{"id":158631,"date":"2023-04-10T22:50:06","date_gmt":"2023-04-11T05:50:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=158631"},"modified":"2023-04-10T22:50:06","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T05:50:06","slug":"press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-and-national-security-council-coordinator-for-strategic-communications-john-kirby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=158631","title":{"rendered":"Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;White House Easter Bunny enters Press Briefing Room to greet press.  MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right, hop on out of here.  Hop on out of here.  (Laughs.) Q    Bye!  Bye Easter Bunny!  MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  (Laughs.)  So \u2014 so for the second year in a row \u2014 Thank you, Easter Bunny.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Jk8EZzF63qQ\" title=\"04\/10\/23: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you!<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  For the second year in a wa- \u2014 row, we\u2019ve turned the South Lawn of the White House into a school community where 30,000 people from across the country will participate in one of the White House most cherished traditions.  This year\u2019s theme is EGGucation.  And we\u2019re remain \u2014 and we\u2019re reminding families that education can be fun and that it never stops.<\/p>\n<p>So I hope that some of you had the opportunity to get out there and hop on it \u2014 sorry, my team wrote that, apologies \u2014 (laughter) \u2014 hop on it with your families and enjoy the beautiful, beautiful day outside.<\/p>\n<p>With that \u2014 so we\u2019d like to thank our Easter Bunny here.<\/p>\n<p>On a more serious note, today we saw another senseless act of gun violence \u2014 killed at least four Americans and injured at least eight others \u2014 this time in Louisville, Kentucky.<\/p>\n<p>The President and the First Lady are praying for those killed and injured in the tragic shooting in Louisville and for the survivors who will carry the trauma for the rest of their lives. <\/p>\n<p>They are grateful for the LMPD offi- \u2014 officers who quickly and courageously stepped into the line of fire to save others.<\/p>\n<p>Once again, today, the President has called on Republicans in Congress to work together with Democrats to take action to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, to require safe storage of firearms, to require background checks for all gun sales, to eliminate gun manufacturers\u2019 immunity from liability.<\/p>\n<p>These are commonsense actions we can \u2014 we can ask for and should be getting right now.  And it\u2019s what Americans want.  We know that a majority of the American people support this.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, we\u2019ve watched Republican official after Republican official after Republican official double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, that makes our places \u2014 places of worship, that makes our communities less safe while too many Americans are paying with their lives.<\/p>\n<p>So again, we need to act, and we need Republicans to show some courage \u2014 Republicans in Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Over the weekend, a single court in Texas has taken the dangerous steps of rejecting FDA\u2019s scientific approval of mifepristone, a medication that has been on the market for more than 20 years and is used safely in more than 60 countries, providing critical care for women.<\/p>\n<p>This court decision threatens access to this medication, which is used not only for abortion but also for other critical purs- \u2014 purposes, like helping women manage miscarriages.<\/p>\n<p>If the decision stands, it will put women\u2019s health at risk and undermine the FDA\u2019s ability to ensure patients have access to safe and effective medications when they need them the most.<\/p>\n<p>This decision further stripes [strips] away Americans\u2019 fundamental freedoms and interferes with a woman\u2019s ability to make decisions about her own body.  And it\u2019s another step towards the ultimate goal that we\u2019ve heard over and over again from anti-choice officials that both the state and \u2014 at the both the state and national level: eliminating access to abortion for all women in every state.<\/p>\n<p>It is also an attack on FDA\u2019s authority to review and approve a wide range of safe and effective medication for Americans and could open the floodgates for other medications to be targeted and denied to people who need them.<\/p>\n<p>So, we were prepared for this outcome.  And as you all saw, the Department of Justice appealed the court\u2019s decision and is seeking a stay, standing \u2014 stay pending appeal. <\/p>\n<p>But I want to be clear because there is a lot of bad misinformation out there: Mifepristone continues to be available and approved for the time being.  Again, mifepristone continues to be approved and available for the time being.<\/p>\n<p>This administration stands by the FDA and is prepared to \u2014 for this legal fight.  And we will continue our work to protect reproductive rights to ensure that women can make their own decisions about their own bodies without government interfering.<\/p>\n<p>With that, I have some more guests that are supposed to come through that door any moment now.  Timing?  Okay.  (Laughter.) <\/p>\n<p>(Admiral John Kirby enters the Press Briefing Room.)<\/p>\n<p>And so, finally, today \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible.)<\/p>\n<p>Q    You look better in a rabbit suit!<\/p>\n<p>Q    Was it hard to take off?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  He was \u2014 he was actually in the suit.  No, just kidding.  (Laughs.)  Just kidding, Admiral. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Interesting timing.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  He was not in a suit.  Right.  (Laughs.)<\/p>\n<p>Okay.  So, finally, today, as you can see, Admiral John Kirby, my colleague from NSC, is here to join us to talk about \u2014 to give a preview of the President\u2019s trip abroad, where the President is going to leave tomorrow morning for the United Kingdom and also Northern Irela- \u2014 Ireland, a trip that the President is definitely looking forward to.<\/p>\n<p>And, with that, Admiral, the floor is yours.<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Thank you, Karine. <\/p>\n<p>Afternoon, everybody.  So, as Karine just mentioned, the President is traveling to the United Kingdom and Ireland this week.  And as I think you all also know, he\u2019s very excited for this trip and has been now for quite some time. <\/p>\n<p>Tomorrow he will depart for Belfast, where he\u2019ll be greeted upon arrival at the airport by Prime Minister Sunak, who he also just saw last month in San Diego at the AUKUS announcement. <\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, President Biden will meet with Prime Minister Sunak bilaterally.  From there, President Biden will head to Ulster University to deliver remarks marking the tremendous progress since the signing of the Belfast\/Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago.  And he\u2019ll underscore the readiness of the United States to preserve those gains and support Northern Ireland\u2019s vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities. <\/p>\n<p>Today, I think you all know, is actually the \u2014 is the 25th anniversary since the Belfast\/Good Friday Agreement was signed, ending decades of violence and bringing peace and stability to Northern Ireland. <\/p>\n<p>President Biden cares deeply about Northern Ireland and has a long history of supporting peace and prosperity there.  As a U.S. senator, Joe Biden was an advocate for how the United States can play a constructive role supporting peace. <\/p>\n<p>Following his speech at Ulster University, the President will travel to Ireland on Wednesday afternoon.  He will visit County Louth, where his great grandfather James Finnegan was born and the Finnegan family lived before they crossed the sea to begin a new life in America.  And he\u2019ll tour Carlingford Castle. <\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday night, the President will spend the night in Dublin.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, he will meet with President Higgins of Ireland and participate in a tree planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell.  Following that ceremony, he will meet again with the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, whom the President just hosted here for St. Patrick\u2019s Day, as I think you all remember.  In both meetings, the President will discuss our close cooperation on the full range of shared global challenges. <\/p>\n<p>He will then address a joint session of Irish parliament about U.S.-Irish cooperation to advance democracy, peace, security, and prosperity, as well as the shared deep history between the United States and Ireland. <\/p>\n<p>Today, 1 in 10 Americans claim Irish ancestry, and Irish Americans are proudly represented in every facet of American life.  Ireland is a key economic partner of the United States, and the United States and Ireland are working closely together to make the global economy more fair. <\/p>\n<p>Ireland has been a key partner for 21st century challenges as well.  And the Irish government has been strong supporters of Ukraine, providing vital non-lethal assistance, including medical supplies, body armor, and support for Ukraine\u2019s electric grid, as well as their agriculture. <\/p>\n<p>They have supported EU sanctions on Russia, and the people of Ireland have generously welcomed nearly 80,000 Ukrainians, offering refuge to those who were forced to flee their homes in search of safety. <\/p>\n<p>On Thursday night, President Biden will attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle.<\/p>\n<p>And on Friday, the President will travel to County Mayo, where he will tour the sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Center\u2019s Family History Research Unit. <\/p>\n<p>He will then deliver remarks at St. Muredach\u2019s Cathedral, which his great-great-grandfather \u2014 great-great-great-grandfather \u2014 sorry \u2014 Edward Blewitt sold 27,000 bricks to in 1827.  Those bricks were used to construct and support the great cathedral and helped Edward afford to buy tickets for himself and for his family to sail together to America decades later in 1851.<\/p>\n<p>The President is very much looking forward to that trip, again, and to celebrating the deep, historic ties that our two countries and our two people continue to share. <\/p>\n<p>With that, I\u2019ll take some questions. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, John.  If we could start on the \u2014 the classified document leaks.  Has the President been briefed on this breach?  And does the U.S. government, at this point, have any sense of who was behind it?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  The President has been briefed.  He was first briefed late last week, when \u2014 when we all got word that there were some documents out there.  And he has been \u2014 stayed briefed and in contact with national security officials throughout the weekend.  So he has been briefed. <\/p>\n<p>And as for the source, as you know, the Department of Defense has referred this to the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation, and I certainly would refer you to them.  But I\u2019m not aware that they\u2019ve come to any conclusions at this point about where they\u2019re coming from.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And just a follow-up on that.  At this point, do you believe the leak is contained?  Are there more documents out there that have not been released publicly?  Is this an ongoing threat? <\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  We don\u2019t know.  We truly don\u2019t know. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Moving to the tension between China and Taiwan, we know the President can pick up the phone anytime and call President Xi.  We\u2019ve been told that this call is coming for months.  Why hasn\u2019t he just picked up the phone and called President Xi to say knock it off?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  The President looks forward to having another conversation with President Xi.  And we\u2019ll do that at the appropriate time, and we\u2019ll certainly keep you apprised of that.  It\u2019s important that those lines of communication stay open. <\/p>\n<p>The tensions are certainly high right now.  We\u2019d like to see this relationship get onto a better footing.  And when it\u2019s appropriate for the two leaders to talk, then \u2014 then that\u2019ll happen. <\/p>\n<p>I want to stress \u2014 that said \u2014 that we are and have been able to maintain lines of communication between our two countries, even throughout all these tensions.  And in fact, we\u2019re still working to get Secretary Blinken back on a plane over to Beijing, as he was planning to do a couple of months ago, and we\u2019re in talks with the PRC about potential visits of Secretary Yellen and Secretary Raimondo \u2014 at their invitation, by the way \u2014 to talk about economic issues. <\/p>\n<p>Q    And while it\u2019s not popular, would the President ever speak directly to President Tsai?  I mean, would \u2014 would there be a conversation there perhaps?  What is his take on this meeting between House Speaker McCarthy and President Tsai?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Not uncommon for presidents in Taiwan to transit the United States, as President Tsai did.  It\u2019s also not uncommon for Taiwan officials, certainly at the president level, to meet with members of Congress, as President Tsai did.  This is \u2014 it\u2019s very typical.  There\u2019s, again, no reason for any overreaction here.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Sebastian.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Hello, Admiral \u2014 over here.  Still on Taiwan: What \u2014 how does the U.S. see the latest Chinese military exercises?  And is the U.S. confident that Taiwan and help from the U.S. could continue to deter China from military solutions, as they would see it?  Because what they\u2019ve been \u2014 you know, that saber-rattling, we call it, was a lot more than sabers and it\u2019s more than rattling at this point.<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Yeah, so we\u2019re monitoring the exercises closely, as I think you might imagine.  They appear to be a reaction to something that didn\u2019t need to be reacted to, in my previous answer.  This is not uncommon for presidents of Taiwan \u2014 and this one in particular \u2014 to transit the United States.<\/p>\n<p>So there was no reason to react in any way, militarily or otherwise.  They also reacted rhetorically.<\/p>\n<p>But we\u2019re very comfortable and confident that we have in place, in the region, sufficient resources and capabilities to protect our national security interests in the Indo-Pacific.<\/p>\n<p>I would add to your \u2014 more specifically, to your second question: There\u2019s no reason for tensions across the Taiwan Strait to devolve into any kind of conflict.  Nothing has changed about our One China policy.  Nothing has changed about the fact that we don\u2019t support Taiwan independence.  And nothing has changed about the fact that we don\u2019t want to see the status quo change unilaterally and certainly not by force.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Just a quick one, if I may.  On Macron\u2019s visit to China, how did you react to his comments about, you know, wanting to create a third superpower and so on?  Do you \u2014 do you wish him luck?  Is it just rhetoric?  Or is it kind of annoying to the \u2014 to the U.S. administration (inaudible) allies?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I\u2019ll let the \u2014 I\u2019ll let the \u00c9lys\u00e9e speak to President Macron\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n<p>We are, again, comfortable and confident in the terrific bilateral relationship we have with France and the relationship that the President has with President Macron and the fact that we\u2019re working together on so many different issues. <\/p>\n<p>And the French are stepping up in the Indo-Pacific.  I mean, they\u2019re conducting naval operations, even as you and I are speaking right now, in the Indo-Pacific, all in keeping with a concerted effort by all of us \u2014 this vast alliance or network of alliances and partnerships that we have \u2014 to continue to make sure that we\u2019re standing up for stability, security, prosperity, and a free and open Indo-Pacific.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Weijia.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Karine.  And thank you, Kirby.  In light of the classified documents, I wonder if you could tell us when was the last time the protocol to grant security clearances was updated or revised in the \u2014 in the government.  And in light of the leaks, does the President believe you should take another look at that?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I think the Department of Defense has already started to take a look at distribution, for instance, at the \u2014 at the Pentagon.  I\u2019ll let them speak to that.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t know the answer to your question on protocols for who is or who is not granted security clearances.  There is already in place and remains in place a very diligent, deliberate effort to manage security clearances.  And sometimes we get knocked because it takes a little too long for people\u2019s clearances to get approved because the process is so careful and deliberate.<\/p>\n<p>I think \u2014 to your question, I think we just need to be careful right now speculating or guessing what might be behind \u2013 what might be behind or who might be behind what looks like a potential leak here of classified information.  So we\u2019re going to \u2014 we need to let the process sort of bear itself out.<\/p>\n<p>Q    So are you saying there\u2019s a question over whether this was a leak by someone who had access to the materials?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I\u2019m saying we don\u2019t know, which is why I\u2019m going to \u2014 you know, I think you\u2019re getting to remedies, and I understand that.  We\u2019re only a couple of days into this.  We need to let the Department of Justice do their job, investigate this, see what they learn.<\/p>\n<p>Now, again, that said, the Department of Defense has already said that they\u2019re taking a look at distribution and looking at if there\u2019s \u2014 if there\u2019s changes they need to make administratively there, at the Pentagon, since it appears that they are \u2014 that they have the locus of most of the documents.<\/p>\n<p>But again, before we start making major muscle movements, we really need to know what we got here and have a better sense from the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Terry.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Just a couple \u2014 just a couple of quick follow-ups.  Do you have a sense of the number of people who would have had access to these documents apparently prepared for the Joint Staff? <\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I do not.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Is it hundreds?  Thousands?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I do not.  I\u2019d refer you to the Defense Department.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then, given this leak and previous leaks, should the American people think that the administration is losing the battle against whoever wants to steal our secrets, whether it\u2019s foreign adversaries or hackers or whomever?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I think the American people need to know and deserve to know that we\u2019re taking this very, very seriously.  The President \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    But it happens \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  The President \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 again and again.<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  The President has been briefed on this.  He will stay briefed on this.  The Department of Defense is looking into this.  They are leading an interagency effort here to review whatever national security implications might come out of all this.  And the Department of Justice is leading a criminal investigation.  So we\u2019re taking this very, very seriously.<\/p>\n<p>There is no excuse for these kinds of documents to be in the public domain.  They don\u2019t deserve to be in the public domain.  They deserve to be protected.<\/p>\n<p>So we\u2019re going to get to the bottom of this.  And then, if there\u2019s actions that need to be taken, as we learn more about the extent of what happened here, we\u2019ll obviously take those.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Monica.  And then I\u2019ll go to the back.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Are there plans for President Biden to speak with President Zelenskyy over the leak?  Or is the White House offering any kind of reassurance to Ukrainian officials about the safety of some of their most sensitive information?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  U.S. officials have been in touch with relevant allies and partners over the last couple of days at very high levels.  I\u2019ll leave it at that.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And can you speak to not just the potential leak here, but what appears to be some doctoring of the information?  Is this something where it\u2019s possible that there may have been a leak, but then a different actor came in, manipulated the information, and posted it online?  What\u2019s the working theory in terms of the actual altering of this information?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I don\u2019t know that we\u2019ve arrived at a working theory.  It does appear that at least in some cases, the information posted online had been altered from what we think would be the original source. <\/p>\n<p>But there\u2019s just no way I can tell you with any granularity right now how that came to be.  We\u2019re \u2014 again, we\u2019re diving into this as strenuously as we can to try to understand that. <\/p>\n<p>And in keeping with your point, I mean, we urge all of you to be very careful about \u2014 about how you report on this story since we know, at least in some cases, that information was \u2014 was doctored. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  Two questions, John.  First on \u2014 on China, you said that was a reaction that didn\u2019t need to be made.  Some would call that an overreaction.  But how confident are you that there won\u2019t be further overreaction leading to actual conflict if \u2014 if this reaction was an overreaction?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Well, we certainly don\u2019t seek any conflict.  And again, there\u2019s no reason, Brian, for there to be any conflict over this \u2014 or confrontation, quite frankly \u2014 since, really, this is all very status quo.  Nothing has changed, and certainly not about our policies, and it\u2019s not uncommon for a president of Taiwan to transit the United States. <\/p>\n<p>But to the exact question you asked, that\u2019s a question that needs to be asked in Beijing \u2014 about what next.  What we hope is next is that, again, tensions de-escalate and that we can continue to communicate with the Chinese, that we can continue to work on getting Secretary Blinken over there. <\/p>\n<p>The whole purpose of that trip was to restore some of those additional lines of communication that are still closed after Speaker Pelosi\u2019s visit \u2014 the mil-to-mil lines, the climate change lines.  That was what Secretary Blinken was heading over there to do, and we\u2019d like to see him get back on that plane and head over to do that. <\/p>\n<p>Q    And the second question, on the classified documents: Has any of that leak led to a direct compromise of efforts to support Ukraine from this administration?<\/p>\n<p>And secondly, those who are in that business say that the biggest problem we have is that we need software and hardware upgrades to guarantee that we don\u2019t get hacked.  Is there any indication that the government is going to invest in the infrastructure to make sure they can block that in the future?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  So, on your first question: No.  We continue to support Ukraine.  That\u2019s not going to change.  The President has been \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    But has it compromised it?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I\u2019m not going to talk about the specific documents that are out there or speak to intelligence.  I think you can understand why I wouldn\u2019t do that. <\/p>\n<p>Your question was: Has there been any effect on support to Ukraine?  The answer is no.  We\u2019re going to continue to support Ukraine, as the President has said, for as long as it takes.<\/p>\n<p>On technological upgrades, again, I don\u2019t have anything to speak to today.  And I don\u2019t know that even if we did, that we would talk about that in a public setting. <\/p>\n<p>But, again, we\u2019re only a few days into this.  We\u2019ve got an investigation going on at Justice.  We got DOD looking at their processes over there.  I think we need to let those two agencies do their job, do that work. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Naomi, in the back.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks.  Just a follow-up on the documents.  Is the White House concerned about the period of time that elapsed from when they were posted to when they sort of gained traction?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  We\u2019re worried that these documents are out there, ma\u2019am.  They shouldn\u2019t be out there, period.  That\u2019s the big worry.  And then trying to figure out how that happened. <\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019m sure, as a part of that, the timeline will be looked at as well.  But the main concern is that they\u2019re out there, period.  They don\u2019t need to \u2014 they shouldn\u2019t be \u2014 absolutely shouldn\u2019t be in the public domain.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  John, has the U.S. changed its timeline for getting the necessary weapons to the Ukraine military in any way?<br \/>\nMR. KIRBY:  I\u2019m not going to \u2014 I wouldn\u2019t \u2014 even in the wake of \u2014 even before this story, I would not sit here and talk about specific timelines of equipment deliveries.  You guys know that. <\/p>\n<p>What I \u2014 I\u2019ll go back to what I said to Brian.  We\u2019re going to continue to support Ukraine.  That hasn\u2019t changed.  It\u2019s not going to change. <\/p>\n<p>Q    And then, a second question, separately.  On NATO expansion, now that Finland is officially a member of NATO, what\u2019s the timetable for Sweden being a part of the defense Alliance?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  We would like to see Sweden join the Alliance as soon as possible, but that is going to be a discussion between Sweden and the Alliance.  And as you know, there\u2019s still some work being done in that regard. <\/p>\n<p>But we think they\u2019re ready now, and we\u2019re excited to have them as new members. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  Owen in the back.<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  As a new member.  Sorry.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Karine.  John, hi.  Back here.  Thank you.  Good afternoon.  Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t know if you\u2019re familiar with this, but this is making a lot of headlines today, this story.  Walter Reed, up the road in Bethesda \u2014 a leading Catholic Bishop says Walter Reed Medical Center is violating the religious freedom of service members who are at the facility.  And they say that because Walter Reed just ended its contract with the archdiocese for the military services for providing pastoral care. <\/p>\n<p>The archdiocese calls the move, quote, \u201cincomprehensible.\u201d  Are you familiar with the story?  And can you expand on it \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  No \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 and why the contract was ended?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  \u2014 I\u2019m afraid I\u2019m not.  And even \u2014 even if I was, really, this is a better question for the Department of Defense. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Steve.<\/p>\n<p>Q    John, is it true that China refused to open their channel of communications with the Pentagon over the Taiwan issue the last several days?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I don\u2019t \u2014 I can\u2019t confirm that reporting, Steve.  I don\u2019t know. <\/p>\n<p>Q    And on the documents, have you been contacting any of the doc- \u2014 the governments mentioned in the documents to talk about it, to try to smooth things over?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  As I said, U.S. officials have over the last couple of days, certainly throughout the weekend, communicated with relevant nations, relevant allies and partners as appropriate at very high levels to communicate with them about this.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Will he bring this up when he speaks to the British Prime Minister later this week?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I won\u2019t get ahead of \u2014 of specific items on the on the agenda and that bilat.  But we\u2019ll certainly be able to communicate with you after the fact.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, John.  Is the President concerned about recent threats of violence in Belfast?  And then, more broadly, can you just walk us through the decision to visit Northern Ireland at a time in which their assembly isn\u2019t functioning?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  So, on the \u2014 on the recent violence, certainly we\u2019ve seen that, over the last couple of days, there have been some, and the President is grateful for the work that Northern Ireland security forces have done and continue to do to protect all communities and certainly the people in Northern Ireland.  And he\u2019s, again, very much looking forward to going to Belfast.<\/p>\n<p>The timing of this is really timed around the 25th anniversary of the Belfast\/Good Friday Agreement, an agreement that the \u2014 that the President has a personal connection to and obviously is very \u2014 very proud to see has \u2014 has really changed lives and livelihoods in Northern Ireland.  And again, that\u2019s really what\u2019s \u2014 what\u2019s driving this. <\/p>\n<p>Q    And I just have to try again on President Macron.  Do you have a response to him saying that, essentially, Europe doesn\u2019t want to be seen as following the United States\u2019 lead on China?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Again, I\u2019ll let President Macron speak to his comments.  We\u2019re very comfortable and confident in the strong alliance, in the strong friendship that exists between our two countries. <\/p>\n<p>And the fact that we have been working together on the continent \u2014 excuse me \u2014 and elsewhere around the world with France, whether it\u2019s \u2014 I mentioned the Indo-Pacific, certainly on Ukraine, in Africa, in the Sahel going after terrorist threats there.  I mean, there\u2019s a lot of terrific bilateral cooperation just alone between the United States and France.  We\u2019re focused on that.  We\u2019re focused on making sure that together we\u2019re \u2014 we\u2019re meeting the national security requirements of both our peoples.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Jeremy.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks.  Hey, John.  These leaked documents show that the U.S. has pretty in-depth contemporaneous information about Russia\u2019s military operations inside of Ukraine.  Have you \u2014 has there been any impact on U.S. intelligence-gathering efforts in Russia as a result of this leak?<\/p>\n<p>And then in terms of the impact on allies who may be concerned that the U.S. simply can\u2019t keep this kind of classified information \u2014 which is shared among allies \u2014 safe, what\u2019s the reassurance to them?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I won\u2019t \u2014 Jeremy, I won\u2019t speak to intelligence collection one way or another, on any given day, about any other \u2014 around any topic.  So I\u2019m just not going to go there. <\/p>\n<p>And as I said, U.S. officials have been in touch with relevant allies and partners, given some of these disclosures over the last few days.  And we\u2019ll continue to have those conversations as appropriate. <\/p>\n<p>Q    And then, quickly, it\u2019s been nearly two weeks now since Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia.  Why has he not yet been officially deemed \u201cwrongfully detained\u201d by the State Department?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  State Department has a process that, you know, can take a matter of days and sometimes weeks as they work through that.  And I would refer you to the State Department to speak to that in any event. <\/p>\n<p>That said, you already heard Secretary Blinken say that, in his mind, he\u2019s wrongfully detained.<\/p>\n<p>Q    So why is it taking so long since he\u2019s already said that?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Again, I\u2019d have to refer you to the State Department.  They\u2019ve got a process here that they run through, Jeremy, to make these determinations.  And we need to let that process bear out. <\/p>\n<p>But setting aside for a second that he hasn\u2019t been declared wrongfully detained, at least not as of yet, doesn\u2019t mean that we haven\u2019t condemned his detention.  We have.  It doesn\u2019t mean that we haven\u2019t been in touch with his family.  We have.  It doesn\u2019t mean that we aren\u2019t also working as strenuously as we can with Russian officials to get him released. <\/p>\n<p>He doesn\u2019t belong there.  He needs to be released.  He\u2019s a journalist, not a criminal. <\/p>\n<p>And it doesn\u2019t mean that we aren\u2019t going to continue to follow this case as closely as we can.  We still don\u2019t have consular access.  And we\u2019re \u2014 we\u2019re also trying to get that, too.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Zolan. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Just \u2014 just a quick follow.  I know you\u2019ve said a couple of times that the administration has been in touch with allies.  Does that include specifically South Korea and Israel, given the described sensitive material as it pertains to those two allies?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  We\u2019ve been in touch with allies and partners \u2014 relevant allies and partners.  I\u2019ll leave it at that.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, John.  I understand that you\u2019re saying some of these documents might have been altered, but is it your assessment that at least some of them are authentic?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  We know that some of them have been doctored.  I won\u2019t speak to the validity of all the documents \u2014 the ones that \u2014 you know, that don\u2019t immediately appear to be doctored.  We\u2019re still working through the validity of all the documents that we know are out there.  The Department of Defense \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    But you\u2019re working under the assumption that \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  The Department of Defense \u2014 the Department of Defense has stood up an interagency effort to try to look at the national security implications, which includes taking a look at these documents to determine whether they\u2019re actually valid or not.  And I\u2019m just not in a position to speak to that work which is ongoing. <\/p>\n<p>Q    But you\u2019re assuming some are valid at this point?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  We\u2019re \u2014 we\u2019re saying we \u2014 we cannot speak to the veracity and the validity of any of those documents at this point.  We\u2019re studying that.  We\u2019re \u2014 DOD is leading an effort to study that to figure that out.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right, a couple more. <\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Emily.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Thanks, Kirby.  I had a couple of questions about the Ireland trip.  I didn\u2019t hear you mention a meeting with King Charles in the President\u2019s schedule.  Is that not happening?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  The President had a terrific conversation with the King last week to talk about, certainly, his upcoming trip here, but also to let the King know that the First Lady would be representing the administration at the coronation.  It was a terrific conversation, and the King was very grateful for it.  And the President was grateful for the time that the King afforded him.  These are two leaders that have known each other a long time and have a very good relationship.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then I wanted to follow up again about the warnings of violence in Northern Ireland, especially these reports there\u2019s threats of terrorist attacks.  Is there concerns about the President going there now?<\/p>\n<p>And then also, I\u2019m curious why he is making the trip when he\u2019s making it, instead of going to the official celebration, which is around April 17th and it\u2019s going to see President Clinton and all those leaders there.  Why is President Biden making a separate trip from that?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I think I already answered that one.  I mean, this is really timed closer to the actual anniversary of the Belfast\/Good Friday Agreement.<\/p>\n<p>And as for security concerns, you know we don\u2019t ever talk about security requirements of protecting the President.  But the President is more than comfortable making this trip, and he\u2019s very excited to do it.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    We\u2019re just finishing up the cherry blossom season in Washington, and it\u2019s 111 years since the \u2014 Prince Tokugawa planted them.  And it was \u2014 much of it was to prese- \u2014 prevent a war.<br \/>\nIs there a role that Japan can be playing, especially China\u2019s next-door, in some of these different crisises [sic]?  His grandson just took over.  Is there some role that Japan can be playing in some of \u2014 helping the U.S. with some of these crisises [sic], especially in terms of China?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I would argue that Japan already is and has been for quite some time.  I mean, they just rewrote their national security strategy that gives them \u2014 allows them to be on a more assertive footing in the Indo-Pacific in terms of exporting security. <\/p>\n<p>And Japan has been a strong supporter of Ukraine.  They have participated and will \u2014 and we hope will continue to participate in both bilateral operations and exercises with the Republic of Korea, but also trilateral with the United States, South Korea, and Japan.<\/p>\n<p>So they\u2019ve been really stepping up in a big way.  We\u2019re grateful for that.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then just a follow-up.  For those of us that were embedded during the wars, Iraq and Afghanistan, a lot of this is really personal.  Some of our friends, people we know are \u2014 haven\u2019t been able to come back.  What\u2019s \u2014 is there an update on what\u2019s going to happen to all those that trusted us and are left \u2014 left behind?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I\u2019m not sure I understand.  What \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    Some of those that are still in Afghanistan that assisted us and \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Afghan allies that are \u2014 yeah.  They \u2014 I\u2019m sorry, I didn\u2019t understand the question.  As I mentioned last week, there are Afghan allies still arriving back here in the United States and able to leave the country on a fairly routine basis.  That \u2014 that mission, that work has not stopped, and it\u2019s going to continue.  Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    I had one more on the documents leak, specifically about the allies.  Some of them have already said that they were eagerly awaiting a sort of assessment of what happened from the United States.  Is that something that the U.S. will do down the line when you guys have more information \u2014 is to brief those allies who were involved in those leaks?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  We will keep \u2014 we will keep relevant allies and partners as informed as we can.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And just a quick follow-up on Taiwan.  You said that this was a reaction that didn\u2019t need to happen.  Is the U.S. sort of considering changing its posture in the Indo-Pacific?  Looking to what happened over the past three days, over these military drills, is that changing in any way the U.S.\u2019s posture in the region?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  No.  As a matter of fact, today there are naval exercises in the Philippine Sea that the United States Navy is conducting.  We\u2019re going to continue to fly and sail and operate in international waters, in international airspace as required to protect our national security commitments.<\/p>\n<p>Again, I\u2019d remind: Five of our seven treaty alliances are in the Indo-Pacific region.  We take those commitments very seriously.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Can you lay out what the consequences will be for the people or the person responsible for the leaks of these classified information? And secondly, have you been able to gauge what their motive is, just based on how they\u2019ve released this information?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  The answer to both questions is: No, I can\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a Justice Department investigation going on right now \u2014 a criminal investigation.  I am certainly not going to say anything that would prejudice that.  And that work is just starting.<\/p>\n<p>So, we don\u2019t know who\u2019s behind this.  We don\u2019t know what the motive is.  And I think \u2014 I can\u2019t remember who asked before \u2014 but we don\u2019t know what else might be out there.<\/p>\n<p>So we\u2019ve got to let the Department of Defense run their process with the interagency, and I\u2019m taking a look at the national security implications of it.  And we got to let the Justice Department be able to pursue their investigation, again, completely unfettered and let the facts and the evidence take them where they may, and we\u2019ll deal with it on the \u2014 on the back end.<\/p>\n<p>Q    What is your message to them or anybody else who\u2019s considering leaking information?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  This is \u2014 again, without confirming the validity of the documents, this is information that has no business in the public domain.  It has no business, if you don\u2019t mind me saying, on the pages of \u2014 frontpages of newspapers or on television.  It is not intended for public consumption, and it should not be out there.<\/p>\n<p>What we\u2019re going to try to do is do the best we can to figure out how this happened.  And again, the Justice Department will take it from a criminal investigative procedure.  And if \u2014 if the Defense Department has to change processes, you know, they\u2019ll \u2014 they\u2019ll do that.<\/p>\n<p>But I think every American can understand \u2014 at least I would hope every American can understand \u2014 that in order to protect this country every day the way we do, one of the things we have to protect is information, not only the information itself, but the manner in which we glean that information. <\/p>\n<p>And so, I think you can understand why everybody is taking this particular set of disclosures very, very seriously.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Ken.<\/p>\n<p>Q    John, the U.S. and the UK started negotiations on a trade deal nearly three years ago.  What is the status of those talks?  And do you expect that to be on the table at all this week when the President meets with the Prime Minister?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  We\u2019re not in active discussions with the UK about a free trade agreement.  That said, even out at San Diego when the President had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sunak, they talked about trade issues and they talked about the \u2014 you know, trying to find ways to increase and to improve the economic exchanges between the United States and the UK.  And that kind of discussion will continue.  But there\u2019s no active discussions about an FTA.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Do you expect a news conference on this trip?  I\u2019m sure the press corps would be interested in one.<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  (Laughs.)  I don\u2019t expect there\u2019ll be a news conference on this trip.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, James.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you very much, Karine.  Thank you, Admiral.  A couple on the documents and then one on Taiwan, if I may. I don\u2019t think that you would be telling us that this information has no business being publicly shared if you weren\u2019t prepared to confirm the authenticity of it.  If they were completely spurious documents, I think you would say so and you wouldn\u2019t be very concerned about it.<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I didn\u2019t say they were spurious documents; I said we\u2019re still determining the validity of them.  They certainly appear to be directly related to national security concerns and intelligence.  That\u2019s \u2014 that\u2019s pretty obvious.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Is there a gap between the number of documents that have turned up online and the number of documents that you know have been compromised?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I\u2019m not going to get into a process, James.  The Department of Defense has taken a look here at the national security implications of what has been out there to date.  And they\u2019re \u2014 they\u2019re doing the forensics.  I\u2019m not going to get into that process.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Last on the documents, before we hit Taiwan \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Can\u2019t wait. (Laughter.)<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 because you tell us that you simply don\u2019t know what\u2019s coming next.  Are you in \u2014 is the U.S. government effectively in the position of crouching and waiting for the next bombshell to hit on telegram or Twitter, you\u2019re in a position where you simply don\u2019t know how long this is going to go on or how many documents are going to be published?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  We don\u2019t \u2014 we don\u2019t know what\u2019s out there, James.  We don\u2019t know who\u2019s responsible for this.  And we don\u2019t know if they have more that they intend to post.  So we\u2019re watching this and monitoring it as best we can.<\/p>\n<p>But the truth and the honest answer to your question is: We don\u2019t know.  And is that a matter of concern to us?  You\u2019re darn right it is.<\/p>\n<p>Q    On Taiwan: In different respects, you have been candid in saying what you are able to discern about intentions of other countries.  For example, you \u2014 you have told us that you discern no immediate plans by China to aid materially in the Russian war effort in Ukraine.  You\u2019ve told us that you discern no immediate plans by or movements by President Putin to install tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.<br \/>\nAlong those lines, with respect to Taiwan right now, do you discern any movements by China that would indicate an imminent plan to launch military actions against Taiwan?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY: President Xi has said he wants his military ready by 2027.  But the \u2014 but saying you want to be ready by a certain time doesn\u2019t mean that you have an intent.  President Xi would have to speak to that specific intent himself.  We\u2019re not seeing any overt indications that that kind of movement militarily is either imminent or inevitable.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right, two questions left.  We\u2019ll go to you, and then you\u2019ll have the last question.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Thank you, Karine.  Mr. Kirby, talking about Afghanistan, when the U.S. was withdrawing, one of the closest ally of the U.S. was Pakistan.  And the President did not call either the Prime Minister of Pakistan at that time.  Neither the weapons that \u2014 many claim that around 6 billion weapons were left \u2014 neither they moved to Pakistan to be moved out. Why Pakistan \u2014 one of the strongest ally, which sacrificed many lives \u2014 was not taken on board and why their services were not required?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Taken on board for what?  I\u2019m not sure I follow you.<\/p>\n<p>Q    For removing the U.S. citizens, for removing the Afghans who were coming to the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Well, I mean, we set up a vast network of what we call \u201clily pads\u201d to help get those evacuees to safety.  And we were grateful for many countries\u2019 assistance.  And without that assistance, we wouldn\u2019t have been able to do it.<\/p>\n<p>As for Pakistan, they \u2014 they \u2014 I think it\u2019s important to remember they also suffered from the threats, and still do, from terrorist groups that occupy that spine between the two countries.  And we continue to talk to Pakistan about those ongoing threats, about what they\u2019re facing.<\/p>\n<p>But there was \u2014 Pakistan was helpful in \u2014 in the withdrawal and when we had to use \u2014 well, with their permission, they were able \u2014 they \u2014 they allowed us to \u2014 to move some helicopters over \u2014 over to Pakistan so that they could be out of harm\u2019s way. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Okay one other question, please.  Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been shot \u2014 four bullets.  And President Biden has had kind relations with international leaders for decades.  He\u2019s one of the U.S. politicians who has been known for kindness among international leaders.  He did not call the Prime Minister, and now the country is in a lot of turmoil as well.  Is there any chance the President can bring at least all the parties \u2014 the military, the judiciary, the politicians \u2014 on board so the country can be stopped from further deterioration of (inaudible)?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Now, look, we firmly believe, and have for some time, that a \u2014 that a strong, stable, and secure Pakistan is good for the region.  So \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    Just one on South Korea? <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.  Last question.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Could you just clarify: Is the First Lady going on the Ireland trip?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  You know, I don\u2019t \u2014 I don\u2019t have the actual traveling party here complete for you. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right, that\u2019s \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    One on South Korea? <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  That\u2019s it.  That\u2019s it.  Thank you.  Next time.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, John. <\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Thank you, guys. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right, let\u2019s get going. <\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Zeke. <\/p>\n<p>Q    To start on the Kentucky shooting, in the statement at the top of the briefing, you were pretty critical of Republicans, but you didn\u2019t mention anything that the President wants to do \u2014 is doing himself about this.  Is he at the end of his ability to do anything when it comes to gun violence in the U.S.?  Is he effectively, at this point, powerless?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, Zeke, as you know \u2014 and as I\u2019ve talked about, the President has talked about many times \u2014 the President, in his first two years of the administration, has done more histor- \u2014 has done more executive action than any other president when it comes to gun violence, when it comes to stemming gun violence, when it comes to protecting our communities or schools. <\/p>\n<p>And so, he\u2019s taken action.  He has taken action over and over again.<\/p>\n<p>Just last month, he was in the west on \u2014 the West Coast, announcing another executive action.  And we are seeing from these executive actions that he\u2019s signed \u2014 more than a dozen \u2014 that \u2014 that the Department of Justice has taken some actions in pushing forward some of the some of the \u2014 some of the kind of provisions in those actions.  Especially as you look at \u2014 as you look at red flag laws and those types of programs, more than 300 million \u2014 million dollars went to about 49 states and territories to put that into place in those states.  So there is actions that we have taken. <\/p>\n<p>The thing is the President cannot do it alone.  You know this.  This is a leg- \u2014 there is a legislative process that needs to happen, and Congress needs to act.<\/p>\n<p>And I listed out: Ban assault weapons?  Yes.  The President mentions that over and over again.  And high-capacity magazines.  Require safe storage of firearms, require background checks for all gun safeties, eliminate gun manufacturers\u2019 immunity from liability.  Those are the things that need legislative action.  And so he cannot do it alone, and so we need Congress to act. <\/p>\n<p>And if you think about assault \u2014 an assault weapons ban, we know, when we saw \u2014 when the President was involved in 1994 to get that done, we saw \u2014 we saw gun violence go down.  And when it sunset 10 years later, it went back up. <\/p>\n<p>So we know what could work.  And that\u2019s why you continue to hear the President calling on Congress to take action.<\/p>\n<p>Q    So \u2014 but you\u2019re not announcing new actions now?<\/p>\n<p>And is the, though, that the President has done everything he can himself?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, the President is always going to find ways; so is his team.  So, here, we have the Domestic Policy Council.  You have other offices here at the White House.  You have the Department of Jus- \u2014<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re always going to find and figure out ways that we can take another step, outside of all of the historic steps that this President has taken, to announce another way to protect communities. <\/p>\n<p>But the President has done the work.  Now we need Congress to act. <\/p>\n<p>Q    And just to follow up to Ken\u2019s question to Kirby before about the press conference on this trip.  It\u2019s a four-day trip to two countries.  You know, why can\u2019t the President take questions from the press?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Right now, we just don\u2019t have anything on the books for a press conference at this moment.  The President always loves to take your questions \u2014 shouted questions.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Apparently not.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No \u2014 but no.  Look, when it comes to these types of events, as you know, being the President of \u2014 of \u2014 at one point \u2014 of the association, there are \u2014 these are relationships that we have \u2014 right? \u2014 with \u2014 with these countries.  So when it comes to two-plus-twos or anything like that, clearly that is not just on us, that is also on the country that we\u2019re visiting. <\/p>\n<p>But as far as a standalone press conference, I just don\u2019t have anything to share at this time.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Steve.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Beyond seeking a stay, how do you plan to respond to the abortion ruling?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, I don\u2019t want to get ahead of the courts here.  As you know, that\u2019s something that we\u2019re very mindful of.  The Department of Justice were quick to act \u2014 as you know, as you mentioned, the stay.  And \u2014 and we\u2019re going to continue to move forward in that fashion.  It probably is going to go up to the Supreme Court, which we feel pretty confident that we\u2019re going to win. <\/p>\n<p>But we\u2019re going to be very clear here.  And I talked about this at the beginning \u2014 the disinformation, misinformation that\u2019s out there.  Mifepristone is still very much available, still very much available right now for women who need it or providers who need it at this time. <\/p>\n<p>And so, look, this is a President and an administration that\u2019s going to continue to fight \u2014 continue to fight to make sure that women have the healthcare that they need to make sure that they make their own decision when it comes to their \u2014 when it comes to their own body. <\/p>\n<p>And I also mentioned this too: This is \u2014 what we\u2019re seeing currently, right now, is part of \u2014 is part of the plan, right?  It\u2019s part of what we\u2019ve been hearing from extreme MAGA Republicans in these different state \u2014 statehouses and, of course, national Republicans saying that they want a national abortion ban.  This is part of this. <\/p>\n<p>And so, they\u2019re \u2014 they\u2019re going to continue to take those actions.  I think we\u2019ve seen more than 300 pieces of legislation coming out of statehouses to take away a woman\u2019s freedom, a woman\u2019s right to make her own decision \u2014 a decision that should be between herself and her doctor. <\/p>\n<p>And so, look, the President is going to continue to fight for \u2014 for people\u2019s freedoms.  It\u2019s been \u2014 in this particular, women\u2019s freedom. <\/p>\n<p>And we saw \u2014 we saw what \u2014 what the American people said during the midterms.  Like, they want us to continue to do that, continue to fight for their freedom.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Can I just confirm on that?  So the administration is going to comply with this federal judge\u2019s order?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, we are going to always follow the law.  Always.  But doesn\u2019t mean that we\u2019re not going to fight.  It doesn\u2019t mean that we\u2019re not going to \u2014 you know, as you know, DOJ has continued to \u2014 has appealed this and will continue to fight in the courts. <\/p>\n<p>Q    And so will the administration then move to expedite reapproval of mifepristone?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  What I \u2014 look, what I can say is that, right now, DOJ has already stayed, as \u2014 as Steve mentioned, and is fighting \u2014 is fighting to maintain the stay and ultimately win the case, as we believe, in the Supreme Court. <\/p>\n<p>And so we\u2019re going to let DOJ do their work \u2014 the Department of Justice do their work. <\/p>\n<p>Q    But can the FDA reapprove this quickly?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, what I can say is that we stand by the FDA\u2019s approval of mifepristone.  And we are prepared for a long, legal fight.  That\u2019s what I can say from here.  That\u2019s what we are committed to do \u2014 to doing for the providers who are making sure that this is available to women and also for women out there. <\/p>\n<p>But again, it\u2019s still available.  And as we know, this is a decision \u2014 is stayed for seven days, from \u2014 starting from this past Friday.  And so the status quo remains.  But again, we are ready to fight.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Karine.  AOC suggests that the administration should just ignore the ruling.  And she said that, quote, \u201cWe know that the executive branch has an enforcement discretion.\u201d  Is that true?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So this is similar, I think, to what Terry was asking me.  Look, we understand the frustration, right?  We get the frustration regarding this decision.  Absolutely.  And that\u2019s why we were quick to act.  That\u2019s why you saw DOJ take action. <\/p>\n<p>We \u2014 basically what I said to Terry: We stand by FDA\u2019s approval of mi- \u2014 mifepristone.  And we are prepared to have a legal \u2014 a long legal fight here.  That is our commitment to women out there.  That is our commitment to Americans across the country. <\/p>\n<p>But I\u2019ll say this: You know, it is dangero- \u2014 it \u2014 but as a precedent \u2014 as a dangerous precedent is set for court to set aside FDA\u2019s expert judgment regarding a drug safe \u2014 safety and efficiency, it would also set a dangerous precedent for this administration to disregard \u2014 right? \u2014 a binding decision.  So that\u2019s what I\u2019m getting to. <\/p>\n<p>But again, we are ready to fight.  This is going to be a long fight.  We understand this.  We stand by FDA\u2019s approval of mifepristone, something \u2014 this is a pill that\u2019s been around for more than 20 years \u2014 I believe 22 years. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s \u2014 it\u2019s \u2014 it is \u2014 it has been used in 60 countries.  So, of course, this is something that we are \u2014 we approve.  And we stand by FDA.<\/p>\n<p>Q    But just to be clear, for people watching at home, who are listening to progressives saying, you know, the administration actually has an enforcement discretion and they could ignore this \u2014 you disagree with that? <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So what I\u2019m saying is there is a process in place for appealing this type of decision, and we will pursue that process vigorously \u2014 that\u2019s what the American people can count on from the Biden-Harris administration \u2014 and do everything that we can to prevail in the courts.  That\u2019s the commitment that we have. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Okay.  And to follow up on Zeke, you mentioned that the decision whether to hold a two-by-two here at the White House is made by both the administration as well as the visiting party.  But is the decision whether to have a press conference abroad, in Ireland, a unilateral decision, or are the Irish weighing in on that too?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, I think I was very clear.  I said, when to comes to a press conference \u2014 a standalone press conference, which is \u2014 does not include the country.  We just \u2014 that is \u2014 we just don\u2019t have a decision.  Well, we \u2014 just not going to happen.  It\u2019s not in the books to happen on this trip.<\/p>\n<p>Q    But it\u2019s your decision alone, right? <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  It\u2019s a \u2014 it\u2019s \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    The Irish aren\u2019t weighing in?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, if it\u2019s the press conference that the President is leading on his own, yes, it\u2019s a standalone \u2014 that\u2019s why I said a standalone press conference that is not happening on this trip.<\/p>\n<p>Q    I \u2014 I\u2019m just not hearing a reason why you\u2019re not having one then, because \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 to not have one here, you\u2019re saying it\u2019s because it\u2019s not just up to us?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, I didn\u2019t say that.  I said, when it comes to a two-plus-two \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    Right.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  \u2014 regardless if we\u2019re away or regardless if the country is coming here, we do have \u2014 that is a discussion that we have with the country, right?  That is a \u2014 a conversation that\u2019s had.  And we do not do that unilaterally. <\/p>\n<p>So I was making a comparison.  I was laying out that process, which \u2014 I know every time a head of state visits or even if we go to another country, this question comes up of the two-plus-two.  And so I was just laying out the process, as I\u2019ve done many times at this podium. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m just saying, at this time, we do not have a press conference \u2014 a standalone press conference for this President.  I know \u2014 I know that it is of interest.  I\u2019m just giving you the answer on that. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And, Karine, did the White House ask HHS Secretary Becerra to clarify his comments on possibly ignoring the Texas order and saying everything is on the table when he was on the Sunday shows yesterday?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I believe they put \u2014 I believe they put out a statement.  HHS put out a statement making \u2014 making that clear that the administration is not going to ignore a ruling.  So I\u2019m going to just point you to the statement from HHS.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then, to be clear, you also mentioned you expect this could go up to the Supreme Court.  Are you suggesting that the White House supports the Department of Justice seeking an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court now while it is still trying to get it blocked?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I\u2019m just not \u2014 I\u2019m not suggesting that.<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible.)<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I\u2019m just saying, ultimately, we believe we can win if \u2014 this case in the Supreme Court if necessary. <\/p>\n<p>But this is something that the Department of Justice certainly is going to go through their process.  What we\u2019re saying is we\u2019re prepared for a long legal fight, and that\u2019s the promise that we can make to women \u2014 millions of women across the country right now.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And can you share what, if anything, Vice President Harris is doing on this issue today or in the coming days, given her work on abortion access?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I think you\u2019ll continue to hear from the Vice President on this issue.  This is an issue that\u2019s very important to her.  She has been very vocal on what\u2019s currently happening on \u2014 especially when you see extreme Republicans taking \u2014 continuing to want to take away the rights of women when they make this important decision, you know, about their own body.  I\u2019ve mentioned the 3- \u2014 300-plus pieces of legislation in state \u2014 that has come out of statehouses. <\/p>\n<p>She\u2019s been very vocal.  She\u2019s been steadfast on this, and I am pretty sure you\u2019ll be hearing from her in the near future. <\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Karine, we\u2019re expecting the EPA to issue new tailpipe emission rules this week.  How do you expect those to go beyond some of the targets the President has made for getting new electric vehicles out in the open? <\/p>\n<p>And also just, how does he balance this need of having tougher emissions on one hand while, you know, the possibility this will raise costs for consumers?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, I\u2019m certainly not going to get ahead of an ongoing policy process.  Want to be careful here. <\/p>\n<p>But look, when it comes to climate crisis, it requires ambitious actions.  And the President has been delivering on those ambitious actions.  As you know, when he walked into this administration, he said climate change was one of the four crises that he believed his administration needed to deal with. <\/p>\n<p>So, his Investing in America agenda has already sparked over $100 billion in private sector investment in elec- \u2014 in electric vehicle charging and manufacturing.  Since 2020, the number of electric vehicle models has doubled, EV sales have tripled, and the number of EV charging posts is up 40 percent. <\/p>\n<p>So, look, this wouldn\u2019t be the first time that someone has bet against this President, as you hear us say many times \u2014 or you hear him say about himself \u2014 and it certainly won\u2019t be the last time.  He\u2019ll continue to prove them all wrong.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to lowering costs for the American people, this is, as you know, something that the President \u2014 when you look at his economic agenda, when you look at his economic policy \u2014 lowering costs for the American people is something that is at the \u2014 at the \u2014 you know, at the center of that.  It is a priority for him.  And he\u2019ll continue to certainly do that.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Brian.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  Just \u2014 as we sit here, we just now have another notice that there was another shooting in Louisville with one injured and one dead \u2014 unrelated. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>Q    These two \u2014 let me drill down a little bit on what you\u2019ve said.  I know the administration has taken action \u2014 the most that it can.  But has the action this administration has taken regarding gun violence in this country \u2014 including speaking to members of the GOP, inviting them up here to discuss the issue with other legislative leaders \u2014 what exactly has \u2013because the, as you well know, the President has a great reputation for making deals.  He did it with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal.  So what has he done specifically?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, Brian, first of all, as you know, I have not seen those reportings. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Yeah, it just came out.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So I know \u2014 if that certainly is the case, certainly I want to say our hearts go out to the injured or \u2014 and their families.  And so, again, a devastating \u2014 another devastating day of shootings that we\u2019re seeing in our communities. <\/p>\n<p>And this is why we continue to call on Congr- \u2014 Congress \u2014 Republicans in Congress to take action.  This is not okay.  Our communities need to be safer. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m going to get to your question. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Our communities need to be safer.  Our schools need to be safe.  There\u2019s no reason that kids should be going to school and teachers should be teaching at schools and be worried about their safety, be worried about an active shooter coming into their school.  There should be no reason why places of worship should be concerned about that as they\u2019re praying, as they\u2019re \u2014 as they\u2019re in their, again, place of worship. <\/p>\n<p>And so, this is devastating.  This is devastating to hear.  And we need to see some courage.  I\u2019m going to keep saying that, because that\u2019s what we need to see from Republicans in Congress. <\/p>\n<p>Now, to your question, there was a bipartisan piece of legislation that was passed just this \u2014 this past summer on gun violence, and it was called the Safer Communities Act, as you know.  And so that was something \u2014 because of this President, because of this administration \u2014 was able to bring both sides together \u2014 the other side, in particular \u2014 to come up with this piece of legislation that is now into law, clearly. <\/p>\n<p>And it was the first major piece of legislation on this issue that we had seen in 30 years.  And so that is something that the President was able to do. <\/p>\n<p>But as \u2014 as grateful as he was to both Democrats and Republicans for that piece of legislation, we need to do more.  And he\u2019s going to continue to do that. <\/p>\n<p>Q    So \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  And to your other part of your question.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, we have our White House offices here, including the Leg Affairs Office, who\u2019s in continued \u2014 who\u2019s continuing to have conversations with members of Congress.  I don\u2019t have anything to read out on particular conversations on any issues.  But there are tons of issues, as you know, that we are always having conversations about when it comes to Congress. <\/p>\n<p>But, look, we\u2019ve taken action.  This is a President who has taken historic actions on this issue.  He\u2019s not sat back.  He\u2019s not put his feet on the table and let the issue pass him by.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And \u2014 but is he calling them?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  He\u2019s taken action.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Is he inviting them up here?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  But he \u2014 but he has.  He has.  We were able to do a bipartisan piece of leg- \u2014 piece \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    I mean recently. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, we have done the work.  There\u2019s been a \u2014 there is a bipartisan piece of legislation that was signed into law by this President this past summer.  And he has done a historic amount of work even recently \u2014 just when he was \u2014 the last time he visited the West Coast \u2014 to deal with this issue, to deal with this very issue. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Oh, and \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I\u2019m going to keep going.<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 finally, anytime he\u2019d like to show up here in this room, I\u2019m sure all of us \u2014 I can speak for all of us saying, we\u2019d welcome here \u2014 him here at any time.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I understand.  <\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  There have been \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible.)  (Laughs.)<\/p>\n<p>Q    There have been several questions about presidential travel. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>Q    About five weeks ago, President Biden said that he would be going to East Palestine, Ohio, at some point.  Does the President still feel the need to visit Ohio, and when will he go?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, the President \u2014 I mean, once \u2014 the President said it, so I will keep \u2014 keep that \u2014 he keeps to his word.  I don\u2019t have a trip to \u2014 to lay out or preview for you at this time.  But I\u2019m going to just let the President\u2019s word stand. <\/p>\n<p>Q    So we should expect him there at some point?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  If he says \u2014 if the President said he\u2019s \u2014 he\u2019s expecting to at some time, the President means what he says.  I just don\u2019t have a trip to preview at this time.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  I wanted to follow up on electric vehicles.  You mentioned the investments.  Some of the companies investing in EV battery plants here in the U.S. are Chinese companies.  Is the administration doing anything to stop China from cashing in on green energy goals?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don\u2019t have anything to share on China, specifically as it relates to electric vehicles. <\/p>\n<p>As you know, the President is committed to this.  You see that in his Inflation Reduction Act.  You see that in the bipartisan \u2014 the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which \u2014 which is very \u2014 very keyed in on making sure that his gen- \u2014 his agenda, dealing with cima- \u2014 climate crisis is dealt with.  So, don\u2019t have anything on China. <\/p>\n<p>You know our \u2014 where we stand on China.  We want competition, not conflict.  That\u2019s where we have always moved with China.  You heard my colleague speak specifically on where that \u2014 those relation \u2014 that relationship is.<\/p>\n<p>Just don\u2019t have anything specifically on the elec- \u2014 electric vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Do you support Chinese companies coming in and building EV plants in Michigan?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Again, I just don\u2019t have anything specific as it relates to China and electric vehicles.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Jon.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Karine.  Two questions, two different issues.  First of all, on the abortion pill case, you said earlier in the briefing that you believe that this particular case will get to the U.S. Supreme Court.  And you also expressed confidence that you\u2019d win at the U.S. Supreme Court.  What gives you that level of confidence?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Because this is \u2014 let\u2019s not forget, we\u2019re talking about mifepristone, which has been around for 20-plus years, which is \u2014 has \u2014 is also around in 60 different countries.  And it is something that FDA is allowed to approve.  They have approved this.  And we stand by the FDA when it comes \u2014 when it comes to this. <\/p>\n<p>And I said, if necessary \u2014 right? \u2014 we believe we will win \u2014 we will win this long fight if it goes to the Supreme Court, if necessary \u2014 if that\u2019s what indeed occurs \u2014 because we are committed \u2014 we are committed to \u2014 to this issue.  We are committed to making sure that women have access to \u2014 to \u2014 to \u2014 to mifepristone, but also can make their own decision when it comes \u2014 when it comes to their own body, when it comes to this type of \u2014 of important reproductive healthcare decision that women should have.  It is their freedom.  It should be their freedom to have this.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then the second question has to do with the lack of a press conference during the President\u2019s upcoming trip and the lack of press conference that we see in general from this White House. <\/p>\n<p>I represent a news organization that owns 113 television stations.  And a question that I\u2019m often asked \u2014 and I don\u2019t know the answer to, so I\u2019ll ask you that question: Is the administration trying to protect the President from our questions?  Please answer that question if you could.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Absolutely not.  Absolutely not.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Then why the lack of any interaction in a formal setting to have a press conference?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, the President takes shouted questions.  I \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    In a formal \u2014 in a formal setting.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I understand.  Jon, I understand.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Yeah.  Okay.  Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I understand.  I have dealt with this question about three times already.  I understand it is \u2014 it is \u2014 it is the job of you all to ask this question to me.  Totally get that.  And that\u2019s not a problem at all.<\/p>\n<p>But certainly, the President many times has \u2014 has stan- \u2014 has stood in front of all of you, has taken questions on his own, because he wanted to see what was on \u2014 on your minds, he wanted to see what the questions you all were going to ask him, and he wanted to answer them directly. <\/p>\n<p>That has happened multiple times \u2014 many times during this administration.  And that will certainly continue to be.  When it comes to a formal press conference, I don\u2019t have anything to share with you at this time.<\/p>\n<p>Q    You recognize \u2014 just one last thing. <\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, sure.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Just to button it up.  You recognize that as it relates to prior administrations, the President\u2019s predecessor, President Obama, President George W. Bush \u2014 I\u2019ve been here long enough to have covered President Bill Clinton \u2014 this is not the norm.<\/p>\n<p>The norm is we do get an opportunity, ask the questions to the President about domestic and foreign policy issues in a formal setting at some point, and you choose that point.  But we haven\u2019t had that opportunity in quite some time.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So I\u2019ll say this: It is also unprecedented that a President takes as many shouted questions as this President has.  And he has.<\/p>\n<p>Q    No.<\/p>\n<p>Q    No, no, no, no.<\/p>\n<p>Q    I covered the last administration, and I\u2019ll tell you: Almost every day, up until \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay, well, we\u2019ll get \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 the November 2020 election, Donald Trump took questions practically every day.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We\u2019ll certainly \u2014 we\u2019ll certainly get the data and share that with all of you.<\/p>\n<p>I hear \u2014 Jon \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    Yes.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  \u2014 I hear your question.  I heard Zeke\u2019s question.  I hear you.  I hear you on the press conference \u2014 on a formal press conference.  We get this probably every couple of months when you guys ask us about a formal press conference.  I don\u2019t have anything to share with all of you at this time.  And \u2014 and I\u2019ll just \u2014 I\u2019ll just leave it there.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Jeremy.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  A few moments ago, you reiterated the President\u2019s support for an assault weapons ban.  But in his statement this afternoon, the President called for safe storage of firearms, universal background checks, and eliminating liability protections for gun manufacturers.  Was that an intentional omission \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 of the assault weapons ban, or is that a shift in strategy that we should be \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Not a shift in strategy at all.  We were just being mindful to the incoming information that was currently coming in from Louisville.  And so, at the time, we didn\u2019t know what was exactly \u2014 we didn\u2019t have all the information.<\/p>\n<p>So we just wanted to be mindful to that specific \u2014 to that specific event, if you will, in Louisville.  But that \u2014 our \u2014 our commitment and our calling out for the ban of assault weapons has not changed.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And in that statement, the President lays out the pretty dire consequences of inaction, talking in particular about Republicans.  We hear from the President when these shootings happen, obviously, but does the President feel that he has made full use of the bully pulpit to match the dire consequences that he\u2019s warning of?  I mean, is there not more than he could be doing to lobby Republicans to bring this issue to the floor every day?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I would say this, Jeremy: Any time the President uses the bully pulpit, he is talking directly to the American people and, I would say, directly to Congress as well.<\/p>\n<p>This is a President that has been committed to this issue not just as President, but as Vice President and also as senator.  He talked about the 1994 \u2014 the assault weapons ban that he led on, and what we saw \u2014 the data that came from there and what we saw in those 10 years before it \u2014 before it \u2014 it sunset.<\/p>\n<p>And so, I\u2019ve said this many times before today in this briefing room, and I\u2019ll say it again: This is a President that has taken historic actions when it comes to gun violence and protecting communities and really dealing with an issue that is an epidemic \u2014 an epidemic.<\/p>\n<p>Sadly, when we saw the shooting in Nashville, he spoke on it about three times, on that issue.  And I would \u2014 I would easily argue: When the President speaks, people listen and want to hear what he has to say.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Does he feel he\u2019s doing the most he possibly can?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I think when you\u2019ve made historic \u2014 taken historic action on \u2014 on this \u2014 on an issue from the bull- \u2014 from \u2014 from the executive \u2014 from the executive \u2014 this executive branch, and trying to find \u2014 telling your \u2014 telling your teams to do everything that you can to figure out what else can be done, that is a President that is active, that is taking action. <\/p>\n<p>And \u2014 and, you know, it is \u2014 there\u2019s a legislative process to this.  We need Congress to take action.  And that\u2019s where we are.<\/p>\n<p>Charlotte.  I forgot about you, Charlotte.  I\u2019m so sorry.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Can I just jump in on the abortion ruling real quick first?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  Yeah, really quickly, and then we have a guest.<\/p>\n<p>Q    So what kind of guidance has the White House been providing to states and to medical providers in the wake of this ruling on mifepristone?  And \u2014 and what is your message generally to women around the country, to medical providers who may not be sure what the future of this drug is and may have concerns?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, what we have said \u2014 taking your last question first \u2014 is \u2014 what we have said is: Reproductive rights is a fundamental freedom.  It is a fundamental right, and it is a medical decision that should be made between a man \u2014 a woman, pardon me, and her doctor without government interference \u2014 again, without government interference.<\/p>\n<p>And so, we\u2019ve been clear about that.  A vast majority of Americans agree with us.  We saw the outcomes of the midterms. <\/p>\n<p>But, again, Republican officials \u2014 I\u2019ve said this over and over again \u2014 in the statehouse across the country have \u2014 have introduced more than 30 \u2014 300 bills restricting abortion so far this year alone. <\/p>\n<p>So what we have done is we\u2019re coordinating with state leaders who are fighting to protect reproductive rights.  And we\u2019ll continue to do that as we\u2019re going through this fight.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Charlotte.  We have Charlotte in the room here from Kids- \u2014 KidScope Media.  Welcome, Charlotte.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Hi.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I know you have a question for me.<\/p>\n<p>Q    First off, thank you for hearing my question.  And recently, the number of children with mental health issues is on the rise.  How is the White House positioned to help specifically kids?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, mental health issues affect so many people, including children, as you just laid out, and kids across the nation.  And the COVID-19 pandemic, sadly, disrupted routines and \u2014 and relationships and led to increases in social isolation, anxiety, and learning challenges. <\/p>\n<p>And so, you know, this is something that the President and the First Lady certainly has led on this issue.  And \u2014 and we\u2019ve \u2014 they\u2019ve done that \u2014 we\u2019ve done that by making sure that schools have the ability to have extra resources to hire social workers, to hire psychologists, to hire what is needed \u2014 experts \u2014 so that children in schools, in particular, have an opportunity to talk to someone.<\/p>\n<p>And so, this is \u2014 certainly has been \u2014 when it comes to national mental health, this is a strategy that the \u2014 that this administration has taken very, very seriously.  And he believes that, you know, making sure that a kid\u2019s mental health and they have the services that they need is important. <\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s okay to ask for help.  It is okay.  It doesn\u2019t \u2014 it is not weakness to ask for help.<\/p>\n<p>And so, that\u2019s why we\u2019ve put together this help hotline.  Call 988.  And we are telling \u2014 you know, we\u2019re telling people: If you are having a hard time and you need someone to talk to, call 988.  You can call them.  You can text them.  And there are experts who are going to be there to help you.  And so, it is \u2014 this is a \u2014 and it\u2019s 24 hours, seven days a week.<\/p>\n<p>This is such a critical question, an important issue.  So thank you so much for asking the question, Charlotte.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  Picking up on what Jeremy was asking, a couple questions.  One, when did the President find out about the Louisville shooting?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  He found out this \u2014 this afternoon or this morn- \u2014 late \u2014 late morning.<\/p>\n<p>Q    So before or after the Easter Egg Roll?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don\u2019t remember the exact timing, but he was certainly briefed on this by his senior staff.  I can\u2019t tell you exactly the timing because it\u2019s been a wild day.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And has he reached out today to Mitch McConnell or Rand Paul or any other members of the Kentucky delegation?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  As you know, this is a President that regularly reaches out to leaders and elected officials in the state.  I just don\u2019t have anything to read out to you as far as any calls that have been made. <\/p>\n<p>But certainly, the President was briefed earlier today.  I just don\u2019t have a specific time to outline.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And you\u2019re not aware of whether he\u2019s spoken to any other Republican lawmakers, consider- \u2014 considering he also<br \/>\nraised the issue of Republicans and Congress need to act?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, totally understand the question.  I just don\u2019t have anything to read out to you at this time.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then, lastly, do you have an update on when the President might visit Nashville, where another mass shooting recently occurred?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, as you know, the First Lady went to Nashville for the vigil, and she clearly represented the administration and offered her condolences and support from the administration to the community and to the families that lost their three kids and \u2014 and three administrators.  A very, very sad, horrific day.<\/p>\n<p>And as you know, this is a President that has visited many communities.  Think about Uvalde and those 19 kids and 2 adults that were murdered.  You think about Buffalo and the \u2014 at the grocery store, when everyday people, just on a Saturday \u2014 doing things that many of us do on a Saturday, go shopping \u2014 and they were gunned down.  And he visited there with the First Lady.<\/p>\n<p>And so, don\u2019t have a \u2014 don\u2019t have a trip to read out to you.  But again, the First Lady was there just days after the shooting and offered her condolences and prayed with the family and supported the community while she was there on behalf of the administration.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right, everybody.  Gosh, I\u2019ll see you on the road. Thank you, everyone.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;White House Easter Bunny enters Press Briefing Room to greet press. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right, hop on out of here. Hop on out of here. (Laughs.) Q Bye! Bye Easter Bunny! MS. JEAN-PIERRE: (Laughs.) So \u2014 so for the second year in a row \u2014 Thank you, Easter Bunny. Q Thank you! MS. 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