Untitled Document

[00:00:05] Good afternoon everyone. Thank you. [00:00:07] Thank you for coming today. I apologize [00:00:09] for the delay. I was once again with the [00:00:11] president. He and I were both reviewing [00:00:13] the newly released surveillance footage [00:00:15] from FBI in the Savannah Guthrie case [00:00:19] and just this heartbreaking situation [00:00:21] with respect to her mother. Uh the [00:00:23] president encourages any American across [00:00:25] the country with any knowledge of this [00:00:27] suspect to please call the FBI who [00:00:29] continue to assist state and local [00:00:32] authorities who are leading this [00:00:33] investigation on the ground. And once [00:00:35] again, I will reiterate that the prayers [00:00:37] of this entire White House are with [00:00:39] Savannah and her family at this time. [00:00:41] And we hope this person is found soon [00:00:43] and that her mother is brought home [00:00:45] safely. Uh President Trump has a very [00:00:47] busy week ahead. So I will begin with [00:00:49] some scheduling announcements today. [00:00:51] Tomorrow here at the White House, the [00:00:53] president will host Israeli Prime [00:00:55] Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a [00:00:57] bilateral meeting. The remainder of the [00:00:59] week will be focused on energy and [00:01:02] deregulation. Tomorrow afternoon, the [00:01:04] president will hold an event in the East [00:01:06] Room to tout clean, beautiful coal as [00:01:09] America's most reliable and affordable [00:01:11] energy source, especially during periods [00:01:14] of peak demand, just as we saw during [00:01:17] this most recent winter storm, which [00:01:19] impacted hundreds of millions of [00:01:21] Americans. The president will discuss [00:01:23] how clean, beautiful coal is not only [00:01:26] keeping the lights on in our country, [00:01:28] but also driving down the cost of [00:01:30] electricity across the country as well. [00:01:33] Additionally, on Thursday, President [00:01:35] Trump will be joined by administrator [00:01:37] Lee Zeldon to formalize the recision of [00:01:40] the 2009 [00:01:42] Obama era endangerment finding. This [00:01:45] will be the largest deregulatory action [00:01:47] in American history and it will save the [00:01:50] American people. $1.3 trillion in [00:01:54] crushing regulations. The bulk of the [00:01:57] savings will stem from reduced costs for [00:01:59] new vehicles with the EPA projecting [00:02:01] average per vehicle savings of more than [00:02:04] $2400 [00:02:06] for popular light duty cars, SUVs, and [00:02:09] trucks. This is just one more way this [00:02:11] administration is working to make life [00:02:14] more affordable for everyday Americans. [00:02:17] Overall, these groundbreaking actions [00:02:19] from President Trump will drive larger [00:02:21] economic growth, create thousands of [00:02:23] goodaying jobs, expand manufacturing, [00:02:26] increase consumer choice, and improve [00:02:28] affordability for millions of families [00:02:31] and businesses. Finally, on Friday, [00:02:34] President Trump and First Lady Melania [00:02:36] Trump will travel to Fort Bragg in the [00:02:38] great state of North Carolina to meet [00:02:40] with military families and the heroic [00:02:42] members of our special forces who [00:02:45] carried out the successful Operation [00:02:47] Absolute Resolve in Venezuela and helped [00:02:50] bring narot terrorist Nicholas Maduro to [00:02:52] justice. I know the president and first [00:02:54] lady are both greatly looking forward to [00:02:57] this visit. Also, the first lady will [00:03:00] celebrate Valentine's Day at the [00:03:02] Children's Inn at the National Institute [00:03:04] of Health tomorrow with children, [00:03:06] families, and NIH staff involved in [00:03:09] clinical trials. In other news this [00:03:12] week, thanks to President Trump signing [00:03:13] the largest middle class tax cut in [00:03:16] history, this is shaping up to be the [00:03:18] biggest tax refund season ever, and we [00:03:20] are in it now. President Trump and [00:03:23] Republicans fundamentally believe that [00:03:25] Americans deserve to keep more of their [00:03:27] hard-earned money, not less. Which is [00:03:29] why he fought so hard to deliver this [00:03:32] long overdue relief. From no tax on [00:03:35] tips, overtime or social security to [00:03:37] autoloan interest deductions on new [00:03:40] Americanmade vehicles, plus increases to [00:03:42] the standard deduction in child tax [00:03:44] credit. More money is flowing back into [00:03:47] the pockets of hardworking Americans. [00:03:49] We're already hearing from everyday [00:03:51] Americans across the country who are [00:03:53] reporting substantial tax savings thanks [00:03:55] to the working families tax cut, which [00:03:57] every single Democrat in Congress voted [00:04:00] against. AAC, which represents millions [00:04:03] of Americans, has heard directly from [00:04:05] more than their thousand members already [00:04:08] about how the Trump tax cuts are easing [00:04:10] cost of living concerns. I wanted to [00:04:12] share a few of those powerful responses [00:04:14] with you today. This one comes from Dean [00:04:17] and Wendy in Wisconsin who says, quote, [00:04:20] "Instead of paying out $3,700 last year, [00:04:24] we got back $2500 in refunds this year. [00:04:28] This is huge for our family." Steve from [00:04:31] California said, quote, "The new senior [00:04:33] citizen deduction is a tremendous relief [00:04:36] and has given us peace of mind and the [00:04:38] freedom to truly enjoy the retirement [00:04:40] years we worked so hard for." Eric from [00:04:44] Nevada said, "As a senior, no tax on [00:04:46] social security helps me tremendously. [00:04:49] The no tax on tips helps my [00:04:50] daughter-in-law as a waitress. The no [00:04:52] tax on overtime helps my son who works [00:04:55] constantly. Our family savings from the [00:04:58] one big beautiful bill could total even [00:05:00] more than $5,000. We love the Trump tax [00:05:03] cuts." These are just a few positive [00:05:06] examples of the everyday Americans that [00:05:08] President Trump's tax cuts are [00:05:10] uplifting. We'd love to hear more from [00:05:12] the American people across the country [00:05:14] who are benefiting from the working [00:05:16] families tax cuts. The White House is [00:05:18] also pleased to share that parents [00:05:20] across the country can now officially [00:05:22] apply to open a Trump account for their [00:05:24] child. In order to apply, parents can [00:05:26] visit trumpaccounts.gov [00:05:28] and fill out the IRS form47. [00:05:33] These Trump accounts are special [00:05:34] investment accounts aimed at providing [00:05:36] American children with a jump start on [00:05:38] building wealth for life. They have all [00:05:41] the tax advantages as a traditional IRA [00:05:44] account, but are specifically tailored [00:05:46] to build wealth the moment a child is [00:05:48] born. Thanks to President Trump, every [00:05:50] child born between January 1st, 2025 and [00:05:54] December 31st, 2028 is eligible to [00:05:58] receive $1,000 from the US Treasury to [00:06:01] fund their account. Parents, guardians, [00:06:04] and even nonprofits can then contribute [00:06:06] up to $5,000 per year. Employers can [00:06:09] also contribute up to $2,500 per year [00:06:13] per employee. President Trump believes [00:06:15] there is no better investment than [00:06:17] investing in our nation's children. If [00:06:19] you are a parent who maximizes [00:06:21] contributions to your child's Trump [00:06:23] account, its projected value could reach [00:06:26] nearly $1.1 million by the time your [00:06:29] child turns 28 years old based on [00:06:32] average historical stock market returns. [00:06:35] Safe to say the Trump accounts will give [00:06:37] a substantial head start to position the [00:06:39] next generation for a brighter future. [00:06:42] And with the stock market exploding [00:06:43] under President Trump's progrowth [00:06:45] policies, there has never been a better [00:06:47] s time to sign up for an investment [00:06:50] account like this. The Dow Jones just [00:06:52] shattered 50,000 for the first time ever [00:06:55] on Friday. And the S&P 500 and the [00:06:58] Nasdaq continue smashing record after [00:07:00] record. So with President Trump in [00:07:02] charge, Americans 401ks and retirement [00:07:05] savings are booming once again. And [00:07:07] these new Trump accounts for America's [00:07:09] kids will boom, too. So with that, once [00:07:12] again, every parent should go to [00:07:13] trumpaccounts.gov today, and I'm going [00:07:15] to put it on my own personal to-do list [00:07:17] to sign up for one as well. With that, I [00:07:19] will take your questions. Caroline [00:07:21] Downey from the National Review is here. [00:07:22] Thank you for being here, and why don't [00:07:24] you kick us off? [00:07:25] >> Thank you for having me. on the [00:07:27] criticism [clears throat] that [00:07:28] immigration enforcement has become [00:07:30] arbitrary or not particularly [00:07:32] prioritizing. Democrats have been [00:07:34] circulating the statistic that only 14% [00:07:37] of illegal aliens arrested under this [00:07:39] administration are violent criminals. [00:07:41] But we know that in deep blue cities [00:07:43] with progressive district attorneys, [00:07:45] it's common to plead down serious [00:07:48] violent crimes into less serious [00:07:50] offenses which could be distorting those [00:07:52] numbers. So given that backdrop, does [00:07:54] the administration still stand by the [00:07:56] messaging that you're targeting the [00:07:58] worst of the worst? And does this [00:08:00] prevailing narrative tell the whole [00:08:01] story? [00:08:02] >> Well, thank you for bringing this up, [00:08:03] Caroline. I've seen this CBS report [00:08:05] floating around. There's a lot of [00:08:07] liberal talking heads and pundits and [00:08:09] Democrat-elected politicians who think [00:08:11] that this single story and these [00:08:13] statistics and the way they are painted [00:08:15] is somehow a shot at this [00:08:17] administration. It is not. And let me [00:08:19] correct the record. Number one, the [00:08:21] Trump administration has been clear from [00:08:23] day one that any illegal alien present [00:08:25] in this country is subject to [00:08:27] deportation. However, the priority of [00:08:29] course is going after the convicted [00:08:32] criminals, the worst of the worst, the [00:08:34] murderers, the pedophiles, the rapists [00:08:36] in this country. Interestingly, in the [00:08:38] CBS story, what the Democrat talking [00:08:40] heads on television are not saying is [00:08:42] this line. Nearly 60% of ICE arrestes [00:08:46] over the past year had criminal charges [00:08:48] or convictions. And among that [00:08:50] population, the majority of the criminal [00:08:52] charges or convictions are for [00:08:54] nonviolent crimes. Oh, well, what are [00:08:56] non-violent crimes, you ask? This has [00:08:58] coincided with what DHS has been saying [00:09:01] all along, that approximately 70% of [00:09:03] illegal aliens arrested under President [00:09:05] Trump have pending criminal charges [00:09:07] and/or prior convictions. and these [00:09:10] so-called nonviolent crimes, drug [00:09:12] trafficking, distribution of child porn, [00:09:15] burglar, burglary, fraud, DUI, [00:09:18] embezzlement, solicitation of a minor, [00:09:20] and human smuggling, just to name a few. [00:09:23] So, just because a crime is not violent [00:09:25] in ma nature doesn't mean that crime is [00:09:27] victimless. And I can guarantee every [00:09:29] single person who is out there on [00:09:31] television right now pointing to these [00:09:34] statistics that were taken out of [00:09:36] context by CBS News would not want an [00:09:38] illegal alien convicted of the [00:09:40] distribution of child porn or fraud or [00:09:42] DUI living in your community. So the [00:09:45] Trump administration will continue our [00:09:46] focus on deporting all illegal aliens [00:09:49] present in our country with a focus on [00:09:51] the worst of the worst criminals. Thank [00:09:53] you for being here. Gabe [00:09:54] >> Caroline, thank you. Um, and thank you [00:09:57] for the update on our colleagues of Ana [00:09:58] Guthri's uh, mother. Is there anything [00:10:01] more you can share? You said the [00:10:02] president was reviewing that [00:10:04] surveillance footage. What was his [00:10:05] initial reaction when seeing those [00:10:07] disturbing images? And does he believe [00:10:09] that that suspect acted alone? [00:10:12] >> I haven't uh talked to him specifically [00:10:14] about the second point on whether he the [00:10:17] suspect acted alone or not. So, I don't [00:10:18] want to weigh in uh on the president's [00:10:21] thinking on that. His initial reaction, [00:10:23] of course, as all Americans, is is just [00:10:25] pure disgust. Uh and again, it's [00:10:28] heartbreaking to see now this footage [00:10:30] really bring to life a story we've all [00:10:32] been reading about. Uh and again, we're [00:10:34] just praying for the safety of of Nancy [00:10:36] Guthrie and that she will return home [00:10:38] soon. And the president directed me to [00:10:41] to please encourage all Americans with [00:10:43] any information to call the FBI and we [00:10:45] hope that this case will come to a [00:10:47] positive resolution as soon as possible. [00:10:49] We of course have a lot to talk about in [00:10:50] a completely separate topic. I was [00:10:52] hoping you can clarify something that's [00:10:54] come up over the last several days again [00:10:56] regarding a separate topic um in the [00:10:58] Epstein files. Um according to newly [00:11:02] released files, the president had a [00:11:04] conversation with the Palm Beach police [00:11:06] chief in the early 2000s. According to [00:11:09] the police chief in 2019, [00:11:12] um the president has gone on record [00:11:13] before and he's told reporters that he [00:11:15] said that Jeffrey said he had no idea [00:11:17] about Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. During [00:11:19] this um conversation with the police [00:11:22] chief, however, um he did say according [00:11:25] to this uh recounting of it that thank [00:11:27] goodness you're stopping him. He also [00:11:29] called Maxwell evil. So my two questions [00:11:32] are, did that conversation of the Palm [00:11:34] Police Palm Beach police chief happen? [00:11:36] And can you explain the discrepancy? [00:11:39] >> What I will say is that the president [00:11:40] has always remained consistent and that [00:11:43] he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his [00:11:45] club at Mara Lago because frankly [00:11:46] Jeffrey Epste was a creep. And unlike [00:11:49] many other people who are named in these [00:11:51] files, uh, President Trump cut off his [00:11:53] relationship with Jeffrey Epstein uh, [00:11:55] and was honest and transparent about [00:11:57] that for years and years. And so I think [00:11:59] what the president has said all along [00:12:00] has always remained true. And the [00:12:02] release of more than three million [00:12:04] documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and [00:12:06] his heinous disgusting crimes just shows [00:12:09] the level of transparency that this [00:12:11] president and administration has [00:12:12] committed to uh in in bringing u these [00:12:15] files to light. [00:12:16] >> But did he call the chief in 2006? [00:12:18] Caroline, did he call the chief? [00:12:19] >> Look, it was a phone call that may or [00:12:22] may not have happened in 2006. I don't [00:12:24] know the answer to that question. What [00:12:25] I'm telling you is that what President [00:12:27] Trump has always said is that he kicked [00:12:29] Jeffrey Epstein out of his Mara Lago [00:12:31] club because Jeffrey Epstein was a [00:12:33] creep. Uh, and that remains true. And [00:12:35] this call, if it did happen, [00:12:36] corroborates exactly what President [00:12:38] Trump has said from the beginning. And [00:12:40] I'm sure many of you when you read that [00:12:42] that alleged FBI report probably thought [00:12:45] to yourself, "Wow, this really cracks [00:12:46] our narrative that we've been trying to [00:12:48] push about this president for many [00:12:50] years." So, uh, we're moving on from [00:12:52] that. Reagan, [00:12:53] >> thanks Caroline. Uh, I want to ask you [00:12:55] about the Save Act. NBC reported that [00:12:57] there's some hesitation among House [00:12:59] Republicans on adding absentee ballot [00:13:02] restrictions into the Save Act. Can you [00:13:05] explain what the hesitation is among [00:13:07] House Republicans and also just provide [00:13:09] a status of negotiations with Congress [00:13:11] on the legislature? [00:13:12] >> Sure. I can't speak for House [00:13:14] Republicans Reagan. I can obviously [00:13:15] speak for the president who is possib [00:13:18] quite possibly the strongest supporter [00:13:20] of the Save America Act which as you [00:13:22] know uh would require uh proof of [00:13:25] citizenship to register to vote. It [00:13:27] would require uh proof of [00:13:29] identification, a photo identification [00:13:31] before casting a ballot. Uh and it would [00:13:33] also ensure uh that there are exceptions [00:13:36] made. I think that's what you're [00:13:37] alluding to with these conversations [00:13:38] with House Republicans for reasonable [00:13:41] requests, of course, for our military, [00:13:43] uh, for individuals who are disabled and [00:13:45] cannot make it to the polls. Those are [00:13:46] reasonable common sense things that I [00:13:48] believe House Republicans are discussing [00:13:49] amongst themselves. But as for the [00:13:51] president, he's been very clear. He [00:13:53] wants House Republicans and Democrats, [00:13:55] too, if they were politically wise, to [00:13:57] pass this legislation, for the Senate to [00:13:59] pass it, to send it to the president's [00:14:00] desk so it can be signed into law. [00:14:02] >> A quick followup. I'm wondering when the [00:14:04] last time the president spoke to Leader [00:14:05] Thoon was and if he discussed using the [00:14:08] standing filibuster to pass legislation. [00:14:10] >> The president has given his position on [00:14:12] the standing filibuster. As for his most [00:14:14] recent conversation with with Leader [00:14:15] Thoon, frankly, I'm not sure. I do know [00:14:17] they speak very frequently. The [00:14:18] president's in constant communication [00:14:20] with both leader Thun and the House [00:14:22] Speaker Mike Johnson. [00:14:24] >> Stephen, [00:14:25] >> I see we switched up our seating chart. [00:14:27] >> You're direct line of sight now. [00:14:29] Congratulations. Well, thank you for [00:14:31] response association for recognizing the [00:14:33] New York Post's reach. Um, I've got two [00:14:36] questions for you. Um, [snorts] one [00:14:37] about the Guthrie case and then another [00:14:39] about infrastructure. Um, on the Guthri [00:14:42] case, uh, does President Trump have a [00:14:44] warning to the culprits here about what [00:14:47] would happen to them, what federal [00:14:48] consequences they would face if they do [00:14:50] not release Nancy Guthrie unarmed? I [00:14:53] think anyone who was involved in this [00:14:55] depraved crime, this abduction, uh, of [00:14:58] course we want to be seen held to the [00:15:00] fullest extent of the law possible. [00:15:03] >> And on infrastructure, um, can you [00:15:05] explain why President Trump asked, uh, [00:15:07] Chuck Schumer to help him rename Penn [00:15:09] Station and Delos Airport after himself? [00:15:12] Um, why is he interested in having his [00:15:14] name on those two buildings? And uh why [00:15:17] are the gateway tunnel funds the proper [00:15:20] um point of pressure to get that to [00:15:22] happen? [00:15:22] >> Uh to your first question about the [00:15:24] renaming, why not? It was something the [00:15:26] president floated in his conversation [00:15:27] with uh with Chuck Schumer. As for the [00:15:30] funding, the president has addressed [00:15:32] that separately himself. [00:15:33] >> Danny, [00:15:33] >> thanks. Um today the the vice [00:15:36] president's account [00:15:37] >> [clears throat] [00:15:37] >> uh posted and then deleted a tweet about [00:15:39] the Armenian genocide. Um, and then last [00:15:41] week, President Trump's truth social [00:15:43] account uh post and then deleted a [00:15:45] racist um video about the Obamas. Um, [00:15:48] and the White House again blamed that on [00:15:50] staffer. I wanted to ask you, does the [00:15:52] White House have a a a social media [00:15:55] problem at the moment? Do you have an [00:15:56] autoposting problem um that's leading to [00:15:59] these uh mistakes? [00:16:00] >> No. Uh, as for the Armenian uh tweet [00:16:04] that you're referring to, I would just [00:16:05] refer you back to the White House's uh [00:16:07] message that was issued on Armenian [00:16:09] Remembrance Day. And there's been no [00:16:10] change of policy at this time. Mary, [00:16:13] >> thanks Caroline. Uh, when the president [00:16:15] goes to Beijing in this spring, does he [00:16:17] have plans to try and advocate on behalf [00:16:19] of Jimmy Lie who was just sentenced to [00:16:20] 20 years yesterday? [00:16:22] >> This is something I've heard the [00:16:23] president advocate for both publicly and [00:16:25] privately. I had the honor of being in [00:16:28] that meeting uh with uh President Trump [00:16:30] and President Xi in South Korea that [00:16:31] took place and this was brought up by [00:16:33] the president himself. Uh it is [00:16:35] important to him uh and he looks forward [00:16:36] to visiting China in April. Caroline, [00:16:39] >> go ahead. [00:16:39] >> Thanks, Caroline. So, some Republican [00:16:41] lawmakers from Nebraska have said [00:16:43] they're worried that the Argentinian [00:16:45] beef executive order will sideline some [00:16:47] American ranchers. How will the Trump [00:16:49] administration make sure prices go down [00:16:51] for consumers without harming those [00:16:52] ranchers? [00:16:53] >> Of course. Well, both things can happen [00:16:55] at the same time. That's the president's [00:16:57] belief. He wants to see prices come [00:16:58] down. In fact, I just overheard him on [00:17:00] the phone with Secretary Rollins. They [00:17:02] were talking about something different, [00:17:03] but he's always saying we got to make [00:17:04] sure that prices continue to come down. [00:17:06] And as you know, Secretary Rollins [00:17:07] successfully did that with respect to [00:17:09] ice uh egg prices. Cattle uh beef prices [00:17:12] are coming down uh slightly and the [00:17:14] president wants to see that continue. Uh [00:17:16] he believes that uh a a minor import to [00:17:20] the country with cattle might be a a [00:17:23] short-term solution uh with respect to [00:17:26] bringing down prices. But of course [00:17:27] protecting our American cattle and [00:17:29] rancher industry is a priority for the [00:17:31] president and he's in touch with those [00:17:32] stakeholders. We've had them here at the [00:17:34] White House a few times in the in recent [00:17:35] months to discuss this issue directly. [00:17:38] >> Um, John, [00:17:39] >> thanks a lot, Caroline. Yesterday, the [00:17:41] president on social media threatened to [00:17:44] block the new Gordy How Bridge, which [00:17:46] would connect Detroit to Canada. This is [00:17:49] a bridge that was fully paid for by [00:17:51] Canada. It used American labor to [00:17:54] construct it. It used American steel uh [00:17:58] to construct that bridge. The president [00:17:59] in 2017 was actually in favor of this [00:18:02] bridge. Uh part of a joint statement [00:18:04] that he put out when he met with the [00:18:05] Canadian prime minister. Why has the [00:18:08] president changed his mind as it relates [00:18:10] to this bridge? [00:18:11] >> I think the president was very clear and [00:18:12] direct in his truth. John, but just to [00:18:14] reiterate, the fact that Canada will [00:18:16] control what crosses the Gordy How [00:18:18] Bridge and owns the land on both sides [00:18:20] is unacceptable to the president. It's [00:18:22] also unacceptable that more of this [00:18:24] bridge isn't being built with more [00:18:26] Americanmade materials. uh even more so [00:18:29] than what President Barack Obama [00:18:31] committed to with the Canadians at the [00:18:32] time at the start of the project. He [00:18:34] also believes that the US should own at [00:18:36] least half of the bridge, have shared [00:18:38] authority over what passes across it and [00:18:40] participate in the economic benefits [00:18:42] generated by its use. This is just [00:18:44] another example of President Trump [00:18:46] putting America's interests first. Uh [00:18:48] and so he um made that very clear in his [00:18:52] call with Prime Minister Carney earlier [00:18:53] today. [00:18:55] >> Uh Phil, [00:18:56] >> thank you Caroline. Um DHS Secretary [00:18:58] Chrissy [clears throat] No just posted a [00:19:00] photo of herself signing the last [00:19:02] contract for steel build [00:19:05] um between Laredo Del Rio and Big Ben, [00:19:09] Texas among reports that construction [00:19:11] had stalled. Is the president satisfied [00:19:13] with the pace of construction? [00:19:16] >> Uh the president wants to make sure that [00:19:17] the full border wall is built as quickly [00:19:19] as possible. Of course, I know this is a [00:19:21] priority for him dating back to 2016. [00:19:24] And so, absolutely, he wants to ensure [00:19:26] that the border wall is built uh under [00:19:29] under uh budget uh and ahead of schedule [00:19:32] is uh how President Trump likes to view [00:19:35] building projects and that includes the [00:19:36] build border wall. [00:19:37] >> Satisfied with the pace of construction [00:19:39] thus far? [00:19:40] >> I think the president is never [00:19:41] satisfied. He always wants to ensure [00:19:43] that things are moving along as quickly [00:19:44] as possible. But I know Secretary Noom [00:19:46] is on it and she's doing a great job. [00:19:48] >> You're welcome. Um, sure. Go ahead. [00:19:52] >> Thank you. On the on the U Nancy Guthrie [00:19:55] case, is the president satisfied with [00:19:56] the federal and local investigation so [00:19:59] far? And has there been any more contact [00:20:01] from the White House or the president [00:20:03] with family? [00:20:04] >> I don't think anybody will be satisfied [00:20:06] until this case is brought to a close [00:20:07] and until Nancy Guthrie is returned home [00:20:10] safely with her loved ones. [00:20:11] >> About the White House contacts, has the [00:20:13] president contacted the family since? [00:20:15] >> Uh, not since that initial phone call. [00:20:17] Sure, [00:20:18] Tamara. [00:20:19] >> Um, thank you. Um, the National [00:20:20] Governor's Association is removing a [00:20:23] meeting with President Trump from his [00:20:24] agenda because only Republicans were [00:20:26] invited. Is the White House [00:20:28] reconsidering inviting Democrats or or [00:20:31] do you think Republicans are still going [00:20:32] to show up? Like, where does that stand [00:20:34] now? [00:20:34] >> No, look, I just spoke with the [00:20:36] president about this. It is a dinner at [00:20:38] the White House. It's the people's [00:20:40] house. It's also the president's home. [00:20:41] And so he can invite whomever he wants [00:20:44] to dinners and events here at the White [00:20:45] House. I believe uh Governor Moore was [00:20:48] invited last year and he did not show up [00:20:50] uh to the dinner last year. Nobody [00:20:52] reported on it. Uh but again, the [00:20:54] president has the discretion to invite [00:20:55] whomever he wants to the White House and [00:20:57] he welcomes all those who received an [00:20:58] invitation to come and if they don't [00:21:00] want to, that's their loss. [00:21:01] >> And on Gla Maxwell, is the president [00:21:04] going to rule out a pardon for her? uh [00:21:07] in her uh testimony deposition [00:21:10] yesterday, her legal team seemed to be [00:21:12] making a case again for a pardon from [00:21:14] the president. [00:21:15] >> Again, this is not something I've [00:21:16] discussed with the president recently [00:21:18] because frankly it's not a priority. [00:21:19] He's focused on uh many of the issues [00:21:22] that the American people are dealing [00:21:23] with and and providing solutions to [00:21:25] those issues. U so I haven't spoken with [00:21:27] him him recently. Last time we did speak [00:21:29] about it, he said it's not something [00:21:30] he's considering or thinking about. [00:21:33] >> Go ahead, Bloomberg. [00:21:34] >> Thanks, Caroline. Um, uh, Secretary [00:21:36] Lutnik today was testifying on the Hill [00:21:38] and he said that he had visited, um, [00:21:40] Epstein's island in 2012 with his wife [00:21:42] and children. Um, and that's after he [00:21:45] said that he had cut ties with Epstein [00:21:46] and, uh, Justice Department documents [00:21:49] show that he was in contact with Epstein [00:21:51] uh, through 2018 over messages. So, does [00:21:54] the White House stand behind uh [00:21:56] Secretary Lutnik right now or given what [00:21:59] he has said today, has there been any [00:22:00] shift in how the White House is viewing [00:22:03] um Secretary Lutnik's performance? [00:22:05] >> No. Secretary Lutnik remains a very [00:22:06] important member of President Trump's [00:22:08] team and the president fully supports [00:22:10] the secretary. Uh I will just point out [00:22:12] that there are a lot of wins in the news [00:22:14] this week that people in this room have [00:22:15] not asked about because you continue to [00:22:17] ask questions about the same subject. [00:22:19] So, let me point them out for you. [00:22:20] Again, on Friday, the DAO shattered [00:22:22] 50,000 for the first time ever. Uh, this [00:22:24] week, the American Society of Plastic [00:22:26] Surgeons came out in opposition to [00:22:28] gender mutilation surgeries for [00:22:30] children. They are the first major [00:22:32] medical group to do so. A federal [00:22:34] appeals court today, nobody asked about [00:22:36] that, just upheld the Trump [00:22:37] administration's policy of detaining [00:22:40] illegal aliens, validating the strong [00:22:42] measures that have driven illegal [00:22:43] crossings to historic lows, and sent a [00:22:45] crystal clear message that under [00:22:47] President Trump, if you enter the [00:22:49] country illegally, you will be detained [00:22:51] and removed. The murder rate, again, not [00:22:53] a single question about this, has [00:22:55] plunged to a 125-year low as crime falls [00:22:59] across the board thanks to President [00:23:00] Trump's crime crackdown. Uh we also saw [00:23:03] this week national median rents have [00:23:05] fallen to a four-year low following six [00:23:08] consecutive monthly declines and [00:23:10] mortgage affordability has surged to a [00:23:12] 4-year high. Home ownership is the core [00:23:15] foundation principle of the American [00:23:17] dream. And I will repeat that mortgage [00:23:19] affordability this week surged to a [00:23:21] four-year high but not a single of [00:23:23] mention of that in this briefing room [00:23:24] today. And again, this came out last [00:23:26] Friday, but for an unprecedented ninth [00:23:29] straight month, there were zero illegal [00:23:31] border crossings at the southern border. [00:23:32] So, we're going to get back to business. [00:23:34] The president is very busy today, and [00:23:36] you will see him all tomorrow at the [00:23:37] event in the East Room touting his [00:23:39] administration's energy policy. Thank [00:23:41] you.