Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt – The White House

1:06 P.M. EST

     MS. LEAVITT:  Good afternoon, everyone. 

Q    Good afternoon.

MS. LEAVITT:  How are we?  Good to see all of you.  It’s an honor to be right here with all of you.  A variety of acquainted faces within the room, a variety of new faces.

And President Trump is again, and the golden age of America has most positively begun. 

The Senate has already confirmed 5 of President Trump’s distinctive Cupboard nominees: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.  It’s crucial that the Senate continues to verify the rest of the president’s well-qualified nominees as shortly as attainable.

As you might have seen throughout the previous week, President Trump is tough at work fulfilling the guarantees that he made to the American individuals on the marketing campaign path.  Since taking the oath of workplace, President Trump has taken greater than 300 government actions; secured practically $1 trillion in U.S. investments; deported unlawful alien rapists, gang members, and suspected terrorists from our homeland; and restored frequent sense to the federal authorities.

I wish to take a second to undergo a few of these extraordinary actions. 

On day one, President Trump declared a nationwide emergency at our southern border to finish the four-year-long invasion of unlawful aliens underneath the earlier administration.  Moreover, President Trump signed an government order to finish catch and launch and end development of his efficient border wall.  Through the use of each lever of his federal energy, President Trump has despatched a loud and clear message to your entire world: America will now not tolerate unlawful immigration. 

And this president expects that each nation on this planet will cooperate with the repatriation of their residents, as confirmed by this weekend, when President Trump swiftly directed his group to challenge harsh and efficient sanctions and tariffs on the Colombian authorities upon listening to they have been denied a U.S. navy plane filled with their very own residents who have been deported by this administration.  Inside hours, the Colombian authorities agreed to all of President Trump’s calls for, proving America is as soon as once more revered on the world stage.

So, to overseas nationals who’re eager about making an attempt to illegally enter the USA, suppose once more.  Below this president, you may be detained, and you may be deported. 

     Day by day, People are safer due to the violent criminals that President Trump’s administration is eradicating from our communities.

On January twenty third, ICE New York arrested a Turkish nationwide for entry with out inspection who’s a identified or suspected terrorist.  On January twenty third, ICE San Francisco arrested a citizen of Mexico unlawfully current in the USA who has been convicted of steady sexual abuse of a kid aged 14 years or youthful.  ICE Saint Paul has arrested a citizen of Honduras who was convicted of fourth-degree legal sexual conduct with a minor.  ICE Buffalo arrested a citizen of Ecuador who has been convicted of rape. 

ICE Boston arrested a citizen of the Dominican Republic who has a legal conviction for second-degree homicide.  This legal was convicted of homicide for beating his pregnant spouse to demise in entrance of her five-year-old son. 

     And ICE Saint Paul additionally arrested a citizen of Mexico who was convicted of possessing pornographic materials of a minor on a piece laptop.

These are the heinous people that this administration is eradicating from American communities each single day.  And to the courageous state and native legislation enforcement officers, CBP, and ICE brokers who’re serving to within the facilitation of this deportation operation, President Trump has your again and he’s grateful to your laborious work.

On the financial entrance, President Trump took speedy motion to decrease prices for households who’re affected by 4 lengthy years of the Biden administration’s harmful and inflationary insurance policies.  President Trump ordered the heads of all government departments and businesses to assist ship emergency worth aid to the American individuals, untangle our financial system from Biden’s regulatory constraints, and finish the reckless warfare on American power.

President Trump additionally signed sweeping government orders to finish the weaponization of presidency and restore frequent sense to the federal paperwork.  He directed all federal businesses to terminate unlawful variety, fairness, and inclusion applications to assist return America to a merit-based society.

President Trump additionally signed an government order declaring it’s now the coverage of the federal authorities that there are solely two sexes: female and male.  Sanity has been restored.

Earlier than I take your questions, I wish to level out to — all of you as soon as once more have entry to probably the most clear and accessible president in American historical past.  There has by no means been a president who communicates with the American individuals and the American press corps as brazenly and authentically because the forty fifth and now forty seventh president of the USA. 

This previous week, President Trump has held a number of information conferences, gaggled on Air Pressure One a number of instances, and sat down for a two-part interview on Fox Information, which aired final week.  As Politico summed it up greatest, “Trump is in every single place once more,” and that’s as a result of President Trump has an ideal story to inform in regards to the legendary American revival that’s effectively underway.

And in step with this revolutionary media method that President Trump deployed throughout the marketing campaign, the Trump White Home will converse to all media shops and personalities, not simply the legacy media who’re seated on this room, as a result of apporting — in accordance with latest polling from Gallup, People’ belief in mass media has fallen to a file low.  Thousands and thousands of People, particularly younger individuals, have turned from conventional tv shops and newspapers to eat their information from podcasts, blogs, social media, and different impartial shops.

It’s important to our group that we share President Trump’s message in every single place and adapt this White Home to the brand new media panorama in 2025.  To do that, I’m excited to announce the next adjustments can be made to this historic James S. Brady Briefing Room, the place Mr. Brady’s legacy will endure.

This White Home believes strongly within the First Modification, so it’s why our group will work diligently to revive the press passes of the 440 journalists whose passes have been wrongly revoked by the earlier administration. 

We’re additionally opening up this briefing room to new media voices who produce news-related content material and whose outlet shouldn’t be already represented by one of many seats on this room.  We welcome impartial journalists, podcasters, social media influencers, and content material creators to use for credentials to cowl this White Home.  And you may apply now on our new web site, WhiteHouse.gov/NewMedia. 

Beginning immediately, this seat within the entrance of the room, which is normally occupied by the press secretary workers, can be known as the “new media” seat.  My group will assessment the functions and provides credentials to new media candidates who meet our standards and go United States Secret Service necessities to enter the White Home complicated.

So, in gentle of those bulletins, our first questions for immediately’s briefing will go to those new media members whose shops, regardless of being a number of the most seen information web sites within the nation, haven’t been given seats on this room. 

And earlier than I flip to questions, I do have information straight from the president of the USA that was simply shared with me within the Oval Workplace from President Trump straight — an replace on the New Jersey drones: After analysis and examine, the drones that have been flying over New Jersey in giant numbers have been licensed to be flown by the FAA for analysis and numerous different causes. 

Many of those drones have been additionally hobbyists — leisure and personal people that get pleasure from flying drones.  In meanti- — within the — in time, it obtained worse, as a result of curiosity.  This was not the enemy.  A — a press release from the president of the USA to begin this briefing with some information.

And with that, I’ll flip it over to questions, and we are going to start with our new media members: Mike Allen from Axios, Matt Boyle from Breitbart. 

     Mike, why don’t you go forward.

Q    Thanks very a lot.  Karoline, does the president see something fishy about DeepSeek, both its origins or its price?  And will China’s skill to make these fashions faster, cheaper have an effect on our eager about increasing era knowledge facilities, chip manufacturing?

MS. LEAVITT:  Certain.  The president was requested about DeepSeek final night time on Air Pressure One when he gaggled for, I believe, the third or fourth time all through the weekend with members of the touring press corps.  The president mentioned that he believes that this can be a wake-up name to the American AI trade.  The final administration sat on their arms and allowed China to quickly develop this AI program.

And so, President Trump believes in restoring American AI dominance, and that’s why he took very sturdy government motion this previous week to signal government orders to roll again a number of the onerous rules on the AI trade.  And President Trump has additionally proudly appointed the primary AI and crypto czar at this White Home, David Sacks, whom I spoke with yesterday — very educated on this topic.  And his group is right here working each single day to make sure American AI dominance.

As for the nationwide safety implications, I spoke with NSC this morning.  They’re wanting into what these could also be, and when I’ve an replace, I’ll share it with you, Mike.

Q    And, Karoline, you say “restore” U.S. dominance.  Is there worry that the U.S. both is falling or has fallen behind?  And the way would the president ensure the U.S. stays forward?

MS. LEAVITT:  No.  The president is assured that we’ll restore American dominance in AI. 

Matt.

Q    Yeah.  So, Karoline, first off, thanks to you and President Trump for truly giving voices to new media shops that signify hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of People.  The factor I’d add — the — I’ve obtained a two-part query for you.  The primary is simply: Are you able to broaden upon what steps the White Home goes to take to carry extra voices, not much less — which is what our founder, Andrew Breitbart, believed in — into this room, the place they rightly belong?

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah, completely.  And as I mentioned in my opening assertion, Matt, it’s a precedence of this White Home to honor the First Modification.  And it’s a indisputable fact that People are consuming their information media from numerous completely different platforms, particularly younger individuals.  And because the youngest press secretary in historical past, due to President Trump, I take nice pleasure in opening up this room to new media voices to share the president’s message with as many People as attainable.

In doing so, primary, we are going to be sure that shops like yours — Axios and Breitbart, that are broadly revered and seen shops — have an precise seat on this room daily.  We additionally, once more, encourage anyone on this nation — whether or not you’re a TikTok content material creator, a blogger, a podcaster — in case you are producing professional information content material, irrespective of the medium, you may be allowed to use for press credentials to this White Home. 

And as I mentioned earlier, our new media web site is WhiteHouse.gov/NewMedia, and so we encourage individuals to use.  Once more, so long as you’re creating news-related content material of the day and also you’re a professional impartial journalist, you’re welcome to cowl this White Home. 

Q    And secondly, Karoline, you sa- — you laid out a number of of the actions that President Trump has taken.  Clearly, it’s a stark distinction to the earlier administration and a breakneck velocity from President Trump.  Can we count on that tempo to proceed because the hun- — the — , the primary 100 days strikes alongside right here and past that?

MS. LEAVITT:  Completely.  There is no such thing as a doubt President Trump has at all times been the toughest working man in politics.  I believe that’s been confirmed over the previous week.  This president has, once more, signed greater than 300 government orders.  He’s taken historic motion. 

I gaggled aboard Air Pressure One to mark the primary 100 days of this administration — 4:00 p.m. final Friday — first 100 hours, moderately.  And this president did extra within the first 100 hours than the earlier president did within the first 100 days. 

So, President Trump, I believe you possibly can all count on to — for him to proceed to work at this breakneck velocity.  So, I hope you’re all able to work very laborious.  I do know that we’re.

Zeke Miller.

Q    Thanks, Karoline.  A query that we’ve requested your predecessors of each events on this job.  If you’re up right here on this briefing room chatting with the American public, do you view your self and your function as talking on — advocating on behalf of the president, or offering the unvarnished fact that’s, , to not lie, to not obfuscate to the American individuals?

MS. LEAVITT:  I decide to telling the reality from this podium each single day.  I decide to talking on behalf of the president of the USA.  That’s my job. 

And I’ll say it’s very simple to talk fact from this podium when you might have a president who’s implementing insurance policies which are wildly in style with the American individuals, and that’s precisely what this administration is doing.  It’s correcting the lies and the wrongs of the previous 4 years, lots of the lies which were informed to your faces on this very briefing room.  I can’t do this.

However because you introduced up fact, Zeke, I wish to level out, whereas I vow to supply the reality from this podium, we ask that each one of you on this room maintain yourselves to that very same normal.  We all know for a truth there have been lies which were pushed by many legacy media shops on this nation about this president, about his household, and we is not going to settle for that.  We are going to name you out once we really feel that your reporting is flawed or there may be misinformation about this White Home. 

So, sure, I’ll maintain myself to the reality, and I count on everybody on this room to do the identical. 

Q    And, Karoline, simply on a substantive query.  Yesterday, the White Home Workplace of Administration and Funds directed an across-the-board freeze with — with some exceptions for particular person help.  We perceive simply federal grants.

MS. LEAVITT:  Proper.

Q    It’s precipitated a variety of confusion across the nation amongst Head Begin suppliers, amongst suppliers — from companies to homeless veterans, provid- — , Medicaid suppliers, states saying they’re having bother accessing the portal.  May you place — assist us clear up some confusion —

MS. LEAVITT:  Sure.

Q    — give some certainty to of us?  After which additionally, is that uncertainty — how does that uncertainty service the president’s voters?

MS. LEAVITT:  Effectively, I believe there’s solely uncertainty on this room amongst the media.  There’s no uncertainty on this constructing. 

So, let me present the understanding and the readability that each one of you want.  This isn’t a blanket pause on federal help in grant applications from the Trump administration.  Particular person help, that features — I’m not naming every little thing that’s included, however simply to present you a couple of examples — Social Safety advantages, Medicare advantages, meals stamps, welfare advantages — help that’s going on to people is not going to be impacted by this pause. 

And I wish to make that very clear to any People who’re watching at house who could also be a bit bit confused about a number of the media reporting: This administration — in case you are receiving particular person help from the federal authorities, you’ll nonetheless proceed to obtain that. 

Nonetheless, it’s the duty of this president and this administration to be good stewards of taxpayer {dollars}.  That’s one thing that President Trump campaigned on.  That’s why he has launched DOGE, the Division of Authorities Effectivity, who’s working alongside OMB.  And that’s why OMB despatched out this memo final night time, as a result of the president signed an government order directing OMB to do exactly this.  And the rationale for that is to make sure that each penny that’s going out the door shouldn’t be conflicting with the chief orders and actions that this president has taken. 

So, what does this pause imply?  It means no extra funding for unlawful DEI applications.  It means no extra funding for the Inexperienced New Rip-off that has ta- — price American taxpayers tens of billions of {dollars}.  It means no extra funding for transgenderism and wokeness throughout our federal paperwork and businesses.  No extra funding for Inexperienced New Deal social engineering insurance policies.  Once more, people who find themselves receiving particular person asintan- — help, you’ll proceed to obtain that.

And President Trump is searching for you by issuing this pause as a result of he’s being good steward of your taxpayer {dollars}.

Q    Thanks, Karoline. 

MS. LEAVITT:  Certain.

Q    How lengthy is that this pause going to final?  And the way is the Trump administration recommending that organizations that depend on federal funding make payroll, pay their hire within the meantime?

MS. LEAVITT:  It’s a non permanent pause, and the Workplace of Administration and Funds is reviewing the federal funding that has been going out the door, once more, not for particular person help, however for all of those different applications that I discussed.

I additionally spoke with the incoming director of OMB this morning, and he informed me to inform all of you that the road to his workplace is open for different federal authorities businesses throughout the board, and in the event that they really feel that applications are needed and in step with the president’s agenda, then the Workplace of Administration and Funds will assessment these insurance policies. 

I believe this can be a very accountable measure.  Once more, the previous 4 years, we’ve seen the Biden administration spend cash like drunken sailors.  It’s a giant motive we’ve had an inflation disaster on this nation, and it’s incumbent upon this administration to verify, once more, that each penny is being accounted for actually.

Q    Why impose this pause with so little discover?  Why not give organizations extra time to plan for the truth that they’re about to lose, in some instances, actually essential federal funding —

MS. LEAVITT:  There was —

Q    — a minimum of for a — for a time frame?

MS. LEAVITT:  There was discover.  It was the chief order that the president signed. 

There’s additionally a freeze on hiring, as ; a regulatory freeze; and there’s additionally a freeze on overseas assist.  And this can be a — once more, extremely necessary to make sure that this administration is making an allowance for how laborious the American persons are working.  And their tax {dollars} truly matter to this administration. 

, simply throughout this pause, DOGE and OMB have truly discovered that there was $37 million that was about to exit the door to the World Well being Group, which is a corporation, as you all know, that President Trump, with the swipe of his pen in that government order, is — now not desires the USA to be part of.  So, that wouldn’t be in step with the president’s agenda. 

DOGE and OMB additionally discovered that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer {dollars} that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza.  That could be a preposterous waste of taxpayer cash. 

So, that’s what this pause is concentrated on: being good stewards of tax {dollars}. 

Q    And so, this doesn’t have an effect on —

MS. LEAVITT:  Jennifer.

Q    — Meals on Wheels or Head Begin or catastrophe assist?

MS. LEAVITT:  Once more, it doesn’t have an effect on particular person help that’s going to People.

Q    To comply with up on Nancy, do you suppose there can be a listing of who’s affected and the way a lot cash is affected?  How — how will these contractors and organizations know if they’re truly being — having their funding frozen?

After which, secondly, should you’re prepared, are you able to simply make clear, is the tip objective of this to basically problem Congress or to — to show that the president can withhold federal funding?  Is — in different phrases, is that this an try to select a battle to show that he can do that?

MS. LEAVITT:  No, completely not.  Because it says proper right here within the memo, which I’ve — and I’d encourage all of you to learn it — it says, “The American individuals elected President Trump to be the president of the USA and gave him a mandate to extend the influence of each federal greenback.”  “This memo requires federal businesses to determine and assessment all Federal monetary help applications and supporting actions in step with the president’s insurance policies and necessities.” 

The American individuals gave President Trump an amazing mandate on November fifth, and he’s simply making an attempt to make sure that the tax cash going out the door on this very bankrupt metropolis truly aligns with the need and the priorities of the American individuals. 

(Cross-talk.)

Brian Glenn.

Q    Sure.  Welcome. 

MS. LEAVITT:  Thanks.

Q    You look nice.  You’re doing an ideal job. 

MS. LEAVITT:  Thanks.

Q    You talked about transparency.  And a few of us on this room understand how simply clear President Trump has been the final 5 – 6 years; I believe you’ll do the identical. 

My query is, do you suppose this newest incident with the president of Colombia is indicative of the worldwide, highly effective respect they’ve for President Trump shifting ahead not solely to interact in — in financial diplomacy with these international locations but in addition world peace?

MS. LEAVITT:  Completely.  I’ll echo the reply that the president gave on Air Pressure One final night time when he was requested a really comparable query by one in every of your colleagues within the media: This signifies peace by energy is again, and this president is not going to tolerate unlawful immigration into America’s inside. 

And he expects each nation on this planet, once more, to cooperate with the repatriation of their residents who illegally entered into our nation and broke America’s legal guidelines.  Received’t be tolerated. 

And as you noticed, the Colombian authorities shortly folded and agreed to all of President Trump’s calls for.  Flights are underway as soon as once more.

(Cross-talk.)

Diana.

Q    Two questions on deportations, if I could.  President Trump had mentioned on the marketing campaign path that he would deport pro-Hamas college students who’re right here on visas, and on his first day in workplace, he signed an government order that mentioned, quote, “The U.S. should be sure that admitted aliens and aliens in any other case already current within the U.S. don’t bear hostile attitudes towards its residents, tradition, authorities, establishments, or founding ideas.”  So, ought to we take this government order as Trump saying he can be open to de- — deporting these college students who’re right here on visas, however, , maintain pro-Hamas sympathies?

MS. LEAVITT:  The president is open to deporting people who’ve damaged our nation’s immigrations legal guidelines.  So, if they’re right here illegally, then actually he’s open to deporting them, and that’s what this administration is tough at work at doing. 

We obtain knowledge from DHS and from ICE each single day.  From what we hear on the bottom, ICE brokers are feeling extremely empowered proper now as a result of they really have a frontrunner on this constructing who’s supporting them in doing their jobs that they have been employed to do, which is to detain, arrest, and deport unlawful criminals who’ve invaded our nation’s borders over the previous 4 years.  That’s what the president is dedicated to seeing. 

Q    Another. 

MS. LEAVITT:  Peter.
    
     Q    Simply following up on that, Karoline —

Q    Karoline, if I may ask you in a short time, simply following up on the query on immigration.  First, President Trump, throughout the course of the marketing campaign in 2024, mentioned the next about unlawful im- — immigration.  He mentioned, “They’re going again house the place they belong, and we begin with the criminals.  There are various, many criminals.”  NBC Information has realized that ICE arrested 1,179 undocumented immigrants on Sunday, however practically half of them — 566 of the migrants — seem to haven’t any prior legal file moreover getting into the nation illegally. 

MS. LEAVITT:  (Laughs.)

Q    Is the president nonetheless centered exclusiv- — which is a civil crime, not a — not a — it’s not legal —

MS. LEAVITT:  It’s a federal crime. 

Q    It’s a fed- — so, I’m asking although, he mentioned he was going to concentrate on these violent offenders first.  So, is violent offenders now not the predicate for these individuals to be deported?

MS. LEAVITT:  The president has mentioned numerous instances on the marketing campaign path — I’ve been with him on the rallies; I do know you’ve been there overlaying them too, Peter — that he’s centered on launching the biggest mass deportation operation in American historical past of unlawful criminals. 

And in case you are a person, a overseas nationwide, who illegally enters the USA of America, you’re, by definition, a legal.  And so, subsequently —

Q    So, to be clear, it’s not solely —

MS. LEAVITT:  — you’re topic deportation. 

Q    I apologize for interrupting.  So, to be clear, it’s not — violent criminals don’t obtain priority when it comes to the deportations happening?

MS. LEAVITT:  The president has additionally mentioned — two issues may be true on the identical time.  We wish to deport unlawful criminals, unlawful immigrants from this nation.  However the president has mentioned that, after all, the unlawful dr- — legal drug sellers, the rapists, the murderers, the people who’ve dedicated heinous acts on the inside of our nation and who’ve terrorized law-abiding Americans, completely, these must be the precedence of ICE.  However that doesn’t imply that the opposite unlawful criminals who entered our nation’s borders are off the desk. 

Q    Understood.  Then let me ask you a separate query in regards to the confusion that also exists throughout the nation proper now because it pertains to the — the freeze — or the pause, because it’s described.  President Trump, after all, ran — one of many key coverage gadgets was that he was going to decrease costs, decrease the price of every little thing from groceries, as he typically mentioned.  However in lots of the instances, it could appear that a few of these strikes may increase costs for actual People on every little thing from low-income heating — that program; childcare applications.  Will nothing that the president is doing right here, when it comes to the freeze in these applications, increase costs on unusual People?

MS. LEAVITT:  What specific actions are you referring to that will —

Q    I’m referring to LHEAP proper now.  That’s the low-income heating program, for instance.  We are able to discuss — there’s no readability, so I may seek advice from a variety of them.  We don’t know what they’re particularly.  Are you able to inform us that LHEAP — that LIHEAP shouldn’t be a kind of affected?

MS. LEAVITT:  So, you’re asking a hypoc- — -thetical based mostly on applications that you could’t even determine?

Q    No, I simply recognized — I —

MS. LEAVITT:  What I can inform you is that the —

Q    Effectively, simply to be — simply to be clear, because you guys haven’t recognized, let’s do it collectively, only for People at house.  Medicaid, is that affected?

MS. LEAVITT:  I gave you a listing of examples — Social Safety, Medicare, welfare advantages —

Q    Medicaid too, appropriate?

MS. LEAVITT:  — meals stamps — that won’t be impacted by this federal pause.  I can get you the total listing after this briefing from the Workplace of Administration and Funds.

However I do wish to handle the fee chopping, as a result of that’s actually essential, and — and chopping the price of dwelling on this nation.  President Trump has taken historic motion over the previous week to try this.  He truly signed a memorandum to ship emergency worth aid for American households, which took various actions.  I can stroll you thru these. 

He additionally repealed many onerous Biden administration rules.  We all know, over the previous 4 years, American households has been basically taxed $55,000 in rules from the earlier administration.  President Trump, with the swipe of his pen, rescinded these, which can in the end put extra money again within the pockets of the American individuals.  So, deregulation is a giant deal. 

After which, in the case of power, I imply, the president signed an government order to declare a nationwide power emergency right here at house, which goes to make America power dominant.  We all know that power is among the number-one drivers of inflation, and in order that’s why the president desires to extend our power provide: to carry down prices for People.  The Trump power increase is incoming, and People can count on that.

Q    Please share that memo.  Thanks.

MS. LEAVITT:  I’ll.

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Karoline, I believe — a number of the confusion, I believe, could also be right here with this pause on federal funding.  You’ve made it clear you’re not stopping funds that go on to people, however there actually are numerous organizations that obtain funding after which might go alongside a profit — Meals on Wheels, for one.  They supply meals for over 2.2 million seniors. 

What’s the president’s message to People on the market, a lot of whom supported him and voted for him, who’re involved that that is going to influence them straight, even when, as you mentioned, the funding isn’t coming on to their pockets?

MS. LEAVITT:  I’ve now been requested and answered this query 4 instances.  To people at house who obtain direct help from the federal authorities, you’ll not be impacted by this federal freeze.  The truth is, OMB simply despatched out a memo to Capitol Hill with Q and A to — to make clear a number of the questions and the solutions that each one of you’re a- — are asking me proper now. 

Once more, direct help is not going to be impacted.  I’ve been requested and answered about this OMB memo.  There’s many different subjects of the day. 

Jacqui Heinrich. 

Q    However on oblique help, Karoline —

Q    Thanks, Karoline.

Q    — if it’s going to a different group after which trickling down?

MS. LEAVITT:  Direct help that’s within the arms of the American individuals is not going to be impacted. 

Once more, as I mentioned to Peter, we are going to proceed to supply that listing because it involves fruition.  However OMB proper now could be centered on analyzing the federal authorities’s spending, which is precisely what the American individuals elected President Trump to do. 

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Thanks, Karoline.

Q    And one query on immigration, Karoline.  On immigration. 

Q    Thanks, Karo- —

Q    Of the three,500 arrests ICE has made up to now since President Trump got here again into workplace, are you able to simply inform us the numbers?  What number of have a legal file versus those that are simply within the nation illegally.

MS. LEAVITT:  All of them, as a result of they illegally broke our nation’s legal guidelines, and, subsequently, they’re criminals, so far as this administration goes.  I do know the final administration didn’t see it that method, so it’s a giant tradition shift in our nation to view somebody who breaks our immigration legal guidelines as a legal.  However that’s precisely what they’re. 

Jacqui.

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Karoline, on tariffs.

Q    However you made a degree of going with the worst first. 

Q    On tariffs.

Q    All of them have a legal file?

Q    And welcome to the briefing room.

MS. LEAVITT:  In the event that they broke our nation’s legal guidelines, sure, they’re a legal. 

Sure.

Q    Thanks.  On stripping safety particulars for figures like John Bolton, Pompeo, Brian Hook.  Senator Tom Cotton mentioned that he’s seen the intelligence and the risk from Iran is actual for anybody who performed a task within the Soleimani strike.  He voiced concern it wouldn’t simply influence these people however doubtlessly their household, harmless bystanders, associates — anybody who’s close to them once they’re out in public.  Is the president open to reconsidering his determination?

MS. LEAVITT:  The president was requested and answered this yesterday, and he was agency in his determination, regardless of a number of the feedback that you just had referenced.  And he’s made it very clear that he doesn’t consider American taxpayers ought to fund safety particulars for people who’ve served within the authorities for the remainder of their lives.  And there’s nothing stopping these people that you just talked about from acquiring non-public safety. 

That’s the place the president stands on it.  I’ve no updates on that. 

Q    Is there any concern that this determination would possibly jeopardize the administration’s skill to rent the perfect advisers for these sorts of positions sooner or later?

MS. LEAVITT:  No.  The truth is, I’ve talked to the Presidential Personnel Workplace who has informed me straight that there’s such an inflow of resumes for this administration that it’s extremely overwhelming.  There is no such thing as a lack of expertise for the Trump administration. 

Reagan Ree- —

Q    And would he — would he take any duty —

Q    Thanks, Karoline.

Q    — if something occurred to those individuals?  Would he really feel in any respect that his determination was a consider that?

MS. LEAVITT:  The president was requested and answered this yesterday.  I’d defer you to his feedback.

Q    Thanks, Karoline.

Q    Karoline —

MS. LEAVITT:  Reagan, because you’re within the again row, I hear y- — the again row hasn’t gotten a lot consideration within the final 4 years —

Q    Sure, thanks.

MS. LEAVITT:  — so I’m glad to reply your query. 

Q    And I can mission.  (Laughter.)

Does the president intend to completely lower off funding to NGOs which are bringing unlawful overseas nationals to the nation, akin to Catholic Charities?

     MS. LEAVITT:  I’m truly fairly sure that the president signed an government order that did simply that, and I can level you to that.

     Q    Another, Karoline.

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

Q    President Trump issued an government order on elevated vetting for refugees in visa functions. 

MS. LEAVITT:  That’s proper.

Q    A part of that order was contemplating an outright ban for international locations which have poor screening processes.  Has the president thought of but which international locations would possibly fall into this class?  Are international locations like Afghanistan or Syria into account for a full ban?

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.  So, the president signed an government order to streamline the vetting for visa candidates and for unlawful immigrants on this nation who’re coming, after all, from different nations. 

It additionally directed the secretary of State to assessment the method and be sure that different international locations world wide are being utterly clear with our nation and the people that they’re sending right here.  And so, the secretary of State has been directed to report again to the president.  I haven’t seen that report but.  We’ve solely been right here for a couple of days.

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Karoline, two questions for you.  One on the freeze in federal funding.  Who suggested the president on the legality of telling authorities businesses that they don’t must spend cash that was already appropriated by Congress?

MS. LEAVITT:  Effectively, because the OMB memo states, that is actually inside the confines of the legislation. 

So, White Home Counsel’s Workplace believes that that is inside the pe- — president’s energy to do it, and subsequently, he’s doing it.

Q    Okay.  So, they disagree with lawmakers who say that they don’t have the facility to — to freeze this funding?

MS. LEAVITT:  Once more, I’d level you to the language within the memo that clearly states that is inside the legislation.

Q    And on what occurred on Friday night time.  The — the administration fired a number of inspectors normal with out giving Congress the 30-day legally required notification that they have been being fired.  I believe solely two have been left at DO- — DHS and the DOJ.  After which, yesterday, we noticed a number of prosecutors — I consider 12 — fired from the Justice Division who labored on the investigations into the president.  As , they’re profession prosecutors; subsequently, they’re afforded civil service protections.  How is the administration deciding which legal guidelines to comply with and which of them to disregard?

MS. LEAVITT:  So, it’s the perception of this White Home and the White Home Counsel’s Workplace that the president was inside his exe- — government authority to try this.  He’s the chief of the chief department, and, subsequently, he has the facility to fireplace anybody inside the government department that he needs to. 

There’s additionally a case that went earlier than the Supreme Courtroom in 2020: Scaila [Seila] Legislation LLC, v. the Customs — the [Consumer Financial Protection] Bureau Safety.  I’d advise you to have a look at that case, and that’s the legality that this White Home has rested on. 

Q    So, you’re assured that if they carry lawsuits in opposition to you — these prosecutors who have been fired — that — that they may succeed?

MS. LEAVITT:  We are going to win in court docket, sure.

Q    And did he personally direct this, given they labored on the categorised paperwork investigation and the election interference investigation?

MS. LEAVITT:  This was a memo that went out by the Presidential Personnel Workplace, and the president is the chief of this White Home.  So, sure.

Q    So, it did come from him?

MS. LEAVITT:  Sure, it got here from this White Home.

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Karoline.

MS. LEAVITT:  Sir.

Q    Thanks.  Congrats in your first day behind the rostrum.

MS. LEAVITT:  Thanks.

Q    President Trump ended funding for UNRWA and in addition designated the Houthis a overseas terrorist group.

MS. LEAVITT:  That’s proper.

Q    Each have been selections that the earlier administration had reversed.  So, right here’s my query: Will there be an investigation into who gave the earlier administration this horrible recommendation?

MS. LEAVITT:  Effectively, that’s an excellent level.  I haven’t heard discussions about such an ins- — investigation, but it surely wouldn’t be a nasty thought, contemplating that the Houthis cer- — actually are terrorists.  They’ve launched assaults on U.S. naval ships throughout this world, and so I believe it was a really sensible transfer by this administration to redesignate them as a terrorist group, as a result of they’re.  And I believe it was a silly determination by the earlier administration to take action. 

As for an investigation, I’m undecided about that, but it surely’s not a nasty thought.

(Cross-talk.)

Josh.

Q    Thanks for the query.  I admire it.  Are you able to give us an replace on the president’s plan for his tariff agenda?  He spoke quite a bit about this yesterday, and there’s a few dates arising that —

MS. LEAVITT:  Certain.

Q    — he’s spoken to.  Primary, February 1st.  He’s alluded to each the potential for tariffs for Canada and Mexico but in addition China to take impact on these days.  The place is — what’s he eager about that?

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

Q    Ought to these international locations count on that on the first?

MS. LEAVITT:  Once more, he was requested and answered this query this previous weekend when he took a variety of questions from the press, and he mentioned that the February 1st date for Canada and Mexico nonetheless holds.

Q    And what in regards to the China 10 % tariff that he additionally had mused about final Tuesday going into impact on the identical date?

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah, the president has mentioned that he’s very a lot nonetheless contemplating that for February 1st.

Q    After which, individually, yesterday, he talked additionally about sectoral tariffs on, for example, prescription drugs, in addition to semiconductor laptop chips.  He talked about metal, aluminum, and copper.  What’s the timeline on these?  Is {that a} comparable kind of “coming days” factor or —

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah, so when the president talked about that in his speech yesterday, that truly wasn’t a brand new announcement.  That was inside a presidential memorandum that he signed in one of many first days right here within the White Home on his America First commerce agenda.  So, there’s extra particulars on these tariffs in there.

So far as a date, I don’t have a selected date to learn out to you, however the president is dedicated to implementing tariffs successfully, similar to he did in his first time period.

Q    After which — after which, lastly, he additionally was requested on the airplane when he gaggled in regards to the potential for a common tariff.  He was requested possibly about two and a half %.

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

Q    There was a report about that.  He mentioned he wished “a lot larger than that.”  Ought to we perceive that these tariffs would add up?  , in different phrases, you may need country-specific tariffs like Canada, Mexico, China.  You may need sectoral tariffs, like on prescription drugs, in addition to a possible common tariff on high of that.  Do these stack on one or the opposite, or would one kind of take priority over one other?

MS. LEAVITT:  All I can level you to is what the president has mentioned on this entrance: the February 1st date for Canada and Mexico and in addition the China tariff that he has mentioned.

He rejected the two.5 % tariff.  He mentioned that was a bit bit too low.  He desires it to be larger. 

I’ll depart it to him to make any selections on that entrance.

Q    Do you might have any touch upon what the —

(Cross-talk.)

Q    — what the Mexicans and Canadians —

MS. LEAVITT:  Phil.

Q    — have completed up to now?  Do you might have any touch upon whether or not that has met the bar of what he desires to see on fentanyl?  Thanks.

MS. LEAVITT:   I — I gained’t get forward of the president, once more, on advocating to overseas nations on what they need to or shouldn’t do to get away from these tariffs.  The president has made it very clear, once more, that he expects each nation round this world to cooperate with the repatriation of their residents.  And the president has additionally put out particular statements when it comes to Canada and Mexico in the case of what he expects when it comes to border safety.

Now we have seen a historic degree of cooperation from Mexico.  However, once more, so far as I’m nonetheless monitoring — and that was final night time speaking to the president straight — February 1st continues to be on the books.

Q    Thanks.

MS. LEAVITT:  Phil.

Q    Thanks, Karoline.  Fast programming notice, after which a query on taxes.

MS. LEAVITT:  A programming notice.

Q    Effectively, when it comes to programming, ought to —

MS. LEAVITT:  That sounds enjoyable. 

Q    — we count on to see you right here daily?  How often will these —

Q    That’s a superb query.

Q    — press briefings be?

MS. LEAVITT:  It’s a good query, April.

So, look, the president, as , is extremely accessible.  First day right here, he wished all of you within the Oval Workplace.  You bought a 60-minute press convention with the chief of the free world — whereas he was concurrently signing government orders, I could add.  That’s fairly spectacular.  I don’t suppose the earlier workplace holder would be capable to pull such a factor off. 

So, look, the president is the perfect spokesperson that this White Home has, and I can guarantee you that you may be listening to from each him and me as a lot as attainable.

Q    After which a query about tax cuts.  , the president has promised to increase the tax cuts from the earlier time period.  I’m curious, , does the president help corresponding spending cuts, as some Republicans have known as for in Congress?  And can the brand new Treasury secretary be main these negotiations with the Hill, as Mnuchin did throughout the first administration?

MS. LEAVITT:  The president is dedicated to each tax cuts and spending cuts.

And he has an ideal group negotiating on his behalf, however there’s no higher negotiator than Donald Trump, and I’m certain he’ll be concerned on this reconciliation course of because it strikes ahead.

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Karoline, within the announcement that you just made final night time on the Iron Dome, it mentioned the president had directed that the USA will construct this Iron Dome.

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

Q    If you learn into the chief order, it appeared in need of that.  It requested for a collection of research —

MS. LEAVITT:  Yeah.

Q    — and experiences again on — are you able to inform us whether or not the president has directed this and, if he’s this involved on this challenge, why the suspensions that we noticed listed by OMB included so many alternative nuclear applications, nonproliferation applications, applications to mix down nuclear weapons, and s- — and so forth?

MS. LEAVITT:  Initially, in the case of the Iron Dome, the chief order directed the implementation of the — of an Iron Dome.  It additionally, as you mentioned, sort of directed analysis and research to see if — or — or how the USA can go about doing this, notably the Division of Protection.

In the case of the opposite query that you just requested about these particular applications, once more, I’d say, this isn’t a — a ban; this can be a non permanent pause and a freeze to make sure that all the cash going out from Washington, D.C., is in align with the president’s agenda.

And because the Workplace of Administration and Funds has updates on what can be kick-started, as soon as once more, I’ll present these to you. 

Q    Are you able to make clear for a sec what you have been saying earlier than on Medicaid?  It wasn’t clear to me whether or not you have been saying that no Medicaid can be lower off.  Clearly, a variety of this goes to states earlier than it goes to people and so forth.  So, are you guaranteeing right here that no particular person now on Medicaid would see a cutoff due to the pause?

MS. LEAVITT:  I’ll test again on that and get again to you. 

Jon.

Q    Thanks quite a bit, Karoline.  As , within the first week that the president was in workplace, signed an government order because it pertains to birthright citizenship — making an attempt to get rid of that.  Now, 22 state lawyer generals have mentioned that that is unconstitutional.  A federal choose has simply agreed with their argument.  What’s the administration’s argument for disposing of birthright citizenship?

MS. LEAVITT:  The parents that you just talked about have a proper to have that authorized opinion, however it’s in disagreement with the authorized opinion of this administration. 

This administration believes that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional, and that’s the reason President Trump signed that government order.  Unlawful immigrants who come to this nation and have a toddler will not be topic to the legal guidelines of this jurisdiction.  That’s the opinion of this administration. 

Now we have already appealed the rul- — the lawsuit that was filed in opposition to this administration, and we’re ready to battle this all the way in which to the Supreme Courtroom if we’ve to, as a result of President Trump believes that this can be a needed step to safe our nation’s borders and defend our homeland. 

Monica.

Q    After which on overseas coverage — on overseas coverage, Karoline —

Q    Thanks, Karoline.  It’s nice to see you, and also you’re doing an ideal —

Q    — on overseas coverage, if I could.  The president’s dedication to the NATO protection Alliance, is it as sturdy because the prior administration?  Is it the identical as when he served as president in his first time period in workplace?

MS. LEAVITT:  So long as NATO pays their justifiable share.

And President Trump has known as on NATO Allies to extend their protection spending to five %.  You truly noticed the pinnacle of NATO at Davos final week on Bloomberg Tv saying that President Trump is true and if Europe desires to maintain itself protected, they need to enhance their protection spending. 

I’d simply add that there was no larger ally to our European allies than President Trump in his first time period.  The world, for all nations in Europe, and, after all, right here at house was a lot safer due to Presidents Tru- — Trump’s peace by energy diplomatic method. 

Monica.

Q    Karoline —

Q    Thanks.  Thanks, Karoline.  And it’s nice to lastly be known as on as effectively within the briefing room.  I admire that. 

MS. LEAVITT:  You’re welcome. 

Q    After all, we all know President Trump simply obtained again from North Carolina and California assembly with victims of pure disasters.  There’s the two-year anniversary of the East Palestine, Ohio, poisonous prepare derailment.  Does the president have any plans to go go to the victims of that poisonous spill or simply go to on the whole?

MS. LEAVITT:  Not — no plans that I can learn out for you right here.  If that adjustments, I’ll actually hold you posted. 

What I can inform you is that President Trump nonetheless talks about his go to to East Palestine, Ohio.  That was one of many turning factors, I’d say, within the earlier election marketing campaign, the place People have been reminded that President Trump is a person of the individuals.  And he, as a candidate, visited that city that was simply derailed by the prepare derailment — no pun meant — and he provided help and hope, similar to I noticed the president do that previous week. 

It was a purposeful determination by this president, on his first home journey, to go to North Carolina and to California to go to with People who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene and in addition by the lethal fires — a purple state and a blue state, each of which really feel forgotten by the earlier administration and the federal authorities.  That has now — that has now ended underneath President Trump. 

He’ll proceed to place People first, whether or not they’re in East Palestine, in Pacific Palisades, or in North Carolina.

(Cross-talk.)

Certain.

Q    Thanks, Karoline.  On California, may you please make clear what the navy did with the water final night time, as referenced within the president’s Reality Social publish?

MS. LEAVITT:  The water has been turned again on in California, and this comes simply days after President Trump visited Pacific Palisades and, as you all noticed, utilized great strain on state and native officers in Pacific Palisades, together with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, to activate the water and to direct that water to locations within the south and in the course of the state which were extremely dry, which has led to the enlargement — the fast enlargement of those fires.

Q    So, may you make clear what the navy’s function was, the place the water got here from, and the way it obtained there?

MS. LEAVITT:  Once more, the Military Corps of Engineers has been on the bottom in California to answer the devastation from these wildfires.  And I’d level out that simply days after President Trump visited the devastation from these fires, the water was turned on.  That’s due to the strain marketing campaign he placed on state and native officers there, who clearly lack all frequent sense. 

And I’ll always remember being at that spherical desk with the president final week and listening to the frustration within the voices of Pacific Palisades residents who really feel as if their authorities has simply gone insane.  Earlier than President Trump confirmed up on the scene, Karen Bass was telling non-public property house owners that they must wait 18 months to entry their non-public property.

So, this administration, the president and his group that’s on the bottom in California — Ric Grenell, who he has designated to supervise this nice disaster — ha- — will proceed to place strain on Karen Bass and state and native officers to permit residents to entry their properties. 

It is a big a part of it.  These residents wish to participate in their very own clearing out of their properties.  They need to be capable to do this.  It’s the USA of America.  What occurred to our freedom?  Clearly, it’s gone in California, however not anymore underneath President Trump.

Q    Karoline —

MS. LEAVITT:  April.

Q    Karoline, welcome to the briefing room.

MS. LEAVITT:  Thanks.

Q    A number of questions.  One on the pause.  Will minority-serving establishments, ideally faculties and universities, have these monies held again quickly at this second?

MS. LEAVITT:  Once more, I’ve not seen your entire listing, as a result of this memo was simply despatched out.  So, I’ll present you all with updates as we obtain them.  Okay?

Q    Karoline —

Q    And secondly — als- —

Q    Karoline.

Q    Additionally, secondly, in the case of immigration, there may be this southern border focus.  What occurs to those that have overstayed their visas?  That’s a part of the damaged immigration system.  In 2023, there was a report by the Biden administration, the Homeland Safety Division, that mentioned overstays of visas have been thrice greater than standard.  Will there be a concentrate on the overstays for visas as effectively?

MS. LEAVITT:  If a person is overstaying their visa, they’re subsequently an unlawful immigrant residing on this nation, and they’re topic to deportation.  

Q    And likewise, lastly —

MS. LEAVITT:  Sure.

Q    Lastly, as we’re coping with anti-DEI, anti-woke efforts, we perceive this administration may — is considering celebrating Black Historical past Month.  Have you ever obtained any phrase on that?  Something that you could supply to us?

MS. LEAVITT:  So far as I do know, this White Home actually nonetheless intends to have a good time, and we are going to proceed to have a good time American historical past and the contributions that each one People, no matter race, faith, or creed, have made to our nice nation.  And America is again.

Christian Datoc.

Q    Thanks, Karoline.  Simply actual fast.  You talked about the inflation government order the president signed, however egg costs have skyrocketed since President Trump took workplace.  So, what particularly is he doing to decrease these prices for People?

MS. LEAVITT:  Actually glad you introduced this up, as a result of there may be a variety of reporting on the market that’s placing the onus on this White Home for the elevated price of eggs.  I wish to level out to each one in every of you that, in 2024, when Joe Biden was within the Oval Workplace — or upstairs within the residence sleeping; I’m not so certain — egg costs elevated 65 % on this nation.  We even have seen the price of every little thing, not simply eggs — bacon, groceries, gasoline — have elevated due to the inflationary insurance policies of the final administration.

So far as the egg scarcity, what’s additionally contributing to that’s that the Biden administration and the Division of Agriculture directed the mass killing of greater than 100 million chickens, which has led to an absence of hen provide on this nation, subsequently an absence of egg provide, which is resulting in the scarcity.

So, I’ll depart you with this level.  That is an instance of why it’s so extremely necessary that the Senate strikes swiftly to verify all of President Trump’s nominees, together with his nominee for the USA Division of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, who’s already talking with Kevin Hassett, who’s main the financial group right here on the White Home, on how we are able to handle the egg scarcity on this nation.

As for cots, I laid out — prices — I laid out the plethora of ways in which President Trump has addressed saving prices for the American individuals over the previous week.  He appears ahead to persevering with to doing that —

Q    Karoline, what —

MS. LEAVITT:  — within the days forward.

(Cross-talk.)

Thanks, guys, a lot.  I’ll see you quickly.

END                1:52 P.M. EST