WEBVTT 00:00.600 --> 00:03.870 Hi , Thank you . Good 00:03.870 --> 00:07.830 afternoon . Have 00:07.830 --> 00:09.830 quite a few things at the top , but 00:09.830 --> 00:12.052 then we will take plenty of questions . 00:12.240 --> 00:14.462 I wanted to take a moment at the top of 00:14.462 --> 00:16.684 our briefing today to note that on this 00:16.684 --> 00:19.060 day 21 years ago , President Clinton 00:19.060 --> 00:21.282 announced the naming of the White House 00:21.282 --> 00:23.004 briefing room for former press 00:23.004 --> 00:25.580 secretary James Brady . Brady , as many 00:25.580 --> 00:27.770 of you are probably aware , was 00:27.770 --> 00:29.910 severely wounded in the 1981 00:29.920 --> 00:31.864 assassination attempt on President 00:31.864 --> 00:34.460 Reagan and later became a prominent gun 00:34.460 --> 00:37.240 violence prevention advocate . During 00:37.240 --> 00:39.530 the campaign , President Biden laid out 00:39.530 --> 00:41.197 an ambitious plan to make our 00:41.197 --> 00:43.680 communities safer . And that's why , in 00:43.680 --> 00:45.847 part yesterday , senior members of his 00:45.847 --> 00:48.080 team domestic policy adviser soon Susan 00:48.080 --> 00:50.136 Rice , White House public engagement 00:50.136 --> 00:52.250 director Cedric Richmond hosted a 00:52.260 --> 00:54.427 virtual discussion with leaders of gun 00:54.427 --> 00:56.538 violence prevention groups to discuss 00:56.538 --> 00:58.316 our shared goals . The Very Gun 00:58.316 --> 01:00.482 Violence Prevention Organization named 01:00.482 --> 01:02.316 for James Brady was part of that 01:02.316 --> 01:04.260 discussion . Along with Giffords , 01:04.260 --> 01:06.204 every town for gun safety and moms 01:06.204 --> 01:08.427 demand action . These organizations all 01:08.427 --> 01:10.427 have a critical role to play guns . 01:10.427 --> 01:12.482 Violence may not be in the headlines 01:12.482 --> 01:14.720 today or right now , but gun violence 01:14.720 --> 01:16.442 continues to fracture American 01:16.442 --> 01:18.664 communities and American families every 01:18.664 --> 01:21.100 single day last year , we saw historic 01:21.100 --> 01:23.820 spike in homicides across America , and 01:23.820 --> 01:25.764 we know gun violence in our cities 01:25.764 --> 01:27.820 disproportionately affects black and 01:27.820 --> 01:29.820 brown individuals . Last month , we 01:29.820 --> 01:32.040 also saw a near a near record increase 01:32.040 --> 01:34.096 in the number of gun sales . We look 01:34.096 --> 01:36.151 forward to working with gun violence 01:36.151 --> 01:38.262 survivors and advocates , and sharing 01:38.262 --> 01:40.484 war in the weeks and months ahead about 01:40.484 --> 01:42.484 our efforts to make our communities 01:42.484 --> 01:44.429 safer . Also , a Z many of you are 01:44.429 --> 01:46.207 tracking the president and vice 01:46.207 --> 01:48.110 president met in the Oval Office 01:48.110 --> 01:50.221 earlier today with a bipartisan group 01:50.221 --> 01:52.443 of senators from the Environment Public 01:52.443 --> 01:54.388 Works Committee and Transportation 01:54.388 --> 01:56.443 Secretary Pete Buddha . Judge joined 01:56.443 --> 01:58.730 virtually to discuss the critical need 01:58.740 --> 02:00.962 for investing in modern and sustainable 02:00.962 --> 02:03.296 American infrastructure . The president , 02:03.296 --> 02:05.518 vice president , secretary and senators 02:05.518 --> 02:07.573 established the mutual understanding 02:07.573 --> 02:09.351 that America needs to build new 02:09.351 --> 02:11.462 infrastructure across urban and rural 02:11.462 --> 02:13.351 areas and create millions of good 02:13.351 --> 02:15.130 paying jobs in the process of 02:15.130 --> 02:17.019 supporting the country's economic 02:17.019 --> 02:19.297 recovery in the months and years ahead . 02:19.340 --> 02:21.396 The president , the vice president , 02:21.396 --> 02:23.062 the secretary also shared the 02:23.062 --> 02:25.007 administration's view for building 02:25.007 --> 02:27.062 sustainable infrastructure that will 02:27.062 --> 02:29.284 withstand the impacts of climate change 02:29.284 --> 02:31.229 and fuel and American Clean Energy 02:31.229 --> 02:33.550 revolution . Uh , as the president has 02:33.550 --> 02:35.439 said , and let me just give you a 02:35.439 --> 02:37.606 little note on the trip to the N i H . 02:37.606 --> 02:39.606 Today , I told you there were a few 02:39.606 --> 02:41.717 things going on as the president said 02:41.717 --> 02:43.883 many times , This is an administration 02:43.883 --> 02:45.883 that will lead with science and the 02:45.883 --> 02:48.217 guidance of our health and medical team . 02:48.217 --> 02:50.328 He is visiting later this afternoon , 02:50.328 --> 02:52.272 the N i H . It's an opportunity to 02:52.272 --> 02:54.383 visit with with and thank the men and 02:54.383 --> 02:56.606 women who are on the front lines of the 02:56.606 --> 02:56.260 important research happening there . 02:56.540 --> 02:58.850 Hey will also receive an update from Dr 02:58.850 --> 03:00.860 Fauci and Dr Collins , and he will 03:00.860 --> 03:03.360 deliver remarks and provide an update 03:03.360 --> 03:05.470 on the ongoing off efforts to expand 03:05.470 --> 03:08.060 vaccine supply as quickly as possible . 03:08.840 --> 03:11.150 Another scheduling note for all of you 03:11.160 --> 03:13.327 were also pleased to announce that the 03:13.327 --> 03:15.493 president will speak on the importance 03:15.493 --> 03:17.716 of our transatlantic ties and the needs 03:17.716 --> 03:19.882 for the need for the United States and 03:19.882 --> 03:21.882 Europe to take on global challenges 03:21.882 --> 03:23.993 together at a virtual event hosted by 03:23.993 --> 03:25.882 the Munich Security Conference on 03:25.882 --> 03:28.160 February 19th . For more than 50 years , 03:28.160 --> 03:30.382 the Munich security conference has been 03:30.382 --> 03:32.104 a leading forum for discussing 03:32.104 --> 03:33.882 international security policy . 03:33.882 --> 03:35.827 Distinguished guests have included 03:35.827 --> 03:37.716 world leaders and personalities , 03:37.716 --> 03:39.660 international and non governmental 03:39.660 --> 03:39.590 organizations , business , the media , 03:39.590 --> 03:41.580 academia and civil society . Uh , 03:41.590 --> 03:43.257 President Biden led the U . S 03:43.257 --> 03:45.201 delegation to the conference three 03:45.201 --> 03:47.034 times as vice president and most 03:47.034 --> 03:49.368 recently participated in the 2019 Forum . 03:49.368 --> 03:51.368 We'll have more details in the days 03:51.368 --> 03:54.030 ahead , also on Burma , and you may 03:54.030 --> 03:56.363 have seen the new Everybody's okay here . 03:56.363 --> 03:58.419 Don't worry . Um , you may have seen 03:58.419 --> 04:00.641 the news that went out right before the 04:00.641 --> 04:02.530 briefing , and the president also 04:02.530 --> 04:04.752 talked about yesterday . But as we said 04:04.752 --> 04:06.808 immediately on reports of the coup , 04:06.808 --> 04:08.974 the United States opposes any attempts 04:08.974 --> 04:10.697 to alter the outcome of recent 04:10.697 --> 04:12.363 elections or impede Myanmar's 04:12.363 --> 04:14.320 democratic transition . Today , 04:14.330 --> 04:16.441 President Biden is taking significant 04:16.441 --> 04:18.608 steps in response to the military coup 04:18.608 --> 04:20.663 in Burma . The U . S . Department of 04:20.663 --> 04:22.830 Treasury designated 10 individuals and 04:22.830 --> 04:25.052 three entities for their association to 04:25.052 --> 04:27.219 the military apparatus responsible for 04:27.219 --> 04:29.220 the coup . Three entities , wholly 04:29.230 --> 04:31.286 owned subsidiaries of a conglomerate 04:31.286 --> 04:33.230 owned or controlled by the Burmese 04:33.230 --> 04:35.397 military , have also been designated . 04:35.397 --> 04:37.174 Additionally , as the president 04:37.174 --> 04:39.230 announced , the U . S government has 04:39.230 --> 04:41.008 also taken steps to prevent the 04:41.008 --> 04:43.230 generals from improperly accessing more 04:43.230 --> 04:45.341 than $1 billion in Burmese government 04:45.341 --> 04:47.452 funds held in the United States . The 04:47.452 --> 04:49.563 Department of Commerce is also taking 04:49.563 --> 04:51.674 immediate action toe limit exports of 04:51.674 --> 04:53.897 sensitive goods to the Burmese military 04:53.897 --> 04:56.063 and other entities associated with the 04:56.063 --> 04:57.952 recent coup . In addition , we're 04:57.952 --> 05:00.008 freezing US assistance that benefits 05:00.008 --> 04:59.800 the Burmese government while 04:59.800 --> 05:02.180 maintaining our support for health care , 05:02.190 --> 05:04.580 civil society groups and other areas 05:04.580 --> 05:06.358 that benefit the Burmese people 05:06.358 --> 05:09.050 directly . We will also continue our 05:09.050 --> 05:10.994 support for the Rohingya and other 05:10.994 --> 05:13.390 vulnerable populations . Aziz . You 05:13.390 --> 05:15.790 know , we released a fact sheet on this , 05:15.800 --> 05:18.133 so it just came out before the briefing , 05:18.133 --> 05:20.022 and I just wanted to highlight it 05:20.022 --> 05:22.078 briefly . Last item , and then we'll 05:22.078 --> 05:24.411 get to your questions , someone in here . 05:24.411 --> 05:23.410 Maybe that you were not here . It was a 05:23.410 --> 05:25.466 person who is not here again today . 05:25.466 --> 05:27.521 Asked a very good question yesterday 05:27.521 --> 05:29.521 about the shortage of semiconductor 05:29.521 --> 05:31.688 chips . So as we often like to do , we 05:31.688 --> 05:33.577 wanted Thio provide all of you an 05:33.577 --> 05:35.688 update on that theme . Administration 05:35.688 --> 05:37.632 is currently identifying potential 05:37.632 --> 05:39.466 chokepoints and supply chain and 05:39.466 --> 05:41.188 actively working alongside key 05:41.188 --> 05:43.354 stakeholders and industry and with our 05:43.354 --> 05:45.410 trading partners to do more now . At 05:45.410 --> 05:47.577 the same time , we're looking down the 05:47.577 --> 05:49.577 road . The long standing issue with 05:49.577 --> 05:51.743 short supply of semiconductors was the 05:51.743 --> 05:51.710 question . Yesterday is one of the 05:51.710 --> 05:53.821 central motivations for the executive 05:53.821 --> 05:55.877 order the president will sign in the 05:55.877 --> 05:57.599 coming weeks . Toe undertake a 05:57.599 --> 05:59.710 comprehensive review of supply chains 05:59.710 --> 06:01.932 for critical goods . The review will be 06:01.932 --> 06:03.988 focused on identifying the immediate 06:03.988 --> 06:06.154 actions we can take from improving the 06:06.154 --> 06:08.266 physical production of those items in 06:08.266 --> 06:08.260 the U . S . Toe , working with allies 06:08.440 --> 06:10.662 to develop a coordinated response . The 06:10.662 --> 06:12.662 weaknesses and bottlenecks that are 06:12.662 --> 06:15.490 hurting American workers with that . Go 06:15.490 --> 06:17.768 ahead , Jonathan . Thank you very much . 06:17.768 --> 06:19.768 Sure . A couple of topics for you . 06:19.768 --> 06:21.768 First , the president earlier today 06:21.768 --> 06:23.934 said he spoke to President Xi of China 06:23.934 --> 06:25.990 for two hours last night . Uh , even 06:25.990 --> 06:28.046 giving set aside time translations . 06:28.046 --> 06:30.101 That's obviously robust phone call . 06:30.101 --> 06:29.790 But the readout that was issued by the 06:29.790 --> 06:31.623 White House does not mention any 06:31.623 --> 06:34.170 discussion of the situation in Burma or 06:34.180 --> 06:36.347 trade between the two countries . Were 06:36.347 --> 06:38.458 those topics as well as the origin of 06:38.458 --> 06:40.624 Kobe , 19 discussed , and if so , what 06:40.624 --> 06:42.958 was said ? Well , it was a lengthy call , 06:42.958 --> 06:45.180 Aziz , you noted , And as the president 06:45.180 --> 06:48.030 noted this morning , uh , modern day 06:48.030 --> 06:50.100 historians could certainly confirmed 06:50.100 --> 06:52.267 that there are few presidents who came 06:52.267 --> 06:54.378 into the just this job with more of a 06:54.378 --> 06:56.267 history and engaged engaging with 06:56.267 --> 06:57.933 Chinese leadership . Uh , the 06:57.933 --> 07:00.044 president's . The readout we released 07:00.044 --> 07:02.100 last night was also quite robust and 07:02.100 --> 07:04.322 comprehensive about the range of issues 07:04.322 --> 07:06.378 that were covered during that call . 07:06.378 --> 07:08.544 I'm not gonna have additional readouts 07:08.544 --> 07:10.378 to provide from here , but I can 07:10.378 --> 07:12.800 outline for you kind of where we are in 07:12.800 --> 07:15.360 our status of our relationship and our 07:15.370 --> 07:18.200 efforts as it relates to China . Um , 07:18.210 --> 07:20.154 the president wants to lead with a 07:20.154 --> 07:22.270 clear and compelling affirmative US 07:22.270 --> 07:24.230 policy agenda . Take steps to 07:24.230 --> 07:26.230 strengthen our own economy . That's 07:26.230 --> 07:28.286 something that is a primary focus of 07:28.286 --> 07:30.452 hiss . That means getting the pandemic 07:30.452 --> 07:30.360 under control . That means , uh , 07:30.370 --> 07:32.950 taking steps here to get people back to 07:32.950 --> 07:34.783 work . He wants to work with our 07:34.783 --> 07:36.839 partners and allies , as you've seen 07:36.839 --> 07:38.950 from the readouts we've done from the 07:38.950 --> 07:41.006 president's engagement . He wants to 07:41.006 --> 07:43.117 take steps across government , as you 07:43.117 --> 07:45.400 saw from his visit to the Pentagon 07:45.400 --> 07:47.511 yesterday and the review he announced 07:47.511 --> 07:49.567 on . He also eyes committed to being 07:49.567 --> 07:52.050 clear and candid in his engagements as 07:52.050 --> 07:54.900 he was last night in his conversation 07:54.900 --> 07:57.233 with president has lengthy conversation , 07:57.233 --> 07:59.289 as you alluded to with President G , 07:59.289 --> 08:01.400 where he talked about the fundamental 08:01.400 --> 08:03.920 concerns he has we have about Beijing's 08:03.920 --> 08:06.360 coercive and unfair economic practices 08:06.360 --> 08:08.193 that obviously covers a range of 08:08.193 --> 08:10.027 concerns . Range of issues , the 08:10.027 --> 08:12.138 crackdown in Hong Kong , human rights 08:12.138 --> 08:14.260 abuses , abuses across the country , 08:14.340 --> 08:16.451 increasingly assertive actions in the 08:16.451 --> 08:18.680 region , including toward Taiwan s Oh , 08:18.680 --> 08:20.958 that was the scope of the conversation . 08:20.958 --> 08:23.124 If there's more to provide , I'm happy 08:23.124 --> 08:25.124 to check with our national security 08:25.124 --> 08:27.347 team , but I just wanted to outline for 08:27.347 --> 08:26.450 you , giving you give me the 08:26.450 --> 08:28.339 opportunity . What is your second 08:28.339 --> 08:30.228 question on the domestic front on 08:30.228 --> 08:32.339 schools , there's been some confusion 08:32.339 --> 08:34.394 as to just what the administration's 08:34.394 --> 08:36.450 goals are when it comes to reopening 08:36.450 --> 08:38.617 schools . Can you clear it up for us ? 08:38.617 --> 08:40.783 And in particular ? Can you explain to 08:40.783 --> 08:43.006 American parents that just one day of a 08:43.006 --> 08:44.950 week of in person school does that 08:44.950 --> 08:46.839 count as schools being open ? Why 08:46.839 --> 08:49.061 should it be satisfied with that ? Uh , 08:49.061 --> 08:51.228 they shouldn't be . I wouldn't be as a 08:51.228 --> 08:53.394 parent on I am a parent , I should say 08:53.394 --> 08:52.960 I have two young kids . Andi , I know 08:52.960 --> 08:55.110 many of you have kids as well . Uh , 08:55.120 --> 08:57.120 the president wants schools to open 08:57.120 --> 08:59.342 safely and in accord with science . And 08:59.342 --> 09:01.398 we're going to listen to science and 09:01.398 --> 09:03.564 medical experts . The CDC guidelines , 09:03.564 --> 09:05.731 we expect them to come out tomorrow on 09:05.731 --> 09:08.590 were eager to hear , uh , Maura about 09:08.590 --> 09:10.757 the clear science space guidelines for 09:10.757 --> 09:12.923 opening schools and how we can do that 09:12.923 --> 09:15.090 safely and how we can keep them open . 09:15.090 --> 09:17.312 The president will not rest until every 09:17.312 --> 09:19.479 school is open five days a week . That 09:19.479 --> 09:21.590 is our goal . That is what we want to 09:21.590 --> 09:23.890 achieve . But we're going thio , Uh , 09:23.900 --> 09:25.733 we're look forward to seeing and 09:25.733 --> 09:27.789 hearing the CDC guidelines to gain a 09:27.789 --> 09:30.011 better understanding of what steps that 09:30.011 --> 09:31.956 will entail or should entail . The 09:31.956 --> 09:34.011 president's role is , of course , to 09:34.011 --> 09:36.010 ensure that across government were 09:36.020 --> 09:38.187 listening to those guidelines . We are 09:38.187 --> 09:40.242 leaning into science . We're letting 09:40.242 --> 09:42.409 the science and medical experts lead , 09:42.409 --> 09:44.409 and then his objective is to ensure 09:44.409 --> 09:46.687 there's the funding to deliver on that . 09:46.687 --> 09:48.909 That's in the American rescue plan , so 09:48.909 --> 09:51.076 I can assure any parent listening that 09:51.076 --> 09:53.131 his objective , his commitment is to 09:53.131 --> 09:55.242 ensuring schools are open five days a 09:55.242 --> 09:57.520 week . That's what he wants to achieve , 09:57.520 --> 09:59.576 and we're going to lead with science 09:59.576 --> 10:01.798 and the advice that they're giving us . 10:01.798 --> 10:01.630 And the first step is tomorrow . Next 10:01.630 --> 10:04.020 step is tomorrow . I should say , uh , 10:04.030 --> 10:06.308 let's go ahead . I'll come back to you . 10:06.308 --> 10:08.730 I wanted to go back to the chip issue . 10:08.740 --> 10:10.962 I know you mentioned that there's gonna 10:10.962 --> 10:13.073 be an executive order about reviewing 10:13.073 --> 10:15.018 supply chains . Are there gonna be 10:15.018 --> 10:16.851 specific measures to incentivize 10:16.851 --> 10:18.907 companies to set up making plants in 10:18.907 --> 10:21.073 the US or any effort to roll back some 10:21.073 --> 10:23.296 of the Trump era regulations ? Scene is 10:23.296 --> 10:25.407 responsible for the supply shortage . 10:25.407 --> 10:27.351 Sure . Well , this has been a long 10:27.351 --> 10:29.462 going issue , as you know , I think , 10:29.462 --> 10:31.629 from covering it long before President 10:31.629 --> 10:33.629 Biden took office . And even before 10:33.629 --> 10:35.684 that , there'll be more details when 10:35.684 --> 10:37.851 the executive orders actually signed . 10:37.851 --> 10:40.073 And obviously it's a commitment that he 10:40.073 --> 10:41.962 has and the economic team have to 10:41.962 --> 10:44.018 addressing . But we'll wait for them 10:44.018 --> 10:46.240 for more specific details quickly . Ask 10:46.240 --> 10:48.462 about the W H O team that recently left 10:48.462 --> 10:50.684 China . I know . There was some reports 10:50.684 --> 10:52.796 that the outbreak may have erupted of 10:52.796 --> 10:54.796 coronavirus in October 2019 . Prior 10:54.796 --> 10:57.080 Thio , what we previously thought does 10:57.080 --> 10:59.024 the vitamin administration believe 10:59.024 --> 11:01.340 China notified the W . H o in a timely 11:01.350 --> 11:03.406 fashion about covert outbreak a year 11:03.406 --> 11:05.628 ago . Well , the president , during his 11:05.628 --> 11:07.572 colleagues , certainly expressed a 11:07.572 --> 11:09.850 concern about the lack of transparency . 11:09.850 --> 11:12.072 That's something he's also talked about 11:12.072 --> 11:14.183 publicly on , As we've noted a couple 11:14.183 --> 11:16.183 of times , we're looking forward to 11:16.183 --> 11:17.739 receiving the data from the 11:17.739 --> 11:19.961 investigation and taking a look at that 11:19.961 --> 11:21.961 ourselves . But certainly there has 11:21.961 --> 11:23.930 been a concern about the lack of 11:23.930 --> 11:25.770 transparency , and there's more 11:25.770 --> 11:27.890 information that we need to ensure it 11:27.890 --> 11:30.168 doesn't happen again . God , Christian , 11:30.168 --> 11:32.390 Thank you , Jeff . President Biden just 11:32.390 --> 11:34.920 said in the Oval Office that he thinks 11:34.920 --> 11:37.142 some minds may have been changed in the 11:37.142 --> 11:39.640 wake of that newly revealed footage . 11:39.650 --> 11:41.770 Does the President , now that 11:41.770 --> 11:43.881 conviction is a possibility of former 11:43.881 --> 11:46.340 President Trump ? Well , I would say 11:46.340 --> 11:48.507 first Christian , that I think what he 11:48.507 --> 11:50.396 was referencing , and I think the 11:50.396 --> 11:52.340 question I'm not . Did you ask the 11:52.340 --> 11:54.562 question ? Okay , there you go . So the 11:54.562 --> 11:54.130 question and that's what I thought , Uh , 11:54.140 --> 11:56.084 the question that he was asked was 11:56.084 --> 11:58.251 about the video that you asked him was 11:58.251 --> 12:00.473 about the video . And you know , anyone 12:00.473 --> 12:02.473 who watched that video ? Many of us 12:02.473 --> 12:04.640 watched it when our days concluded and 12:04.640 --> 12:06.751 we saw a news clips , probably on NBC 12:06.751 --> 12:08.640 and other outlets , Uh , found it 12:08.640 --> 12:10.862 harrowing and deeply disturbing . And , 12:10.862 --> 12:12.918 uh , you know , that's certainly how 12:12.918 --> 12:15.029 the president felt when he watched it 12:15.029 --> 12:17.251 when he watched some of the clips as he 12:17.251 --> 12:19.418 as he referenced , um , you know , and 12:19.418 --> 12:19.380 he was affected by that . And I think 12:19.380 --> 12:22.130 what has he was reflecting on was , uh , 12:22.140 --> 12:24.190 that , um , you know , it's just a 12:24.200 --> 12:27.090 reminder of of what an unprecedented 12:27.090 --> 12:29.090 assault . As he said on January 6 , 12:29.090 --> 12:32.350 this was on our democracy . On the 12:32.360 --> 12:34.304 footage was just a reminder of how 12:34.304 --> 12:36.650 shocked and saddened he was on the day 12:36.650 --> 12:38.483 this occurred . It was kind of a 12:38.483 --> 12:40.539 reliving of that for many people who 12:40.539 --> 12:42.706 spent has spent as much time as he has 12:42.706 --> 12:44.900 in Congress . Uh , you know , I think 12:44.900 --> 12:47.067 he said , or they may not . You know , 12:47.067 --> 12:49.178 he was He was not intending to give a 12:49.178 --> 12:51.880 projection or a prediction , but was 12:51.890 --> 12:55.020 just giving a very human on emotional 12:55.020 --> 12:58.280 response to what many people , um , did . 12:58.290 --> 13:00.346 Many people felt , I should say when 13:00.346 --> 13:02.650 they watched the video . Now think that 13:02.660 --> 13:04.493 former President Trump should be 13:04.493 --> 13:06.493 convicted , having seen some of the 13:06.493 --> 13:08.604 video well Christine . You know , the 13:08.604 --> 13:11.020 president , uh , made clear a z did 13:11.020 --> 13:13.131 again this morning when you asked him 13:13.131 --> 13:15.370 the question about the fact that he 13:15.370 --> 13:17.537 felt that what happened was an assault 13:17.537 --> 13:19.703 on our democracy , That he was shocked 13:19.703 --> 13:21.703 and saddened . And again , watching 13:21.703 --> 13:23.870 that footage was a reminder off that . 13:23.870 --> 13:26.220 But he also knows there's a role for 13:26.230 --> 13:29.040 Congress to play . Um , and a role for 13:29.040 --> 13:31.380 him to play on his role in this process 13:31.380 --> 13:33.602 is to be president of the United States 13:33.602 --> 13:35.713 and to govern for all of the American 13:35.713 --> 13:37.769 people . Let's keep the focus on his 13:37.769 --> 13:39.991 agenda . But does the president have an 13:39.991 --> 13:41.936 obligation to weigh in ? Given the 13:41.936 --> 13:43.769 whole country is watching what's 13:43.769 --> 13:45.880 happening on Capitol Hill ? Well , he 13:45.880 --> 13:48.047 did weigh in having when you asked him 13:48.047 --> 13:50.158 the question this morning , and he he 13:50.158 --> 13:52.269 weighed in yesterday . When , when he 13:52.269 --> 13:54.491 was asked about about the proceedings . 13:54.491 --> 13:56.940 Azaz . Well , uh , well , the Senate , 13:56.950 --> 13:59.160 The president was in the Senate for 36 13:59.160 --> 14:01.360 years . As you all well know on , did 14:01.360 --> 14:03.140 he eyes certainly is an 14:03.140 --> 14:05.196 institutionalist who values the role 14:05.196 --> 14:07.307 that the Senate place . So the Senate 14:07.307 --> 14:09.362 is serving as a jury to consider the 14:09.362 --> 14:11.307 charges . The House members of the 14:11.307 --> 14:13.500 House are certainly presenting that 14:13.500 --> 14:15.722 case , many of them very powerful . E . 14:15.722 --> 14:17.889 He's not on the jury . He's not in the 14:17.889 --> 14:19.944 Senate . Uh , he's his role is to be 14:19.944 --> 14:22.000 president of the United States . And 14:22.000 --> 14:24.222 that's not the role he currently placed 14:24.222 --> 14:26.333 one on masks . We know that there has 14:26.333 --> 14:28.500 been some discussion about sending out 14:28.500 --> 14:30.667 masks to the American people . Can you 14:30.667 --> 14:32.889 tell us where those discussions stand ? 14:32.889 --> 14:34.944 Will there be a decision this week ? 14:34.944 --> 14:37.056 And will it be targeted to vulnerable 14:37.056 --> 14:39.333 communities to schools to other ? Well , 14:39.333 --> 14:41.444 Kristen , we're certainly continue to 14:41.444 --> 14:41.270 look for ways to keep the American 14:41.270 --> 14:43.860 people safe and masking encouraging 14:43.860 --> 14:45.916 people to mask up , as the president 14:45.916 --> 14:48.410 did during his time at this not at the 14:48.410 --> 14:50.299 Super Bowl , but in his P S . A . 14:50.299 --> 14:52.410 Around the Super Bowl is a priority . 14:52.410 --> 14:54.132 It's one of the most effective 14:54.132 --> 14:56.077 mitigation steps could save 50,000 14:56.077 --> 14:58.640 lives . Um , if people were all to mask 14:58.640 --> 15:00.640 up across the country , But I don't 15:00.640 --> 15:03.290 have any update on the next steps on 15:03.290 --> 15:05.012 those reports on that reported 15:05.012 --> 15:07.346 discussion , Go ahead . We'll come back . 15:07.346 --> 15:09.420 Thio Just a quick follow up on 15:09.430 --> 15:11.597 Christians questions . Sure , when the 15:11.600 --> 15:13.600 president said that he thought some 15:13.600 --> 15:15.822 minds could be changed . Has he had any 15:15.822 --> 15:17.490 conversations with senators , 15:17.490 --> 15:20.400 particularly wavering Republicans , 15:20.400 --> 15:22.178 about where they stand on their 15:22.178 --> 15:24.178 building ? That's not the role he's 15:24.178 --> 15:26.400 playing . Um , he's certainly has had a 15:26.400 --> 15:28.456 number of discussions with Democrats 15:28.456 --> 15:30.511 and Republicans about Theis use . He 15:30.511 --> 15:32.733 feels it is his responsibility to focus 15:32.733 --> 15:34.900 on which is Thea Merican rescue plan , 15:34.900 --> 15:37.011 Putting people back to work , getting 15:37.011 --> 15:39.011 the pandemic under control , making 15:39.011 --> 15:41.067 sure American families don't have to 15:41.067 --> 15:43.289 worry about putting food on the table . 15:43.289 --> 15:45.456 That's what he feels his role is . But 15:45.456 --> 15:47.567 I think Azaz I was saying in response 15:47.567 --> 15:49.678 to Kristen , You know , it's hard was 15:49.678 --> 15:49.140 hard not to watch that video . I think 15:49.140 --> 15:51.196 it was for all of us and not have an 15:51.196 --> 15:53.362 emotional reaction . The president has 15:53.362 --> 15:55.470 great value and respect for the 15:55.470 --> 15:57.750 institution of Congress , for the men 15:57.750 --> 15:59.917 and women serving there , not just the 15:59.917 --> 16:02.194 elected officials , but the staff . Uh , 16:02.194 --> 16:04.028 and I think that was what he was 16:04.028 --> 16:06.083 reflecting in his comments . China , 16:06.083 --> 16:08.490 What did the president mean when he 16:08.490 --> 16:10.860 said They're going to eat our lunch ? 16:11.100 --> 16:13.340 What exactly should Americans be 16:13.350 --> 16:15.572 worrying about right now with regard to 16:15.572 --> 16:17.730 China ? Well , I think it was a 16:17.730 --> 16:19.508 reflection on the fact that the 16:19.508 --> 16:21.570 president is clear eyed about the 16:21.570 --> 16:24.180 challenge that we're facing . And , uh , 16:24.190 --> 16:26.980 that's thestreet e GIC competition with 16:26.980 --> 16:30.860 China and , uh , that in order to , uh , 16:31.140 --> 16:32.918 get on our best footing in that 16:32.918 --> 16:34.918 competition , we need to take steps 16:34.918 --> 16:36.973 here . A home , including making our 16:36.973 --> 16:38.807 own workforce more competitive , 16:38.807 --> 16:41.410 ensuring we're taking steps to protect 16:41.410 --> 16:44.270 our own technology , ensuring that , 16:44.280 --> 16:46.169 you know , we're working with our 16:46.169 --> 16:48.502 partners and allies to do that . And so , 16:48.502 --> 16:50.780 uh , it's a reflection of our strategy , 16:50.780 --> 16:52.947 which is that we're going thio get our 16:52.947 --> 16:55.210 house in order in order to come into 16:55.210 --> 16:57.043 that competition from a stronger 16:57.043 --> 16:58.821 footing . The strongest fitting 16:58.821 --> 17:00.932 possible , I should say , outline his 17:00.932 --> 17:02.766 strategy to compete with China , 17:02.766 --> 17:04.821 including trade policy that John was 17:04.821 --> 17:06.988 asking about . Will he retain at least 17:06.988 --> 17:08.932 some of the Trump administration's 17:08.932 --> 17:11.510 trade policy ? Well , he is . Of course , 17:11.510 --> 17:13.740 there's a review of our tariffs and I 17:13.740 --> 17:16.270 think trade policies in place . Um uh , 17:16.280 --> 17:18.169 that is ongoing from the national 17:18.169 --> 17:20.850 security team , but our strategy has 17:20.850 --> 17:23.410 played out over the last several weeks , 17:23.410 --> 17:25.800 which includes , uh , ensuring that we 17:25.800 --> 17:28.700 are strengthening our own approach at 17:28.700 --> 17:30.533 home as we've been talking about 17:30.533 --> 17:32.089 strengthening our economy , 17:32.089 --> 17:34.311 strengthening our workforce . Uh , that 17:34.311 --> 17:36.422 is how we can compete from a position 17:36.422 --> 17:38.644 of strength , working with our partners 17:38.644 --> 17:40.200 and allies on in all of the 17:40.200 --> 17:42.480 conversations with Europeans with 17:42.490 --> 17:45.360 allies in the region , China and the 17:45.360 --> 17:47.582 relationship with China has been , ah , 17:47.582 --> 17:49.693 pivotal part of those conversations . 17:49.693 --> 17:51.804 So that's also part of our strategy . 17:51.804 --> 17:54.027 And then also , you saw some of it play 17:54.027 --> 17:55.749 out yesterday in the review he 17:55.749 --> 17:57.830 announced at the Pentagon . So it is 17:57.830 --> 18:00.640 currently playing out . But we are not 18:00.640 --> 18:03.310 in a rush on DWI air . Three weeks in 18:03.320 --> 18:07.010 on . Our team is taking a very 18:07.010 --> 18:09.288 strategic approach to our relationship . 18:09.288 --> 18:11.399 Go ahead . I'm sorry I said , I'll go 18:11.399 --> 18:13.399 to you first . I'll go to next . Go 18:13.399 --> 18:15.343 ahead . Thanks . I want to ask you 18:15.343 --> 18:17.510 about three topics . First , being the 18:17.510 --> 18:19.621 Federal Reserve . Has President Biden 18:19.621 --> 18:21.788 spoken yet ? Thio Jay Powell . And how 18:21.788 --> 18:21.630 does he think the Federal Reserve chair 18:21.630 --> 18:24.270 is doing shop ? I don't have any calls 18:24.270 --> 18:26.270 to read out . I'm happy to take the 18:26.270 --> 18:28.492 question and see if there's any updates 18:28.492 --> 18:30.714 on it that second , I want to follow up 18:30.714 --> 18:32.881 on the semiconductor issue . Given the 18:32.881 --> 18:34.937 urgency of this situation . Uh , why 18:34.937 --> 18:37.103 did the White House decided to conduct 18:37.103 --> 18:36.670 this review , which could take months 18:36.670 --> 18:38.392 rather than more ? Taking more 18:38.392 --> 18:40.490 immediate action can explain the 18:40.500 --> 18:42.667 thinking there . Why you decided to go 18:42.667 --> 18:44.778 with this longer path ? Well , I said 18:44.778 --> 18:46.889 he's going to sign an executive order 18:46.889 --> 18:48.889 soon , so he certainly is taking or 18:48.889 --> 18:50.833 only three weeks . And he's taking 18:50.833 --> 18:52.889 pretty quick action . Um , but as is 18:52.889 --> 18:55.056 true with many policies , we want Thio 18:55.056 --> 18:57.167 take a comprehensive look at the most 18:57.167 --> 18:59.333 effective steps that we can take as an 18:59.333 --> 19:01.650 administration across agencies that 19:01.650 --> 19:04.140 will have a role to play to address 19:04.140 --> 19:06.473 what has been a long standing challenge , 19:06.473 --> 19:08.700 which is the shortage . Eso That's what 19:08.700 --> 19:10.922 it's a reflection of . The CEOs of semi 19:10.922 --> 19:12.867 conductor companies have Astra tax 19:12.867 --> 19:15.089 credits and other kind of stimulus like 19:15.089 --> 19:17.033 items to be included to build back 19:17.033 --> 19:19.200 better plan . Can you tell us if those 19:19.200 --> 19:21.422 items they're gonna be included in that 19:21.422 --> 19:23.533 plan ? Well , I'm sure . I mean , the 19:23.533 --> 19:25.589 president met with CEOs earlier this 19:25.589 --> 19:27.644 week . I'm not sure none of them , I 19:27.644 --> 19:29.867 guess we're from that industry . But he 19:29.867 --> 19:29.590 will continue to consult with business 19:29.590 --> 19:32.010 leaders , um , as will members of 19:32.010 --> 19:34.066 senior members of our administration 19:34.066 --> 19:36.066 about certainly their ideas of what 19:36.066 --> 19:38.066 they'd like to see in that agenda . 19:38.066 --> 19:39.954 Part of the meeting today with on 19:39.954 --> 19:42.066 infrastructure was a discussion about 19:42.066 --> 19:44.010 ideas and pieces that could be put 19:44.010 --> 19:46.177 forward and build back better agenda . 19:46.177 --> 19:48.232 So those discussions and engagements 19:48.232 --> 19:50.343 are ongoing . I want to ask you about 19:50.343 --> 19:52.454 foreign leader calls . One of the one 19:52.454 --> 19:54.454 remaining ones is the Israeli prime 19:54.454 --> 19:56.732 minister . Benjamin Netanyahu is U . N . 19:56.732 --> 19:58.732 Ambassador posted a tweet yesterday 19:58.732 --> 20:00.843 that expressing frustration that they 20:00.843 --> 20:03.066 call it happened already . So could you 20:03.066 --> 20:02.770 tell us from the White House that 20:02.780 --> 20:04.947 perspective the White House and I call 20:04.947 --> 20:07.224 happened ? And when you expect it will , 20:07.224 --> 20:09.447 the president looks forward to speaking 20:09.447 --> 20:11.502 with Prime Minister Netanyahu . He's 20:11.502 --> 20:13.613 obviously somebody that he has a long 20:13.613 --> 20:15.447 standing relationship with , and 20:15.447 --> 20:17.113 obviously there's a important 20:17.113 --> 20:19.336 relationship that the United States has 20:19.336 --> 20:21.447 with Israel on the security front and 20:21.447 --> 20:23.558 as a as a key partner in the region . 20:23.558 --> 20:25.724 But he'll be talking with him soon . I 20:25.724 --> 20:27.891 don't have a specific date or time for 20:27.891 --> 20:30.002 you on that call yet . Go ahead , E . 20:30.002 --> 20:32.113 Go back to the allegations on Capitol 20:32.113 --> 20:34.280 Hill . Former President Trump e . Here 20:34.280 --> 20:36.502 you , The president doesn't want Thio . 20:36.502 --> 20:39.090 It's not his role to vote in this trial . 20:39.100 --> 20:41.560 So setting aside the vote , you know , 20:41.560 --> 20:43.616 the House managers laid out this big 20:43.616 --> 20:45.616 case . They said that those writers 20:45.616 --> 20:47.727 were there on January 6th in the name 20:47.727 --> 20:50.390 of Trump . So is there any doubt in 20:50.400 --> 20:52.540 your mind or in the mind of the White 20:52.540 --> 20:55.440 House that Donald Trump is singularly 20:55.440 --> 20:57.218 responsible for the events that 20:57.218 --> 20:59.051 occurred on January 6th ? As the 20:59.051 --> 21:01.190 manager's alleged ? Well , I would go 21:01.190 --> 21:03.079 back to what the president of the 21:03.079 --> 21:04.968 United States said the day of the 21:04.968 --> 21:07.200 assault on the capital on January 6th . 21:07.210 --> 21:09.770 What he said on January 13th , when the 21:09.770 --> 21:12.390 house voted when he called it an 21:12.400 --> 21:14.678 unprecedented assault on our democracy , 21:14.678 --> 21:17.760 when he has expressed concerns many 21:17.760 --> 21:19.760 times repeatedly , even long before 21:19.760 --> 21:21.760 January 6th about President Trump's 21:21.760 --> 21:24.660 role in sparking hate , sparking anger , 21:24.670 --> 21:26.781 sparking violence in our country . He 21:26.781 --> 21:28.948 has certainly not been silence on that 21:28.948 --> 21:31.430 issue on he's will continue to be out 21:31.430 --> 21:33.960 spoken about the need to take steps to 21:33.970 --> 21:36.620 address across the country , 21:36.630 --> 21:39.410 uh , the spreading of hate and hate 21:39.410 --> 21:41.570 speech as he sees fit . But what I'm 21:41.570 --> 21:44.090 referencing is what his role isn't in 21:44.090 --> 21:46.146 an ongoing Senate trial . He's not a 21:46.146 --> 21:48.312 member of the jury . Hey is watching . 21:48.312 --> 21:50.368 He was impacted by the video , as we 21:50.368 --> 21:52.540 all were . Of course , on , uh , you 21:52.540 --> 21:54.762 know , he will speak out as he sees fit 21:54.762 --> 21:57.060 in the future . What future in those 21:57.070 --> 22:00.450 next steps will the impact and the 22:00.450 --> 22:02.561 respondent results in the child ? You 22:02.561 --> 22:04.672 know , the vote with the child change 22:04.672 --> 22:07.400 how he approaches , combating extremist , 22:07.400 --> 22:10.360 going forward , working to build trust 22:10.370 --> 22:13.450 and build bridges will . Clearly that 22:13.450 --> 22:16.090 vote will change some of his next steps 22:16.090 --> 22:17.923 when he tries to bring Americans 22:17.923 --> 22:20.034 together . Well , I don't think he is 22:20.034 --> 22:22.201 waiting for that vote to take action . 22:22.201 --> 22:24.423 And the president has asked his team to 22:24.423 --> 22:26.257 dio a review of domestic violent 22:26.257 --> 22:28.257 extremism in the country . That's a 22:28.257 --> 22:28.060 review that was announced the first 22:28.060 --> 22:30.290 week he took office . And , hey , 22:30.290 --> 22:33.210 certainly has been out spoken about the 22:33.210 --> 22:35.210 role of hate speech on social media 22:35.210 --> 22:37.230 platforms . He's been he's been out 22:37.230 --> 22:39.397 spoken about that for certainly , uh , 22:39.397 --> 22:42.890 sometime on again , he was impacted by 22:42.890 --> 22:45.001 the video as a human being on . He is 22:45.001 --> 22:47.710 confident in the role that theme 22:47.720 --> 22:49.776 impeachment managers and others will 22:49.776 --> 22:51.998 play , and he will focus on his job and 22:51.998 --> 22:54.109 he expects they will focus on doing . 22:54.109 --> 22:56.109 They're going to the schools called 22:56.109 --> 22:56.090 short , you know , expecting these new 22:56.090 --> 22:58.257 guidelines tomorrow . But we know that 22:58.257 --> 23:00.423 a majority of schools are open in some 23:00.423 --> 23:02.590 form already , even if it's just for a 23:02.590 --> 23:04.840 day or two . So is the president of the 23:04.840 --> 23:06.784 White House concerned that some of 23:06.784 --> 23:08.951 those schools right now are open , but 23:08.951 --> 23:11.173 not safe ? Well , one of the challenges 23:11.173 --> 23:13.910 we have is that the data is , um not 23:13.910 --> 23:16.132 great as it relates to schools that are 23:16.132 --> 23:18.299 open or not open . How hybrid learning 23:18.299 --> 23:20.410 is impacting kids . One of the things 23:20.410 --> 23:22.521 the president asked the Department of 23:22.521 --> 23:24.410 Education to do is to , uh , do a 23:24.410 --> 23:26.521 survey and get a better assessment of 23:26.521 --> 23:28.632 what that data looks like and how the 23:28.632 --> 23:30.910 learning of the last year has impacted , 23:30.910 --> 23:32.577 uh , kids . But again , these 23:32.577 --> 23:34.799 guidelines Doctor Wolinsky and her team 23:34.799 --> 23:36.799 at the CDC will present that to the 23:36.799 --> 23:38.854 public tomorrow . We look forward to 23:38.854 --> 23:40.743 hearing their clear science space 23:40.743 --> 23:42.854 guidelines for opening schools safely 23:42.854 --> 23:44.521 and keeping them open . These 23:44.521 --> 23:46.577 guidelines are going to be the basis 23:46.577 --> 23:48.854 for how our health and medical experts , 23:48.854 --> 23:51.021 the incredible leadership of the CDC , 23:51.021 --> 23:53.021 our future Secretary of Education . 23:53.021 --> 23:55.243 Cardona will work with school districts 23:55.243 --> 23:57.243 around the country to safely reopen 23:57.243 --> 23:59.466 Andi . That's where our focus will be . 23:59.466 --> 24:01.354 But the data and the lack of data 24:01.354 --> 24:03.521 effective data is actually part of the 24:03.521 --> 24:05.632 problem . Go ahead in the back . Hi , 24:05.632 --> 24:08.080 John . Thanks . One follow up on China . 24:08.090 --> 24:10.300 And then also a question on behalf of 24:10.300 --> 24:13.130 the radio college . Sure , first on the 24:13.140 --> 24:15.307 president's comments on China . In the 24:15.307 --> 24:17.510 past , he has said that a rising China 24:17.510 --> 24:20.040 is a positive and then talking about 24:20.050 --> 24:22.272 today is concerned that China could eat 24:22.272 --> 24:24.383 our lunch . Is there any Is there any 24:24.383 --> 24:26.439 middle ground there ? Well , I think 24:26.439 --> 24:28.717 Are you referencing comments from what ? 24:28.717 --> 24:30.661 Was there a specific date you were 24:30.661 --> 24:32.661 referencing a comment from ? Well , 24:32.661 --> 24:32.620 during the campaign , I think you 24:32.620 --> 24:34.880 mentioned a couple of times a positive 24:34.890 --> 24:36.946 it would be positive to see a rising 24:36.946 --> 24:39.112 China . Well , look , I think that the 24:39.112 --> 24:42.520 president of you , um , is that we're 24:42.520 --> 24:45.230 in a competition with China , and , um , 24:45.240 --> 24:47.462 he's clear eyed about the depth of that 24:47.462 --> 24:49.630 challenge . And so the conversation he 24:49.630 --> 24:52.220 had with President Xi was certainly a 24:52.220 --> 24:54.442 reflection of that on there were issues 24:54.442 --> 24:57.110 raised that reflected our approach , 24:57.120 --> 24:59.770 including a passionate statement of the 24:59.770 --> 25:02.920 values of the United States , Um , and 25:02.920 --> 25:05.060 a defense of those values in that 25:05.060 --> 25:07.640 conversation as well . That's his view . 25:07.640 --> 25:09.084 And it's reflected in our 25:09.084 --> 25:11.307 administration policy and then , from a 25:11.307 --> 25:13.310 colleague wondering if there's any 25:13.310 --> 25:15.254 update on the president's order to 25:15.254 --> 25:17.532 review the threat of domestic violence , 25:17.640 --> 25:20.030 extreme extremism and also on that 25:20.040 --> 25:22.207 topic , there have been bills proposed 25:22.207 --> 25:24.318 in Congress . Is there any particular 25:24.318 --> 25:26.318 measure or approach the White House 25:26.318 --> 25:29.220 supports already ? Well , the review is 25:29.220 --> 25:31.220 100 day review . Eso There's not an 25:31.220 --> 25:34.030 update on that quite yet , But , uh , 25:34.040 --> 25:36.262 once we have a conclusion , I'm sure we 25:36.262 --> 25:38.484 will reveal the specifics to all of you 25:38.484 --> 25:40.596 and in terms of what the policy steps 25:40.596 --> 25:42.540 will be taken , we'll wait for the 25:42.540 --> 25:42.320 review to conclude , and then we'll 25:42.320 --> 25:44.487 have more to say or we'll go through a 25:44.487 --> 25:47.710 policy process . Go ahead . Does the 25:47.710 --> 25:49.599 White House believe it could take 25:49.599 --> 25:51.932 executive action to address gun control ? 25:51.932 --> 25:53.821 Or is it gonna take a legislative 25:53.821 --> 25:55.988 approach if it can ? If you do believe 25:55.988 --> 25:57.710 it could take , you could take 25:57.710 --> 25:57.530 executive action . Why haven't you done 25:57.530 --> 26:00.900 so well ? First , I will say that you 26:00.900 --> 26:02.850 know the president addressing gun 26:02.850 --> 26:05.017 violence in the country and putting in 26:05.017 --> 26:07.140 place additional safety measures is 26:07.140 --> 26:09.084 something that the president has a 26:09.084 --> 26:11.307 personal commitment to on his history . 26:11.307 --> 26:13.770 On this issue is evidence of that . You 26:13.770 --> 26:15.714 know , he's obviously taken on the 26:15.714 --> 26:18.530 twice on one on he is happy and eager 26:18.530 --> 26:20.752 to do that in the future . Uh , part of 26:20.752 --> 26:23.160 our engagement is working with groups 26:23.160 --> 26:25.490 to determine what the steps are that 26:25.490 --> 26:27.379 could be taken . But I don't have 26:27.379 --> 26:29.379 anything to preview for you at this 26:29.379 --> 26:31.546 point in terms of what the policy will 26:31.546 --> 26:30.960 look like or what form it will take . 26:31.740 --> 26:33.629 One other one . How much does the 26:33.629 --> 26:35.629 president want to spend on interest 26:35.629 --> 26:39.190 rate ? How much weight until it's a 26:39.190 --> 26:40.968 process of ongoing discussion ? 26:40.968 --> 26:42.912 Obviously , part of our build back 26:42.912 --> 26:45.023 better agenda that he talked about on 26:45.023 --> 26:47.023 the campaign trail is an investment 26:47.023 --> 26:48.912 infrastructure . The meeting this 26:48.912 --> 26:48.780 morning was a reflection of how 26:48.780 --> 26:51.002 important it is to him . Thio meet with 26:51.002 --> 26:53.050 bipartisan leaders and have have a 26:53.050 --> 26:55.050 discussion about what's required in 26:55.050 --> 26:57.050 states and communities . Uh , but I 26:57.050 --> 26:59.106 don't have AH number for you . We're 26:59.106 --> 27:01.272 not at that stage in the process quite 27:01.272 --> 27:02.994 yet . When on new York City is 27:02.994 --> 27:05.217 reopening indoor dining at 25% capacity 27:05.217 --> 27:07.383 starting tomorrow . Does the president 27:07.383 --> 27:09.328 think that's a good idea ? Again , 27:09.328 --> 27:11.161 we'll leave it to our health and 27:11.161 --> 27:13.328 medical experts to comment on specific 27:13.328 --> 27:15.494 steps taken by states as it relates to 27:15.494 --> 27:17.661 cove it . Go ahead , I got . Does Iran 27:17.661 --> 27:19.883 need to come into compliance before the 27:19.883 --> 27:21.661 U . S will open up a channel of 27:21.661 --> 27:23.717 communication ? I think we've spoken 27:23.717 --> 27:25.606 that I'm happy to repeat what our 27:25.606 --> 27:27.828 position is . What is our position with 27:27.828 --> 27:29.994 Iran and compliance ? I mean , do they 27:29.994 --> 27:32.106 need Thio come into compliance before 27:32.106 --> 27:34.900 that's a good start ? It has also have 27:34.910 --> 27:38.620 President authorized a special envoy to 27:38.620 --> 27:42.460 begin talk . Well , if Iran comes back 27:42.460 --> 27:44.130 into full compliance with its 27:44.130 --> 27:46.241 obligations under the J . C . P O A . 27:46.241 --> 27:48.352 The United States would do the same . 27:48.352 --> 27:50.352 So that is certainly the first step 27:50.352 --> 27:52.574 that would be required . Needs a return 27:52.574 --> 27:55.490 to compliance before and fishing . Well , 27:55.490 --> 27:57.268 we were . Of course , there are 27:57.268 --> 27:59.212 conversations that can happen with 27:59.212 --> 28:01.379 partners and allies through the P five 28:01.379 --> 28:03.601 plus one . There's plenty to do , and , 28:03.601 --> 28:05.657 uh , but but that would be the first 28:05.657 --> 28:07.712 next step in the process . Go in the 28:07.712 --> 28:09.934 back . Thanks , John . I have questions 28:09.934 --> 28:11.990 on two topics for sure and one for a 28:11.990 --> 28:14.101 colleague who Okay , today , Um , you 28:14.101 --> 28:16.101 know , the president just started a 28:16.101 --> 28:18.157 task force on part of its goal is to 28:18.157 --> 28:20.570 reunite the , I believe , 545 families 28:20.580 --> 28:22.580 that were separated under the prior 28:22.580 --> 28:24.930 zero tolerance policy . I'm wondering 28:24.930 --> 28:27.097 if you have any update on the timeline 28:27.097 --> 28:29.097 there . How many families have been 28:29.097 --> 28:31.041 reunited ? And if not , if you can 28:31.041 --> 28:32.874 commit , you know , providing us 28:32.874 --> 28:34.874 continuous updates on that ? Sure . 28:34.874 --> 28:34.690 Well , you're talking about the 28:34.690 --> 28:36.857 Reunification Task Force , I believe , 28:36.857 --> 28:39.023 just for everybody else's clarity that 28:39.023 --> 28:40.968 we announced last week or the week 28:40.968 --> 28:42.968 before . It will be overseen by the 28:42.968 --> 28:45.079 Secretary of Homeland Security . A za 28:45.079 --> 28:47.134 part of that commitment we committed 28:47.134 --> 28:47.020 Teoh a report coming from the 28:47.030 --> 28:49.197 Department of Homeland Security at the 28:49.197 --> 28:51.252 120 day mark . When they've had some 28:51.252 --> 28:53.920 time Thio get the work underway . Uh , 28:53.930 --> 28:56.152 and certainly we hope to have Secretary 28:56.152 --> 28:58.319 of New York is now that he's confirmed 28:58.319 --> 29:00.208 come here in the briefing room on 29:00.208 --> 29:02.152 Certainly talk about the work that 29:02.152 --> 29:01.420 they're doing the important work 29:01.420 --> 29:03.587 they're doing , but its 100 day update 29:03.587 --> 29:05.753 and then it'll be 60 days after that . 29:05.753 --> 29:07.587 So we're absolutely committed to 29:07.587 --> 29:09.587 providing you updates . Thanks very 29:09.587 --> 29:09.560 much . And then on the school's front , 29:09.570 --> 29:11.737 you talked about how a lack of data is 29:11.737 --> 29:13.848 a problem . And it's my understanding 29:13.848 --> 29:16.070 that we don't even have definitive data 29:16.070 --> 29:18.181 nationally on the numbers of teachers 29:18.181 --> 29:20.790 have gotten sick or passed away as a 29:20.790 --> 29:22.790 result of the coronavirus . Has the 29:22.790 --> 29:24.957 Department of Education managed to get 29:24.957 --> 29:27.068 definitive data on this front ? If we 29:27.068 --> 29:29.068 don't know that , how do we proceed 29:29.068 --> 29:31.234 with the reopening plan ? I would have 29:31.234 --> 29:33.123 to ask . I would defer you to the 29:33.123 --> 29:32.840 Department of Education . I'm also 29:32.840 --> 29:35.062 happy to check and see if that's data , 29:35.062 --> 29:37.590 uh , that we have access to , um , But 29:37.590 --> 29:39.534 as I noted in response to the good 29:39.534 --> 29:41.590 question up here , it is a challenge 29:41.590 --> 29:43.850 because it is hard to determine , um , 29:44.040 --> 29:46.480 how students are being impacted , what 29:46.480 --> 29:48.369 steps need to be taken , how it's 29:48.369 --> 29:50.591 impacted , this next generation of kids 29:50.591 --> 29:52.702 learning without that data . So there 29:52.702 --> 29:54.369 is an ongoing survey that the 29:54.369 --> 29:56.920 Department of Education eyes conducting 29:56.920 --> 29:59.470 now , but I can check for your connect 29:59.470 --> 30:01.692 you directly with the right people over 30:01.692 --> 30:03.803 there to give you more of an overview 30:03.803 --> 30:05.803 of that . And then this one is from 30:05.803 --> 30:07.970 Brian O . Donovan , our colleague with 30:07.970 --> 30:10.192 e News in Ireland . And he asked , Have 30:10.192 --> 30:12.192 a special place in my heart for the 30:12.192 --> 30:14.192 Irish , But , well , I think you're 30:14.192 --> 30:14.090 gonna like this question , he says . 30:14.420 --> 30:16.870 The T Shock said today that he will 30:16.870 --> 30:18.926 visit the White House next month for 30:18.926 --> 30:20.759 the traditional ST Patrick's Day 30:20.759 --> 30:22.648 celebrations . If he's invited by 30:22.648 --> 30:24.814 President Biden , does the White House 30:24.814 --> 30:26.926 plan to issue such an invitation , or 30:26.926 --> 30:29.092 will this event be canceled because of 30:29.092 --> 30:31.259 the pending ? Well , we certainly have 30:31.259 --> 30:33.148 limited as you can all see and no 30:33.148 --> 30:35.092 public events . There has not been 30:35.092 --> 30:37.037 public events here . I'm happy toe 30:37.037 --> 30:38.870 check with our team on that . If 30:38.870 --> 30:40.981 there's any change as it relates to a 30:40.981 --> 30:43.314 traditional event that happens in March , 30:43.940 --> 30:46.162 great , go ahead the back , thank you . 30:46.162 --> 30:48.218 Yesterday , you said from the podium 30:48.218 --> 30:50.273 that the vast majority of people are 30:50.273 --> 30:52.384 being turned away at the border , but 30:52.384 --> 30:54.496 that doesn't seem to square away with 30:54.496 --> 30:56.440 the reality of what we're seeing , 30:56.440 --> 30:58.607 especially the Texas border , where we 30:58.607 --> 31:00.718 at Univision are reported on hundreds 31:00.718 --> 31:02.829 of people being not only detained but 31:02.829 --> 31:04.718 released into the interior of the 31:04.718 --> 31:06.773 country being , and they are between 31:06.773 --> 31:08.884 reporting on this for about two weeks 31:08.884 --> 31:10.662 now on hundreds of people being 31:10.662 --> 31:13.050 released right away . So where is the 31:13.060 --> 31:15.290 disconnect of your messaging versus 31:15.290 --> 31:17.234 what's happening ? What's actually 31:17.234 --> 31:19.290 happening across the border ? Sure . 31:19.290 --> 31:21.012 Well , um , you know , I would 31:21.012 --> 31:23.179 certainly refer you to DHS and CBP for 31:23.179 --> 31:25.346 specific numbers , which they would be 31:25.346 --> 31:27.457 more equipped to provide . But what I 31:27.457 --> 31:29.512 was referring to was the data of how 31:29.512 --> 31:31.734 maney people versus how many people are 31:31.734 --> 31:34.150 coming into the country on bond . As I 31:34.150 --> 31:36.390 mentioned yesterday , the day before it 31:36.390 --> 31:38.700 is , the vast majority are turned away 31:38.700 --> 31:40.756 at the border . Um , they could give 31:40.756 --> 31:43.033 you more specific numbers on that . Um , 31:43.033 --> 31:45.033 and that is not I guess what you're 31:45.033 --> 31:47.144 perhaps seeing if you're looking at a 31:47.144 --> 31:49.367 portion of the border but what they are 31:49.367 --> 31:51.589 tracking in terms of numbers and data , 31:51.589 --> 31:53.756 uh , this is why we , um , continue to 31:53.756 --> 31:55.756 convey that this is not the time to 31:55.756 --> 31:57.922 come . The president is committed thio 31:57.940 --> 32:00.170 putting in place in partnership with 32:00.170 --> 32:02.281 our Department of Homeland Security . 32:02.281 --> 32:05.770 Um , a moral and humane process for 32:05.770 --> 32:07.881 processing people at the border , but 32:07.881 --> 32:10.480 that that capacity is limited right now , 32:10.480 --> 32:12.940 and , um , it means we're just not 32:12.940 --> 32:16.350 equipped to process people at the 32:16.360 --> 32:19.380 race At the the pace that we would like 32:19.380 --> 32:21.890 to dio , the president of Mexico today 32:21.890 --> 32:24.260 stated in his press conference that 32:24.270 --> 32:26.840 most of the migrants across the border 32:26.850 --> 32:29.300 that you know , anecdotally they do 32:29.300 --> 32:31.300 believe that the border is open and 32:31.300 --> 32:33.356 they can just come to the U . S . So 32:33.356 --> 32:35.467 there seems to be a messaging problem 32:35.467 --> 32:37.810 at the border with people thinking that 32:37.820 --> 32:39.598 border is open as stated by the 32:39.640 --> 32:41.807 president of Mexico today . So how are 32:41.807 --> 32:43.696 you getting that message to those 32:43.696 --> 32:45.807 migrants at the border ? How will you 32:45.807 --> 32:48.029 make them understand that the border is 32:48.029 --> 32:50.140 not open ? As you're stating ? Well , 32:50.140 --> 32:52.307 we're looking for every opportunity we 32:52.307 --> 32:54.529 can , of course , from the president of 32:54.529 --> 32:56.640 the Secretary of Homeland Security to 32:56.640 --> 32:58.751 the Secretary of State to communicate 32:58.751 --> 33:00.900 where we stand , which is that the 33:00.910 --> 33:03.750 president our entire administration are 33:03.750 --> 33:06.730 committed to digging out of the , uh , 33:06.740 --> 33:09.060 immoral approach to immigration of the 33:09.060 --> 33:11.227 prior administration . But it is going 33:11.227 --> 33:13.500 to take some time , and we need to put 33:13.500 --> 33:15.560 in place not only a , uh , 33:15.570 --> 33:17.620 comprehensive immigrant approach to 33:17.620 --> 33:20.350 immigration by passing a law that will 33:20.350 --> 33:22.580 help address the root causes , uh , 33:22.590 --> 33:24.757 that in the countries that are leading 33:24.757 --> 33:26.923 people to come to the united or try to 33:26.923 --> 33:29.034 come to the United States , that puts 33:29.034 --> 33:31.146 smart security fund smart security at 33:31.146 --> 33:33.257 the border that provides a pathway to 33:33.257 --> 33:35.257 citizenship . But we also need some 33:35.257 --> 33:37.480 time to review all of the detrimental 33:37.480 --> 33:39.480 steps that were put in place by the 33:39.480 --> 33:41.591 prior administration s so that we can 33:41.591 --> 33:43.813 put a more humane system in place . Are 33:43.813 --> 33:45.869 you concerned in any way that people 33:45.869 --> 33:47.813 are seeing the images off migrants 33:47.813 --> 33:50.036 being released into the interior ? They 33:50.036 --> 33:52.258 just get encouraged to come to the US , 33:52.258 --> 33:52.080 try and cross illegally so that they 33:52.090 --> 33:54.540 have the same , uh , look off just 33:54.550 --> 33:56.870 being released ? Well , of course we're 33:56.870 --> 33:59.037 concerned because we don't want people 33:59.037 --> 34:01.148 to put themselves in danger at a time 34:01.148 --> 34:03.259 where it is , uh , not the right time 34:03.259 --> 34:05.426 to come , because we have not had time 34:05.426 --> 34:07.530 to put in place a humane and moral 34:07.540 --> 34:09.800 system and process . We want to treat 34:09.800 --> 34:11.800 people with care , of course , when 34:11.800 --> 34:13.990 they're unaccompanied Children , that 34:13.990 --> 34:15.712 is a different circumstance on 34:15.712 --> 34:18.140 certainly one that we handle carefully 34:18.140 --> 34:20.307 and those individuals , or transferred 34:20.307 --> 34:23.670 into HHS care , but , you know , we use 34:23.670 --> 34:26.630 every opportunity to convey that . Well , 34:26.630 --> 34:28.741 we have goals of what we wanna put in 34:28.741 --> 34:30.741 place . We have not had the time or 34:30.741 --> 34:32.908 ability to do that quite yet . I think 34:32.908 --> 34:35.019 I'm gonna I'm gonna have to just move 34:35.019 --> 34:37.186 on just so I get to everybody . Okay . 34:37.186 --> 34:39.241 Go ahead . The Miami Herald reported 34:39.241 --> 34:41.463 yesterday that the Biden administration 34:41.463 --> 34:43.574 is considering travel restrictions on 34:43.574 --> 34:45.686 states like Florida toe help stop the 34:45.686 --> 34:47.686 spread of the coronavirus . Can you 34:47.686 --> 34:49.797 rule that out , or is that a Z ? They 34:49.797 --> 34:51.797 say on the table ? Well , I've seen 34:51.797 --> 34:53.720 those reports . We are always 34:53.720 --> 34:55.942 considering what steps are necessary to 34:55.942 --> 34:58.840 keep the American people safe . But 34:58.850 --> 35:01.280 we're not currently , um , in the 35:01.280 --> 35:04.220 process of , um , no decisions have 35:04.220 --> 35:06.164 been made around additional public 35:06.164 --> 35:08.164 health measures that would delay or 35:08.164 --> 35:10.331 would change , I should say , domestic 35:10.331 --> 35:13.240 travel . Uh , considerations regarding 35:13.430 --> 35:16.450 regarding the domestic travel also 35:16.460 --> 35:18.740 going back to the border , the 35:18.750 --> 35:21.050 president does the president support 35:21.640 --> 35:23.600 leaving the southern voter open to 35:23.600 --> 35:26.500 migrants even before he would even 35:26.500 --> 35:28.800 consider this idea of domestic travel 35:28.810 --> 35:32.470 restrictions ? Well , the border is not 35:32.480 --> 35:36.060 open . We are sort of 35:36.070 --> 35:37.903 migrants crossing the border and 35:37.903 --> 35:39.959 several local Texas health officials 35:39.959 --> 35:42.126 have expressed concerns that there are 35:42.126 --> 35:44.348 migrants coming over the border who are 35:44.348 --> 35:46.360 not who have not been tested by the 35:47.240 --> 35:50.610 bythe authorities . Well , um , let me 35:50.610 --> 35:52.943 reiterate what I what I've done in here . 35:52.943 --> 35:54.999 I know every different people are in 35:54.999 --> 35:57.166 here different days , so I'm certainly 35:57.166 --> 35:59.499 happy to do it again . You know , first , 35:59.499 --> 36:01.666 the majority of people who come to the 36:01.666 --> 36:03.990 border are , uh , turned away on DWI 36:03.990 --> 36:06.550 are enforcing our laws at the border . 36:06.730 --> 36:09.380 But we are also doing it are attempting 36:09.380 --> 36:12.610 to do it in a humane way on dso This is 36:12.610 --> 36:15.580 not again the time to come . We have . 36:15.590 --> 36:17.970 Of course , I would refer you to , uh , 36:17.980 --> 36:20.380 DHS and CBP who can outline more 36:20.380 --> 36:23.960 specifics . But when long term holding 36:23.970 --> 36:26.500 solutions are impossible due to Covad 36:26.500 --> 36:28.510 19 capacity limitations or other 36:28.520 --> 36:31.000 reasons some migrants or processed from 36:31.000 --> 36:33.350 removal provided a notice to appear and 36:33.350 --> 36:35.461 weight within the U . S . To await an 36:35.461 --> 36:37.517 immigration hearing . Thes have been 36:37.517 --> 36:39.183 incredibly narrow and limited 36:39.183 --> 36:41.406 circumstances in which they've happened 36:41.406 --> 36:43.406 recently on I'd certainly defer you 36:43.406 --> 36:45.183 ascend you to the Department of 36:45.183 --> 36:47.239 Homeland Security for more specifics 36:47.239 --> 36:46.900 and numbers and data , which they're 36:46.900 --> 36:48.900 just more equipped to provide . You 36:48.900 --> 36:50.789 agree that it's humane to sort of 36:51.230 --> 36:53.540 institute mandatory testing for these 36:53.550 --> 36:55.717 migrants . That being released again , 36:55.717 --> 36:57.828 I would send you to them to give more 36:57.828 --> 36:59.606 outlines of the numbers and the 36:59.606 --> 37:01.828 specifics of what actions were taken at 37:01.828 --> 37:04.050 the border , and I'm sure they're happy 37:04.050 --> 37:05.772 to answer your questions . The 37:05.772 --> 37:08.150 president spoke with President China's 37:08.160 --> 37:11.040 Xi Jinping and said that he addressed 37:11.050 --> 37:13.090 the human rights abuses . Does the 37:13.090 --> 37:15.890 president support American companies 37:15.890 --> 37:18.310 doing business in China to express the 37:18.310 --> 37:20.477 same reservations about those abuses ? 37:21.130 --> 37:23.352 Alright , I'm sorry . Can you tell me a 37:23.352 --> 37:25.463 little bit more about your question ? 37:25.463 --> 37:27.574 Right ? So the president was happy to 37:27.574 --> 37:29.630 bring up the problems with China and 37:29.630 --> 37:31.686 human rights on . Does the president 37:31.686 --> 37:33.852 support companies ? American companies 37:33.852 --> 37:35.741 doing business in China ? Does he 37:35.741 --> 37:37.797 support them doing the same thing as 37:37.797 --> 37:39.797 they do business in China ? Does he 37:39.797 --> 37:41.908 support them speaking out about human 37:41.908 --> 37:44.130 rights abuses or human rights abuses in 37:44.130 --> 37:46.352 China ? There's been some reluctance by 37:46.352 --> 37:48.297 American companies to address this 37:48.297 --> 37:50.519 issue because they're doing business in 37:50.519 --> 37:52.574 China . Well , President support the 37:52.574 --> 37:54.686 president's been out spoken as he was 37:54.686 --> 37:56.686 on his in his conversation with the 37:56.686 --> 37:58.574 president of China about American 37:58.574 --> 38:01.430 values . Hey also made a point off 38:01.440 --> 38:03.210 conveying to President Xi that 38:03.220 --> 38:05.331 overturning the Muslim ban was one of 38:05.331 --> 38:07.109 the first steps that he took as 38:07.109 --> 38:09.760 president . So he is leading by example 38:09.770 --> 38:12.780 on . I will leave it at that . Okay . 38:12.790 --> 38:14.790 What he want to lead by example for 38:14.790 --> 38:16.679 American Come . Does he want us ? 38:16.679 --> 38:19.180 Should he start that same message for 38:19.190 --> 38:21.301 Americans ? He's the president of the 38:21.301 --> 38:23.468 United States . He's conveying what he 38:23.468 --> 38:25.523 feels are values are on . He conveys 38:25.523 --> 38:27.023 that to anyone . Hey , has 38:27.023 --> 38:28.801 conversations with whether it's 38:28.801 --> 38:30.579 publicly or privately , uh , to 38:30.579 --> 38:32.440 companies or to leaders of other 38:32.440 --> 38:35.680 countries . Go ahead . A vast majority 38:35.680 --> 38:37.569 of immigrants right now are being 38:37.569 --> 38:39.736 turned away . But do you have examples 38:39.736 --> 38:41.958 of who isn't being turned away ? I know 38:41.958 --> 38:44.124 you mentioned Children . Are there any 38:44.124 --> 38:46.347 other sort of cases that you're looking 38:46.347 --> 38:49.910 into of sure what I gave ? I gave 38:49.910 --> 38:52.510 the example of Children because there 38:52.510 --> 38:54.830 had been some questions certainly about 38:54.830 --> 38:56.941 that in the past , and I wanted to be 38:56.941 --> 38:58.941 clear about our policy and what our 38:58.941 --> 39:02.000 approaches , Um uh uh you know , I 39:02.010 --> 39:03.899 don't think I have other specific 39:03.899 --> 39:06.066 examples for you other than to suggest 39:06.066 --> 39:08.232 you talk to the Department of Homeland 39:08.232 --> 39:10.399 Security . I'm sure they could provide 39:10.399 --> 39:09.990 more for you if those air available . 39:10.000 --> 39:12.550 But again , I think , um , it's 39:12.550 --> 39:14.550 important for us to convey that the 39:14.550 --> 39:16.661 majority this is not the time to come 39:16.661 --> 39:18.900 and that the vast majority of people 39:18.900 --> 39:21.300 are turned away at the border and we 39:21.300 --> 39:24.330 are committed to putting in place moral 39:24.340 --> 39:26.520 and humane system and process . But 39:26.520 --> 39:30.340 we're also digging out of four years of 39:30.350 --> 39:33.430 detrimental policies . A zit relates to 39:33.430 --> 39:35.597 immigration , and that's going to take 39:35.597 --> 39:37.541 some time . Go ahead in the back . 39:37.541 --> 39:39.708 Thank you . And I have two questions . 39:39.708 --> 39:41.819 Maybe three , if you're okay . So the 39:41.819 --> 39:44.160 first one , uh , just a few days after 39:44.160 --> 39:46.390 you criticized from this podium , North 39:46.390 --> 39:49.270 Stream two , Russia resumed 39:49.280 --> 39:52.760 construction of the pipeline on German 39:52.760 --> 39:55.000 government continues to defend the 39:55.010 --> 39:58.030 project . German president 39:59.000 --> 40:01.167 even called it the last bridge between 40:01.167 --> 40:03.820 Europe and Russia . Do you have an 40:03.830 --> 40:07.600 update on President Biden's position on 40:07.610 --> 40:10.710 north North Stream two ? I don't know . 40:10.710 --> 40:12.710 I don't have an update . It remains 40:12.710 --> 40:14.932 what we discussed last week or the week 40:14.932 --> 40:17.043 before . Two weeks . Okay . Two weeks 40:17.043 --> 40:19.210 ago . He has the same position . Yes . 40:19.210 --> 40:22.160 Another one is on the 40:22.200 --> 40:25.830 European Union report reportedly 40:26.810 --> 40:29.820 is preparing sanctions in response to 40:30.350 --> 40:33.930 jailing Alexi Navalny by Russia . 40:34.410 --> 40:37.560 Is the United States involved in those 40:37.930 --> 40:41.180 talks on sanctions and what 40:41.500 --> 40:43.630 President Biden's position ? Yeah . 40:44.210 --> 40:46.870 Punish Ingrassia , Russia for , uh , 40:46.880 --> 40:49.420 Navalny's artist . Well , there is an 40:49.420 --> 40:51.820 ongoing review . Um , that has been 40:51.820 --> 40:54.330 tasked to the national security team of 40:54.340 --> 40:57.680 Thebes . Problematic actions of 40:57.690 --> 41:00.980 Russians , including the poisoning of 41:00.980 --> 41:03.630 Alexey Navalny on the president of the 41:03.630 --> 41:06.650 United States . Reiterated that focus 41:06.650 --> 41:09.100 and his concerns about that as well as 41:09.100 --> 41:11.430 the solar winds breach . You know , 41:11.440 --> 41:14.000 reports of engagement in the 2020 41:14.000 --> 41:16.570 election on , of course , bounties on 41:16.570 --> 41:18.792 the heads of U . S troops when he spoke 41:18.792 --> 41:20.570 with President Putin and in our 41:20.570 --> 41:22.459 engagements , his engagements and 41:22.459 --> 41:24.348 engagement at all levels with our 41:24.348 --> 41:26.570 European partners . Certainly the issue 41:26.570 --> 41:29.100 of , uh , coordination and working 41:29.100 --> 41:31.830 together , um , a zit relates to the 41:31.830 --> 41:33.810 problematic actions of Russia is a 41:33.810 --> 41:36.032 topic of conversation . But that review 41:36.032 --> 41:38.254 is ongoing as it relates to our U . S . 41:38.254 --> 41:40.088 Policy . So we'll wait for it to 41:40.088 --> 41:41.977 conclude before making any policy 41:41.977 --> 41:44.032 announcement . But I'm talking about 41:44.032 --> 41:46.088 tavon . Is jailing , not poisoning ? 41:46.088 --> 41:48.660 What do you want to know about this ? 41:49.610 --> 41:53.420 What kind of review you need to know 41:53.420 --> 41:55.476 that his in jail well , we have been 41:55.476 --> 41:57.587 out Spoken about that has been raised 41:57.587 --> 41:59.864 directly with the Russians . Of course , 41:59.864 --> 42:01.920 as we've read out from here from the 42:01.920 --> 42:03.642 State Department for from many 42:03.642 --> 42:05.753 components of our government , what I 42:05.753 --> 42:07.864 was referring to are trying to answer 42:07.864 --> 42:09.864 was your question about sanctions , 42:09.864 --> 42:12.087 which is that we have an ongoing review 42:12.087 --> 42:14.198 and process about our policies . What 42:14.198 --> 42:16.309 steps will be taken ? Of course , the 42:16.309 --> 42:16.210 president reserves the right to respond 42:16.210 --> 42:18.377 in any manner and any time line of his 42:18.377 --> 42:20.620 choosing . But that review is ongoing 42:20.620 --> 42:22.930 and has not concluded yet . E . Go 42:22.930 --> 42:26.670 ahead President Biden called many world 42:26.680 --> 42:30.660 leaders , including leaders of Germany 42:30.660 --> 42:33.680 and France , how the president sees US 42:33.680 --> 42:36.220 relations with Central and Eastern 42:36.220 --> 42:39.230 Europe , including Poland . How does he 42:39.230 --> 42:41.286 see the relationship ? The future of 42:41.286 --> 42:43.710 this relations ? Well , um , the 42:43.710 --> 42:46.120 president has on Lee made , of course , 42:46.120 --> 42:48.398 not a not an unlimited number of calls , 42:48.398 --> 42:50.564 as was noted earlier in the briefing , 42:50.564 --> 42:52.676 and there will be more calls ahead in 42:52.676 --> 42:54.910 terms of the specific priorities as it 42:54.910 --> 42:57.243 relates to our relationship with Poland . 42:57.243 --> 42:59.354 I'm happy to connect you with someone 42:59.354 --> 43:01.521 more directly to discuss that go ahead 43:01.521 --> 43:03.688 the back . Yes , there's been a lot of 43:03.688 --> 43:05.799 concerns about recent postal delays , 43:05.799 --> 43:07.966 and I know the president campaigned on 43:07.966 --> 43:10.132 improving the Postal Service . Does he 43:10.132 --> 43:12.243 want to see the removal of Postmaster 43:12.243 --> 43:14.132 General Lewis a joy ? Is he doing 43:14.132 --> 43:16.243 anything to make that happen ? Well , 43:16.243 --> 43:15.800 as I understand the process that can 43:15.800 --> 43:17.820 only be done by the board members , 43:17.830 --> 43:19.640 there are four openings or four 43:19.640 --> 43:22.160 vacancies . At this point in time , eso 43:22.160 --> 43:24.300 those would need to be filled and 43:24.300 --> 43:26.860 addressed . But they're they're the 43:26.860 --> 43:28.916 individuals who would have a role in 43:28.916 --> 43:30.860 determining the future of Mr Jojoy 43:30.860 --> 43:32.971 something that he would be interested 43:32.971 --> 43:35.027 in , you know , making a priority as 43:35.027 --> 43:37.138 the border select , naming the member 43:37.138 --> 43:39.304 of the board's naming members who want 43:39.304 --> 43:41.304 to see a new postmaster general . I 43:41.304 --> 43:43.416 don't have any personal announcements 43:43.416 --> 43:45.527 or specifics of the determinations of 43:45.527 --> 43:47.638 the I should say the factors that are 43:47.638 --> 43:49.693 playing into those decisions . But , 43:49.693 --> 43:51.860 you know , the president stands by his 43:51.860 --> 43:54.027 concerns about what happened last fall 43:54.027 --> 43:56.082 and improvements he's like to see at 43:56.082 --> 43:57.320 the post office . Thank you , everyone