English subtitles for clip: File:6-13-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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I apologize for the delay
in getting started

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this afternoon.

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Obviously, it's been a
difficult 36 hours for

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our country.

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And you've had an
opportunity to hear from the

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President in the last 24
hours about his concerns

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both in terms of continuing
to do what's necessary to

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protect the country and to
get to the bottom of what

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exactly happened, and to
make sure that our country

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continues to be united, and
that in the face of this

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unspeakable act of violence,
that we don't give into the

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temptation to turn
on one another.

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And the President feels
strongly about it.

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That's why you've heard from
him a couple of times in the

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last 24 hours.

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And I suspect you'll have an
opportunity to hear from him

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again tomorrow when he
convenes his national

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security team over at the
Treasury Department to get

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an update on our
counter-ISIL efforts.

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This is, of course, a
previously planned meeting,

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but it's a timely
one for tomorrow.

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I know this afternoon you
also had an opportunity to

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hear from Director Comey at
the FBI about the ongoing

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investigation into the
terrorist attack in Orlando

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over the weekend.

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I will not be able to share
many details of the

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ongoing investigation.

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I'm not going to get ahead
of what the FBI is doing.

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But I suspect if you have
questions on a range of

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other aspects of this
particular situation, I'm

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happy to do my best
to answer them.

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But questions about the
investigation will have to

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be directed to the FBI.

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So with that lead-up --
Kevin, do you want to start?

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The Press: Sure.

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Thank you, Josh.

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Is the President resigned to
the prospect that these sort

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of mass shootings of the
United States are the

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new normal?

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Is he resigned to the
prospect that perhaps he's

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powerless to stop them?

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Mr. Earnest: Not
at all, Kevin.

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I think the President is
quite intensely frustrated

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that we haven't seen the
kind of congressional action

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that we know would have an
impact on the ability of

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individuals to carry
out these kinds of

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mass shootings.

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There is no one law that we
can pass that would prevent

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every aspect of violence,
but there are some

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common-sense things that
Congress could do that would

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make it harder for
individuals who should not

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have guns from being
able to get them.

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There are certain
common-sense things that

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Congress could do that would
make it harder for any

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individual to get their
hands on a weapon of war.

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And the President has been
quite frustrated -- and, in

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some cases, even angry --
about congressional inaction

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on common-sense steps that
could be taken that would

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make our community safer,
that would not undermine the

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basic constitutional rights
to law-abiding Americans.

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And that has been the
source of some

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presidential frustration.

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But when it comes to
countering violent extremism

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and fighting ISIL and
other extremist, terrorist

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organizations that seek
to do harm to the United

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States, this is the
President's number one

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priority -- is protecting
the country and protecting

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the American people.

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And that's why, on Friday
afternoon at this podium,

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the President's special
envoy to our counter-ISIL

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coalition spent half an hour
with maps, briefing all of

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you about the important
progress that we have made.

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That was obviously a
briefing that was scheduled

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in advance of this
terrible incident.

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But it is an indication of
how intensely focused the

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President and his team are
in countering ISIL, in

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successfully executing our
strategy to degrade and

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ultimately destroy that
terrorist organization.

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And that's something that
this administration is

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focused on, even when a lot
of other people aren't.

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And that's okay.

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That's the responsibility of
the President of the United

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States, which is to keep
the country safe, and it's

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something that the President
and his team are considered

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to be their number
one priority.

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The Press: He's frustrated
about the prospect of doing

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anything about guns --
or he's frustrated about

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Congress not going anything
about guns, but does he see

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this incident as really
changing anything as far as

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the dynamics of getting
something done?

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Mr. Earnest: That's
difficult to assess, Kevin.

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I think there are a lot of
people who suspected that

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seeing 20 first-graders
get massacred in their

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classroom, that that might
have sufficient pull on the

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nation's conscience and on
the conscience of individual

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members in the United States
Congress to get them to

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change some of these
laws -- and it didn't.

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So I don't know whether this
profound tragedy will have

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more of an impact on the
minds of members of

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the Congress.

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Hopefully, it will.

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But I think the President
continues to believe that

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the only way we're going to
see the kind of change to

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our gun safety laws that we
would like to see, that the

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vast majority of our country
would like to see, would be

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-- will be when individual
Americans make clear to

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their representatives in
Congress that this is a

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top priority.

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And the President has
made clear that he's a

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single-issue voter on this
issue, that he's not going

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to support or raise money
for candidates -- including

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Democrats -- who aren't
clear about their support

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for common-sense
gun-safety legislation.

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And it's not until we see
the same intensity of

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opinion, or the same
intensity in expressing the

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opinion that the majority
of Americans have about

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common-sense gun-safety
legislation as the intensity

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expressed by those that
are in the minority.

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And that's the only way
we're going to bring about

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the kind of change that we'd
like to see in the United

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States Congress.

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The Press: And does he hope
to go to Orlando later

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this week?

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Mr. Earnest: I don't
have any updates on the

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President's travel
at this point.

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Obviously you saw that the
campaign event that the

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President and Secretary
Clinton had planned for

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Wednesday in Wisconsin
has been postponed.

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But if we have any travel
to Orlando to add to the

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schedule we'll be
sure to let you know.

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Roberta.

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The Press: Donald Trump,
in his comments, seemed to

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question the
President's motivation.

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He said that the President
has "something else in mind"

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and that there's "something
going on" in terms of the

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way the President is
responding to this.

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He said, "He doesn't get it.

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Or he gets it better than
anybody understands." He

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said the President "doesn't
want to see what's

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happening" or that he
"doesn't want to get it."

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I'm wondering if the
President saw Donald Trump's

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comments, or if you saw
them, if you have a

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response, and what was the
President's reaction to

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these comments.

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Mr. Earnest: I haven't
spoken to the President

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about these comments.

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I do not know whether
or not he has seen them.

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I can tell you that when you
are focused on something as

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big as helping the country
respond to the worst mass

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shooting in our nation's
history, when you are

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focused on something as big
as safeguarding the country

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and combatting violent
extremism, it's important

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not to get distracted by
things that are so small.

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The Press: And what
did you make of them?

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Did you interpret those
comments, you yourself, as a

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smear against the President?

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Or how did you
respond to them?

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Mr. Earnest: I took my own
advice and I've been focused

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on not being distracted
by something so small.

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Jon.

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The Press: We heard from FBI
Director Comey who said that

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they were looking to see
if there was something we

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should have done
differently.

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Obviously, the FBI
interviewed the Orlando

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shooter three times, two
separate inquiries, and then

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stopped -- decided not to
monitor him in any way.

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So in answering his own
question, we're looking to

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see if we should have
done something different,

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Director Comey said, "So
far, the answer is,

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I don't think so.

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I don't see anything in
reviewing our work that our

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agents should have done
differently." Does the

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President share that
confidence that, after this

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horrible shooting of
somebody that had been on

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the FBI's radar, does he
share that confidence that

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they shouldn't have done
anything differently?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Jon, I
think the reference -- and

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again, you can speak to the
FBI about Director Comey's

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comments -- but obviously
the President has been

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briefed by Director Comey
on a couple of different

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occasions now, including
about the FBI's

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investigation into
this terrorist.

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And what the President has
been briefed on is that the

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FBI followed all the rules
and procedures that are on

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the books for how an
investigation like this is

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supposed to be conducted.

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Now, the obvious question
that that raises, and I

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think the one that you're
raising is, does that mean

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that the rules and
regulations that are on the

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books are insufficient?

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And I think that's what
Director Comey is referring

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to when he says that we're
going to take a close look

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to see if we should have
done something differently.

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The Press: But his answer
is, so far the honest answer

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is, "I don't think so."

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I mean, there are
50 people dead.

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This is the worst shooting
in American history.

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Something went wrong here.

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This was somebody that had
been on the FBI's radar not

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once, but twice,
interviewed three times.

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Mr. Earnest: Well, this is
an individual that -- but

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the most recent
investigation into this

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individual -- again,
according to the Director of

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the FBI -- had been
closed two years ago.

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And one of the particular
risks associated with

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radicalization is that
it can happen in a very

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compressed time period.

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And that's what makes it
so difficult to counter.

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We've talked about how this
is an evolving threat -- and

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this is something that
the President's top

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counterterrorism advisor,
Lisa Monaco, has talked

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about -- that the kind
of risk that is posed by

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individuals who are
radicalized online is

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different than what we had
previously confronted.

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Again, as the FBI Director
indicated, this individual

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is, at least based on what
we know now, is not part of

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a broader terror network,
but rather, essentially, a

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lone wolf, an individual who
was radicalized online and

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carried out a heinous act
of terrorism on his own.

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That's what we know so far.

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There's a whole lot more of
an investigation that needs

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to be conducted, and I
certainly don't want to get

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ahead of that.

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But that's what makes this
kind of threat so difficult

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to confront.

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And that's why an
investigation of the sort

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that Director Comey has
initiated is one that is

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taking a look both forwards
and backwards to learn as

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much as possible about this
individual, about what may

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have motivated them,
about who this individual

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communicated with, and, yes,
it includes a review of past

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interactions with this
individual to determine if

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there is something that
investigators should have

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done differently that could
have prevented something

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like this from happening.

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The Press: Are you aware of
reports that he celebrated

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9/11, the attacks on 9/11?

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He was in class.

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His classmates recall him
getting up and celebrating

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the attack.

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Mr. Earnest: I have
not seen those reports.

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What I suspect is likely to
happen over the next few

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days is that there
may be aspects of this

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investigation that leak
out into the public.

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Part of this is an
indication that a large

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00:11:21,580 --> 00:11:25,080
number of federal law
enforcement officials are

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00:11:25,084 --> 00:11:27,754
working closely with a
substantial number of state

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and local law enforcement
officials to conduct

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this investigation.

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And in order to protect
the integrity of the

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investigation, I'm going to
let the FBI talk about what

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they learned in a way -- the
FBI Director committed today

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to being as transparent
as possible about

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that investigation.

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I think people have an
understandable desire to

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learn what the FBI is
learning, but I just don't

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want to get ahead of any
work they may be doing.

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The Press: And just one last
question, because it's been

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raised by the President's --
this term has been raised by

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00:11:58,984 --> 00:11:59,954
the President's critics.

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But given this killer's
allegiance that he expressed

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to ISIS, given what we know
-- the indication that he

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00:12:08,961 --> 00:12:14,771
had been radicalized by
propaganda online -- is it

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fair to say that this is an
example of radical Islamic

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00:12:20,539 --> 00:12:22,509
terrorism, this attack?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Jon,
again, as the FBI Director

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00:12:25,311 --> 00:12:29,651
said, their interactions,
their investigation has

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uncovered references to
a number of

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extremist organizations.

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And they're still trying to
evaluate what impact any one

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00:12:44,563 --> 00:12:47,163
terrorist organization
may have had.

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But let me -- I'll answer
your question, because what

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00:12:50,002 --> 00:12:58,242
is true is that many of
those organizations pervert

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the religion of Islam to
justify their murderous,

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nihilistic agenda.

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The President has said
that on many occasions.

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He's been very blunt about
what those organizations are

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trying to do.

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What they're also trying to
do is to claim the mantle of

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00:13:23,936 --> 00:13:29,646
Islam to describe themselves
as holy warriors, or

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religious leaders, engaged
in a conflict with the

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United States of America.

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They're wrong about that.

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That is a false agenda.

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That is a myth.

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That is not true.

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And this administration and
the previous administration

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00:13:46,392 --> 00:13:52,332
have gone to great lengths
to debunk that myth and make

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00:13:52,331 --> 00:13:56,671
clear that these
organizations are seeking to

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00:13:56,669 --> 00:13:59,869
perpetuate a perverted
form of Islam.

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00:13:59,872 --> 00:14:03,012
How do we know this?

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00:14:03,008 --> 00:14:05,748
We know this because the
United States is actually

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00:14:05,744 --> 00:14:08,714
working closely in
partnership with a

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00:14:08,714 --> 00:14:11,654
significant number of
countries in the Muslim

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00:14:11,650 --> 00:14:14,550
world to combat
this organization.

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00:14:14,553 --> 00:14:17,093
This organization carries
out acts of violence around

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the world.

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The vast majority of the
victims of those acts of

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00:14:20,793 --> 00:14:25,903
violence are innocent Muslim
men, women and children.

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00:14:25,898 --> 00:14:30,338
We know that there are
American Muslims that serve

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00:14:30,336 --> 00:14:34,336
this country loyally,
patriotically in our armed

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00:14:34,340 --> 00:14:36,580
forces and in the
intelligence community to

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00:14:36,575 --> 00:14:38,815
combat this threat and
to protect our country.

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00:14:38,811 --> 00:14:40,911
And in fact, the United
States of America was

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00:14:40,913 --> 00:14:43,353
founded on the principle of
religious freedom, where

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00:14:43,349 --> 00:14:46,389
people of all religions are
welcome here, which makes it

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00:14:46,385 --> 00:14:48,785
impossible that the United
States could be at war with

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00:14:48,787 --> 00:14:51,257
any one religion.

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And this administration has
gone to great lengths to

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00:14:54,093 --> 00:14:58,863
debunk that myth, because to
perpetuate that myth only

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00:14:58,864 --> 00:15:00,864
gives the terrorists
what they want, which

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is legitimacy.

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00:15:02,201 --> 00:15:04,841
And it's only going to make
it harder for us to mobilize

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00:15:04,837 --> 00:15:07,277
the Muslim world to
fight this threat.

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00:15:07,273 --> 00:15:08,843
It's only going to make it
harder for us to mobilize

317
00:15:08,841 --> 00:15:13,181
Muslim religious leaders
to make their voices heard

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00:15:13,178 --> 00:15:16,078
online, as they have a
responsibility to do, to

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00:15:16,081 --> 00:15:18,181
counter that messaging.

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00:15:18,183 --> 00:15:23,723
And it's only going to make
it likely that some members

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00:15:23,722 --> 00:15:26,892
of the Muslim community
in the United States feel

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00:15:26,892 --> 00:15:29,392
isolated and feel
stigmatized, which only

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00:15:29,395 --> 00:15:34,095
makes it harder to confront
the threat that we face from

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00:15:34,099 --> 00:15:36,069
individuals who
might be radicalized.

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00:15:36,068 --> 00:15:38,308
So that was a long answer to
your question but it was an

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00:15:38,304 --> 00:15:40,274
important one, so thank
you for giving me the

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00:15:40,272 --> 00:15:42,112
opportunity to share it. April

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00:15:42,107 --> 00:15:46,107
The Press: Josh,
a couple of questions.

329
00:15:46,111 --> 00:15:53,521
When it comes to lone wolf,
how is a lone wolf in this

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00:15:53,519 --> 00:15:53,889
country identified?

331
00:15:53,886 --> 00:15:54,656
And how is he stopped?

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00:15:54,653 --> 00:16:03,963
Mr. Earnest: Well, April,
this is obviously something

333
00:16:03,962 --> 00:16:06,402
that the President and his
national security team are

334
00:16:06,398 --> 00:16:08,498
quite concerned about.

335
00:16:08,500 --> 00:16:10,270
The President, I believe on
a number of occasions, has

336
00:16:10,269 --> 00:16:15,909
noted that the most
challenging threat facing

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00:16:15,908 --> 00:16:18,978
our counterterrorism and
homeland security officials

338
00:16:18,977 --> 00:16:23,247
is disruptive to the
activities of a lone wolf.

339
00:16:23,248 --> 00:16:27,958
By definition, this is
an individual that isn't

340
00:16:27,953 --> 00:16:29,923
communicating with
too many other people.

341
00:16:29,922 --> 00:16:34,322
And it's hard to get a sense
of exactly what they may

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00:16:34,326 --> 00:16:36,966
have planned.

343
00:16:36,962 --> 00:16:40,862
I think this does go to some
of the messaging that you

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00:16:40,866 --> 00:16:44,266
saw from Director Comey
earlier today, that it's

345
00:16:44,269 --> 00:16:48,339
important for people
to be vigilant.

346
00:16:48,340 --> 00:16:52,110
He cited the experience that
many FBI investigators have

347
00:16:52,111 --> 00:16:55,451
when following up and
pursuing investigations of

348
00:16:55,447 --> 00:16:59,317
crimes that are
committed by a lone wolf.

349
00:16:59,318 --> 00:17:02,058
That they often find, when
they're interviewing people,

350
00:17:02,054 --> 00:17:04,224
that people think to
themselves -- people express

351
00:17:04,223 --> 00:17:07,723
regret that they didn't
share something sooner about

352
00:17:07,726 --> 00:17:10,526
something that they saw or
happened to overhear or

353
00:17:10,529 --> 00:17:12,099
otherwise notice.

354
00:17:12,097 --> 00:17:15,867
And so we certainly want
people to be vigilant.

355
00:17:15,868 --> 00:17:21,108
There are -- I'd refer you
to the FBI for sort of a

356
00:17:21,106 --> 00:17:25,346
more detailed rundown of the
kind of investigative and

357
00:17:25,344 --> 00:17:28,984
law enforcement strategy
that they have successfully

358
00:17:28,981 --> 00:17:32,351
pursued in dozens if not
scores of cases over the

359
00:17:32,351 --> 00:17:36,851
last couple of years to
disrupt attempts by a

360
00:17:36,855 --> 00:17:39,755
would-be lone-wolf terrorist
from carrying out an act

361
00:17:39,758 --> 00:17:40,928
of violence.

362
00:17:40,926 --> 00:17:44,096
There are a number of
investigative methods that

363
00:17:44,096 --> 00:17:45,296
can be used.

364
00:17:45,297 --> 00:17:48,997
But this is a very
significant challenge, and

365
00:17:49,001 --> 00:17:51,141
there's no one on the
President's team that would

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00:17:51,136 --> 00:17:52,276
downplay it.

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00:17:52,271 --> 00:17:53,601
The Press: So what
about the Internet?

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00:17:53,605 --> 00:17:56,545
What can you tell us
about the Internet?

369
00:17:56,542 --> 00:17:57,942
Because the President in
the Oval Office was talking

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00:17:57,943 --> 00:18:01,543
about how the Internet plays
in this lone-wolf scenario.

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00:18:01,547 --> 00:18:06,187
What is being done when it
comes to Internet activity

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00:18:06,185 --> 00:18:10,455
of people who are beginning
the radicalization process?

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00:18:10,456 --> 00:18:13,526
Mr. Earnest: Well, April,
over the last couple of

374
00:18:13,525 --> 00:18:17,265
years, a lot of resources
have been dedicated to

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00:18:17,262 --> 00:18:19,562
countering violent
extremism.

376
00:18:19,565 --> 00:18:22,935
And the President has
mandated that we mobilized

377
00:18:22,935 --> 00:18:25,235
resources across the federal
government and worked

378
00:18:25,237 --> 00:18:29,007
closely with state and
local governments to combat

379
00:18:29,007 --> 00:18:30,347
violent extremism.

380
00:18:30,342 --> 00:18:33,042
And there are a few things
that we've learned over the

381
00:18:33,045 --> 00:18:35,015
last couple of years that
are important to

382
00:18:35,013 --> 00:18:36,053
our efforts.

383
00:18:36,048 --> 00:18:38,048
The first is we know that
the government is usually

384
00:18:38,050 --> 00:18:43,160
not the best messenger; that
the most effective way to

385
00:18:43,155 --> 00:18:46,455
rebut the radicalizing
messaging from extremist

386
00:18:46,458 --> 00:18:50,028
organizations is to have
other individuals with

387
00:18:50,028 --> 00:18:53,068
legitimacy in the community
stand up and speak out

388
00:18:53,065 --> 00:18:56,335
against individuals who
are seeking to propagate a

389
00:18:56,335 --> 00:18:58,475
radical ideology.

390
00:18:58,470 --> 00:19:01,240
The other thing
that the U.S.

391
00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:06,350
government has been able to
work effectively to do is to

392
00:19:06,345 --> 00:19:08,715
partner with technology
companies, social media

393
00:19:08,714 --> 00:19:12,684
companies and make it
harder for those with bad

394
00:19:12,684 --> 00:19:16,894
intentions to use social
media outlets to inspire

395
00:19:16,889 --> 00:19:18,689
people to carry out
acts of violence.

396
00:19:18,690 --> 00:19:24,430
I've often used the analogy
of the work that the

397
00:19:24,429 --> 00:19:27,299
government and technology
companies have done to try

398
00:19:27,299 --> 00:19:31,139
to stamp out the spread
of child pornography.

399
00:19:31,136 --> 00:19:34,736
There's been a similar
effort underway on the part

400
00:19:34,740 --> 00:19:37,310
of the government to work
with technology companies to

401
00:19:37,309 --> 00:19:40,609
make sure that their tools
and their social media

402
00:19:40,612 --> 00:19:43,612
outlets aren't used to
propagate hateful ideology

403
00:19:43,615 --> 00:19:46,615
to inspire people to carry
out acts of violence.

404
00:19:46,618 --> 00:19:51,658
And so we've been pleased
at the interest that many

405
00:19:51,657 --> 00:19:54,197
technology companies have
shown in working with the

406
00:19:54,192 --> 00:19:57,862
federal government to
prevent the tools that they

407
00:19:57,863 --> 00:20:01,333
created to promote freedom
and communication and

408
00:20:01,333 --> 00:20:05,133
openness from being used to
inspire people to carry out

409
00:20:05,137 --> 00:20:07,507
acts of violence.

410
00:20:07,506 --> 00:20:12,206
The other thing that we have
sought to do is to ramp up

411
00:20:12,210 --> 00:20:15,080
the resources that are
dedicated to this effort.

412
00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:17,280
And the President has been
quite disappointed that

413
00:20:17,282 --> 00:20:20,052
Congress -- Republicans in
Congress have underfunded

414
00:20:20,052 --> 00:20:24,622
our countering violent
extremist efforts.

415
00:20:24,623 --> 00:20:27,923
And there's a substantial
increase in that funding

416
00:20:27,926 --> 00:20:31,566
request that's included in
our fiscal year 2017 budget.

417
00:20:31,563 --> 00:20:33,603
And I don't have to remind
you, April, that Republicans

418
00:20:33,599 --> 00:20:36,999
haven't -- just haven't
refused to act on that

419
00:20:37,002 --> 00:20:40,902
request, but they refuse to
even convene the traditional

420
00:20:40,906 --> 00:20:43,806
annual hearing to talk about
that funding request with

421
00:20:43,809 --> 00:20:45,079
the President's
budget director.

422
00:20:45,077 --> 00:20:47,317
That's the first time in
40 years that that hearing

423
00:20:47,312 --> 00:20:48,752
hasn't occurred.

424
00:20:48,747 --> 00:20:52,847
And I think it reflects a
lack of seriousness on the

425
00:20:52,851 --> 00:20:58,121
part of Republicans to
doing their part to counter

426
00:20:58,123 --> 00:20:59,493
violent extremism.

427
00:20:59,491 --> 00:21:01,961
There is a role for Congress
to play, and thus far we

428
00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,330
have not seen enough members
of Congress, principally

429
00:21:04,329 --> 00:21:06,669
Republicans, step up to the
plate and fulfill their

430
00:21:06,665 --> 00:21:09,465
responsibility to
keep the country safe.

431
00:21:09,468 --> 00:21:10,268
The Press: Last question.

432
00:21:10,268 --> 00:21:12,938
People were going about
their business enjoying

433
00:21:12,938 --> 00:21:17,238
Pride Month, enjoying
cultural dancing at the

434
00:21:17,242 --> 00:21:19,082
LGBT nightclub.

435
00:21:19,077 --> 00:21:23,747
And then we hear that there
could have been possibly a

436
00:21:23,749 --> 00:21:28,249
target of one of the -- I
mean, when you think of

437
00:21:28,253 --> 00:21:31,193
Disney World, you think of
happy, you think of family.

438
00:21:31,189 --> 00:21:34,129
What do you say to the
American public as all of

439
00:21:34,126 --> 00:21:35,196
this is happening?

440
00:21:35,193 --> 00:21:36,733
I mean, you had this at
a time when people were

441
00:21:36,728 --> 00:21:39,328
celebrating and feeling
good about themselves.

442
00:21:39,331 --> 00:21:43,571
And then a possible target,
one of the major amusement

443
00:21:43,568 --> 00:21:47,738
parks globally that people
feel comfortable about going to.

444
00:21:47,739 --> 00:21:50,009
What do you say to the
American public as we are in

445
00:21:50,008 --> 00:21:52,678
this era of
lone-wolf attacks?

446
00:21:52,678 --> 00:21:56,878
Mr. Earnest: Well, you're
making reference to one

447
00:21:56,882 --> 00:21:58,422
other potential aspect of
the investigation that's

448
00:21:58,417 --> 00:21:59,417
apparently leaked.

449
00:21:59,418 --> 00:22:00,918
I can't confirm that piece
of information, and I

450
00:22:00,919 --> 00:22:06,959
certainly can't give you
the context to help you

451
00:22:06,958 --> 00:22:09,128
understand exactly what our
investigators understand at

452
00:22:09,127 --> 00:22:09,757
this point.

453
00:22:09,761 --> 00:22:11,761
You need to ask
them about that.

454
00:22:11,763 --> 00:22:14,063
But let me try to answer the
spirit of your question,

455
00:22:14,066 --> 00:22:15,906
which is -- The Press: This
is a question of life,

456
00:22:15,901 --> 00:22:16,801
happiness, moving forward.

457
00:22:16,802 --> 00:22:17,572
Mr. Earnest: Correct.

458
00:22:17,569 --> 00:22:21,069
The goal of terrorist
organizations is to inspire

459
00:22:21,073 --> 00:22:28,613
terror in their victims and
in the American people.

460
00:22:28,613 --> 00:22:30,113
That is the goal of these
terrorist organizations.

461
00:22:30,115 --> 00:22:33,015
They are attacking
our way of life.

462
00:22:33,018 --> 00:22:38,158
And it's important for us to
step back and recognize that

463
00:22:38,156 --> 00:22:39,196
that's the case.

464
00:22:39,191 --> 00:22:42,431
The American people should
take great confidence in the

465
00:22:42,427 --> 00:22:46,127
nation security
professionals that work,

466
00:22:46,131 --> 00:22:49,231
literally, around the clock
to keep the country safe.

467
00:22:49,234 --> 00:22:53,804
They have a President of the
United States who has made

468
00:22:53,805 --> 00:22:57,705
his number one priority
protecting our homeland.

469
00:22:57,709 --> 00:23:01,779
And our federal government
expends significant

470
00:23:01,780 --> 00:23:04,080
resources in pursuit
of that goal.

471
00:23:04,082 --> 00:23:08,792
And that's something that
should give the American

472
00:23:08,787 --> 00:23:12,157
people great confidence to
go on with their lives and

473
00:23:12,157 --> 00:23:16,497
to be vigilant, as the FBI
director recommended, but

474
00:23:16,495 --> 00:23:23,565
also to not give in to
the aims of terrorist

475
00:23:23,568 --> 00:23:27,438
organizations that are
seeking to, as their name

476
00:23:27,439 --> 00:23:31,109
would suggest, terrorize
the American people.

477
00:23:31,109 --> 00:23:31,879
Olivier.

478
00:23:31,877 --> 00:23:32,577
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

479
00:23:32,577 --> 00:23:34,047
Going back to the
radicalization of the

480
00:23:34,045 --> 00:23:35,245
alleged shooter.

481
00:23:35,247 --> 00:23:38,787
First, on the medium, you
talked about the Internet.

482
00:23:38,784 --> 00:23:41,624
Were you talking about
YouTube videos, talking

483
00:23:41,620 --> 00:23:42,950
about e-mails from someone,
you talking about

484
00:23:42,954 --> 00:23:44,124
discussion groups?

485
00:23:44,122 --> 00:23:47,062
What's the online medium
that we're talking about here?

486
00:23:47,058 --> 00:23:48,258
Mr. Earnest: In this
particular case?

487
00:23:48,260 --> 00:23:49,190
The Press: Yes, sir.

488
00:23:49,194 --> 00:23:50,364
Mr. Earnest: That's exactly
what the FBI is seeking

489
00:23:50,362 --> 00:23:51,262
to determine.

490
00:23:51,263 --> 00:23:53,803
So the FBI I think has
indicated quite clearly that

491
00:23:53,799 --> 00:23:57,699
they are trying to learn as
much as they possibly can

492
00:23:57,702 --> 00:24:03,272
about this individual's
activity on the Internet.

493
00:24:03,275 --> 00:24:06,075
And they're doing that
because it could give them

494
00:24:06,077 --> 00:24:09,777
greater insight into any
other individuals who

495
00:24:09,781 --> 00:24:11,721
potentially may have been
involved or complicit in

496
00:24:11,716 --> 00:24:14,616
this heinous
terrorist attack.

497
00:24:14,619 --> 00:24:16,889
It also may give them
greater clarity about this

498
00:24:16,888 --> 00:24:18,388
individual's motive.

499
00:24:18,390 --> 00:24:21,330
Director Comey acknowledged
that there is still some

500
00:24:21,326 --> 00:24:23,526
lack of clarity about that.

501
00:24:23,528 --> 00:24:26,328
And so they're seeking to
gain as much information as

502
00:24:26,331 --> 00:24:32,871
possible, including this
individual's activities on

503
00:24:32,871 --> 00:24:34,511
the Internet to try to
learn as much as they can.

504
00:24:34,506 --> 00:24:36,576
The Press: So that applies
then to my follow-up, which

505
00:24:36,575 --> 00:24:38,645
was going to be about the
message, which is to say,

506
00:24:38,643 --> 00:24:41,083
what kind of radicalization
are we talking about?

507
00:24:41,079 --> 00:24:42,179
Is it anti-gay, is it
anti-American, is it

508
00:24:42,180 --> 00:24:45,220
pro-ISIS?

509
00:24:45,217 --> 00:24:47,287
Mr. Earnest: Well, look,
again, there's so much of

510
00:24:47,285 --> 00:24:50,885
this that is still
being uncovered.

511
00:24:50,889 --> 00:24:53,589
This is an investigation
that's barely 24 hours old.

512
00:24:53,592 --> 00:24:58,262
I can assure you, however,
that there is acute interest

513
00:24:58,263 --> 00:25:03,903
in the federal government to
learn as much as possible.

514
00:25:03,902 --> 00:25:09,242
Director Comey I think
acknowledged that at this

515
00:25:09,241 --> 00:25:12,241
point, it is not clear what
role anti-gay bigotry may

516
00:25:12,244 --> 00:25:20,824
have played in targeting
the Pulse nightclub.

517
00:25:20,819 --> 00:25:25,459
But what's clear is that the
LGBT community in Florida

518
00:25:25,457 --> 00:25:26,787
came under attack.

519
00:25:26,791 --> 00:25:32,101
And, in fact, our country
came under attack.

520
00:25:32,097 --> 00:25:36,467
Our commitment to values
like inclusion and dignity

521
00:25:36,468 --> 00:25:42,238
and tolerance came under
direct attack, and it's why

522
00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:48,810
it is so important for our
country to respond, as the

523
00:25:48,813 --> 00:25:53,223
Orlando Sentinel suggests,
in a fashion that is united,

524
00:25:53,218 --> 00:25:57,988
that preserves our
commitment as a country to

525
00:25:57,989 --> 00:26:02,029
recognizing our diversity
as a strength and to making

526
00:26:02,027 --> 00:26:07,097
clear that we're not just
going to marginalize certain

527
00:26:07,098 --> 00:26:10,268
segments of our population
because of who they love or

528
00:26:10,268 --> 00:26:11,408
who they are.

529
00:26:11,403 --> 00:26:16,103
That is not what this
country is all about.

530
00:26:16,107 --> 00:26:17,607
And, again, we're still
learning exactly what his

531
00:26:17,609 --> 00:26:21,509
motives may have been, but
we can choose our response.

532
00:26:21,513 --> 00:26:24,183
And the President feels
quite strongly about what

533
00:26:24,182 --> 00:26:25,582
that response should be.

534
00:26:25,583 --> 00:26:26,753
The Press: All
right, last one.

535
00:26:26,751 --> 00:26:29,691
You submitted a War Powers
letter to Congress today.

536
00:26:29,688 --> 00:26:30,558
Mr. Earnest: Yes.

537
00:26:30,555 --> 00:26:33,255
The Press: It gives specific
numbers for the number of

538
00:26:33,258 --> 00:26:35,998
American troops
in Afghanistan.

539
00:26:35,994 --> 00:26:38,334
And then it gives something
called a force management

540
00:26:38,330 --> 00:26:41,430
number separately.

541
00:26:41,433 --> 00:26:43,173
You don't give specific
numbers for the number of

542
00:26:43,168 --> 00:26:45,138
troops in Iraq and in Syria.

543
00:26:45,136 --> 00:26:47,406
In fact, the number in Syria
that's given is -- the force

544
00:26:47,405 --> 00:26:49,375
management number is 300,
which, my understanding is

545
00:26:49,374 --> 00:26:52,374
that's below where the
current number of

546
00:26:52,377 --> 00:26:53,177
troops deployed.

547
00:26:53,178 --> 00:26:55,248
Why is there not a precise
number attached to the

548
00:26:55,246 --> 00:26:56,746
troops in Iraq and Syria?

549
00:26:56,748 --> 00:26:59,648
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
the answer to that question,

550
00:26:59,651 --> 00:27:03,151
but we can get you an
answer to that question.

551
00:27:03,154 --> 00:27:06,224
I assure you that there is a
good explanation for that.

552
00:27:06,224 --> 00:27:09,264
Look, I'm glad that you
mentioned the War Powers

553
00:27:09,260 --> 00:27:12,100
report because I think this
is something that Congress

554
00:27:12,097 --> 00:27:16,067
requires be provided
every six months.

555
00:27:16,067 --> 00:27:18,167
But the reason that it's
particularly appropriate

556
00:27:18,169 --> 00:27:21,109
today is, as the country
considers what steps our

557
00:27:21,106 --> 00:27:24,146
government is taking to
protect the American people,

558
00:27:24,142 --> 00:27:28,182
this is a pretty detailed
accounting of all of the

559
00:27:28,179 --> 00:27:30,979
places where our national
security professionals and

560
00:27:30,982 --> 00:27:35,022
our men and women in uniform
are taking steps, actively,

561
00:27:35,020 --> 00:27:38,090
to counter terrorist
organizations and protect

562
00:27:38,089 --> 00:27:40,259
the American people
all around the world.

563
00:27:40,258 --> 00:27:43,898
And so this is a handy
reference guide for

564
00:27:43,895 --> 00:27:47,735
individuals who are
inquiring about just what

565
00:27:47,732 --> 00:27:50,132
the United States and what
the Commander-in-Chief has

566
00:27:50,135 --> 00:27:52,235
ordered to protect
the country.

567
00:27:52,237 --> 00:27:52,707
Kristen.

568
00:27:52,704 --> 00:27:53,474
The Press: Josh, thank you.

569
00:27:53,471 --> 00:27:55,271
I want to go back to the
debate over the term

570
00:27:55,273 --> 00:27:57,073
"radical Islam" and get your
reaction to something that

571
00:27:57,075 --> 00:27:58,915
Secretary Clinton
said this morning.

572
00:27:58,910 --> 00:28:01,580
She said, "To me, radical
jihadism, radical Islamism,

573
00:28:01,579 --> 00:28:03,649
I think they mean
the same thing...

574
00:28:03,648 --> 00:28:06,388
I'm happy to say either,
but that's not the point."

575
00:28:06,384 --> 00:28:07,924
She went on to say that it's
actions, not words,

576
00:28:07,919 --> 00:28:08,749
that matter.

577
00:28:08,753 --> 00:28:11,053
But does President Obama
agree with her on that one

578
00:28:11,056 --> 00:28:13,826
point, that they effectively
mean the same thing?

579
00:28:13,825 --> 00:28:16,465
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen, I
think the President has been

580
00:28:16,461 --> 00:28:19,431
quite clear about why we
choose the language that we

581
00:28:19,431 --> 00:28:21,401
choose to define our enemy.

582
00:28:21,399 --> 00:28:25,039
And we have defined the
enemy, our adversary in this

583
00:28:25,036 --> 00:28:28,336
war, as a terrorist
organization that

584
00:28:28,339 --> 00:28:30,279
perverts Islam.

585
00:28:30,275 --> 00:28:32,745
And the President has been
blunt about that, and the

586
00:28:32,744 --> 00:28:36,214
President has been blunt
about why exactly we use the

587
00:28:36,214 --> 00:28:39,754
terminology that we do, and
it is to make crystal clear

588
00:28:39,751 --> 00:28:43,291
that we're not going
to give those extremist

589
00:28:43,288 --> 00:28:48,298
organizations the legitimacy
of claiming legitimate Islam.

590
00:28:48,293 --> 00:28:50,793
The President is not
going to give into them.

591
00:28:50,795 --> 00:28:52,335
That's exactly
what they want.

592
00:28:52,330 --> 00:28:53,630
They want that legitimacy.

593
00:28:53,631 --> 00:28:56,231
They want to further
this narrative that they

594
00:28:56,234 --> 00:28:59,674
represent Islam in a
war against the West.

595
00:28:59,671 --> 00:29:01,241
That narrative is false.

596
00:29:01,239 --> 00:29:02,409
It is empty.

597
00:29:02,407 --> 00:29:04,147
It is a myth.

598
00:29:04,142 --> 00:29:07,582
In fact, most of the
victims of these terrorist

599
00:29:07,579 --> 00:29:10,779
organizations are in fact
innocent Muslim men, women

600
00:29:10,782 --> 00:29:11,782
and children.

601
00:29:11,783 --> 00:29:17,723
Many of our most important
partners in our counter-ISIL

602
00:29:17,722 --> 00:29:20,592
effort are our partners
in the Muslim world.

603
00:29:20,592 --> 00:29:26,232
Kristen, you'll recall back
in late summer of 2014,

604
00:29:26,231 --> 00:29:29,771
early fall, when the
President first authorized

605
00:29:29,767 --> 00:29:32,907
and ordered military
airstrikes against extremist

606
00:29:32,904 --> 00:29:37,104
targets in Syria, that the
United States was not flying

607
00:29:37,108 --> 00:29:40,508
alone in that mission in
carrying out strikes against

608
00:29:40,512 --> 00:29:42,852
ISIL targets.

609
00:29:42,847 --> 00:29:45,087
There were several --
four or five or six --

610
00:29:45,083 --> 00:29:51,593
Muslim-majority countries
who were flying military

611
00:29:51,589 --> 00:29:56,899
jets alongside American
military pilots to carry out

612
00:29:56,895 --> 00:29:58,695
those strikes
against ISIL targets.

613
00:29:58,696 --> 00:30:02,066
That should send a very
clear signal to these

614
00:30:02,066 --> 00:30:06,336
extremist organizations and
to the world that these

615
00:30:06,337 --> 00:30:08,237
extremist organizations do
not represent the

616
00:30:08,239 --> 00:30:10,309
Muslim faith.

617
00:30:10,308 --> 00:30:12,208
The Press: Would President
Obama then disagree with

618
00:30:12,210 --> 00:30:15,350
Secretary Clinton for using
that term within that context?

619
00:30:15,346 --> 00:30:17,516
Mr. Earnest: Look, I would
not critique what Secretary

620
00:30:17,515 --> 00:30:19,415
Clinton had to say.

621
00:30:19,417 --> 00:30:21,387
The Press: I want to go back
to what you were saying

622
00:30:21,386 --> 00:30:23,026
about gun legislation.

623
00:30:23,021 --> 00:30:25,061
You said that the President
is "not resigned," and I

624
00:30:25,056 --> 00:30:27,396
just want to be clear -- is
there any possibility under

625
00:30:27,392 --> 00:30:30,832
which he would introduce
new legislation for new gun

626
00:30:30,828 --> 00:30:32,698
laws, reintroduce the
assault weapons ban, for

627
00:30:32,697 --> 00:30:35,637
example, or prohibiting
those on the terror watch

628
00:30:35,633 --> 00:30:38,103
list from being
able to access guns?

629
00:30:38,102 --> 00:30:39,202
Mr. Earnest: Look, I know
that there are Democrats in

630
00:30:39,204 --> 00:30:42,204
Congress that are
discussing this right now.

631
00:30:42,207 --> 00:30:44,377
The Press: Is the President
discussing it, though, Josh?

632
00:30:44,375 --> 00:30:45,875
Mr. Earnest: The President
is certainly interested, and

633
00:30:45,877 --> 00:30:48,777
will be a forceful advocate
for that legislation as it's

634
00:30:48,780 --> 00:30:50,680
considered by the
United States Congress.

635
00:30:50,682 --> 00:30:55,552
You've heard the President
speak out on it many times

636
00:30:55,553 --> 00:30:58,523
in the past, and I certainly
wouldn't rule out him

637
00:30:58,523 --> 00:30:59,893
speaking out on
it in the future.

638
00:30:59,891 --> 00:31:05,231
But I think the President
has talked about using his

639
00:31:05,230 --> 00:31:06,900
own executive authority --
and there are a number of

640
00:31:06,898 --> 00:31:09,198
steps that the President
took early this year -- to

641
00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:15,270
prevent individuals from
circumventing the background

642
00:31:15,273 --> 00:31:16,713
check system.

643
00:31:16,708 --> 00:31:24,778
And the President has vowed
to use his not authority,

644
00:31:24,782 --> 00:31:28,222
but sort of his stature, as
a leading political figure

645
00:31:28,219 --> 00:31:31,659
in this country to make
clear that he's not going to

646
00:31:31,656 --> 00:31:34,356
lend his political support
to somebody who does not

647
00:31:34,359 --> 00:31:36,629
share his commitment to the
pursuit of common-sense gun

648
00:31:36,628 --> 00:31:39,298
safety legislation.

649
00:31:39,297 --> 00:31:40,897
The Press: Are there any
more executive actions he's

650
00:31:40,898 --> 00:31:44,168
looking at that he could
potentially take to try to

651
00:31:44,168 --> 00:31:46,968
prevent this type of
tragedy from happening --

652
00:31:46,971 --> 00:31:48,971
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
of any imminent announcement

653
00:31:48,973 --> 00:31:51,543
-- I'm not aware of --
I'm sorry to cut you off.

654
00:31:51,542 --> 00:31:53,982
I'm not aware of any
imminent announcements that

655
00:31:53,978 --> 00:31:56,218
the President is
planning to make.

656
00:31:56,214 --> 00:31:58,114
But the President and his
team are always thinking

657
00:31:58,116 --> 00:32:01,816
through ways that he could
exercise his authority to

658
00:32:01,819 --> 00:32:03,659
make our communities safer.

659
00:32:03,655 --> 00:32:05,595
And again, in the same way
that there is no piece of

660
00:32:05,590 --> 00:32:09,030
legislation that would
prevent every act of

661
00:32:09,027 --> 00:32:10,827
violence, there's no
executive action that's

662
00:32:10,828 --> 00:32:12,868
going to prevent every
act of violence, either.

663
00:32:12,864 --> 00:32:17,104
But the President's
frustration stems from the

664
00:32:17,101 --> 00:32:20,301
fact that there are
common-sense steps that

665
00:32:20,305 --> 00:32:23,045
Congress could take that
aren't controversial across

666
00:32:23,041 --> 00:32:25,311
the country, that are
strongly supported not just

667
00:32:25,310 --> 00:32:27,380
by Democrats but by a
majority of Republicans and

668
00:32:27,378 --> 00:32:29,748
even a majority of gun
owners that we know would

669
00:32:29,747 --> 00:32:32,387
have some impact in making
our communities safer.

670
00:32:32,383 --> 00:32:35,423
And the question is, for
members of Congress, why

671
00:32:35,420 --> 00:32:38,190
they won't take those steps,
knowing that those steps

672
00:32:38,189 --> 00:32:41,189
aren't going to undermine
or gut the constitutional

673
00:32:41,192 --> 00:32:42,862
rights of law-abiding
Americans.

674
00:32:42,860 --> 00:32:45,230
They're just going to have
the material effect of

675
00:32:45,229 --> 00:32:47,199
making our communities
a little bit safer.

676
00:32:47,198 --> 00:32:49,068
Why wouldn't they take them?

677
00:32:49,067 --> 00:32:50,097
Margaret.

678
00:32:50,101 --> 00:32:52,741
The Press: Josh, Hillary
Clinton talked about the

679
00:32:52,737 --> 00:32:56,037
need for an intelligence
surge focusing in on the

680
00:32:56,040 --> 00:32:57,340
lone wolves in
particular here.

681
00:32:57,342 --> 00:32:59,812
Is that something that the
White House thinks is needed

682
00:32:59,811 --> 00:33:01,011
right now?

683
00:33:01,012 --> 00:33:08,152
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
this is a -- disrupting a

684
00:33:08,152 --> 00:33:18,162
lone wolf who's plotting a
terrorist has been described

685
00:33:18,162 --> 00:33:22,032
by the President as the most
difficult challenge facing

686
00:33:22,033 --> 00:33:26,203
our homeland security and
counterterrorism officials.

687
00:33:26,204 --> 00:33:29,674
By the nature of the way
those kinds of acts are

688
00:33:29,674 --> 00:33:34,444
carried out, it's very
difficult to intervene.

689
00:33:34,445 --> 00:33:39,055
Now, it's a testament to
the professionalism of our

690
00:33:39,050 --> 00:33:40,950
intelligence community and
the Department of Justice

691
00:33:40,952 --> 00:33:44,252
that it's not fairly
routine for them to make

692
00:33:44,255 --> 00:33:46,195
announcements about
disrupting those kinds

693
00:33:46,190 --> 00:33:47,360
of plots.

694
00:33:47,358 --> 00:33:50,558
So our law enforcement and
our intelligence and our

695
00:33:50,561 --> 00:33:52,331
national security
professionals are quite

696
00:33:52,330 --> 00:33:54,530
skilled at doing
exactly that.

697
00:33:54,532 --> 00:33:57,832
But I think what the
President would say is,

698
00:33:57,835 --> 00:34:01,575
we're open to additional
ideas, particularly

699
00:34:01,572 --> 00:34:03,612
additional resources that
could be dedicated to

700
00:34:03,608 --> 00:34:05,648
this effort.

701
00:34:05,643 --> 00:34:09,613
And I defer to the
intelligence community about

702
00:34:09,614 --> 00:34:11,884
how they would use
additional resources and

703
00:34:11,883 --> 00:34:13,523
whether or not that
would be valuable.

704
00:34:13,518 --> 00:34:17,988
I certainly know that the
countering violent extremism

705
00:34:17,989 --> 00:34:21,129
strategy that we have laid
out does need additional

706
00:34:21,125 --> 00:34:23,695
resources, and it would have
additional resources and

707
00:34:23,694 --> 00:34:26,064
would be more effective in
more communities across the

708
00:34:26,063 --> 00:34:28,403
country if Republicans in
Congress hadn't blocked

709
00:34:28,399 --> 00:34:29,399
funding for it.

710
00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:33,000
So there's more that we
would like to see Congress do.

711
00:34:33,004 --> 00:34:34,744
And the fact that they won't
even hold a hearing on the

712
00:34:34,739 --> 00:34:37,839
President's budget request I
think is an indication that

713
00:34:37,842 --> 00:34:40,812
Republicans in Congress
aren't doing their part to

714
00:34:40,812 --> 00:34:43,512
keep the country safe,
particularly when it comes

715
00:34:43,514 --> 00:34:45,384
to countering
violent extremism.

716
00:34:45,383 --> 00:34:47,323
The Press: But what she was
describing seemed more than

717
00:34:47,318 --> 00:34:48,788
just an issue of funding.

718
00:34:48,786 --> 00:34:51,026
It seemed to be more about
surging the existing

719
00:34:51,022 --> 00:34:53,322
resources, breaking down
walls, getting the --

720
00:34:53,324 --> 00:34:56,224
everyone running in the
right direction kind of thing.

721
00:34:56,227 --> 00:34:58,267
Is that something that the
White House is looking at

722
00:34:58,262 --> 00:35:01,032
right now -- I mean,
recognizing that there could

723
00:35:01,032 --> 00:35:04,432
have been better sharing of
resources in this instance?

724
00:35:04,435 --> 00:35:06,635
Mr. Earnest: I think in this
instance -- again, based on

725
00:35:06,637 --> 00:35:08,407
the fact that we're only 24
hours into it -- I think

726
00:35:08,406 --> 00:35:12,276
it's too hard to tell
whether or not there's one

727
00:35:12,276 --> 00:35:14,376
thing that could have been
done differently that would

728
00:35:14,378 --> 00:35:16,618
have prevented this
kind of incident.

729
00:35:16,614 --> 00:35:19,114
But I'm confident that
our national security

730
00:35:19,116 --> 00:35:20,916
professionals are dedicated
to learning as much as we

731
00:35:20,918 --> 00:35:24,558
possibly can about this
incident -- not just to

732
00:35:24,555 --> 00:35:26,655
better assess the motives
of the individual and to

733
00:35:26,657 --> 00:35:28,597
determine whether or not
somebody else may have been

734
00:35:28,593 --> 00:35:31,893
involved, but they're also
interested in learning as

735
00:35:31,896 --> 00:35:34,536
much as possible about this
incident so that we can take

736
00:35:34,532 --> 00:35:36,532
steps to prevent incidents
like this from

737
00:35:36,534 --> 00:35:38,134
happening again.

738
00:35:38,135 --> 00:35:40,675
The Press: The last time
something like this happened

739
00:35:40,671 --> 00:35:42,471
on this scale, it was San
Bernardino, and there was

740
00:35:42,473 --> 00:35:46,343
quite a public showdown over
access to information and a

741
00:35:46,344 --> 00:35:50,544
public showdown with Apple
in terms of getting full

742
00:35:50,548 --> 00:35:52,288
access to the digital
footprint of the

743
00:35:52,283 --> 00:35:55,053
alleged perpetrators.

744
00:35:55,052 --> 00:35:58,422
Do you see that as something
happening in this case?

745
00:35:58,422 --> 00:36:00,492
Has the administration
gotten the tools this time

746
00:36:00,491 --> 00:36:01,561
to sort of move on?

747
00:36:01,559 --> 00:36:03,299
I mean, where
are we with that?

748
00:36:03,294 --> 00:36:04,494
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
on that, I'd refer you to

749
00:36:04,495 --> 00:36:05,295
the FBI.

750
00:36:05,296 --> 00:36:07,596
I don't know whether or
not they've encountered a

751
00:36:07,598 --> 00:36:10,298
similar problem as they're
pursuing this investigation.

752
00:36:10,301 --> 00:36:13,001
But they could tell
you more about that.

753
00:36:13,004 --> 00:36:14,404
The Press: So that's not
something that has come up

754
00:36:14,405 --> 00:36:16,245
so far in the conversations
with the President during

755
00:36:16,240 --> 00:36:19,710
these briefings -- a lack of
tools to access information?

756
00:36:19,710 --> 00:36:21,510
Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll just
say that I'm not prepared to

757
00:36:21,512 --> 00:36:23,312
share any more details about
the investigation at

758
00:36:23,314 --> 00:36:24,784
this point.

759
00:36:24,782 --> 00:36:27,282
But if the FBI determines
that they're prepared to

760
00:36:27,285 --> 00:36:28,855
share more information
about that, including this

761
00:36:28,853 --> 00:36:30,853
question about whether or
not they've encountered some

762
00:36:30,855 --> 00:36:34,395
sort of encryption barrier,
then that's something

763
00:36:34,392 --> 00:36:35,192
they'll talk about.

764
00:36:35,192 --> 00:36:38,062
The Press: Earlier, were you
meaning to indicate that the

765
00:36:38,062 --> 00:36:42,462
President is still open to
executive action on anything

766
00:36:42,466 --> 00:36:43,866
related to gun control?

767
00:36:43,868 --> 00:36:45,638
Were you saying that had
really been exhausted at

768
00:36:45,636 --> 00:36:47,136
this point?

769
00:36:47,138 --> 00:36:49,508
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
what I was trying to

770
00:36:49,507 --> 00:36:52,677
indicate to Kristen is that
the President has taken

771
00:36:52,677 --> 00:36:53,907
substantial steps.

772
00:36:53,911 --> 00:36:56,781
I'm not aware of any sort
of imminent announcement of

773
00:36:56,781 --> 00:36:59,221
additional steps
that can be taken.

774
00:36:59,216 --> 00:37:02,656
But I think at the same
time, the President and his

775
00:37:02,653 --> 00:37:05,523
team are always looking for
ideas and they're always

776
00:37:05,523 --> 00:37:06,553
open to considering new
ideas about how the

777
00:37:06,557 --> 00:37:08,597
President could use his
executive authority to take

778
00:37:08,593 --> 00:37:10,293
steps that would
make us safer.

779
00:37:10,294 --> 00:37:11,764
The Press: And the President
doesn't feel powerless at

780
00:37:11,762 --> 00:37:15,162
this point, despite a dozen
or two dozen executive

781
00:37:15,166 --> 00:37:18,006
actions, despite emotional
appeals, despite all of the

782
00:37:18,002 --> 00:37:20,972
description you laid out
here of being totally

783
00:37:20,972 --> 00:37:23,442
frustrated by Republican
opposition to any and

784
00:37:23,441 --> 00:37:24,311
all efforts?

785
00:37:24,308 --> 00:37:25,978
He doesn't feel powerless?

786
00:37:25,977 --> 00:37:26,777
Mr. Earnest: I think
the President is quite

787
00:37:26,777 --> 00:37:28,977
frustrated, and the
President is going to

788
00:37:28,980 --> 00:37:32,380
continue to be a forceful
public advocate for steps

789
00:37:32,383 --> 00:37:33,783
that Congress can take.

790
00:37:33,784 --> 00:37:35,254
They can close -- The
Press: Just an advocate?

791
00:37:35,252 --> 00:37:37,822
It is just the bully pulpit,
or is there something he can

792
00:37:37,822 --> 00:37:38,792
use --

793
00:37:38,789 --> 00:37:39,559
Mr. Earnest: Well,
I'm not going to rule out

794
00:37:39,557 --> 00:37:44,327
additional steps that he may
take, but I'm not aware of

795
00:37:44,328 --> 00:37:46,198
any impending announcements.

796
00:37:46,197 --> 00:37:49,097
But again, common-sense
steps like closing the

797
00:37:49,100 --> 00:37:51,100
loophole that allows
individuals who are on the

798
00:37:51,102 --> 00:37:53,842
no-fly list from
buying a gun.

799
00:37:53,838 --> 00:37:57,478
The President's
principle here is pretty

800
00:37:57,475 --> 00:37:59,845
straightforward: If it's too
dangerous for to board an

801
00:37:59,844 --> 00:38:01,644
airplane, then it should be
too dangerous for you to

802
00:38:01,646 --> 00:38:03,586
walk into a gun
store and buy a gun.

803
00:38:03,581 --> 00:38:05,851
The President put forward a
very specific request back

804
00:38:05,850 --> 00:38:09,620
in January to hire 200
additional ATF agents that

805
00:38:09,620 --> 00:38:13,190
could be used to more
effectively enforce the gun

806
00:38:13,190 --> 00:38:14,690
laws that are on the books.

807
00:38:14,692 --> 00:38:16,632
Republicans in Congress have
not acted on that proposal,

808
00:38:16,627 --> 00:38:19,327
even though that if often
the rejoinder that we hear

809
00:38:19,330 --> 00:38:24,040
from Republicans who are too
scared to take action on

810
00:38:24,035 --> 00:38:26,505
common-sense gun
safety legislation.

811
00:38:26,504 --> 00:38:28,344
They say, well, why don't we
just better enforce the laws

812
00:38:28,339 --> 00:38:29,209
on the books.

813
00:38:29,206 --> 00:38:30,046
Great, let's do that.

814
00:38:30,041 --> 00:38:32,311
Let's hire 200 additional
ATF agents that can do

815
00:38:32,309 --> 00:38:33,879
exactly that.

816
00:38:33,878 --> 00:38:35,918
Republicans in Congress
haven't acted on that either.

817
00:38:35,913 --> 00:38:37,683
The Press: Can you just
quickly tell us if there's

818
00:38:37,682 --> 00:38:39,722
anything on the President's
schedule with the Deputy

819
00:38:39,717 --> 00:38:42,187
Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
this week who's in town?

820
00:38:42,186 --> 00:38:43,426
Mr. Earnest: I don't
have any updates on the

821
00:38:43,421 --> 00:38:44,991
President's schedule at this
point, but we'll certainly

822
00:38:44,989 --> 00:38:47,059
keep you posted if something
like that gets added

823
00:38:47,058 --> 00:38:47,928
to the schedule.

824
00:38:47,925 --> 00:38:48,695
Michelle.

825
00:38:48,693 --> 00:38:49,393
The Press: Thank you, Josh.

826
00:38:49,393 --> 00:38:51,763
We're now months away from
the President leaving office.

827
00:38:51,762 --> 00:38:54,902
Based on these incidents
that keep happening, you

828
00:38:54,899 --> 00:38:56,839
would have thought that if
he wanted to do something

829
00:38:56,834 --> 00:38:58,904
more on the gun issue, he
would have done it by now.

830
00:38:58,903 --> 00:39:01,403
So does the President feel
like he has done everything

831
00:39:01,405 --> 00:39:04,445
that he can do under
the law on this issue?

832
00:39:04,442 --> 00:39:05,772
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
what is clear is the

833
00:39:05,776 --> 00:39:07,716
President has taken
substantial executive

834
00:39:07,712 --> 00:39:12,682
actions to using as much of
his authority as he can to

835
00:39:12,683 --> 00:39:18,153
implement common-sense
measures that would make our

836
00:39:18,155 --> 00:39:20,095
community safer
from gun violence.

837
00:39:20,091 --> 00:39:22,231
I'm not going to rule out
additional steps -- because

838
00:39:22,226 --> 00:39:24,366
if we get a good idea
about how we can use that

839
00:39:24,361 --> 00:39:27,401
authority to take additional
steps, then the President is

840
00:39:27,398 --> 00:39:29,838
going to want to take a
close look at it, but he's

841
00:39:29,834 --> 00:39:31,334
not going to
hesitate to act.

842
00:39:31,335 --> 00:39:33,575
The responsibility right
now lies with Congress.

843
00:39:33,571 --> 00:39:37,441
And whether it's closing the
no-buy, no-fly loophole,

844
00:39:37,441 --> 00:39:40,941
hiring additional ATF
agents, reinstituting the

845
00:39:40,945 --> 00:39:44,645
assault weapons ban, passing
legislation to close the

846
00:39:44,648 --> 00:39:48,288
background check loophole
at gun shows, these are all

847
00:39:48,285 --> 00:39:51,255
common-sense steps that
would not fundamentally gut

848
00:39:51,255 --> 00:39:53,595
the constitutional right of
law-abiding Americans but

849
00:39:53,591 --> 00:39:56,161
would have a material impact
on making our

850
00:39:56,160 --> 00:39:57,290
community safer.

851
00:39:57,294 --> 00:39:58,594
The Press: But just to be
clear, the last time you

852
00:39:58,596 --> 00:40:02,336
took executive action, the
White House was saying that

853
00:40:02,333 --> 00:40:05,003
that's as far as he could
go -- after all of this

854
00:40:05,002 --> 00:40:08,072
research, that's as far as
he could under the law.

855
00:40:08,072 --> 00:40:09,642
But now you're open to more.

856
00:40:09,640 --> 00:40:12,310
So has he gone as far as he
can go under the law

857
00:40:12,309 --> 00:40:13,179
right now?

858
00:40:13,177 --> 00:40:15,377
Mr. Earnest: Look, I'm not
aware of any ideas that are

859
00:40:15,379 --> 00:40:17,449
being actively considered
right now, but I'm not going

860
00:40:17,448 --> 00:40:19,818
to rule out any good ideas
that may come across the

861
00:40:19,817 --> 00:40:21,017
President's desk
in the future.

862
00:40:21,018 --> 00:40:21,618
The Press: Okay.

863
00:40:21,619 --> 00:40:23,659
And you talked about -- I
mean, we heard many times

864
00:40:23,654 --> 00:40:25,994
the lone wolf obviously
being the most difficult

865
00:40:25,990 --> 00:40:28,390
type of suspect to spot.

866
00:40:28,392 --> 00:40:31,832
Given that -- I mean, just
today we heard the President

867
00:40:31,829 --> 00:40:35,399
say that the FBI did a
"proper job" from what he

868
00:40:35,399 --> 00:40:37,099
can see so far.

869
00:40:37,101 --> 00:40:41,271
But here's a person who has
made statements relating to

870
00:40:41,272 --> 00:40:47,412
jihadism, who has not only
access to guns but has a job

871
00:40:47,411 --> 00:40:50,381
that allows him easier
access to guns than most

872
00:40:50,381 --> 00:40:51,551
people have.

873
00:40:51,549 --> 00:40:55,189
Wouldn't that be enough
reason in the President's

874
00:40:55,186 --> 00:40:58,456
view to keep on
monitoring this person?

875
00:40:58,455 --> 00:41:01,355
I mean, doesn't that alone
tell you that something more

876
00:41:01,358 --> 00:41:02,998
could be done right there?

877
00:41:02,993 --> 00:41:06,093
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
answer this question a

878
00:41:06,096 --> 00:41:07,536
couple of ways, Michelle.

879
00:41:07,531 --> 00:41:12,971
The first is that the FBI
Director has indicated that

880
00:41:12,970 --> 00:41:14,310
they're going to go back
and take a look at the

881
00:41:14,305 --> 00:41:16,205
investigations that were
conducted into this

882
00:41:16,207 --> 00:41:17,847
individual to determine
if they should have done

883
00:41:17,842 --> 00:41:18,912
something differently.

884
00:41:18,909 --> 00:41:21,179
That certainly is an
appropriate step to take,

885
00:41:21,178 --> 00:41:25,588
given what eventually
transpired.

886
00:41:25,583 --> 00:41:29,323
So I think that is a -- The
Press: But do you need an

887
00:41:29,320 --> 00:41:32,360
investigation to look back,
to look at this sort of on

888
00:41:32,356 --> 00:41:35,996
the surface even and say --
whether the President feels

889
00:41:35,993 --> 00:41:39,293
that more people should be
monitored, if you want to

890
00:41:39,296 --> 00:41:40,466
take it more generally?

891
00:41:40,464 --> 00:41:43,464
Mr. Earnest: I think what
the -- again, I think what

892
00:41:43,467 --> 00:41:47,937
the FBI has done is the
prudent thing, which is that

893
00:41:47,938 --> 00:41:48,638
we're only 24 hours
into this particular

894
00:41:48,639 --> 00:41:49,239
investigation.

895
00:41:49,240 --> 00:41:50,610
And given the history
of this individual's

896
00:41:50,608 --> 00:41:54,448
interactions with the FBI,
and derogatory information

897
00:41:54,445 --> 00:41:59,355
that was passed to the
FBI, it certainly merits a

898
00:41:59,350 --> 00:42:02,690
reconsideration of how that
individual was treated and

899
00:42:02,686 --> 00:42:04,856
how that investigation
was conducted.

900
00:42:04,855 --> 00:42:08,295
And so that's what the FBI
is doing, and they'll take a

901
00:42:08,292 --> 00:42:09,492
close look at that.

902
00:42:09,493 --> 00:42:13,863
I think what we also have to
acknowledge is that we're

903
00:42:13,864 --> 00:42:15,704
dealing in a world of
limited resources.

904
00:42:15,699 --> 00:42:21,539
And law enforcement
officials are constantly

905
00:42:21,538 --> 00:42:25,038
trying to prioritize cases
to make sure that they get

906
00:42:25,042 --> 00:42:27,012
an appropriate level
of attention from

907
00:42:27,011 --> 00:42:28,241
investigators.

908
00:42:28,245 --> 00:42:31,215
And again, the almost
routine announcements that

909
00:42:31,215 --> 00:42:34,855
we see from the Department
of Justice about potential

910
00:42:34,852 --> 00:42:38,092
-- about a potential lone
wolf plot that is disrupted

911
00:42:38,088 --> 00:42:41,788
is a testament to how
effective those kinds of

912
00:42:41,792 --> 00:42:44,432
investigations are, that
is a testament to the

913
00:42:44,428 --> 00:42:46,168
professionalism of our
law enforcement and our

914
00:42:46,163 --> 00:42:48,563
intelligence officials.

915
00:42:48,565 --> 00:42:52,835
But the question is raised
in this instance about

916
00:42:52,836 --> 00:42:55,106
whether or not there is
something that could have

917
00:42:55,105 --> 00:42:56,675
been done differently.

918
00:42:56,674 --> 00:42:57,874
And that's a question that
the FBI is seeking

919
00:42:57,875 --> 00:42:58,945
to answer.

920
00:42:58,943 --> 00:43:01,743
The Press: I think there
seems to be a different --

921
00:43:01,745 --> 00:43:05,545
you can imagine if ISIS had
organized this plot from

922
00:43:05,549 --> 00:43:09,219
overseas, had people here
carrying this out, I feel

923
00:43:09,219 --> 00:43:12,719
like the response -- the
approach would obviously be

924
00:43:12,723 --> 00:43:15,093
different than this having
been quite possibly

925
00:43:15,092 --> 00:43:16,092
a lone wolf.

926
00:43:16,093 --> 00:43:18,893
It seems like what it always
boils down to is, well, it's

927
00:43:18,896 --> 00:43:21,866
a lone wolf, it was
impossible to find this out,

928
00:43:21,865 --> 00:43:24,565
they were online secretly
or they had lied

929
00:43:24,568 --> 00:43:25,708
to investigators.

930
00:43:25,703 --> 00:43:29,643
It always kind of ends at
the same point, with "there

931
00:43:29,640 --> 00:43:31,680
wasn't really much
anybody could do."

932
00:43:31,675 --> 00:43:33,875
Does the President right
now, in looking at these

933
00:43:33,877 --> 00:43:37,447
types of cases, feel that
there are some areas where

934
00:43:37,448 --> 00:43:39,348
more can be done right now?

935
00:43:39,350 --> 00:43:41,720
Mr. Earnest:
Well, absolutely.

936
00:43:41,719 --> 00:43:43,249
But let me start -- you are
touching on an important

937
00:43:43,253 --> 00:43:45,493
point that's worthy of some
consideration here, which is

938
00:43:45,489 --> 00:43:50,499
that the threat has evolved;
that in countering -- in

939
00:43:50,494 --> 00:43:53,934
confronting the threat that
was posed by al Qaeda --

940
00:43:53,931 --> 00:43:55,571
this is the organization
that carried out the

941
00:43:55,566 --> 00:43:59,066
terrorist attacks of 9/11
-- you had a terrorist

942
00:43:59,069 --> 00:44:02,809
organization that was
actively communicating and

943
00:44:02,806 --> 00:44:08,716
supporting a group of
conspirators inside the

944
00:44:08,712 --> 00:44:10,612
United States.

945
00:44:10,614 --> 00:44:13,914
The threat has evolved to
something different now.

946
00:44:13,917 --> 00:44:16,717
Again, based on what
we know now -- and this

947
00:44:16,720 --> 00:44:19,160
investigation is barely 24
hours old -- but based on

948
00:44:19,156 --> 00:44:21,496
what we know now, this
individual is not part of a

949
00:44:21,492 --> 00:44:24,992
broader terror network, but
rather somebody who was

950
00:44:24,995 --> 00:44:29,565
likely radicalized by
absorbing messaging that's

951
00:44:29,566 --> 00:44:30,866
disseminated online.

952
00:44:30,868 --> 00:44:34,238
And so the question is, what
more can we do to prevent

953
00:44:34,238 --> 00:44:42,448
that kind of threat from
turning into a

954
00:44:42,446 --> 00:44:46,146
violent terrorist?

955
00:44:46,150 --> 00:44:49,450
So we do have a
comprehensive countering

956
00:44:49,453 --> 00:44:52,153
violent extremism strategy
that is housed at the

957
00:44:52,156 --> 00:44:54,896
Department of
Homeland Security.

958
00:44:54,892 --> 00:44:57,132
And the President
reorganized these efforts

959
00:44:57,127 --> 00:44:59,897
back in January, located
them at the Department of

960
00:44:59,897 --> 00:45:02,167
Homeland Security so the
Department of Homeland

961
00:45:02,166 --> 00:45:04,806
Security can coordinate with
government agencies and with

962
00:45:04,802 --> 00:45:08,202
state and local officials
across the country to focus

963
00:45:08,205 --> 00:45:09,575
our efforts on this.

964
00:45:09,573 --> 00:45:11,213
There are pilot programs
that are underway in

965
00:45:11,208 --> 00:45:13,478
communities like Boston and
Los Angeles and the Twin

966
00:45:13,477 --> 00:45:17,077
Cities because we know that
we have to work with state

967
00:45:17,081 --> 00:45:18,551
and local officials to make
these kinds of

968
00:45:18,549 --> 00:45:19,879
programs effective.

969
00:45:19,883 --> 00:45:23,323
This is also why we have to
be cognizant of the fact

970
00:45:23,320 --> 00:45:30,290
that we shouldn't
be stigmatizing or

971
00:45:30,294 --> 00:45:38,104
marginalizing anybody in
this country; that to use

972
00:45:38,102 --> 00:45:42,572
hateful rhetoric that is
directed toward Muslims, for

973
00:45:42,573 --> 00:45:49,643
example, only serves to
drive potential recruits

974
00:45:49,646 --> 00:45:52,116
into the arms of terrorists.

975
00:45:52,116 --> 00:45:56,716
It certainly makes it harder
to disrupt those kinds

976
00:45:56,720 --> 00:45:57,890
of plots.

977
00:45:57,888 --> 00:46:01,228
In fact, what our government
should be doing is working

978
00:46:01,225 --> 00:46:03,465
closely with community
leaders across the country

979
00:46:03,460 --> 00:46:06,300
to protect their communities
from the radicalizing

980
00:46:06,296 --> 00:46:07,796
influence of extremist
organizations.

981
00:46:07,798 --> 00:46:09,868
That's exactly what our
strategy is oriented

982
00:46:09,867 --> 00:46:10,767
to pursue.

983
00:46:10,767 --> 00:46:13,507
And it's unfortunate that
Republicans in Congress have

984
00:46:13,504 --> 00:46:16,004
underfunded that effort.

985
00:46:16,006 --> 00:46:18,346
It's unfortunate that
Republicans in Congress have

986
00:46:18,342 --> 00:46:20,382
refused to even hold a
hearing on our budget

987
00:46:20,377 --> 00:46:22,747
proposal that would increase
funding for that effort.

988
00:46:22,746 --> 00:46:26,246
That is what makes clear
that Congress is not

989
00:46:26,250 --> 00:46:27,850
fulfilling their
responsibility.

990
00:46:27,851 --> 00:46:29,551
Republicans have
not fulfilled their

991
00:46:29,553 --> 00:46:31,623
responsibility to do
everything that is necessary

992
00:46:31,622 --> 00:46:34,962
to protect the country
from violent extremism.

993
00:46:34,958 --> 00:46:36,528
And it's time for them to
step up to the plate and do

994
00:46:36,527 --> 00:46:37,627
their job.

995
00:46:37,628 --> 00:46:39,828
The Press: And sorry, but
just to clarify something

996
00:46:39,830 --> 00:46:42,300
that's been asked before --
the President has been so

997
00:46:42,299 --> 00:46:47,439
steadfast in how he frames
the threat of radicalism and

998
00:46:47,437 --> 00:46:51,607
making it clear
that words matter.

999
00:46:51,608 --> 00:46:55,078
So to hear Hillary Clinton
on CNN this morning saying

1000
00:46:55,078 --> 00:46:59,218
that it's not really what we
say or what we call it so

1001
00:46:59,216 --> 00:47:01,786
much that matters as much
as what we do, and when she

1002
00:47:01,785 --> 00:47:04,825
said, "We can call it
radical jihadism, radical

1003
00:47:04,821 --> 00:47:07,321
Islamism," does the
President then feel that

1004
00:47:07,324 --> 00:47:10,394
that was a bad idea for her
to frame it in the opposite

1005
00:47:10,394 --> 00:47:12,464
way than what the President
has felt was the --

1006
00:47:12,462 --> 00:47:14,702
Mr. Earnest: No, I don't
think that's what she

1007
00:47:14,698 --> 00:47:15,568
was doing.

1008
00:47:15,566 --> 00:47:18,136
But at this point, I'm not
going to critique Secretary

1009
00:47:18,135 --> 00:47:23,045
Clinton's comments, but I
feel confident in telling

1010
00:47:23,040 --> 00:47:26,040
you that she is --
having worked in this

1011
00:47:26,043 --> 00:47:29,113
administration for four
years, she is somebody who

1012
00:47:29,112 --> 00:47:33,422
agrees strongly with the
President's approach to

1013
00:47:33,417 --> 00:47:36,387
ensuring that we are not
giving legitimacy to a

1014
00:47:36,386 --> 00:47:38,486
terrorist organization that
would love to advance the

1015
00:47:38,488 --> 00:47:41,088
narrative that they are
somehow holy warriors

1016
00:47:41,091 --> 00:47:43,561
advancing the cause of Islam
by waging war against the

1017
00:47:43,560 --> 00:47:45,160
United States.

1018
00:47:45,162 --> 00:47:48,562
That is an utterly
baseless myth.

1019
00:47:48,565 --> 00:47:49,705
It is false.

1020
00:47:49,700 --> 00:47:54,200
And there are any number
of ways to disprove that

1021
00:47:54,204 --> 00:47:58,714
narrative, including that
there are proud Muslim

1022
00:47:58,709 --> 00:48:01,509
Americans that have
dedicated their lives to

1023
00:48:01,511 --> 00:48:03,311
serving in our armed
forces and to serving our

1024
00:48:03,313 --> 00:48:05,313
intelligence community
to keep us safe.

1025
00:48:05,315 --> 00:48:09,585
And the fact is there are --
our partners in the Muslim

1026
00:48:09,586 --> 00:48:12,356
world are critical to our
success in degrading and

1027
00:48:12,356 --> 00:48:14,196
ultimately destroying ISIL.

1028
00:48:14,191 --> 00:48:17,561
And the fact of the matter
is, most of the victims of

1029
00:48:17,561 --> 00:48:23,801
terror attacks carried
out by ISIL are, in fact,

1030
00:48:23,800 --> 00:48:26,370
innocent Muslim men,
women and children.

1031
00:48:26,370 --> 00:48:27,600
Julie.

1032
00:48:27,604 --> 00:48:28,434
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1033
00:48:28,438 --> 00:48:31,178
The President said earlier
that, "The FBI followed the

1034
00:48:31,174 --> 00:48:33,744
procedures that they were
supposed to and did

1035
00:48:33,744 --> 00:48:34,974
a proper job."

1036
00:48:34,978 --> 00:48:37,018
So first off, I wanted to
ask you how he knows -- how

1037
00:48:37,014 --> 00:48:39,184
he can say how he knows
that, given that we know

1038
00:48:39,182 --> 00:48:42,582
that this person had been
investigated in the past and

1039
00:48:42,586 --> 00:48:45,186
then was able to buy guns
and then go and carry out

1040
00:48:45,188 --> 00:48:46,858
this horrific act.

1041
00:48:46,857 --> 00:48:48,327
That's the first thing.

1042
00:48:48,325 --> 00:48:51,865
Secondly, if that's the
case, I wonder if the

1043
00:48:51,862 --> 00:48:53,192
President thinks, or if the
national security team is

1044
00:48:53,196 --> 00:48:55,296
discussing at all the
possibility of broader

1045
00:48:55,299 --> 00:48:58,299
surveillance on people like
this who have come across

1046
00:48:58,302 --> 00:49:00,542
the radar screen at the FBI
or other law enforcement

1047
00:49:00,537 --> 00:49:02,877
agencies as potentially
having a connection with

1048
00:49:02,873 --> 00:49:04,673
terrorism, and you're not
sure what they're going to

1049
00:49:04,675 --> 00:49:05,545
do next.

1050
00:49:05,542 --> 00:49:07,412
Mr. Earnest: Well, Julie,
first of all, we're

1051
00:49:07,411 --> 00:49:11,151
referring to -- you're
making reference there and

1052
00:49:11,148 --> 00:49:13,918
the President was making
reference to a couple of the

1053
00:49:13,917 --> 00:49:16,417
investigations that are
more than two years old.

1054
00:49:16,420 --> 00:49:21,860
But, look, what Director
Comey acknowledged is that

1055
00:49:21,858 --> 00:49:25,928
the FBI can and should go
back and take a look at

1056
00:49:25,929 --> 00:49:27,529
those investigations and
determine if there is

1057
00:49:27,531 --> 00:49:29,231
something that they should
have done differently.

1058
00:49:29,232 --> 00:49:35,242
The President's reference,
based on the multiple

1059
00:49:35,238 --> 00:49:36,978
briefings that he's received
from his team, including

1060
00:49:36,973 --> 00:49:39,373
Director Comey, is that
it appears that those

1061
00:49:39,376 --> 00:49:41,916
investigations, again, that
are more than two years old,

1062
00:49:41,912 --> 00:49:45,382
were conducted consistent
with the rules and

1063
00:49:45,382 --> 00:49:47,822
procedures that are
already in place.

1064
00:49:47,818 --> 00:49:50,458
Again, it does beg the
question -- I think Jon made

1065
00:49:50,454 --> 00:49:52,454
reference to this earlier --
about whether or not they

1066
00:49:52,456 --> 00:49:54,226
should do something
differently.

1067
00:49:54,224 --> 00:49:55,564
That's exactly what the FBI
is going to take a close

1068
00:49:55,559 --> 00:49:56,489
look at.

1069
00:49:56,493 --> 00:49:59,233
And, again, this is
only 24 hours old.

1070
00:49:59,229 --> 00:50:04,239
But as I mentioned earlier,
our law enforcement

1071
00:50:04,234 --> 00:50:06,004
professionals and our
intelligence professionals

1072
00:50:06,002 --> 00:50:10,342
are constantly
challenged to prioritize.

1073
00:50:10,340 --> 00:50:16,410
They're dealing with limited
resources, and they're quite

1074
00:50:16,413 --> 00:50:17,683
good at it.

1075
00:50:17,681 --> 00:50:25,151
They're very effective at
disrupting the plans of a

1076
00:50:25,155 --> 00:50:27,695
would-be lone-wolf
terrorist.

1077
00:50:27,691 --> 00:50:31,131
Again, it is almost routine
at this point for the

1078
00:50:31,128 --> 00:50:32,698
Department of Justice to
send out a news release

1079
00:50:32,696 --> 00:50:35,236
saying that another
lone-wolf plot was disrupted.

1080
00:50:35,232 --> 00:50:38,102
That's a testament to the
skill and professionalism

1081
00:50:38,101 --> 00:50:43,411
and effectiveness of our
investigators, of our law

1082
00:50:43,407 --> 00:50:44,807
enforcement officials,
and of our

1083
00:50:44,808 --> 00:50:46,378
intelligence community.

1084
00:50:46,376 --> 00:50:53,846
But in this situation, I
think the FBI director has

1085
00:50:53,850 --> 00:50:57,020
made clear that it does make
sense to go take a look at

1086
00:50:57,020 --> 00:50:58,820
that previous investigation
-- or those previous

1087
00:50:58,822 --> 00:51:01,222
investigations -- and
determine whether or not

1088
00:51:01,224 --> 00:51:02,664
something should have
been done differently.

1089
00:51:02,659 --> 00:51:04,629
The Press: And depending on
what the outcome of that is,

1090
00:51:04,628 --> 00:51:07,328
is the President open to the
idea of broader surveillance

1091
00:51:07,330 --> 00:51:08,700
of this kind of suspect?

1092
00:51:08,698 --> 00:51:12,268
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
the President is certainly

1093
00:51:12,269 --> 00:51:14,439
going to listen carefully
to the advice from our

1094
00:51:14,438 --> 00:51:16,278
professionals in the
intelligence community and

1095
00:51:16,273 --> 00:51:18,443
in our law enforcement
community.

1096
00:51:18,442 --> 00:51:23,382
He believes we need to take
robust steps to keep the

1097
00:51:23,380 --> 00:51:24,510
country safe.

1098
00:51:24,514 --> 00:51:26,814
The President has
ordered many of them.

1099
00:51:26,817 --> 00:51:30,987
But the President is
conscious of the fact that

1100
00:51:30,987 --> 00:51:32,387
it's the responsibility
of law enforcement

1101
00:51:32,389 --> 00:51:34,029
organizations and the
Attorney General and the

1102
00:51:34,024 --> 00:51:35,694
President of the United
States to make sure that

1103
00:51:35,692 --> 00:51:37,062
we're also protecting
the civil liberties of

1104
00:51:37,060 --> 00:51:39,260
law-abiding
Americans as well.

1105
00:51:39,262 --> 00:51:41,162
And so the President --
we've had a pretty roiling

1106
00:51:41,164 --> 00:51:43,934
debate over the course of
this presidency about the

1107
00:51:43,934 --> 00:51:46,234
best way to strike that
balance, and the President

1108
00:51:46,236 --> 00:51:52,146
believes strongly in the
notion of protecting our

1109
00:51:52,142 --> 00:51:53,172
civil liberties.

1110
00:51:53,176 --> 00:51:54,476
The Press: And just quickly
-- I know someone asked

1111
00:51:54,478 --> 00:51:57,478
about this earlier -- but
when Donald Trump goes on

1112
00:51:57,481 --> 00:51:59,981
television and basically
insinuates that the

1113
00:51:59,983 --> 00:52:03,623
President may have somehow
been complicit in or not

1114
00:52:03,620 --> 00:52:06,760
done enough to prevent this
attack and past attacks

1115
00:52:06,756 --> 00:52:10,996
because of some personal
beliefs or personal approach

1116
00:52:10,994 --> 00:52:12,464
that he thinks is
inappropriate, that doesn't

1117
00:52:12,462 --> 00:52:13,932
really seem like
a small thing.

1118
00:52:13,930 --> 00:52:16,870
So I'm wondering if you
could respond to the idea

1119
00:52:16,867 --> 00:52:19,367
that he has raised not just
in the aftermath of Orlando

1120
00:52:19,369 --> 00:52:22,609
but in the wake of Paris --
that this administration

1121
00:52:22,606 --> 00:52:25,476
has, for whatever reason,
not done enough, not done

1122
00:52:25,475 --> 00:52:27,815
the proper things to prevent
this sort of thing from

1123
00:52:27,811 --> 00:52:29,411
happening in this
country and elsewhere.

1124
00:52:29,412 --> 00:52:31,112
Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
what is clear is, if you

1125
00:52:31,114 --> 00:52:33,084
take a look at the
President's record, it

1126
00:52:33,083 --> 00:52:34,183
speaks for itself.

1127
00:52:34,184 --> 00:52:37,284
And that record includes
a lot of dead terrorists.

1128
00:52:37,287 --> 00:52:40,987
It also includes an
international coalition of

1129
00:52:40,991 --> 00:52:43,191
66 nations, led by the
United States, that's

1130
00:52:43,193 --> 00:52:46,733
focused on degrading and
ultimately destroying ISIL.

1131
00:52:46,730 --> 00:52:50,370
This is a coalition that,
as the President's special

1132
00:52:50,367 --> 00:52:52,237
envoy of that coalition
briefed all of you on

1133
00:52:52,235 --> 00:52:55,735
Friday, is making important
progress against ISIL not

1134
00:52:55,739 --> 00:52:58,339
just in Iraq and in Syria,
but also in other places

1135
00:52:58,341 --> 00:53:01,641
like Libya.

1136
00:53:01,645 --> 00:53:03,485
The President will get an
update on those efforts at

1137
00:53:03,480 --> 00:53:05,980
the meeting that he'll
convene at the Treasury

1138
00:53:05,982 --> 00:53:09,422
Department with his national
security team tomorrow.

1139
00:53:09,419 --> 00:53:14,189
So the fact is, this
President has made his

1140
00:53:14,190 --> 00:53:16,930
number one priority keeping
the American people safe,

1141
00:53:16,927 --> 00:53:22,137
and this President has time
and time again sought to

1142
00:53:22,132 --> 00:53:24,832
advance our interests, to
strengthen our alliances,

1143
00:53:24,834 --> 00:53:28,404
and where necessary, order
our military to take action

1144
00:53:28,405 --> 00:53:30,145
to protect the
American people.

1145
00:53:30,140 --> 00:53:33,780
And the President has done
that in a way that is smart,

1146
00:53:33,777 --> 00:53:37,017
that is tough, and has
made our country safer.

1147
00:53:37,013 --> 00:53:37,743
Toluse.

1148
00:53:37,747 --> 00:53:39,117
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1149
00:53:39,115 --> 00:53:40,815
You've said -- a few times
during this briefing you've

1150
00:53:40,817 --> 00:53:44,117
referenced the issue of
resources and the FBI having

1151
00:53:44,120 --> 00:53:45,390
limited resources.

1152
00:53:45,388 --> 00:53:48,458
I'm wondering if during
the conversation between

1153
00:53:48,458 --> 00:53:51,128
Director Comey and the
President he's brought up

1154
00:53:51,127 --> 00:53:53,097
that issue specifically when
it comes to the issue

1155
00:53:53,096 --> 00:53:53,966
of monitoring.

1156
00:53:53,964 --> 00:53:56,664
You did mention earlier
that the monitoring of this

1157
00:53:56,666 --> 00:54:00,906
shooter involved recording
him, following him,

1158
00:54:00,904 --> 00:54:05,044
interviewing him, looking
at his Internet use, which

1159
00:54:05,041 --> 00:54:07,681
obviously is very costly.

1160
00:54:07,677 --> 00:54:10,617
And they did it for
a number of months.

1161
00:54:10,614 --> 00:54:13,454
So I'm wondering if he said
that they could have maybe

1162
00:54:13,450 --> 00:54:15,390
continued doing it if they
weren't struggling with

1163
00:54:15,385 --> 00:54:17,955
resources, or if they needed
more resources in order to

1164
00:54:17,954 --> 00:54:20,524
monitor more people
for a longer time.

1165
00:54:20,523 --> 00:54:22,593
Mr. Earnest: Well, Toluse,
again, if there was any sort

1166
00:54:22,592 --> 00:54:25,392
of request like that that
was made, then it would come

1167
00:54:25,395 --> 00:54:26,665
from the FBI Director.

1168
00:54:26,663 --> 00:54:31,773
So for questions about that,
I'd refer you to the FBI.

1169
00:54:31,768 --> 00:54:36,678
But look, I think what is
clear is that the FBI does

1170
00:54:36,673 --> 00:54:40,613
have a robust infrastructure
of professionals all across

1171
00:54:40,610 --> 00:54:43,110
the country that do
important work to keep us

1172
00:54:43,113 --> 00:54:44,683
safe every single day.

1173
00:54:44,681 --> 00:54:46,981
And look, most days
we don't even notice.

1174
00:54:46,983 --> 00:54:48,453
Most days we don't really
pay attention to that

1175
00:54:48,451 --> 00:54:49,521
important work.

1176
00:54:49,519 --> 00:54:51,559
But that is work that is
critical to the national

1177
00:54:51,554 --> 00:54:53,394
security of the
United States.

1178
00:54:53,390 --> 00:54:55,830
And the President is
certainly focused on

1179
00:54:55,825 --> 00:54:57,125
that work.

1180
00:54:57,127 --> 00:54:59,767
Director Comey is certainly
focused on that work.

1181
00:54:59,763 --> 00:55:01,533
Obviously the Attorney
General is as well.

1182
00:55:01,531 --> 00:55:04,001
It's a priority, and it's
the President's top priority

1183
00:55:04,000 --> 00:55:05,700
to keep this country safe.

1184
00:55:05,702 --> 00:55:08,242
The Press: I was hoping you
would have a reaction to the

1185
00:55:08,238 --> 00:55:12,038
idea that these most recent
mass shootings have all

1186
00:55:12,042 --> 00:55:15,382
involved guns that have
been purchased legally.

1187
00:55:15,378 --> 00:55:18,778
They haven't involved guns
that were purchased through

1188
00:55:18,782 --> 00:55:22,622
a gun show loophole or
without a background check.

1189
00:55:22,619 --> 00:55:25,519
What's the impact of that?

1190
00:55:25,522 --> 00:55:27,762
And secondly, what's the
impact of the fact that

1191
00:55:27,757 --> 00:55:30,457
we've seen this specific
type of gun, the AR-15

1192
00:55:30,460 --> 00:55:32,730
assault rifle, used in
a number of these

1193
00:55:32,729 --> 00:55:34,799
mass shootings?

1194
00:55:34,798 --> 00:55:36,838
Has that changed this White
House's strategy on what

1195
00:55:36,833 --> 00:55:38,173
needs to be done?

1196
00:55:38,168 --> 00:55:40,608
Mr. Earnest: Toluse, I think
the President -- I feel

1197
00:55:40,603 --> 00:55:42,043
strongly in telling you that
the President believes that

1198
00:55:42,038 --> 00:55:44,608
it should be illegal for an
individual to walk into a

1199
00:55:44,607 --> 00:55:46,807
gun store and purchase
an assault rifle.

1200
00:55:46,810 --> 00:55:50,280
It's a weapon of war, and
the President believes that

1201
00:55:50,280 --> 00:55:52,420
it should be banned and that
it should not be legal for

1202
00:55:52,415 --> 00:55:55,855
you to walk into a gun store
to buy that weapon of war.

1203
00:55:55,852 --> 00:55:59,652
Second thing is, the
President has been clear

1204
00:55:59,656 --> 00:56:02,326
that if we want to enforce
the laws on the books, let's

1205
00:56:02,325 --> 00:56:04,365
make sure that the ATF has
the necessary resources to

1206
00:56:04,360 --> 00:56:06,260
do exactly that.

1207
00:56:06,262 --> 00:56:09,032
So let's hire 200 more ATF
officers; this is a proposal

1208
00:56:09,032 --> 00:56:11,032
the President unveiled
back in January.

1209
00:56:11,034 --> 00:56:14,804
Not clear to me that
Republicans in Congress have

1210
00:56:14,804 --> 00:56:15,804
even considered it.

1211
00:56:15,805 --> 00:56:17,775
It certainly hasn't
advanced, and that's

1212
00:56:17,774 --> 00:56:20,174
unfortunate, particularly
when you do have those same

1213
00:56:20,176 --> 00:56:23,716
Republicans suggesting that
we should be more -- doing a

1214
00:56:23,713 --> 00:56:25,783
better job of enforcing the
gun laws that are

1215
00:56:25,782 --> 00:56:26,782
on the books.

1216
00:56:26,783 --> 00:56:28,153
Then hire the ATF agents to
make sure that we can get

1217
00:56:28,151 --> 00:56:29,621
that done.

1218
00:56:29,619 --> 00:56:31,889
But Republicans in Congress
have refused to do that.

1219
00:56:31,888 --> 00:56:35,188
But, Toluse, the other thing
that I would say is it's too

1220
00:56:35,191 --> 00:56:39,531
early at this point to
determine whether or not a

1221
00:56:39,529 --> 00:56:42,729
different law or even a
different investigative

1222
00:56:42,732 --> 00:56:46,602
tactic might have prevented
this terrible incident.

1223
00:56:46,603 --> 00:56:53,113
The FBI is going to learn
more about this individual

1224
00:56:53,109 --> 00:56:57,979
and what they were motivated
by and what they were doing

1225
00:56:57,981 --> 00:57:02,521
in the days and hours that
led up to this attack.

1226
00:57:02,519 --> 00:57:06,259
But the President said on
many occasions that there's

1227
00:57:06,256 --> 00:57:09,626
not one law that can be
passed or an executive order

1228
00:57:09,626 --> 00:57:14,426
that can be signed that will
prevent every act of

1229
00:57:14,430 --> 00:57:15,570
gun violence.

1230
00:57:15,565 --> 00:57:20,575
The point is that there are
some common-sense bills that

1231
00:57:20,570 --> 00:57:24,470
Congress could pass that
would make our communities

1232
00:57:24,474 --> 00:57:27,474
safer, that would make gun
violence less likely and

1233
00:57:27,477 --> 00:57:31,747
less prevalent, and, in the
case of banning assault

1234
00:57:31,748 --> 00:57:36,988
weapons, would have the
effect of making some of

1235
00:57:36,986 --> 00:57:39,726
these attacks less deadly.

1236
00:57:39,722 --> 00:57:41,822
That's not progress the
President is going to be

1237
00:57:41,825 --> 00:57:44,895
satisfied by, but it is
progress that would save

1238
00:57:44,894 --> 00:57:49,264
lives, and Republicans in
Congress continue to block

1239
00:57:49,265 --> 00:57:52,135
any effort to advance it.

1240
00:57:52,135 --> 00:57:56,075
And that's something that's
on their conscience.

1241
00:57:56,072 --> 00:57:57,412
The Press: One last one.

1242
00:57:57,407 --> 00:58:00,307
You had said there are many
parts of this that are too

1243
00:58:00,310 --> 00:58:01,950
early to tell sort of
what happened and make

1244
00:58:01,945 --> 00:58:04,245
assessments, but when it
comes to the idea of this

1245
00:58:04,247 --> 00:58:07,787
person being radicalized as
a lone wolf online, you guys

1246
00:58:07,784 --> 00:58:10,584
seem to be much more
definitive on that than any

1247
00:58:10,587 --> 00:58:12,257
other issue.

1248
00:58:12,255 --> 00:58:15,325
So I'm wondering if you have
a reason to be sure that

1249
00:58:15,325 --> 00:58:18,465
this person has not traveled
to the Middle East, has not

1250
00:58:18,461 --> 00:58:23,771
been in contact with
terrorist networks overseas,

1251
00:58:23,766 --> 00:58:27,166
or radicalized in person
at a location here

1252
00:58:27,170 --> 00:58:28,740
in the States.

1253
00:58:28,738 --> 00:58:32,908
Mr. Earnest: Again, this is
what the FBI Director has

1254
00:58:32,909 --> 00:58:34,679
said about their
ongoing investigation.

1255
00:58:34,677 --> 00:58:36,947
He has indicated that
there's a strong indication

1256
00:58:36,946 --> 00:58:41,886
of radicalization,
potentially inspired by a

1257
00:58:41,885 --> 00:58:45,555
foreign organization.

1258
00:58:45,555 --> 00:58:50,365
So the FBI is conducting
an investigation to try to

1259
00:58:50,360 --> 00:58:53,230
learn more about the motives
of this individual, to learn

1260
00:58:53,229 --> 00:58:54,929
more of the details
of his life.

1261
00:58:54,931 --> 00:58:58,501
But that's the status of the
FBI investigation at this

1262
00:58:58,501 --> 00:59:03,041
point, and based on what
they have learned thus far,

1263
00:59:03,039 --> 00:59:05,579
it does not appear that
he is part of a

1264
00:59:05,575 --> 00:59:07,575
broader network.

1265
00:59:07,577 --> 00:59:12,117
I know that law enforcement
officials earlier this

1266
00:59:12,115 --> 00:59:15,655
morning indicated that they
were not concerned, that

1267
00:59:15,652 --> 00:59:17,392
there was another individual
who was linked to this

1268
00:59:17,387 --> 00:59:23,057
attack that posed an ongoing
threat to the American people.

1269
00:59:23,059 --> 00:59:25,929
But again, this
investigation is barely 24

1270
00:59:25,929 --> 00:59:30,229
hours old, and there is more
that needs to be learned.

1271
00:59:30,233 --> 00:59:33,073
And as the FBI learns that
information, they are going

1272
00:59:33,069 --> 00:59:36,209
to do their best to share
as much of it as possible.

1273
00:59:36,205 --> 00:59:37,005
Rich.

1274
00:59:37,006 --> 00:59:38,606
The Press: Josh, should the
AR-15 be illegal in the

1275
00:59:38,608 --> 00:59:39,678
United States?

1276
00:59:39,676 --> 00:59:42,876
Mr. Earnest: Rich, the
President is very strongly

1277
00:59:42,879 --> 00:59:47,079
on the record in favor of
banning assault weapons.

1278
00:59:47,083 --> 00:59:48,783
This is a ban that used to
be in place; the President

1279
00:59:48,785 --> 00:59:50,325
believes that it
should be reinstituted.

1280
00:59:50,320 --> 00:59:53,790
These assault weapons
are weapons of war.

1281
00:59:53,790 --> 01:00:01,430
And they have no place in
the hands of a legitimate

1282
01:00:01,431 --> 01:00:10,271
hunter, or what's much more
likely is that a weapon of

1283
01:00:10,273 --> 01:00:13,243
war is going to end up in
the hands of someone like

1284
01:00:13,242 --> 01:00:19,882
this who will be able to
carry out a much more

1285
01:00:19,882 --> 01:00:23,822
violent act because they're
using a weapon that is

1286
01:00:23,820 --> 01:00:27,390
intended not for the streets
of Orlando, but

1287
01:00:27,390 --> 01:00:28,930
for a battlefield.

1288
01:00:28,925 --> 01:00:31,625
The Press: Senate Democrats
today, in response to this,

1289
01:00:31,627 --> 01:00:34,897
are pushing a bill -- it's
the background check bill

1290
01:00:34,897 --> 01:00:39,037
we've seen before.

1291
01:00:39,035 --> 01:00:41,475
A background check very
likely wouldn't have stopped

1292
01:00:41,471 --> 01:00:43,911
this, it wouldn't have
stopped San Bernardino, a

1293
01:00:43,906 --> 01:00:47,106
handful of other
shootings, mass shootings.

1294
01:00:47,110 --> 01:00:49,980
Why connect the two?

1295
01:00:49,979 --> 01:00:52,649
I understand the overall
argument about gun control.

1296
01:00:52,648 --> 01:00:56,248
But if an AR-15 shouldn't
be in the hands of some

1297
01:00:56,252 --> 01:00:59,322
American citizens,
why not push that?

1298
01:00:59,322 --> 01:01:00,352
I mean, this bill
already failed.

1299
01:01:00,356 --> 01:01:01,356
It's a political statement.

1300
01:01:01,357 --> 01:01:02,187
It's not practical.

1301
01:01:02,191 --> 01:01:03,491
It failed in December.

1302
01:01:03,493 --> 01:01:05,563
So why not go all out here?

1303
01:01:05,561 --> 01:01:09,131
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
just say that as a factual

1304
01:01:09,132 --> 01:01:11,502
matter, the President does
believe that legislation

1305
01:01:11,501 --> 01:01:14,071
should be passed that
would ban assault weapons.

1306
01:01:14,070 --> 01:01:15,870
So the President is strongly
in favor of that, and he

1307
01:01:15,872 --> 01:01:18,872
believes that Congress
should act accordingly.

1308
01:01:18,875 --> 01:01:20,075
I know that there are a
number of other Democrats

1309
01:01:20,076 --> 01:01:21,576
that strongly support
legislation that

1310
01:01:21,577 --> 01:01:22,747
would do that.

1311
01:01:22,745 --> 01:01:24,245
The only reason it's not
going through right now is

1312
01:01:24,247 --> 01:01:25,817
because Republicans
are blocking it.

1313
01:01:25,815 --> 01:01:32,625
I think the reason that a
range of these other gun

1314
01:01:32,622 --> 01:01:38,332
safety measures continue to
be considered by Congress or

1315
01:01:38,327 --> 01:01:41,397
should be considered by
Congress the way -- the

1316
01:01:41,397 --> 01:01:43,167
reason the President
continues to advocate for

1317
01:01:43,166 --> 01:01:47,306
the passage of these laws is
not necessarily because they

1318
01:01:47,303 --> 01:01:52,013
would have prevented the
most recent terrorist

1319
01:01:52,008 --> 01:01:55,078
attack, but because they
could prevent a terrorist

1320
01:01:55,078 --> 01:01:56,448
attack in the future.

1321
01:01:56,446 --> 01:02:03,286
Right now, it is possible
for an individual who,

1322
01:02:03,286 --> 01:02:08,726
because of their ties to
terrorism, or potential ties

1323
01:02:08,724 --> 01:02:14,364
to terrorism, is not allowed
to board an airplane.

1324
01:02:14,363 --> 01:02:17,433
But that same individual can
walk into a gun store and

1325
01:02:17,433 --> 01:02:20,303
buy a gun.

1326
01:02:20,303 --> 01:02:23,273
That doesn't make any sense.

1327
01:02:23,272 --> 01:02:26,972
And so the President's view
is this is a

1328
01:02:26,976 --> 01:02:28,146
common-sense thing.

1329
01:02:28,144 --> 01:02:32,084
It's not going to undermine
the constitutional rights of

1330
01:02:32,081 --> 01:02:36,351
law-abiding Americans, so
why would we prevent that

1331
01:02:36,352 --> 01:02:38,492
from being a law
on the books?

1332
01:02:38,488 --> 01:02:40,488
I really don't know.

1333
01:02:40,490 --> 01:02:45,760
Unless you're a politician
who's terrified of the NRA.

1334
01:02:45,761 --> 01:02:50,471
And unfortunately, that
description -- again, based

1335
01:02:50,466 --> 01:02:52,766
on the position that they
have taken on this bill --

1336
01:02:52,768 --> 01:02:59,008
appears to aptly describe
a substantial majority of

1337
01:02:59,008 --> 01:03:02,108
Republicans in the House
of Representatives and the

1338
01:03:02,111 --> 01:03:03,951
United States Senate.

1339
01:03:03,946 --> 01:03:05,286
That's unfortunate.

1340
01:03:05,281 --> 01:03:06,981
Our country is more
dangerous because of it.

1341
01:03:06,983 --> 01:03:10,283
The Press: President Obama
said earlier today that this

1342
01:03:10,286 --> 01:03:14,256
could be the work of a
"perversion of Islam."

1343
01:03:14,257 --> 01:03:16,957
House Speaker Paul Ryan and
other Republicans called it

1344
01:03:16,959 --> 01:03:19,159
"radical Islamic terrorism."

1345
01:03:19,162 --> 01:03:22,002
Through the prism of
translation, is there really

1346
01:03:21,998 --> 01:03:23,768
a substantial difference
between the two?

1347
01:03:23,766 --> 01:03:26,036
Mr. Earnest: The President
chooses his language

1348
01:03:26,035 --> 01:03:28,575
carefully, because it is
quite important for the

1349
01:03:28,571 --> 01:03:32,641
American people to
understand that we are not

1350
01:03:32,642 --> 01:03:37,652
in any way going to give
an extremist terrorist

1351
01:03:37,647 --> 01:03:40,617
organization the
legitimacy that they seek.

1352
01:03:40,616 --> 01:03:43,516
There is a reason that ISIL
likes to refer to them as

1353
01:03:43,519 --> 01:03:45,319
the Islamic State.

1354
01:03:45,321 --> 01:03:49,321
They crave the notion that
they could be identified as

1355
01:03:49,325 --> 01:03:55,165
religious leaders or holy
warriors that are engaged in

1356
01:03:55,164 --> 01:03:57,904
a war in the name of
Islam against the West.

1357
01:03:57,900 --> 01:03:59,400
They're wrong.

1358
01:03:59,402 --> 01:04:00,672
That's a myth.

1359
01:04:00,670 --> 01:04:01,870
That is false.

1360
01:04:01,871 --> 01:04:05,671
They have a bankrupt
ideology that they're

1361
01:04:05,675 --> 01:04:08,815
seeking to justify by using
an otherwise

1362
01:04:08,811 --> 01:04:10,851
peaceful religion.

1363
01:04:10,846 --> 01:04:15,586
The way that I can account
for that is that there are

1364
01:04:15,585 --> 01:04:18,955
Muslim Americans who have
signed up to serve in our

1365
01:04:18,955 --> 01:04:23,225
military who are fighting
ISIL to protect

1366
01:04:23,226 --> 01:04:24,696
the United States.

1367
01:04:24,694 --> 01:04:29,604
There are patriotic
Americans, Muslim Americans

1368
01:04:29,599 --> 01:04:32,899
who serve in our
intelligence services to try

1369
01:04:32,902 --> 01:04:34,102
to protect the country,
they're fighting ISIL.

1370
01:04:34,103 --> 01:04:37,643
The United States is leading
an international coalition

1371
01:04:37,640 --> 01:04:40,440
against ISIL that includes
critically important

1372
01:04:40,443 --> 01:04:43,143
partners in the
Muslim world.

1373
01:04:43,145 --> 01:04:45,545
When the President of
the United States first

1374
01:04:45,548 --> 01:04:49,018
authorized airstrikes inside
of Syria against ISIL targets,

1375
01:04:49,018 --> 01:04:53,318
U.S. military pilots were flying
alongside military pilots of

1376
01:04:53,322 --> 01:04:55,222
other Muslim-majority
countries.

1377
01:04:55,224 --> 01:04:58,124
They are critical
to our success.

1378
01:04:58,127 --> 01:05:02,937
And in fact, ISIL carries
out acts of violence and

1379
01:05:02,932 --> 01:05:05,402
terrorism all
around the world.

1380
01:05:05,401 --> 01:05:08,401
The vast majority of the
victims of that violence are

1381
01:05:08,404 --> 01:05:12,904
innocent Muslim men,
women and children.

1382
01:05:12,908 --> 01:05:15,778
So ISIL is seeking to
perpetuate a narrative that

1383
01:05:15,778 --> 01:05:19,318
they represent ISIL -- that
they represent Islam in a

1384
01:05:19,315 --> 01:05:21,115
war against the West.

1385
01:05:21,117 --> 01:05:24,387
They are right: They are at
war with the United States.

1386
01:05:24,387 --> 01:05:26,357
But they do not
represent Islam.

1387
01:05:26,355 --> 01:05:31,095
In fact, there are millions
of Muslim Americans in this

1388
01:05:31,093 --> 01:05:34,133
country that are mobilized
in that effort to degrade

1389
01:05:34,130 --> 01:05:35,430
and ultimately destroy ISIL.

1390
01:05:35,431 --> 01:05:36,701
The Press: And finally, just
a question about something

1391
01:05:36,699 --> 01:05:37,869
you said earlier.

1392
01:05:37,867 --> 01:05:42,067
Can you say that the White
House has never reached

1393
01:05:42,071 --> 01:05:45,171
legal determination that it
has exhausted all of its

1394
01:05:45,174 --> 01:05:48,614
efforts when it comes to
unilaterally acting through

1395
01:05:48,611 --> 01:05:51,651
executive orders and
such on gun control?

1396
01:05:51,647 --> 01:05:53,287
Has it ever reached
that determination?

1397
01:05:53,282 --> 01:05:54,252
Or is it still looking?

1398
01:05:54,250 --> 01:05:56,690
Mr. Earnest: Rich, I'm not
going to rule out that the

1399
01:05:56,686 --> 01:05:59,026
President may at some point
in the future take steps,

1400
01:05:59,021 --> 01:06:01,721
but I think we made pretty
clear when the President

1401
01:06:01,724 --> 01:06:03,624
announced a series of
executive actions back in

1402
01:06:03,626 --> 01:06:08,026
January, that he had asked
his team to consider every

1403
01:06:08,030 --> 01:06:13,240
available option for using
his executive authority --

1404
01:06:13,235 --> 01:06:15,175
The Press: In those words,
"Every available option at

1405
01:06:15,171 --> 01:06:16,041
the time"?

1406
01:06:16,038 --> 01:06:20,708
Mr. Earnest: -- and the
President's team pursued

1407
01:06:20,710 --> 01:06:23,080
every available option.

1408
01:06:23,079 --> 01:06:25,419
But again, they're
also always looking.

1409
01:06:25,414 --> 01:06:28,414
And if there are new ways to
use executive authority to

1410
01:06:28,417 --> 01:06:30,857
keep the American people
safe, the President won't

1411
01:06:30,853 --> 01:06:32,553
hesitate to use them.

1412
01:06:32,555 --> 01:06:34,295
Sarah.

1413
01:06:34,290 --> 01:06:35,390
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

1414
01:06:35,391 --> 01:06:39,661
When you say assault weapon,
what exactly do you mean?

1415
01:06:39,662 --> 01:06:42,732
Mr. Earnest: Well, these
are weapons of war.

1416
01:06:42,732 --> 01:06:46,532
There was an assault weapons
ban that was in place in the

1417
01:06:46,535 --> 01:06:51,145
'90s that lapsed during
the term of the previous

1418
01:06:51,140 --> 01:06:54,280
President, and the President
believes that that ban on

1419
01:06:54,276 --> 01:06:57,046
assault weapons
should be reinstated.

1420
01:06:57,046 --> 01:06:59,886
The Press: But the AR-15 is
a pretty popular weapon, and

1421
01:06:59,882 --> 01:07:02,782
it was tweaked in response
to the assault weapons ban.

1422
01:07:02,785 --> 01:07:07,395
So conceivably, with that
ban, this gun would still be

1423
01:07:07,390 --> 01:07:08,290
out there.

1424
01:07:08,290 --> 01:07:11,390
So I guess, maybe to follow
up on some of the other

1425
01:07:11,394 --> 01:07:13,294
questions about whether you
think this gun should be

1426
01:07:13,295 --> 01:07:17,365
legal and what types of
features would you want --

1427
01:07:17,366 --> 01:07:18,806
would the President want
banned in an assault

1428
01:07:18,801 --> 01:07:19,631
weapons ban.

1429
01:07:19,635 --> 01:07:21,375
Mr. Earnest: The President
feels strongly that -- I

1430
01:07:21,370 --> 01:07:27,440
will acknowledge that the
technology behind some of

1431
01:07:27,443 --> 01:07:29,843
these firearms and the way
that they comport with

1432
01:07:29,845 --> 01:07:33,515
certain aspects of certain
pieces of legislation

1433
01:07:33,516 --> 01:07:34,746
is complicated.

1434
01:07:34,750 --> 01:07:36,520
I'm certainly not
an expert in them.

1435
01:07:36,519 --> 01:07:38,919
But there had previously
been an assault weapons ban

1436
01:07:38,921 --> 01:07:42,561
in place that took weapons
of war off our streets --

1437
01:07:42,558 --> 01:07:44,528
certainly did not allow an
individual to walk into a

1438
01:07:44,527 --> 01:07:47,927
gun store and walk out that
same day with a weapon of

1439
01:07:47,930 --> 01:07:50,700
war, with a weapon that
belongs on the battlefield.

1440
01:07:50,699 --> 01:07:52,399
And the President strongly
supports legislation that

1441
01:07:52,401 --> 01:07:54,041
would do that.

1442
01:07:54,036 --> 01:07:56,376
I know that there are
Democrats in both houses of

1443
01:07:56,372 --> 01:07:58,042
Congress that have put
forward legislation that

1444
01:07:58,040 --> 01:08:00,480
would do that, and the
President believes that the

1445
01:08:00,476 --> 01:08:01,476
Congress should pass it.

1446
01:08:01,477 --> 01:08:03,347
And I think that Congress
would succeed in passing it

1447
01:08:03,345 --> 01:08:06,245
if it weren't for
Republicans who are

1448
01:08:06,248 --> 01:08:07,248
blocking it.

1449
01:08:07,249 --> 01:08:09,489
The Press: Every time the
President talks about this

1450
01:08:09,485 --> 01:08:12,355
type of thing -- the assault
weapons ban, about gun

1451
01:08:12,354 --> 01:08:14,894
restrictions -- it just
increases sales of those

1452
01:08:14,890 --> 01:08:16,860
types of weapons because
people are worried that

1453
01:08:16,859 --> 01:08:18,629
they're not going
to be available.

1454
01:08:18,627 --> 01:08:22,467
Is that something that he's
cognizant of, that you're

1455
01:08:22,465 --> 01:08:25,365
cognizant of, especially
since this conversation

1456
01:08:25,367 --> 01:08:28,267
today has also talked about
the way the White House uses

1457
01:08:28,270 --> 01:08:32,440
terminology about terrorism
can affect the way people

1458
01:08:32,441 --> 01:08:33,611
feel about it?

1459
01:08:33,609 --> 01:08:35,949
Is that sort of same though
process happening with the

1460
01:08:35,945 --> 01:08:37,685
way you talk about guns?

1461
01:08:37,680 --> 01:08:39,880
Mr. Earnest: I think what we
try to do, Sarah, is we try

1462
01:08:39,882 --> 01:08:44,792
to be as specific and
precise as possible about

1463
01:08:44,787 --> 01:08:49,757
the goals of our
policy priorities.

1464
01:08:49,758 --> 01:08:54,628
And the President's goals
are to reduce gun violence.

1465
01:08:54,630 --> 01:08:57,030
And the President believes
that our communities would

1466
01:08:57,032 --> 01:09:00,472
be safer, our streets would
be safer if there were a

1467
01:09:00,469 --> 01:09:02,809
range of common-sense steps,
including reinstituting the

1468
01:09:02,805 --> 01:09:06,505
assault weapons ban, put
in place and passed

1469
01:09:06,509 --> 01:09:07,709
by Congress.

1470
01:09:07,710 --> 01:09:11,280
But they're not right now
because Republicans have

1471
01:09:11,280 --> 01:09:12,680
been preventing it.

1472
01:09:12,681 --> 01:09:14,921
The Press: But how does
demonizing the most popular

1473
01:09:14,917 --> 01:09:17,257
gun help create
that consensus?

1474
01:09:17,253 --> 01:09:19,193
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I don't know that I'm

1475
01:09:19,188 --> 01:09:20,388
demonizing it, and I'm not
sure that it's the most

1476
01:09:20,389 --> 01:09:20,989
popular gun.

1477
01:09:20,990 --> 01:09:22,860
Chris.

1478
01:09:22,858 --> 01:09:26,498
The Press: Josh, what is the
significance of the attacks

1479
01:09:26,495 --> 01:09:29,565
in the context of the
struggle for LGBT rights and

1480
01:09:29,565 --> 01:09:31,105
the broader civil
rights movement?

1481
01:09:31,100 --> 01:09:33,400
Mr. Earnest: Well, Chris, I
certainly don't want to get

1482
01:09:33,402 --> 01:09:35,202
ahead of the FBI
investigation.

1483
01:09:35,204 --> 01:09:40,544
And the FBI Director did
say in his statement to the

1484
01:09:40,543 --> 01:09:43,583
media earlier today that
it's not clear what role

1485
01:09:43,579 --> 01:09:47,049
anti-gay bigotry may have
played in this

1486
01:09:47,049 --> 01:09:50,089
particular incident.

1487
01:09:50,085 --> 01:09:52,025
But what is clear is that
the LGBT community in

1488
01:09:52,021 --> 01:09:53,351
Orlando was attacked.

1489
01:09:53,355 --> 01:09:57,425
This country was attacked.

1490
01:09:57,426 --> 01:10:02,966
Our commitment to inclusion
and dignity and diversity

1491
01:10:02,965 --> 01:10:08,835
and tolerance
came under attack.

1492
01:10:08,837 --> 01:10:13,177
And it's critically
important that we unite in

1493
01:10:13,175 --> 01:10:15,675
the face of that threat.

1494
01:10:15,678 --> 01:10:20,178
And, look, I think the
response that we've seen

1495
01:10:20,182 --> 01:10:22,852
from the community in
Orlando has been powerful --

1496
01:10:22,851 --> 01:10:25,851
to see people lined up
around the block to give

1497
01:10:25,854 --> 01:10:30,924
blood, to see innocent -- to
see bystanders responding to

1498
01:10:30,926 --> 01:10:37,466
their fellow citizens lying
in the street is powerful.

1499
01:10:37,466 --> 01:10:38,806
It represents what
our country is about.

1500
01:10:38,801 --> 01:10:44,641
And I think the President is
certainly hopeful that that

1501
01:10:44,640 --> 01:10:48,880
is the kind of spirit that
will continue to be on

1502
01:10:48,877 --> 01:10:54,647
display in the days and
weeks and months ahead as

1503
01:10:54,650 --> 01:10:59,520
the community of Orlando
embarks on what is surely to

1504
01:10:59,521 --> 01:11:04,431
be a long recovery from
this very painful incident.

1505
01:11:04,426 --> 01:11:06,526
The Press: Is the attack a
setback in the aftermath of

1506
01:11:06,528 --> 01:11:09,498
victories for the LGBT
community on marriage and

1507
01:11:09,498 --> 01:11:10,868
other civil
rights victories?

1508
01:11:10,866 --> 01:11:12,866
Mr. Earnest: I don't think
the LGBT community or the

1509
01:11:12,868 --> 01:11:14,538
American people are going to
shrink in the face of this

1510
01:11:14,536 --> 01:11:15,806
kind of terrorist attack.

1511
01:11:15,804 --> 01:11:18,174
I'm not concerned
about that.

1512
01:11:18,173 --> 01:11:23,183
I think the kind of strength
and perseverance that's been

1513
01:11:23,178 --> 01:11:28,588
on display in the LGBT
community for more than a

1514
01:11:28,584 --> 01:11:32,224
generation now in the fight
for equality I think is an

1515
01:11:32,221 --> 01:11:34,261
indication that they're
not going to be cowed by

1516
01:11:34,256 --> 01:11:41,366
violence perpetrated
by this terrorist.

1517
01:11:41,363 --> 01:11:44,533
The Press: Many Republicans
issued statements yesterday

1518
01:11:44,533 --> 01:11:50,803
condemning the violence, but
few, including Speaker Ryan,

1519
01:11:50,806 --> 01:11:53,646
omitted the fact that
it took place at a gay

1520
01:11:53,642 --> 01:11:57,042
nightclub and many of the
victims were LGBT patrons.

1521
01:11:57,046 --> 01:11:58,476
Should they be
faulted for that?

1522
01:11:58,480 --> 01:12:02,450
Mr. Earnest: I'm not going
to -- I mean, look, I'm not

1523
01:12:02,451 --> 01:12:06,391
going to Monday morning
quarterback those kinds

1524
01:12:06,388 --> 01:12:07,888
of statements.

1525
01:12:07,890 --> 01:12:10,890
I'll let those individual
members of Congress explain

1526
01:12:10,893 --> 01:12:15,093
their views on this.

1527
01:12:15,097 --> 01:12:16,537
But the President certainly
had an opportunity to

1528
01:12:16,532 --> 01:12:22,002
explain his views, and the
President obviously stands

1529
01:12:22,004 --> 01:12:23,104
by them.

1530
01:12:23,105 --> 01:12:24,275
The Press: Do you have any
idea why they declined to

1531
01:12:24,273 --> 01:12:28,313
identify the nature of the
victims in this attack?

1532
01:12:28,310 --> 01:12:29,140
Mr. Earnest: I
do not know why.

1533
01:12:29,144 --> 01:12:30,714
I do not know why.

1534
01:12:30,713 --> 01:12:31,613
Go ahead, Jon.

1535
01:12:31,613 --> 01:12:32,713
The Press: One more.

1536
01:12:32,715 --> 01:12:35,655
Back to this question
of the shooter.

1537
01:12:35,651 --> 01:12:38,251
Obviously, as we discussed,
he had been under

1538
01:12:38,253 --> 01:12:41,323
investigation on
possible terrorist ties.

1539
01:12:41,323 --> 01:12:43,663
And then he was able
to buy his guns.

1540
01:12:43,659 --> 01:12:47,199
Does the White House favor a
policy change that would say

1541
01:12:47,196 --> 01:12:50,436
that if somebody was under
investigation, an FBI

1542
01:12:50,432 --> 01:12:53,632
investigation, even if that
investigation is closed, and

1543
01:12:53,635 --> 01:12:57,875
if that individual then goes
to purchase firearms, that

1544
01:12:57,873 --> 01:13:01,073
that should at least --
there should at least be a

1545
01:13:01,076 --> 01:13:03,346
notification
back to the FBI?

1546
01:13:03,345 --> 01:13:05,515
In other words, that the
FBI should be notified if

1547
01:13:05,514 --> 01:13:08,954
somebody who had been under
a terrorist investigation

1548
01:13:08,951 --> 01:13:10,951
then goes out and buys guns.

1549
01:13:10,953 --> 01:13:13,253
Mr. Earnest: Well, I
don't know what sort of

1550
01:13:13,255 --> 01:13:16,355
communication there
already is in this regard.

1551
01:13:16,358 --> 01:13:17,288
The Press: Well, FBI
Director Comey says that

1552
01:13:17,292 --> 01:13:19,992
that is not the policy right
now -- that that would be up

1553
01:13:19,995 --> 01:13:21,165
to policymakers.

1554
01:13:21,163 --> 01:13:24,003
It would require a policy
change that says somebody

1555
01:13:23,999 --> 01:13:26,039
who has been under
investigation and then goes

1556
01:13:26,034 --> 01:13:28,834
out to buy a gun, the
FBI would get informed.

1557
01:13:28,837 --> 01:13:30,177
Shouldn't that
be the policy?

1558
01:13:30,172 --> 01:13:31,942
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
don't have a policy change

1559
01:13:31,940 --> 01:13:33,080
to announce at this point.

1560
01:13:33,075 --> 01:13:36,715
But obviously, as the FBI
conducts an investigation

1561
01:13:36,712 --> 01:13:38,982
and takes a look at the
investigations that were

1562
01:13:38,981 --> 01:13:42,981
previously conducted,
they're going to take a look

1563
01:13:42,985 --> 01:13:44,925
at the question about
whether or not there is

1564
01:13:44,920 --> 01:13:46,390
something they could
have done differently.

1565
01:13:46,388 --> 01:13:49,288
And the President certainly
will be interested to learn

1566
01:13:49,291 --> 01:13:51,561
what they find out.

1567
01:13:51,560 --> 01:13:52,360
Jordan.

1568
01:13:52,361 --> 01:13:56,731
The Press: Given Mr. Trump's
comments about the President

1569
01:13:56,732 --> 01:13:58,602
earlier today -- in his
speech just now, he

1570
01:13:58,600 --> 01:14:02,240
misidentified the birthplace
of the suspect; he said he

1571
01:14:02,237 --> 01:14:06,137
was born in Afghanistan --
are there any concerns here

1572
01:14:06,141 --> 01:14:08,941
about Donald Trump receiving
classified intelligence

1573
01:14:08,944 --> 01:14:12,414
briefings once he officially
becomes the party's nominee?

1574
01:14:12,414 --> 01:14:14,984
Mr. Earnest: Jordan, as we
discussed I think a few

1575
01:14:14,983 --> 01:14:17,353
weeks ago, this obviously
is a process that will be

1576
01:14:17,352 --> 01:14:19,522
administered by the Director
of National Intelligence,

1577
01:14:19,521 --> 01:14:26,561
and I'm confident that the
DNI's office will fulfill

1578
01:14:26,562 --> 01:14:34,002
the important responsibility
that they have to brief the

1579
01:14:34,002 --> 01:14:38,742
major-party nominees in a
way that is absent any sort

1580
01:14:38,740 --> 01:14:43,710
of political interference
and consistent with the need

1581
01:14:43,712 --> 01:14:49,652
to protect sensitive
national security information.

1582
01:14:49,651 --> 01:14:51,121
The Press: Do you know if
comments like this factor in

1583
01:14:51,119 --> 01:14:53,659
the decisions they make
about what information they

1584
01:14:53,655 --> 01:14:55,055
decide to give
to candidates?

1585
01:14:55,057 --> 01:14:56,057
Mr. Earnest: I don't know
what factors into

1586
01:14:56,058 --> 01:14:57,698
those decisions.

1587
01:14:57,693 --> 01:14:58,363
Let's just do a couple more.

1588
01:14:58,360 --> 01:14:58,860
Susan.

1589
01:14:58,861 --> 01:15:00,061
The Press: Thanks
so much, Josh.

1590
01:15:00,062 --> 01:15:02,962
Over the weekend, The Wall
Street Journal reported that

1591
01:15:02,965 --> 01:15:06,405
there was a friendly fire
attack in Syria that was not

1592
01:15:06,401 --> 01:15:09,641
previously acknowledged by
the administration, that

1593
01:15:09,638 --> 01:15:13,008
there was a dispute about
how many people were killed

1594
01:15:13,008 --> 01:15:15,748
-- these are Syrian
rebels that we trained,

1595
01:15:15,744 --> 01:15:18,714
unfortunately -- disputes
between four and ten of them

1596
01:15:18,714 --> 01:15:19,884
were killed.

1597
01:15:19,882 --> 01:15:25,622
You had the man in charge of
the counter-ISIL operation

1598
01:15:25,621 --> 01:15:29,321
here at the White House on
Friday talking about our

1599
01:15:29,324 --> 01:15:32,724
counter-ISIL operations,
obviously, and the state

1600
01:15:32,728 --> 01:15:33,728
that they're in.

1601
01:15:33,729 --> 01:15:37,229
I'm wondering if you
thought there should be a

1602
01:15:37,232 --> 01:15:40,002
responsibility of him to
share that information with

1603
01:15:40,002 --> 01:15:42,102
the press every time.

1604
01:15:42,104 --> 01:15:44,444
Mr. Earnest: Susan, I have
to admit, I have not seen

1605
01:15:44,439 --> 01:15:46,079
the report from The Wall
Street Journal, so at this

1606
01:15:46,074 --> 01:15:49,274
point it's hard for me to
comment on it or to even

1607
01:15:49,278 --> 01:15:51,248
confirm that their
reporting is accurate.

1608
01:15:51,246 --> 01:15:52,916
Why don't you let me take a
look at this and we'll have

1609
01:15:52,915 --> 01:15:55,085
somebody follow up with
you this afternoon.

1610
01:15:55,083 --> 01:15:58,123
The Press: And just one more
question about Mr.

1611
01:15:58,120 --> 01:15:59,820
McGurk's presentation.

1612
01:15:59,821 --> 01:16:04,831
He cited a lot of progress
on the aspects of countering

1613
01:16:04,826 --> 01:16:08,796
the propaganda machine
that Daesh, ISIL, has been

1614
01:16:08,797 --> 01:16:09,627
putting out.

1615
01:16:09,631 --> 01:16:12,331
I'm wondering if you
feel that same level of

1616
01:16:12,334 --> 01:16:14,434
confidence today,
considering what happened at

1617
01:16:14,436 --> 01:16:17,876
Pulse gay nightclub.

1618
01:16:17,873 --> 01:16:21,143
Mr. Earnest: It's undeniable
that we've made important

1619
01:16:21,143 --> 01:16:23,813
progress in countering
their efforts online.

1620
01:16:23,812 --> 01:16:26,182
But they're still
disseminating information,

1621
01:16:26,181 --> 01:16:31,491
and there are still places
where a variety of extremist

1622
01:16:31,486 --> 01:16:34,726
organizations are seeking
to propagate their

1623
01:16:34,723 --> 01:16:36,323
radical ideology.

1624
01:16:36,325 --> 01:16:43,895
So again, the FBI is still
only 24 hours into an

1625
01:16:43,899 --> 01:16:46,199
investigation to try to
learn more about what may

1626
01:16:46,201 --> 01:16:50,171
have motivated the
individual who carried out

1627
01:16:50,172 --> 01:16:51,812
this terrorist
attack in Orlando.

1628
01:16:51,807 --> 01:16:56,477
So it's unclear exactly what
this individual may have

1629
01:16:56,478 --> 01:16:59,378
been exposed to that may
have prompted them to be

1630
01:16:59,381 --> 01:17:02,981
radicalized and inspired
them to carry out this act

1631
01:17:02,985 --> 01:17:03,985
of violence.

1632
01:17:03,986 --> 01:17:06,156
So it's hard to say -- I
guess my point is this: It's

1633
01:17:06,154 --> 01:17:07,824
hard to say right now --
and I don't think I can say

1634
01:17:07,823 --> 01:17:13,363
conclusively right now --
that it was only ISIL that

1635
01:17:13,362 --> 01:17:15,862
succeeded in
radicalizing him.

1636
01:17:15,864 --> 01:17:17,904
It's possible he may have
been influenced by another

1637
01:17:17,899 --> 01:17:21,799
organization that's an
extremist organization that

1638
01:17:21,803 --> 01:17:24,903
also has put out information
that could inspire people to

1639
01:17:24,906 --> 01:17:26,246
carry out acts of violence.

1640
01:17:26,241 --> 01:17:28,681
The Press: I think a lot of
reporters are interested in

1641
01:17:28,677 --> 01:17:31,847
that State Department
operation to counter the

1642
01:17:31,847 --> 01:17:33,317
propaganda machine.

1643
01:17:33,315 --> 01:17:36,685
And the White House has
worked with Twitter and

1644
01:17:36,685 --> 01:17:38,785
Facebook and other
social media websites.

1645
01:17:38,787 --> 01:17:41,627
Is there any way we could
have a briefing on that

1646
01:17:41,623 --> 01:17:43,123
aspect of it?

1647
01:17:43,125 --> 01:17:45,125
Because it seems a little
bit shrouded in secrecy.

1648
01:17:45,127 --> 01:17:47,627
I know it involves private
organizations and

1649
01:17:47,629 --> 01:17:48,899
private companies.

1650
01:17:48,897 --> 01:17:52,597
But I think that a lot of us
are curious about where that

1651
01:17:52,601 --> 01:17:56,671
operation is, both at
State and the White House.

1652
01:17:56,671 --> 01:17:58,741
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President certainly did have

1653
01:17:58,740 --> 01:18:00,710
an opportunity to travel to
the West Coast, I believe it

1654
01:18:00,709 --> 01:18:05,649
was last year, to meet
with a variety of Silicon

1655
01:18:05,647 --> 01:18:08,417
Valley-based organizations
to try to advance

1656
01:18:08,417 --> 01:18:09,647
this cooperation.

1657
01:18:09,651 --> 01:18:11,751
And I know the President
gave a speech there, and

1658
01:18:11,753 --> 01:18:14,623
there was a two-day summit,
I believe, with a range of

1659
01:18:14,623 --> 01:18:15,953
national security
professionals.

1660
01:18:15,957 --> 01:18:17,197
The Press: It wasn't
completely open to the press.

1661
01:18:17,192 --> 01:18:19,692
Mr. Earnest: I think many
aspects of the summit were

1662
01:18:19,694 --> 01:18:20,634
open to the press.

1663
01:18:20,629 --> 01:18:22,369
But we can certainly
provide you with

1664
01:18:22,364 --> 01:18:23,864
additional information.

1665
01:18:23,865 --> 01:18:25,135
I think the other place that
I would encourage you to

1666
01:18:25,133 --> 01:18:28,533
consult is the Department of
Homeland Security -- that

1667
01:18:28,537 --> 01:18:31,677
they do have a task force, a
countering violent extremism

1668
01:18:31,673 --> 01:18:36,843
task force, that's housed at
that agency to ensure that

1669
01:18:36,845 --> 01:18:39,285
we're marshalling and
effectively integrating the

1670
01:18:39,281 --> 01:18:43,251
wide variety of federal
resources that are directed

1671
01:18:43,251 --> 01:18:45,551
against violent extremism.

1672
01:18:45,554 --> 01:18:47,894
And that involves a lot of
careful coordination with

1673
01:18:47,889 --> 01:18:49,629
state and local
officials, as well.

1674
01:18:49,624 --> 01:18:51,324
And so that would be another
place for you to check.

1675
01:18:51,326 --> 01:18:53,726
The Press: One last question
on the friendly fire incident.

1676
01:18:53,728 --> 01:18:57,168
Does the President believe
that the friendly fire

1677
01:18:57,165 --> 01:19:00,035
incident should be
acknowledged publicly?

1678
01:19:00,035 --> 01:19:01,805
Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I
just don't know enough about

1679
01:19:01,803 --> 01:19:04,303
the individual report, so
let me take a look at it and

1680
01:19:04,306 --> 01:19:05,736
we'll circle back with you.

1681
01:19:05,740 --> 01:19:06,640
Jared.

1682
01:19:06,641 --> 01:19:08,911
The Press: Josh, a follow-up
to Michelle's question about

1683
01:19:08,910 --> 01:19:11,610
the comments Secretary
Clinton made earlier.

1684
01:19:11,613 --> 01:19:13,953
You declined to criticize
the candidate that the

1685
01:19:13,949 --> 01:19:16,319
President has endorsed
to succeed him.

1686
01:19:16,318 --> 01:19:19,088
Will you acknowledge that
there's some sunlight when

1687
01:19:19,087 --> 01:19:21,687
she's willing to say phrases
like "radical jihad" or

1688
01:19:21,690 --> 01:19:23,960
"radical Islamism"
and he is not?

1689
01:19:23,959 --> 01:19:27,559
Mr. Earnest: I feel
confident in saying this for

1690
01:19:27,562 --> 01:19:29,802
Secretary Clinton: I am
confident that she agrees

1691
01:19:29,798 --> 01:19:32,138
100 percent with the
President's approach to

1692
01:19:32,134 --> 01:19:40,144
fighting ISIL and strongly
supporting this goal of

1693
01:19:40,142 --> 01:19:46,752
making clear that Muslims in
the United States should not

1694
01:19:46,748 --> 01:19:49,748
be stigmatized or
marginalized, and that we

1695
01:19:49,751 --> 01:19:57,191
actually need to work
effectively with state and

1696
01:19:57,192 --> 01:20:01,132
local leaders all across the
country in a way that the

1697
01:20:01,129 --> 01:20:05,939
President has to make clear
that Muslims are welcome in

1698
01:20:05,934 --> 01:20:07,004
the United States.

1699
01:20:07,002 --> 01:20:10,042
The President gave a really
powerful speech about this

1700
01:20:10,038 --> 01:20:13,778
at the Baltimore-area mosque
back in February, where the

1701
01:20:13,775 --> 01:20:17,945
President made a direct
appeal to young people and

1702
01:20:17,946 --> 01:20:19,846
to young Muslims in the
United States, making clear

1703
01:20:19,848 --> 01:20:21,648
that they don't have to
choose between being Muslim

1704
01:20:21,650 --> 01:20:23,850
and American.

1705
01:20:23,852 --> 01:20:26,422
They're Muslim
-- they're both.

1706
01:20:26,421 --> 01:20:27,721
They're Muslim Americans.

1707
01:20:27,722 --> 01:20:31,622
And there are proud, loyal,
patriotic Muslim Americans

1708
01:20:31,626 --> 01:20:34,666
that we interact with every
day, and they are part of

1709
01:20:34,663 --> 01:20:38,333
what makes America that
greatest country on the planet.

1710
01:20:38,333 --> 01:20:40,033
The Press: Is the President
concerned that Clinton's

1711
01:20:40,035 --> 01:20:43,635
choice to use language that
is different and distinct

1712
01:20:43,638 --> 01:20:47,308
from the language that he is
carefully choosing to use --

1713
01:20:47,309 --> 01:20:49,949
does that risk giving the
legitimacy that he is trying

1714
01:20:49,945 --> 01:20:52,045
very hard not to confirm?

1715
01:20:52,047 --> 01:20:53,077
Mr. Earnest: No, the
President is not concerned

1716
01:20:53,081 --> 01:20:53,751
about that.

1717
01:20:53,748 --> 01:20:57,088
The Press: Let me ask you
about -- the President said

1718
01:20:57,085 --> 01:21:00,125
the terrorism issue or a gun
safety issue, he said it

1719
01:21:00,121 --> 01:21:01,821
doesn't have to be an
either/or, it can be a

1720
01:21:01,823 --> 01:21:03,163
both/and.

1721
01:21:03,158 --> 01:21:05,558
And yet you earlier in
today's briefing and the

1722
01:21:05,560 --> 01:21:08,030
President for months now has
been saying that this should

1723
01:21:08,029 --> 01:21:11,769
be the single issue -- that
voters should use this as a

1724
01:21:11,766 --> 01:21:13,606
litmus test; the President
will use it as one to

1725
01:21:13,602 --> 01:21:15,742
determine support
for candidates.

1726
01:21:15,737 --> 01:21:16,567
Which is it?

1727
01:21:16,571 --> 01:21:21,411
Is it that voter -- that
terrorism and gun safety

1728
01:21:21,409 --> 01:21:23,609
should be
considered equally?

1729
01:21:23,612 --> 01:21:27,352
Or is the gun safety concern
the primary concern that

1730
01:21:27,349 --> 01:21:28,949
voters should use
as a litmus test?

1731
01:21:28,950 --> 01:21:30,220
Mr. Earnest: Jared, I think
you're making it a little

1732
01:21:30,218 --> 01:21:31,618
more complicated
than it needs to be.

1733
01:21:31,620 --> 01:21:36,990
I think the President is
making clear that as a

1734
01:21:36,992 --> 01:21:44,832
matter of policy, we don't
have to choose between

1735
01:21:44,833 --> 01:21:50,543
protecting the homeland
and fighting terrorism and

1736
01:21:50,538 --> 01:21:52,738
making our communities
safer from gun violence.

1737
01:21:52,741 --> 01:21:53,541
We can do both.

1738
01:21:53,541 --> 01:21:54,641
The Press: Josh, what the
President has made clear is

1739
01:21:54,643 --> 01:21:58,113
that as a political matter,
the logic gate is that gun

1740
01:21:58,113 --> 01:22:01,713
safety is the first and, as
far as we've heard, only

1741
01:22:01,716 --> 01:22:03,786
issue upon which he's
willing to apply this

1742
01:22:03,785 --> 01:22:04,685
litmus test.

1743
01:22:04,686 --> 01:22:06,586
So how do we not take that
lesson from it, if he's

1744
01:22:06,588 --> 01:22:08,358
being so clear?

1745
01:22:08,356 --> 01:22:10,456
Mr. Earnest: Again, I guess
I'm losing you on the logic

1746
01:22:10,458 --> 01:22:11,498
gate business.

1747
01:22:11,493 --> 01:22:13,693
The Press: One last
one about logistics.

1748
01:22:13,695 --> 01:22:15,465
You said that you weren't
able to give us any update

1749
01:22:15,463 --> 01:22:18,003
about travel to Orlando.

1750
01:22:17,999 --> 01:22:20,169
The President has got a
congressional picnic, travel

1751
01:22:20,168 --> 01:22:21,098
to Carlsbad.

1752
01:22:21,102 --> 01:22:23,602
Anything else that's in flux
on the calendar this week?

1753
01:22:23,605 --> 01:22:24,875
Mr. Earnest: Well, the
President's travel to

1754
01:22:24,873 --> 01:22:27,343
Wisconsin is no longer on
the books, but we'll keep

1755
01:22:27,342 --> 01:22:29,482
you posted if there's
anything else.

1756
01:22:29,477 --> 01:22:30,777
Lauren, I'll give you
the last one here.

1757
01:22:30,779 --> 01:22:32,919
The Press: In these
situations there's a lot of

1758
01:22:32,914 --> 01:22:35,414
blame that goes around.

1759
01:22:35,417 --> 01:22:39,457
And people are blaming
Muslims, and people are also

1760
01:22:39,454 --> 01:22:41,824
blaming Christians --
Christian conservatives

1761
01:22:41,823 --> 01:22:46,893
responsible for creating
an anti-gay climate.

1762
01:22:46,895 --> 01:22:51,335
What is the White House
position on Christians being

1763
01:22:51,333 --> 01:22:53,503
blamed, Muslims being blamed
-- on this blame game that

1764
01:22:53,501 --> 01:22:55,101
we seem to be playing?

1765
01:22:55,103 --> 01:22:57,303
Mr. Earnest: I strongly
associate myself with the

1766
01:22:57,305 --> 01:22:59,045
comments that were published
on the front page of the

1767
01:22:59,040 --> 01:23:00,340
Orlando Sentinel today.

1768
01:23:00,342 --> 01:23:03,612
And the President has spoken
to this in the past, as

1769
01:23:03,611 --> 01:23:08,421
well, that when faced with
adversity, there can be a

1770
01:23:08,416 --> 01:23:12,856
temptation -- and it's a
dangerous one -- to turn

1771
01:23:12,854 --> 01:23:14,324
against one another.

1772
01:23:14,322 --> 01:23:17,462
The President believes that
it's important for our

1773
01:23:17,459 --> 01:23:21,099
country to remain united,
particularly around a set of

1774
01:23:21,096 --> 01:23:24,196
core principles,
particularly in the face of

1775
01:23:24,199 --> 01:23:27,469
violent terrorists.

1776
01:23:27,469 --> 01:23:31,539
And we can have our
political differences.

1777
01:23:31,539 --> 01:23:33,209
I don't think I've glossed
over many political

1778
01:23:33,208 --> 01:23:35,808
differences in the
context of this briefing.

1779
01:23:35,810 --> 01:23:43,690
But there's a community in
Orlando that's grieving

1780
01:23:43,685 --> 01:23:45,685
right now.

1781
01:23:45,687 --> 01:23:48,227
They've sustained
a terrible blow.

1782
01:23:48,223 --> 01:23:49,863
But the rest of this country
is grieving alongside

1783
01:23:49,858 --> 01:23:51,228
with them.

1784
01:23:51,226 --> 01:23:55,426
People all across this
country have been touched by

1785
01:23:55,430 --> 01:23:57,130
this terrible tragedy,
by this terrible act

1786
01:23:57,132 --> 01:23:58,362
of violence.

1787
01:23:58,366 --> 01:24:05,036
And we don't allow the
differences of race or

1788
01:24:05,039 --> 01:24:11,449
religion, sexual
orientation, gender identity

1789
01:24:11,446 --> 01:24:17,956
to prevent us from being
able to grieve alongside our

1790
01:24:17,952 --> 01:24:19,322
fellow Americans.

1791
01:24:19,320 --> 01:24:21,890
I think that's a pretty
powerful statement about

1792
01:24:21,890 --> 01:24:24,030
our country.

1793
01:24:24,025 --> 01:24:28,835
And as our political leaders
comment on this in the days

1794
01:24:28,830 --> 01:24:32,230
and weeks ahead, I hope
they'll follow the example

1795
01:24:32,233 --> 01:24:36,073
of people in Orlando that
haven't allowed those

1796
01:24:36,070 --> 01:24:38,910
differences to divide
that community.

1797
01:24:38,907 --> 01:24:44,047
And the overwhelming
outpouring of love and

1798
01:24:44,045 --> 01:24:49,155
support and comfort
has been inspiring.

1799
01:24:49,150 --> 01:24:50,820
And I hope that people all
across the country and even

1800
01:24:50,819 --> 01:24:54,659
around the world can take
some inspiration from that

1801
01:24:54,656 --> 01:24:56,356
spirit of generosity that
we've seen on display.

1802
01:24:56,357 --> 01:24:58,297
The Press: Last
question on blame.

1803
01:24:58,293 --> 01:25:03,933
At the top of the briefing,
you pivoted to blaming Congress.

1804
01:25:03,932 --> 01:25:06,902
Congress is also
blaming the White House.

1805
01:25:06,901 --> 01:25:10,741
One of the candidates is
calling for the resignation.

1806
01:25:10,738 --> 01:25:14,108
That is also another symptom
in our country of the

1807
01:25:14,108 --> 01:25:16,748
problems that exist.

1808
01:25:16,744 --> 01:25:18,014
Why the blame?

1809
01:25:18,012 --> 01:25:19,382
Mr. Earnest: Well,
Lauren, here's the thing.

1810
01:25:19,380 --> 01:25:22,120
I don't think that there's
anything that I've said here

1811
01:25:22,116 --> 01:25:25,986
today that blames members of
Congress for the terrible

1812
01:25:25,987 --> 01:25:27,557
tragedy that occurred.

1813
01:25:27,555 --> 01:25:31,595
If anybody came away with
that impression, please let

1814
01:25:31,593 --> 01:25:32,863
me know, because I'd like
to have the opportunity to

1815
01:25:32,861 --> 01:25:34,631
correct the record.

1816
01:25:34,629 --> 01:25:39,099
But I do think that we can
and, in fact, should have a

1817
01:25:39,100 --> 01:25:42,700
detailed consideration of
what policies we're going to

1818
01:25:42,704 --> 01:25:49,674
pursue as a country that
prevent that kind of violence.

1819
01:25:49,677 --> 01:25:54,717
And it is just a simple
fact that Republicans have

1820
01:25:54,716 --> 01:26:02,756
blocked common-sense steps
that would make that kind of

1821
01:26:02,757 --> 01:26:07,467
violence less frequent and
could certainly potentially

1822
01:26:07,462 --> 01:26:13,972
prevent those kinds of
acts from taking place.

1823
01:26:13,968 --> 01:26:16,138
I'm not at all suggesting
that that means that somehow

1824
01:26:16,137 --> 01:26:19,107
Republican members of
Congress celebrate

1825
01:26:19,107 --> 01:26:20,037
that violence.

1826
01:26:20,041 --> 01:26:21,841
I don't think they do.

1827
01:26:21,843 --> 01:26:23,743
I think that there were
Democrats and Republicans in

1828
01:26:23,745 --> 01:26:26,985
Orlando that came together
and have come together to

1829
01:26:26,981 --> 01:26:30,721
support that
grieving community.

1830
01:26:30,718 --> 01:26:33,518
They came together
across party lines.

1831
01:26:33,521 --> 01:26:36,561
I'm certainly not
questioning the patriotism

1832
01:26:36,558 --> 01:26:40,628
of any Republican in the
United States Congress.

1833
01:26:40,628 --> 01:26:44,598
I'm not questioning the
commitment of Republicans in

1834
01:26:44,599 --> 01:26:48,799
the United States Congress
to caring about the death of

1835
01:26:48,803 --> 01:26:50,273
innocent Americans.

1836
01:26:50,271 --> 01:26:53,671
But we do have an honest
disagreement about some

1837
01:26:53,675 --> 01:26:55,275
basic policy choices that
does have significant and

1838
01:26:55,276 --> 01:26:57,676
profound implications for
our country's national

1839
01:26:57,679 --> 01:26:59,579
security and for the safety
of our communities across

1840
01:26:59,581 --> 01:27:00,851
the country.

1841
01:27:00,848 --> 01:27:02,818
And the nature of this
engagement and the nature of

1842
01:27:02,817 --> 01:27:04,687
our politics is that we're
going to have a debate about

1843
01:27:04,686 --> 01:27:05,916
those policies.

1844
01:27:05,920 --> 01:27:09,220
So, yes, I do hold
Republicans accountable for

1845
01:27:09,223 --> 01:27:15,063
blocking smart policies
that would make us safer.

1846
01:27:15,063 --> 01:27:18,063
And I'm going to continue to
advocate for them to do so.

1847
01:27:18,066 --> 01:27:20,566
The President certainly
will, as well.

1848
01:27:20,568 --> 01:27:22,368
We can do that without
impugning their motives or

1849
01:27:22,370 --> 01:27:24,310
questioning their
patriotism.

1850
01:27:24,305 --> 01:27:26,105
And that's certainly what
I'm going to try to do.

1851
01:27:26,107 --> 01:27:31,847
But I think what's also true
is that at some point this

1852
01:27:31,846 --> 01:27:34,046
comes down to a level
of just humanity.

1853
01:27:34,048 --> 01:27:35,718
And it is important.

1854
01:27:35,717 --> 01:27:38,117
And I think this was
reflected in the statements

1855
01:27:38,119 --> 01:27:41,159
from even some -- many
Republicans in Congress.

1856
01:27:41,155 --> 01:27:42,625
And we may quibble with some
of the wording that was

1857
01:27:42,624 --> 01:27:44,894
included in them, but I
think, by and large, the

1858
01:27:44,892 --> 01:27:48,262
comments -- even from
Republicans in Congress with

1859
01:27:48,262 --> 01:27:50,932
whom we have significant
political differences --

1860
01:27:50,932 --> 01:27:54,302
have indicated that their
concerns are with the people

1861
01:27:54,302 --> 01:27:55,702
of Orlando.

1862
01:27:55,703 --> 01:27:57,203
And that is how
it should be.

1863
01:27:57,205 --> 01:27:58,945
And that is what makes
this country great.

1864
01:27:58,940 --> 01:28:03,950
And I hope that people will
continue to be inspired by

1865
01:28:03,945 --> 01:28:07,915
that spirit and what for
the city of Orlando and

1866
01:28:07,915 --> 01:28:09,955
certainly for the LGBT
community across the country

1867
01:28:09,951 --> 01:28:13,491
will be some
difficult days ahead.

1868
01:28:13,488 --> 01:28:14,018
All right, thanks,
everybody.

1869
01:28:14,022 --> 01:28:14,722
We'll see you tomorrow.