{"id":146996,"date":"2022-09-07T12:28:20","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T19:28:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=146996"},"modified":"2022-09-07T12:28:20","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T19:28:20","slug":"briefing-by-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-and-commerce-secretary-gina-raimondo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=146996","title":{"rendered":"Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;Hi, everyone.  Good afternoon.   Q  Good afternoon.  MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Welcome back.  I know you guys are excited to be back with us.  Okay. So I\u2019d like to introduce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who has joined us here many, many times before.  And we\u2019re excited to have her back today to announce the next steps that the Department of Commerce is taking to implement the $50 billion of CHIPS Act funding.  So, with that, I\u2019m going to let the Secretary take it away.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4PX-yIwF2_8\" title=\"09\/06\/22: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  Thank you.  Thank you. Hello, everybody.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Hello.<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  Hello, everybody.  It\u2019s great to be here.  And this is a very exciting day.  For those of us who are obsessed with and excited about CHIPS, this is a big day.<\/p>\n<p>As you all know, thanks to President Biden\u2019s leadership and the bipartisan work in Congress, we now have an incredible opportunity to unleash the next generation of American innovation, protect our national security, and preserve our global economic competitiveness.<\/p>\n<p>As we have talked about for decades, in the United States, our innovation ecosystem and investments in innovation have been in decline.  And today begins a new chapter in revitalizing U.S. innovation and research and development.  And today we begin to reverse the decline and lead the world again in semiconductor innovation and research and development.<\/p>\n<p>CHIPS for America, as the bill is called, represents a historic investment in our domestic manufacturing industry, which has critical implications for our economic and national security.<\/p>\n<p>With this funding, we\u2019re going to make sure that the United States is never again in a position where our national security interests are compromised or key industries are immobilized due to our inability to produce essential semiconductors here at home.<\/p>\n<p>This past year, we saw the impact of the chip shortage on American families when car prices drove a third of inflation because of lack of chips, factory workers were furloughed, household appliances were often unavailable, all because of a lack of semiconductors.<\/p>\n<p>And as our economy and military become more reliant on technology, it\u2019s that much more essential that we develop a strategy with values, outcomes, and structures that enable us to plan for an economy and manufacturing infrastructure that positions us to compete today and into the future.<\/p>\n<p>So I want to take the next few minutes to lay out for you where we are and how the Department of Commerce plans to implement the $50 billion in CHIPS funding that we will be overseeing.<\/p>\n<p>So with the CHIPS funding, we\u2019re setting out to achieve four primary objectives:<\/p>\n<p>First, to establish and expand domestic production of leading-edge semiconductors in the United States.  Today, the United States consumes more than 25 percent of the world\u2019s leading-edge chips and produces zero of those chips.<\/p>\n<p>Number two, we want to build a sufficient and stable supply of mature node semiconductors.  We consume 30 percent, produce 13 percent.  We need to fix that.<\/p>\n<p>Number three, invest in research and development to ensure the next generation of semiconductor technology is developed and produced right here in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>And number four, in the process of doing all this, we will create tens of thousands of good-paying manufacturing jobs and more than a hundred thousand construction jobs.  This effort will ensure the pipeline for these jobs expands to include people who have historically not had a chance to participate in this industry, including women, people of color, veterans, and people who live in rural areas.  And that is explicitly required in statute, and we will carry out Congress\u2019s intent.<\/p>\n<p>To achieve these goals, CHIPS for America will support three distinct initiatives.  Two of those initiatives, which total $39 billion, will make investments in domestic chip manufacturing here in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>First, we will make large-scale investments in leading-edge manufacturing.  CHIPS for America will target approximately $28 billion in manufacturing incentives to establish domestic production of leading-edge logic and memory chips that require the most sophisticated processes available today.<\/p>\n<p>Second, we will invest about $10 billion in new manufacturing capacity for mature or current-generation semiconductors.  This will help us increase domestic production across a range of chips, including the chips that are used in cars, medical devices, communication technology.<\/p>\n<p>And third and finally, we\u2019re going to make historic investments to strengthen America\u2019s research and innovation leadership.  Eleven billion dollars \u2014 and this is \u2014 this is not as talked about; we always focus on the incentives for the companies, but in many ways, this could be the most exciting piece of what we\u2019re doing.  Eleven billion dollars will go to research and development programs, including the creation of a National Semiconductor Technology Center.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of timeline, we expect to be in a position to receive application from companies no later than February of 2023.  So we\u2019re targeting February of 2023 to put the notice of funding opportunity on the street so companies can begin to apply.<\/p>\n<p>Our priority is funding applications for incentive programs.  It will be put out on a rolling basis, and we will evaluate each application one at a time.<\/p>\n<p>Before I close, I want to take a second, or minute, to send a very clear message about how we plan to protect taxpayer dollars in this program.<\/p>\n<p>This is not a blank check for companies.  This is not for them to pad their bottom line.  There are clear guardrails on this money, and the Department of Commerce intends to be vigilant and aggressive in protecting taxpayers.<\/p>\n<p>CHIPS funds cannot be used for stock buybacks.  CHIPS funds are not intended to replace private capital.  That is key.  We\u2019re going to look after every nickel of taxpayer money.  Taxpayer funds are only used to fill gaps and secure other funding as loan guarantees, not to replace private capital.<\/p>\n<p>These funds are intended to help companies maximize the scale of their projects.  We\u2019re going to be pushing companies to go bigger and be bolder.  So if a company already has funding now for a $10 billion project, we want them to think bigger and convince us how they can go from $10 billion to $50 billion with use of the taxpayer financing.<\/p>\n<p>We \u2014 Commerce Department has the ability to claw back money.  And make no mistake about it: We will use that clawback authority if, after giving the money to a company, they fail to start their project on time, fail to complete their project on time, fail to meet the commitments that they\u2019ve made.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re also going to be implementing the guardrails to ensure those who receive CHIPS funds cannot compromise national security by \u2014 they\u2019re not allowed to use this money to invest in China, they can\u2019t develop leading-edge technologies in China, they can\u2019t send latest technology overseas.<\/p>\n<p>These are some of the most stringent taxpayer protections and guardrails we\u2019ve ever had, and the American people are counting on us to get it right.  And it\u2019s a responsibility that we take very seriously. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll just end by saying \u2014 by thanking the President and by thanking Congress for their leadership.  No one has done more to revitalize American manufacturing than President Biden, and CHIPS for America is a key component of that work.<\/p>\n<p>With this, we\u2019re going to jumpstart high-tech manufacturing and drive economic growth.  We\u2019re going to create the kinds of jobs that will create opportunity for Americans \u2014 high-wage jobs that we want our children to have.  We\u2019re going to revitalize an innovation ecosystem that for decades has been withering and will add rocket fuel to our global competitiveness, ensuring that America maintains its status as a leader for generation to come.<\/p>\n<p>First and foremost, this is about protecting our national security and providing a blueprint for long-term economic prosperity.<\/p>\n<p>And so we\u2019re excited.  People say to me, \u201cSecretary, CHIPS passed.  What do you do now?\u201d  Now we get to work, and we\u2019re excited to begin that work.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right.  We\u2019re just going to take a couple questions.  We have to get out of here by a certain time today, as you all know.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Phil.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  Thanks, Madam Secretary.  On your point about taxpayer protections, there seems to be kind of a natural tension here in the sense that a huge sum of money, very clear urgency on the government side, finite universe of private sector entities who can probably take advantage of this.  Walk me through how this actually works in terms of ensuring that those companies don\u2019t have leverage, given how much the federal government wants to kick this into high gear.<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  Yeah, great question.  So, today we put out our strategy document, which I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve all read every word of.  So we put out the strategy document today, which sets forth our principles and criteria at a high level.  And now we begin the work of putting forth, between now and February, more granular criteria and strings attached.<\/p>\n<p>So what we know is companies who receive CHIPS fundings can\u2019t use those fundings \u2014 funds to invest in other countries, can\u2019t use them for stock buybacks. <\/p>\n<p>Companies who receive CHIP funds can\u2019t build leading-edge or advanced technology facilities in China for a period of 10 years.  Companies who receive the money can only expand their mature node factories in China to serve the Chinese market.  So there \u2014 this is what we know.<\/p>\n<p>What I can tell you is we\u2019re also right now recruiting a team at the Commerce Department of experts.  We\u2019re going to have folks who have a history of hard-nosed negotiation from the private sector, people who are semiconductor industry experts, and we\u2019re going to negotiate these deals one at a time and really putting the screws to these companies to prove to us \u2014 we\u2019re going to need proof from them to us in the form of financial disclosures, in capital investment plans \u2014 prove to us the money is absolutely necessary to make these investments. <\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re not going to get any more than necessary to make these investments.  And as I said in the beginning, this isn\u2019t money to make them more profitable or pad their bottom line, it\u2019s the money to make these investments and also invest in the community.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Jordan.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks.  On a different topic, CFIUS is reviewing the situation with TikTok.  When do you expect that will resolve itself, that review?  And will the administration, after that review, take any action to ban TikTok?  Or short of that, how would the administration expect to address security concerns presented by the app by the government of China?<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  Yeah, so as you say, it\u2019s under review, and I have nothing more on that today.<\/p>\n<p>Q    On what \u2014 on another thing that has been a ball in the air \u2014 China tariffs.  I know USTR made an announcement about that last week, but that wouldn\u2019t necessarily preclude the administration from lifting tariffs on some goods.  Where does that stand right now?<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  Also I have nothing on that.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.  Alex?  Oh, I\u2019m sorry.  (Laughs.)<\/p>\n<p>Q    I was actually going to ask those very same questions.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.<\/p>\n<p>Q    If you don\u2019t mind \u2014 if you don\u2019t mind, though \u2014 on the tariff question, you know, it\u2019s been in the public domain for quite some time.  Is it fair to assume that\u2019s not going to happen before the midterms?<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  I don\u2019t have anything else to say.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  On topic?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Yes.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  If it\u2019s on topic, go ahead.  (Laughs.)<\/p>\n<p>Q    It\u2019s really on topic.  You talk about this \u2014 about this stringent review and the information is going to be posted by February.  Bottom line for us: How quickly is an American going to get hired with this money?  And how quickly before somebody is buying a phone with one of these American-made chips in it?<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  Yeah.  So, great question.  You \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then I have a follow-up to that.<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  You\u2019ve already seen chip companies making big announcements.  Micron is announcing a huge new facility.  I was just in New Hampshire; onsemi is breaking ground on a new facility.  Intel announced a new facility.<\/p>\n<p>These investments have been made by these companies because the CHIPS Act passed, and they have confidence now that the money will be put out the door.<\/p>\n<p>So you\u2019re going to \u2014 I can\u2019t answer you \u2014 you know, how quickly exactly a specific chip is going to come.  But the point is, you\u2019re already seeing it.  GlobalWafers made an announcement \u2014 $5 billion investment in Texas.  So I\u2019d say immediately; the effects are immediately being felt.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of our process, February, like you said, we\u2019ll begin the process.  I think you can start \u2014 I\u2019m going to hope to start putting money out the door, you know, next spring to specific companies.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the thing: There\u2019s going to be a range of projects.  There\u2019ll be smaller, simpler projects, maybe for expansion of existing facilities.  And then there\u2019ll be very large, complex, leading-edge projects.<\/p>\n<p>I think you could see in the spring of next year some of the smaller money going out the door.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And do \u2014 you listed a very stringent list of criteria: It can\u2019t be invested into stock buybacks; can\u2019t be for chips that get made or sold in China, unless they\u2019re for the Chinese market; a bunch of other things.  Do you know that companies exist right now that are willing to meet those stringent demands?  Do you check that before you publish them?<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Q    So they\u2019re ready to go \u2014<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 with what\u2019s there?<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And do you at the Commerce Department then have the money necessary to hire those top-notch negotiators, the specialists \u2014<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 or do you need more from Congress?  Because often \u2014<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 what ends up happening: We get a big government announcement \u2014 \u201cmultibillion dollars; here it comes from the federal government\u201d \u2014 and three years later, we\u2019re writing stories, telling stories about how that money was mismanaged and the department that was overseeing it didn\u2019t have enough.  You\u2019re saying you do?<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  Yes, I do.  What we\u2019re doing right now is we\u2019re in the process of hiring about 50 people.  We do have the money.  They will be expert.  And I have absolute confidence we will be able to do this.<\/p>\n<p>Also, the answer to your first question is \u2014 again, Micron wouldn\u2019t be announcing a massive expansion in Idaho if CHIPS weren\u2019t passed.  So, yes, they know the strings are attached.  And, yes, they will operate under those strings.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  Final question.  Ed, it\u2019s so good to have you back, my friend.  (Laughs.)<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Secretary.  Can you talk a little bit more about the protections or guardrails from doing work with China?  Just \u2014 you know, the administration was reportedly pushing back on Intel\u2019s plans or publicly announced plans to boost silicon wafer production in China.  Has that \u2014 has that kind of plans stopped?  And will that prevent companies like Intel from getting this kind of funding?<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  So, as \u2014 as I\u2019ve said, if they take the money, they can\u2019t use the money to invest in China, they can\u2019t build a leading-edge fab in China for a period of 10 years.  If they expand their mature node factories in China, it\u2019s only to serve the Chinese market.  And, by the way, if they take money and then do any of those things, we\u2019ll claw back the money.<\/p>\n<p>Q    If \u2014 if they \u2014 this was announ- \u2014 as I understand it, this was announced previously.  Is there like some type of grandfather clause?  Will they be able to start this production now?  Or does \u2014 does that \u2014 does the fact that they had already announced this allow them to make \u2014 to continue with those plans?<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  We\u2019re going to take it on a case-by-case basis.  Here\u2019s what I will tell you: The number-one objective of implementing this is to protect America\u2019s national security.  Every deal we do, every criteria that we evaluate these companies against, it\u2019s going to be with a lens toward protecting national security.  So we\u2019re not going to allow any deals to happen that we think undermine our national security.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right.  Thank you, Secretary.  Appreciate it.<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right.  See you in a little bit.<\/p>\n<p>SECRETARY RAIMONDO:  All right.  Bye, guys.  Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  Thanks, everybody.  Thank you, Secretary Raimondo. <\/p>\n<p>All right.  I have one thing at the top.  And as you all know, we probably have about 30 minutes or so for the next event that the President has, so we all have to get out of here in 30 minutes. <\/p>\n<p>Okay, so I just want to take a moment to acknowledge the attack in Canada over the weekend.  It is senseless and devastating.  I won\u2019t get ahead of the Canadian law enforcement as they continue their work.  Our thoughts are with the victims of this horrific attack.  We stand with Canada, our ally and neighbor, and all those affected by this tragedy, and condemn this senseless violence. <\/p>\n<p>With that, Seung Min, you want to kick us off?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Yeah.  I saw the President\u2019s tweet congratulating Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister of the UK.  Has he spoken with her or does he plan to later today?  What is his plans? <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So he\u2019s going to speak to her later today, this afternoon.  He\u2019s planning to call her to congratulate her \u2014 the new Prime Minister.  And so that \u2014 that\u2019s going to happen later this afternoon. <\/p>\n<p>Q    And I have another one on the fatal shooting of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.  The Israeli military has now said there\u2019s a, quote, \u201chigh probability\u201d that an Israeli soldier accidentally killed her, but they also said that no one will be held responsible.  So I wanted to know the White House\u2019s reactions to the Israeli military\u2019s conclusions and also whether it is acceptable to the President that no one will be held accountable in that death.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So I know this report came out yesterday, as it was reported by the Israeli Defense Forces, as you just said.  We have extended our deepest condolences to the family of Shireen Abu Akleh, a renowned Palestinian American journalist who was killed in the West Bank.  We strongly condemn this killing, as we have for the past several months.  Ms. Abu Akleh was an inspiration to millions and a friend to many in the U.S. government.  Her death is a great loss and a tragedy. <\/p>\n<p>We continue to call on all sides to maintain calm and avoid further escalation.  As you just mentioned and I just said, it was reported yesterday that it had con- \u2014 the Israeli Defense Forces had concluded its investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death and stated there was a high possibility that her death \u2014 was accidentally hit by IDF gunfire, as you just mentioned, Seung Min. <\/p>\n<p>We welcome Israelis\u2019 review of this tragic incident, and we underscored the importance of accountability in this case, such as policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.  Our thoughts remain with Abu Akleh\u2019s family as they grieve this tremendous loss. <\/p>\n<p>Not only was Shireen an American citizen, as I just mentioned, she was a fearless \u2014 a fearless reporter whose journalism and pursuit of truth earned her the respect of audience around the world.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  President Biden said last night he didn\u2019t think Russia should be designated a state sponsor of terrorism, even after President Zelenskyy, in an interview with ABC\u2019s David Muir, said he had asked the President about taking that step.  Why does the President think that?  And is this about keeping limited diplomatic channels open still? <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So as the President has said, as \u2014 and as we do think as well \u2014 as \u2014 you know, it is not the most effective or strongest path forward, as we have said many times before, to hold Russia accountable.  This designation could have unintended consequences to Ukraine and the world.  For example, according to humanitarian expert and NGOs we have spoken to, it could seriously affect the ability to deliver assistance in areas of Ukraine. <\/p>\n<p>Another one is it could drive critical humanitarian and commercial actors away from facilitating food exports to help mitigate the global food crisis and jeopardize the Black Sea port deal that has already led to over a million tons of Ukrainian food exports reaching the world, including those on the \u2014 on the Horn of Africa likely facing famine. <\/p>\n<p>It would also undercut our unprecedented multilateral condition that has been so effective to holding Putin accountable and could also undermine our ability to support Ukraine at the negotiating \u2014 negotiation table.<\/p>\n<p>So, again, we do not think this is the most effective way to go or the strongest path forward. <\/p>\n<p>Q    There are also concerns about potentially inadvertently punishing allies who might still have trade relations with Russia.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, what we have done is we\u2019ve already put in place severe consequences in line with those that would be imposed under such designation.  Our sanctions export controls affect \u2014 efforts to further isolate Russia from the global economy or \u2014 are having a significant impact.  So that\u2019s the way we kind of have seen with the work that we\u2019ve already done. <\/p>\n<p>Under this, Russia defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time in more than a century.  As we have said, we are choking off Russia\u2019s military supply chains.  For example, Russia has to rely on North Korea, as you all heard, and Iran for military equipment.  And just last week, the G7 committed to implement a price cap to push down the price of Putin\u2019s oil and starve him of his main source of revenue to fund this war.<\/p>\n<p>So again, we are, of course, support \u2014 we, of course, are going to support using further tools that will work to promote accountability for Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine.  And so that\u2019s going to be our focus as we move forward.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    When the President speaks with the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, will he discuss the Northern Ireland arrangements?  Is there an expectation that he\u2019ll call on the Prime Minister to delay implementation of the protocol bill that she has supported that would allow the United Kingdom to override the provisions of the agreement between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland?  How\u2019s that going to come into the conversation?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So I\u2019m not going to get ahead or speak to what the President might say or will say on the call.  I\u2019ll say this: that we\u2019ll have a readout after the call later this afternoon.  But he has been clear about his continued interest in Northern Ireland. <\/p>\n<p>Our priority remains protecting the gains of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and preserving peace, stability, and prosperity for the people of Northern Ireland.  Again, I\u2019m not \u2014 I\u2019m not going to get ahead of what the President will or won\u2019t say.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Okay.  And the UK is obviously going through some serious economic concerns.  They have an energy crisis that\u2019s going on.  Is there any room for aid, assistance, or more to be done in terms of supporting them on lowering energy costs domestically?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So you\u2019ve heard us say this: that what we see Russia is doing \u2014 we\u2019ve been very clear about this \u2014 is that they\u2019re using energy \u2014 they\u2019re weaponizing energy.  And it\u2019s choosing to \u2014 one of the things that has been out there \u2014 the shutdown of the pipeline of Nord Strom [Stream] 1<\/p>\n<p>So the sanction we\u2019ve imposed, we believe, do [not] stand in the way of the pipeline to continuing operating.  So the U.S. and Europe have been collaborating to ensure sufficient supplies are available.  As a result of these efforts, European gas shortage [storage] will be full by the critical winter heating season.  So we have more work to do, but, again, we\u2019re working closely with our allies on this.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then one final one.  Is there any status update on U.S.-UK trade negotiations?  And do you expect that to be a topic on the call with the new Prime Minister?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So I don\u2019t have any updates on that. Again, I\u2019m not going to get ahead of what\u2019s going to be on the call with the \u2014 what the President is going to say to the new Prime Minister.  We\u2019ll have \u2014 certainly we\u2019ll have a readout for all of you once it\u2019s done.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Just one question.  The President tweeted earlier today, \u201cI want to be clear: Not every Congressional Republican is a MAGA Republican.\u201d  He went on to say \u2014 to talk about \u201can extreme set of MAGA Republicans in Congress.\u201d  But he\u2019s also said frequently over the last several days \u2014 talked about how not one Republican backed the agenda that he\u2019s had in \u2014 for example, the Inflation Reduction Act or the Recovery Act.  And more broadly, he\u2019s talked about how the Republican Party is \u201cnot your grandfather\u2019s Republican Party,\u201d that the whole party has changed. <\/p>\n<p>So can you talk a little bit about what he\u2019s \u2014 what group of people does he think are MAGA Republicans?  Does he \u2014 when he says not one Republican supported the agenda \u2014 so does that mean that every Republican in Congress is essentially a MAGA Republican?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So he\u2019s been very clear when he\u2019s talked about MAGA Republicans \u2014 ultra-MAGA Republicans.  He\u2019s talked about the leadership in the Republican Party. <\/p>\n<p>For \u2014 one of the first time he actually used that term was to talk about Rick Scott\u2019s plan, which was, to your point, using a \u2014 an agenda that they had, which was to put Medicare and Social Security on the chopping block.  And for him, that was an extreme measure that is taking away something that was \u2014 if you\u2019re thinking about it, Medicare, Social Security, very popular.  That is \u2014 a majority of Americans support that, as well as the \u2014 as well as the Inflation Reduction Act.  Majority of the Republi- \u2014 of \u2014 sorry, Republicans and Democrats and independents support those policies.  And you have leaders in \u2014 in the Republican Party who are offering extreme, extreme agenda.  And so that\u2019s what he means. <\/p>\n<p>And let me just \u2014 I\u2019ll just quote the President.  On Friday, he took, actually, Peter\u2019s question \u2014 the only reporter that he took a question from on Friday.  And he said, in answering your question about this \u2014 (laughter) \u2014 I know I \u2014 I\u2019m only saying that because Peter felt a certain way that I didn\u2019t take his question on Friday in the briefing room. <\/p>\n<p>But the President did take your question that day. <\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible) feels like that all the time.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  (Laughs.)  Well, I hear you. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Word travels fast.  (Laughter.)<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Word \u2014 word \u2014 there we go. <\/p>\n<p>Okay, so, \u201cWhen people vote \u2014 voted for Donald Trump\u201d \u2014 this is the \u2014 this is President Biden \u2014 \u201cand support him now, they weren\u2019t voting for attacking the Capitol.  They weren\u2019t voting for overruling an election.  They were voting for a philosophy he put forward. <\/p>\n<p>So I\u2019m not talking about anything other than: It\u2019s inappropriate \u2014 and it\u2019s\u201d \u2014 \u201cit\u2019s not only happening here, but other parts of the world \u2014 where there\u2019s a failure to recognize and condemn violence whenever it is used for political purposes, failure to condemn an attempt to manipulate electoral outcomes, a failure to acknowledge when elections were won or lost.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And so that is from the President \u2014 what he thinks.  He\u2019s talking about a \u2014 the leadership.  He\u2019s talking about the leadership who put out extreme agenda.  Also the \u2014 also talking, in what I just laid out, in not condemning violence when there\u2019s violence out there.<\/p>\n<p>Q    So just one quick follow-up.  But, you know, while it\u2019s \u2014 you know, you can talk about what people meant or didn\u2019t mean, or \u2014 by voting in the 2020 election.  But there are lots of Republican \u2014 just regular Republican voters who do support, for example, Rick Scott\u2019s, you know, ideas about what to do with the budget or what to do with Social Security or entitlement programs.  There\u2019s lots of Republican voters who do agree with the President that they think the election was \u2014 with the former President, I mean \u2014 but \u2014 but that \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  No, I hear you.<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 the election.  So \u2014 so does he consider \u2014 does the President consider all of those people who support these extreme agendas that he\u2019s talking about to be the MAGA Republicans that \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So he was has been very clear that he\u2019s talking about office holders.  He\u2019s talking about elected officials who have these MAGA \u2014 ultra-MAGA Republican agendas. And he\u2019s been very clear about that. <\/p>\n<p>Look, here\u2019s the thing: The point that we are making is majority of Americans support Medicare.  Majority of Americans support Social Security.  Majority of Americans support our democracy and want to protect our democracy, want to protect our freedom, want to protect our rights, and that\u2019s who the President is going to continue to stand up for and fight for.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m going to try and call on people I haven\u2019t called on yet.  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Karine, thank you.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Since we don\u2019t have a lot of time.<\/p>\n<p>Q    A follow for you on the questions about Russia and the President\u2019s decision not to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.  Is that a final decision by President Biden?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yes, it is.  I mean, I\u2019ll let his words stand for himself.  He answered it pretty simply.  I just laid out why we think it wouldn\u2019t be the strongest path forward.  I laid out three reasons. <\/p>\n<p>Also, we want to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs in case it has to go to the negotiation table.  So it is very important that we give them the strongest \u2014 the strongest, you know, negotiation arm that they can have.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And did the President directly convey that to President Zelenskyy before publicly saying that he had made that decision?  And has he conveyed it to members of Congress, leaders in Congress?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I can\u2019t speak to conversation \u2014 private conversation specifically on this that the President had with members of Congress or President Zelenskyy.  As you know, they spoke recently.  We laid out a readout of what that conver- \u2014 how that conversation went and what was discussed.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And what about congressional leaders?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Again, I just said I can\u2019t speak to what conversations that the President had \u2014 private conversations that he\u2019s had with members of Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Can you tell us when, specifically, he made that determination because of this?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don\u2019t have a \u2014 a timeline. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Or (inaudible) made.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, I \u2014 well, I don\u2019t have a timeline on when he made that decision.  He was asked that directly yesterday.  He answered that very straightforward \u2014 in a straightforward way.  I just laid out what our concerns are with that.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And can you just update us \u2014 Karine, I know you\u2019ve answered some version of this question before, but as we\u2019re sort of starting in September here: Has the President or anyone within the administration been briefed on the intelligence community\u2019s assessment of the classified or sensitive documents that have been retrieved at Mar-a-Lago?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No.  No.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And is there a protocol for that, I mean, given that we are talking about sensitive government documents?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, again \u2014 and I\u2019ve said this many times at this podium, we have said this many times on your air \u2014 your airwaves \u2014 which is: We are just \u2014 we get the interest.  We understand the interest.  We\u2019re not going to comment on an ongoing, independent investigation, as anything that\u2019s related to it.  This is something that the President has been very clear about in making sure there is no political interference and making sure that the Department of Justice has that independence when it comes to investigations.  So I\u2019m just not going to comment anything related to it.<\/p>\n<p>Q    One more quick, on a different topic.  But just following up on the questions about the \u201cMAGA Republicans,\u201d the President is very firm in his language and direct, saying that the former President and MAGA Republicans he believes pose a threat to America\u2019s democracy.  Does he then denounce the efforts by some Democrats to prop up Republicans who support the MAGA agenda in the primaries?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I\u2019m not going to talk about political action or what is happening in the midterms. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Just broadly speaking \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I \u2014 I\u2019m just \u2014 that is \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 does the administration see this (inaudible)?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I am not going to talk anything that\u2019s related to the midterms or politics as well.  I cannot, standing where I am and also the role that I have. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m going to go to the back and then I\u2019ll come back front.  I\u2019ll come back.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Karine, thanks \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.  I haven\u2019t \u2014 go ahead, sir.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Thank you, Karine.  Thank you very much.  Does \u2014 does President Biden \u2014 President Biden is the current holder of executive privilege.  And does President Biden believe that Trump can claim executive privilege for government documents that he took with him to Florida?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Again, anything related to the independent investigation \u2014 again, independent investigation that\u2019s being done by the Department of Justice \u2014 we\u2019re not going to comment, regardless of content or any underlying material.  I\u2019m not going to comment from here. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Well, the judge \u2014 Judge Cannon, herself, said that Biden hadn\u2019t weighed in.  That\u2019s refuted in the National Archives letter.  But does President Biden have an opinion on \u2014 and has he exerted his opinion on whether executive privilege applies to former President Trump after he left office, after he left on January 20th, 2021?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Not \u2014 it is \u2014 I\u2019m not going to comment about what the \u2014 what the judge said yesterday, the court has laid out.  Again, that is for the Department of Justice, this whole independent investigation.  I\u2019m just not going to comment on it at this time.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Courtney.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  I wanted to ask you: The Department of Veterans Affairs put out an interim rule this morning on access to abortion, offering veterans abortion in special instances.  I know we had the conversation in here shortly after the fall of Roe, about this idea of doctors performing abortion procedures on federal land, and even talked about how that wasn\u2019t the best path forward at the time.  What changed?  And what do you believe is the legal justification to make this happen at VA clinics? <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So I would leave that to the Veterans Affairs Department; that is their decision to make.  And I would refer you to them on that particular question. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m going to get around because we don\u2019t have a lot of time at all. <\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister \u2014 (inaudible) Prime Minister Modi gave a call to communicate India a developed country in the next 25 years \u2014 at least 2047, when India celebrates its 100 years of independence.  As you know, this year is the 75th year of India\u2019s independence.  In what way U.S. can \u2014 U.S. can help India \u2014 assist India in making it a developed nation by 2047, or in the next 25 years?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So the United States and, as you know, India \u2014 and I\u2019ve said this to you before in this room \u2014 will continue to work together every day to deliver opportunities, security, freedom, and dignity to our peoples.  We are partners in many important areas, including defense, vaccines, climate, tech, and our ever-growing people-to-people connections. <\/p>\n<p>The United States will continue to work with India to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific and address the challenges both our countries face around the world.  That is our commitment that we have in our partnership with India.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And secondly, what is the President\u2019s assessment of the situation in Afghanistan right now, a year after the Taliban took the power there?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Say that \u2014 say that one more time.<\/p>\n<p>Q    What is the President\u2019s assessment of the situation in Afghanistan right now, a year after the Taliban took the power?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So we are \u2014 we are committed to supporting the Afghan people, and we have said that many times before.  And we are proud to be the largest single provider of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.  We are working closely with the United Nations and other partners to provide this assistance directly to the Afghan people without benefit to the Taliban.<\/p>\n<p>We will remain vigilant against any terrorism threats directed at the United States or our allies, as we have demonstrated just recently in July, as you know, when we took out the leader of al Qaeda. <\/p>\n<p>And we will continue to prioritize relocation efforts to our Afghan allies and welcome our Afghan allies to the United States since our commitment to them is enduring. <\/p>\n<p>So we will also continue to press the Taliban for the safe release of Mark Frerichs and to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Afghans, including women and girls.  And that is our \u2014 going to continue to be our commitment. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m just going to go around to folks I haven\u2019t called on, and then I\u2019ll come down to here, Peter.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  There are multiple inspector general posts where the President has yet to nominate a permanent IG.  There may be someone acting there, but has yet to nominate a permanent IG at the State Department \u2014 hasn\u2019t had a permanent IG since before President Biden took office.  So what is the President doing, what is the White House doing behind the scenes to find those permanent IGs for those really important positions?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So it\u2019s a great question.  I don\u2019t have anything here to read out or lay out to you about our process in filling the permanent IGs.  I would refer you to State Department specifically on anything \u2014 on what they have \u2014 what they have laid out and how they\u2019ve worked through that. <\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t have any updates on any \u2014 naming anyone or anything that we have to share or to preview to you as well.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Yes, I understand.  But these are the President\u2019s nominees.  State Department doesn\u2019t make that.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, but you also asked me what is it that we\u2019re doing as well.  So I \u2014 that\u2019s why I said you should go to State Department to figure out what is it that they\u2019re been doing while we\u2019re trying to figure out the permanent IGs.  I don\u2019t have anything to preview at this time on our process or where we are on that particular question.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then really briefly on student loans.  I know the administration has encouraged people who are applying for loan forgiveness, when that opens up, to do so by November 15th.  But is there kind of an end deadline?  When is the last time people can apply for that?  Is there some sort of deadline, considering, of course, that this would already have to be debt that\u2019s already been accrued?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So we\u2019ve \u2014 we\u2019ve talked about this \u2014 I talked about this last week \u2014 about the timeline and how that\u2019s going to work. <\/p>\n<p>And you mentioned November 15th.  So \u2014 so that\u2019s in order \u2014 we do \u2014 we are saying that in order to receive before the payment pause, which expires on December 31st, 2022.  So that\u2019s why we want \u2014 as you want to get that relief, we want to also \u2014 and the pause is coming off.  That\u2019s the best way to make sure that as those two things are happening, and you\u2019re not put in a bind \u2014 America is not put in a bind \u2014 that\u2019s why we recommend doing it by November 15th. <\/p>\n<p>But the Department of Education will continue to process applications as they are received, even after the pause expires on December 31st.  So it\u2019ll be continuing.  The reason why we give the deadline of November 15 is because we know the pause is going to be lifted.  So to give \u2014 as we have said, we want to make sure that we give Americans a little bit of breathing room.  And that\u2019s why we have that deadline.<\/p>\n<p>Q    So people can apply into 2023?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yes, they can.  Yes. <\/p>\n<p>Okay.  Oh, Peter, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  A follow-up about the MAGA Republican attention.  So if we\u2019re all in agreement that it is incorrect to say the 2020 election was stolen, what about the 2016 election?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, I\u2019m not going to go back to where we were or what happened in 2016.  We\u2019re going to focus on the here and now.  We\u2019re going to focus on what\u2019s happening today \u2014 this inflection point that the President pointed out, very clearly, very decisively in a few speeches about what the country needs to do at this time to bring the country together. <\/p>\n<p>And he believes that\u2019s where a majority of Americans are when it comes to protecting our democracy, when it comes to protecting our rights, and when it comes to protecting our freedoms.  That\u2019s what we\u2019re going to talk about.  That\u2019s what we\u2019re going to focus on \u2014 on where we are today.<\/p>\n<p>Q    But just in trying to understand the new attention on the MAGA Republicans, you tweeted in 2016 \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Oh, I knew this was coming.<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 Trump \u201cstole\u201d an election.  You tweeted \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I was waiting, Peter, when you were going to ask me that question.  (Laughs.)<\/p>\n<p>Q    Well, great.  Here we go.  You tweeted Trump \u201cstole\u201d an election.  You tweeted Brian Kemp \u201cstole\u201d an election.  If denying election results is extreme now, why wasn\u2019t it then?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So let\u2019s \u2014 let\u2019s \u2014 let\u2019s be really clear: That \u2014 that comparison that you made is just ridiculous.  I have been \u2014 I have been \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    How is that ridiculous?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, you\u2019re asking me \u2014 you\u2019re asking me a question. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Yes.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Let me answer it.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And you said it was ridiculous. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I was \u2014 I was talking specifically at that time of what was happening with voting rights and the \u2014 what was in danger of voting rights.  That\u2019s what I was speaking to at the time. <\/p>\n<p>And here\u2019s the thing: I have said Governor Kemp won the election in Georgia.  I\u2019ve been clear about that.  I have said President Trump won the election of 2016.  And I\u2019ve been clear about that. <\/p>\n<p>What we are talking about right now is \u2014 let\u2019s not forget what happened on January 6th, 2021, when we saw an insurrection \u2014 a mob that was incited by the person who occupied this campus, this facility at that time.  And it was an attack on our democracy. <\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s not forget people died that day.  Law enforcement were attacked that day.  That was the danger that we were seeing at the time.  That\u2019s what the President has called out.  And that\u2019s what he\u2019s going to continue to call out.<\/p>\n<p>So, yes, when you have MAGA Republicans \u2014 a extreme part of Republicans who for \u2014 who just deny or do not want to really say what exactly happened on that day, or say it was a protest when it clearly was not a peaceful protest \u2014 that\u2019s not what we saw on that day \u2014 yes, the President is going to call that out.<\/p>\n<p>And here\u2019s the thing: Majority of Americans agree with him, majority of Americans agree with this President on protecting our democracy, protecting our freedom, and protecting our rights.  That\u2019s what we\u2019re talking about today, and that\u2019s what the President is going to focus on. <\/p>\n<p>All right, we\u2019re going to have to move.  We\u2019re going to have to move.  I\u2019m going to call on folks I haven\u2019t called on.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  I\u2019m just wondering if you have any sort of preview for the event tomorrow with former President Obama and former First Lady Obama. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I do.  I do. <\/p>\n<p>So, tomorrow, President Biden is looking forward to welcoming back President Obama and Michelle Obama to the White House for the unveiling of their official White House portraits. <\/p>\n<p>Over the course of their eight years together in office, a close partnership between the two men grew through the highs and lows of the job and life \u2014 and of life.  President Biden and Dr. Biden are honored to have former President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama back to the White House for the unveiling of their portraits, which will hang on the walls of the White House forever as reminders of the power of hope and change.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And obviously, this ceremony is happening, as per in recent history, tradition: predecessor and successor.  Obviously, it didn\u2019t happen under the last administration.  Would President Biden hold the same ceremony for President Trump should his portraits be done before his first term?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So we \u2014 we defer those questions to the White House Historical Association who actually \u2014 they lead the process on official portraits for both presidents and their spouses.  So that question goes \u2014 lies with them.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And is there any more interaction that the former President and current President will have tomorrow?  Or is it just the ceremony?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don\u2019t have anything else to share at this time.  If we \u2014 if there\u2019s more interaction or more to share, we certainly will. <\/p>\n<p>Okay.  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Going back to the new UK Prime Minister, can you talk a little bit about what President Biden\u2019s relationship is with her?  Has he met with her in the past?  Does he know her well?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  That\u2019s a good question.  I can go back and actually ask to see if they have a prior relationship.  But I do want to say this, as we talk about the change that\u2019s happening \u2014 the new Prime Minister: Our countries have a close, longstanding, special relationships as friends and NATO Allies.  And we are looking forward to continued close cooperation on key priorities, including supporting Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression and addressing the challenges posed by China. <\/p>\n<p>So we see our relationship not just with the leadership, but also the people of the UK.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Karine, is the President planning to call \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I\u2019m going to try and call on people who I haven\u2019t called.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Is the President planning to call the President of Kenya, the new (inaudible) \u2014 President-elect of Kenya?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  I want to ask you about the question about migrants and whether they have or haven\u2019t been walking across the southwest border.  Senator Ted Cruz has publicly invited, suggested that you come down to see that for yourself.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Who?  Wait, who?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.  He\u2019s \u2014 he\u2019s suggested that you come down and see for yourself whether migrants are actually crossing the border by foot.  Is that something that you would take him up on?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So I\u2019ve been to the border.  I went in 2018.  I stood outside facilities where the Trump administration was separating families, tearing babies out of their mothers\u2019 arms.  Some of those kids still haven\u2019t been reunited with their families. <\/p>\n<p>And so, one thing I will say is I certainly don\u2019t need lectures or invitations from Republicans about the border or border policies.  And \u2014 you know, and I certainly won\u2019t take advice on border from anyone who voted against securing record level of funding for the Department of Homeland Security.<\/p>\n<p>And \u2014 and, you know, and while folks are sending invites, I\u2019ll use this opportunity to \u2014 to invite him or anyone else next time to vote for record funding for DHS, as President Biden has requested.  So we\u2019ll move on.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Nope, we\u2019ll move on from that.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And \u2014 quick question.  On the migrants who drowned last week near Eagle Pass, what is the administration doing to avert those kinds of tragedies?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So that is a tragic \u2014 that is tragic when we hear news like that.  Our hearts go out to the families certainly.  And \u2014 and that is what we try to work very hard to do: to secure the border and make sure that we don\u2019t see those types of \u2014 those tragedies and heartbreaks. <\/p>\n<p>So, I know the Department of Homeland Security is working very hard on \u2014 to continuing to secure our border, to do work that was not done in the past several years.  And so we\u2019re going to continue to focus on that.<\/p>\n<p>Okay.  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Karine, a question on Kenya.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  Go ahead.  Kenya.  What\u2019s \u2014 what\u2019s going on?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Since you just spoke about the President calling the new Prime Minister of the UK, is he planning to call the President-elect of Kenya after it was affirmed \u2014 his victory was affirmed by the supreme court yesterday?  And is he also planning to call the new President of Angola \u2014 the President and the President-elect (inaudible)?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So I don\u2019t have \u2014 I spoke to Angola a couple of times last week.  And the President actually took a question, I know, on Angola, specifically, about 10 days or so.<\/p>\n<p>On \u2014 on Kenya, I\u2019ll say this: We congratulate William Ruto on his election as President of Kenya.  We also congratulate the people of Kenya on the conclusion of a peaceful electoral process.  We commend Raila Odinga and other candidates for abiding by the supreme court filing.  Transparent electoral processes and the peaceful adjudication of disputes are testaments to the strength of democratic institutions.<\/p>\n<p>The United States and Kenya share a strong and longstanding partnership based on a commitment to democracy, security, economic prosperity.  We look forward to enhancing this partnership with President Ruto and his new government.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t have any calls to read out or preview for you at this time.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then, on Ethiopia: Last Friday, you talked about the special envoy, Michael Hammer, going to Ethiopia.  The main problem in Ethiopia right now, especially around Tigray, is about the blockade that\u2019s been there for almost 21 months.<\/p>\n<p>Is the President, is the special envoy going to press Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali to lift the blockade and grant access to the 6 million people who have been sealed off?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So I\u2019m not going to get ahead of the special envoy.  I know we announced that, as you mentioned, last week.  I\u2019m not going to get into any conversation that he may potentially have.<\/p>\n<p>Clearly, this is a priority for this President.  And when we will have more to share, we\u2019ll share more.  I got to \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    Can \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I got to jump around. <\/p>\n<p>Q    One last question.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, no, no.  I got to jump around.  I got to jump around.  Go ahead.  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you so much.  I\u2019ve got a question on Israel and Iran tensions.  Israel is on high alert, and the Prime Minister of Israel has talked about taking unilateral action against Iran\u2019s nuclear program.  Will the Biden administration back any Israeli action against Iran\u2019s nuclear program?  And can you update us a little bit on the Mossad chief?  He\u2019s in town.  Who has he been meeting with?  What\u2019s he been doing?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, don\u2019t have anything to share about Mossad being in town.  It had been announced several weeks now that he would be.  Don\u2019t have more to share on that.<\/p>\n<p>Look, I\u2019m going to \u2014 when it comes to the JCPOA, you know, I\u2019m going to keep it very, very simple here.  We\u2019ve said this many times: We have taken a deliberate and principled approach to these negotiations from the start.  If Iran is prepared to comply with comments \u2014 with its commitments under 2015 deal, then we are prepared to do the same.<\/p>\n<p>The administration, along with our allies, is preparing equally for scenarios with or \u2014 and without a mutual return to the \u2014 to the full implementation of the JCPOA.<\/p>\n<p>The President will only conclude a deal that he determines in the national security interest of the United States.  Again, not going to negotiate, not going to have conversations or hypotheticals of what may or may not happen.  We have been very clear about what we intend here, and it\u2019s to make sure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon.  And that is our ultimate goal here.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Can I follow up on President Abbas?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay, no, we\u2019re just going to \u2014 we\u2019re going to move around because I literally have two minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    I actually want to follow up on the Iran nuclear deal question.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.<\/p>\n<p>Q    What is the timeline that President Biden is looking at before the State Department diplomats sort of say \u201ctime\u2019s up\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So I don\u2019t have a timeline for you.  I can give you an update on the status of the negotiations.<\/p>\n<p>Look, it\u2019s a regular back-and-forth.  As we have said, we are studying the response in coordination with our E3 allies.  As you know, we have received a response.  Again, we\u2019re not going to negotiate in public.  Some gaps have closed in recent weeks but others have remained.<\/p>\n<p>As you all know, the President will only, again, conclude a deal that he determines is in the national security interest of the United States.  I\u2019m not \u2014 I\u2019m not going to get into further detail or negotiate from here.<\/p>\n<p>I can take one last question.  One last question.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Can I ask about Shireen, my colleague?  Can you \u2014 you read the message \u2014 the statement about Shireen Abu Akleh.  The administration continues to talk about accountability, but there hasn\u2019t been any.  There have been no charges.  What is the Biden administration going to do to press for accountability?  What steps are going to be taken?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So what I can tell you is that we have been \u2014 we have been in constant communication, we have been very public about making sure that there is accountability.  The U.S. Security Coordinator \u2014 the USCC, as it relates to the investigation, finding that there was no reason to believe the killing was intentional and it was instead the result of tragic circumstances is based on a series of engagements and a review of the totality of the available evidence, situational and environmental factors.<\/p>\n<p>Again, you know, our profound condolences go to the family.  We hear their concerns.  We understand their concerns.  The examin- \u2014 examination was conducted by two members, again, of the USCC with over 42 combined years of forensic expertise.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the forensic and bal- \u2014 ballistic analysis, the USCC was granted full access to both Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian Authority investigation.  By summarizing both investigation, the USCC concluded that gunfire from IDF positions was likely responsible for the death of Shireen Abu Akleh.  The USCC found no reason to believe that this was intentional but rather the result of tragic circumstances. <\/p>\n<p>Again, you know, our hearts go out to the family members. <\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019m \u2014 I have to go.  It\u2019s 1:03. <\/p>\n<p>Q    But just very quickly \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I\u2019ll be back tomorrow.  I\u2019ll be \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    This isn\u2019t accountability.  I \u2014 how do journalists in this room read this?  I mean, it feels almost like our government doesn\u2019t have our back, that an ally can \u2014 can kill an American journalist with impunity.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I \u2014 I disagree.  I disagree.  One thing that this President has been very clear about making sure that we stand up for a journalist; we stand up for the freedom that they should be given in order to report, whether it\u2019s here or across the globe.  And \u2014 and the President has always been clear about fighting for human rights.  That will never change.<\/p>\n<p>He has talked about it boldly and clearly.  And \u2014 and he\u2019s talked about it with leaders as well.  So that is something that he respects \u2014 the freedom of speech \u2014 and he\u2019ll continue to speak to that.<\/p>\n<p>All right, guys.  I got to go.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;Hi, everyone. Good afternoon. Q Good afternoon. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Welcome back. I know you guys are excited to be back with us. Okay. So I\u2019d like to introduce Secretary Gina Raimondo, who has joined us here many, many times before. And we\u2019re excited to have her back today to announce the next steps that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":146997,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-146996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-government","category-news","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Fullscreen-capture-972022-122639-PM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146996","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=146996"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146996\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":146998,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146996\/revisions\/146998"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/146997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=146996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=146996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=146996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}