --> 00:55:54,055
President convenes with his
national security team to

1151
00:55:54,050 --> 00:55:56,050
take a look at our campaign
to degrade

1152
00:55:56,052 --> 00:55:57,522
and ultimately destroy ISIL.

1153
00:55:57,520 --> 00:56:01,160
The President typically uses
these meetings where senior

1154
00:56:01,157 --> 00:56:03,357
members of his team
participate to get an update

1155
00:56:03,359 --> 00:56:05,229
on how things are going.

1156
00:56:05,228 --> 00:56:09,568
And those regular in-person
updates are valuable to

1157
00:56:09,566 --> 00:56:12,966
testing how effective
the strategy is.

1158
00:56:12,969 --> 00:56:15,369
And one of the keys to our
success is going to be our

1159
00:56:15,371 --> 00:56:20,381
ability to be nimble and
to look for opportunities,

1160
00:56:20,376 --> 00:56:26,846
and to detect opportunities
early for investing more in

1161
00:56:26,850 --> 00:56:29,620
certain elements of our
strategy to try to yield

1162
00:56:29,619 --> 00:56:30,649
additional progress.

1163
00:56:30,653 --> 00:56:35,293
So it's not uncommon for the
President to make decisions

1164
00:56:35,291 --> 00:56:37,291
in the context of
these meetings.

1165
00:56:37,293 --> 00:56:39,293
I don't know whether or not
a decision will be announced

1166
00:56:39,295 --> 00:56:41,535
in the context of
tomorrow's meeting.

1167
00:56:41,531 --> 00:56:43,831
But the President will
deliver a statement at the

1168
00:56:43,833 --> 00:56:45,503
conclusion of the meeting.

1169
00:56:45,502 --> 00:56:47,502
And so you will get an
opportunity to hear from him

1170
00:56:47,504 --> 00:56:50,874
directly about what he
believed was accomplished in

1171
00:56:50,874 --> 00:56:51,874
the discussion.

1172
00:56:51,875 --> 00:56:54,915
The Press: On the
subject of CIA,

1173
00:56:54,911 --> 00:56:58,981
is there any White House
reaction to the statement by

1174
00:56:58,982 --> 00:57:03,682
Director Brennan that he
would refuse a direct order

1175
00:57:03,686 --> 00:57:07,356
from the President to engage
water-board interrogation?

1176
00:57:07,357 --> 00:57:10,597
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
whether I have a specific

1177
00:57:10,593 --> 00:57:12,593
reaction to it -- The
Press: Can you put that on

1178
00:57:12,595 --> 00:57:13,965
your list of things to ask?

1179
00:57:13,963 --> 00:57:14,963
(laughter)

1180
00:57:14,964 --> 00:57:16,964
Mr. Earnest: -- but I'll try
to at least

1181
00:57:16,966 --> 00:57:19,766
address your question.

1182
00:57:19,769 --> 00:57:23,269
Director Brennan was
expressing his support for a

1183
00:57:23,273 --> 00:57:27,643
value that he's
long expressed,

1184
00:57:27,644 --> 00:57:30,314
which is he believes that
the national security of the

1185
00:57:30,313 --> 00:57:33,583
United States is enhanced
and is strengthened when we

1186
00:57:33,583 --> 00:57:35,883
make clear that the United
States doesn't torture people.

1187
00:57:35,885 --> 00:57:38,485
And we certainly don't
implement a policy

1188
00:57:38,488 --> 00:57:40,458
that allows torture.

1189
00:57:40,456 --> 00:57:45,496
And we don't send even
an ambiguous signal that

1190
00:57:45,495 --> 00:57:47,965
somehow the U.S. government might condone torture.

1191
00:57:50,066 --> 00:57:52,066
That's the value that
Director Brennan was

1192
00:57:52,068 --> 00:57:54,068
standing up for in the
context of that interview.

1193
00:57:54,070 --> 00:57:56,210
And that's not the first
time that he's done it.

1194
00:57:56,206 --> 00:57:59,306
He is somebody who,
throughout his career,

1195
00:57:59,309 --> 00:58:01,979
has recognized how important
it is for our national

1196
00:58:01,978 --> 00:58:03,978
security policy to
reflect our values.

1197
00:58:03,980 --> 00:58:06,720
And Director Brennen -- more
eloquently than I am here --

1198
00:58:06,716 --> 00:58:09,816
can help you understand
exactly why that is critical

1199
00:58:09,819 --> 00:58:12,359
to the success of our
country and critical

1200
00:58:12,355 --> 00:58:13,355
to our national security.

1201
00:58:13,356 --> 00:58:15,856
People look to the United
States as a place where

1202
00:58:15,859 --> 00:58:20,659
human rights are not just
protected but championed.

1203
00:58:20,663 --> 00:58:24,403
And implementing a policy
and one that has been proven

1204
00:58:24,400 --> 00:58:27,100
time and time again over the
course of this presidency is

1205
00:58:27,103 --> 00:58:28,773
that we can
implement a policy,

1206
00:58:28,771 --> 00:58:31,471
a national security policy
that is consistent with our

1207
00:58:31,474 --> 00:58:34,374
values, advances
our interests,

1208
00:58:34,377 --> 00:58:36,377
and keeps the
American people safe.

1209
00:58:36,379 --> 00:58:38,379
The President is proud
of that track record,

1210
00:58:38,381 --> 00:58:41,781
and that track record was
possible because of the

1211
00:58:41,784 --> 00:58:45,554
enormous contributions
of people like Director Brennan.

1212
00:58:45,555 --> 00:58:50,195
The Press: And lastly is
there an impact on the

1213
00:58:50,193 --> 00:58:53,933
President's trip next week
by the new travel warnings

1214
00:58:53,930 --> 00:58:56,370
about Saudi Arabia that
were issued yesterday?

1215
00:58:56,366 --> 00:58:58,606
Mr. Earnest: I saw the
updated guidance that had

1216
00:58:58,601 --> 00:59:00,601
been issued by the
State Department.

1217
00:59:00,603 --> 00:59:03,143
I believe that was actually
consistent with guidance

1218
00:59:03,139 --> 00:59:05,139
that they had issued six
months ago when they were

1219
00:59:05,141 --> 00:59:06,441
just renewing it.

1220
00:59:06,442 --> 00:59:08,482
I would not anticipate that
that would have any impact

1221
00:59:08,478 --> 00:59:11,148
on the President's
itinerary.

1222
00:59:11,147 --> 00:59:12,077
Jim.

1223
00:59:12,081 --> 00:59:14,251
The Press: Josh, in that Fox
interview that was aired

1224
00:59:14,250 --> 00:59:17,650
Sunday, the President also
told Chris Wallace that his

1225
00:59:17,654 --> 00:59:23,494
biggest regret was in
driving Muammar Qaddafi from

1226
00:59:23,493 --> 00:59:27,863
power in Libya without
considering the vacuum in

1227
00:59:27,864 --> 00:59:31,964
power that took
place afterwards.

1228
00:59:31,968 --> 00:59:35,168
Does he believe he bears
any responsibility,

1229
00:59:35,171 --> 00:59:37,811
along with the
coalition allies,

1230
00:59:37,807 --> 00:59:41,077
for the fact that Libya has
become a breeding ground,

1231
00:59:41,077 --> 00:59:45,047
base of operations for many
militant organizations,

1232
00:59:45,048 --> 00:59:46,618
including ISIS?

1233
00:59:46,616 --> 00:59:48,286
Mr. Earnest: Jim, the
President has acknowledged

1234
00:59:48,284 --> 00:59:50,384
that the United States
and certainly the

1235
00:59:50,386 --> 00:59:54,426
Commander-in-Chief
-- he does take some

1236
00:59:54,424 --> 00:59:56,794
responsibility, along with
our coalition partners,

1237
00:59:56,793 --> 00:59:59,733
for failing to plan
effectively for the

1238
00:59:59,729 --> 01:00:03,499
situation in Libya after
Colonel Qaddafi

1239
01:00:03,499 --> 01:00:05,639
was removed from power.

1240
01:00:05,635 --> 01:00:09,735
And there have been
consequences for that failure.

1241
01:00:09,739 --> 01:00:14,849
And the political and
security turmoil that we've

1242
01:00:14,844 --> 01:00:18,114
seen inside of Libya
has been tragic,

1243
01:00:18,114 --> 01:00:19,354
that there have been
innocent lives that have

1244
01:00:19,349 --> 01:00:22,689
been lost, including some
brave Americans who are

1245
01:00:22,685 --> 01:00:26,155
serving their
country in Libya.

1246
01:00:26,155 --> 01:00:28,125
But what we have seen the
United States and our

1247
01:00:28,124 --> 01:00:32,424
coalition partners do is
invest in and support a

1248
01:00:32,428 --> 01:00:34,568
long-running U.N. process

1249
01:00:34,564 --> 01:00:38,004
to try to rebuild
the political structures

1250
01:00:38,001 --> 01:00:39,571
inside of Libya.

1251
01:00:39,569 --> 01:00:42,339
And there now is a
Government of National

1252
01:00:42,338 --> 01:00:46,678
Accord that is in Tripoli
that is beginning to

1253
01:00:46,676 --> 01:00:50,076
establish its rightful role
as the government of Libya.

1254
01:00:50,079 --> 01:00:52,119
But that's been a
long-running process.

1255
01:00:52,115 --> 01:00:56,615
And the fact is this was
an enormous challenge.

1256
01:00:56,619 --> 01:01:00,259
Because Qaddafi had been
in power for so long -- 42

1257
01:01:00,256 --> 01:01:04,196
years -- the civil
society structures,

1258
01:01:04,193 --> 01:01:11,633
the governmental structures
of Libya were eroded away.

1259
01:01:11,634 --> 01:01:15,504
And when he was removed from
power there was no sort of

1260
01:01:15,505 --> 01:01:19,045
structure to try to preserve
order until a new leader of

1261
01:01:19,042 --> 01:01:20,982
the country could
be selected.

1262
01:01:20,977 --> 01:01:23,517
It just meant that
the government,

1263
01:01:23,513 --> 01:01:25,513
and to a larger extent,
the civil society in that

1264
01:01:25,515 --> 01:01:27,815
country just disintegrated.

1265
01:01:27,817 --> 01:01:30,957
And trying to rebuild all of
that from scratch has been a

1266
01:01:30,953 --> 01:01:34,653
painstaking effort,
particularly when the people

1267
01:01:34,657 --> 01:01:40,067
in that country are
enduring the influence and

1268
01:01:40,063 --> 01:01:42,763
destabilizing activities
of extremists that are

1269
01:01:42,765 --> 01:01:44,335
operating in their country.

1270
01:01:44,333 --> 01:01:47,173
And so this has been a
significant challenge.

1271
01:01:47,170 --> 01:01:50,740
But we're pleased with the
progress that has been made,

1272
01:01:50,740 --> 01:01:52,680
particularly recently.

1273
01:01:52,675 --> 01:01:54,945
And the United States is
going to continue to play an

1274
01:01:54,944 --> 01:02:01,284
important role in preventing
ISIL from establishing a new

1275
01:02:01,284 --> 01:02:04,384
safe haven in Libya that
they could use to carry out

1276
01:02:04,387 --> 01:02:07,657
attacks in the United States
or in the nations

1277
01:02:07,657 --> 01:02:08,657
of our allies.

1278
01:02:08,658 --> 01:02:11,058
And that's why you've seen
the United States and the

1279
01:02:11,060 --> 01:02:13,160
Commander-in-Chief order
some military action against

1280
01:02:13,162 --> 01:02:15,162
ISIL targets in Libya
to take them

1281
01:02:15,164 --> 01:02:16,304
off the battlefield.

1282
01:02:16,299 --> 01:02:18,999
So those efforts
have been important,

1283
01:02:19,001 --> 01:02:21,101
but we've got a lot of work
to do to try to bring the

1284
01:02:21,104 --> 01:02:23,104
situation in Libya
under control.

1285
01:02:23,106 --> 01:02:25,106
It won't be a
military solution,

1286
01:02:25,108 --> 01:02:27,108
it will be a
political solution,

1287
01:02:27,110 --> 01:02:29,810
much like the one that we've
seen make some progress in

1288
01:02:29,812 --> 01:02:30,812
the last few weeks.

1289
01:02:30,813 --> 01:02:32,813
The Press: There have been
instances where small

1290
01:02:32,815 --> 01:02:35,385
numbers of U.S. Special Operations Forces

1291
01:02:35,384 --> 01:02:36,384
have been on the ground in

1292
01:02:36,385 --> 01:02:39,385
Libya in an
advise-and-assist and a

1293
01:02:39,388 --> 01:02:41,388
reconnaissance
effort, if you will.

1294
01:02:41,390 --> 01:02:45,630
But now that a government,
an effective government

1295
01:02:45,628 --> 01:02:50,668
seems to be forming, once
that is a solid government

1296
01:02:50,666 --> 01:02:52,606
entity, is the U.S.

1297
01:02:52,602 --> 01:02:56,702
willing to commit any kind
of ground forces there even

1298
01:02:56,706 --> 01:02:59,046
in an advisory
role eventually?

1299
01:02:59,041 --> 01:03:00,711
Mr. Earnest: Well, Jim, I
think it's far too early to

1300
01:03:00,710 --> 01:03:04,010
consider that question,
because I think what you

1301
01:03:04,013 --> 01:03:07,313
will find is the United
States is interested in

1302
01:03:07,316 --> 01:03:11,186
partnering with the
sovereign government,

1303
01:03:11,187 --> 01:03:13,187
the newly established
Government of National

1304
01:03:13,189 --> 01:03:15,229
Accord in Libya.

1305
01:03:15,224 --> 01:03:18,624
They obviously have their
own self-interest in trying

1306
01:03:18,628 --> 01:03:21,028
to combat the extremists
that are operating

1307
01:03:21,030 --> 01:03:22,400
in the country.

1308
01:03:22,398 --> 01:03:24,398
They face some significant
challenges in doing that

1309
01:03:24,400 --> 01:03:27,870
because there are also a
variety of militia groups

1310
01:03:27,870 --> 01:03:31,570
across the country that
make unifying the security

1311
01:03:31,574 --> 01:03:34,844
presence in that country
rather challenging,

1312
01:03:34,844 --> 01:03:36,944
and that is going to have an
impact on their ability to

1313
01:03:36,946 --> 01:03:39,686
go after extremists that may
be trying to establish a

1314
01:03:39,682 --> 01:03:41,322
safe haven inside of Libya.

1315
01:03:41,317 --> 01:03:44,657
I think it's too early at
this point to offer up a

1316
01:03:44,654 --> 01:03:48,524
specific policy proposition
about what the United States

1317
01:03:48,524 --> 01:03:50,124
will do down the road.

1318
01:03:50,126 --> 01:03:53,026
But what we are committed to
doing right now is showing

1319
01:03:53,029 --> 01:03:56,029
our support for that
government and,

1320
01:03:56,032 --> 01:04:01,172
where necessary, taking
military action to take

1321
01:04:01,170 --> 01:04:03,840
prominent ISIL targets off
the battlefield in order to

1322
01:04:03,839 --> 01:04:05,839
protect the United
States and our allies.

1323
01:04:05,841 --> 01:04:07,841
The Press: Would you
say an increase in U.S.

1324
01:04:07,843 --> 01:04:09,843
military activity
in Libya is likely?

1325
01:04:09,845 --> 01:04:13,815
Mr. Earnest: I think it's
-- look, I think U.S.

1326
01:04:13,816 --> 01:04:16,516
military activities in Libya
will be responsive to the

1327
01:04:16,519 --> 01:04:17,959
threat that we face there.

1328
01:04:17,954 --> 01:04:20,254
And that's why the President
has ordered military action

1329
01:04:20,256 --> 01:04:23,926
that, in one case, took out
the senior ISIL official in

1330
01:04:23,926 --> 01:04:29,996
Libya, in another case, took
out a number of ISIL targets

1331
01:04:29,999 --> 01:04:33,239
that had emerged in Libya.

1332
01:04:33,236 --> 01:04:35,206
So we're going to continue
-- the President will not

1333
01:04:35,204 --> 01:04:37,444
hesitate to order military
action were necessary,

1334
01:04:37,440 --> 01:04:41,940
even in Libya, if it's
necessary to take that

1335
01:04:41,944 --> 01:04:43,944
action in order to protect
the American people

1336
01:04:43,946 --> 01:04:44,946
and our allies.

1337
01:04:44,947 --> 01:04:46,947
The Press: And has the
Defense Department,

1338
01:04:46,949 --> 01:04:51,459
Secretary Carter, Chairman
Dunford yet presented to the

1339
01:04:51,454 --> 01:04:55,424
Pentagon, to the President
their request for additional

1340
01:04:55,424 --> 01:05:02,594
ground forces in Iraq as I
guess advise and assist --

1341
01:05:02,598 --> 01:05:05,268
in advise-and-assist roles?

1342
01:05:05,268 --> 01:05:06,068
Mr. Earnest: I know there
have been a number of

1343
01:05:06,068 --> 01:05:12,508
reports about
recommendations that some

1344
01:05:12,508 --> 01:05:15,378
members of the President's
national security team have

1345
01:05:15,378 --> 01:05:16,608
given to the President.

1346
01:05:16,612 --> 01:05:20,712
I'm not going to talk about
the consultations between

1347
01:05:20,716 --> 01:05:23,116
the President and members of
his national security team.

1348
01:05:23,119 --> 01:05:25,759
What I can tell you is that
the President's direction to

1349
01:05:25,755 --> 01:05:30,055
every member of his team is
to look for opportunities to

1350
01:05:30,059 --> 01:05:32,899
reinforce those elements
of our strategy that are

1351
01:05:32,895 --> 01:05:34,695
yielding the most progress.

1352
01:05:34,697 --> 01:05:37,567
And the President has asked
them to come to him with

1353
01:05:37,566 --> 01:05:41,106
suggestions for how it is
possible to reinforce those

1354
01:05:41,103 --> 01:05:43,103
elements of our strategy
that are showing

1355
01:05:43,105 --> 01:05:44,075
the most success.

1356
01:05:44,073 --> 01:05:46,073
The President will consider those

1357
01:05:46,075 --> 01:05:47,075
recommendations accordingly.

1358
01:05:47,076 --> 01:05:49,246
And if we have any
announcements to make,

1359
01:05:49,245 --> 01:05:52,315
we'll let you know.

1360
01:05:52,315 --> 01:05:53,315
Arlette.

1361
01:05:53,316 --> 01:05:54,186
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

1362
01:05:54,183 --> 01:05:56,683
In an interview
yesterday with Mic news,

1363
01:05:56,686 --> 01:05:58,826
Vice President Biden talked
about how it's important

1364
01:05:58,821 --> 01:06:00,021
what politicians say.

1365
01:06:00,022 --> 01:06:01,622
He said, "It matters
what people say.

1366
01:06:01,624 --> 01:06:02,954
It matters what
your leaders say.

1367
01:06:02,958 --> 01:06:03,628
It matters.

1368
01:06:03,626 --> 01:06:04,726
Words matter."

1369
01:06:04,727 --> 01:06:06,397
So based on that thought, I
wanted to go back to

1370
01:06:06,395 --> 01:06:10,335
Mayor de Blasio's joke about
"running on CP time."

1371
01:06:10,333 --> 01:06:12,433
I know you say that you
haven't seen this joke,

1372
01:06:12,435 --> 01:06:15,375
but is it appropriate for
politicians to be making

1373
01:06:15,371 --> 01:06:19,071
jokes that hint at racially
insensitive terms?

1374
01:06:19,075 --> 01:06:20,405
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
I don't think that there's

1375
01:06:20,409 --> 01:06:23,109
anybody -- I haven't seen
the joke and so I'm very

1376
01:06:23,112 --> 01:06:25,152
reluctant to wade
into this very far.

1377
01:06:25,147 --> 01:06:30,787
But let me just say in
general that certainly

1378
01:06:30,786 --> 01:06:36,896
Mayor de Blasio and Secretary
Clinton have over the course

1379
01:06:36,892 --> 01:06:42,132
of their career demonstrated
a genuine commitment to the

1380
01:06:42,131 --> 01:06:47,041
pursuit of equality and
justice and civil rights.

1381
01:06:47,036 --> 01:06:49,036
And that's not just a
talking point that they

1382
01:06:49,038 --> 01:06:51,038
include on the
campaign materials.

1383
01:06:51,040 --> 01:06:53,040
That is something to which
they have dedicated their

1384
01:06:53,042 --> 01:06:54,042
careers in public service.

1385
01:06:54,043 --> 01:07:00,113
So I can't speak to any
misguided attempts at humor.

1386
01:07:00,116 --> 01:07:03,986
I can only speak to their
commitment that they've

1387
01:07:03,986 --> 01:07:06,786
shown over the course of
their career to justice

1388
01:07:06,789 --> 01:07:07,789
and civil rights.

1389
01:07:07,790 --> 01:07:10,930
The Press: And tomorrow the
Citizens Against Government

1390
01:07:10,926 --> 01:07:13,266
Waste is going to release
their annual Congressional

1391
01:07:13,262 --> 01:07:15,732
Pig Book, outlining
waste in government.

1392
01:07:15,731 --> 01:07:17,671
Back in 2009, they
determined there was close

1393
01:07:17,666 --> 01:07:20,766
to $270 billion
that could be saved.

1394
01:07:20,770 --> 01:07:23,010
That number has gone up
while the President

1395
01:07:23,005 --> 01:07:24,175
has been in office.

1396
01:07:24,173 --> 01:07:26,913
The last year the report
said that it was $639

1397
01:07:26,909 --> 01:07:28,649
billion that could be saved.

1398
01:07:28,644 --> 01:07:31,014
Does the White House think
that they've done enough to

1399
01:07:31,013 --> 01:07:33,053
promote cutting
waste in government?

1400
01:07:33,048 --> 01:07:34,188
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
administration certainly has

1401
01:07:34,183 --> 01:07:39,353
made important strides
in reducing waste from

1402
01:07:39,355 --> 01:07:41,155
government spending.

1403
01:07:41,157 --> 01:07:46,397
Oftentimes our efforts
are set back by Congress

1404
01:07:46,395 --> 01:07:52,405
continuing to fund programs
and specific government

1405
01:07:58,040 --> 01:08:02,080
actions -- well, I'd just
say government programs that

1406
01:08:02,077 --> 01:08:04,477
we believe are no
longer necessary.

1407
01:08:04,480 --> 01:08:07,480
And there are a number of
reforms that the Department

1408
01:08:07,483 --> 01:08:12,323
of Defense, for example,
has routinely encouraged

1409
01:08:12,321 --> 01:08:15,261
Congress to make that would
save taxpayer dollars,

1410
01:08:15,257 --> 01:08:18,527
that for political reasons
members of Congress -- even

1411
01:08:18,527 --> 01:08:20,927
Republicans --
haven't supported.

1412
01:08:20,930 --> 01:08:23,330
And that's been a source
of some disappointment.

1413
01:08:23,332 --> 01:08:30,042
There certainly is more that
can be saved in terms of

1414
01:08:30,039 --> 01:08:31,139
government spending.

1415
01:08:31,140 --> 01:08:33,980
But the President has been
serious about a commitment

1416
01:08:33,976 --> 01:08:37,346
to be a good steward
of taxpayer dollars.

1417
01:08:37,346 --> 01:08:39,486
And the President is quite
proud of the record that his

1418
01:08:39,482 --> 01:08:41,482
administration has in
cutting the deficit.

1419
01:08:41,484 --> 01:08:45,854
We've cut the deficit by
nearly three-fourths as a

1420
01:08:45,855 --> 01:08:47,955
percentage of the economy
since the President

1421
01:08:47,957 --> 01:08:49,087
took office.

1422
01:08:49,091 --> 01:08:52,761
We've made important
progress in cutting wasteful

1423
01:08:52,761 --> 01:08:56,401
spending, in
eliminating old,

1424
01:08:56,398 --> 01:08:58,738
outdated regulations that
end up

1425
01:08:58,734 --> 01:09:00,904
costing money unnecessarily.

1426
01:09:00,903 --> 01:09:03,803
So the President's record on
this is strong and one that

1427
01:09:03,806 --> 01:09:05,476
he's quite proud of.

1428
01:09:05,474 --> 01:09:06,474
David.

1429
01:09:06,475 --> 01:09:09,715
The Press: Josh, a few
more questions on TPP.

1430
01:09:09,712 --> 01:09:11,282
While we were talking --
while you were talking,

1431
01:09:11,280 --> 01:09:13,180
the Secretary of State was
in L.A., talking about the

1432
01:09:13,182 --> 01:09:17,282
importance of the TPP
on foreign policy.

1433
01:09:17,286 --> 01:09:19,186
I think you said earlier
in the briefing that the

1434
01:09:19,188 --> 01:09:22,288
President is still very
committed to getting TPP done.

1435
01:09:22,291 --> 01:09:24,231
And the Peterson Institute
has done studies about the

1436
01:09:24,226 --> 01:09:26,226
economic impact and said
we'd be leaving money on the

1437
01:09:26,228 --> 01:09:28,268
table, the United
States would,

1438
01:09:28,264 --> 01:09:31,364
economically for each year
that the TPP is delayed.

1439
01:09:31,367 --> 01:09:33,767
Are you pressing
Congress for a vote?

1440
01:09:33,769 --> 01:09:35,109
What timetable are
you looking at?

1441
01:09:35,104 --> 01:09:37,974
And is getting Congress to
vote on this before the

1442
01:09:37,973 --> 01:09:40,873
summer recess off
the table now?

1443
01:09:40,876 --> 01:09:42,846
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
have a timeline to lay out.

1444
01:09:42,845 --> 01:09:47,215
Obviously, individual
members of the Congress,

1445
01:09:47,216 --> 01:09:49,516
including many Republicans,
have voiced their strong

1446
01:09:49,518 --> 01:09:50,758
support for the agreement.

1447
01:09:50,753 --> 01:09:53,653
They recognize both the
national security and

1448
01:09:53,656 --> 01:09:55,926
economic benefits that the
American people would enjoy

1449
01:09:55,925 --> 01:09:57,895
through the effective
implementation

1450
01:09:57,893 --> 01:09:59,193
of this agreement.

1451
01:09:59,194 --> 01:10:02,094
We've also seen strong
support from outside

1452
01:10:02,097 --> 01:10:04,567
organizations like the
Chamber of Commerce,

1453
01:10:04,567 --> 01:10:08,067
the Farm Bureau and others
who typically don't support

1454
01:10:08,070 --> 01:10:10,710
administration priorities
who have leant their vocal

1455
01:10:10,706 --> 01:10:13,176
advocacy to this policy.

1456
01:10:13,175 --> 01:10:18,085
So we're going to continue
to push Congress to

1457
01:10:18,080 --> 01:10:20,550
implement this agreement, to
act in bipartisan fashion to

1458
01:10:20,549 --> 01:10:22,989
approve this agreement.

1459
01:10:22,985 --> 01:10:26,455
And we're hopeful
that they will.

1460
01:10:26,455 --> 01:10:27,085
The Press: Is the White
House calling

1461
01:10:27,089 --> 01:10:28,529
for a vote now, though?

1462
01:10:28,524 --> 01:10:29,654
You're asking to have a
vote

1463
01:10:29,658 --> 01:10:31,058
on the Supreme Court justice.

1464
01:10:31,060 --> 01:10:32,900
With immigration, you said
just let it go forward for a

1465
01:10:32,895 --> 01:10:34,295
vote, it's going to pass.

1466
01:10:34,296 --> 01:10:35,166
Do you believe this
agreement

1467
01:10:35,164 --> 01:10:36,664
should go forward immediately?

1468
01:10:36,665 --> 01:10:39,035
Mr. Earnest: Well, there are
some additional steps in

1469
01:10:39,034 --> 01:10:42,374
this process that have to be
undertaken before we would

1470
01:10:42,371 --> 01:10:44,341
be calling for
Congress to vote on it.

1471
01:10:44,340 --> 01:10:46,340
For example, I know that
there is an economic impact

1472
01:10:46,342 --> 01:10:48,342
study that is still
being conducted,

1473
01:10:48,344 --> 01:10:50,514
and there needs to be a
formal presentation made by

1474
01:10:50,512 --> 01:10:53,412
the administration to
Congress before we can call

1475
01:10:53,415 --> 01:10:54,785
on a vote.

1476
01:10:54,783 --> 01:10:56,783
But even at that point, I
know that there would be

1477
01:10:56,785 --> 01:10:58,785
some consideration by
congressional committee.

1478
01:10:58,787 --> 01:11:00,787
So there's an
established process.

1479
01:11:00,789 --> 01:11:03,629
It takes probably longer
than we would prefer,

1480
01:11:03,626 --> 01:11:05,626
but that's true of a lot of
things

1481
01:11:05,628 --> 01:11:06,628
when dealing with Congress.

1482
01:11:06,629 --> 01:11:09,569
But at this point, what
we are hoping to do is to

1483
01:11:09,565 --> 01:11:12,405
continue to make a strong
bipartisan case for

1484
01:11:12,401 --> 01:11:15,341
congressional action to approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

1485
01:11:15,337 --> 01:11:17,337
Because we believe that
effective implementation of

1486
01:11:17,339 --> 01:11:19,539
that agreement would be good
for our national security

1487
01:11:19,541 --> 01:11:20,841
and good for our economy.

1488
01:11:20,843 --> 01:11:22,843
The Press: Do you
have a -- like I said,

1489
01:11:22,845 --> 01:11:24,815
the Secretary of State
talking about the impact --

1490
01:11:24,813 --> 01:11:26,953
there was a conference call
just a few weeks ago with a

1491
01:11:26,949 --> 01:11:28,319
former general at the
Pentagon saying how

1492
01:11:28,317 --> 01:11:29,917
important this is.

1493
01:11:29,918 --> 01:11:32,218
Do you believe that you're
creating conditions in the

1494
01:11:32,221 --> 01:11:35,221
country through these
arguments in public that is

1495
01:11:35,224 --> 01:11:37,264
improving the prospects
for a big trade bill

1496
01:11:37,259 --> 01:11:37,989
to go through?

1497
01:11:37,993 --> 01:11:39,333
Or do you believe
you're losing ground?

1498
01:11:39,328 --> 01:11:41,598
And what does that mean
if it's the latter?

1499
01:11:41,597 --> 01:11:43,437
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
I think that's a difficult

1500
01:11:43,432 --> 01:11:44,432
thing to assess.

1501
01:11:44,433 --> 01:11:46,603
Obviously, many of the
presidential candidates --

1502
01:11:46,602 --> 01:11:49,272
who are getting a lot of
airtime themselves these

1503
01:11:49,271 --> 01:11:51,271
days -- have not spoken
favorably of the

1504
01:11:51,273 --> 01:11:52,273
Trans-Pacific Partnership.

1505
01:11:52,274 --> 01:11:54,274
In some cases, they've
spoken rather negatively

1506
01:11:54,276 --> 01:11:57,046
of it.

1507
01:11:57,046 --> 01:12:01,086
But look, there is a strong,
substantive case that this

1508
01:12:01,083 --> 01:12:04,083
administration has and will
continue to make

1509
01:12:04,086 --> 01:12:06,226
about how the U.S. economy will benefit from

1510
01:12:06,221 --> 01:12:07,491
the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

1511
01:12:07,489 --> 01:12:10,289
We're talking about 18,000
taxes that other countries

1512
01:12:10,292 --> 01:12:14,332
impose on American goods
that would be cut through

1513
01:12:14,329 --> 01:12:16,329
the implementation
of this agreement.

1514
01:12:16,331 --> 01:12:18,331
We're talking about an
agreement that would raise

1515
01:12:18,333 --> 01:12:20,333
labor standards,
environmental standards and

1516
01:12:20,335 --> 01:12:22,335
human rights standards in a
variety of countries

1517
01:12:22,337 --> 01:12:23,337
around the world.

1518
01:12:23,338 --> 01:12:25,338
And we're talking about
an opportunity that U.S.

1519
01:12:25,340 --> 01:12:27,340
businesses would have to get
access to countries that

1520
01:12:27,342 --> 01:12:29,712
have very dynamic economies.

1521
01:12:29,712 --> 01:12:32,052
So there's a real
opportunity to be seized here.

1522
01:12:32,047 --> 01:12:36,017
And it would also have the
effect of making progress in

1523
01:12:36,018 --> 01:12:38,288
Southeast Asia, a place
where we know that China

1524
01:12:38,287 --> 01:12:39,417
would love to make progress.

1525
01:12:39,421 --> 01:12:42,261
China is suggesting that
they would like to go out

1526
01:12:42,257 --> 01:12:44,327
and try to reach agreements
with all of these countries,

1527
01:12:44,326 --> 01:12:48,296
and gain a foothold -- or
expand their influence in

1528
01:12:48,297 --> 01:12:49,937
this region of the world.

1529
01:12:49,932 --> 01:12:52,032
They would do so by
lowering labor standards,

1530
01:12:52,034 --> 01:12:54,034
by lowering
environmental standards,

1531
01:12:54,036 --> 01:12:55,036
and making it
harder for

1532
01:12:55,037 --> 01:12:57,977
U.S. businesses to compete on a
fair playing field in this

1533
01:12:57,973 --> 01:12:58,973
region of the world.

1534
01:12:58,974 --> 01:13:01,514
So it's pretty clear,
both economically and

1535
01:13:01,510 --> 01:13:04,180
strategically, why this deal
makes sense

1536
01:13:04,179 --> 01:13:07,019
for the United States.

1537
01:13:07,015 --> 01:13:08,985
And we're going to make
that case to Congress,

1538
01:13:08,984 --> 01:13:11,054
to both Democrats
and Republicans.

1539
01:13:11,053 --> 01:13:17,063
And, yes, this may require
some members of Congress

1540
01:13:20,896 --> 01:13:24,496
tuning out the noise of the
presidential election in

1541
01:13:24,500 --> 01:13:27,640
order to focus on the
merits of the agreement.

1542
01:13:27,636 --> 01:13:30,676
When focused on the merits,
we've got

1543
01:13:30,672 --> 01:13:33,642
a particularly strong case.

1544
01:13:33,642 --> 01:13:34,642
George.

1545
01:13:34,643 --> 01:13:37,813
The Press: I want to follow
on your earlier answer

1546
01:13:37,813 --> 01:13:38,813
on Hiroshima.

1547
01:13:38,814 --> 01:13:43,884
This morning, one of your
predecessors, Dana Perino,

1548
01:13:43,886 --> 01:13:46,426
retweeted something, saying
"President Obama wants to

1549
01:13:46,421 --> 01:13:49,291
apologize for us
winning World War II."

1550
01:13:49,291 --> 01:13:52,261
Knowing that kind of
criticism is likely and that

1551
01:13:52,261 --> 01:13:54,361
people will talk about
apologies and so on,

1552
01:13:54,363 --> 01:13:56,603
is that a factor in the
decision on whether to go?

1553
01:13:56,598 --> 01:13:58,368
Mr. Earnest: It's not.

1554
01:13:58,367 --> 01:14:05,377
The President has spoken on
countless occasions -- I

1555
01:14:05,374 --> 01:14:08,944
think most memorably at the
70th anniversary of D-Day --

1556
01:14:08,944 --> 01:14:14,014
about the debt of gratitude
that all Americans owe to

1557
01:14:14,016 --> 01:14:18,586
the Greatest Generation
of Americans.

1558
01:14:18,587 --> 01:14:26,127
And look, I didn't see the
tweet that you're referring

1559
01:14:26,128 --> 01:14:28,968
to, and I've made a habit to
try to avoid criticizing my

1560
01:14:28,964 --> 01:14:31,964
predecessors from here, so
let me just say that the

1561
01:14:31,967 --> 01:14:35,167
President will be focused on
the policy considerations,

1562
01:14:35,170 --> 01:14:41,180
and whatever decision he
makes and whatever policy

1563
01:14:41,176 --> 01:14:44,976
decision the administration
makes will be consistent

1564
01:14:44,980 --> 01:14:48,750
with the President's strong
view about the bravery,

1565
01:14:48,750 --> 01:14:53,990
courage and heroism of those
Americans who fought and won

1566
01:14:53,989 --> 01:14:57,589
World War II, thereby
securing the liberty and

1567
01:14:57,593 --> 01:14:59,593
freedom not just of
the United States,

1568
01:14:59,595 --> 01:15:05,265
but of human beings
around the world.

1569
01:15:05,267 --> 01:15:09,937
The Press: Josh, what
are the factors for the

1570
01:15:09,938 --> 01:15:13,838
President to decide if he
goes to Hiroshima or not?

1571
01:15:13,842 --> 01:15:17,082
Is it public opinion,
or is it visual,

1572
01:15:17,079 --> 01:15:19,619
or a John Kerry
recommendation?

1573
01:15:19,615 --> 01:15:24,085
What are the factors?

1574
01:15:24,086 --> 01:15:28,026
Mr. Earnest: This is a
decision that -- this is a

1575
01:15:28,023 --> 01:15:31,593
question about whether or
not the President will visit

1576
01:15:31,593 --> 01:15:35,363
Hiroshima that comes up
regularly whenever the

1577
01:15:35,364 --> 01:15:37,864
President makes plans
to travel to Japan.

1578
01:15:37,866 --> 01:15:40,306
The President has been to
Japan I don't know how many

1579
01:15:40,302 --> 01:15:43,602
times now, three or four
times now, as President,

1580
01:15:43,605 --> 01:15:47,005
and in advance of every trip
this question has come up.

1581
01:15:47,009 --> 01:15:50,079
So the President will --
and his team will obviously

1582
01:15:50,078 --> 01:15:51,978
consider our options here.

1583
01:15:51,980 --> 01:15:54,980
And once we've made a
decision one way or the

1584
01:15:54,983 --> 01:15:57,123
other, we'll be able to talk
in a little bit more detail

1585
01:15:57,119 --> 01:16:00,289
about why we've made the
decision that we made.

1586
01:16:00,289 --> 01:16:03,429
The Press: Is the
possibility about 50 percent,

1587
01:16:03,425 --> 01:16:04,255
or more?

1588
01:16:04,259 --> 01:16:08,129
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
wouldn't put a number on it.

1589
01:16:08,130 --> 01:16:09,600
Tara, I'll give
you the last one.

1590
01:16:09,598 --> 01:16:11,138
The Press: Can you tell me
a little bit more about the

1591
01:16:11,133 --> 01:16:12,363
President's visit to London?

1592
01:16:12,367 --> 01:16:13,407
You talked about it earlier.

1593
01:16:13,402 --> 01:16:14,432
Maybe you can give me a
sense --

1594
01:16:14,436 --> 01:16:15,976
Mr. Earnest: A lot of interest in foreign travel today.

1595
01:16:15,971 --> 01:16:16,741
The Press: Exactly.

1596
01:16:16,738 --> 01:16:18,078
Maybe you can give us a
sense about what subjects

1597
01:16:18,073 --> 01:16:19,873
will be discussed and what
we should be thinking about

1598
01:16:19,875 --> 01:16:20,845
before the trip.

1599
01:16:20,842 --> 01:16:21,982
Mr. Earnest: Well, we'll
obviously have more to say

1600
01:16:21,977 --> 01:16:25,217
about this later in the week
as we get closer to the trip.

1601
01:16:25,213 --> 01:16:27,583
I can tell you that the
President strongly values

1602
01:16:27,582 --> 01:16:30,122
the special relationship
between the United States

1603
01:16:30,118 --> 01:16:32,658
and the United Kingdom.

1604
01:16:32,654 --> 01:16:37,064
We partner on so many issues
it would be difficult to

1605
01:16:37,059 --> 01:16:39,699
enumerate all of them here
at the end of the briefing.

1606
01:16:39,695 --> 01:16:41,695
But I can tell you that
President Obama has found

1607
01:16:41,697 --> 01:16:43,867
Prime Minister Cameron to be
an effective advocate for

1608
01:16:43,865 --> 01:16:49,075
his country, but also an
effective interlocutor for

1609
01:16:49,071 --> 01:16:53,611
advancing the joint
interests of our countries.

1610
01:16:53,608 --> 01:16:56,948
So I'm confident that there
will be a discussion about

1611
01:16:56,945 --> 01:16:59,285
our counter-ISIL campaign.

1612
01:16:59,281 --> 01:17:02,851
Obviously, the UK is making
important contributions,

1613
01:17:02,851 --> 01:17:04,851
including military
contributions,

1614
01:17:04,853 --> 01:17:06,853
to our effort to degrade and
ultimately destroy ISIL.

1615
01:17:06,855 --> 01:17:11,255
The United States and the
United Kingdom have worked

1616
01:17:11,259 --> 01:17:14,359
effectively to try to
enhance homeland security in

1617
01:17:14,363 --> 01:17:15,563
our two countries.

1618
01:17:15,564 --> 01:17:20,874
We obviously work seamlessly
to share intelligence

1619
01:17:20,869 --> 01:17:23,669
information in a way that
enhances our nation's

1620
01:17:23,672 --> 01:17:25,272
national security.

1621
01:17:25,273 --> 01:17:27,343
I would expect that the
President will talk about

1622
01:17:27,342 --> 01:17:29,112
the global economy.

1623
01:17:29,111 --> 01:17:31,881
Obviously, the United
Kingdom has a large economy

1624
01:17:31,880 --> 01:17:33,880
that has significant
influence on the global

1625
01:17:33,882 --> 01:17:40,152
economy, and our efforts to
strengthen our economic ties

1626
01:17:40,155 --> 01:17:43,255
benefit the citizens in
both of our countries.

1627
01:17:43,258 --> 01:17:46,198
But, look, there are also
important cultural ties.

1628
01:17:46,194 --> 01:17:48,934
And the President will have
an opportunity

1629
01:17:48,930 --> 01:17:51,200
to talk about that.

1630
01:17:51,199 --> 01:17:53,639
And I know the President is
very much looking forward

1631
01:17:53,635 --> 01:17:54,905
to his visit.

1632
01:17:54,903 --> 01:17:56,903
The President has
been to the U.K.

1633
01:17:56,905 --> 01:18:00,105
three or four times now, and
I know he's enjoyed each visit.

1634
01:18:00,108 --> 01:18:02,008
This will be his second
visit to London, I believe,

1635
01:18:02,010 --> 01:18:08,120
and he's hoping that it
won't be consumed just with

1636
01:18:08,116 --> 01:18:10,356
work, that he might get to
have a little fun

1637
01:18:10,352 --> 01:18:11,522
while he's there, too.

1638
01:18:11,520 --> 01:18:15,260
But we'll have more details
on his schedule later this week.

1639
01:18:15,257 --> 01:18:15,927
Thanks a lot, everybody.

1640
01:18:15,924 --> 01:18:17,264
We'll see you tomorrow.