English subtitles for clip: File:5-6-16- White House Press Briefing.webm
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1 00:00:02,001 --> 00:00:06,811 The President: Good afternoon, everybody. 2 00:00:06,806 --> 00:00:10,746 Seven years ago, in April of 2009, our economy lost 3 00:00:10,744 --> 00:00:15,014 nearly 700,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate hit 9 4 00:00:15,014 --> 00:00:17,414 percent on its way to 10 percent. 5 00:00:17,417 --> 00:00:22,627 Seven years later, in April 2016, our economy added 6 00:00:22,622 --> 00:00:25,492 160,000 new jobs. 7 00:00:25,492 --> 00:00:29,192 That makes April the 74th consecutive month of private 8 00:00:29,195 --> 00:00:31,665 sector job growth in America. 9 00:00:31,664 --> 00:00:34,304 Over that record streak of job growth, our businesses 10 00:00:34,300 --> 00:00:38,670 have created 14.6 million new jobs in all. 11 00:00:38,671 --> 00:00:41,641 Wages have been rising at an annual rate of more than 3 12 00:00:41,641 --> 00:00:43,041 percent this year. 13 00:00:43,042 --> 00:00:45,882 So the *unemployment rate (economy) has been growing, 14 00:00:45,879 --> 00:00:49,879 unemployment has been falling, and wages have 15 00:00:49,883 --> 00:00:51,623 been rising. 16 00:00:51,618 --> 00:00:56,258 But the global economy, as many people here are aware, 17 00:00:56,256 --> 00:00:58,626 is not growing as fast as it should be. 18 00:00:58,625 --> 00:01:01,025 You're still seeing lagging growth in places like 19 00:01:01,027 --> 00:01:04,927 Europe, Japan, and now China. 20 00:01:04,931 --> 00:01:06,931 Here in the United States, there are folks out there 21 00:01:06,933 --> 00:01:08,403 who are still hurting. 22 00:01:08,401 --> 00:01:10,641 And so we've got to do everything we can to 23 00:01:10,637 --> 00:01:14,707 strengthen the good trends and to guard against some 24 00:01:14,707 --> 00:01:17,107 dangerous trends in the global economy. 25 00:01:17,110 --> 00:01:20,250 And if the Republican Congress joined us to take 26 00:01:20,246 --> 00:01:24,756 some steps that are pretty common-sense, then we could 27 00:01:24,751 --> 00:01:27,721 put some additional wind at the backs of 28 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:29,660 working Americans. 29 00:01:29,656 --> 00:01:32,326 To create new jobs, they should invest in our 30 00:01:32,325 --> 00:01:37,095 infrastructure -- our roads, our bridges, our schools, 31 00:01:37,096 --> 00:01:38,466 our water mains. 32 00:01:38,465 --> 00:01:40,835 Some of you joined me when I went to Flint this week. 33 00:01:40,834 --> 00:01:44,334 It was a great example of the kind of work that is out 34 00:01:44,337 --> 00:01:45,537 there to be done. 35 00:01:45,538 --> 00:01:48,408 And we could be putting people all across this 36 00:01:48,408 --> 00:01:52,608 country back to work, with huge multiplier effects 37 00:01:52,612 --> 00:01:56,152 across the economy, if we started investing in the 38 00:01:56,149 --> 00:01:59,119 infrastructure that will make us more productive. 39 00:01:59,118 --> 00:02:01,888 To reward some of the hardest-working people in 40 00:02:01,888 --> 00:02:05,388 America, Congress should raise the minimum wage. 41 00:02:05,391 --> 00:02:08,291 This is something that would not only help those 42 00:02:08,294 --> 00:02:11,034 individuals who are getting a bigger paycheck, but it 43 00:02:11,030 --> 00:02:13,570 also means they're spending more, and that would be a 44 00:02:13,566 --> 00:02:15,266 boost to business. 45 00:02:15,268 --> 00:02:17,368 To level the playing field for American workers and 46 00:02:17,370 --> 00:02:21,440 crack down on unfair foreign competition, they should 47 00:02:21,441 --> 00:02:24,211 pass smart new trade agreements. 48 00:02:24,210 --> 00:02:27,710 And Congress should reform our tax code to promote 49 00:02:27,714 --> 00:02:30,884 growth and job creation, which includes closing 50 00:02:30,884 --> 00:02:33,484 wasteful loopholes and simplifying the tax 51 00:02:33,486 --> 00:02:35,856 code for everybody. 52 00:02:35,855 --> 00:02:37,855 I've been talking about this for a while. 53 00:02:37,857 --> 00:02:40,357 Only Congress can fully close the loopholes that 54 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,760 wealthy individuals and powerful corporations all 55 00:02:43,763 --> 00:02:46,763 too often take advantage of, often at the expense of 56 00:02:46,766 --> 00:02:47,796 middle-class families. 57 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:49,800 If they're getting out of paying their fair share of 58 00:02:49,802 --> 00:02:53,742 taxes, that means that the rest of us have to shoulder 59 00:02:53,740 --> 00:02:55,210 that burden. 60 00:02:55,208 --> 00:02:58,678 And I've put forward plans repeatedly to do exactly 61 00:02:58,678 --> 00:03:01,848 that -- close loopholes, make sure that everybody is 62 00:03:01,848 --> 00:03:04,788 paying their fair share, which would not only give 63 00:03:04,784 --> 00:03:07,154 people greater confidence in the system, but would be 64 00:03:07,153 --> 00:03:09,153 good for our economy. 65 00:03:09,155 --> 00:03:11,225 It would make sure that families and small 66 00:03:11,224 --> 00:03:13,964 businesses -- who don't have fancy lawyers and fancy 67 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:18,500 accountants -- are being treated the same as big 68 00:03:18,498 --> 00:03:21,538 corporations who do. 69 00:03:21,534 --> 00:03:23,674 I think it's fair to say the Congress will not act on a 70 00:03:23,670 --> 00:03:27,740 big tax reform plan before the election that would shut 71 00:03:27,740 --> 00:03:29,710 down some of these loopholes. 72 00:03:29,709 --> 00:03:32,679 But what my administration has been doing is to look 73 00:03:32,679 --> 00:03:36,819 for steps that we can take on our own to make the tax 74 00:03:36,816 --> 00:03:38,386 system fair. 75 00:03:38,384 --> 00:03:43,194 In recent months, we've seen just how big a problem 76 00:03:43,189 --> 00:03:48,129 corruption and tax evasion have become around the globe. 77 00:03:48,127 --> 00:03:50,127 We saw what happened with the release of the Panama 78 00:03:50,129 --> 00:03:56,239 Papers, and we've seen the degree to which both legal 79 00:03:56,235 --> 00:03:59,035 practices of tax avoidance that are still unfair and 80 00:03:59,038 --> 00:04:03,038 bad for the economy, as well as illegal practices that, 81 00:04:03,042 --> 00:04:08,452 in some cases, involve nefarious activities 82 00:04:08,448 --> 00:04:12,348 continue to exist and to spread. 83 00:04:12,352 --> 00:04:15,592 So combating this kind of tax evasion and 84 00:04:15,588 --> 00:04:18,628 strengthening the global financial system have been 85 00:04:18,625 --> 00:04:20,395 priorities of mine since I took office. 86 00:04:20,393 --> 00:04:22,633 And they're part of our broader, ongoing efforts to 87 00:04:22,629 --> 00:04:25,429 make sure the rules aren't rigged and our economy works 88 00:04:25,431 --> 00:04:26,431 for everybody. 89 00:04:26,432 --> 00:04:28,102 Let me give you an example. 90 00:04:28,101 --> 00:04:30,501 Here at home, we've made our tax code fairer and asked 91 00:04:30,503 --> 00:04:32,503 the wealthiest Americans to start paying their 92 00:04:32,505 --> 00:04:33,575 fair share. 93 00:04:33,573 --> 00:04:36,343 And last month, the Treasury Department took action to 94 00:04:36,342 --> 00:04:38,982 prevent more corporations from taking advantage of a 95 00:04:38,978 --> 00:04:42,578 tax loophole that let them shift their address abroad 96 00:04:42,582 --> 00:04:46,522 just to avoid paying taxes in America -- taxes that 97 00:04:46,519 --> 00:04:49,189 they rightfully owe. 98 00:04:49,188 --> 00:04:51,758 We've taken several steps to make sure that our law -- 99 00:04:51,758 --> 00:04:54,858 our tax laws are enforced, including leading efforts to 100 00:04:54,861 --> 00:04:57,261 crack down on offshore evasion. 101 00:04:57,263 --> 00:04:59,863 And as a result, thousands of individuals have come 102 00:04:59,866 --> 00:05:02,436 forward to disclose offshore accounts and pay the taxes 103 00:05:02,435 --> 00:05:05,135 that they owe, along with interest and penalties. 104 00:05:05,138 --> 00:05:08,338 Today, we're building on those efforts. 105 00:05:08,341 --> 00:05:11,111 And I believe that you've heard from Treasury, but I 106 00:05:11,110 --> 00:05:14,480 wanted to amplify what they've told you in detail. 107 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,780 Number one, we are requiring banks and other financial 108 00:05:17,784 --> 00:05:21,854 institutions to know, verify, and report who the 109 00:05:21,854 --> 00:05:25,494 real people are behind shell corporations that set up 110 00:05:25,491 --> 00:05:28,191 accounts at those institutions. 111 00:05:28,194 --> 00:05:31,294 One of the main ways that companies avoid taxes, or 112 00:05:31,297 --> 00:05:34,037 wealthy individuals avoid taxes, is by setting up a 113 00:05:34,033 --> 00:05:36,433 bunch of shell corporations and making it harder to 114 00:05:36,436 --> 00:05:39,406 trace where monies are flowing and what 115 00:05:39,405 --> 00:05:41,045 taxes are owed. 116 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,040 We're saying to those financial institutions, 117 00:05:43,042 --> 00:05:45,042 you've got to step up and get that information. 118 00:05:45,044 --> 00:05:48,414 Second, we're plugging a gap in our tax rules that 119 00:05:48,414 --> 00:05:50,784 foreigners can exploit to hide their assets to 120 00:05:50,783 --> 00:05:52,083 evade taxes. 121 00:05:52,085 --> 00:05:54,255 The Treasury Department and the IRS are issuing a 122 00:05:54,253 --> 00:05:57,023 proposed rule to make sure foreigners cannot hide 123 00:05:57,023 --> 00:06:00,193 behind anonymous shell companies formed inside the 124 00:06:00,193 --> 00:06:01,993 United States. 125 00:06:01,994 --> 00:06:05,234 Now, these actions are going to make a difference. 126 00:06:05,231 --> 00:06:08,531 They will allow us to continue to do a better job 127 00:06:08,534 --> 00:06:12,574 of tracking financial flows and making sure that people 128 00:06:12,572 --> 00:06:16,942 are paying the taxes that they owe, rather than using 129 00:06:16,943 --> 00:06:19,213 shell corporations and offshore accounts to avoid 130 00:06:19,212 --> 00:06:24,152 doing the things that ordinary Americans, 131 00:06:24,150 --> 00:06:26,320 hardworking Americans are doing every day, and that's 132 00:06:26,319 --> 00:06:29,789 making sure that they're paying their fair share. 133 00:06:29,789 --> 00:06:33,059 Having said that, we're not going to be able to complete 134 00:06:33,059 --> 00:06:36,829 this job unless Congress acts as well. 135 00:06:36,829 --> 00:06:40,469 So I'm calling on Congress to pass new legislation that 136 00:06:40,466 --> 00:06:43,106 requires all companies formed inside the United 137 00:06:43,102 --> 00:06:46,872 States to report information about their real owners to 138 00:06:46,873 --> 00:06:47,973 the Treasury Department's 139 00:06:47,974 --> 00:06:50,614 Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. 140 00:06:50,610 --> 00:06:52,610 That's going to help law enforcement better 141 00:06:52,612 --> 00:06:54,952 investigate and prevent financial crimes. 142 00:06:54,947 --> 00:06:57,317 I'm calling on Congress to provide the Justice 143 00:06:57,316 --> 00:06:59,416 Department with additional tools to investigate 144 00:06:59,418 --> 00:07:01,418 corruption and money launderers. 145 00:07:01,420 --> 00:07:05,120 And I'm calling on the Senate ---in particular, 146 00:07:05,124 --> 00:07:09,964 Senator Rand Paul, who's been a little quirky on this 147 00:07:09,962 --> 00:07:13,032 issue -- to stop blocking the implementation of tax 148 00:07:13,032 --> 00:07:15,772 treaties that have been pending for years. 149 00:07:15,768 --> 00:07:19,808 And these treaties actually improve law enforcement's 150 00:07:19,806 --> 00:07:22,576 ability to investigate and crack down on offshore 151 00:07:22,575 --> 00:07:23,775 tax evasion. 152 00:07:23,776 --> 00:07:25,746 And I'm assuming that's not something that he's in favor of. 153 00:07:25,745 --> 00:07:29,515 So we're going to need to cooperate internationally 154 00:07:29,515 --> 00:07:36,125 because tax evasion, tax avoidance, money laundering 155 00:07:36,122 --> 00:07:39,562 -- these things are all taking place in a global 156 00:07:39,559 --> 00:07:42,629 financial system, and if we can't cooperate with other 157 00:07:42,628 --> 00:07:45,568 countries it makes it harder for us to crack down. 158 00:07:45,565 --> 00:07:51,105 If we can combine the actions that we're taking 159 00:07:51,103 --> 00:07:54,773 administratively with the new tools that I'm asking 160 00:07:54,774 --> 00:07:57,514 Congress to provide the Justice Department and 161 00:07:57,510 --> 00:08:00,950 Treasury, these actions will prevent tax evasion, they'll 162 00:08:00,947 --> 00:08:03,787 prevent money laundering, they'll prevent 163 00:08:03,783 --> 00:08:05,423 terrorist financing. 164 00:08:05,418 --> 00:08:07,688 And they'll, most importantly, uphold a 165 00:08:07,687 --> 00:08:10,457 fundamental principle of our economy -- in America, no 166 00:08:10,456 --> 00:08:13,226 matter how wealthy or powerful, you should play by 167 00:08:13,226 --> 00:08:16,266 the same set of rules as everybody else. 168 00:08:16,262 --> 00:08:17,262 All right. 169 00:08:17,263 --> 00:08:18,263 Thanks. 170 00:08:18,264 --> 00:08:21,634 I'm going to take a couple questions with that. 171 00:08:21,634 --> 00:08:22,064 Let's see -- Jeff. 172 00:08:22,068 --> 00:08:23,138 Yes -- since you're now the incoming president of the 173 00:08:23,135 --> 00:08:24,075 White House Correspondents. 174 00:08:24,070 --> 00:08:25,140 (laughter) 175 00:08:25,137 --> 00:08:26,277 The Press: Thank you, sir. 176 00:08:26,272 --> 00:08:28,842 Mr. President, what's your reaction to Donald Trump 177 00:08:28,841 --> 00:08:30,581 becoming the presumptive nominee of the Republican 178 00:08:30,576 --> 00:08:32,246 Party this week? 179 00:08:32,245 --> 00:08:36,115 And given the delegate math, do you think it's time for 180 00:08:36,115 --> 00:08:39,355 Bernie Sanders to step aside on the Democratic side? 181 00:08:39,352 --> 00:08:42,522 The President: Well, with respect to the Republican 182 00:08:42,521 --> 00:08:48,191 process and Mr. Trump, there's going to be plenty 183 00:08:48,194 --> 00:08:53,204 of time to talk about his positions on various issues. 184 00:08:55,868 --> 00:09:00,878 He has a long record that needs to be examined, and I 185 00:09:07,346 --> 00:09:09,446 think it's important for us to take seriously the 186 00:09:09,448 --> 00:09:11,448 statements he's made in the past. 187 00:09:11,450 --> 00:09:18,060 But most importantly -- and I speak to all of you in 188 00:09:18,057 --> 00:09:23,797 this room as reporters, as well as the American public 189 00:09:23,796 --> 00:09:25,796 -- I just want to emphasize the degree to which we are 190 00:09:25,798 --> 00:09:28,338 in serious times and this is a really serious job. 191 00:09:28,334 --> 00:09:29,734 This is not entertainment. 192 00:09:29,735 --> 00:09:34,745 This is not a reality show. 193 00:09:34,740 --> 00:09:40,850 This is a contest for the presidency of the 194 00:09:40,846 --> 00:09:42,086 United States. 195 00:09:42,081 --> 00:09:48,091 And what that means is that every candidate, every 196 00:09:48,087 --> 00:09:53,027 nominee needs to be subject to exacting standards and 197 00:09:53,025 --> 00:09:55,725 genuine scrutiny. 198 00:09:55,728 --> 00:10:00,698 It means that you got to make sure that their budgets 199 00:10:00,700 --> 00:10:03,700 add up. 200 00:10:03,703 --> 00:10:06,903 It means that if they say they got an answer to a 201 00:10:06,906 --> 00:10:11,576 problem that it is actually plausible and that they have 202 00:10:11,577 --> 00:10:14,347 details for how it would work. 203 00:10:14,347 --> 00:10:19,117 And if it's completely implausible and would not 204 00:10:19,118 --> 00:10:22,018 work, that needs to be reported on. 205 00:10:22,021 --> 00:10:25,221 The American people need to know that. 206 00:10:25,224 --> 00:10:29,464 If they take a position on international issues that 207 00:10:29,462 --> 00:10:37,272 could threaten war, or has the potential of upending 208 00:10:37,269 --> 00:10:40,469 our critical relationships with other countries, or 209 00:10:40,473 --> 00:10:45,743 would potentially break the financial system, that needs 210 00:10:45,745 --> 00:10:47,145 to be reported on. 211 00:10:47,146 --> 00:10:53,556 And the one thing that I'm going to really be looking 212 00:10:53,552 --> 00:10:59,162 for over the next six months is that the American people 213 00:10:59,158 --> 00:11:02,398 are effectively informed about where candidates stand 214 00:11:02,395 --> 00:11:06,165 on the issues, what they believe, making sure that 215 00:11:06,165 --> 00:11:09,635 their numbers add up, making sure that their policies 216 00:11:09,635 --> 00:11:19,445 have been vetted and that candidates are held to what 217 00:11:19,445 --> 00:11:21,885 they've said in the past. 218 00:11:21,881 --> 00:11:24,851 And if that happens, then I'm confident our democracy 219 00:11:24,850 --> 00:11:26,850 will work. 220 00:11:27,853 --> 00:11:29,993 And that's true whether we're talking about 221 00:11:29,989 --> 00:11:36,799 Mr. Trump or Ms. Clinton, or Bernie Sanders, or anybody else. 222 00:11:36,796 --> 00:11:43,066 But what I'm concerned about is the degree to which 223 00:11:43,069 --> 00:11:46,609 reporting and information starts emphasizing the 224 00:11:46,605 --> 00:11:51,945 spectacle and the circus, because that's not something 225 00:11:51,944 --> 00:11:54,484 we can afford. 226 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,120 And the American people, they've got good judgment, 227 00:11:57,116 --> 00:12:00,216 they've got good instincts, as long as they get 228 00:12:00,219 --> 00:12:01,619 good information. 229 00:12:01,620 --> 00:12:02,560 All right? 230 00:12:02,555 --> 00:12:03,485 The Press: And on Sanders dropping out? 231 00:12:03,489 --> 00:12:06,389 The President: I think on the Democratic side, let's 232 00:12:06,392 --> 00:12:11,162 let the process play itself out. 233 00:12:11,163 --> 00:12:13,163 You mentioned the delegate math. 234 00:12:13,165 --> 00:12:15,405 I think everybody knows what that math is. 235 00:12:15,401 --> 00:12:19,871 I think Senator Sanders has done an extraordinary job 236 00:12:19,872 --> 00:12:23,742 raising a whole range of issues that are important to 237 00:12:23,742 --> 00:12:25,742 Democratic voters as well as the American 238 00:12:25,744 --> 00:12:27,714 people, generally. 239 00:12:27,713 --> 00:12:34,023 And I know that at some point there's going to be a 240 00:12:34,019 --> 00:12:38,759 conversation between Secretary Clinton and Bernie 241 00:12:38,757 --> 00:12:42,867 Sanders about how we move towards the convention. 242 00:12:42,862 --> 00:12:47,262 The good news is that despite the fact that during 243 00:12:47,266 --> 00:12:49,266 the course of primaries everybody starts getting a 244 00:12:49,268 --> 00:12:53,168 little chippy -- I've been through this, it's natural, 245 00:12:53,172 --> 00:12:56,172 sometimes even more with the staffs and supporters than 246 00:12:56,175 --> 00:12:58,715 with the candidates themselves -- the good news 247 00:12:58,711 --> 00:13:03,211 is, is that there's a pretty strong consensus within the 248 00:13:03,215 --> 00:13:06,915 Democratic Party on the vast majority of issues. 249 00:13:06,919 --> 00:13:08,919 There's some disagreement about tactics. 250 00:13:08,921 --> 00:13:12,091 There's some disagreement about political strategy or 251 00:13:12,091 --> 00:13:15,431 policy nuance. 252 00:13:15,427 --> 00:13:18,867 But both Secretary Clinton and Bernie Sanders believe 253 00:13:18,864 --> 00:13:21,234 that every American should have health care. 254 00:13:21,233 --> 00:13:24,603 So do I. 255 00:13:24,603 --> 00:13:27,243 Both candidates believe that we should be raising the 256 00:13:27,239 --> 00:13:28,479 minimum wage. 257 00:13:28,474 --> 00:13:31,244 Both candidates believe that we should invest in our 258 00:13:31,243 --> 00:13:34,783 infrastructure and put more people back to work. 259 00:13:34,780 --> 00:13:38,050 Both candidates believe that we should pass a 260 00:13:38,050 --> 00:13:41,090 comprehensive immigration reform policy that makes 261 00:13:41,086 --> 00:13:44,586 sure we're enforcing laws and improving our legal 262 00:13:44,590 --> 00:13:48,060 immigration system and making sure our borders are 263 00:13:48,060 --> 00:13:52,530 secure, but also that we continue to enjoy the 264 00:13:52,531 --> 00:13:56,431 incredible boost that we get from attracting talent from 265 00:13:56,435 --> 00:13:58,675 all around the world. 266 00:13:58,671 --> 00:14:01,611 Both candidates agree that we should be prudent in 267 00:14:01,607 --> 00:14:04,047 terms of how we use our military and that we should 268 00:14:04,043 --> 00:14:06,043 care for our veterans when they come home. 269 00:14:06,045 --> 00:14:14,055 So if you look at 95 percent of the issues, there's 270 00:14:14,053 --> 00:14:16,023 strong agreement there. 271 00:14:16,021 --> 00:14:20,961 You don't see the same kinds of divisions between the two 272 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,460 Democratic candidates that remain that you've been 273 00:14:23,462 --> 00:14:26,662 seeing in some of the Republican debates. 274 00:14:26,665 --> 00:14:27,635 Yes. 275 00:14:27,633 --> 00:14:31,073 The Press: Mr. President, what do Speaker Ryan's 276 00:14:31,070 --> 00:14:34,140 comments tell you about the state of the Republican Party? 277 00:14:34,139 --> 00:14:36,579 And how would you advise your fellow Democrats who 278 00:14:36,575 --> 00:14:40,115 appear to have to now run against Donald Trump as to 279 00:14:40,112 --> 00:14:43,682 how they can win in November? 280 00:14:43,682 --> 00:14:47,852 The President: Well, I think you have to ask Speaker Ryan 281 00:14:47,853 --> 00:14:54,163 what the implications of his comments are. 282 00:14:54,159 --> 00:14:59,469 There is no doubt that there is a debate that's taking 283 00:14:59,465 --> 00:15:02,565 place inside the Republican Party about who they are and 284 00:15:02,568 --> 00:15:04,638 what they represent. 285 00:15:04,637 --> 00:15:09,407 Their standard bearer at the moment is Donald Trump. 286 00:15:09,408 --> 00:15:15,678 And I think not just Republican officials, but 287 00:15:15,681 --> 00:15:19,221 more importantly, Republican voters are going to have to 288 00:15:19,218 --> 00:15:22,318 make a decision as to whether this is the guy who 289 00:15:22,321 --> 00:15:24,321 speaks for them and represents their values. 290 00:15:24,323 --> 00:15:29,293 I think Republican women voters are going to have to 291 00:15:33,132 --> 00:15:37,202 decide, is that the guy I feel comfortable with in 292 00:15:37,202 --> 00:15:39,202 representing me and what I care about. 293 00:15:42,975 --> 00:15:47,115 I think folks who, historically, have been 294 00:15:47,112 --> 00:15:52,082 concerned about making sure that budgets add up and that 295 00:15:57,323 --> 00:16:02,193 we are responsible stewards of government finances have 296 00:16:02,194 --> 00:16:06,904 to ask, does Mr. Trump's budgets work. 297 00:16:06,899 --> 00:16:09,139 Those are going to be questions that Republican 298 00:16:09,134 --> 00:16:12,374 voters, more than Republican officials have to answer. 299 00:16:12,371 --> 00:16:19,341 And as far as Democrats, I think we run on what we're 300 00:16:19,345 --> 00:16:23,085 for, not just on what we're against. 301 00:16:23,082 --> 00:16:28,622 For the last seven and a half years, we've been 302 00:16:28,620 --> 00:16:31,820 pretty clear about what we believe will help working 303 00:16:31,824 --> 00:16:35,324 families who are struggling out there. 304 00:16:35,327 --> 00:16:40,337 And although it has been difficult to get through 305 00:16:40,332 --> 00:16:46,942 Republican Congresses to get those things done, the truth 306 00:16:46,939 --> 00:16:52,149 is, is that they continue to be prescriptions that would 307 00:16:52,144 --> 00:16:55,084 really help people. 308 00:16:55,080 --> 00:17:00,890 Making sure that families get paid sick leave and 309 00:17:00,886 --> 00:17:05,626 family leave and early childhood education -- that 310 00:17:05,624 --> 00:17:07,064 would help families. 311 00:17:07,059 --> 00:17:10,329 Raising the minimum wage would help a lot of people. 312 00:17:10,329 --> 00:17:13,529 Rebuilding infrastructure would put back to work a 313 00:17:13,532 --> 00:17:15,572 whole bunch of guys in hardhats and gals in 314 00:17:15,567 --> 00:17:21,077 hardhats that need to work. 315 00:17:21,073 --> 00:17:24,573 And those are good jobs that can't be exported. 316 00:17:24,576 --> 00:17:25,846 Now is the time to do it. 317 00:17:25,844 --> 00:17:32,514 So I want Democrats to feel confident about the policy 318 00:17:32,518 --> 00:17:36,758 prescriptions we're putting forward, and the contrast, I 319 00:17:36,755 --> 00:17:38,825 think, will be pretty clear. 320 00:17:38,824 --> 00:17:41,224 I'll leave it up to the Republicans to figure out 321 00:17:41,226 --> 00:17:44,226 how they square their circle. 322 00:17:44,229 --> 00:17:45,229 All right. 323 00:17:45,230 --> 00:17:47,230 I'm going to take two more questions. 324 00:17:47,232 --> 00:17:50,332 The Press: Mr. President, what's your message to 325 00:17:50,335 --> 00:17:55,605 Democratic voters who have yet to cast their vote, who 326 00:17:55,607 --> 00:17:58,747 may be hesitant to vote for the Democratic frontrunner 327 00:17:58,744 --> 00:18:02,784 because of the ongoing email scandal and investigation? 328 00:18:02,781 --> 00:18:07,321 And also, did you see Donald Trump's taco bowl tweet, and 329 00:18:07,319 --> 00:18:08,319 your thoughts on it? 330 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:11,520 The President: I have no thoughts on Mr. Trump's tweets. 331 00:18:11,523 --> 00:18:14,593 As a general rule, I don't pay attention to 332 00:18:14,593 --> 00:18:17,233 Mr. Trump's tweets. 333 00:18:17,229 --> 00:18:19,999 And I think that will be true I think for the next 334 00:18:19,998 --> 00:18:20,998 six months. 335 00:18:20,999 --> 00:18:22,169 So you can just file that one. 336 00:18:22,167 --> 00:18:27,507 (laughter) 337 00:18:27,506 --> 00:18:33,916 In terms of the Democratic vote coming up, I'm going to 338 00:18:33,912 --> 00:18:38,882 let the voters cast their ballots and not try to 339 00:18:44,490 --> 00:18:47,990 meddle in the few primaries that are remaining. 340 00:18:47,993 --> 00:18:49,993 Let the process play itself out. 341 00:18:49,995 --> 00:18:50,995 We'll know soon enough. 342 00:18:50,996 --> 00:18:52,966 It's not going to be that much longer. 343 00:18:52,965 --> 00:18:54,965 The Press: I wanted to ask you one on infrastructure. 344 00:18:54,967 --> 00:18:57,737 Not long before your nuclear summit where you had 50 345 00:18:57,736 --> 00:18:59,736 world leaders here, the D.C. metro was closed for 346 00:18:59,738 --> 00:19:01,578 over 24 hours. 347 00:19:01,573 --> 00:19:04,173 You, at the White House Correspondents Dinner, made 348 00:19:04,176 --> 00:19:06,576 note that you'll soon be sort of a more ordinary 349 00:19:06,578 --> 00:19:07,548 District resident. 350 00:19:07,546 --> 00:19:09,746 I'm wondering what that says that the Nation's Capital, 351 00:19:09,748 --> 00:19:13,018 their own metro system was closed for 24 hours, and 352 00:19:13,018 --> 00:19:16,018 it's having a number of safety-related problems. 353 00:19:16,021 --> 00:19:18,021 And what can your administration do, if 354 00:19:18,023 --> 00:19:19,463 Republicans are standing in the way of an infrastructure 355 00:19:19,458 --> 00:19:22,528 bill, specifically for the D.C. metro, to potentially 356 00:19:22,528 --> 00:19:26,198 provide more funding or any more support for such a 357 00:19:26,198 --> 00:19:27,398 critical service? 358 00:19:27,399 --> 00:19:29,039 The President: Well, first of all, I know this is a 359 00:19:29,034 --> 00:19:31,434 somewhat self-interested question, I assume, because 360 00:19:31,436 --> 00:19:32,736 a bunch of folks here take the metro. 361 00:19:32,738 --> 00:19:34,308 (laughter) 362 00:19:34,306 --> 00:19:39,246 But it is just one more example of the 363 00:19:39,244 --> 00:19:42,784 under-investments that have been made. 364 00:19:42,781 --> 00:19:46,181 Look, the D.C. metro, historically, has been a 365 00:19:46,184 --> 00:19:51,254 great strength of this region, but over time, we 366 00:19:51,256 --> 00:19:57,566 underinvested in maintenance and repair. 367 00:19:57,563 --> 00:20:00,833 And the steps that are being taken now I'll refer to the 368 00:20:00,832 --> 00:20:02,102 Department of Transportation. 369 00:20:02,100 --> 00:20:07,470 But I can say that obviously safety comes first and we 370 00:20:07,472 --> 00:20:10,042 want to make sure that if there are safety concerns 371 00:20:10,042 --> 00:20:12,942 that they're addressed. 372 00:20:12,945 --> 00:20:15,215 The broader issue, though, is we've got bridges, we've 373 00:20:15,213 --> 00:20:20,683 got roads, we have ports, we have airports, we have water 374 00:20:20,686 --> 00:20:26,796 mains and pipes -- as we saw in Flint -- that suffer 375 00:20:26,792 --> 00:20:28,792 from neglect. 376 00:20:31,029 --> 00:20:35,799 And in many parts of the country, we're still relying 377 00:20:35,801 --> 00:20:41,671 on systems that were built 30, 50, in some cases 100 378 00:20:41,673 --> 00:20:42,673 years ago. 379 00:20:42,674 --> 00:20:48,044 And the reason we've been neglecting them is not 380 00:20:48,046 --> 00:20:49,686 because we don't know how to fix them. 381 00:20:49,681 --> 00:20:54,091 It's not because people haven't been aware of the need. 382 00:20:54,086 --> 00:20:58,326 We've known for years now that we're a trillion or two 383 00:20:58,323 --> 00:21:01,293 trillion dollars short in terms of necessary 384 00:21:01,293 --> 00:21:02,493 infrastructure repair. 385 00:21:02,494 --> 00:21:06,394 I talked about this when I came into office and sought 386 00:21:06,398 --> 00:21:09,438 to do more in terms of investing in our nation's 387 00:21:09,434 --> 00:21:10,434 infrastructure. 388 00:21:10,435 --> 00:21:15,675 The problem we have is that the Republican Congress has 389 00:21:15,674 --> 00:21:22,484 been resistant to really taking on this problem in a 390 00:21:22,481 --> 00:21:23,851 serious way. 391 00:21:23,849 --> 00:21:26,289 And the reason is, is because of an ideology that 392 00:21:26,284 --> 00:21:29,684 says government spending in necessarily bad. 393 00:21:32,658 --> 00:21:35,058 And I addressed this when I was in Flint. 394 00:21:35,060 --> 00:21:40,730 That mindset, that ideology has led to us not investing 395 00:21:40,732 --> 00:21:43,332 in those things that we have to do together. 396 00:21:47,572 --> 00:21:49,572 As you point out, this metropolitan area, the 397 00:21:49,574 --> 00:21:51,574 Nation's Capital, economically is actually 398 00:21:51,576 --> 00:21:53,446 doing really well. 399 00:21:53,445 --> 00:21:56,685 But it doesn't matter how big your paycheck is if 400 00:21:59,351 --> 00:22:01,751 you've been taking the metro and suddenly it's shut down 401 00:22:01,753 --> 00:22:03,823 for a month. 402 00:22:03,822 --> 00:22:08,322 And now you're stuck in traffic, trying to drive to 403 00:22:08,326 --> 00:22:11,296 work instead. 404 00:22:11,296 --> 00:22:15,196 You can't build your own metro system. 405 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,200 You can't build your own highway. 406 00:22:17,202 --> 00:22:21,172 You can't build your own airport. 407 00:22:21,173 --> 00:22:28,143 And so we have a specific problem with under-investing 408 00:22:28,146 --> 00:22:30,016 in infrastructure. 409 00:22:30,015 --> 00:22:32,285 Now is the time, by the way, for us to do so. 410 00:22:32,284 --> 00:22:35,684 Interest rates are so low, and there are so many 411 00:22:35,687 --> 00:22:41,027 contractors and construction workers that are 412 00:22:41,026 --> 00:22:44,096 underemployed at the moment that you can actually get 413 00:22:44,096 --> 00:22:48,236 jobs done on time, on schedule. 414 00:22:48,233 --> 00:22:50,873 It would give a boost to our overall economy, because we 415 00:22:50,869 --> 00:22:53,939 know that when we spend a dollar in infrastructure, 416 00:22:53,939 --> 00:23:00,479 then we actually get a bigger bang for the buck in 417 00:23:00,479 --> 00:23:02,479 terms of the economy overall. 418 00:23:03,982 --> 00:23:08,622 Surrounding businesses, suppliers, food trucks -- 419 00:23:08,620 --> 00:23:10,460 everybody does better. 420 00:23:10,455 --> 00:23:12,755 And it gives a huge boost to the economy and it lasts for 421 00:23:12,758 --> 00:23:13,758 a long time. 422 00:23:13,759 --> 00:23:16,299 Think about the investments we made in things like the 423 00:23:16,294 --> 00:23:21,134 Hoover Dam, or the Golden Gate Bridge, or metro. 424 00:23:21,133 --> 00:23:24,203 It's a good thing to do. 425 00:23:24,202 --> 00:23:27,902 And it, historically, was not, and should not 426 00:23:27,906 --> 00:23:29,506 be, partisan. 427 00:23:29,508 --> 00:23:32,548 But if we have a mindset that says whatever 428 00:23:32,544 --> 00:23:36,744 government is doing must be bad, then these are going to 429 00:23:36,748 --> 00:23:37,648 be the results. 430 00:23:37,649 --> 00:23:39,549 And it's going to continue to get worse. 431 00:23:39,551 --> 00:23:48,261 It's already tough in poorer communities, like Flint. 432 00:23:48,260 --> 00:23:55,570 But we're seeing these kinds of infrastructure problems 433 00:23:55,567 --> 00:23:59,707 spring up in communities all across the country. 434 00:23:59,704 --> 00:24:06,174 And it doesn't distinguish by race or by region. 435 00:24:06,178 --> 00:24:07,178 Everybody needs roads. 436 00:24:07,179 --> 00:24:08,949 Everybody needs airports. 437 00:24:08,947 --> 00:24:12,847 So, hopefully, this will prompt a conversation. 438 00:24:12,851 --> 00:24:15,491 The last thing I'm going to say about this -- this is a 439 00:24:15,487 --> 00:24:20,797 good example of making sure that the candidates are 440 00:24:20,792 --> 00:24:24,662 speaking to this issue as you go into the 441 00:24:24,663 --> 00:24:25,533 presidential election. 442 00:24:25,530 --> 00:24:28,070 I put forward very specific proposals for how I would 443 00:24:28,066 --> 00:24:32,206 pay for additional infrastructure investment. 444 00:24:32,204 --> 00:24:34,804 The numbers add up. 445 00:24:34,806 --> 00:24:40,146 And so the question is, how do the remaining candidates 446 00:24:40,145 --> 00:24:43,315 for the presidency intend to tackle this? 447 00:24:43,315 --> 00:24:45,885 How do members of Congress intend to tackle this? 448 00:24:45,884 --> 00:24:47,984 What's the Republican agenda for infrastructure? 449 00:24:47,986 --> 00:24:49,056 Do they have one? 450 00:24:49,054 --> 00:24:51,254 How are they going to pay for it? 451 00:24:51,256 --> 00:24:55,996 Do they pay for it by cutting Medicare or Medicaid? 452 00:24:55,994 --> 00:25:00,134 If they do, that needs to be fleshed out. 453 00:25:00,131 --> 00:25:02,771 And the consequences for working families needs 454 00:25:02,767 --> 00:25:04,637 to be explained. 455 00:25:04,636 --> 00:25:05,206 All right? 456 00:25:05,203 --> 00:25:07,173 Thank you, everybody. 457 00:25:26,191 --> 00:25:28,191 Mr. Earnest: All right. 458 00:25:28,193 --> 00:25:31,233 Happy Friday, everybody. 459 00:25:31,229 --> 00:25:33,269 I don't have anything in addition to that at the top. 460 00:25:33,265 --> 00:25:36,305 I'm happy to take whatever questions remain -- 461 00:25:36,301 --> 00:25:37,301 hopefully there aren't many. 462 00:25:37,302 --> 00:25:41,372 The Press: Circling back to the campaign, Bernie Sanders 463 00:25:41,373 --> 00:25:43,443 is threatening a floor fight today at the 464 00:25:43,441 --> 00:25:44,541 Democratic Convention. 465 00:25:44,542 --> 00:25:47,882 He wants these committees that pick the platform to be 466 00:25:47,879 --> 00:25:51,249 made out of proportional numbers based on the results 467 00:25:51,249 --> 00:25:52,819 of these primaries. 468 00:25:52,817 --> 00:25:55,787 As the head of the Democratic Party, does the 469 00:25:55,787 --> 00:25:59,127 President have a view about whether that's a fair model 470 00:25:59,124 --> 00:26:00,054 that should be pursued? 471 00:26:00,058 --> 00:26:02,058 Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh, there are rules and 472 00:26:02,060 --> 00:26:04,260 regulations that sort of govern the conduct 473 00:26:04,262 --> 00:26:05,562 of the convention. 474 00:26:05,563 --> 00:26:11,203 And there's a whole apparatus at the Democratic 475 00:26:11,202 --> 00:26:14,042 National Committee that can follow the guidelines and 476 00:26:14,039 --> 00:26:18,109 ensure that our party hosts a convention that's 477 00:26:18,109 --> 00:26:20,409 consistent with the rules but also reflects the 478 00:26:20,412 --> 00:26:24,512 preferences of those who participated in primaries 479 00:26:24,516 --> 00:26:26,486 and caucuses across the country. 480 00:26:26,484 --> 00:26:30,354 And the President has got a lot of confidence in his DNC 481 00:26:30,355 --> 00:26:33,795 Chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, to navigate this 482 00:26:33,792 --> 00:26:36,732 process and ensure that it concludes fairly and 483 00:26:36,728 --> 00:26:38,728 reflects the interests of Democrats across the country. 484 00:26:38,730 --> 00:26:41,900 The Press: And on that strike that we talked about 485 00:26:41,900 --> 00:26:46,200 yesterday in Syria that killed at least 28 people, 486 00:26:46,204 --> 00:26:49,804 both Russia and Syria are saying their aircraft were 487 00:26:49,808 --> 00:26:51,808 not responsible for this. 488 00:26:51,810 --> 00:26:54,350 I know you said yesterday you weren't aware of any 489 00:26:54,346 --> 00:26:56,486 U.S. or coalition aircraft in the area. 490 00:26:56,481 --> 00:27:01,291 Do you have any more recent intelligence about where 491 00:27:01,286 --> 00:27:03,286 that strike came from or who is responsible? 492 00:27:03,288 --> 00:27:05,928 Mr. Earnest: Josh, I can tell you that my colleagues 493 00:27:05,924 --> 00:27:07,924 both at the Department of Defense and in the 494 00:27:07,926 --> 00:27:09,926 intelligence community are continuing to look at this 495 00:27:09,928 --> 00:27:11,028 particular situation. 496 00:27:11,029 --> 00:27:13,229 As I noted yesterday, we're not in a position where we 497 00:27:13,231 --> 00:27:16,731 can draw clear conclusions about who exactly was 498 00:27:16,735 --> 00:27:18,735 responsible for this incident. 499 00:27:21,039 --> 00:27:24,939 What is true is that regardless of who was 500 00:27:24,943 --> 00:27:31,053 responsible, there is never any justification for 501 00:27:31,049 --> 00:27:33,089 carrying out a strike that targets innocent civilians, 502 00:27:33,084 --> 00:27:37,694 particularly innocent civilians that have already 503 00:27:37,689 --> 00:27:41,259 fled their homes to escape violence. 504 00:27:41,259 --> 00:27:44,199 And, unfortunately, there is a long track record of the 505 00:27:44,195 --> 00:27:47,865 Assad regime doing precisely that. 506 00:27:47,866 --> 00:27:50,366 So we're going to continue to take a look at this 507 00:27:50,368 --> 00:27:54,408 particular incident around Idlib, and it's obviously an 508 00:27:54,406 --> 00:27:56,746 incident that we take quite seriously. 509 00:27:56,741 --> 00:27:59,381 But we take quite seriously the other incidents that we 510 00:27:59,377 --> 00:28:02,047 know have been perpetrated by the Assad regime against 511 00:28:02,047 --> 00:28:03,047 innocent civilians. 512 00:28:03,048 --> 00:28:08,058 And the bloodshed that we have seen inside Syria is 513 00:28:08,053 --> 00:28:11,853 astonishing and tragic. 514 00:28:11,856 --> 00:28:14,356 And too much of that blood is the blood of innocent 515 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:17,159 civilians, and it's on the hands of Bashar al Assad and 516 00:28:17,162 --> 00:28:21,432 members of his government. 517 00:28:21,433 --> 00:28:25,403 And that is why we have made a strong case that Bashar al 518 00:28:25,403 --> 00:28:28,843 Assad needs to leave power and make room for the kind 519 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:30,840 of political transition inside of Syria that's long 520 00:28:30,842 --> 00:28:34,512 overdue, so that a political leader inside of Syria can 521 00:28:34,512 --> 00:28:38,852 assume power and unify that country and bring an end to 522 00:28:38,850 --> 00:28:40,050 the chaos and the violence. 523 00:28:40,051 --> 00:28:42,051 The Press: On that transition, the 524 00:28:42,053 --> 00:28:44,123 administration has set this August deadline for a 525 00:28:44,122 --> 00:28:46,492 political transition in Syria. 526 00:28:46,491 --> 00:28:48,261 What exactly is the U.S. 527 00:28:48,259 --> 00:28:51,459 threatening to do if that deadline is not met? 528 00:28:51,463 --> 00:28:53,903 And does the White House feel that the President has 529 00:28:53,898 --> 00:28:58,068 credibility behind any kind of threat, given his 530 00:28:58,069 --> 00:29:00,569 reluctance to strike a few years ago? 531 00:29:00,572 --> 00:29:03,272 Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh, I'm not aware of any threats 532 00:29:03,274 --> 00:29:04,274 that have been issued. 533 00:29:04,275 --> 00:29:09,785 I think what Secretary Kerry and others have laid out is 534 00:29:09,781 --> 00:29:16,421 a framework for carrying out painstaking political talks. 535 00:29:16,421 --> 00:29:21,561 And those political talks have been undermined by the 536 00:29:21,559 --> 00:29:25,199 propensity of the Assad regime to carry out attacks 537 00:29:25,196 --> 00:29:27,836 against innocent civilians inside of Syria. 538 00:29:27,832 --> 00:29:30,002 Opposition leaders are understandably reluctant to 539 00:29:30,001 --> 00:29:33,571 come to the table with people who are, at the very 540 00:29:33,571 --> 00:29:39,981 same time, authorizing military assaults against 541 00:29:39,978 --> 00:29:41,408 their constituents. 542 00:29:41,412 --> 00:29:45,882 So we haven't seen as much progress in these political 543 00:29:45,884 --> 00:29:47,854 talks as we would like to see. 544 00:29:47,852 --> 00:29:49,322 But the fact that the U.N. 545 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:52,960 is even able to identify parties to the talks and has 546 00:29:52,957 --> 00:29:54,997 over the last several months been able to organize 547 00:29:54,993 --> 00:29:57,793 proximity talks is an indication that we've made 548 00:29:57,795 --> 00:30:00,235 more progress than we have over the last five years. 549 00:30:00,231 --> 00:30:05,271 But we're still a long way from the kind of political 550 00:30:05,270 --> 00:30:07,110 agreement that we need to see. 551 00:30:07,105 --> 00:30:09,645 The Press: And President Erdogan is moving very 552 00:30:09,641 --> 00:30:12,011 quickly to try and consolidate power after the 553 00:30:12,010 --> 00:30:13,550 Prime Minister's resignation. 554 00:30:13,545 --> 00:30:16,015 I was curious in how the U.S. 555 00:30:16,014 --> 00:30:18,754 feels about -- whether you have any concerns about that 556 00:30:18,750 --> 00:30:22,720 much power amassing in the Turkish presidency in light 557 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:25,520 of some of your concerns about press freedom and the 558 00:30:25,523 --> 00:30:28,493 Kurds and other issues. 559 00:30:28,493 --> 00:30:31,093 Mr. Earnest: Well, Josh, obviously, as I mentioned 560 00:30:31,095 --> 00:30:34,395 yesterday, the United States and Turkey are NATO allies, 561 00:30:34,399 --> 00:30:36,969 and we have worked effectively with the Turks 562 00:30:36,968 --> 00:30:43,508 to expedite some elements of our counter-ISIL campaign. 563 00:30:43,508 --> 00:30:47,478 For example, Turkey has given the United States and 564 00:30:47,478 --> 00:30:50,178 other members of our coalition access to military 565 00:30:50,181 --> 00:30:54,751 facilities in Turkey that have made our military 566 00:30:54,752 --> 00:30:56,952 campaign even more effective against ISIL. 567 00:30:56,955 --> 00:31:00,695 We've also seen Turkey make some progress in securing 568 00:31:00,692 --> 00:31:06,002 their border with Syria that has blunted the flow of 569 00:31:05,997 --> 00:31:09,867 weapons and foreign fighters across the border into Syria. 570 00:31:09,867 --> 00:31:11,867 Both of those things have been beneficial in our 571 00:31:11,869 --> 00:31:14,069 efforts to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL. 572 00:31:16,140 --> 00:31:18,880 That has not, however, prevented the United States 573 00:31:18,876 --> 00:31:21,216 or even the President of the United States from raising 574 00:31:21,212 --> 00:31:27,782 concerns about situations in which the Turkish government 575 00:31:27,785 --> 00:31:33,225 does not seem sufficiently committed to protecting the 576 00:31:33,224 --> 00:31:36,294 basic universal human rights of their people -- that, by 577 00:31:36,294 --> 00:31:38,634 the way, are enshrined in the Turkish constitution. 578 00:31:38,630 --> 00:31:43,500 These are rights that the United States advocates for 579 00:31:43,501 --> 00:31:46,641 around the world, and we do not hesitate in raising 580 00:31:46,638 --> 00:31:51,608 concerns even when those concerns involve the actions 581 00:31:51,609 --> 00:31:53,609 carried out by a government with whom the United States 582 00:31:53,611 --> 00:31:56,881 has an important alliance. 583 00:31:56,881 --> 00:31:59,021 And that will continue. 584 00:31:59,017 --> 00:32:04,027 Even as Turkey works through some of this -- through this 585 00:32:07,091 --> 00:32:09,361 political dispute and through this political 586 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:12,230 turmoil, the United States is going to continue to 587 00:32:12,230 --> 00:32:14,230 stand by our ally; we're going to continue to work 588 00:32:14,232 --> 00:32:17,632 effectively with them to carry out a military 589 00:32:17,635 --> 00:32:20,205 campaign against ISIL; and we're not going to hesitate 590 00:32:20,204 --> 00:32:25,814 to publicly and privately encourage them to live up to 591 00:32:25,810 --> 00:32:27,810 the principles that are enshrined in the 592 00:32:27,812 --> 00:32:30,182 Turkish constitution. 593 00:32:30,181 --> 00:32:30,681 Jeff. 594 00:32:30,682 --> 00:32:32,082 The Press: Josh, is the White House watching the 595 00:32:32,083 --> 00:32:36,793 congress in North Korea that Kim Jong-un opened today in 596 00:32:36,788 --> 00:32:39,488 which he talked about nuclear successes but also 597 00:32:39,490 --> 00:32:41,930 boosting economic development? 598 00:32:41,926 --> 00:32:43,066 Do you take that seriously? 599 00:32:43,061 --> 00:32:45,231 And what's your reaction to that? 600 00:32:45,229 --> 00:32:48,769 Mr. Earnest: Well, the administration is obviously 601 00:32:48,766 --> 00:32:51,406 aware of developments in North Korea and we watch 602 00:32:51,402 --> 00:32:53,402 them closely to the extent that those kinds of 603 00:32:53,404 --> 00:32:55,674 developments occur in public. 604 00:32:55,673 --> 00:32:57,673 That makes this situation a little unusual. 605 00:33:01,546 --> 00:33:06,186 We obviously are aware of the risk that is posed by 606 00:33:06,184 --> 00:33:10,584 North Korea's effort to develop nuclear weapons and 607 00:33:10,588 --> 00:33:12,628 systems capable of delivering those 608 00:33:12,623 --> 00:33:13,623 nuclear weapons. 609 00:33:13,624 --> 00:33:16,424 The United States has worked effectively with the 610 00:33:16,427 --> 00:33:19,367 international community to counter those efforts, and 611 00:33:19,364 --> 00:33:23,334 as a result, North Korea has faced increasing isolation, 612 00:33:23,334 --> 00:33:25,334 which is saying something because they were pretty 613 00:33:25,336 --> 00:33:30,946 isolated at the end of last year and that trajectory has 614 00:33:30,942 --> 00:33:31,942 only gotten worse for them. 615 00:33:31,943 --> 00:33:38,253 And we know that it's had a negative impact on what is 616 00:33:38,249 --> 00:33:41,219 already a rather weak economy. 617 00:33:41,219 --> 00:33:43,519 Our efforts have targeted those elements of the North 618 00:33:43,521 --> 00:33:49,131 Korean economy that we know benefit North Korea's 619 00:33:49,127 --> 00:33:52,527 weapons programs, and our concerns stem from the fact 620 00:33:52,530 --> 00:33:55,600 that those programs are inconsistent with their 621 00:33:55,600 --> 00:33:57,900 international obligations. 622 00:33:57,902 --> 00:33:59,142 And those aren't just concerns that the United 623 00:33:59,137 --> 00:34:01,907 States has raised; those are concerns that have also been 624 00:34:01,906 --> 00:34:03,906 raised by countries like China and Russia and South 625 00:34:03,908 --> 00:34:04,908 Korea and Japan. 626 00:34:04,909 --> 00:34:07,779 And the international community is serious about 627 00:34:07,779 --> 00:34:10,849 holding North Korea to account for their 628 00:34:10,848 --> 00:34:14,288 destabilizing and provocative behavior, and 629 00:34:14,285 --> 00:34:18,925 there is a path that North Korea can take to come out 630 00:34:18,923 --> 00:34:22,193 of the wilderness, to emerge from isolation, but it will 631 00:34:22,193 --> 00:34:24,833 require them renouncing nuclear weapons and 632 00:34:24,829 --> 00:34:28,229 demonstrating a clear commitment to ending their 633 00:34:28,232 --> 00:34:30,232 provocative actions and denuclearizing the 634 00:34:30,234 --> 00:34:31,474 Korean Peninsula. 635 00:34:31,469 --> 00:34:33,239 Let's move around a little bit. 636 00:34:33,237 --> 00:34:34,607 April. 637 00:34:34,605 --> 00:34:37,205 The Press: Josh, I did ask the President about Howard 638 00:34:37,208 --> 00:34:38,408 and he chose not to answer. 639 00:34:38,409 --> 00:34:39,209 Mr. Earnest: I noticed. 640 00:34:39,210 --> 00:34:39,840 He's going to talk about it tomorrow, though. 641 00:34:39,844 --> 00:34:41,344 (laughter) 642 00:34:41,345 --> 00:34:44,215 That's the good news, I guess. 643 00:34:44,215 --> 00:34:45,655 The Press: But you said you were going to give us 644 00:34:45,650 --> 00:34:46,550 information today. 645 00:34:46,551 --> 00:34:47,881 Are you going to not talk because the President 646 00:34:47,885 --> 00:34:48,825 didn't answer? 647 00:34:48,820 --> 00:34:50,690 Mr. Earnest: No, I can try to give you a sense of what 648 00:34:50,688 --> 00:34:51,888 he's thinking. 649 00:34:51,889 --> 00:34:55,529 I'll try. 650 00:34:55,526 --> 00:34:58,226 I do think -- I looked this up before I came out here. 651 00:34:58,229 --> 00:35:00,399 This is actually the third time that the President has 652 00:35:00,398 --> 00:35:03,868 delivered a commencement address at an HBCU since 653 00:35:03,868 --> 00:35:05,408 entering the Oval Office. 654 00:35:05,403 --> 00:35:08,003 Back in 2010, the President gave the commencement 655 00:35:08,005 --> 00:35:09,845 address at Hampton University. 656 00:35:09,841 --> 00:35:11,841 And in 2013, the President delivered the commencement 657 00:35:11,843 --> 00:35:16,483 address at Morehouse College in Atlanta. 658 00:35:16,481 --> 00:35:18,481 So the President, in delivering the commencement 659 00:35:18,483 --> 00:35:20,653 address at Howard, will be delivering the commencement 660 00:35:20,651 --> 00:35:23,451 address at the third HBCU since taking office. 661 00:35:27,024 --> 00:35:29,364 The President will address a couple of themes. 662 00:35:29,360 --> 00:35:32,830 The first, the President will acknowledge the unique 663 00:35:32,830 --> 00:35:37,170 opportunity that these graduates have had to attend 664 00:35:37,168 --> 00:35:39,868 one of the finest HBCUs in the country. 665 00:35:39,871 --> 00:35:45,541 This means that they've been exposed to passionate 666 00:35:45,543 --> 00:35:50,553 faculty members and a community of classmates that 667 00:35:54,185 --> 00:35:57,325 has nurtured their innate ability and empowered them 668 00:35:57,321 --> 00:36:00,921 with skills and experiences that can benefit our country. 669 00:36:02,994 --> 00:36:09,164 So this means that Howard students have been given a 670 00:36:09,166 --> 00:36:11,906 great gift, but they also are assuming an 671 00:36:11,903 --> 00:36:14,803 important responsibility. 672 00:36:14,805 --> 00:36:19,815 And I do expect that the President will touch on that. 673 00:36:22,647 --> 00:36:26,187 The President will also observe that Howard 674 00:36:26,183 --> 00:36:31,223 graduates will be entering an economy and a society 675 00:36:31,222 --> 00:36:36,162 that's undergoing a series of profound changes. 676 00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:42,070 These changes aren't new in the sense that the changes 677 00:36:42,066 --> 00:36:46,606 didn't just start, but this is actually -- the class of 678 00:36:46,604 --> 00:36:51,614 2016 has had a view of these changes throughout 679 00:36:54,412 --> 00:36:56,282 their lives. 680 00:36:56,280 --> 00:37:00,690 And how they use the skills that they've gotten in the 681 00:37:00,685 --> 00:37:03,385 course of this high-quality college education to 682 00:37:03,387 --> 00:37:06,827 confront the tremendous demographic, economic and 683 00:37:06,824 --> 00:37:09,794 technological changes that our country is experiencing 684 00:37:09,794 --> 00:37:13,694 right now is a question that each of those graduates will 685 00:37:13,698 --> 00:37:15,398 have to answer for themselves. 686 00:37:15,399 --> 00:37:17,399 The President is hopeful that they'll answer that 687 00:37:17,401 --> 00:37:22,411 question in a way that's good for the country and is 688 00:37:25,876 --> 00:37:28,446 consistent with the significant responsibility 689 00:37:28,446 --> 00:37:30,446 that they now have. 690 00:37:31,849 --> 00:37:37,959 Finally, I think the last thing I'd point out is, as 691 00:37:37,955 --> 00:37:40,255 somebody who has spent a decent portion of his 692 00:37:40,257 --> 00:37:43,357 professional career talking to young people and college 693 00:37:43,361 --> 00:37:47,831 graduates, the President enjoys the opportunity to 694 00:37:47,832 --> 00:37:50,802 give these kinds of speeches, but also to 695 00:37:50,801 --> 00:37:54,001 consider these issues that are on the minds of college 696 00:37:54,005 --> 00:37:57,445 graduates across the country. 697 00:37:57,441 --> 00:37:59,441 And obviously this speech that he's delivering 698 00:37:59,443 --> 00:38:03,713 tomorrow is an important one and an opportunity that he's 699 00:38:03,714 --> 00:38:06,314 looking forward to, but the President will have an 700 00:38:06,317 --> 00:38:09,717 opportunity to flesh out some of these themes in 701 00:38:09,720 --> 00:38:11,720 commencement addresses that he'll also deliver at 702 00:38:11,722 --> 00:38:13,562 Rutgers and the Air Force Academy later this year. 703 00:38:13,557 --> 00:38:15,857 The Press: So were you able to get the information that 704 00:38:15,860 --> 00:38:18,930 you were trying to find from yesterday, you said you 705 00:38:18,929 --> 00:38:21,129 would find for me when it comes to this administration 706 00:38:21,132 --> 00:38:24,872 and HBCU's funding and support, et cetera? 707 00:38:24,869 --> 00:38:27,069 Mr. Earnest: Yes, I've got a factsheet here. 708 00:38:27,071 --> 00:38:29,641 Rather than just reading through it, why don't I -- 709 00:38:29,640 --> 00:38:30,810 I'll have somebody email it to you when we get done. 710 00:38:30,808 --> 00:38:31,938 The Press: Can you just highlight the -- 711 00:38:31,942 --> 00:38:35,012 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think the highlight is that the 712 00:38:35,012 --> 00:38:42,122 President's FY-2017 budget seeks to strengthen funding 713 00:38:42,119 --> 00:38:44,459 for HBCUs. 714 00:38:44,455 --> 00:38:47,055 We've made a lot of progress over the last seven or eight 715 00:38:47,058 --> 00:38:50,558 years in increasing the support that HBCUs receive, 716 00:38:50,561 --> 00:38:55,201 but the President's budget proposes $85 million in 717 00:38:55,199 --> 00:38:59,599 mandatory funding for HBCUs. 718 00:38:59,603 --> 00:39:06,213 The President also proposes an additional $244 million 719 00:39:06,210 --> 00:39:09,750 in discretionary funds for Title III. 720 00:39:09,747 --> 00:39:14,347 I think the other thing that I would acknowledge is the 721 00:39:14,351 --> 00:39:18,821 President has sought to dramatically expand access 722 00:39:18,823 --> 00:39:21,523 to the Pell grant program for college students across 723 00:39:21,525 --> 00:39:22,525 the country. 724 00:39:22,526 --> 00:39:24,526 This, of course, does not apply just to African 725 00:39:24,528 --> 00:39:30,238 American college students but it does tangibly enhance 726 00:39:30,234 --> 00:39:34,804 the ability of middle-class families and those families 727 00:39:34,805 --> 00:39:36,905 that are trying to get into the middle class to send 728 00:39:36,907 --> 00:39:38,647 their kids to college. 729 00:39:38,642 --> 00:39:41,642 And the President's funding proposal for 2017 reflects 730 00:39:41,645 --> 00:39:45,145 continued commitment to that expansion of the Pell grant 731 00:39:45,149 --> 00:39:48,389 program that I think many HBCU students have actually 732 00:39:48,385 --> 00:39:52,425 used to afford a high-quality education at 733 00:39:52,423 --> 00:39:53,423 Howard University. 734 00:39:53,424 --> 00:39:56,094 The Press: So let's go to 2016, the monies that are 735 00:39:56,093 --> 00:39:58,163 actually realized, the monies that actually passed. 736 00:39:58,162 --> 00:40:03,902 What was the number for 2016 for this fiscal year that 737 00:40:03,901 --> 00:40:04,671 we're still in? 738 00:40:04,668 --> 00:40:06,468 Mr. Earnest: I don't have that in front of me, but I 739 00:40:06,470 --> 00:40:10,470 can pull it and we can try to get you some additional data. 740 00:40:10,474 --> 00:40:11,204 Andrew. 741 00:40:11,208 --> 00:40:13,378 The Press: Josh, I don't know if you saw that Hillary 742 00:40:13,377 --> 00:40:16,217 Clinton has finally come out against the possibility of 743 00:40:16,213 --> 00:40:19,153 TPP being passed during a lame duck session. 744 00:40:19,150 --> 00:40:24,050 I was wondering what you think of that, and whether 745 00:40:24,054 --> 00:40:27,394 it makes it look like the President's trade agenda is 746 00:40:27,391 --> 00:40:28,961 at risk of unraveling. 747 00:40:28,959 --> 00:40:32,729 Mr. Earnest: Well, Andrew, I'm not particularly 748 00:40:32,730 --> 00:40:35,300 surprised by it. 749 00:40:35,299 --> 00:40:43,139 Her views on this topic are well-known. 750 00:40:43,140 --> 00:40:46,240 But it doesn't really change our strategy. 751 00:40:46,243 --> 00:40:49,013 The truth is Secretary Clinton and many other 752 00:40:49,013 --> 00:40:53,783 leading candidates for the presidency last year 753 00:40:53,784 --> 00:40:55,784 expressed opposition to Trade Promotion 754 00:40:55,786 --> 00:40:56,786 Authority legislation. 755 00:40:56,787 --> 00:41:00,227 This is ultimately legislation that paved the 756 00:41:00,224 --> 00:41:03,794 way for the completion of the TPP negotiations. 757 00:41:03,794 --> 00:41:08,034 And in spite of her opposition to that 758 00:41:08,032 --> 00:41:10,032 legislation, the administration worked 759 00:41:10,034 --> 00:41:12,104 effectively with Democrats and Republicans in both the 760 00:41:12,102 --> 00:41:14,172 House and the Senate to pass that bill. 761 00:41:16,473 --> 00:41:22,383 The truth is passing TPA is a bigger challenge than 762 00:41:22,379 --> 00:41:27,089 getting Congress to ratify TPP for a couple of reasons. 763 00:41:27,084 --> 00:41:33,894 The first is a procedural one, which is that TPA had 764 00:41:33,891 --> 00:41:37,331 to overcome a filibuster effort in the 765 00:41:37,328 --> 00:41:39,928 United States Senate. 766 00:41:39,930 --> 00:41:43,970 TPP only requires 50 votes in the Senate to be ratified 767 00:41:43,968 --> 00:41:45,968 by the United States Senate. 768 00:41:47,104 --> 00:41:49,104 But the second thing -- and in some ways, this is more 769 00:41:49,106 --> 00:41:55,376 important -- TPA was rooted in a philosophical argument 770 00:41:55,379 --> 00:42:00,489 about giving the President of the United States the 771 00:42:00,484 --> 00:42:03,484 authority to negotiate a trade agreement that's in 772 00:42:03,487 --> 00:42:06,057 the best interest of the U.S. economy. 773 00:42:06,056 --> 00:42:08,926 That required us essentially to make a strong case that 774 00:42:08,926 --> 00:42:11,626 the United States Congress should trust the President 775 00:42:11,629 --> 00:42:13,629 to get this done and actually give him the 776 00:42:13,631 --> 00:42:16,471 authority necessary to complete the negotiations. 777 00:42:16,467 --> 00:42:20,037 Now that we've completed the negotiations, the American 778 00:42:20,037 --> 00:42:22,877 people and members of the United States Congress can 779 00:42:22,873 --> 00:42:26,073 evaluate the terms of the agreement and judge for 780 00:42:26,076 --> 00:42:28,076 themselves about whether or not it's good 781 00:42:28,078 --> 00:42:29,218 for the economy. 782 00:42:29,213 --> 00:42:31,283 If they're willing to do that, we've got a very 783 00:42:31,282 --> 00:42:32,922 strong argument to make. 784 00:42:32,917 --> 00:42:38,927 For example, the TPP trade agreement would result in 785 00:42:38,923 --> 00:42:45,033 cutting 18,000 taxes that other countries impose on 786 00:42:45,029 --> 00:42:46,929 American products. 787 00:42:46,931 --> 00:42:52,401 The TPP agreement includes high and enforceable 788 00:42:52,403 --> 00:42:55,443 standards when it comes to protecting our environment, 789 00:42:55,439 --> 00:43:00,409 protecting human rights, and protecting labor rights. 790 00:43:00,411 --> 00:43:04,681 Those are the kinds of values-driven proposals that 791 00:43:04,682 --> 00:43:08,322 are included in the TPP agreement. 792 00:43:08,319 --> 00:43:10,489 But those don't just reflect our values; they also 793 00:43:10,487 --> 00:43:14,127 reflect a commitment on the part of this President to 794 00:43:14,124 --> 00:43:16,794 leveling the playing field and giving American 795 00:43:16,794 --> 00:43:18,794 businesses and American workers an even better 796 00:43:18,796 --> 00:43:21,666 opportunity to compete in a 21st century global economy. 797 00:43:21,665 --> 00:43:24,465 And the President has made a strong case as recently as 798 00:43:24,468 --> 00:43:29,308 this week in The Washington Post -- he wrote an op-ed 799 00:43:29,306 --> 00:43:32,346 basically making clear that if the United States refuses 800 00:43:32,343 --> 00:43:37,283 to engage in Southeast Asia and produce a set of 801 00:43:37,281 --> 00:43:42,291 economic standards, then China will. 802 00:43:46,557 --> 00:43:48,627 And when China comes in to write the rules of the road 803 00:43:48,625 --> 00:43:51,095 instead of putting in place those standards, they're not 804 00:43:51,095 --> 00:43:53,895 going to insist on high environmental standards. 805 00:43:53,897 --> 00:43:57,867 They're certainly not going to insist on lofty human 806 00:43:57,868 --> 00:43:59,168 rights or labor standards. 807 00:43:59,169 --> 00:44:01,109 And that will only further -- if they succeed in doing 808 00:44:01,105 --> 00:44:06,745 that, that will only further disadvantage U.S. 809 00:44:06,744 --> 00:44:08,144 businesses and U.S. 810 00:44:08,145 --> 00:44:12,585 workers when they're competing for business in 811 00:44:12,583 --> 00:44:14,083 Southeast Asia. 812 00:44:14,084 --> 00:44:17,154 This is significant because Southeast Asia is home to 813 00:44:17,154 --> 00:44:19,924 some of the most dynamic economies in the world. 814 00:44:19,923 --> 00:44:25,563 So from an economic, strategic, and values 815 00:44:25,562 --> 00:44:28,562 perspective, we have a very strong argument to make 816 00:44:28,565 --> 00:44:34,175 about the wisdom of Congress moving to approve the TPP 817 00:44:34,171 --> 00:44:35,871 agreement that the President negotiated. 818 00:44:35,873 --> 00:44:39,143 The Press: Another question on trade. 819 00:44:39,143 --> 00:44:42,913 The Chinese believe that in 2001 they had an agreement 820 00:44:42,913 --> 00:44:43,843 with the U.S. 821 00:44:43,847 --> 00:44:49,757 -- you and various other WTO partners to, from December 822 00:44:49,753 --> 00:44:53,393 11th, be treated as if it were a market economy for 823 00:44:53,390 --> 00:44:55,560 the purposes of antidumping duties. 824 00:44:55,559 --> 00:44:59,599 What would China have to do -- well, do you have the 825 00:44:59,596 --> 00:45:07,606 same assessment that China, after the 11th of December, 826 00:45:07,604 --> 00:45:08,374 must be treated as if it were a market economy? 827 00:45:08,372 --> 00:45:10,212 Are you ready to declare the market economy? 828 00:45:10,207 --> 00:45:12,447 Mr. Earnest: My understanding, Andrew, about 829 00:45:12,443 --> 00:45:15,983 this, is rudimentary, but my understanding is that those 830 00:45:15,979 --> 00:45:18,719 kinds of assessments are actually reached by the 831 00:45:18,715 --> 00:45:20,685 Commerce Department. 832 00:45:20,684 --> 00:45:26,094 So I'd refer you to them for a sense of our current 833 00:45:26,090 --> 00:45:30,760 assessment of China's economy. 834 00:45:30,761 --> 00:45:33,961 I'd also refer you to them to answer the question about 835 00:45:33,964 --> 00:45:35,964 whether or not they're considering changing 836 00:45:35,966 --> 00:45:37,236 that assessment. 837 00:45:37,234 --> 00:45:37,564 The Press: Okay. 838 00:45:37,568 --> 00:45:39,038 And sorry, just a final question -- just to clear up 839 00:45:39,036 --> 00:45:41,876 something you said in response to Josh. 840 00:45:41,872 --> 00:45:45,472 Secretary Kerry actually said there would be 841 00:45:45,476 --> 00:45:49,516 consequences if Russia didn't meet the August 842 00:45:49,513 --> 00:45:52,583 deadline, which is enshrined in the Vienna process. 843 00:45:52,583 --> 00:45:57,493 But you seem to be saying that even if they keep on 844 00:45:57,488 --> 00:46:00,128 breaking the truce, even if there's no prospect of 845 00:46:00,124 --> 00:46:07,164 further talks, even if they keep bombing IDP camps, that 846 00:46:07,164 --> 00:46:09,034 there are still going to be more talks if that's the 847 00:46:09,032 --> 00:46:10,002 only way forward. 848 00:46:10,000 --> 00:46:13,340 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think what Secretary Kerry is 849 00:46:13,337 --> 00:46:18,347 pointing out is that Russia and President Putin himself 850 00:46:20,611 --> 00:46:23,651 has publicly advocated for a political transition inside 851 00:46:23,647 --> 00:46:25,047 of Syria. 852 00:46:25,048 --> 00:46:28,148 President Putin himself has acknowledged that this is an 853 00:46:28,152 --> 00:46:29,992 important priority. 854 00:46:29,987 --> 00:46:35,857 And failing to meet that deadline will have negative 855 00:46:35,859 --> 00:46:37,859 consequences for everybody that's involved. 856 00:46:40,964 --> 00:46:45,204 We know that Russia -- we know based on the degree to 857 00:46:45,202 --> 00:46:47,772 which Russia has invested in Syria that they care deeply 858 00:46:47,771 --> 00:46:49,211 about the outcome. 859 00:46:49,206 --> 00:46:51,206 They have a lot riding on this. 860 00:46:52,476 --> 00:46:56,576 Russia maintains a military presence inside of Syria. 861 00:46:56,580 --> 00:46:59,080 Syria is the only country outside of the former Soviet 862 00:46:59,082 --> 00:47:04,322 bloc where Russia continues to have a military presence. 863 00:47:04,321 --> 00:47:07,361 So we know that they're quite protective of it, and 864 00:47:07,357 --> 00:47:09,357 concerned about what's happening in that country so 865 00:47:09,359 --> 00:47:11,429 that they can protect the foothold they have 866 00:47:11,428 --> 00:47:14,068 in that country. 867 00:47:14,064 --> 00:47:20,574 Failing to succeed in negotiating a political 868 00:47:20,571 --> 00:47:24,571 transition is not going to be good for the Russians. 869 00:47:24,575 --> 00:47:27,275 It will have negative consequences for them. 870 00:47:27,277 --> 00:47:29,277 I'm not saying the United States benefits from that. 871 00:47:29,279 --> 00:47:31,279 It has negative consequences for everybody that's 872 00:47:31,281 --> 00:47:32,281 involved there. 873 00:47:32,282 --> 00:47:34,782 It certainly has negative consequences for everybody 874 00:47:34,785 --> 00:47:39,925 who's concerned about the widespread violence that 875 00:47:39,923 --> 00:47:41,493 we've seen there. 876 00:47:41,491 --> 00:47:44,931 So I think the point is the international community is 877 00:47:44,928 --> 00:47:49,098 focused on meeting this goal, and that is a priority 878 00:47:49,099 --> 00:47:52,639 and it's something that President Putin has 879 00:47:52,636 --> 00:47:55,306 demonstrated he's deeply invested in. 880 00:47:55,305 --> 00:47:57,305 Look, to a large extent, he's put his own credibility 881 00:47:57,307 --> 00:47:59,347 on the line here. 882 00:47:59,343 --> 00:48:01,513 He's made clear that he's prepared to use his 883 00:48:01,511 --> 00:48:04,011 influence with the Assad regime to bring about this 884 00:48:04,014 --> 00:48:06,084 political transition that benefits Russia and that 885 00:48:06,083 --> 00:48:08,153 benefits the Syrian people and that benefits everybody 886 00:48:08,151 --> 00:48:10,051 who is involved. 887 00:48:10,053 --> 00:48:14,463 So it will be important for Russia to use their 888 00:48:14,458 --> 00:48:19,598 influence to try to advance these talks and bring them 889 00:48:19,596 --> 00:48:23,496 to a constructive conclusion on a timeframe that's been 890 00:48:23,500 --> 00:48:24,530 laid out. 891 00:48:24,534 --> 00:48:26,534 The United States is certainly prepared to do our 892 00:48:26,536 --> 00:48:31,446 part, and it would be important for Russia to make 893 00:48:31,441 --> 00:48:33,641 clear that they expect the Assad regime to do their 894 00:48:33,644 --> 00:48:35,074 part as well. 895 00:48:35,078 --> 00:48:37,418 The Press: We've mostly focused on Russia on this. 896 00:48:37,414 --> 00:48:40,384 But at the end of the day, it's the Syrian regime. 897 00:48:40,384 --> 00:48:43,854 Would you not rule out -- would you rule out any 898 00:48:43,854 --> 00:48:47,054 measures against the Syrian regime if they were to stop, 899 00:48:47,057 --> 00:48:51,897 if they were to breeze through this August deadline? 900 00:48:51,895 --> 00:48:55,565 Mr. Earnest: Well, let me say -- let me take on one 901 00:48:55,565 --> 00:49:00,105 part of the early part of your question, which is that 902 00:49:00,103 --> 00:49:02,103 when the President was meeting with the GCC 903 00:49:02,105 --> 00:49:07,115 countries, he certainly made clear to them that it's 904 00:49:07,110 --> 00:49:09,780 helpful for them to use their influence with the 905 00:49:09,780 --> 00:49:13,380 opposition groups and other relevant parties to try to 906 00:49:13,383 --> 00:49:16,583 bring about this political transition. 907 00:49:16,586 --> 00:49:22,426 So it's not just the Russian government that we have been 908 00:49:22,426 --> 00:49:24,566 pressing, and we've been pressing all of the parties. 909 00:49:24,561 --> 00:49:26,561 We've been using our own influence with the 910 00:49:26,563 --> 00:49:28,563 opposition groups, but we certainly have encouraged 911 00:49:28,565 --> 00:49:30,565 our partners, who also have influence with the 912 00:49:30,567 --> 00:49:35,277 opposition groups, to push in the same direction here. 913 00:49:39,576 --> 00:49:41,576 What was the last part of your question, though? 914 00:49:41,578 --> 00:49:43,318 Sorry, I was distracted by the first part there. 915 00:49:43,313 --> 00:49:45,483 The Press: Why not address the problem at its root? 916 00:49:45,482 --> 00:49:49,722 Why not take action directly against the Syrian regime? 917 00:49:49,720 --> 00:49:53,360 Mr. Earnest: Well, Andrew, because the President has 918 00:49:53,357 --> 00:49:57,197 made clear there's not a military solution that can 919 00:49:57,194 --> 00:49:59,894 be imposed on the situation in Syria. 920 00:49:59,896 --> 00:50:02,466 I know I've said that a lot and other administration 921 00:50:02,466 --> 00:50:04,866 officials have, and it sounds a little clichĂŠ at 922 00:50:04,868 --> 00:50:08,008 this point, but it is a core principle of our approach to 923 00:50:08,004 --> 00:50:09,374 this situation. 924 00:50:09,373 --> 00:50:12,313 This should be a lesson that we learned in 2003 -- that 925 00:50:12,309 --> 00:50:18,549 trying to overthrow a dictator in the Middle East 926 00:50:18,548 --> 00:50:22,088 has long-term and mostly negative consequences for 927 00:50:22,085 --> 00:50:24,185 the United States and our national security. 928 00:50:24,187 --> 00:50:28,657 To say nothing of the cost that would be incurred if we 929 00:50:28,658 --> 00:50:31,398 were to undertake that kind of action. 930 00:50:31,395 --> 00:50:33,535 The President would have to deploy thousands, tens of 931 00:50:33,530 --> 00:50:35,530 thousands, if not more than 100,000 U.S. 932 00:50:35,532 --> 00:50:38,832 troops on the ground that would cost a lot of money. 933 00:50:38,835 --> 00:50:40,835 That would mean that the United States military would 934 00:50:40,837 --> 00:50:43,637 sustain significant casualties. 935 00:50:43,640 --> 00:50:46,710 And all of that would be done without a clear exit plan. 936 00:50:48,979 --> 00:50:53,989 So we can't lose track of that recent historical 937 00:50:56,553 --> 00:51:00,393 context when evaluating our options. 938 00:51:00,390 --> 00:51:02,860 The President certainly hasn't, and that's why we 939 00:51:02,859 --> 00:51:08,769 have pressed so forcefully and with such tenacity on 940 00:51:08,765 --> 00:51:11,865 the successful completion of political talks. 941 00:51:11,868 --> 00:51:16,838 And we've got a long way to go, but that continues to be 942 00:51:16,840 --> 00:51:18,910 our focus. 943 00:51:18,909 --> 00:51:20,009 Jordan. 944 00:51:20,010 --> 00:51:20,580 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 945 00:51:20,577 --> 00:51:22,747 The President needled Senator Paul a bit there 946 00:51:22,746 --> 00:51:25,616 over blocking these eight tax treaties. 947 00:51:25,615 --> 00:51:28,255 Mr. Earnest: I think he was pretty gentle when you 948 00:51:28,251 --> 00:51:31,191 consider that these are tax treaties that have been 949 00:51:31,188 --> 00:51:33,888 waiting for congressional approval for -- I wrote this 950 00:51:33,890 --> 00:51:37,330 down -- I think it's since -- there's one treaty in 951 00:51:37,327 --> 00:51:41,097 particular, I believe it's with Switzerland, that's 952 00:51:41,097 --> 00:51:47,867 been pending ratification by the United States Senate I 953 00:51:47,871 --> 00:51:54,081 believe since 2011. 954 00:51:54,077 --> 00:51:56,077 So this tax treaty that we have with Switzerland since 955 00:51:56,079 --> 00:51:58,949 January of 2011 has been awaiting congressional approval. 956 00:51:58,949 --> 00:52:01,389 We also have a critically important tax treaty with 957 00:52:01,384 --> 00:52:03,554 Luxembourg that's been awaiting congressional 958 00:52:03,553 --> 00:52:05,923 approval since 2010. 959 00:52:05,922 --> 00:52:11,632 So we're talking about more than five years of delay here. 960 00:52:11,628 --> 00:52:16,638 The benefit is simply we know that there are 961 00:52:20,504 --> 00:52:25,474 companies that use the Swiss and whatever the adjective 962 00:52:29,246 --> 00:52:30,246 of Luxembourg is -- 963 00:52:30,247 --> 00:52:32,617 (laughter) 964 00:52:32,616 --> 00:52:34,616 -- their financial systems. 965 00:52:36,586 --> 00:52:38,586 We know that there are people who use the financial 966 00:52:38,588 --> 00:52:43,858 systems in Switzerland and Luxembourg to evade taxation 967 00:52:43,860 --> 00:52:49,530 and, in some cases, to even hide their resources because 968 00:52:49,533 --> 00:52:51,773 they are the result of criminal actions. 969 00:52:54,004 --> 00:52:56,004 So I don't really know exactly what the 970 00:52:56,006 --> 00:52:58,006 justification -- what justification Senator Paul 971 00:52:58,008 --> 00:53:00,008 would have for not moving forward with these 972 00:53:00,010 --> 00:53:02,150 agreements that would allow our law enforcement 973 00:53:02,145 --> 00:53:03,515 officials to combat those efforts. 974 00:53:03,513 --> 00:53:06,113 The Press: Right, but for the last couple years, 975 00:53:06,116 --> 00:53:08,116 actually, Senator Paul has had concerns that these 976 00:53:08,118 --> 00:53:11,018 treaties would infringe on Americans' personal tax data 977 00:53:11,021 --> 00:53:13,591 and other personal financial information. 978 00:53:13,590 --> 00:53:15,990 So I'm wondering what the White House or the 979 00:53:15,992 --> 00:53:20,262 administration has done to assuage those concerns that 980 00:53:20,263 --> 00:53:21,603 Senator Paul has? 981 00:53:21,598 --> 00:53:22,498 Mr. Earnest: Well, my guess is, he's not raising 982 00:53:22,499 --> 00:53:25,999 concerns on the part of too many middle-class families 983 00:53:26,002 --> 00:53:29,402 that are using the financial system in Luxembourg to hide 984 00:53:29,406 --> 00:53:30,976 their assets. 985 00:53:30,974 --> 00:53:34,674 So I'm not really sure whose concerns Senator Paul is 986 00:53:34,678 --> 00:53:36,318 speaking up for. 987 00:53:36,313 --> 00:53:38,853 Maybe he can elaborate on that a little bit. 988 00:53:38,848 --> 00:53:42,918 I suspect it's not middle-class families in 989 00:53:42,919 --> 00:53:43,959 Kentucky that he has in mind. 990 00:53:43,954 --> 00:53:48,354 The Press: And then finally, with this legislation on tax 991 00:53:48,358 --> 00:53:50,898 shelters, has anyone from the White House reached out 992 00:53:50,894 --> 00:53:52,934 to Congressman Brady on the Ways and Means Committee or 993 00:53:52,929 --> 00:53:58,039 Senator Hatch about letting this move forward this year? 994 00:53:58,034 --> 00:54:00,034 Mr. Earnest: Well, I know that there have been 995 00:54:00,036 --> 00:54:04,606 conversations with members of Congress on a whole host 996 00:54:04,608 --> 00:54:12,318 of issues related to closing financial loopholes that 997 00:54:12,315 --> 00:54:17,555 entities use to get around our tax code or to evade 998 00:54:17,554 --> 00:54:22,154 sanctions or to store the proceeds of 999 00:54:22,158 --> 00:54:23,628 illicit activity. 1000 00:54:23,627 --> 00:54:27,727 So this is a priority that the President has made here, 1001 00:54:27,731 --> 00:54:30,931 and we've made a lot of important progress, and you 1002 00:54:30,934 --> 00:54:32,934 see the administration announcing a couple of 1003 00:54:32,936 --> 00:54:35,906 actions today that will be effective in bringing 1004 00:54:35,905 --> 00:54:37,605 greater transparency to our financial system. 1005 00:54:37,607 --> 00:54:39,407 The Press: (inaudible) 1006 00:54:39,409 --> 00:54:42,179 Mr. Earnest: Well, this is the point. 1007 00:54:42,178 --> 00:54:44,178 We've already taken some steps here administratively. 1008 00:54:44,180 --> 00:54:46,180 We've also made clear that there are some things that 1009 00:54:46,182 --> 00:54:47,182 Congress can and should do. 1010 00:54:47,183 --> 00:54:50,353 And we have been in touch with them about those 1011 00:54:50,353 --> 00:54:53,223 measures, and we're going to continue to encourage them 1012 00:54:53,223 --> 00:54:54,123 to pursue them. 1013 00:54:54,124 --> 00:54:56,364 Does that make sense? 1014 00:54:56,359 --> 00:54:58,429 The Press: Are you saying that additional things that 1015 00:54:58,428 --> 00:54:59,628 haven't been announced today are going to be announced 1016 00:54:59,629 --> 00:55:00,929 today also? 1017 00:55:00,930 --> 00:55:02,000 Mr. Earnest: No, no, I'm not suggesting there's more 1018 00:55:01,998 --> 00:55:02,998 coming today. 1019 00:55:02,999 --> 00:55:04,099 I'm just suggesting there are some things that we've 1020 00:55:04,100 --> 00:55:06,200 put forward that are both administrative, but we also 1021 00:55:06,202 --> 00:55:07,772 are in touch with Congress because there are some 1022 00:55:07,771 --> 00:55:09,671 things they should do as well. 1023 00:55:09,673 --> 00:55:10,403 Michelle. 1024 00:55:10,407 --> 00:55:13,877 The Press: -- to what extent did the Panama Papers 1025 00:55:13,877 --> 00:55:16,217 release play into the timing of this? 1026 00:55:16,212 --> 00:55:19,112 Mr. Earnest: Well, the rules that were announced today 1027 00:55:19,115 --> 00:55:21,455 are actually rules that have taken at least a couple of 1028 00:55:21,451 --> 00:55:23,391 years to put together. 1029 00:55:23,386 --> 00:55:27,626 Obviously the nature of these rules is that they 1030 00:55:27,624 --> 00:55:30,624 apply to extraordinarily complex financial 1031 00:55:30,627 --> 00:55:32,067 transactions. 1032 00:55:32,062 --> 00:55:35,832 So our experts had to comb through the regulations and 1033 00:55:35,832 --> 00:55:39,672 ensure that there were no unintended consequences from 1034 00:55:39,669 --> 00:55:41,669 the rules that are being put in place. 1035 00:55:41,671 --> 00:55:43,671 So they were quite conscientious about this. 1036 00:55:43,673 --> 00:55:46,073 But there is no denying that what they will do is bring 1037 00:55:46,076 --> 00:55:50,146 much-needed transparency to our financial system in a 1038 00:55:50,146 --> 00:55:53,816 way that will allow -- or at least make it much harder 1039 00:55:53,817 --> 00:55:56,517 for people to evade paying their fair share. 1040 00:55:56,519 --> 00:56:00,929 But also make it harder for criminals and other people 1041 00:56:00,924 --> 00:56:02,924 to evade U.S. sanctions. 1042 00:56:02,926 --> 00:56:04,966 The Press: The timing -- were you working on this 1043 00:56:04,961 --> 00:56:07,861 anyway and did the Panama Papers speed it up? 1044 00:56:07,864 --> 00:56:09,434 Did some of this have to do specifically with the 1045 00:56:09,432 --> 00:56:11,032 Panama Papers? 1046 00:56:11,034 --> 00:56:14,134 Mr. Earnest: I'd refer you to Treasury in terms of what 1047 00:56:14,137 --> 00:56:16,377 direct impact any of these rules would have on the 1048 00:56:16,372 --> 00:56:20,072 Panama Papers -- or on the practices that were exposed 1049 00:56:20,076 --> 00:56:21,416 by the Panama Papers. 1050 00:56:21,411 --> 00:56:23,411 What I can tell you is this is something that was in the 1051 00:56:23,413 --> 00:56:25,053 works long before the Panama Papers was reported. 1052 00:56:25,048 --> 00:56:25,678 The Press: Okay. 1053 00:56:25,682 --> 00:56:29,322 And were you saying that you are ruling out any action or 1054 00:56:29,319 --> 00:56:32,819 any additional military action against Syria or any 1055 00:56:32,822 --> 00:56:36,062 other action against Russia if the deadline, the August 1056 00:56:36,059 --> 00:56:37,499 deadline was not observed? 1057 00:56:37,494 --> 00:56:39,794 Mr. Earnest: I think the point that I'm making here 1058 00:56:39,796 --> 00:56:44,196 is that there are negative consequences for everybody 1059 00:56:44,200 --> 00:56:46,700 if that deadline is not met. 1060 00:56:46,703 --> 00:56:50,773 And put another way, everybody who is engaged 1061 00:56:50,774 --> 00:56:53,714 here, with the possible exception of Bashar al Assad 1062 00:56:53,710 --> 00:57:00,250 himself, has a vested, personal interest in meeting 1063 00:57:00,250 --> 00:57:03,950 the deadline to bring about a political transition 1064 00:57:03,953 --> 00:57:05,223 inside of Syria. 1065 00:57:05,221 --> 00:57:08,221 So this is not a situation where the United States 1066 00:57:08,224 --> 00:57:10,394 needs to be walking around threatening people. 1067 00:57:10,393 --> 00:57:13,263 This is not a situation where we, frankly, need to 1068 00:57:13,263 --> 00:57:15,803 be coercing people. 1069 00:57:15,799 --> 00:57:17,969 We certainly will encourage them to use the influence 1070 00:57:17,967 --> 00:57:19,967 that they have to bring about this outcome, but 1071 00:57:19,969 --> 00:57:22,909 we're not going to be doing that from the standpoint of 1072 00:57:22,906 --> 00:57:26,276 asking people to do the United States a favor -- 1073 00:57:26,276 --> 00:57:28,246 everybody involved in this situation has their vested 1074 00:57:28,244 --> 00:57:30,384 interest in seeing this deadline met. 1075 00:57:30,380 --> 00:57:33,350 And we're going to continue to press hard to see that 1076 00:57:33,349 --> 00:57:34,349 that happens. 1077 00:57:34,350 --> 00:57:36,350 The Press: It is a deadline, though, and it kind of gets 1078 00:57:36,352 --> 00:57:37,592 to the point of, well, what's the point of a 1079 00:57:37,587 --> 00:57:40,057 deadline if it just kind of keeps going? 1080 00:57:40,056 --> 00:57:41,856 So you're not ruling out -- 1081 00:57:41,858 --> 00:57:44,228 Mr. Earnest: But it's August, though, so if we 1082 00:57:44,227 --> 00:57:46,397 don't meet it in August then we can go down that 1083 00:57:46,396 --> 00:57:47,196 line of questioning. 1084 00:57:47,197 --> 00:57:49,437 The Press: Okay, but you're not ruling anything out? 1085 00:57:49,432 --> 00:57:50,572 Is that accurate? 1086 00:57:50,567 --> 00:57:53,267 Mr. Earnest: Well, I certainly am ruling out the 1087 00:57:53,269 --> 00:57:58,639 kind of military action that would lead one to conclude 1088 00:57:58,641 --> 00:58:00,741 that there might be some kind of military solution 1089 00:58:00,743 --> 00:58:03,113 that's available to the United States for solving 1090 00:58:03,112 --> 00:58:04,382 this problem. 1091 00:58:04,380 --> 00:58:06,320 There's not -- at least not one that's consistent with 1092 00:58:06,316 --> 00:58:08,086 our national security interests. 1093 00:58:08,084 --> 00:58:10,424 I guess there is one that would lead us to a years' 1094 00:58:10,420 --> 00:58:14,490 long commitment to Syria that would put tens of 1095 00:58:14,490 --> 00:58:16,490 thousands if not more than 100,000 U.S. 1096 00:58:16,492 --> 00:58:21,502 servicemembers at risk and a whole array of consequences 1097 00:58:24,534 --> 00:58:27,504 that has a negative impact on our national security 1098 00:58:27,503 --> 00:58:28,133 over the long term. 1099 00:58:28,137 --> 00:58:28,667 The Press: Okay. 1100 00:58:28,671 --> 00:58:30,441 And in regard to what the President said today, we've 1101 00:58:30,440 --> 00:58:33,110 heard him say some of this before -- that it's not 1102 00:58:33,109 --> 00:58:35,179 entertainment, it's not a reality show -- although, I 1103 00:58:35,178 --> 00:58:38,278 mean, a huge number of Americans are very 1104 00:58:38,281 --> 00:58:40,521 interested in what Donald Trump has to say, whether 1105 00:58:40,516 --> 00:58:42,756 they agree with him or not. 1106 00:58:42,752 --> 00:58:45,452 And the President also reiterated that he doesn't 1107 00:58:45,455 --> 00:58:47,095 think that he'll be President because Americans 1108 00:58:47,090 --> 00:58:48,860 have good judgment. 1109 00:58:48,858 --> 00:58:51,398 But given the numbers and give that he is now the 1110 00:58:51,394 --> 00:58:54,834 Republican nominee essentially, does that mean 1111 00:58:54,831 --> 00:58:58,131 that way, way more Americans have bad judgment than the 1112 00:58:58,134 --> 00:59:00,534 President originally anticipated? 1113 00:59:00,536 --> 00:59:01,676 Mr. Earnest: No. 1114 00:59:01,671 --> 00:59:04,441 I think the President is merely asserting his 1115 00:59:04,440 --> 00:59:11,080 confidence that the process that we use to choose the 1116 00:59:11,080 --> 00:59:14,720 President of the United States is often a source of 1117 00:59:14,717 --> 00:59:19,357 controversy, it's often messy, it's often 1118 00:59:19,355 --> 00:59:22,825 frustrating, but it's a process that has served our 1119 00:59:22,825 --> 00:59:24,825 country well. 1120 00:59:25,962 --> 00:59:27,962 It doesn't mean the President has agreed with 1121 00:59:27,964 --> 00:59:30,734 the outcome of every election, but there is a 1122 00:59:30,733 --> 00:59:34,103 rigorous process that gives the American people enormous 1123 00:59:34,103 --> 00:59:40,473 influence in choosing the future direction of our country. 1124 00:59:40,476 --> 00:59:43,976 And that's what it means to be a democratic government. 1125 00:59:43,980 --> 00:59:46,350 It's a process that the President is committed to. 1126 00:59:46,349 --> 00:59:48,989 And the President has got confidence in the ability of 1127 00:59:48,985 --> 00:59:54,555 American voters to take that process seriously, to 1128 00:59:54,557 --> 00:59:57,497 educate themselves on the issues, to engage in the 1129 00:59:57,493 --> 01:00:00,493 debate, and allow all of that to inform the choice 1130 01:00:00,496 --> 01:00:03,036 that they make at the ballot box. 1131 01:00:03,032 --> 01:00:04,032 Kenneth. 1132 01:00:04,033 --> 01:00:06,033 The Press: Josh, we could tell from the President's 1133 01:00:06,035 --> 01:00:08,035 remarks that he's itching to get out there on the 1134 01:00:08,037 --> 01:00:10,137 campaign trail. 1135 01:00:10,139 --> 01:00:12,479 So does the President believe that the House, and 1136 01:00:12,475 --> 01:00:15,845 the Senate even are in play for the Democrats? 1137 01:00:15,845 --> 01:00:20,785 Mr. Earnest: Well, yeah, there obviously is an 1138 01:00:20,783 --> 01:00:22,783 aggressive campaign that will be mounted by 1139 01:00:22,785 --> 01:00:26,655 individual candidates all across the country, and 1140 01:00:26,656 --> 01:00:28,656 those will be important contests. 1141 01:00:28,658 --> 01:00:32,558 And, yes, the President is optimistic about Democratic 1142 01:00:32,562 --> 01:00:34,462 prospects up and down the ballot this year. 1143 01:00:34,464 --> 01:00:41,304 The Press: On Iran, did the administration have 1144 01:00:41,304 --> 01:00:45,204 "hand-picked" beltway insiders to push the 1145 01:00:45,208 --> 01:00:49,108 message, to sell the message of the Iran deal to the public? 1146 01:00:49,112 --> 01:00:54,552 And the characterization that's out there, it has 1147 01:00:54,550 --> 01:00:57,890 been reported that the administration misled the 1148 01:00:57,887 --> 01:01:00,327 public in a manner as well. 1149 01:01:00,323 --> 01:01:04,093 How does the administration respond to that 1150 01:01:04,093 --> 01:01:07,433 characterization that the public was misled in the 1151 01:01:07,430 --> 01:01:09,270 selling of the Iran deal? 1152 01:01:09,265 --> 01:01:13,335 Mr. Earnest: Well, I haven't seen anybody produce any 1153 01:01:13,336 --> 01:01:15,306 evidence to indicate that that's the case. 1154 01:01:15,304 --> 01:01:18,904 I recognize that there might be some people who are 1155 01:01:18,908 --> 01:01:22,708 disappointed that they did not succeed in killing the 1156 01:01:22,712 --> 01:01:28,552 Iran deal, and maybe these unfounded claims are the 1157 01:01:28,551 --> 01:01:34,461 result of sour grapes. 1158 01:01:34,457 --> 01:01:36,927 The truth is, the administration, at the 1159 01:01:36,926 --> 01:01:41,636 direction of the President, engaged in an aggressive 1160 01:01:41,631 --> 01:01:45,931 campaign to make a strong case to the American people 1161 01:01:45,935 --> 01:01:47,935 that the international agreement to prevent Iran 1162 01:01:47,937 --> 01:01:50,007 from obtaining a nuclear weapon strengthened the 1163 01:01:50,006 --> 01:01:52,106 national security of the United States. 1164 01:01:52,108 --> 01:01:54,148 We made a strong case that it strengthened the national 1165 01:01:54,143 --> 01:01:57,083 security of our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel. 1166 01:01:57,080 --> 01:02:02,920 We made a strong case that killing the deal would 1167 01:02:02,919 --> 01:02:05,689 actually make another war in the Middle East more likely. 1168 01:02:07,957 --> 01:02:12,157 So the President made clear -- he ran on this back in 1169 01:02:12,161 --> 01:02:15,431 2007 and 2008 -- that the most effective way for the 1170 01:02:15,431 --> 01:02:18,101 United States to prevent Iran from obtaining a 1171 01:02:18,101 --> 01:02:21,671 nuclear weapon was strong, principled diplomacy. 1172 01:02:21,671 --> 01:02:22,871 And he was right. 1173 01:02:22,872 --> 01:02:25,072 And he succeeded in carrying that out, despite the 1174 01:02:25,074 --> 01:02:28,114 entrenched opposition and skepticism that something 1175 01:02:28,111 --> 01:02:30,511 like this was even possible. 1176 01:02:30,513 --> 01:02:33,583 So the President is quite proud of our success in 1177 01:02:33,583 --> 01:02:36,653 completing that agreement because of the positive 1178 01:02:36,652 --> 01:02:39,122 impact that that has had on U.S. 1179 01:02:39,122 --> 01:02:41,122 national security in the short term, and the 1180 01:02:41,124 --> 01:02:50,504 prospects that it enhances for an improved posture for 1181 01:02:50,500 --> 01:02:53,000 the United States around the world over the long term. 1182 01:02:53,002 --> 01:02:54,242 The Press: But, Josh, the characterization I'm 1183 01:02:54,237 --> 01:02:58,307 speaking of came from a profile on your Deputy 1184 01:02:58,307 --> 01:03:00,407 National Security Advisor, Ben Rhodes. 1185 01:03:00,409 --> 01:03:01,409 You read that article. 1186 01:03:01,410 --> 01:03:03,210 I'm sure you've had time to digest it. 1187 01:03:03,212 --> 01:03:06,752 Do you disagree with some of the characterizations that 1188 01:03:06,749 --> 01:03:07,749 were in that profile? 1189 01:03:07,750 --> 01:03:10,120 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I don't know that he said 1190 01:03:10,119 --> 01:03:11,659 "misleading" in there anywhere. 1191 01:03:11,654 --> 01:03:14,154 It was rather long, so maybe I missed it. 1192 01:03:14,157 --> 01:03:19,167 But the administration is quite proud of the fact that 1193 01:03:21,197 --> 01:03:23,837 we made a strong, principled, fact-based case 1194 01:03:23,833 --> 01:03:26,933 to the American people that the international agreement, 1195 01:03:26,936 --> 01:03:28,936 negotiated by the President's team, to prevent 1196 01:03:28,938 --> 01:03:30,938 Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon wasn't just 1197 01:03:30,940 --> 01:03:33,180 completed; it was effectively implemented in a 1198 01:03:33,176 --> 01:03:35,176 way that has enhanced the national security of the 1199 01:03:35,178 --> 01:03:36,178 United States. 1200 01:03:36,179 --> 01:03:38,179 And that's going to be an important part of this 1201 01:03:38,181 --> 01:03:40,181 President's legacy and is a promise he made during the 1202 01:03:40,183 --> 01:03:43,183 campaign, and it's a promise that he kept as President. 1203 01:03:43,186 --> 01:03:44,456 Kevin. 1204 01:03:44,453 --> 01:03:45,193 The Press: Thanks, Josh. 1205 01:03:45,188 --> 01:03:47,828 How concerned is the President that the 1206 01:03:47,823 --> 01:03:50,093 much-talked-about 67 consecutive months of 1207 01:03:50,092 --> 01:03:55,132 net-job gains might also end on his watch, given the 1208 01:03:55,131 --> 01:03:57,071 tepid growth in April? 1209 01:03:57,066 --> 01:03:59,236 Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin, we're up to 74 1210 01:03:59,235 --> 01:04:00,335 consecutive months -- 1211 01:04:00,336 --> 01:04:01,976 The Press: That's only private sector -- 67 1212 01:04:01,971 --> 01:04:05,211 overall, 74 is just private sector. 1213 01:04:05,208 --> 01:04:06,008 Mr. Earnest: I see. 1214 01:04:06,008 --> 01:04:06,908 And 67 refers to? 1215 01:04:06,909 --> 01:04:07,779 The Press: Total. 1216 01:04:07,777 --> 01:04:09,817 Mr. Earnest: Total. 1217 01:04:09,812 --> 01:04:12,082 The Press: So when government loses jobs, it's 67. 1218 01:04:12,081 --> 01:04:13,281 Mr. Earnest: I see. 1219 01:04:13,282 --> 01:04:15,422 So you're putting the decline in government jobs 1220 01:04:15,418 --> 01:04:16,718 on the President's tab here? 1221 01:04:16,719 --> 01:04:19,959 The Press: No, no, I'm just saying, given the 67 months 1222 01:04:19,956 --> 01:04:21,556 -- or if you just want to use the 74 figure, that's 1223 01:04:21,557 --> 01:04:23,957 fine, that's private sector -- how concerned is he -- 1224 01:04:23,960 --> 01:04:25,960 Mr. Earnest: Well, we do know that the private sector 1225 01:04:25,962 --> 01:04:27,962 was really important to leading our economic 1226 01:04:27,964 --> 01:04:29,964 recovery, so that's the number that we focused on. 1227 01:04:29,966 --> 01:04:33,536 The Press: How concerned is he given the relatively 1228 01:04:33,536 --> 01:04:36,006 tepid growth in April that that might also end 1229 01:04:36,005 --> 01:04:36,735 on his watch? 1230 01:04:36,739 --> 01:04:38,809 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think the President feels pretty 1231 01:04:38,808 --> 01:04:41,348 good about the strong economic growth that we 1232 01:04:41,344 --> 01:04:42,344 showed in April. 1233 01:04:42,345 --> 01:04:44,345 And it certainly is consistent with the 1234 01:04:44,347 --> 01:04:46,347 longer-term trend that we've seen. 1235 01:04:46,349 --> 01:04:52,759 And so the President is pleased about the direction 1236 01:04:52,755 --> 01:04:53,755 of the U.S. economy. 1237 01:04:53,756 --> 01:04:56,126 There is surely more that could be done, that would 1238 01:04:56,125 --> 01:04:58,325 ensure that more families across the country are 1239 01:04:58,327 --> 01:05:02,467 enjoying the benefits of that recovery, and our 1240 01:05:02,465 --> 01:05:04,835 economy would be even stronger and even more 1241 01:05:04,834 --> 01:05:07,734 durable than it already is if Congress weren't blocking 1242 01:05:07,737 --> 01:05:10,107 some common-sense proposals that would strengthen our 1243 01:05:10,106 --> 01:05:11,106 economy further. 1244 01:05:11,107 --> 01:05:13,247 The President talked a lot about how investing in our 1245 01:05:13,242 --> 01:05:15,382 infrastructure would be good for our economy, both in the 1246 01:05:15,378 --> 01:05:17,818 short term and the long term, in part because it 1247 01:05:17,813 --> 01:05:20,413 would create jobs and generate the kind of 1248 01:05:20,416 --> 01:05:24,216 economic multiplier that would ripple across the 1249 01:05:24,220 --> 01:05:26,220 economy in a positive way. 1250 01:05:27,556 --> 01:05:30,926 But what's also true is that there are some headwinds 1251 01:05:30,926 --> 01:05:36,766 that emanate from overseas that the United States must 1252 01:05:36,766 --> 01:05:39,566 be prepared to weather. 1253 01:05:39,568 --> 01:05:40,568 Right now, the U.S. 1254 01:05:40,569 --> 01:05:43,039 economy is the envy of the world. 1255 01:05:43,039 --> 01:05:45,779 This is the most durable economy in the world. 1256 01:05:45,775 --> 01:05:49,015 But there's more that we can do to make it even stronger, 1257 01:05:49,011 --> 01:05:51,011 and that's why the President believes that Congress 1258 01:05:51,013 --> 01:05:53,013 should vote to raise the minimum wage. 1259 01:05:53,015 --> 01:05:55,015 That's why the President believes that Congress 1260 01:05:55,017 --> 01:05:57,017 should vote to make important investments in our 1261 01:05:57,019 --> 01:05:58,019 infrastructure. 1262 01:05:58,020 --> 01:06:00,020 That's why the President believes that Congress 1263 01:06:00,022 --> 01:06:02,022 should expand funding for job training and other 1264 01:06:02,024 --> 01:06:04,024 education programs that would ensure the next 1265 01:06:04,026 --> 01:06:06,026 generation of Americans has the skills and training that 1266 01:06:06,028 --> 01:06:09,328 they need to continue this economic strength that our 1267 01:06:09,332 --> 01:06:10,332 country enjoys. 1268 01:06:10,333 --> 01:06:12,333 We should not take it for granted. 1269 01:06:12,335 --> 01:06:16,875 And failing to invest in the fundamentals is the surest 1270 01:06:16,872 --> 01:06:19,742 way to break that streak. 1271 01:06:19,742 --> 01:06:21,742 And the President is determined to not let 1272 01:06:21,744 --> 01:06:22,744 that happen. 1273 01:06:22,745 --> 01:06:24,715 The Press: Just to follow then, you mentioned some of 1274 01:06:24,714 --> 01:06:26,814 the worldwide or international headwinds. 1275 01:06:26,816 --> 01:06:29,586 Domestically, our workforce participation rate now is at 1276 01:06:29,585 --> 01:06:32,655 62.8 percent -- the lowest in decades. 1277 01:06:32,655 --> 01:06:34,895 What has the President done to stem that tide? 1278 01:06:34,890 --> 01:06:37,590 We heard Jason previously suggest that because more 1279 01:06:37,593 --> 01:06:39,593 Americans are retiring and because we're graying, that 1280 01:06:39,595 --> 01:06:41,095 number is going to shrink. 1281 01:06:41,097 --> 01:06:43,297 What's the President doing to combat that? 1282 01:06:43,299 --> 01:06:45,969 Mr. Earnest: Well, one thing we could do -- look, first 1283 01:06:45,968 --> 01:06:46,968 of all, that's true. 1284 01:06:46,969 --> 01:06:50,009 This is a direct function of the longer-term trends in 1285 01:06:50,005 --> 01:06:54,005 our society, which is that as the Baby Boomers age, 1286 01:06:54,009 --> 01:06:58,179 they're going to retire and that is going to put more 1287 01:06:58,180 --> 01:07:00,250 strain on our workforce. 1288 01:07:00,249 --> 01:07:02,589 That's all the more reason that making sure we have an 1289 01:07:02,585 --> 01:07:07,325 educated workforce that we are investing in research 1290 01:07:07,323 --> 01:07:12,333 and development that could boost the environment for 1291 01:07:15,197 --> 01:07:18,137 businesses that are looking to capitalize on technology 1292 01:07:18,134 --> 01:07:21,734 and innovation to bring new ideas and new products 1293 01:07:21,737 --> 01:07:23,937 to market. 1294 01:07:23,939 --> 01:07:26,579 The President also made a reference to reforming our 1295 01:07:26,575 --> 01:07:28,275 legal immigration system. 1296 01:07:28,277 --> 01:07:31,917 We know that the brightest minds and many of the 1297 01:07:31,914 --> 01:07:34,314 brightest minds that other countries have to offer are 1298 01:07:34,316 --> 01:07:36,316 interested in coming to the United States. 1299 01:07:36,318 --> 01:07:39,388 Why wouldn't we create an opportunity for 1300 01:07:39,388 --> 01:07:44,398 entrepreneurs and scientists and others who are looking 1301 01:07:46,595 --> 01:07:49,095 to start a business or grow a business to come to the 1302 01:07:49,098 --> 01:07:50,838 United States? 1303 01:07:50,833 --> 01:07:52,833 That would certainly be good for our economy. 1304 01:07:52,835 --> 01:07:55,805 It would create jobs in our economy, by definition, and 1305 01:07:55,805 --> 01:08:01,915 would continue to nurture the strong business climate 1306 01:08:01,911 --> 01:08:04,081 that we have here in the United States, where people 1307 01:08:04,079 --> 01:08:08,289 are given an opportunity to pursue new ideas and get an 1308 01:08:08,284 --> 01:08:10,654 education that will allow them to succeed. 1309 01:08:10,653 --> 01:08:13,093 So the President certainly believes that there are a 1310 01:08:13,088 --> 01:08:15,888 number of things that we could do, and comprehensive 1311 01:08:15,891 --> 01:08:17,891 immigration reform that enhances our national 1312 01:08:17,893 --> 01:08:21,693 security but streamlines our legal immigration system is 1313 01:08:21,697 --> 01:08:22,797 certainly another option. 1314 01:08:22,798 --> 01:08:25,538 The Press: Lastly, to the best of your knowledge, has 1315 01:08:25,534 --> 01:08:28,604 anyone on the current White House staff been interviewed 1316 01:08:28,604 --> 01:08:32,274 in relation to the ongoing investigation into Secretary 1317 01:08:32,274 --> 01:08:34,014 Clinton's email server? 1318 01:08:34,009 --> 01:08:36,879 Mr. Earnest: Kevin, as we've discussed before, I'm not 1319 01:08:36,879 --> 01:08:39,619 going to talk about ongoing investigations. 1320 01:08:39,615 --> 01:08:44,885 It's apparent in the newspaper that some people 1321 01:08:44,887 --> 01:08:46,657 are willing to do that. 1322 01:08:46,655 --> 01:08:49,025 But the fact is the people who are leading the 1323 01:08:49,024 --> 01:08:52,164 investigation are professionals. 1324 01:08:52,161 --> 01:08:54,161 They're committed to getting this right. 1325 01:08:54,163 --> 01:08:56,163 They're committed to doing this by the book and making 1326 01:08:56,165 --> 01:08:59,535 sure that they're not influenced by political 1327 01:08:59,535 --> 01:09:02,675 considerations, even in the highly charged political 1328 01:09:02,671 --> 01:09:04,871 environment in an election year. 1329 01:09:04,874 --> 01:09:08,444 So I'm going to do my best to help them do what they're 1330 01:09:08,444 --> 01:09:12,444 trying to do by giving them the space that they need to 1331 01:09:12,448 --> 01:09:16,448 conduct this investigation in the way that they see fit 1332 01:09:16,452 --> 01:09:18,452 that's consistent with where the facts lead them. 1333 01:09:18,454 --> 01:09:20,454 And then once they have results that they're 1334 01:09:20,456 --> 01:09:22,426 prepared to discuss, we can take a look at it. 1335 01:09:22,424 --> 01:09:23,324 The Press: Can you confirm that you've 1336 01:09:23,325 --> 01:09:24,465 been interviewed? 1337 01:09:24,460 --> 01:09:26,200 Mr. Earnest: I'm not going to talk about the 1338 01:09:26,195 --> 01:09:28,995 investigation, but there's no reason to think that I 1339 01:09:28,998 --> 01:09:30,228 have been. 1340 01:09:30,232 --> 01:09:31,332 Carol. 1341 01:09:31,333 --> 01:09:33,833 The Press: You seem to be downplaying the significance 1342 01:09:33,836 --> 01:09:36,776 of the political shake-up in Turkey, but it's happening 1343 01:09:36,772 --> 01:09:39,342 at the same time as the political crisis in Iraq. 1344 01:09:39,341 --> 01:09:42,441 And obviously both of these countries are critical to 1345 01:09:42,444 --> 01:09:45,344 the President's strategy against Islamic State. 1346 01:09:45,347 --> 01:09:49,617 So how can you not think this is such a big deal or 1347 01:09:49,618 --> 01:09:51,888 not have a significant impact on the 1348 01:09:51,887 --> 01:09:53,627 President's strategy? 1349 01:09:53,622 --> 01:09:56,522 And what is he doing to try to mitigate that? 1350 01:09:56,525 --> 01:09:59,695 Mr. Earnest: Well, Carol, at this point, there has been 1351 01:09:59,695 --> 01:10:02,165 no impact on our coordination and our ability 1352 01:10:02,164 --> 01:10:05,664 to work with Turkey to advance our campaign 1353 01:10:05,668 --> 01:10:07,308 against ISIL. 1354 01:10:07,303 --> 01:10:10,173 We've received extensive cooperation from them in the 1355 01:10:10,172 --> 01:10:15,612 last six or nine months on a range of issues, and our 1356 01:10:15,611 --> 01:10:18,381 campaign has benefitted from that. 1357 01:10:18,380 --> 01:10:22,280 Even as we have intensified our cooperation on a set of 1358 01:10:22,284 --> 01:10:24,824 counter-ISIL issues, we've not refrained from raising 1359 01:10:24,820 --> 01:10:31,230 our concerns about Turkey's fidelity to 1360 01:10:31,226 --> 01:10:32,226 their constitution. 1361 01:10:32,227 --> 01:10:36,167 And we're going to continue to make those concerns 1362 01:10:36,165 --> 01:10:38,565 known, both in public and in private, when appropriate. 1363 01:10:38,567 --> 01:10:42,807 The Press: Are there any specific logistical plans in 1364 01:10:42,805 --> 01:10:46,175 place or discussions happening on what to do if 1365 01:10:46,175 --> 01:10:47,845 this worsens? 1366 01:10:47,843 --> 01:10:52,683 Both in Iraq and Turkey? 1367 01:10:52,681 --> 01:10:55,121 Mr. Earnest: Yes, they're quite different situations. 1368 01:10:55,117 --> 01:10:58,257 I mean, there are always people in the United States 1369 01:10:58,253 --> 01:11:01,593 government who are engaged in contingency planning, so 1370 01:11:01,590 --> 01:11:03,590 I'm confident that's taking place at some level. 1371 01:11:06,095 --> 01:11:11,105 But look, when it comes to the situation in Iraq, we 1372 01:11:11,100 --> 01:11:14,300 continue to support the efforts of Prime Minister 1373 01:11:14,303 --> 01:11:17,103 Abadi to try to unify that country. 1374 01:11:17,106 --> 01:11:21,646 And we believe that's the most effective way for Iraq 1375 01:11:21,644 --> 01:11:24,684 to confront the threat that they face from ISIL. 1376 01:11:24,680 --> 01:11:30,890 I think obviously the thing that both of these countries 1377 01:11:30,886 --> 01:11:33,686 have in common is that they're sovereign countries 1378 01:11:33,689 --> 01:11:35,359 with sovereign governments. 1379 01:11:35,357 --> 01:11:39,767 And we respect the sovereignty of our partners 1380 01:11:39,762 --> 01:11:41,762 in the same way that we expect our partners to 1381 01:11:41,764 --> 01:11:43,764 respect the sovereignty of the United States as well. 1382 01:11:43,766 --> 01:11:47,636 But what we can do is we continue to -- we can 1383 01:11:47,636 --> 01:11:50,276 support these countries as they confront the 1384 01:11:50,272 --> 01:11:54,172 significant challenges that are having a destabilizing 1385 01:11:54,176 --> 01:11:57,116 impact on their politics in this region of the world. 1386 01:11:59,448 --> 01:12:04,458 There's no denying that the instability in Syria, the 1387 01:12:06,722 --> 01:12:11,892 widespread migration crisis, the violence from ISIL -- 1388 01:12:11,894 --> 01:12:14,194 all of that has had a negative impact on 1389 01:12:14,196 --> 01:12:16,466 Syria's neighbors. 1390 01:12:16,465 --> 01:12:21,605 And that certainly doesn't make an effective political 1391 01:12:21,603 --> 01:12:25,873 resolution in Turkey and Iraq more likely. 1392 01:12:25,874 --> 01:12:28,374 I would argue that's actually yet another reason 1393 01:12:28,377 --> 01:12:30,377 for the United States and the rest of the 1394 01:12:30,379 --> 01:12:36,689 international community to continue to drive toward a 1395 01:12:36,685 --> 01:12:39,785 political transition inside of Syria; that resolving the 1396 01:12:39,788 --> 01:12:44,298 political turmoil in Syria will have a dampening effect 1397 01:12:44,293 --> 01:12:49,303 on the destabilizing impact that Syria has had on its 1398 01:12:52,634 --> 01:12:56,334 neighbors, including Iraq and Turkey. 1399 01:12:56,338 --> 01:12:57,238 Gregory. 1400 01:12:57,239 --> 01:12:58,069 The Press: Thank you, Josh. 1401 01:12:58,073 --> 01:12:59,813 I don't want to belabor the point, but I want to give 1402 01:12:59,808 --> 01:13:02,708 you a chance to go back to the question that you were 1403 01:13:02,711 --> 01:13:05,351 asked yesterday about intelligence briefings for 1404 01:13:05,347 --> 01:13:07,187 presidential candidates. 1405 01:13:07,182 --> 01:13:09,252 You seemed to leave us with the impression, 1406 01:13:09,251 --> 01:13:11,051 intentionally or unintentionally, that you 1407 01:13:11,053 --> 01:13:14,953 were not willing to give Mr. Trump the same benefit 1408 01:13:14,957 --> 01:13:18,497 of the doubt as you would Secretary Clinton and his 1409 01:13:18,494 --> 01:13:22,864 ability to handle classified information responsibly. 1410 01:13:22,865 --> 01:13:24,865 Was that the impression you meant to give? 1411 01:13:24,867 --> 01:13:26,867 And also we heard from the President just this morning 1412 01:13:26,869 --> 01:13:29,639 about his concern with some of Mr. Trump's rhetoric, 1413 01:13:29,638 --> 01:13:32,438 that it could threaten war or has the potential of 1414 01:13:32,441 --> 01:13:34,081 offending our critical relationships with 1415 01:13:34,076 --> 01:13:35,306 other countries. 1416 01:13:35,310 --> 01:13:38,250 Given those concerns that the President has expressed, 1417 01:13:38,247 --> 01:13:41,287 should the American people have any concern with this 1418 01:13:41,283 --> 01:13:43,323 particular presidential candidate receiving our 1419 01:13:43,318 --> 01:13:45,518 nation's most classified information? 1420 01:13:45,521 --> 01:13:47,921 Mr. Earnest: Well, Gregory, the impression that I 1421 01:13:47,923 --> 01:13:50,923 intended to leave yesterday is that the decision about 1422 01:13:50,926 --> 01:13:55,666 what material to present to the two presidential 1423 01:13:55,664 --> 01:13:57,804 candidates who are nominated by the two major political 1424 01:13:57,800 --> 01:14:04,770 parties will be made by our professionals in the 1425 01:14:04,773 --> 01:14:06,773 intelligence community. 1426 01:14:07,976 --> 01:14:12,046 I did offer an opinion about Secretary Clinton that was 1427 01:14:12,047 --> 01:14:15,547 rooted in her service as Secretary of State in the 1428 01:14:15,551 --> 01:14:16,981 Obama administration. 1429 01:14:16,985 --> 01:14:20,585 She is somebody who undeniably served closely 1430 01:14:20,589 --> 01:14:22,589 with the President with distinction, and she was 1431 01:14:22,591 --> 01:14:27,631 critical to advancing a number of policy priorities, 1432 01:14:27,629 --> 01:14:29,729 including the international agreement to prevent Iran 1433 01:14:29,731 --> 01:14:31,831 from obtaining a nuclear weapon. 1434 01:14:31,834 --> 01:14:35,904 And that required her to handle sensitive information 1435 01:14:35,904 --> 01:14:39,674 and to use it in the course of her job to advance our 1436 01:14:39,675 --> 01:14:40,675 nation's interests. 1437 01:14:40,676 --> 01:14:42,876 And that's what she did. 1438 01:14:42,878 --> 01:14:48,688 But, ultimately, the decision about how and when 1439 01:14:48,684 --> 01:14:54,794 and where to give the candidates these briefings 1440 01:14:54,790 --> 01:14:57,860 will be made by professionals in the 1441 01:14:57,860 --> 01:15:04,270 intelligence community without regard to partisan 1442 01:15:04,266 --> 01:15:05,336 considerations. 1443 01:15:05,334 --> 01:15:08,274 In terms of the American people, they'll have to make 1444 01:15:08,270 --> 01:15:09,610 up their own minds. 1445 01:15:09,605 --> 01:15:13,475 I think that they can take -- that certainly is true 1446 01:15:13,475 --> 01:15:16,045 when it comes to deciding who to vote for. 1447 01:15:18,347 --> 01:15:21,447 But in terms of making decisions about providing 1448 01:15:21,450 --> 01:15:23,450 sensitive information to individual candidates, I 1449 01:15:23,452 --> 01:15:25,452 think the American people can have confidence in our 1450 01:15:25,454 --> 01:15:27,024 intelligence professionals to make that decision. 1451 01:15:27,022 --> 01:15:29,422 The Press: It's my understanding that, 1452 01:15:29,424 --> 01:15:31,424 historically, these briefings have always been 1453 01:15:31,426 --> 01:15:34,526 done as a courtesy by the sitting President -- maybe 1454 01:15:34,529 --> 01:15:39,299 more than a courtesy, more of a matter of long-term 1455 01:15:39,301 --> 01:15:42,101 preservation of our national security -- but they are 1456 01:15:42,104 --> 01:15:44,344 authorized by the sitting President for the candidates 1457 01:15:44,339 --> 01:15:45,339 for President. 1458 01:15:45,340 --> 01:15:48,580 There's no law requiring these, and the President 1459 01:15:48,577 --> 01:15:51,017 could use his discretion to give or not -- or to deny 1460 01:15:51,013 --> 01:15:53,283 these briefings to any presidential candidate -- is 1461 01:15:53,282 --> 01:15:53,982 that correct? 1462 01:15:53,982 --> 01:15:58,082 Mr. Earnest: I'm not sure of the specifics of the law. 1463 01:15:58,086 --> 01:16:01,856 What I can say is that the Director of National 1464 01:16:01,857 --> 01:16:04,997 Intelligence has indicated that he's prepared to move 1465 01:16:04,993 --> 01:16:07,763 forward at an appropriate time, probably after the 1466 01:16:07,763 --> 01:16:13,033 convention, with giving intelligence briefings to 1467 01:16:13,035 --> 01:16:14,505 the two major party nominees. 1468 01:16:14,503 --> 01:16:19,203 And Director Clapper has assigned that responsibility 1469 01:16:19,207 --> 01:16:23,547 to one of the career intelligence professionals 1470 01:16:23,545 --> 01:16:27,145 in his office, and the President has confidence in 1471 01:16:27,149 --> 01:16:31,019 those professionals and their ability to determine 1472 01:16:31,019 --> 01:16:34,689 how and when those briefings should take place. 1473 01:16:34,690 --> 01:16:36,690 I'll give you the last one and then we'll do the 1474 01:16:36,692 --> 01:16:37,692 week ahead. 1475 01:16:37,693 --> 01:16:40,863 The Press: Has the President invited the Indian Prime 1476 01:16:40,862 --> 01:16:42,662 Minister to the White House next month? 1477 01:16:42,664 --> 01:16:43,934 Do you have anything to say? 1478 01:16:43,932 --> 01:16:45,832 Mr. Earnest: I don't have an update for you. 1479 01:16:45,834 --> 01:16:47,834 I know that there's been some discussion about the 1480 01:16:47,836 --> 01:16:51,706 potential of Prime Minister Modi visiting Washington and 1481 01:16:51,707 --> 01:16:52,737 visiting the White House. 1482 01:16:52,741 --> 01:16:54,741 I don't have an update for you on those discussions at 1483 01:16:54,743 --> 01:16:55,243 this point. 1484 01:16:55,243 --> 01:16:55,843 The Press: And on the statement made by the 1485 01:16:55,844 --> 01:16:57,714 President today on the shell companies opened by 1486 01:16:57,713 --> 01:17:02,313 foreigners in the U.S., it's reported that quite a number 1487 01:17:02,317 --> 01:17:05,517 of Indian politicians and businesses have opened shell 1488 01:17:05,520 --> 01:17:07,090 companies here in the U.S. 1489 01:17:07,089 --> 01:17:09,489 Is the U.S. 1490 01:17:09,491 --> 01:17:11,231 willing to share that information with the Indian 1491 01:17:11,226 --> 01:17:14,366 government and help to get those money back to India? 1492 01:17:14,363 --> 01:17:17,003 Mr. Earnest: Well, let me say a couple things 1493 01:17:16,999 --> 01:17:17,999 about this. 1494 01:17:18,000 --> 01:17:23,370 The rule that was announced today by the Treasury 1495 01:17:23,372 --> 01:17:28,382 Department applied to a very specific group of LLCs, and 1496 01:17:32,414 --> 01:17:35,254 it would have an impact on that specific group. 1497 01:17:35,250 --> 01:17:37,250 I know that it is not uncommon for the United 1498 01:17:37,252 --> 01:17:39,692 States to reach transparency agreements with other 1499 01:17:39,688 --> 01:17:43,758 countries in terms of sharing this information -- 1500 01:17:43,759 --> 01:17:45,759 those are typically reciprocal agreements. 1501 01:17:45,761 --> 01:17:50,161 I don't know what kind of agreement is in place to 1502 01:17:50,165 --> 01:17:52,165 govern the conversations between the United States 1503 01:17:52,167 --> 01:17:53,167 and India. 1504 01:17:53,168 --> 01:17:55,168 I'd encourage you to check with my colleagues at the 1505 01:17:55,170 --> 01:17:57,170 Treasury Department and they could provide some 1506 01:17:57,172 --> 01:17:57,702 additional information about that. 1507 01:17:57,706 --> 01:18:02,776 The Press: -- and on the F-16s to Pakistan. 1508 01:18:02,778 --> 01:18:05,018 There's a hold in the Congress right now, and the 1509 01:18:05,013 --> 01:18:06,813 State Department has informed Pakistan that they 1510 01:18:06,815 --> 01:18:08,885 should muster their national resources if they want to 1511 01:18:08,884 --> 01:18:11,384 buy the F-16s. 1512 01:18:11,386 --> 01:18:14,156 Do you think this would have any impact on U.S. 1513 01:18:14,156 --> 01:18:17,496 relations with Pakistan in any way? 1514 01:18:17,492 --> 01:18:19,662 Mr. Earnest: Well, what I will just say is something 1515 01:18:19,661 --> 01:18:21,101 you've heard me say before, which is that the United 1516 01:18:21,096 --> 01:18:23,996 States has an important counterterrorism and 1517 01:18:23,999 --> 01:18:27,699 national security relationship with Pakistan. 1518 01:18:27,702 --> 01:18:29,802 We value the kind of cooperation that we get with 1519 01:18:29,805 --> 01:18:33,905 Pakistan and we have found that cooperation beneficial 1520 01:18:33,909 --> 01:18:36,949 to the national security of both of our countries. 1521 01:18:36,945 --> 01:18:39,645 And President Obama has obviously worked hard, even 1522 01:18:39,648 --> 01:18:44,148 in some challenging circumstances, to cultivate 1523 01:18:44,152 --> 01:18:47,452 an effective working relationship with Pakistan. 1524 01:18:47,456 --> 01:18:51,396 And we believe that preserving that relationship 1525 01:18:51,393 --> 01:18:53,733 and nurturing that relationship is beneficial 1526 01:18:53,728 --> 01:18:56,698 to the national security of the United States, but also 1527 01:18:56,698 --> 01:18:58,698 the national security of Pakistan. 1528 01:18:58,700 --> 01:19:00,700 So with that, let me do a week ahead. 1529 01:19:00,702 --> 01:19:02,702 On Monday, the President will attend meetings here at 1530 01:19:02,704 --> 01:19:03,704 the White House. 1531 01:19:03,705 --> 01:19:05,705 On Tuesday, the President will welcome the NCAA 1532 01:19:05,707 --> 01:19:08,847 Champion UConn Huskies Women's basketball team to 1533 01:19:08,844 --> 01:19:09,744 the White House. 1534 01:19:09,744 --> 01:19:12,144 He will host an event that will honor the team and 1535 01:19:12,147 --> 01:19:15,647 their 2016 NCAA championship. 1536 01:19:15,650 --> 01:19:17,650 On Wednesday and Thursday, the President will attend 1537 01:19:17,652 --> 01:19:18,952 meetings at the White House. 1538 01:19:18,954 --> 01:19:21,024 On Friday, the President will host the President of 1539 01:19:21,022 --> 01:19:23,792 Finland and the Prime Ministers of Norway, Sweden, 1540 01:19:23,792 --> 01:19:26,092 Denmark and Iceland at the White House for a 1541 01:19:26,094 --> 01:19:28,864 U.S.-Nordic Leaders Summit. 1542 01:19:28,864 --> 01:19:30,864 This event follows the convening of Nordic leaders 1543 01:19:30,866 --> 01:19:34,006 during the President's trip to Sweden in September of 2013. 1544 01:19:34,002 --> 01:19:36,242 This summit will deepen U.S.-Nordic cooperation 1545 01:19:36,238 --> 01:19:38,738 while highlighting America's continued commitment to 1546 01:19:38,740 --> 01:19:41,440 European security, transatlantic trade, and the 1547 01:19:41,443 --> 01:19:43,983 promotion of common democratic values. 1548 01:19:43,979 --> 01:19:46,179 In the evening, Friday evening, the President and 1549 01:19:46,181 --> 01:19:48,181 First Lady will host the Nordic leaders for a 1550 01:19:48,183 --> 01:19:49,213 state dinner. 1551 01:19:49,217 --> 01:19:52,617 On Sunday -- not this coming Sunday, but next Sunday -- 1552 01:19:52,621 --> 01:19:54,691 the President will travel to Rutgers University's New 1553 01:19:54,689 --> 01:19:58,029 Brunswick campus to address the 2016 graduates at 1554 01:19:58,026 --> 01:20:01,096 Rutgers University's 250th anniversary 1555 01:20:01,096 --> 01:20:02,636 commencement ceremony. 1556 01:20:02,631 --> 01:20:05,501 Rutgers University is one of the oldest universities in 1557 01:20:05,500 --> 01:20:07,870 the country, with a long and distinguished history of 1558 01:20:07,869 --> 01:20:09,869 advancing research and preparing students with the 1559 01:20:09,871 --> 01:20:12,971 skills they need to succeed in the new economy. 1560 01:20:12,974 --> 01:20:15,644 Additional details about the President's trip to New 1561 01:20:15,644 --> 01:20:18,144 Jersey will be available next week. 1562 01:20:18,146 --> 01:20:20,786 So with that, I hope you guys all have a great weekend. 1563 01:20:20,782 --> 01:20:22,152 And happy Mother's Day to all of your mothers.