| Speaker | Time | Text |
|---|---|---|
| And we're going to stay on this case until the officers who defended the capital of the United States of America on January 6th are treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve. | ||
| Thank you. | ||
|
unidentified
|
Thank you. | |
| Can we continue our live coverage here on C-SPAN? | ||
| Take you to the State Department briefing in progress. | ||
| Someone's applying for a refugee status in this program. | ||
| And so that standard is uniform across the board. | ||
| So I want to clarify that aspect of it. | ||
| And again, the President has been very clear about the actions we are seeing in South Africa, the fact that this was a priority laid out by the President, and the State Department is fulfilling that priority. | ||
| And you don't want to speak to any racial reasoning for allowing them to come in being white refugee versus not allowing any Latino or people of color coming into the U.S. with refugees this year. | ||
| Fundamentally, what we have seen are harrowing stories from those refugees. | ||
| They have met the standard that is applicable for those refugees. | ||
| We have seen that process play out. | ||
| This has been a priority for the president. | ||
| And again, just looking at this scenario, we have heard harrowing stories here. | ||
| That is what is at issue here. | ||
| The fact that these people have gone through certain conditions, we have seen that standard for refugees apply. | ||
| They have gone through this process. | ||
| It's a priority from the president, and that's why we're seeing the actions that were taken. | ||
| Thanks, Tommy. | ||
| I think also we're asking because the determination of genocide is normally something that is determined by the Secretary of State. | ||
| So just want to clarify, you saying that this is now something that is determined by the President of the United States. | ||
| And that's why I think Andrew was asking if there is an investigation in this building into whether that designation for genocide is being determined in this building still or if something has changed. | ||
| Well, again, as I said, the President's been very clear about the issues that we have regarding South Africa. | ||
| He's been very clear on that continually. | ||
| I have nothing further to add at this point. | ||
| It's not a legal determination. | ||
| It's not a determination made by the President of the United States. | ||
| That's why we're asking. | ||
| Again, I address this issue in terms of the president's been very clear about the issues we've seen from the State Department's perspective. | ||
| There's a priority laid out by the President. | ||
| We are fulfilling that priority. | ||
| And again, the stories that we have heard are horroring. | ||
| And so we're seeing the fact that these people have met that same standard for refugees. | ||
| And we're seeing the State Department fulfill the executive orders of the President. | ||
| Did they also get, did you also look through their social media files? | ||
| I mean, because there's some to look for anti-Semitism, for instance, for some of the people who came. | ||
| Well, as a matter of general policy, we're unable to comment on specifics of that nature, and so I'm not going to do that from the podium here. | ||
| Can I ask you a different question? | ||
| I just have a totally different question before we get on to the Middle East. | ||
| All right. | ||
| I had a question on Cuba. | ||
| The deputy foreign minister is saying that there's no Chinese spy base on the island despite and is dismissing some recent satellite images. | ||
| I just wonder what your assessment is. | ||
| We will not talk about intelligence matters from the podium. | ||
| So at this point, nothing to further to add on that. | ||
| No comment. | ||
| Yes. | ||
| Thank you, Tommy. | ||
| Going back to Gaza on the issue of the aid, of course. | ||
| Now, you know, for all the months before the January 19 agreement, aid was going in. | ||
| Even in the most intensive fighting that occurred over a period of more than a year, aid was still going on, going in. | ||
| What has happened since March 2nd until now that this allows the aid to go in? | ||
| Do we have like a timetable? | ||
| And isn't it really ironic that the Palestinians demand a measure of basic human rights, the right to eat, on the day, the 15th of May, which is the 77th anniversary of their catastrophe? | ||
| We still have to talk and debate whether they have a right to eat or not. | ||
| Well, what I can tell you what's happened is there has been this proposal to get aid into Gaza in a creative way that makes sure Hamas cannot steal it. | ||
| That is what I can tell you has happened. | ||
| And the United States has endorsed that effort to get aid in there. | ||
| So that is what has happened. | ||
| And what I can also tell you what happened is on October 7th, Hamas coming and committing atrocities. | ||
| Hamas bears sole responsibility for this conflict, but as the Secretary just described, we care about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. | ||
| That's why we have endorsed this measure to get aid in there. | ||
| That's why we have seen this be a constant topic of conversation here at the podium and elsewhere. | ||
| And what we are seeing from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's announcement is a creative way to get in there and make sure aid is reaching the people that actually need it. | ||
| Do we have a timetable for this? | ||
| Can we say like in two weeks, three weeks, a month, the aid can go in? | ||
| Well, look, what we're looking to is that delivering of aid by the end of the month. | ||
| But ultimately, I refer to the foundation for more details on the specifics of that. | ||
| Yes. | ||
| One follow-up on Gaza, and I will also ask on Syria. | ||
| Can you give us, provide us more details about who will fund this new foundation, Gaza Foundation, and what role the U.S. will actually play in the aid delivery? | ||
| Well, ultimately, I refer you to the Foundation for more details on the specifics of that nature. | ||
| As the Secretary has said, we welcome this announcement to get aid in there. | ||
| But I defer you to the Foundation, refer you to the Foundation for more details. | ||
| And on Syria, Secretary Rubio meets Syrian Foreign Minister Al-Shaiban and Turkish Foreign Minister Harkam Fed to Fidan today in Antalya to Kiev. | ||
| You just shared a readout of the meeting. | ||
| Secretary Rubio said right after the meeting that the US will start with initial waivers instead of fully lifting the sanctions. | ||
| Can you provide more details on when and under what conditions these sanctions might be fully lifted? | ||
| And will the US do anything to contribute to the reconstruction of Syria? | ||
| Was this discussed during the meeting too? | ||
| Look, what I can say, as the Secretary said during those comments, is that this is something that had been discussed, worked on, options considered for many weeks leading up to this announcement, and that we are going to be implementing what the President has announced as an administration. | ||
| In terms of exact timelines, I have nothing further to preview on that front now, except for to say the fact that we are moving now to implement this announcement, and this was something that was discussed, as the Secretary said himself, for many weeks leading up to this announcement. | ||
| Can we come back to the Gaza Foundation? | ||
| Just to try to get some clarity on this. | ||
| So you're talking about this being the U.S. has endorsed it, you're praising this creative thinking. | ||
| Whose plan is it? | ||
| Who is the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation? | ||
| Well, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is a foundation. | ||
| I mean, I refer you to them for more details on their leadership. | ||
| How does a U.S. plan? | ||
| Is it an Israeli plan? | ||
| The UN has said they're not going to be involved in it. | ||
| So, you know, who do we credit with this creative thinking? | ||
| Well, again, as I said earlier, this is an independent plan in terms of making sure that aid reaches the people that need it. | ||
| As the Secretary said, we endorse this plan in the sense that we want to see creative solutions. | ||
| As he also said, if there are better options to get aid in there, we'd like to see those options provided. | ||
| But ultimately, again, as he said, our priority here is making sure that aid gets to the people that need it in a way where that aid is not stolen by Hamas or other terrorists. | ||
| When you say endorse, it sounds like kind of moral support, but is the U.S. providing any funding for this? | ||
| Look, I refer you to the Foundation for details on their funding. | ||
| Why is that after the parliament? | ||
| I have nothing to preview in terms of this. | ||
| I'm asking the State Department if the State Department is providing any funding for this. | ||
| Nothing to preview at this time on that front. | ||
| So all you're doing is providing endorsement. | ||
| Well, look, as the Secretary said again, we welcome this creative solution. | ||
| We see the plans moving forward there. | ||
| They announced and detailed those yesterday, if I have my time incorrect on that. | ||
| Refer you to them for more details on that. | ||
| There's been reports that David Beasley, who's the former World Food Programme head, is going to be involved. | ||
| Can you speak to that? | ||
| Anything about the leadership of this foundation? | ||
| Well, when it comes to Dave Beasley, Dave Beasley would be fantastic. | ||
| So we're hoping he comes on board as well. | ||
| He accepted the Nobel Prize on behalf of the World Food Program when he was leading the organization, and he's one of the most respected humanitarian leaders in the world. | ||
| I'm sorry, would he lead the humanitarian conversations for the State Department with Israel and Gaza? | ||
| Is that nothing further, Petrie, besides what I just provided there at this time? | ||
| You're saying he would be good, but you don't have any information on him being involved. | ||
| Again, this is the data that we have here in terms of David Beasley would be fantastic. | ||
| So we're hoping that he comes on board, but nothing further to add at this time. | ||
| Well, since he had the early one, we'll go over here. | ||
| Thank you. | ||
| Iran, today the President said the U.S. and Iran are very close to a deal and said that Tehran has already sort of agreed to terms. | ||
| Can you elaborate on that? | ||
| And is there another round of direct, indirect negotiation schedule to get this sort of to finish? | ||
| Not in a comment on private diplomatic conversations nor negotiate through the media when it comes to the details of these negotiations, these talks. | ||
| What I can say again, as we've reiterated here, is that the President has been clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. | ||
| The talks have been described as constructive by the participants in them. | ||
| And so, again, Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. | ||
| And the President has been clear he wants to see diplomacy. | ||
| He wants to see a diplomatic solution here. | ||
| Yes. | ||
| Tommy, can you speak to the remaining meetings for Secretary Rubio in Turkey and in Europe? | ||
| I think you just mentioned his trip on Sunday or the trip regarding the Vatican. | ||
| But in terms of discussions about Ukraine, do you have anything to preview or to share in terms of will he engage with Ukraine's foreign minister or any other officials, even if Minister Lavrov or even if the Russian government does not have a presence at the Secretary's level in terms of officials engaged in Turkey at this point? | ||
| Well, the Secretary just spoke to this a little while ago. | ||
| I refer you to his comments on that. | ||
| Thank you. | ||
| Thank you, Tommy. | ||
| A question on Syria. | ||
| After the President's meeting with the Syrian interim president and today's meeting between Secretary Robio and Syrian Foreign Minister, do you recognize this Syrian interim authority now, or you still hold your previous position on that? | ||
| Well, look, what we want to see in taking a step back is Syria takes certain actions that were detailed in the readout the White House put out. | ||
| We've also seen the Secretary discuss this in terms of movement forward. | ||
| I don't necessarily want to get ahead of where that movement might be, but ultimately just to reinforce and reinforce the fact that, as the President said, we want to give Syria a chance at greatness, and we are working now to implement what the President announced in his speech in Saudi Arabia. | ||
| And Secretary Robio was touching the importance of protecting the human rights of all Syrians. | ||
| We have seen this interim authority were violating many international laws and they were even harassing the Jewish people and the Kurdish and the Christians. | ||
| What's your position on these minority rights in Syria after you met with the Syrian foreign minister and after the president's meeting with Ahmad al-Shara? | ||
| Well, again, not to discuss the private diplomatic conversations that were happening in that regard. | ||
| We have been clear in regards to any nation that we have certain expectations, and there have been expectations that the president has communicated to Syria regarding a whole host of actions. | ||
| And again, those actions that we're hoping that they take are hand in hand with this announcement in terms of lifting sanctions, that opportunity to achieve greatness. | ||
| So it's the cessation of sanctions, but also the actions we're hoping to see them take would then contribute to that. | ||
| That long peace, that prosperity that the President and Secretary want to see for the entire region. | ||
| Yes. | ||
| Thank you. | ||
| Moving back to Ukraine and Russian talk. | ||
| Is Secretary going to Istanbul as a Secretary of State or as a National Security Advisor? | ||
| And is there any chance that he's going to meet with Russian delegation? | ||
| Well again, the Secretary spoke to that just recently. | ||
| I refer you to his comments on that. | ||
| Nothing for that. | ||
| Yes. | ||
| Thank you. | ||
| A high-level meeting of trade ministers from major countries is being held today on Teju Island, South Korea, ahead of the APEC summit to be held in Gyeongzhou, South Korea in October and November. | ||
| Is there a possibility that additional U.S. and South Korea follow up the U.S. and China by rather additional paths will be held? | ||
| Well, what I can say is that the President has been clear. | ||
| He wants to strike deals that benefit the American people. | ||
| And when we see that, that also benefits our relationships with other countries. | ||
| We're seeing benefits that help both in our bilateral relationship and that. | ||
| So nothing to preview on a specific agreement. | ||
| But I will say I think this is a testament to the fact of the president's agenda, the fact that we have seen historic deals that have been brokered by the president that are already yielding results for the American people. | ||
| We've seen inflation come down, gas and grocery prices fall, and we've seen investment entering the United States. | ||
| Of course, the major announcements we also see in terms of investment in the Middle East this week, but also in general, we're seeing a flood of investment into the United States. | ||
| We're seeing that benefit for the American worker. | ||
| And again, by putting that American worker first, the American people first, that leads to deals that benefit both countries in the sense of trade agreements. | ||
| So again, we've seen countries come to the table and the president's the best deal maker in the world. | ||
| Quick follow-up, the ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine failed. | ||
| And do you predict that meeting between Putin and Jalisinkin to take place soon forward? | ||
| Well, I'm not going to speculate on that at all. | ||
| Yes. | ||
| Thank you, Tommy. | ||
| A couple of questions. | ||
| One on Syria. | ||
| I want to understand, does lifting sanctions on Damascus come up with any conditions? | ||
| And secondly, on May 17th, the Arab League is scheduled to be held in Baghdad, Iraq. | ||
| Does the security review attend the meeting? | ||
| Nothing to preview on that second question. | ||
| Again, on the first, let's reiterate what the President said. | ||
| This is about giving Syria an opportunity for greatness. | ||
| And there have been actions that have been communicated by the President. | ||
| It was detailed in the readout that the White House put out. | ||
| Have been detailed again from this podium in terms of actions that Syria should take. | ||
| And those actions that we hope to see them take go hand in hand with that opportunity for greatness, that if they take those actions, we could see a long peace, prosperity. | ||
| Again, something that the President wishes for the entire region. | ||
| Thank you very much. | ||
| After successfully mediating ceasefire between Pakistan and India to prevent dangerous escalation in a region, President Trump has said that he will work with both countries to see if they could arrive on any solution for Kashmir dispute. | ||
| What is your take on it? | ||
| How does the State Department see this issue? | ||
| Is it bilateral for you or is it open for any third-party mediation? | ||
| Well, look, what we're happy to see is a ceasefire. | ||
| That's what we've said for the last couple of days now. | ||
| And we want to encourage and see direct talks between the parties. | ||
| We have been clear on that. | ||
| Taking a step back, the President is a peacemaker, and we celebrate the advancement of peace, and we hope to see the ceasefire be maintained. | ||
| And the President has also been clear in terms of the praise that he has given both prime ministers of both countries for the wisdom and the fortitude that they showed by choosing the path of peace. | ||
| Yes. | ||
| Thank you very much, Tommy. | ||
| Thank you very much, Tommy. | ||
| One on Pakistan and one on Afghanistan, please. | ||
| Both the leaders in Pakistan and India, in Pakistan, he is known as a fake prime minister, and in India, the prime minister is known as a big hater of Muslim Christians and Sikhs. | ||
| Is the State Department at all worried that now when they have extended the dateline till 18th, after that any nuclear thing is being discussed seriously or not? | ||
| Well, again, what we are happy to see is a ceasefire, and that's where our focus remains: the direct talks we want to see. | ||
| And again, the president has been clear praising both prime ministers for choosing the path of peace. | ||
| Second one on Afghanistan, please. | ||
| Afghan girls are now without education for three years. | ||
| Has the president or the secretary at all interested in that country's girls to get educated and work towards their children not becoming terrorists again? | ||
| Something like that? | ||
| Well, look, we've spoken at this before and other avenues. | ||
| What I can say again is that when it comes to our national interest, when we're looking at our national interests, we're going to continue putting America first, but nothing further to add in terms of that question there. | ||
| All right. | ||
| Thank you. | ||
| Thank you very much. | ||
| This is the last day of legislative work for the week. | ||
| Members are wrapping up National Police Week bills, considering measures to allow federal police to buy retired guns and to require a report from the Attorney General on attacks on law enforcement. | ||
| Off the floor, negotiations continue on GOP tax and spending legislation to support President Trump's agenda. | ||
| Watch live coverage of the House when lawmakers gavel back in here on C-SPAN. | ||
| Earlier today, the Supreme Court heard a consolidated case on whether judges can block President Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship nationwide. | ||
| The order limits birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented parents in the U.S. We'll bring you the full oral argument tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern on C-SPAN. |