Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Briefs Members of the Media, Jan. 15, 2026

[00:00:00] Awesome. [00:00:10] Okay, good afternoon everybody. A packed [00:00:13] room today. Thank you all for coming. [00:00:15] President Trump is making America [00:00:17] affordable again through his proven [00:00:19] economic formula of powerful tariffs, [00:00:22] fair trade deals, massive middle class [00:00:25] tax cuts, energy dominance, and [00:00:28] aggressive deregulation. The [00:00:30] overwhelmingly positive economic data [00:00:33] released this week underscores the [00:00:35] significant progress the president has [00:00:37] already delivered. Tuesday's CPI report [00:00:40] marked the latest confirmation that [00:00:42] President Trump has defeated Joe Biden's [00:00:45] inflation crisis. Since President Trump [00:00:48] took office, core CPI has increased at [00:00:51] just a 2.4% [00:00:53] annualized rate, substantially lower [00:00:55] than the 3.3% annual rate inherited from [00:00:59] the Biden administration last January. [00:01:01] Importantly, as inflation cools, [00:01:04] Americans wages are rising, giving the [00:01:07] American people more purchasing power. [00:01:10] And with what is likely recorded or what [00:01:12] likely going to be a record-breaking tax [00:01:14] refund season in the next couple of [00:01:16] weeks, the American people will be [00:01:18] reaping the rewards of the massive tax [00:01:21] cuts that were signed into law by the [00:01:23] president. Thanks to President Trump's [00:01:26] signing of no tax on tips, overtime, [00:01:28] Social Security, boosting the child tax [00:01:31] credit, and locking in the 2017 Trump [00:01:33] Tax Cuts, independent estimates project [00:01:36] the average American tax filer could [00:01:39] expect up to an extra $1,000 bump to [00:01:43] their tax refund next year. This is [00:01:45] going to be a helpful boost to working [00:01:47] families who are making ends meet. On [00:01:50] the energy front, the national average [00:01:52] price for a gallon of regular gas this [00:01:54] week fell to its lowest level in five [00:01:57] years thanks to President Trump's drill [00:01:59] baby drill agenda. According to Gas [00:02:02] Buddy, the average price for regular gas [00:02:04] on Monday was below three bucks per [00:02:06] gallon in 43 states, below 275 per [00:02:10] gallon in 30 states, and at or below 250 [00:02:13] per gallon in 17 states. In fact, gas [00:02:16] prices were below $2 a gallon at [00:02:19] stations in at least 19 states. Don't [00:02:22] forget, this was unheard of just a [00:02:24] couple of short years ago. Overall, [00:02:26] drivers are projected to spend 11 [00:02:29] billion dollars less at the gas pump [00:02:31] this year than they did last year, [00:02:34] resulting in hundreds of dollars in [00:02:36] critical savings for the average [00:02:38] American family. We're also seeing the [00:02:40] housing market rebound as borrowing [00:02:42] costs ease and income growth outpaces [00:02:45] home price gains. According to a new [00:02:47] report, also released this week from the [00:02:50] National Association of Realators, [00:02:52] existing home sales in December rose to [00:02:55] their fastest pace in three years. To [00:02:57] further improve housing affordability, [00:02:59] President Trump has recently announced [00:03:01] and directed Fanny and Freddy to [00:03:03] purchase $200 billion worth of mortgage [00:03:06] bonds. As a result of these actions, [00:03:09] mortgage rates have fallen to their [00:03:10] lowest level in years. As of last [00:03:13] Friday, rates for the average 30-year [00:03:15] mortgage are down more than one full [00:03:17] percentage point. Because of these [00:03:19] significant declines, monthly housing [00:03:21] payments are now at their lowest level [00:03:23] in two years, and we expect this [00:03:25] decrease to continue. As someone who was [00:03:27] enormously successful in real estate, [00:03:30] President Trump understands that owning [00:03:32] a home is about more than just having a [00:03:34] physical asset. It's about empowering [00:03:37] young people to stake their claim in the [00:03:39] American dream. It's about giving [00:03:41] newlyweds a place to make their own and [00:03:43] start a family. It's about promoting the [00:03:45] spirit of hard work, determination, and [00:03:48] yes, the rugged individualism that has [00:03:51] made America the greatest country in the [00:03:53] history of the world. President Trump [00:03:55] knows America is strongest when it's a [00:03:57] nation of owners, not renters. And he is [00:04:00] determined to unlock that opportunity [00:04:02] for as many Americans as possible. [00:04:04] That's why he will outline additional [00:04:06] housing initiatives during his major [00:04:08] speech in Davos next week and we look [00:04:10] forward to seeing many of you there. [00:04:12] Finally, this morning, President Trump [00:04:14] unveiled a health care plan for America [00:04:16] called the great health care plan and a [00:04:19] video message detailing his solutions to [00:04:21] lower costs for all Americans and [00:04:23] significantly improve our health care [00:04:26] system. The great health care plan will [00:04:28] accomplish this through four common [00:04:30] sense pillars. Number one, permanently [00:04:33] lowering prescription drug prices. [00:04:36] Congress can get this done by codifying [00:04:38] President Trump's historic most favored [00:04:40] nation initiatives into law to guarantee [00:04:43] Americans the same low prices for [00:04:45] prescription drugs that people in other [00:04:47] countries around the world pay. [00:04:49] Additionally, by increasing consumer [00:04:52] choice by making more verified safe [00:04:54] pharmaceutical drugs available for [00:04:56] over-the-counter purchases. Number two, [00:04:59] the great health care plan will stop [00:05:01] sending big insurance companies billions [00:05:03] in extra taxpayer funded subsidy [00:05:05] payments and instead send that money [00:05:07] directly to eligible Americans to allow [00:05:10] them to buy the health insurance of [00:05:12] their choice. Additionally, by funding a [00:05:14] cost sharing reduction program for [00:05:16] health care plans and ending kickbacks [00:05:18] from pharmacy benefit managers to large [00:05:21] brokerage middlemen. Number three, the [00:05:24] great health care plan will maximize [00:05:26] price transparency by requiring any [00:05:29] health care provider or insurer who [00:05:31] accepts either Medicare or Medicaid to [00:05:34] publicly and prominently post their [00:05:36] pricing and fees to avoid surprise [00:05:39] medical bills. This is an incredibly [00:05:40] popular policy that has been bipartisan [00:05:43] for many years and President Trump is [00:05:45] officially and firmly calling on [00:05:46] Congress to get it done. And number [00:05:48] four, hold big insurance companies [00:05:51] accountable, right, by requiring them to [00:05:53] publish rate and coverage comparisons [00:05:55] upfront on their websites in plain [00:05:57] English so consumers and everyday [00:05:59] Americans can make the best purchasing [00:06:02] decisions for them and their families. [00:06:04] These are common sense actions that make [00:06:06] up President Trump's great health care [00:06:08] plan, and they represent the most [00:06:10] comprehensive and bold agenda to lower [00:06:12] health care costs to have ever been [00:06:14] considered by the federal government. [00:06:16] Congress should immediately take up [00:06:18] President Trump's plan and pass it into [00:06:21] law. For Americans watching at home, you [00:06:23] can visit great healthcare.gov [00:06:26] right now for more information on the [00:06:28] great healthcare plan. And with that, we [00:06:30] will open it up to questions. In our new [00:06:32] media seat today, we have a familiar [00:06:34] face, Riley Gains. I'm surprised it took [00:06:36] us a year to get you here, but I'm very [00:06:38] happy to see you. I know you have a new [00:06:40] podcast, The Riley Gaines Show, and so [00:06:42] thank you. And you brought a beautiful [00:06:43] baby and your lovely husband, too. So, [00:06:45] thank you so much for joining and why [00:06:47] don't you kick us off? [00:06:48] >> Absolutely. Well, thank you. Uh, first [00:06:50] and foremost, congratulations to you. [00:06:52] Uh, being a girl mom will change your [00:06:54] life in the best way possible. So [00:06:56] excited you get to shop all the pink and [00:06:58] the frilly and the bows. Uh, I was in [00:07:01] Washington DC earlier this week for the [00:07:03] Supreme Court case. Uh there were two [00:07:05] arguments that were heard uh surrounding [00:07:09] sex-based rights and if it's [00:07:10] constitutional for states to pass laws [00:07:12] that ultimately protect those rights for [00:07:14] women. If the Supreme Court rules as [00:07:17] anticipated in favor of maintaining [00:07:19] these sexbased rights, is the [00:07:21] administration prepared to take action [00:07:23] against the states, I believe at this [00:07:25] point it's 23 states that don't have [00:07:27] those protections for women? [00:07:29] >> Absolutely. And as you know, Riley, uh [00:07:31] the administration already has done so. [00:07:33] We've taken action in a number of fronts [00:07:35] against these states who are failing to [00:07:38] uphold the president's executive orders [00:07:40] uh in this administration's policy of [00:07:42] simply protecting women in women's [00:07:44] sports and in women's uh private spaces. [00:07:46] Uh we've gone to the mat with large [00:07:49] universities in this country as well to [00:07:51] try to fight for what's fair and what's [00:07:53] just for women and girls across the [00:07:54] country. So I know you were at the [00:07:56] arguments. I listen to them myself as a [00:07:58] woman and as a former athlete and I [00:08:00] think the president speaks on common [00:08:03] sense on this issue that women's sports [00:08:05] and private spaces should be protected u [00:08:08] and that there are two genders there are [00:08:10] two sexes that is not something we [00:08:11] should be afraid to say in this country [00:08:13] and I think frankly it was quite [00:08:15] alarming to not only hear a couple of [00:08:17] justices gravel over that basic [00:08:19] fundamental biological fact uh that men [00:08:22] and women are different but inherently [00:08:24] equal but we are certainly different and [00:08:26] women deserve such rights. We hope and [00:08:28] expect that the Supreme Court will rule [00:08:29] in the right way on this matter. [00:08:31] >> Thank you, Gabe. [00:08:33] >> Caroline, thank you very much. A lot to [00:08:34] talk about. [00:08:35] >> Sure. [00:08:35] >> What can [00:08:36] >> is there isn't there always a lot [00:08:38] >> to talk about? Uh what can you share [00:08:40] about the president's meeting with Maria [00:08:41] Korea Machado? Um is it underway? Uh [00:08:45] what can you share about that? And then [00:08:47] also the president said yesterday that [00:08:48] Deli Rodriguez was quote a terrific [00:08:50] person. Does the president trust the rem [00:08:53] the remaining members of the Maduro [00:08:55] regime? I will say uh to your first [00:08:57] question, the meeting was about to begin [00:08:59] as I was stepping out of the Oval Office [00:09:01] moments ago. So my understanding is that [00:09:03] it's underway right now. I know the [00:09:05] president was looking forward to this [00:09:06] meeting and he's uh was expecting it to [00:09:08] be a good and positive discussion with [00:09:10] with Miss Mashado who is really a [00:09:12] remarkable and brave voice for many of [00:09:14] the people of Venezuela. So the [00:09:16] president looks forward to obviously [00:09:18] talking to her about u the realities on [00:09:20] the ground in the country and what is [00:09:22] taking place. As for Miss Rodriguez, the [00:09:24] president did speak with her directly [00:09:26] this week, as you know. He revealed that [00:09:27] to all of you yesterday. Um, and [00:09:29] Secretary Rubio and the administration [00:09:31] have been in constant communication uh [00:09:34] with Miss Rodriguez and other members of [00:09:36] the interim government in Venezuela. Uh, [00:09:38] they have been extremely cooperative. [00:09:41] Um, they have thus far met all of the [00:09:43] demands and requests of the United [00:09:45] States and of the president. U, and I [00:09:47] think you have all seen that play out. [00:09:49] We obviously had a $500 million energy [00:09:51] jail that was struck in large part [00:09:53] because of the cooperation from Miss [00:09:55] Rodriguez. Venezuela and Miss Rodriguez [00:09:57] have also uh confirmed that they will be [00:10:00] releasing political prisoners from [00:10:02] Venezuela. There were five Americans who [00:10:04] were recently released this week as [00:10:05] well. So the president likes what he's [00:10:07] seeing and will expect that cooperation [00:10:09] to continue. And uh regarding the [00:10:11] investigation into the leak that the [00:10:13] president referenced yesterday, what is [00:10:16] the administration's position on the [00:10:17] Washington Post reporter? The Post has [00:10:20] reported that she was told that she is [00:10:22] not a target of the investigation. Does [00:10:24] the administration believe she did [00:10:26] anything wrong? And then also, what is [00:10:27] the administration's position on the [00:10:30] Pentagon Papers case from the 1970s that [00:10:33] affirmed reporters right to publish [00:10:35] classified information under certain [00:10:37] circumstances? Well, since this is an [00:10:39] active investigation, I don't want to [00:10:41] comment on it much more than what we did [00:10:43] yesterday uh to obviously confirm the [00:10:45] investigation and I can confirm what the [00:10:47] attorney general stated and the [00:10:49] president as well, which is that the [00:10:51] individual, unfortunately, a contractor [00:10:53] at the Pentagon chose to unlawfully leak [00:10:57] classified and very serious uh [00:10:59] information to this Washington Post [00:11:01] reporter. U hence why the reporter's [00:11:03] home um was was looked into by the FBI, [00:11:06] rightfully so. And the administration is [00:11:09] not going to tolerate leaks, especially [00:11:12] from within the national security [00:11:13] apparatus of the United States [00:11:15] government that put our nation's [00:11:17] integrity and our national security at [00:11:19] risk. Full stop. The president will not [00:11:22] support that. I know the Secretary of [00:11:24] War will not support that. Uh and it [00:11:26] will not stand and legal action will be [00:11:28] taken against anyone, whether it's a [00:11:31] member of the press or whether it's an [00:11:32] employee for a federal agency who breaks [00:11:35] the law. If you break the law and if you [00:11:37] endanger our men and women in uniform, [00:11:39] you are going to be held accountable. [00:11:41] Period. Full stop. [00:11:42] >> But does this administration does this [00:11:44] administration believe that this [00:11:46] reporter or any reporter has a right to [00:11:48] publish classified information under [00:11:50] certain circumstances? [00:11:52] >> Look, I think that uh we do not believe [00:11:55] that individuals who have been given the [00:11:57] privilege of holding a top secret [00:11:59] clearance should be illegally leaking [00:12:01] that classified information. And I know [00:12:02] the American people agree with that. And [00:12:04] I think it's a basic tenant of of [00:12:06] journalistic integrity not to publish [00:12:09] information that could directly endanger [00:12:12] the operational security or the brave [00:12:14] men and women who are serving this [00:12:16] country in uniform in putting themselves [00:12:17] in harm's way to protect not just the [00:12:20] people of this administration but all of [00:12:22] you and the press and all of their [00:12:23] fellow Americans as well. Jackie, [00:12:25] >> thank you. Caroline, I wanted to get the [00:12:27] White House reaction to Iranian state TV [00:12:30] broadcasting an implicit threat to the [00:12:32] president's life. It was images of the [00:12:34] assassination attempt in Butler, [00:12:37] Pennsylvania, according to reports with [00:12:38] the message, "This time it will not go [00:12:40] wrong." [00:12:42] >> I have not seen that to be honest with [00:12:44] you, Jackie. We'll take a look and I'll [00:12:45] let the president and his national [00:12:47] security team examine that footage to [00:12:49] ensure its legitimacy. Again, I haven't [00:12:50] seen it, so I can't comment on it. What [00:12:52] I will say with respect to Iran um is [00:12:55] that the president and his team have [00:12:57] communicated to the Iranian regime that [00:12:59] the K if the killing continues there [00:13:01] will be grave consequences. And the [00:13:02] president received a message as he [00:13:04] revealed to all of you in the whole [00:13:05] world yesterday um that the killing and [00:13:07] the executions will stop. And the [00:13:09] president understands today that 800 uh [00:13:12] executions that were scheduled and [00:13:14] supposed to take place uh yesterday were [00:13:17] halted. Uh and so the president and his [00:13:19] team are closely monitoring this [00:13:21] situation and all options remain on the [00:13:23] table for the president. [00:13:24] >> True that Netanyahu encouraged him um [00:13:27] against strikes. Look, it's true that [00:13:29] the president spoke with Prime Minister [00:13:31] Netanyahu, but I would never detail u [00:13:33] details about their conversation without [00:13:35] giving the expressed approval by the [00:13:37] president himself. [00:13:39] >> Thank you, Caroline. Um, is it still the [00:13:41] president's assessment that it would be [00:13:43] very hard for Miss Machado to leave [00:13:46] Venezuela because he says she lacks the [00:13:48] respect and support in that country. And [00:13:51] will he raise that with her today? I [00:13:53] think the president's assessment uh that [00:13:55] you just pointed out was based on [00:13:57] realities on the ground. It was a a [00:13:59] realistic assessment based on uh the [00:14:02] what the president was reading and [00:14:04] hearing from his advisers and national [00:14:05] security team and at this moment in time [00:14:08] his opinion on that matter has not [00:14:09] changed. [00:14:10] >> He has also said that he would like [00:14:12] there to be elections in Venezuela when [00:14:14] the time is right. That's right. Do you [00:14:16] have any update on when that might be? [00:14:18] And is he committed to a transition to [00:14:20] democracy for Venezuela? Yes. And he is [00:14:23] also committed to hopefully seeing [00:14:24] elections in Venezuela one day, but I [00:14:26] don't have an updated timetable for you [00:14:28] today. [00:14:29] >> Reagan in the back. [00:14:30] >> Thanks, Caroline. I have a question for [00:14:31] you on Minnesota and then also [00:14:33] Venezuela. [00:14:34] >> Sure. [00:14:35] >> Um, President Trump threatened invoking [00:14:37] the insurrection act today in True [00:14:38] Social Post. I'm wondering what his [00:14:40] tipping point is like. What would it [00:14:41] take for him to invoke the Insurrection [00:14:43] Act? [00:14:44] >> Look, that's only a pres a question, [00:14:45] frankly, Reagan, the president can [00:14:47] answer. But the insurrection act is a [00:14:49] tool at the president's disposal. As you [00:14:51] know, it has been used sparingly, but it [00:14:54] has been used uh by previous presidents [00:14:56] in American history. And I think the [00:14:58] president's truth social post spoke very [00:15:00] loud and clear uh to Democrats across [00:15:03] this country, elected officials who are [00:15:06] using their platforms to encourage [00:15:09] violence against federal law enforcement [00:15:11] officers who are encouraging uh [00:15:14] left-wing agitators to unlawfully [00:15:17] obstruct legitimate law enforcement [00:15:20] operations. And if you talk to any law [00:15:22] enforcement officer, no matter what [00:15:24] level they work at, they want to be [00:15:27] working with their counterparts, whether [00:15:29] that's at the federal level or at the [00:15:30] federal authorities wanting to work with [00:15:33] their counterparts at the state and [00:15:34] local level. And it's truly shameful [00:15:37] that now for more than a year, you've [00:15:39] had elected Democrat governors and [00:15:42] mayors who have basically held their [00:15:45] state and local law enforcement hostage [00:15:46] and told them, "You cannot cooperate [00:15:48] with federal law enforcement." why they [00:15:51] cooperated under the Biden [00:15:52] administration. It's because these [00:15:54] Democrats are deranged in their hatred [00:15:56] for President Trump and they are holding [00:15:58] their state and local law enforcement [00:15:59] hostage as a result. And these Democrat [00:16:02] mayors and governors are doing this over [00:16:04] what? over the un over the the lawful [00:16:07] and legitimate law enforcement [00:16:08] operations to remove violent criminals [00:16:11] from the streets of Minnesota, from the [00:16:14] streets of California, from the streets [00:16:15] of New York, and from the streets of [00:16:17] every state across this country. And you [00:16:20] don't see these these riots uh and and [00:16:23] these this vandalism taking place in [00:16:26] states like Florida. Why? Because you [00:16:28] have a governor in that state who has [00:16:30] empowered federal and local authorities [00:16:32] to work together. And it's despicable [00:16:34] what we're seeing from these Democrat [00:16:36] politicians, especially in sanctuary [00:16:38] states and cities across the country. [00:16:40] >> Caroline, go ahead, John. [00:16:43] >> Thank you so much. Uh, my question is, [00:16:45] President Trump has talked twice in [00:16:46] recent days. Once at the Kennedy Center [00:16:48] and then to Reuters again last night [00:16:49] about cancelling the election. Why is he [00:16:52] talking about this? [00:16:53] >> I believe you're referring to the [00:16:54] president's interview at Reuters last [00:16:56] night. Uh, I was in that interview. It [00:16:58] was a closed door interview. Obviously, [00:16:59] uh, there was not audio or video. the [00:17:02] president was was simply joking. He was [00:17:04] saying, "We're doing such a great job. [00:17:05] We're doing everything the American [00:17:06] people thought. Maybe we should just [00:17:08] keep rolling." But he was speaking [00:17:09] facitiously. [00:17:10] >> And then one more on uh the labor [00:17:12] secretary. She's under investigation. [00:17:14] Has he spoken to her about this? [00:17:16] >> Um I don't know if the president has [00:17:17] spoken directly to the secretary. If [00:17:19] they have, I'm unfamiliar with that [00:17:20] conversation, but I have spoken to the [00:17:22] president about that report regarding [00:17:24] the secretary. He's aware of the [00:17:26] internal investigation and he stands by [00:17:28] the secretary and he thinks that she's [00:17:30] doing a tremendous job at the Department [00:17:31] of Labor on behalf of American workers. [00:17:34] >> PBS. Go ahead. [00:17:35] >> You were mentioning a moment ago about [00:17:36] working federal, state, local officials [00:17:38] in Minneapolis. Uh Governor Walls's [00:17:40] office is saying today that he's trying [00:17:42] to get a hold directly with the [00:17:44] president. Have they spoken? And if they [00:17:47] haven't, why haven't they spoken if um [00:17:50] there's the desire from walls as they're [00:17:52] saying to deescalate what's happening [00:17:54] there? [00:17:54] >> I'm not sure if that's a a genuine offer [00:17:57] to speak with the president. I was with [00:17:58] the president about 30 minutes ago and [00:18:00] they hadn't spoken at that point. Look, [00:18:02] the president is is always willing to [00:18:04] answer the phone when people pick up and [00:18:05] call. When there was another tragic [00:18:06] shooting many months ago in Governor [00:18:08] Walls's state, he spoke directly with [00:18:10] the governor. Uh, but I would ask that [00:18:11] the governor stops inciting the [00:18:13] harassment and illegal obstruction of [00:18:16] law enforcement in his state. All ICE [00:18:18] and federal law enforcement are trying [00:18:20] to do are remove people like this off of [00:18:23] the streets of Governor Wals's city in [00:18:26] Minneapolis and of his state in [00:18:27] Minnesota. If you look at some of the [00:18:29] individuals in this photo, these are all [00:18:31] illegal alien criminals who came into [00:18:34] our country under the previous [00:18:35] administration. This is some of the most [00:18:37] disturbing crimes you will ever read [00:18:39] about. And there's only a few reporters [00:18:41] in this room who will actually talk [00:18:42] about these individuals. This is all ICE [00:18:45] is trying to do. They are trying to [00:18:47] remove people like this from Governor [00:18:49] Wals's state. And so, yes, he should [00:18:51] pick up the phone and he should say that [00:18:53] he will cooperate with this president [00:18:54] and with the federal government in [00:18:56] making Minnesota safer because that's [00:18:57] all President Trump and his [00:18:59] administration want to do. [00:19:00] >> Mary, thanks, Caroline. The president [00:19:02] says he wants money to go directly to [00:19:04] Americans so they can buy their own [00:19:06] insurance. How exactly would this work [00:19:09] and can the president assure Americans [00:19:11] that this will be enough to cover their [00:19:13] healthare costs? [00:19:14] >> So, this is uh the second principle in [00:19:16] the president's healthcare plan uh [00:19:18] lowering insurance premiums specifically [00:19:21] uh and ensuring that that money is going [00:19:23] directly back to the American people and [00:19:25] cutting the kickbacks that then raise [00:19:26] those premiums. So, this plan uh once [00:19:29] put into legislative texts and passed by [00:19:31] Congress and sent to the president's [00:19:33] desk will stop sending big insurance [00:19:35] companies billions of an extra taxpayer [00:19:37] funded subsidy payments and instead send [00:19:40] that money directly to eligible [00:19:41] Americans to allow them to buy the [00:19:44] health insurance of their choice through [00:19:46] you may have heard it be referred to as [00:19:47] health savings accounts. Whether that [00:19:49] ends up being the actual name of such [00:19:51] accounts, we'll have to see. Again, [00:19:52] Congress and the White House are going [00:19:54] to work together to put this plan into [00:19:55] action. Um and then secondly, the great [00:19:57] healthcare plan will fund a cost sharing [00:20:00] reduction program for health care plans [00:20:02] which will save taxpayers at least $ 36 [00:20:04] billion and reduce the most common [00:20:07] Obamacare plan premiums by over 10% and [00:20:10] that's according to the Congressional [00:20:11] Budget Office. [00:20:12] >> 20 million Americans in recent weeks [00:20:14] have seen their health care costs soar. [00:20:16] Can he assure them that if this plan is [00:20:18] put in place that they will be able to [00:20:20] cover those costs? If this plan is put [00:20:22] in place, every single American who has [00:20:24] health care in the United States will [00:20:26] see lower costs as a result. They will [00:20:28] see more transparency. All of these [00:20:30] proposals that are within the great [00:20:32] health care plan are incredibly popular [00:20:34] with the American people and they will [00:20:36] impact everyone, not just a small [00:20:38] fraction of those who are within the [00:20:40] healthcare marketplace. But every single [00:20:42] American will continue to see their [00:20:43] costs go down. And I will note that they [00:20:45] already are in with respect to [00:20:47] prescription drug prices. You look at [00:20:49] what the president has done with most [00:20:50] favored nations. You've seen these big [00:20:53] pharmaceutical companies in the Oval [00:20:55] Office saying that this president and [00:20:57] his team were non-stop around the clock [00:20:59] pressuring us and negotiating with us to [00:21:02] lower the cost of prescription drugs for [00:21:04] Americans. And we are already seeing [00:21:05] that to the tune in some cases of more [00:21:07] than 500%. And that Trump RX website is [00:21:10] something that the administration will [00:21:12] be formally not launching very soon. Um [00:21:14] so Americans will have access to those [00:21:16] lower uh lower costs of drugs. [00:21:18] Josh, [00:21:19] >> thank you. The president has called on [00:21:21] credit card companies to lower cap rates [00:21:23] of 10% effective the 20th next week. If [00:21:26] they don't do that, [00:21:28] >> what's his [00:21:30] >> uh [00:21:30] >> what will he do? What's the threat? [00:21:31] >> Well, uh tariffs. No, I'm just kidding. [00:21:34] Uh the president certainly has an [00:21:36] expectation, Josh, that the credit card [00:21:38] companies will do this just as he did [00:21:39] with the pharmaceutical companies. Um [00:21:41] that they will lower costs uh for [00:21:43] American consumers. Um, I don't have a [00:21:45] specific consequence to outline for you, [00:21:47] but certainly this is an expectation and [00:21:48] frankly a demand that the president has [00:21:50] made. And [00:21:51] >> can you give us an update on the Fed? [00:21:54] Sorry. Uh, there was some reporting from [00:21:56] I think Fox Business that Rick Reer had [00:21:57] an interview this week scheduled. The [00:22:00] president's indicated he's already made [00:22:02] a selection or at least uh some he's [00:22:05] settling on someone. Where is he in that [00:22:07] process and when can we expect an [00:22:09] announcement? Is he still doing [00:22:10] interviews? Look, the president is in [00:22:11] the same place uh as you all have been [00:22:14] asking about this for many many weeks. [00:22:16] Uh he's in a decision-making phase. [00:22:18] There are um a few people who he likes [00:22:21] uh very much for this job, maybe less [00:22:23] than that. The truth is, like with all [00:22:25] decisions, it's a decision for the [00:22:26] president to make. Uh and he said to [00:22:28] Reuters in that interview last night [00:22:29] that he thinks he'll be finally making [00:22:31] that decision in the next couple of [00:22:32] weeks. So, we will see. And very [00:22:34] quickly, uh there's been some criticism [00:22:35] from other governments about uh Rock and [00:22:38] XAI, the Twitter AI bot, and things it's [00:22:40] been doing to manipulate images, [00:22:42] including whether that would violate the [00:22:44] take it down act as the first lady has [00:22:45] supported. We've not heard from this [00:22:47] administration on it. Elon Musk says [00:22:49] that they've disabled that, but I wanted [00:22:50] to ask you whether the administration [00:22:52] has a position and whether that's [00:22:53] something that you will be pursuing or [00:22:56] whether the president has talked to Mr. [00:22:57] Musk about that. Yes, I will talk to the [00:22:59] Office of Science and Technology and we [00:23:01] will get you a firm statement and answer [00:23:02] on exactly where the administration [00:23:04] stands. I don't want to speak on that uh [00:23:06] without speaking with the experts on it. [00:23:09] >> Yes. [00:23:10] >> Just to follow up on the healthc care [00:23:12] plan. Uh one of the things in the [00:23:13] Affordable Care Act was coverage of [00:23:15] pre-existing conditions. Is there any [00:23:17] discussion or an inclusion on that issue [00:23:19] in the president's plan? [00:23:21] >> Uh the president's plan that he outlined [00:23:23] today will have no impact on individuals [00:23:25] in this country with pre-existing [00:23:26] conditions. Obviously, that's a [00:23:28] continued conversation that the White [00:23:29] House will have with Congress, but [00:23:31] that's not the president's intention [00:23:32] with the great healthcare plan. [00:23:35] >> Go ahead. [00:23:36] >> Thanks, Caroline. Two questions on [00:23:37] Minneapolis [00:23:38] >> and then you go ahead. [00:23:39] >> Thanks. [00:23:39] >> Two questions on Minneapolis, one on the [00:23:41] ice age and the other on the rioting. I [00:23:43] believe last night there were uh [00:23:46] protesters or riers that rifled through [00:23:48] an FBI car, took weapons. We had a [00:23:50] reporter embedded with ICE who said that [00:23:52] she saw constant harassment all evening. [00:23:55] Can you speak to the rhetoric we're [00:23:57] hearing from Democrat politicians uh [00:23:59] whether they are causing violence [00:24:01] against ICE as well as some of the [00:24:03] headlines we've seen not including the [00:24:04] full story? [00:24:05] >> Yeah, I mean to your first point, I [00:24:08] think I've addressed that that these [00:24:09] Democrat governors and mayors in not [00:24:11] just Minnesota but in states across the [00:24:13] country are essentially, you know, [00:24:15] they've referred to ICE agents who again [00:24:17] are brave men and women. And I would [00:24:19] encourage everyone in this room and I [00:24:20] would encourage Governor Walls and other [00:24:22] Democrats who are demeaning law [00:24:23] enforcement to sit down and have a cup [00:24:25] of coffee with an ICE agent or a border [00:24:28] patrol agent. These are great patriotic [00:24:30] men and women who have families who put [00:24:33] on the uniform every day and are [00:24:35] following our nation's immigration laws [00:24:37] at the direction of of their bosses and [00:24:40] and again at the direction of the law. [00:24:42] They are simply trying to enforce the [00:24:44] law. And the Democrat party has demeaned [00:24:46] these individuals. They they've even [00:24:48] referred to them as Nazis and as the [00:24:50] Gustapo. And that is absolutely leading [00:24:52] to the violence we're seeing in the [00:24:53] streets. If you look at some of the [00:24:55] images out of Minneapolis last night, [00:24:56] look at this vehicle. Look at what it [00:24:58] says. It says F ICE. You have these [00:25:01] individuals who are uh putting their [00:25:03] middle finger proudly so at the camera. [00:25:06] Another ICE individual a vehicle that [00:25:08] was vandalized last night by these [00:25:10] left-wing agitators. People don't do [00:25:12] this without encouragement from people [00:25:14] in power who make them feel like it's [00:25:16] okay. Here's another one. And I'm pretty [00:25:18] sure this car, you can't see it, said a [00:25:21] uh the best agent is a dead agent or [00:25:23] something to that effect. This is [00:25:25] despicable rhetoric that we're seeing. [00:25:27] And the media is absolutely complicit in [00:25:29] this violence because if you look at the [00:25:31] headline from CNN, protests erupt after [00:25:34] federal agent shoots man in Minneapolis. [00:25:36] That is not the story. That is not the [00:25:38] truth. If you actually want to know the [00:25:40] truth, you can look at what the [00:25:41] Department of Homeland Security [00:25:42] released, which is that this ICE agent [00:25:45] was executing a targeted operation [00:25:48] against a Venezuelan illegal alien who [00:25:50] was unlawfully present in the country [00:25:54] foot. And when this ICE agent tried to [00:25:56] detain the individual, three more of his [00:26:00] comrades came rushing out of a house and [00:26:03] started ambushing and attacking the ICE [00:26:05] agent. They used a shovel or a broom to [00:26:07] smash his face in. And so, yes, that [00:26:10] agent had to use self-defense and take [00:26:12] up his weapon to protect his own life. [00:26:14] That is what's happening on the streets [00:26:15] of Minneapolis. That's what's happening [00:26:17] on the streets, unfortunately, of these [00:26:19] Democrat-run cities and states where you [00:26:21] have elected officials who are [00:26:22] encouraging such such violence against [00:26:25] our brave men and women in law [00:26:26] enforcement. [00:26:28] >> Thank you, Caroline. Two questions. [00:26:30] First a follow up on uh one of my [00:26:32] colleagues who asked you about the [00:26:34] president's interview with Reuters. You [00:26:36] said that he was joking about uh [00:26:39] cancelling the elections. Uh but [00:26:41] Americans for generations have fought [00:26:43] and died for democracy, for this [00:26:46] democracy. Are you saying that the [00:26:48] president finds the idea of cancelling [00:26:50] elections funny? [00:26:51] >> Andrew, were you in the room? No, you [00:26:53] weren't. I was in the room. I heard the [00:26:55] conversation. and only someone like you [00:26:57] would take that so seriously and pose it [00:26:59] as a question that way. Philine, [00:27:01] >> thank you. Caroline, um, Senator [00:27:03] Elizabeth Warren said that the president [00:27:05] called her earlier this week to discuss [00:27:07] uh, caps on credit card interest rates. [00:27:10] I'm curious, would the president work [00:27:12] with her and other Democrats in Congress [00:27:14] on a legislative fix to this issue? [00:27:16] >> I think the president would work in good [00:27:18] faith with anyone in Congress uh, for a [00:27:20] good legislative fix that would benefit [00:27:22] the American people. And that's [00:27:23] precisely why he called Senator Warren [00:27:26] earlier this week on that matter. [00:27:28] >> Thanks Caroline. Um earlier you were [00:27:30] just defending ICE agents generally and [00:27:33] earlier on Secretary Nolan spoke to the [00:27:35] media and she said among other things [00:27:37] that they are doing everything [00:27:39] correctly. Um 32 people died in ICE [00:27:42] custody last year. Uh 170 US citizens [00:27:46] were detained by ICE and uh Renee Good [00:27:49] was shot in the head and killed by an [00:27:50] ICE agent. Uh, how does that equate to [00:27:53] them doing everything correctly? [00:27:55] >> Why was uh Renee Good unfortunately and [00:27:57] tragically killed? [00:27:58] >> Are you asking me my opinion? Because an [00:28:01] ICE agent acted recklessly and killed [00:28:02] unjustified. [00:28:03] >> Oh, okay. So, you're a biased reporter [00:28:05] with a leftwing opinion. [00:28:06] >> What do you want me to do? [00:28:07] >> Yeah, because you're a left-wing hack. [00:28:09] You're not a reporter. You're posing in [00:28:11] this room as a journalist. And it's so [00:28:13] clear by the premise of your question. [00:28:15] and you and the people in the media who [00:28:17] have such biases but fake like you're a [00:28:19] journalist. You shouldn't even be [00:28:20] sitting in that seat. But you're [00:28:22] pretending like you're a journalist, but [00:28:24] you're a left-wing activist. And the [00:28:25] question that you just raised and your [00:28:27] answer proves your bias. You should be [00:28:29] reporting on the facts. You should be [00:28:31] reporting on the cases. Do you have the [00:28:33] numbers of how many American citizens [00:28:35] were killed at the hands of illegal [00:28:36] aliens who ICE is trying to remove from [00:28:38] this country? I bet you don't. I bet you [00:28:40] didn't even read up on those stories. I [00:28:42] bet you never even read about Lake and [00:28:44] Riley or Joselyn Nungre or all of the [00:28:45] innocent Americans who were killed at [00:28:47] the hands of illegal aliens in this [00:28:49] country. And the brave men and women of [00:28:51] ICE are doing everything in their power [00:28:53] to remove those heinous individuals and [00:28:55] make our communities safer. And shame on [00:28:58] people like you in the media who have a [00:29:00] a crooked view and have a a biased view [00:29:03] and pretend like you're real honest [00:29:05] journalist. [00:29:06] >> Kelly, two quick questions on Iran. I [00:29:10] wanted to ask first just if you can say [00:29:12] how close was the president to [00:29:14] potentially launching strikes last night [00:29:16] and was it the Gulf States that [00:29:17] convinced him not to do that as some in [00:29:19] the region there have said well look [00:29:21] Kelly I know there's been a lot of [00:29:23] speculation in the media about what the [00:29:25] president is going to do at any given [00:29:26] moment or any given night. Um and I [00:29:29] would say a lot of these stories to be [00:29:30] honest with you I've been reading them [00:29:32] and they've been based on anonymous [00:29:34] sources who are pretending or guessing [00:29:36] to know the president's thinking. Uh the [00:29:38] truth is only President Trump knows what [00:29:40] he's going to do and a very very small [00:29:42] team of advisers are read into his [00:29:44] thinking on that and as I just told you [00:29:46] he continues to closely monitor the [00:29:48] situation on the ground in Iran. Uh and [00:29:50] as we saw yesterday he had heard that [00:29:53] the killings and executions would stop. [00:29:54] Uh and we have seen 800 people their [00:29:57] lives have been spared as a result of [00:29:58] that. The president continues to closely [00:30:00] monitor but also keep all of his options [00:30:02] on the table. [00:30:04] >> Uh Caroline, two separate questions. [00:30:06] >> Sure. on the Mado meeting first. What is [00:30:08] it that the president feels that he [00:30:10] needs to hear from her or from the [00:30:12] opposition party that he hadn't heard [00:30:15] prior to today or or he wanted to hear [00:30:17] in the meeting to be able to convince [00:30:19] him to commit to some sort of a timeline [00:30:21] for elections? [00:30:22] >> I'm not sure the president is going into [00:30:24] such uh the meeting with expectations [00:30:26] like you just laid out Fran. I don't [00:30:28] think he needs to hear anything from [00:30:30] from Miss Mashado. I think uh generally [00:30:32] this is a meeting that the president was [00:30:34] willing to take and willing to accept to [00:30:36] meet Miss Mashado in person and to just [00:30:38] have a a frank and and positive [00:30:40] discussion about what's taking place in [00:30:42] Venezuela. [00:30:43] >> And on the subject of Greenland, Jeff [00:30:45] Landry, the president's special envoy [00:30:47] for Greenland, wasn't in the White House [00:30:49] meeting yesterday. Can you say why that [00:30:51] was and what exactly the role he is [00:30:53] playing in these conversations about [00:30:55] acquiring Greenland? [00:30:56] >> Well, the vice president and the [00:30:58] secretary of state were present for that [00:30:59] meeting. Um and the meeting it it was a [00:31:02] productive meeting. Uh it was a good [00:31:03] meeting and in that meeting u the two [00:31:05] sides agreed to really establish a [00:31:08] working group uh of individuals who will [00:31:10] continue to have technical talks on the [00:31:12] acquisition of Greenland. Those talks [00:31:14] will take place I'm told every two to [00:31:16] three weeks. So this is a conversation [00:31:17] the administration intends to keep [00:31:19] having uh with the Danes uh and with the [00:31:22] respected uh delegation from Greenland. [00:31:24] But the president has made his priority [00:31:26] quite clear. He wants the United States [00:31:28] to acquire Greenland. He thinks it's in [00:31:30] our best national security to do that. [00:31:33] >> There have been multiple instances of [00:31:35] American citizens being detained by ICE [00:31:38] and I'm wondering what the [00:31:39] administration is asking the agency to [00:31:41] do. What steps is the administration [00:31:43] asking the agency uh to take to ensure [00:31:46] that Americans are not wrongly arrested. [00:31:49] >> Um obviously uh ICE is focused on [00:31:51] detaining uh individuals who are [00:31:54] unlawfully present in the country. Uh [00:31:56] and there have been hundreds of [00:31:57] thousands of of illegal aliens who have [00:32:00] been uh arrested and detained and [00:32:03] deported from this country by ICE over [00:32:04] the course of the last year. Uh and [00:32:06] that's their intention and that is their [00:32:08] goal. [00:32:10] >> Thank you. Caroline, one follow up on [00:32:12] Greenland. You reportedly sent troops [00:32:14] over there. Does that change at all what [00:32:15] the president is doing on this? And then [00:32:17] a second question. Yesterday in a Senate [00:32:20] help hearing, a Josh Senator Josh Holly [00:32:22] repeatedly asked a doctor if men can get [00:32:26] pregnant and she did not directly answer [00:32:27] that. What are your thoughts on that? [00:32:29] >> Uh well to your your first question on [00:32:30] Greenland, I don't think troops in [00:32:32] Europe uh impact the president's [00:32:34] decision-making process or nor does it [00:32:36] impact uh his goal of the acquisition of [00:32:39] Greenland at all. Um to your second [00:32:41] question, I mean anyone uh in their [00:32:43] right mind with common sense who's [00:32:45] speaking honestly and candidly will say [00:32:47] that men cannot get pregnant. And I [00:32:49] think I can uh attest to that myself. So [00:32:52] thank you all very much.