Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Briefs Members of the Media, Jan. 7, 2026

[00:00:10] [snorts] [00:00:11] [clears throat] [00:01:18] Hello everybody. Good morning. [00:01:20] >> Yes, come on up, everyone. [00:01:23] Lovely officials with me today. [00:01:26] All right, Dr. Carson, come on up. Thank [00:01:29] you so much. Good morning and happy new [00:01:31] year, everybody. It's great to see you. [00:01:33] It's great to be with a very packed [00:01:34] room. I'm sorry we kept you all very [00:01:36] busy over the holiday break. Um, and I [00:01:39] know there is a lot of news out there [00:01:41] today, both here at home and around the [00:01:43] world. I will be happy to take all of [00:01:45] your questions on all of that news. But [00:01:48] first, I'm really honored to be standing [00:01:50] up here today with esteemed members of [00:01:52] the president's cabinet and his health [00:01:54] team to make an important announcement [00:01:56] with respect to the president's domestic [00:01:58] promise to make America healthy again as [00:02:01] we kick off the new year. In less than a [00:02:04] year in office, the president and his [00:02:05] incredible Maha team have made real [00:02:08] progress on this front. Here are just a [00:02:10] few of the significant Maha achievements [00:02:13] thus far. More than a dozen food [00:02:16] manufacturers and trade associations [00:02:18] have made commitments to remove [00:02:20] artificial and petroleum based food dyes [00:02:22] from their products. The Trump [00:02:24] administration took strong action to bar [00:02:27] hospitals from performing dangerous, [00:02:29] irreversible, lifealtering transgender [00:02:32] procedures on children. The Trump [00:02:35] administration announced funding awards [00:02:37] to states through the rural health [00:02:39] transformation program, an unprecedented [00:02:42] $50 billion investment established under [00:02:45] President Trump's one big beautiful [00:02:47] bill. The Trump administration has also [00:02:49] worked with 18 states across the country [00:02:52] to ban junk food purchases using SNAP [00:02:54] benefits starting this year. And thank [00:02:56] you for leading that effort, Secretary [00:02:58] Rollins. Additionally, President Trump [00:03:01] took historic action to secure most [00:03:03] favored nation drug pricing and secured [00:03:06] deals with major pharmaceutical [00:03:08] companies to massively lower the cost of [00:03:11] prescription drugs. And those effects [00:03:14] are being implemented as we speak. [00:03:16] Americans are going to continue to see [00:03:18] the result of these incredible deals the [00:03:20] president cut. And I know President [00:03:22] Trump and this team behind me worked [00:03:23] incredibly hard to lower those drug [00:03:26] costs for Americans. On Monday, the CDC [00:03:29] adopted common sense updates to [00:03:31] America's childhood vaccination schedule [00:03:33] based solely on the gold standard of [00:03:36] science. This action empowers parents [00:03:38] and physicians to make the best [00:03:40] individualized decisions to protect our [00:03:43] children while also restoring muchneeded [00:03:45] confidence in our public health system. [00:03:47] And as a Maha mom myself, I'm very [00:03:49] grateful for that. So, thank you, [00:03:51] Secretary Kennedy. To build on this [00:03:53] progress, the Trump administration is [00:03:55] now updating federal nutrition standards [00:03:58] and guidelines to ensure that Americans [00:04:00] have the most accurate data-driven [00:04:02] information supported by science in hard [00:04:05] facts, not special interests or partisan [00:04:08] ideology. President Trump has tasked two [00:04:11] of the great individuals behind me, USDA [00:04:13] Secretary Rollins and HHS Secretary [00:04:16] Kennedy, with collaborating on this [00:04:18] vitally important project. and today [00:04:20] they are here to officially unveil the [00:04:22] 2025 to 2030 dietary guidelines for [00:04:26] America. These new guidelines are [00:04:28] informed by the best and most reliable [00:04:30] research on health and nutrition [00:04:32] particularly as it relates to the role [00:04:34] of our diets in the prevalence of [00:04:36] chronic disease in the country. They are [00:04:38] also uh these uh guidelines are easy to [00:04:41] read and understand so every American [00:04:44] young and old can access this [00:04:45] information that literally has the power [00:04:48] to change lives. But these are not just [00:04:50] an updated guideline. These are the [00:04:53] foundation to all federal food programs [00:04:56] in our country. These new guidelines are [00:04:58] going to update the food that is served [00:05:00] to America's children in our public [00:05:02] schools, to the plates that are served [00:05:04] to our great men in uniform, in our [00:05:07] military, our veterans and the food that [00:05:09] they are consuming at the VA. And these [00:05:11] new guidelines are also going to impact [00:05:13] nutritional programs for the needy in [00:05:15] our country such as Wick and Head Start. [00:05:18] Unfortunately, for decades, federal [00:05:21] dollars have has promoted lowquality, [00:05:23] highly processed foods that lead to [00:05:26] scores of long-term health issues, which [00:05:28] means Americans have gone broke because [00:05:31] of these health issues. Faulty dietary [00:05:34] guidelines of the past stacked the deck [00:05:36] against healthy eating and food options [00:05:38] for everyday American families, which [00:05:40] has fueled the chronic disease epidemic [00:05:42] and jacked up the health care costs of [00:05:44] households across the country. This [00:05:46] failed approach in our public health [00:05:48] system ends today. When these guidelines [00:05:50] are followed, Americans will be saving [00:05:53] themselves thousands of dollars. If we [00:05:56] want to help cut health care costs in [00:05:57] our country, we must become a healthier [00:06:00] country. According to the CEA, poor diet [00:06:03] is the root cause of obesity, which [00:06:05] accounts for $400 billion in medical [00:06:08] spending each year. A healthier America [00:06:11] will lead to a more affordable America. [00:06:14] The new dietary guidelines from the [00:06:15] Trump administration will ensure federal [00:06:17] dollars go to real food to improve [00:06:19] public health and therefore save the [00:06:22] American people their hardearn [00:06:24] hard-earned cash over the course of [00:06:26] their lives. So with that, I am going to [00:06:28] hand it over to Secretary Kennedy. The [00:06:30] great people behind me will give remarks [00:06:32] and then we'll get into Q&A for the [00:06:34] officials that are here on this specific [00:06:36] topic. They will leave because they're [00:06:38] all very busy people and then I will [00:06:39] open it up to Q&A with the rest of you [00:06:41] on the rest of the news in the world. [00:06:43] So, thank you and we'll start with [00:06:44] Secretary Kennedy. [00:06:45] >> Thank you, Kenny. [00:06:46] >> Thank you. [00:06:51] >> Today marks a decisive change in federal [00:06:54] nutrition policy made possible by [00:06:56] President Trump's leadership and the [00:06:58] work of Maha Moms and public health [00:07:00] advocates who demanded reform. [00:07:03] Today, in accordance with President [00:07:05] Trump's directive, Brooke and I will [00:07:08] release the Dietary Guidelines for [00:07:11] Americans 2025 to 2030, the most [00:07:15] significant reset of federal nutrition [00:07:18] policy in history. [00:07:20] These guidelines replace corporate [00:07:23] driven assumptions with common sense [00:07:25] goals and gold standard scientific [00:07:28] integrity. These new guidelines will [00:07:31] revolutionize our nation's food culture [00:07:33] and make America healthy again. For [00:07:36] decades, Americans have grown sicker [00:07:38] while healthc care costs have soared. [00:07:41] The reason is clear. The hard truth is [00:07:43] that our government has been lying to us [00:07:46] to protect corporate profit taking, [00:07:49] telling us that these food-like [00:07:50] substances were beneficial to public [00:07:53] health. Federal policy promoted and [00:07:56] subsidized highly processed foods and [00:07:58] refined carbohydrates [00:08:00] and turned a blind eye to the disastrous [00:08:03] consequences. [00:08:05] Today, the lies stop. The new guidelines [00:08:08] recognize that whole nutrient-dense food [00:08:12] is the most effective path to better [00:08:14] health and lower health care costs. [00:08:17] Protein and healthy fats are essential [00:08:20] and were wrongly discouraged in prior [00:08:23] dietary guidelines. We are ending the [00:08:25] war on saturated fats. Diets rich in [00:08:29] vegetables and fruits reduce disease [00:08:33] risk more effectively than many drugs. [00:08:36] Whole grains outperform refined [00:08:39] carbohydrates. [00:08:41] Added sugars, especially sugar sweetened [00:08:43] beverages, drive metabolic disease. And [00:08:46] today, our government declares war on [00:08:49] added sugar. Highly processed foods [00:08:52] loaded with additives. Added sugar and [00:08:54] excess salt damage health and should be [00:08:56] avoided. As Secretary of Health and [00:08:59] Human Services, my message is clear. Eat [00:09:03] real food. Nothing matters more for [00:09:06] health care outcomes, economic [00:09:08] productivity, military readiness, and [00:09:11] fiscal stability. [00:09:13] Dietary guidelines shape dozens of [00:09:15] federal feeding programs, including Head [00:09:17] Start. Lean standards affect 45 million [00:09:21] school lunches every day. Meals for 1.3 [00:09:26] million active duty service members and [00:09:29] food served to 9 million veterans in VA [00:09:32] hospitals. Today begins the work of [00:09:34] aligning those programs with affordable, [00:09:37] whole, nutrient-dense food. [00:09:40] Implementation requires coordination [00:09:43] across the government. I'm working with [00:09:46] many of my fellow cabinet secretaries to [00:09:48] deliver results. I want to thank Bobby [00:09:51] Mukamala. [00:09:53] Thank you very much who is the president [00:09:56] of the American Medical Association for [00:09:58] committing to mobilize the medical [00:10:00] community on nutrition. [00:10:02] And I thank also the American Academy of [00:10:04] Pediatrics for partnering on this [00:10:07] effort. I also look forward to working [00:10:09] with Dr. Jay Badachara and Dr. Marty [00:10:12] McCary to fund and prioritize rigorous [00:10:15] nutrition research at the NIH and at the [00:10:20] FDA. [00:10:21] The stakes are measurable and severe. [00:10:24] A John's Hopkins analysis estimates that [00:10:27] 48% [00:10:29] of every federal taxpayer dollar now [00:10:32] goes to healthcare. The CDC reports that [00:10:35] 90% of health care spending treats [00:10:38] chronic disease. That means that 40% 40 [00:10:42] cents of every dollar that taxpayers pay [00:10:45] in this country is going to treat [00:10:48] diseases that could be averted through [00:10:51] good food. The United States has the [00:10:54] highest obesity and type 2 diabetes rate [00:10:56] in the developed world. We spend three [00:10:59] times more per capita than the European [00:11:01] nation, European Union on healthcare. [00:11:04] Yet our life expectancy is five years [00:11:07] lower, largely due to diet related [00:11:10] chronic disease. Our childhood obesity [00:11:13] rate is five times higher than countries [00:11:15] like France. Onethird of US teens have [00:11:18] pre-diabetes. Over 35% are overweight or [00:11:23] obese. And 20% of young adults have [00:11:26] non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. 77% [00:11:30] of military-aged Americans [00:11:33] are ineligible for military service [00:11:36] because of diet related conditions. [00:11:40] If a foreign adversary sought to destroy [00:11:42] the health of our children, to [00:11:45] our economy, to weaken our national [00:11:48] security, there would be no better [00:11:51] strategy than to addict us to [00:11:53] ultrarocessed foods. It's shocking that [00:11:56] our own government helped to drive these [00:11:58] cataclysmic changes in our diet. The [00:12:01] damage is real. It is preventable. And [00:12:03] President Trump has ordered it to end. [00:12:06] If the United States reduced obesity, [00:12:09] type two diabetes, heart disease, and [00:12:11] Alzheimer's to Japanese levels, we would [00:12:15] save approximately $600 billion a year. [00:12:19] About 50% of Medicare's [00:12:22] projected long-term deficit or $5,000 [00:12:26] per family annually. Current policy [00:12:29] worsens the problem. 42 million [00:12:32] Americans rely on SNAP or common [00:12:34] purchases include sugary drinks, candy, [00:12:37] and chips. 78% of SNAP recipients are [00:12:41] enrolled in Medicaid. And 90% of [00:12:44] Medicaid spending goes to chronic [00:12:46] disease. [00:12:48] These incentives raise health care costs [00:12:50] and undermine health. This must change. [00:12:55] The new framework centers on protein and [00:12:57] healthy fats, vegetables, fruits, and [00:13:00] whole grains. And you can see the food [00:13:02] pyramid here. [00:13:09] It's upside down, a lot of you will say, [00:13:13] but it was actually upside down before, [00:13:15] and we just writed it. [00:13:18] For the first time, the dietary [00:13:20] guidelines directly address [00:13:22] ultrarocessed foods and set firm sugar [00:13:25] limits in federal procurement, driving a [00:13:28] significant reduction in added sugar in [00:13:30] school meals. I want to thank President [00:13:33] Trump for his leadership and the [00:13:35] partners committed to ensuring that [00:13:37] federal food dollars support real food [00:13:40] and better health. Thank you. [00:13:44] And I want to introduce my partner [00:13:48] and friend Brooke Rollins who who is an [00:13:50] extraordinary collaborator on this. [00:13:53] >> Thank you. [00:13:55] >> Well, good morning everyone. Happy New [00:13:58] Year. Uh what a honor to be here. I [00:14:00] think this is Caroline's first press uh [00:14:02] press conference back and and what a [00:14:05] great way to start uh the new year 2026. [00:14:08] I want to thank Secretary Kennedy. Uh [00:14:11] your commitment to the well-being of [00:14:13] Americans is such a blessing to this [00:14:16] nation. We have been working on these [00:14:19] new dietary guidelines really since [00:14:21] almost day one. Uh Bobby and I were [00:14:23] voted on on the same day and sworn in on [00:14:26] the same day. So I think uh the [00:14:28] partnership from minute one has been [00:14:30] real and uh and extraordinary. As [00:14:34] Secretary Kennedy mentioned, America is [00:14:35] in the middle of the worst chronic [00:14:37] health crisis in our nation's history. [00:14:39] Over 40% of the roughly 73 million [00:14:43] children in the United States have at [00:14:45] least one chronic health condition. And [00:14:48] nearly 90% of health care spending goes [00:14:51] toward treating people with chronic [00:14:53] disease. Uh Secretary Kennedy mentioned [00:14:55] that, but it is really important to keep [00:14:57] underscoring that fact. This crisis is [00:15:00] unacceptable. It prevents Americans from [00:15:03] living healthy and happy lives. And for [00:15:06] decades, decades, under both Republicans [00:15:08] and Democrats, federal incentives have [00:15:11] promoted lowquality, highly processed [00:15:14] foods and pharmaceutical interventions [00:15:16] instead of prevention. As a result, [00:15:19] nutrientdense whole foods grown by [00:15:23] America's farmers and ranchers have been [00:15:25] increasingly displaced. The Trump [00:15:28] administration is acutely aware of this [00:15:30] danger and today this announcement is [00:15:33] making a major step in doing something [00:15:36] about it. Thankfully, the solution is [00:15:38] simple and should be non-controversial. [00:15:41] Eat real food. This is the main message [00:15:44] of the new dietary guidelines for [00:15:46] Americans 2025 to 2030, which encourage [00:15:49] households and schools to prioritize [00:15:52] whole nutrient-dense foods. That means [00:15:55] more protein, more dairy, more healthy [00:15:58] fats, more whole grains, more fruits and [00:16:01] vegetables, whether they are fresh, [00:16:03] frozen, canned, or dried. We are finally [00:16:07] putting real food back at the center of [00:16:09] the American diet. Real food that [00:16:12] nourishes the body, restores health, [00:16:14] fuels energy, and builds strength. This [00:16:17] pivot also leans into the abundant, [00:16:20] affordable, and healthy food supply [00:16:22] already available from America's [00:16:24] incredible farmers and ranchers. By [00:16:27] making milk, raising cattle, and growing [00:16:30] wholesome fruits, vegetables, and [00:16:32] grains, they hold the key to solving our [00:16:35] national health crisis. And President [00:16:37] Trump is mobilizing government to ensure [00:16:39] families across America have greater [00:16:42] access to these healthy foods. In the [00:16:45] past 12 months, inflation has slowed and [00:16:48] wages have risen for the first time in [00:16:50] five years. Under President Trump's [00:16:53] leadership, prices for everyday staples, [00:16:56] are declining. And more help is on the [00:16:59] way. Recent data show that fruits, [00:17:01] vegetables, dairy, and proteins, [00:17:03] including eggs, pork, and ground beef, [00:17:06] are becoming even more affordable every [00:17:08] day for our American people. American [00:17:11] households enjoy the most affordable and [00:17:14] abundant food in the world, and today's [00:17:16] release only reinforces that reality. A [00:17:20] healthy meal is within reach for all [00:17:22] American families. These new dietary [00:17:25] guidelines are a framework which is [00:17:27] meant to be customized to meet the [00:17:29] needs, the preferences, and the [00:17:30] financial status of all American [00:17:33] families. For example, a meal including [00:17:36] such items as pork or eggs or whole milk [00:17:39] or cheese, tomatoes, other fresh and [00:17:42] frozen fruits and vegetables, whole [00:17:44] grain bread, corn tortilla can cost [00:17:47] today right around $3 for that meal. $3. [00:17:51] And soon USDA will finalize our stocking [00:17:54] standards, which means that those [00:17:56] businesses in America that take the SNAP [00:17:59] benefit, what they are required to stock [00:18:01] in order to take that benefit, by the [00:18:03] way, that's almost 250,000 [00:18:06] retailers across America. that very soon [00:18:09] we will be finalizing that rule that [00:18:11] will mandate all 250,000 retailers in [00:18:15] America double the type of staple foods [00:18:18] that they provide for America's SNAP [00:18:20] households. This means healthier options [00:18:23] will be in reach for all American [00:18:24] families regardless of circumstance at [00:18:27] levels never seen before in our country. [00:18:31] These dietary guidelines are [00:18:32] foundational to so many USDA programs [00:18:35] and their introduction marks the first [00:18:37] step in connecting America's schools and [00:18:40] dinner plates to the best of American [00:18:43] agriculture. Make no mistake, under [00:18:45] President Trump's leadership, we are [00:18:47] restoring common sense. We are restoring [00:18:50] scientific integrity and we are [00:18:52] restoring accountability to federal food [00:18:55] and health policy. The new guidelines [00:18:57] are all about putting the well-being of [00:18:59] Americans first, exactly where it should [00:19:02] have been all along. [00:19:04] This is the foundation that will make [00:19:06] America healthy again. Not just for [00:19:09] those of us alive today, but for our [00:19:11] children and our children's children and [00:19:13] those coming behind. I want to end by [00:19:15] saying God bless American families. God [00:19:18] bless the American farmer and rancher [00:19:20] and God bless America. What an honor now [00:19:22] to introduce uh another great partner in [00:19:24] this incredible work and that is Dr. MT [00:19:26] Oz. Thank you. [00:19:30] >> Congratulations, Secretary Rollins, [00:19:32] Secretary Kennedy. Uh and do want to [00:19:34] express my appreciation for what the [00:19:36] president has done overall to increase [00:19:38] the affordability of healthcare. The [00:19:41] biggest accomplishment perhaps for the [00:19:44] health system uh bu abilities to drop [00:19:46] down prices last year was the most [00:19:48] favored nation drug pricing that [00:19:49] Caroline mentioned. These are incredibly [00:19:52] effective at reducing the cost for [00:19:54] example of what the president calls the [00:19:55] fatshot uh the ompic [00:19:59] category of medications. We dropped them [00:20:02] dramatically. [00:20:03] But the best way to reduce drug spend in [00:20:05] America is to not need the drugs in the [00:20:07] first place. What you're hearing today [00:20:09] with these dietary guideline adjustments [00:20:12] are going to be massively effective at [00:20:13] not just dropping the need for us to buy [00:20:15] these weight loss drugs, but by the [00:20:18] expensive drugs for autoimmune problems. [00:20:20] We have evidence that food is medicine [00:20:21] when it comes to conditions as various [00:20:23] as mental health issues from Alzheimer's [00:20:25] and depression to fundamental realities [00:20:28] of how children's learn in school. So [00:20:30] the question then becomes what is this [00:20:32] actually going to do in dollars and [00:20:33] cents? And I had the uh the group at CMS [00:20:37] run some numbers for us to try to give [00:20:39] you concrete assessments of how much [00:20:41] this will drop the spend that the [00:20:43] federal taxpayer must make for Medicare [00:20:45] and Medicaid. And I'm more optimistic [00:20:46] today than ever that we can address the [00:20:49] critical fast rising rate of healthcare [00:20:51] expenses in America because of movements [00:20:53] like this. Right now we're increasing [00:20:55] health expenditures in America at [00:20:57] roughly twice the rate of the GDP [00:20:59] growth. We will correct that if we can [00:21:01] get America to be healthier because you [00:21:03] can't be a wealthy nation without being [00:21:05] a healthy nation. So two numbers for you [00:21:07] to remember. The first is 30 billion. [00:21:09] Why? 30% of health care costs are [00:21:11] directly attributable to obesity. I'm [00:21:14] not talking about indirect associated [00:21:15] expenses which are also present. But at [00:21:17] a very conservative number, 30% are [00:21:19] directly attributed to obesity. That's [00:21:21] about 300 billion dollars a year for [00:21:24] just Medicare. Just Medicare. If we were [00:21:26] to affect obesity by 10% which is an [00:21:28] incredibly conservative and and [00:21:30] justifiable assumption that has been [00:21:32] borne out in evidence-based dietary [00:21:34] experiments uh and trials just that [00:21:37] alone is $30 billion of reduction of [00:21:40] expenses for Medicaid for Medicare [00:21:42] rather that's also obviously correlated [00:21:44] with Medicaid reduction in spending and [00:21:46] Medicaid it's a different opportunity [00:21:48] because in Medicaid we educate children [00:21:49] 53% of children in America are covered [00:21:52] by Medicaid or CHIP and we have programs [00:21:54] to teach kids and their parents what to [00:21:56] eat, how to eat, and how to make these [00:21:58] dietary guidelines uh the Secretary [00:22:00] Rollins and Secretary Kennedy have [00:22:01] crafted with their teams uh into [00:22:03] practice, it will dramatically change [00:22:05] the natural history of how children are [00:22:07] able to participate in life. But let me [00:22:09] give you one last number. If we're able [00:22:12] to get the average American who today [00:22:14] retires at on average at age 61, get [00:22:17] them just to work one year longer [00:22:19] because they feel so vital, so strong, [00:22:21] so bullish about their future because [00:22:23] they're feeding their bodies nutrients [00:22:25] that are essential to their high [00:22:28] functioning productivity. We will [00:22:30] increase the overall GDP of our nation [00:22:32] by trillions of dollars. So we will [00:22:35] reduce healthcare expenses. At the same [00:22:37] time, we jazz up the US economy with [00:22:40] trillions of dollars created by the [00:22:41] productivity of American workers. God [00:22:43] bless you both for making the DGA [00:22:45] feasible and making it perhaps the [00:22:47] wisest investment we could make in our [00:22:49] communities. Uh Marty McCary is one of [00:22:51] my closest friends, the uh powerful [00:22:53] leader of the FDA who's been taking [00:22:55] brave steps along the line and has [00:22:57] additional insights. [00:22:58] >> Thanks. Thank you, Dr. Oz. [00:23:01] Today marks the beginning of the end of [00:23:03] an era of medical dogma on nutrition. [00:23:07] For decades, we've been fed a corrupt [00:23:10] food pyramid that has had a myopic focus [00:23:13] on demonizing natural healthy saturated [00:23:16] fats, telling you not to eat eggs and [00:23:18] steak, and ignoring a giant blind spot. [00:23:22] Refined carbohydrates, added sugars, [00:23:25] ultrarocessed food. The study in JAMAMA [00:23:28] now shows that 60% to 70% of kids are [00:23:33] getting their calories from [00:23:34] ultrarocessed foods. That's an epidemic. [00:23:38] We now have a generation of kids [00:23:41] addicted to refined carbohydrates, [00:23:43] low in protein. They are literally [00:23:46] nitrogen negative because we've used old [00:23:49] flawed studies that used urine nitrogen [00:23:52] to estimate body protein metabolism. and [00:23:56] they missed the mark. The old guidelines [00:23:58] had such a low protein recommendation [00:24:02] that we are increasing that by 50 to [00:24:04] 100%. Kids need protein. The old protein [00:24:07] guidelines were to prevent starvation [00:24:10] and withering away. [00:24:13] These new protein guidelines are [00:24:15] designed for American kids to thrive. [00:24:17] And they're based on science, not on [00:24:19] dogma. We have 40% of our kids now with [00:24:23] a chronic disease. [00:24:25] It is not their fault. This is something [00:24:28] that is the result of bad advice from [00:24:31] the government and a medical [00:24:33] establishment that for decades pedled [00:24:35] research from a flawed 1960s model. [00:24:39] Today, we are setting the record [00:24:41] straight. This is not a willpower [00:24:44] problem of our nation's kids. This is [00:24:46] something adults have done to kids and [00:24:48] we're going to fix it. And so, as Dr. [00:24:51] said, "The best way to lower drug prices [00:24:53] is for people to stop taking drugs they [00:24:56] don't need. We are going to finally [00:24:59] address the root causes of our broken [00:25:01] health care system. Insulin resistance [00:25:03] and general body inflammation advanced [00:25:06] by the protein poor, micronutrient poor, [00:25:10] ultrarocessed refined carbohydrate diet [00:25:13] that kids are addicted to today. And so [00:25:16] on behalf of the Food and Drug [00:25:18] Administration, we are proud to be a [00:25:21] part of this. We are uh grateful to be [00:25:23] contributing to this work. Thank you, [00:25:25] Secretary Rollins. Thank you, Kyle [00:25:27] Diamontes, our the best deputy admin uh [00:25:30] be deputy commissioner for food at the [00:25:32] FDA the agency has ever had. Uh this is [00:25:35] a historic day in America. Thank you, [00:25:37] Caroline. [00:25:38] >> Thank [applause] you so much. [00:25:40] >> Thank you. I hope everyone's inspired to [00:25:42] go eat a salad for lunch after this [00:25:43] briefing. Um, if anybody has questions [00:25:46] on this topic, we will take a few and [00:25:47] then we'll get into the topic. We'll [00:25:49] start with our new media seat. If you [00:25:50] have a question on this topic today, [00:25:52] Jamie Franklin, she comes from the [00:25:53] conservator. Why don't you kick us off? [00:25:56] >> Yeah. First of all, Caroline, [00:25:57] congratulations on your pregnancy. We're [00:25:59] so excited for you. Um, Matt moms across [00:26:02] the country, including [clears throat] [00:26:03] myself, are just so excited by what this [00:26:05] administration is doing to make our kids [00:26:07] healthy again. But, you know, we do have [00:26:09] concerns when it comes to these blue [00:26:11] states pushing back on a lot of uh [00:26:13] progress that we're making as an [00:26:14] administration and particularly we're [00:26:16] really excited that you guys revise and [00:26:18] streamline this vaccine schedule. [00:26:20] However, what we have seen is that these [00:26:22] blue states, whether it be, you know, no [00:26:24] tax on tips, no tax on overtime or [00:26:26] pushing back on immigration, they [00:26:28] continue to stop your guys's progress. [00:26:30] So, what has been the response from [00:26:31] these blue states? because as maha moms [00:26:33] enrolling our kids in school, this is a [00:26:34] big issue and we celebrate what you guys [00:26:36] are doing, but we want to have it, you [00:26:37] know, even in the blue states as well. [00:26:42] >> I mean, my hope is that we we only [00:26:45] release these earlier, two days earlier. [00:26:48] I'm sorry. [00:26:51] [laughter] [00:26:53] >> Duck is also high in protein. [00:26:54] >> It's an interesting [laughter] [00:26:57] >> duck is a good thing to eat, everybody. [00:26:59] the only release that died or the new uh [00:27:02] vaccine scheduled two days ago. [00:27:05] The vaccine schedule, there's nothing [00:27:07] compulsory in it. Everybody, I've always [00:27:10] promised I'm not going to take people's [00:27:12] vaccines away from them. People who want [00:27:14] to get vaccines, everybody who wants [00:27:16] them can get all of the vaccines that [00:27:18] were on the old schedule. It will all be [00:27:21] paid for by the vaccines for children [00:27:23] program or for the insurance. the same [00:27:26] as before. We release guidelines that we [00:27:29] think are optimal to public health are [00:27:32] the same core vaccines that are required [00:27:36] by the European community. [00:27:39] And those nations all have much better [00:27:42] health outcomes than we do. And they're [00:27:45] based on their best science and also on [00:27:48] their conviction that when you put too [00:27:51] many vaccines on the program, it [00:27:53] actually reduces compliance. it reduces [00:27:56] um uptake [00:27:59] and so we want to maximize the uptake of [00:28:01] vaccines by making sure that Americans [00:28:04] know that we are making recommendations [00:28:07] that are science-based that are common [00:28:09] sense that are grounded in science and [00:28:12] right now that's the best science that [00:28:14] we have and again there's three [00:28:17] categories of vaccine one is the core [00:28:19] schedule which resembles the European [00:28:21] countries [00:28:23] to the second is for people who have [00:28:26] vulnerabilities for high risk and that [00:28:30] doesn't change at all. And then the [00:28:31] third is shared decision making which [00:28:33] any vaccine that was on the old schedule [00:28:36] you can continue to get. So [00:28:39] people will make their own choices and [00:28:41] that's what democracy is about. [00:28:45] >> Um I asked the boss Caroline for [00:28:47] permission to add a little bit to this [00:28:48] because I think it's really important [00:28:49] and by the way Jamie what a superstar [00:28:51] you are. It's so fun to see you in this [00:28:52] seat. Jamie Franklin. Um, the blue state [00:28:56] question is a really important one and [00:28:58] for those of us that are running [00:28:59] agencies with these programs, I mean, [00:29:01] I've talked to a lot of you already [00:29:02] about how we have 22 blue states that [00:29:05] won't give us their SNAP data so that we [00:29:07] can figure out and ensure that those who [00:29:09] really need these programs are actually [00:29:11] getting these programs. Clearly, you all [00:29:13] have been writing about Minnesota. Uh, [00:29:15] California is next. We're looking at New [00:29:16] York, some other states. The amount of [00:29:18] fraud uh in all of these programs is [00:29:21] absolutely stunning. And the challenge [00:29:23] is I mean from Medicaid etc. I know Dr. [00:29:26] Oz you've talked a lot about that. This [00:29:27] is a significant problem and and I think [00:29:30] who's really harmed in all of this [00:29:32] conversation and when these blue states [00:29:34] aren't partnering with us to try to do [00:29:36] this right is we say blue states and red [00:29:38] states but in those states there are all [00:29:41] kinds of our citizenry and that aren't [00:29:43] all Democrat or aren't all Republican. [00:29:45] We had a poll that just came out that [00:29:47] had about 85% of all Americans believe [00:29:51] that states should turn their data over [00:29:53] on SNAP so that we can figure out where [00:29:55] the fraud is and ensure these programs [00:29:57] are going where they need to grow to go. [00:29:59] So my um request of these blue states [00:30:03] and these blue state governors is [00:30:05] partner with us. Let us figure out how [00:30:06] to do this better. Let us make sure that [00:30:09] whether it's the vaccine schedule or the [00:30:10] SNAP program or the Medicaid program or [00:30:12] the child care program that we are doing [00:30:15] everything we can to protect every tax [00:30:17] dollar but to also ensure those who need [00:30:19] it the most, the most vulnerable in our [00:30:21] society are getting the programs they [00:30:23] need versus those who a are not even [00:30:25] supposed to be here or b are cheating [00:30:27] the system. [00:30:30] >> Jeff, thanks Caroline. One of the [00:30:32] changes that was made had to do with [00:30:34] alcohol. Secretary Kennedy or Dr. Ross, [00:30:36] could you explain the science behind uh [00:30:38] the new language on not saying two [00:30:41] drinks for men and one drink for a woman [00:30:42] every day would be healthy and whether [00:30:44] or not the industry had an impact on the [00:30:47] language of of moderation versus just [00:30:50] saying alcohol is not healthy and you [00:30:52] shouldn't drink it. [00:30:54] >> So alcohol is a social lubricant that [00:30:58] brings people together. In the best case [00:31:00] scenario, I don't think you should drink [00:31:02] alcohol, but it does allow people an [00:31:04] excuse to bond and socialize. And [00:31:06] there's probably nothing healthier than [00:31:08] having a good time with friends in a [00:31:09] safe way. If you look at the blue zones, [00:31:11] for example, around the world where [00:31:12] people live the longest, alcohol is [00:31:14] sometimes part of their diet. Again, [00:31:16] small amounts taken very judiciously and [00:31:19] usually in a celebratory fashion. So, [00:31:21] there is alcohol on these dietary [00:31:23] guidelines, but the implication is don't [00:31:25] have it for breakfast, right? There [00:31:26] should be something done a small amount [00:31:28] uh with hopefully in some kind of an [00:31:31] event that men have alcohol added. Uh [00:31:34] but the general move away from two [00:31:36] glasses of men, one glass of women, [00:31:37] there was never really good data to [00:31:39] support that quantity of alcohol [00:31:41] consumption. Uh that data was probably [00:31:43] primarily confused with broader data [00:31:45] about social connectiveness. [00:31:47] >> Take a couple more. John, [00:31:49] >> thanks a lot. Caroline, Secretary [00:31:51] Rollins, uh, I'm curious about with [00:31:53] these guidelines, they're not mandates, [00:31:55] they're guidelines. What are the [00:31:57] practical effects of these guidelines on [00:32:00] public schools all across the country? [00:32:02] >> Well, today begins the Thank you, John. [00:32:05] It's good to see you. Um, today begins [00:32:07] the first day now in a recalibration of [00:32:10] the rules, whether it's school lunches, [00:32:12] whether it's the SNAP program, whether [00:32:14] it's that veterans were mentioned, um, [00:32:16] our prison system, that now we begin the [00:32:18] process of implementing and reddrafting [00:32:21] the rules to reflect what this new [00:32:23] dietary guidelines for Americans um, [00:32:26] actually is doing to our food system. [00:32:28] So, there is a lot of work to do. [00:32:31] Nothing changes overnight, but as I [00:32:34] think we've proven, this administration [00:32:35] moves very, very quickly on all fronts, [00:32:38] seven days a week, 365 days a year. And [00:32:41] uh so you'll begin to see uh some real [00:32:43] changes coming very soon. As everyone is [00:32:46] aware, for many of our most vulnerable [00:32:49] and the margins um in our communities, [00:32:52] the school lunch is often the best place [00:32:55] for our children to get the healthiest [00:32:58] meal. Hopefully with stocking standards [00:33:00] and reworking SNAP and the SNAP waiverss [00:33:02] we've done that begins to change too. [00:33:04] But but right now that is going to be [00:33:06] the single most important from my [00:33:08] perspective move forward is the school [00:33:10] lunches and making sure that we're [00:33:12] getting the right amount the best amount [00:33:14] and the most nutrient-dense foods into [00:33:15] the schools. Thank you. [00:33:16] >> You also mentioned Secretary Rollins [00:33:18] cost when you were you had your remarks [00:33:21] a little bit earlier. Uh is eating [00:33:23] healthier more cost effective? Is it [00:33:25] cheaper than, you know, just having a [00:33:28] diet of processed foods? [00:33:30] >> I had a a whole chart to show you, but [00:33:33] left it in the back, unfortunately. Um, [00:33:35] that yes, indeed, that eating healthy [00:33:38] for the most part, we've got a a hundred [00:33:41] simulations is actually less expensive. [00:33:43] The challenge comes is the access to [00:33:46] those healthy foods, especially in parts [00:33:49] of America where they have food deserts. [00:33:51] They don't have a a HB or a Kroger or a [00:33:54] Central Market. These are all Texan um [00:33:55] grocery stores, but whatever is similar [00:33:57] uh similar across the country. But that [00:33:59] is why these stocking standards in SNAP [00:34:01] are so important. So if you have a um uh [00:34:05] economically [00:34:07] challenged family and the only place [00:34:10] they're getting their food is the [00:34:11] 7-Eleven, we have a longer term um [00:34:14] important policy priority and that is [00:34:15] getting grocery stores into these lower [00:34:17] margin communities. But for now, [00:34:20] requiring uh those retailers, those [00:34:22] 250,000 retailers across America to [00:34:25] double their stocking of healthier [00:34:27] foods, that will allow us to immediately [00:34:30] get these better foods into the into [00:34:31] into all communities, but especially the [00:34:33] most vulnerable. Thank you, John. [00:34:35] >> Let me just add something to that. [00:34:38] Brooke and I are working on a program. [00:34:40] Affordability is the the priority for [00:34:43] the president and we know we have to [00:34:46] make it easy and accessible for healthy [00:34:50] foods for every American and we believe [00:34:52] we can do that. We think affordable food [00:34:55] is within reach of every American [00:34:57] family. We are working on a education [00:35:01] and um and uh information program that [00:35:06] will allow American families all over [00:35:08] the country to come onto our website and [00:35:11] find healthy the healthiest foods at the [00:35:13] lowest cost for themselves. And also [00:35:15] just add this, the idea that a cheap [00:35:19] meal made of processed food is cheap is [00:35:22] an illusion because you're paying for it [00:35:24] on the back end. you're paying for it [00:35:27] with diabetes, with obesity, with [00:35:29] illness. [00:35:31] And uh if you internalize that cost of [00:35:34] the meal, it would be a tiny fraction of [00:35:37] the long-term cause of eating bad food. [00:35:39] >> So, we'll take one more in the white [00:35:41] blazer. Thank you, Caroline. Secretary [00:35:43] of Kennedy, you mentioned healthy fats, [00:35:45] but also ending the war on saturated [00:35:48] fats. Can you clarify how much saturated [00:35:51] fats Americans should be consuming? [00:35:54] I'm gonna let Marty take that since he [00:35:56] wrote a book. [clears throat] [00:35:57] >> Look, the old the old dogma the 1960s [00:36:00] when Eisenhower had his heart attack and [00:36:02] Anel Keys said it was the saturated fat [00:36:05] that's never been substantiated and so [00:36:08] that flawed research has become dogma [00:36:10] over the years and eventually the [00:36:12] conversation was sidelined. In this new [00:36:15] guide guidance we are telling young [00:36:19] people, kids, schools, you don't need to [00:36:20] tiptoe around fat and dairy. don't need [00:36:23] to push low-fat um milk to kids and we [00:36:28] are maintaining the 10% of calories as [00:36:30] saturated fat in the guidance. The real [00:36:33] issue is protein. The fact that 60 to [00:36:36] 70% of the calories of kids today in [00:36:38] America is ultrarocessed food. Uh these [00:36:42] are the issues that have become giant [00:36:43] blind spots where we're now putting [00:36:45] attention. And we hope that there are [00:36:46] conversations in every school board in [00:36:48] America, in every church and synagogue [00:36:50] and house of worship, every home in [00:36:52] America will now have conversations. [00:36:54] We've got to talk about school lunch [00:36:56] programs, not just putting six-year-olds [00:36:58] on ompic. Food can be curative. We've [00:37:01] got to talk about the microbiome and [00:37:03] fiber and healthy whole grains and the [00:37:05] good soil that food comes from and the [00:37:07] healthy clean waters and good farming [00:37:09] techniques. So, that's the focus of this [00:37:11] guidance. Thank you. [00:37:12] >> Great. [00:37:13] Some of you may be wondering why Dr. [00:37:15] Carson is here. He is our national [00:37:17] nutrition adviser working alongside [00:37:19] Secretary Kennedy and he's played a big [00:37:21] role in this effort. So, I want to thank [00:37:22] you so much, Dr. Carson, for being here [00:37:24] today [00:37:25] >> and thank all of you for being here [00:37:26] today. I know you're all very busy [00:37:28] people and these people have a lot of [00:37:30] questions on things other than diet, I'm [00:37:32] sure. [laughter] So, I'm going to get to [00:37:33] work and thank you guys so much for [00:37:35] coming. [00:37:36] >> Thanks everybody. [00:37:37] >> Thank you for coming. [00:37:40] >> Thanks. [00:37:41] >> All righty. [00:37:46] Great. Does anyone have any questions? [00:37:49] [laughter] [00:37:50] >> Rachel, why don't you start? [00:37:51] >> Thank you, Caroline. Um, the president [00:37:53] has been adamant that he is now in [00:37:55] charge of Venezuela. But Delsey [00:37:56] Rodriguez said the government of [00:37:58] Venezuela runs her country, no one else, [00:38:00] saying, quote, "There's no external [00:38:01] agent governing Venezuela." So, which [00:38:04] one is it? [00:38:06] >> Let me just be very clear. This is the [00:38:07] first time that I've addressed Venezuela [00:38:09] from the podium since being back and [00:38:11] since the historic and incredibly [00:38:13] successful military operation, law [00:38:15] enforcement operation uh conducted by [00:38:17] our United States military that you all [00:38:19] saw and the world witnessed last week. [00:38:22] The skill, the might of the United [00:38:24] States military and our country under [00:38:26] the leadership of this president is on [00:38:28] full display to the rest of the world. [00:38:30] And let's just set the record straight. [00:38:32] There isn't another military in the [00:38:34] world who could have pulled off this [00:38:35] operation. There is not another [00:38:37] president in the world or in our [00:38:39] nation's history who had the courage to [00:38:41] off authorize such a mission. And I [00:38:43] think the world has taken notice that [00:38:45] America is truly back. With respect to [00:38:47] Venezuela, the Trump administration uh [00:38:50] led by Secretary Rubio, uh the vice [00:38:52] president and the president's entire [00:38:54] national security team is in close [00:38:56] correspondence with the interim [00:38:58] authorities in Venezuela. We obviously [00:39:00] have uh maximum leverage over the [00:39:02] interim authorities in Venezuela right [00:39:04] now and the president has made it very [00:39:06] clear that this is a country within the [00:39:08] United States uh the western hemisphere [00:39:11] close by the United States uh that is no [00:39:13] longer going to be sending illegal drugs [00:39:15] to the United States of America. It's no [00:39:17] longer going to be sending and [00:39:19] trafficking illegal people and criminal [00:39:21] cartels to kill American citizens as [00:39:23] they have in the past. Uh and the [00:39:25] president is fully deploying his peace [00:39:27] through strength foreign policy agenda. [00:39:29] Uh so we're continuing to be in close [00:39:31] coordination with the interim [00:39:32] authorities um and their decisions um [00:39:35] are going to continue to be dictated by [00:39:37] the United States of America. [00:39:39] >> Just one followup when you talk about [00:39:40] that leverage there. Has the Venezuelan [00:39:42] government fully committed to turning [00:39:44] over its oil to the United States [00:39:46] indefinitely? And what happens if they [00:39:48] do not? [00:39:48] >> Well, as you saw the president announced [00:39:50] last night, this was a deal. This was a [00:39:52] deal made by the president and his team [00:39:54] with the Venezuelan interim authorities. [00:39:56] This will benefit both the American [00:39:58] people and the Venezuelan people. Um, [00:40:00] and Secretary Wright and the Department [00:40:01] of Energy are working with the interim [00:40:03] authorities and also with the private [00:40:05] oil industry to execute um on this [00:40:07] historic energy deal that's not only [00:40:09] good for the United States, but it's [00:40:11] also going to revive the prosperity, the [00:40:12] safety, the security of both the United [00:40:15] States and Venezuela as well. Hi, Ed. [00:40:17] >> Following up on the oil part of this, [00:40:18] the 30 to 50 million barrels of oil. [00:40:21] >> How exactly is that going to work? [00:40:24] You're getting it out of Venezuela into [00:40:25] the United States. [00:40:26] >> Yes. [00:40:27] >> And then what? [00:40:27] >> That's exactly right. So, as you know, [00:40:29] Ed, as the president announced last [00:40:30] night, this was the sanctioned oil that [00:40:32] was basically just sitting in barrels, [00:40:34] sitting on ships uh because of the [00:40:36] effective quarantine of the United [00:40:37] States of America. And these the interim [00:40:39] authorities have agreed to release that [00:40:41] oil to the United States. So, it will be [00:40:43] arriving here at home very soon. Uh the [00:40:46] United States government has already [00:40:47] begun marketing Venezuelan crude oil in [00:40:49] the global marketplace for the benefit [00:40:51] of the United States. Engaged the [00:40:52] world's leading commodity marketers, key [00:40:55] banks to execute and provide financial [00:40:57] support for these crude oil and crude uh [00:41:00] product sales. All proceeds from the [00:41:02] sale of Venezuelan crude oil and [00:41:04] products will first settle in US [00:41:06] controlled accounts at globally [00:41:07] recognized banks to guarantee the [00:41:09] legitimacy and integrity of the ultimate [00:41:11] distribution of proceeds and those funds [00:41:14] will be dis dispersed for the benefit of [00:41:16] the American people and the Venezuelan [00:41:18] people at the discretion of the United [00:41:20] States government. [00:41:21] >> That sounds like it requires a lot of [00:41:23] private sector engagement and agreement [00:41:26] for the oil industry and the banking [00:41:27] industry. Do you have that yet? There's [00:41:29] a lot of private sector engagement [00:41:30] that's happening right now. As you know, [00:41:32] Secretary Wright, our energy secretary, [00:41:34] who's heading up this big project, is in [00:41:36] Florida today meeting with some of these [00:41:38] oil executives. Um, and as we confirmed [00:41:40] earlier, they will also be at the White [00:41:41] House later this week. So, they are [00:41:43] absolutely eager to invest. They're [00:41:45] eager about these opportunities. Um, and [00:41:47] Secretary Wright is a very well- [00:41:49] knowledgeable guy when it comes to oil [00:41:51] and energy, and he's the perfect man for [00:41:53] the job. [00:41:53] >> Another corner of the world there real [00:41:54] quick. [00:41:56] >> Go ahead. So, just to follow up on the [00:41:58] oil, 30 to 50 million barrels is an [00:42:01] initial trunch, if you will, and then [00:42:03] what happens after that? What plans? [00:42:06] >> Uh, I won't get ahead of of the plans [00:42:08] that the president and his team are [00:42:10] currently speaking with the interim [00:42:11] authorities about, but rest assured, [00:42:13] there is a long-term plan here. [00:42:15] Secretary Rubio and the entire team are [00:42:17] working diligently on, and this is just [00:42:18] sort of the first action that you all [00:42:20] are seeing. [00:42:21] >> Ed, [00:42:22] >> thanks, John. Uh so in order to get uh [00:42:24] these oil companies to invest billions [00:42:25] in Venezuela, how will the US reassure [00:42:28] that their workers will be safe in [00:42:30] Venezuela? Could there be troops [00:42:31] involved? Uh at this point in time, as [00:42:34] you know, there are no troops on the [00:42:35] ground in Venezuela. The president of [00:42:37] course reserves the right to use the [00:42:38] United States military if necessary. [00:42:40] It's not something he wants to do. [00:42:42] Diplomacy is always the first option. As [00:42:44] you saw, he tried that with Nicholas [00:42:46] Maduro, but unfortunately he was an [00:42:47] illegitimate dictator and an unserious [00:42:50] person. And so President Trump uh [00:42:52] authorized this law enforcement [00:42:53] operation and now Nicholas Maduro is [00:42:55] sitting in a prison cell in New York. So [00:42:57] certainly the president is going to do [00:42:58] what's in the best interests of the [00:43:00] American people and that includes [00:43:02] workers from our energy and oil industry [00:43:03] as well. [00:43:04] >> With that meeting tomorrow, with that [00:43:05] meeting tomorrow, what is the message [00:43:06] the president is going to give to the [00:43:07] oil executives and what does it want to [00:43:09] hear? [00:43:09] >> Well, the meeting is on Friday and it's [00:43:11] it's just a meeting um to discuss [00:43:14] obviously the immense opportunity that [00:43:15] is before these oil companies right now. [00:43:17] Caroline [00:43:18] >> Stephen, [00:43:18] >> thank you Caroline and congratulations [00:43:20] again. [00:43:21] >> Thank you. [00:43:21] >> Um, the New Yorker had a story yesterday [00:43:24] on the vice president and it questioned [00:43:26] his quote notable absence on Venezuela [00:43:29] and the sub headline asked was the vice [00:43:31] president's exclusion from the operation [00:43:33] in Venezuela an expression of his [00:43:35] anti-intervent anti-interventionist [00:43:38] ideology or political calculation. Uh, [00:43:40] would you be able to discuss the vice [00:43:42] president's role in Venezuela policy? I [00:43:44] did see that report in the New Yorker [00:43:46] and quite frankly I laughed out loud [00:43:48] because it's very clear it's a fake [00:43:49] report that's trying to seow distrust [00:43:52] and division amongst the president and [00:43:54] his team. Let me just be very clear the [00:43:56] vice president has been involved in all [00:43:59] policy. He is the right the right-hand [00:44:01] man of the president on all policy [00:44:02] matters including Venezuela policy. He [00:44:05] was of course read in and deeply [00:44:07] involved in this operation from the very [00:44:09] beginning and he was present on the [00:44:11] night of the operation via secure [00:44:13] communication at a different location as [00:44:16] to not um damage the operational secrecy [00:44:19] of this mission. That was so incredibly [00:44:22] important to ensure that this mission [00:44:24] could be carried out successfully [00:44:25] without endangering our troops. [00:44:28] >> Sure. [00:44:30] >> Uh the US seized a tanker uh recently. [00:44:33] Russia specifically asked the United [00:44:36] States not to se seize that tanker. Um, [00:44:39] does this action risk a larger conflict [00:44:42] with Russia? [00:44:43] >> Um, I believe you're referring to the [00:44:44] Bell One tanker that was seized this [00:44:46] morning. Um, the Department of Justice [00:44:48] and the Department of Homeland Security [00:44:50] in coordination with the Department of [00:44:52] War did uh announce that seizure this [00:44:54] morning for violations of US sanctions. [00:44:56] I've spoken about the uh the enforcement [00:44:59] of our sanctions policy at the podium um [00:45:02] prior to um the new year. Uh and this [00:45:05] administration is going to fully enforce [00:45:07] the sanctioned policy of the United [00:45:09] States. The vessel this morning was [00:45:10] seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to [00:45:12] a warrant issued by a US federal court [00:45:15] after being tracked. Um and this was a [00:45:17] Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel that has [00:45:20] transported sanctioned oil and the [00:45:21] United States of America under this [00:45:23] president is not going to tolerate that. [00:45:25] I would also just add the vessel had a [00:45:27] judicial seizure order um and the crew [00:45:29] so that means the crew is now subject to [00:45:31] prosecution for any applicable violation [00:45:33] of federal law and they will be brought [00:45:35] to the United States for such [00:45:36] prosecution if necessary. [00:45:38] >> Kelly [00:45:39] >> Caroline, happy new year to you. [00:45:40] >> Thank you, [00:45:41] >> I'd like to talk to you about a couple [00:45:42] of things real quickly. The first [00:45:44] question about the Venezuelan people as [00:45:46] you know there's some 8 million [00:45:47] Venezuelans here, some of them [00:45:49] celebrating in the streets. There are [00:45:50] Venezuelans on the ground uh who are [00:45:52] concerned about their safety. What does [00:45:54] the Trump administration uh what is it [00:45:57] doing to actually help people in [00:46:00] Venezuela understand that they will be [00:46:02] secure throughout this uh transition? I [00:46:05] think the fact that this president [00:46:07] actually followed through on the [00:46:08] long-held promise of the United States [00:46:10] of America, the bipartisan promise to [00:46:13] take down the illegitimate Maduro regime [00:46:16] should give assurance to the Venezuelan [00:46:18] people and also Venezuelan Americans who [00:46:21] fled this communist regime for a better [00:46:23] life here at home that this is a [00:46:25] president who is serious uh about taking [00:46:27] down illegitimate regimes uh and who is [00:46:30] also serious about securing the security [00:46:32] of the United States of America. [00:46:33] including the Venezuelan American [00:46:36] people. And I would just add that this [00:46:38] is something that not just Republicans [00:46:39] and President Trump have talked about [00:46:41] for a very long time, but it is also [00:46:43] something that Democrats have advocated [00:46:45] for. In 2020, Chuck Schumer said that uh [00:46:49] that at the time, President Trump had [00:46:51] not brought an end to the Maduro regime. [00:46:53] The Maduro regime is more powerful today [00:46:55] and more entrenched today than it was [00:46:57] when the president began. Now you hear [00:46:59] Chuck Schumer out there saying, "This is [00:47:01] reckless. the American people and the [00:47:03] Venezuelan people should be in fear. But [00:47:05] this is something that Chuck Schumer has [00:47:06] long advocated for. Uh Senator Chris Van [00:47:09] Holland, same thing, had said that the [00:47:11] United States is going going to use its [00:47:13] leverage and influence to push for [00:47:14] negotiations to transition to the truly [00:47:17] elected leader. This was under President [00:47:19] Biden. We know Maduro and his cronies [00:47:21] don't want to go quietly into the night. [00:47:23] The US needs to work to ratchet up the [00:47:25] pressure. Now, Senator Holland says it's [00:47:27] an illegal act of war to get rid of [00:47:30] Nicholas Maduro. So, the hypocrisy is [00:47:32] really astounding here and thank you for [00:47:33] giving me an opportunity to point it [00:47:35] out. Kayla, [00:47:36] >> I mean, sorry. Go ahead. [00:47:38] >> Yes. So, there reports that the [00:47:40] administration is demanding that [00:47:41] [clears throat] Venezuela cut ties with [00:47:42] China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba. Can you [00:47:44] confirm? [00:47:45] >> I'm sorry. [00:47:46] >> Uh, reports that the administration has [00:47:48] essentially demanded that Venezuela cut [00:47:50] ties with China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba. [00:47:53] Uh, c can you confirm that? Well, those [00:47:55] um alleged demands were made in a [00:47:57] classified briefing uh by Secretary [00:47:59] Rubio, and I know that there's a lot of [00:48:01] leaks coming out of these classified [00:48:02] briefings. So, I'm not going to confirm [00:48:04] or deny or get into what the secretary [00:48:06] has said in classified settings to [00:48:08] members of Congress. Uh but I think that [00:48:10] the administration has made it quite [00:48:11] clear to the interim authorities in [00:48:13] Venezuela that this is the Western [00:48:14] Hemisphere uh and American dominance is [00:48:17] going to continue under this president. [00:48:19] If I could just ask, there have also [00:48:21] been reports that the US could [00:48:23] potentially buy Greenland as as one [00:48:25] potential option on the table. What [00:48:27] would such an offer look like? Is there [00:48:29] anything monetarily you could provide [00:48:31] any details there? [00:48:32] >> Well, that's something that's currently [00:48:34] being actively discussed by the [00:48:35] president and his national security [00:48:37] team. And I would point out that the [00:48:39] acquisition of Greenland by the United [00:48:41] States is not a new idea. This is [00:48:43] something that presidents dating back to [00:48:45] the 1800s have said is advantageous for [00:48:48] America's national security. The [00:48:50] president has been very open and clear [00:48:52] with all of you and with the world that [00:48:53] he views it in the best interest of the [00:48:55] United States to deter Russian uh and [00:48:59] Chinese aggression in the Arctic region. [00:49:01] And so that's why his team is currently [00:49:03] talking about what a potential purchase [00:49:05] would look like. [00:49:06] >> Caroline Jackie, [00:49:07] >> thank you Caroline. Just following up on [00:49:09] Greenland, why not rule out taking it by [00:49:11] military force? Um, I know that past [00:49:14] presidents and past leaders have often [00:49:17] ruled things out. They've often uh been [00:49:20] very uh open about ruling things in and [00:49:23] basically broadcasting their foreign [00:49:25] policy strategy to the rest of the [00:49:27] world, not just to our allies, but um [00:49:29] most egregiously to our adversaries. [00:49:31] That's not something this president [00:49:33] does. All options are always on the [00:49:35] table for President Trump as he examines [00:49:37] what's in the best interest of the [00:49:38] United States. But I will just say that [00:49:41] uh the president's first option always [00:49:43] has been diplomacy. Again, look at [00:49:45] Venezuela. Uh he tried ardently uh to [00:49:48] strike a good deal with Nicholas Maduro [00:49:50] and he told him, "I will use the United [00:49:52] States military and you will not like it [00:49:54] uh if you don't take such a deal." And [00:49:56] look at what happened. With respect to [00:49:58] Iran, the president said the same thing, [00:50:00] right? He tried to tried to have serious [00:50:03] interest in an a deal with the Iranian [00:50:05] regime with respect to their nuclear [00:50:07] capabilities. They didn't were not [00:50:09] interested and so operation midnight [00:50:11] hammer happened which was another [00:50:12] remarkable military success under the [00:50:14] leadership of this commander-in-chief. [00:50:16] So the president keeps his options open [00:50:19] but diplomacy is always the first. [00:50:20] >> Very quickly just one additional follow [00:50:22] up on that. Does the president recognize [00:50:25] Denmark's ownership as part of the [00:50:28] kingdom? Um because there have been some [00:50:30] Republican senators questioning, you [00:50:33] know, the claim that Denmark has to [00:50:35] Greenland. Is the president in that camp [00:50:37] with them, you know, questioning the [00:50:39] legality of of [00:50:40] >> I have not heard him question it [00:50:42] personally, but you're welcome to ask [00:50:43] him yourself next time you have the [00:50:44] chance. [00:50:46] >> Are being lifted for Venezuela. We got [00:50:48] to lift some sanctions to let the oil [00:50:49] come in. Can you talk about that just [00:50:51] very briefly? [00:50:51] >> Yes. So, the US is selectively rolling [00:50:53] back sanctions to enable the transport [00:50:55] and the sale of Venezuelan crude and oil [00:50:58] products to the global markets. Yes, [00:51:00] >> Annie, [00:51:01] >> thank you. Um, that there are some [00:51:03] reports from Venezuela that the [00:51:04] country's leaders are cracking down on [00:51:07] the population um specifically [00:51:09] suppressing public expression of support [00:51:12] from Maduro's ouster. Is that kind of [00:51:15] behavior consistent with what the [00:51:16] president wants to see? How how the [00:51:19] president wants to see the leaders to [00:51:20] take on the population? [00:51:21] >> It would not be consistent and I'll let [00:51:23] the president's national security team [00:51:24] speak further on that. I know they are [00:51:26] well aware and tracking. [00:51:28] >> Kelly, [00:51:29] >> uh, two questions. One on the seized [00:51:30] vessels, the bell of the Sophia, can you [00:51:32] tell us where they're headed? What [00:51:34] happens to any existing cargo? And you [00:51:36] referenced personnel potentially facing [00:51:39] prosecution. That's one thing I'd like [00:51:40] to follow on. And then on the Yes. Okay. [00:51:43] And on Annie's question, if I could also [00:51:45] ask, does the administration believe [00:51:47] that the interim regime should release [00:51:50] all political dissident and prisoners [00:51:52] and return detained Americans? [00:51:55] >> That's not a question that I've [00:51:56] personally spoken about the to the [00:51:58] president with. So, I will let him [00:52:00] answer that question. I don't want to [00:52:01] make new policy at this podium today [00:52:03] with respect to Venezuela. Um, with [00:52:04] respect to the two ships that you [00:52:06] mentioned, I spoke with you about the [00:52:08] Bella one. There was another vessel this [00:52:11] morning uh the Sophia that in [00:52:13] coordination with the Department of War, [00:52:14] the Department of Homeland Security [00:52:16] apprehended it. This is a stateless [00:52:19] sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker uh [00:52:21] and this occurred without incident. Uh [00:52:24] this vessel was operating in [00:52:25] international waters and conducting [00:52:27] illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. [00:52:29] The US Coast Guard is es is escorting [00:52:32] the Sophia to the United States for [00:52:34] final disposition. to answer your [00:52:36] question, Kelly, directly. This was [00:52:38] through Operation Southern Spear. The [00:52:41] Department of War is unwavering in its [00:52:43] mission to crush elicit activity in the [00:52:45] Western Hemisphere. And as the president [00:52:47] has repeatedly stated, we're going to [00:52:49] defend our homeland and restore security [00:52:51] and strength across the Americas. Dasha, [00:52:54] >> Dasha, Caroline, thank you and happy new [00:52:56] year. [00:52:56] >> Thanks. Two questions, one on Venezuela, [00:52:58] one on Greenland. Um, you've repeatedly [00:52:59] at the podium called the current [00:53:01] leadership in Venezuela interim [00:53:03] leadership. There are Republicans and [00:53:05] Democrats alike that say they want to [00:53:06] see elections in Venezuela. The [00:53:08] president had said it's too soon to do [00:53:10] that right now. But is there a timeline [00:53:12] for elections in Venezuela? Is he [00:53:13] committed to seeing that this year, for [00:53:15] example? [00:53:15] >> You just said the president has answered [00:53:17] that question. So, I will reiterate what [00:53:19] the president has said a few times now [00:53:21] to all of you, which is that it's too [00:53:22] premature and too early to dictate a [00:53:25] timetable for elections in Venezuela [00:53:26] right now. [00:53:28] >> Caroline, you just talked to Jackie [00:53:30] about diplomacy first, right? The Danes [00:53:32] have repeatedly said they are willing to [00:53:34] collaborate on all of the concerns that [00:53:35] the president has, whether it's uh more [00:53:37] troops, mineral rights, intelligence [00:53:39] sharing. Why does the president feel he [00:53:40] needs to own Greenland and not and and [00:53:43] put out the threat of military action [00:53:45] when this could be done through through [00:53:47] diplomacy? [00:53:48] >> Well, who said diplomacy isn't taking [00:53:50] place behind the scenes, Dasha? I mean, [00:53:52] the president is interested in [00:53:53] diplomacy. His national security team is [00:53:55] as well. Um, and of course he's always [00:53:58] willing to pick up the phone for [00:53:59] everybody and hear out their concerns, [00:54:01] but the president is the president of [00:54:02] the United States of America, and he's [00:54:04] always going to be very clear about what [00:54:06] he views as being in our nation's best [00:54:08] interest. [00:54:09] >> Reagan, [00:54:10] >> thanks. Caroline, I have a question for [00:54:11] you on Venezuela, and then I'd love to [00:54:13] ask you about Minnesota and Tim Walls. [00:54:15] >> Sure. Um, on Venezuela, I'm wondering, [00:54:18] does the administration hope to start [00:54:19] sending more Venezuelan migrants back [00:54:21] home or have them self- deepport if the [00:54:24] situation in the country improves? [00:54:26] >> Um, as far as I'm concerned, the uh [00:54:29] policies of the Trump administration and [00:54:31] the Department of Homeland Security have [00:54:32] not changed. All those illegally present [00:54:34] in the country are subject to [00:54:36] deportation. And I would just like to [00:54:38] add, you know, how we got here. Um the [00:54:41] president was very clear on the campaign [00:54:44] uh to the American public and it's one [00:54:46] of the many reasons they resoundingly [00:54:48] reelected him back to this office that [00:54:50] he was not only going to crush foreign [00:54:52] drug cartels but that he was not going [00:54:55] to stand by and watch as the [00:54:56] illegitimate Venezuelan regime was [00:54:59] sending illegal criminals and gang uh [00:55:03] gang members and rapists and murderers [00:55:05] to our country which happened to the [00:55:07] tune of thousands under the previous [00:55:09] administration. in president. And so [00:55:11] there could be nothing more America [00:55:13] first than this operation that took [00:55:15] place last week. And I would just remind [00:55:17] all of you in this room that there were [00:55:19] innocent Americans like Joselyn Nungare [00:55:21] who lost their lives at the hands of [00:55:23] dangerous Venezuelan criminals who were [00:55:26] sent here by the Maduro regime. And that [00:55:28] has been the president's northstar and [00:55:30] guiding principle uh throughout his [00:55:32] entire policy since January 20th. [00:55:34] >> Tim Walls of Minnesota. Um, does the [00:55:37] administration believe that Tim Walls [00:55:39] potentially dropped out of the [00:55:40] governor's race because he could be [00:55:41] under criminal investigation? [00:55:44] >> Um, I don't know if there's a criminal [00:55:46] investigation. If there was, I wouldn't [00:55:48] be able to comment on it from up here to [00:55:50] be honest with you. But I think Tim [00:55:51] Walls probably dropped out of the race [00:55:53] because he realizes he no longer has the [00:55:54] support of the people of his own state, [00:55:57] which is a remarkable downfall [00:55:58] considering he was the number two on the [00:56:00] Democrat party's ticket just about a [00:56:02] year ago. Um, when it comes to V [00:56:04] Minnesota, the fraud that we have seen, [00:56:06] the widescale of fraud, uh, is really [00:56:10] remarkable. It's egregious. I would [00:56:11] encourage every single journalist in [00:56:14] this room to go to Minnesota and to [00:56:16] cover it yourselves. As for the Trump [00:56:18] administration, we have officials who [00:56:20] have been on the ground almost every [00:56:22] day. Secretary Gnome was there [00:56:23] yesterday. Secretary Bessant will be [00:56:25] traveling there later this week to talk [00:56:27] about the fraud and to do a roundt on [00:56:29] this very topic. And I would just like [00:56:31] to leave you with an update. To date, [00:56:33] the Department of Justice has charged 98 [00:56:35] total defendants in several Medicaid [00:56:37] fraud and related case programs. 64 were [00:56:40] convicted, and 85 of the 98 charged were [00:56:43] of Somali descent. Uh the DOJ has also [00:56:47] issued over se 17,000 1,700 subpoenas, [00:56:51] executed over 130 search warrants, uh [00:56:54] and they have now added um more [00:56:56] attorneys to their office there to [00:56:58] absorb the case flow. DHS is on the [00:57:01] ground going doortodoor conducting [00:57:02] largecale criminal and HSI [00:57:04] investigations. They have also sent [00:57:06] approximately 2,000 agents to [00:57:09] Minneapolis to assist with law [00:57:10] enforcement and immigration enforcement. [00:57:13] As I said, Secretary Gnome was on the [00:57:14] ground yesterday. The Department of [00:57:16] Health and Human Services has also begun [00:57:18] requiring a justification and photo [00:57:20] evidence for all child care related [00:57:22] payments nationwide and they required [00:57:25] Minnesota to conduct a full audit of all [00:57:27] child care centers. They also froze $185 [00:57:31] million in funding to Minnesota. And Dr. [00:57:34] Oz, who was just here, also notified [00:57:36] Governor Walls they're going to begin [00:57:38] auditing Medicaid recipients and [00:57:40] deferring payments on claims based on [00:57:41] waste, fraud, and abuse. The Department [00:57:44] of Labor is also conducting a targeted [00:57:46] review of Minnesota's unemployment [00:57:48] program. Department of Agriculture [00:57:50] requiring Minnesota can to conduct [00:57:53] reertification for SNAP recipients. and [00:57:56] HUD has launched investigations into the [00:57:58] public housing. SBA has also suspended [00:58:01] nearly 7,000 borrowers amid suspected [00:58:04] fraudulent activity. So with all of [00:58:06] that, rest assured this is an all [00:58:08] hands-on deck effort from the entire [00:58:10] administration to get to the bottom of [00:58:12] this and ensure that the ripping off of [00:58:14] taxpayers in the state of Minnesota, and [00:58:17] it won't just be Minnesota, it'll be any [00:58:18] state across this country where fraud [00:58:20] has taken place uh and we are protecting [00:58:22] law-abiding taxpaying American citizens. [00:58:25] Phil, [00:58:26] >> thank you. Caroline, just to follow up [00:58:27] on Greenland, there are treaties already [00:58:29] on the books that give the United States [00:58:32] um access to the island. They can [00:58:34] construct and maintain military bases [00:58:37] there. Uh we can house personnel on the [00:58:39] island. The US has control of landings, [00:58:42] takeoffs, anchorages, etc. So, I'm [00:58:45] curious if you could just spell out for [00:58:46] the American public, what specifically [00:58:49] would the US gain by taking control of [00:58:51] Greenland that the US doesn't already [00:58:53] have access to right now? [00:58:55] >> Um, more uh control over the Arctic [00:58:59] region and ensuring that China and [00:59:01] Russia uh and our adversaries cannot [00:59:04] continue their aggression in this very [00:59:06] important and strategic region. Uh, and [00:59:08] there would be many other benefits as [00:59:09] well that again the president and his [00:59:11] national security team are currently [00:59:13] talking about. [00:59:15] >> Jeeoff, I'll give you another one. [00:59:18] >> A broad stand question on foreign [00:59:20] policy. Are you concerned about [00:59:22] increasing tensions with Russia because [00:59:24] of the tankering [00:59:26] seizures? And what how how does the US [00:59:30] action in Venezuela impact the ongoing [00:59:34] relationship [clears throat] with China [00:59:35] and the president's um relationship with [00:59:37] President Xi? [00:59:38] >> I think the president has uh very open, [00:59:42] honest and good relationships with both [00:59:44] President Putin of Russia and also [00:59:45] President Xi of China. He has spoken [00:59:48] with them numerous times as you know [00:59:50] since coming to office about a year ago [00:59:51] and I believe that those personal [00:59:53] relationships are going to continue. But [00:59:55] as for the president and the United [00:59:57] States, he's going to enforce our policy [01:00:00] that's best for the United States of [01:00:01] America. And with respect to these ships [01:00:03] seizures, that means enforcing the [01:00:05] embargo against all dark fleet vessels [01:00:07] that are illegally transporting oil and [01:00:10] only legitimate commerce. To answer your [01:00:12] question much earlier, Rachel, [01:00:13] determined by the United States is going [01:00:15] to be permitted. And that's the policy [01:00:17] of this administration and he's not [01:00:18] afraid to implement it. [01:00:19] >> One more stand back. Just one more stand [01:00:21] back. I just last one. I remember asking [01:00:24] the president at the beginning of his [01:00:25] term uh if he was committed to article 5 [01:00:28] and NATO and he said yes. Has his stance [01:00:31] on NATO or his commitment to NATO [01:00:33] changed? [01:00:33] >> Did you seek his statement earlier [01:00:34] today? He said we will always be there [01:00:36] for NATO even if they are not there for [01:00:38] us. And I think that answers your [01:00:40] question directly. [01:00:41] >> Yes. [01:00:43] Just to follow up on what Jeff was [01:00:44] saying there, will the president commit [01:00:46] that if any NATO members are attacked [01:00:48] United States? Again, the president [01:00:50] addressed this directly himself this [01:00:52] morning after seeing uh the coverage [01:00:54] from all of you in this room um on [01:00:57] television and he made it very clear. [01:00:59] We're always going to be there for NATO, [01:01:00] even if they have not done right by the [01:01:02] United States of America. Uh and they [01:01:04] have not uh they have finally increased [01:01:07] their defense spending at the request of [01:01:09] this president. But it was only because [01:01:11] of this president that they did that. [01:01:14] >> Take a couple more. Michael, go ahead. [01:01:16] >> Thank you, Caroline. Happy New Year and [01:01:17] congratulations. Two questions if I may. [01:01:19] one on healthcare, one on Mexico. On [01:01:20] healthcare, president says he wants [01:01:22] Republicans to be flexible on the hide [01:01:24] amendment in order to pass healthcare [01:01:26] legislation. What is the White House's [01:01:29] message to pro-life voters who say [01:01:31] federal funding for abortion goes [01:01:32] against their values? [01:01:34] >> Well, the president did not change the [01:01:35] administration's policy. It was [01:01:37] President Trump uh who signed an [01:01:39] executive order protecting the Hayatt [01:01:41] Amendment. It's the Trump administration [01:01:42] that has taken multiple actions on [01:01:45] various fronts um to ensure that [01:01:46] taxpayer dollars are not funding the [01:01:49] practice of abortion. What the president [01:01:51] was saying yesterday was Republicans and [01:01:53] frankly Democrats too need to show a [01:01:55] little bit more flexibility so we can [01:01:57] actually get something done with respect [01:01:59] to the issue of health care. Republicans [01:02:02] have amazing ideas. The president [01:02:04] himself, as we spoke about earlier, uh [01:02:06] has launched this most favored nation [01:02:08] drug pricing initiative, has cut good [01:02:09] deals with big pharma. He wants to see [01:02:11] Republicans and Democrats, too, if [01:02:13] they're willing, codify those executive [01:02:15] orders into law so that these good deals [01:02:17] can remain and these prices can continue [01:02:19] to be lowered long after this president [01:02:21] and this dealmaker and chief is gone. Uh [01:02:23] the president's talked a lot about [01:02:25] health savings accounts and giving more [01:02:27] money back to the health care consumer [01:02:29] rather than to these giant insurance [01:02:31] companies. And he's been very outspoken [01:02:33] and tough on them, too. And I think [01:02:34] you'll see more and hear more from him [01:02:36] directly on that issue. So he wants to [01:02:38] see Congress get something done with [01:02:40] respect to healthcare and that was the [01:02:42] point that he was driving home [01:02:43] yesterday. [01:02:44] >> Caroline, President Trump says the drug [01:02:46] cartels are running Mexico. Uh what [01:02:48] action does he need to see Mexico's [01:02:50] president Claudia Shinbomb take to prove [01:02:52] that she's in control of that country, [01:02:54] in control of those cartels? And does [01:02:56] the White House believe she's able to do [01:02:58] that without US intervention? [01:02:59] >> Look, I think the president was speaking [01:03:01] very candidly and frankly uh about the [01:03:03] reality on the ground in Mexico. [01:03:06] Caroline, happy new year. I want to ask [01:03:08] you about the seized tanker the Bella. [01:03:10] There were reports before this that [01:03:11] Russia had sent a submarine to escort [01:03:13] it. Was there any engagement with that [01:03:15] submarine and then was the deconliction [01:03:17] aligned with Russia used ahead of [01:03:20] boarding that? [01:03:21] >> Again, this was a Venezuelan shadow [01:03:23] fleet vessel that has transported [01:03:25] sanctioned oil. The vessel was deemed [01:03:27] stateless after flying a false flag and [01:03:30] it had a judicial seizure order and [01:03:32] that's why the crew will be subject to [01:03:34] prosecution. [01:03:35] Caroline [01:03:38] on Columbia. The president had talked [01:03:41] over the weekend and has suggested that [01:03:42] he'll be open to an operation there. [01:03:44] Should the president of Columbia be [01:03:46] expecting Delta Force anytime soon? And [01:03:48] then I had another one for you on [01:03:49] California. [01:03:50] >> That would be a very unwise question for [01:03:52] me to answer to weigh into what's your [01:03:54] next question [01:03:54] >> on California. Can you share any more [01:03:57] about the fraud investigation? The [01:03:58] president said that there was one. Who's [01:04:00] being investigated and where is it [01:04:02] starting? Again, this is going to be a [01:04:04] all hands-on deck, governmentwide [01:04:06] effort. The president has directed all [01:04:08] agencies across the board to look at [01:04:10] federal spending programs in not just [01:04:13] Minnesota, but also in the state of [01:04:14] California to identify fraud and to [01:04:17] prosecute to the fullest extent of the [01:04:18] law all those who have committed it. [01:04:22] >> Take one more. Sure. [01:04:23] >> Thank you, Caroline. Yesterday was the [01:04:26] 5-year anniversary of January 6. [01:04:28] Democrats and mainstream media continue [01:04:30] to push their big lie that it was an [01:04:32] insurrection and that police officers [01:04:33] died that day. The reality is that four [01:04:36] Trump supporters died on January 6 and [01:04:38] two women were killed by January 6 [01:04:40] police. Everybody knows Ashley Babbot [01:04:42] was shot in cold blood by Capitol police [01:04:44] officer Michael Bird. But there was [01:04:45] another woman, her name was Roseanne [01:04:47] Boland from Georgia and she was [01:04:49] pepperval, gassed, and ultimately [01:04:50] brutally beaten with a stick by January [01:04:52] 6th police officer Llaya Morris. The [01:04:55] Biden administration and mainstream [01:04:56] media lied and told Americans Roseanne [01:04:58] Boland died of a drug o overdose on [01:05:00] Capitol steps. Her family is now asking [01:05:02] for an investigation. Is the [01:05:04] administration aware of the [01:05:05] circumstances of her death and will [01:05:07] there be an investigation finally? [01:05:09] >> Well, for investigation, I will have to [01:05:11] defer you to either the FBI or the [01:05:13] Department of Justice, and I'm sorry to [01:05:14] have to do that. Uh but with respect to [01:05:16] all of the facts that you just laid out, [01:05:18] the White House relished the opportunity [01:05:20] yesterday to actually create a new [01:05:22] website of to share the facts with the [01:05:24] American public, but also all those in [01:05:26] this room. We knew the media would be [01:05:28] covering January 6 quite a bit because [01:05:30] they think it's something that the [01:05:31] American people are still believing [01:05:33] their lies on. They think it's something [01:05:34] that still helps their case against this [01:05:36] president. Obviously not, or else he [01:05:38] wouldn't have been reelected in an [01:05:40] overwhelming fashion uh on November in [01:05:42] November of last year. And so I would [01:05:44] encourage everyone to take a look at the [01:05:45] website. It's quite well done. And thank [01:05:47] you all very much. It's great to be back [01:05:48] with you.