{"id":164388,"date":"2023-07-26T15:35:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T22:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=164388"},"modified":"2023-07-26T15:35:00","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T22:35:00","slug":"briefing-by-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=164388","title":{"rendered":"Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;Good afternoon, everybody.  Q Good afternoon.  Okay, a couple things at the top.  So, from day one, President Biden has treated climate change with the urgency it requires.  Against the backdrop of extreme heat we\u2019ve seen across America, tomorrow President Biden will announce additional actions to protect communities from extreme heat conditions.  This includes investments through NOAA to improve weather predictions as well as grants through the Department of Interior to bring clean, reliable drinking water to communities across the West.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m3sYoy0UddQ\" title=\"07\/26\/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>At the event, the President is also going to hear from FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and NOAA Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad on the steps \u2014 on the steps being taken on how to protect the millions of Americans being impacted by extreme heat across the country.<\/p>\n<p>The mayors of Phoenix, Arizona, and San Antonio, Texas, will also be on hand to talk about the impacts of the climate crisis on their communities and the steps they are taking with this administration to protect communities from it.<\/p>\n<p>Also today, President \u2014 President Biden announced his intent to nominate former mayor, Maryland Governor Martin O\u2019Malley, as Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. <\/p>\n<p>Since day one, the President \u2014 the President has fought to strengthen and defend Social Security, which tens of millions of Americans have paid into and depend on for their livelihood.<\/p>\n<p>Governor O\u2019Malley is a lifelong public servant who has a proven track record of delivering results for the people he serves and who has always been a strong proponent of strengthening Social Security.<\/p>\n<p>President Biden extends his gratitude to the acting commissioner for her steady leadership of the Social Security Administration during this interim period.<\/p>\n<p>Now, I know many people have been following the news in Delaware today and have \u2014 and are going to have a lot of questions.  And so, here\u2019s what I\u2019ll say at the top before I turn it over to my colleague, the Admiral:<\/p>\n<p>Hunter Biden is a private citizen, and this was a personal matter for him.  As we have said, the President, the First Lady \u2014 they love their son, and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life.  This case was handled independently, as all of you know, by the Justice Department under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by the former president, President Trump.<\/p>\n<p>So for anything further, as you know \u2014 and we\u2019ve been very consistent from here \u2014 I\u2019d refer you to the Department of Justice and to Hunter\u2019s representatives, who is his legal team, obviously, who can address any of your questions.<\/p>\n<p>With that, I have the Admiral here, Admiral John Kirby, who\u2019s going to take \u2014 who\u2019s going to take any foreign policy questions you all mi- \u2014 may have and also give a preview of an important meeting that the President is going to have tomorrow: a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Italy.<\/p>\n<p>And with that, Admiral.<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Thanks, Karine.  Good afternoon, everybody.<\/p>\n<p>So, I think, as you know, tomorrow President Biden will host Prime Minister Meloni of Italy at the White House here to reaffirm the strong bipartisan relationship and partnership, quite frankly, that \u2014 \u201cbipartisan\u201d \u2014 (laughs) \u2014 bilateral relationship and partnership between our two nations.<\/p>\n<p>The President has been looking forward to this visit quite a bit.  The United States and Italy are close NATO Allies and G7 partners.  We\u2019re important trade partners.  And there are very strong bonds between our two peoples, as the somewhat 18 million Italian Americans, I think, can attest to.<\/p>\n<p>As we deal with important global challenges, including Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine and the climate crisis, the U.S.- Italy partnership and Italy\u2019s strong voice in the EU and within the NATO Alliance certainly remain important.<\/p>\n<p>Italy hosts approximately 30,000 American service members, Defense Department employees, and, of course, all their family members across five major military bases throughout Italy, which is the second-largest permanent presence in Europe.  And we\u2019re certainly grateful for that.<\/p>\n<p>We work closely with the Prime Minister and the government of Italy on Ukraine as well as a range of other shared interests.<\/p>\n<p>Tomorrow\u2019s meeting will give both leaders a chance to explore some of those shared interests, including regional challenges, our shared commitment to, obviously, as I said, Ukraine, which Italy has been a great partner on, providing both military and economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>The leaders will also able to discuss developments in North Africa, closer transatlantic coordination regarding the People\u2019s Republic of China.  And we expect that they\u2019ll also discuss Italy\u2019s upcoming presidency of the G7 in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Now, President Biden has met and spoken with Prime Minister Meloni a number of times since she took office last fall, including in Bali at the G20 Summit, in Hiroshima at the G7 Summit, and certainly as recently as Vilnius at the NATO Summit.  And they\u2019ve consulted regularly along the way with other G7 partners, again, across a range of issues.<\/p>\n<p>So there\u2019s a good, productive relationship here.  President Biden, I know, is very much looking forward to the discussion, and, of course, we\u2019ll have a full readout for you when that \u2014 when that meeting is over.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019d be remiss if I didn\u2019t also just remind that today marks the 75th anniversary of the day that President Truman desegregated the United States military.  And it\u2019s an opportunity \u2014 we ought to take this opportunity to recognize, first of all, what a courageous decision that was for President Truman at the time, but also recognize the equal bravery, the equal sacrifices, and the terrific service of generations since that decision of members of color who deserve to be equally honored for their service to this country in peace and in war.<\/p>\n<p>Diversity makes the United States military stronger.  In fact, it\u2019s one of our greatest strengths.  It not only \u2014 especially not as an all-volunteer force \u2014 helps us better represent the American people that we serve and defend, but it also leads to better decision-making, more unique perspectives at the table, better operational performance.<\/p>\n<p>That doesn\u2019t mean that we got it all figured out.  It doesn\u2019t mean that there\u2019s not still work to do.  There is.  It\u2019s important that we continue, in the spirit of President Truman, to break down barriers so that all qualified service members \u2014 no matter their race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religious background \u2014 are treated with dignity and respect, can reach their full potential in service to this country, and have their contributions valued.<\/p>\n<p>So, again, today is a great day to look back at the courage of President Truman and the generations of service members of color, but also it\u2019s important that we look forward in making sure that we keep that spirit going and that we don\u2019t let it flag.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s all I have.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Can we ask about the situation in Niger very quickly right now?  Did the Nigerien military storm the presidential palace there to free the President, President Bazoum, from his security services who are holding him, sir?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Well, look, we \u2014 we have watched this with deep concern, Peter.  We certainly condemn any effort to detain or to subvert the functioning of Niger\u2019s democratically elected government.  And we\u2019re still gathering facts here.  And that government, as you know, is led by President Bazoum.<\/p>\n<p>We specifically urge the elements of the presidential guard to release him from detention and to refrain from any violence.  We certainly welcome the strong statements and steps taken by the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union to defend Niger\u2019s democracy.  And obviously, we\u2019re closely monitoring this situation.<\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s all unfolding right now, and we\u2019re just going to have to stay tuned to it.<\/p>\n<p>Q    The message to Americans that are on the ground there?  And how many U.S. citizens, outside of the military members, do you believe are in Niger?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I don\u2019t have an estimate of how many Americans are in Niger \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible.)<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  \u2014 or military members, but \u2014 but obviously, this is a very tense situation.  We would advise all Americans in Niger to \u2014 to be careful about where they are and what they\u2019re doing.  We just don\u2019t know enough about what\u2019s going on.  So, this is a time to put safety first.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Preliminary discussions about evacuations or anything like that?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Nothing like that right now, Peter.  It\u2019s all just unfolding.  We\u2019re just watching this very, very closely.  We\u2019ll have to see how it unfolds.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, April.<\/p>\n<p>Q    John, two questions.  One on Africa and another subject.  What is the update and what are you doing as it relates to the grains issue going to Africa out of Ukraine?  What \u2014 what\u2019s happening now?  Can you give us an update?  Because early on in this war, there was a strong concern.  The President of Ukraine told Greg Meeks \u2014 then, at the time, the head of Foreign Affairs \u2014 that he was very concerned about these African nations, these third-world nations that had hunger and food instability there.  What is (inaudible)?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Yeah, it\u2019s a \u2014 it\u2019s a great question, April.  And, you know, Mr. Putin is hosting African leaders there in Moscow starting today, I think.<\/p>\n<p>And, look, I don\u2019t know what he plans to tell them, but I sure as heck hope that he \u2014 that he plans to be honest with African leaders about the effect that his decision to pull out of the grain deal is going to have on African nations.<\/p>\n<p>So much of that grain that was getting out of Odesa and Black Sea ports from Ukraine was going to countries that need it most \u2014 developing countries across the so-called Global South.  And, of course, that includes the African continent.<\/p>\n<p>And we\u2019ve already seen grain and foodstuff prices fuctu- \u2014 fluctuate, go up.  They\u2019ve gone down a little bit, gone up.  But there\u2019s \u2014 there\u2019s volatility in the \u2014 in the market that wasn\u2019t there before.<\/p>\n<p>So, I sure hope Mr. Putin is willing to be honest with African leaders about the effect that this is having or could have on them.<\/p>\n<p>Q    So, does that honesty come with a solution as well?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Well, no.  And thanks for the reminder I didn\u2019t actually get to your question.<\/p>\n<p>We \u2014 the best way for this grain to get to market is through maritime lanes \u2014 through the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.  And, obviously, that\u2019s not going to happen now or at least for some time.<\/p>\n<p>So, we are working with our EU partners, we\u2019re working with Ukraine and other European partners to see if there\u2019s other ways to get grain to market overland.<\/p>\n<p>But that\u2019s not as efficient.  It\u2019s not effective.  You can\u2019t move as much or as fast via land routes, whether it\u2019s truck or rail.  But \u2014 but we\u2019re working to see what we can do to try to alleviate the \u2014 or increase the flow.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And last question: As you mark the moment about the integration of the military, are you intertwining that with this moment, this racially and politically divisive moment, to show that patriotism is not just one group?  The integration of the military shows that many people are patriots.<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I sure hope so.  I mean, when a soldier fights and bleeds, that \u2014 that blood is red.  It doesn\u2019t \u2014 doesn\u2019t matter what the color of the skin was.  And you don\u2019t have to look any further than just recent conflicts that this country has fought and see the contributions \u2014 I mean significant contributions \u2014 and the cost in blood \u2014 American blood put forth by people of color for \u2014 for this country.  In fact, people of color were fighting for this country even before they were given all the rights of citizens. <\/p>\n<p>And so, yes, I think this is an opportunity \u2014 it must be an opportunity for us to recognize that bravery doesn\u2019t \u2014 isn\u2019t divided by race or color or creed.  It\u2019s not \u2014 it doesn\u2019t \u2014 doesn\u2019t matter who you \u2014 who you worship or whether you worship at all.  Bravery, skill, the courage that goes along with being a member of the United States military \u2014 that\u2019s something that comes from the heart.<\/p>\n<p>And \u2014 and especially now, with an all-volunteer force, people are, you know, signing up to do this.  They\u2019re not being told to do it.<\/p>\n<p>So I hope it is an opportunity for all Americans to recognize that all Americans who have served this country in uniform continue to defend it bravely.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  John, I\u2019d like \u2014 I\u2019d like to follow up on the Grain Deal Initiative.  Can you tell us what are the most efficient ways of delivering alter- \u2014 the most efficient alternatives of delivering grain from Ukraine?  You were talking about consistent work with the partners.  What exactly are those alternatives?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Well, as I think I said to \u2014 to April \u2014 look \u2014 look, the most efficient way is by ship.  I mean, that\u2019s just the best way to get the maximum amount of grain out on a timely basis.<\/p>\n<p>You could use rail.  You could us truck routes.  You could also look at perhaps other EU ports, but you got to \u2014 you got to get it out of Ukraine to be able to use other EU ports.<\/p>\n<p>So, there is just \u2014 there is \u2014 there is no more efficient way than by maritime traffic.  That\u2019s just a scientific fact or physical fact.  But we are going to continue to work with our partners in Europe to see if there is other overland ways to \u2014 to do it.<\/p>\n<p>Q    A second question, if I may.  Is \u2014 is there an agreement between the U.S. and its allies regarding the location, method, and timing of the F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I\u2019m sorry.  Can you repeat that question?  I was writing myself a note.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Like, is there a consensus between the U.S. and its allies regarding the location, method, and timing of the F-16 training for the Ukrainian pilots?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  So, here\u2019s what I can tell you: We are pursuing F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots in Romania and Denmark.  The dates, the locations, the length of the syllabus, all of that is still being worked out.<\/p>\n<p>And I can\u2019t give you a day on the calendar and say, \u201cWell, it\u2019s going to start in Romania here, and it\u2019s going to start in Denmark there.\u201d  I just don\u2019t know.  We\u2019re still working that out.  But we know it\u2019s going to be in Denmark and Romania. <\/p>\n<p>And there could be other sites as well.  That\u2019s where we\u2019re looking at right now.  I know that the Brits are also beginning English language training for Ukrainian pilots so that they can actually operate the controls on an F-16.  So that\u2019s \u2014 that\u2019s getting started here, I think, soon.<\/p>\n<p>But we\u2019ll just have to see.  We\u2019re \u2014 we\u2019re all taking this with the appropriate sense of urgency, and we want to get them trained as much as we can \u2014 or as fast as we can.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Trevor.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  John, so, a Niger follow-up: Is there any involvement of the administration in some of the regional conversations that are happening right now?  I know that Benin is sending their president.  Is that \u2014 is \u2014 is the U.S. involved in those regional discussions at all?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Regional discussions about?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Niger.<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Niger.  I\u2019m not aware of any specific regional discussions on Niger.  Again, this is just unfolding.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Okay.  And then, on the \u2014 the Italian meeting tomorrow.  I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever heard you guys express an opinion as far as Italy leaving the Belt and Road Initiative, whether you think that\u2019s a good idea.  You\u2019ve \u2014 obviously, you\u2019re not supportive of the Belt and Road Initiative and have been trying to create alternatives to it.  So, do you think it\u2019s a good idea for them to leave?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  That\u2019s certainly for the Italians to speak to.  I mean, that\u2019s their sovereign decision.  I \u2014 I would let them characterize it if, in fact, they\u2019re going to leave and whether they would and on what time frame would really be for them to speak to.<\/p>\n<p>So, separate and distinct fr- \u2014 I don\u2019t want to speak for \u2014 for them one way or the other.  But it\u2019s becoming increasingly obvious that more and more countries around the world are seeing the risks and, quite frankly, the lack of reward for economic partnerships with China in \u2014 in that regard.<\/p>\n<p>And it goes also to \u2014 to Africa as well.<\/p>\n<p>So, again, these are decisions that these countries have to make.  And you said we\u2019re \u2014 I think you \u2014 I \u2014 I don\u2019t want to put words in your mouth \u2014 but that we\u2019re \u2014 we\u2019re pursuing alternatives or something.<\/p>\n<p>I mean, we \u2014 we\u2019ve created an alternative: the \u2014 the PGII that the President announced at the G7 last year \u2014 the Partnership for Global Investment and Infrastructure, just to lay out the \u2014 the acronym there.  I mean, that is a good alternative, and it is getting some traction.  And so, we\u2019re going to continue to invest in that and continue to encourage our partners to as well.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Jeremy.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks.  John, on the situation in Niger, is what we\u2019re witnessing right now a coup or an attempted coup?  And is the U.S. taking any protective measures at the embassy or in terms of movement of the U.S. troops who are based there?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  We\u2019re not putting a title on it right now, Jeremy.  We\u2019re watching this unfold in near real time, just like you are.  It\u2019s not entirely clear exactly what\u2019s going.  We just got these reports that \u2014 that the President is being detained.  And, of course, we urge for his speedy release.<\/p>\n<p>So, we\u2019ll just \u2014 we\u2019ll just kind of have to watch and see where this goes.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then, on this unidentified aerial phenomena hearing that\u2019s happening on Capitol Hill.  David Grusch, who sat on a U.S. Air Force panel on UAPs, he says that he was informed of a UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program based on interviewing 40 witnesses over 4 years.  Does such a program exist?  And do you believe that the American people deserve to know if it does?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I have no information on that to provide for you today one way or the other.  I would just say what I said last week when I got asked about this: We obviously take the issue of unidentified aerial phenomena seriously. <\/p>\n<p>There is a whole office at the Pentagon that is stood up to analyze the data, collect reports, collate those reports, and forward them up appropriately.  And that\u2019s, I think, testament of the fact that \u2014 that we know that in some cases, these phenomena have impacted military training, have then impacted military readiness.<\/p>\n<p>Q    But these \u2014 this hearing today does seem to have brought this issue to kind of a new level of public consciousness.  And so, I wonder if \u2014 if the President believes that these claims warrant further investigation.  Do you guys see some of these claims and allegations as credible?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  If the President didn\u2019t believe that the sightings by pilots were serious enough to be \u2014 to be considered, he wouldn\u2019t have wanted the Pentagon to stand up an office to \u2014 to look at this, to analyze the data, to collect reports, and provide a system by which we can collate the information and better figure out what we\u2019ve got here.<\/p>\n<p>But that work is ongoing.  So, if \u2014 if your \u2014 if your question is, you know, do we think we need to be transparent with the American people, of course, we \u2014 we need to be as transparent as we can be. <\/p>\n<p>But the truth is, Jeremy, we don\u2019t have hard and fast answers on these things.  We are trying to get smarter on it.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Sebastian.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Again, on Prime Minister Meloni.  On the Belt and Road, is this something that the President will bring up with the Prime Minister at least, whatever his position \u2014 the Belt and Road issue?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I think I\u2019ll just leave it as I did in my readout: They certainly will talk about shared concerns and perspectives and challenges with respect to the PRC.  But in terms of specific agenda items, I don\u2019t have anything beyond that.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And on the Prime Minister herself, to what \u2014 to what extent is President Biden uncomfortable with her being a far-right politician, that she opposes \u2014 well, you know, her party opposes a bunch of things that the President fights for.  And of course, in Europe, generally, it\u2019s got \u2014 you know there are dark roots to that whole movement.<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  The President has enjoyed working with her.  And certainly, on issues of foreign policy, there has been a lot of overlapping and mutually reinforcing approaches that \u2014 that were taken with Italy.  Italy is a NATO Ally, and they are a very competent NATO Ally.  And they\u2019ve been a tremendous supporter of Ukraine.  They\u2019re hosting something like 170,000 Ukrainians on Italian soil, just taking care of these folks while this war rages on.<\/p>\n<p>And they have provided millions of dollars of security assistance, humanitarian assistance, economic assistance. <\/p>\n<p>I mean, there is \u2014 just in the \u2014 in my opening statement, you can \u2014 there is an awful lot of things to talk about with the Prime Minister.  The President is looking forward to that.<\/p>\n<p>And, again, there has \u2014 there has been a lot of \u2014 a lot of alignment on a lot of key foreign policy issues.<\/p>\n<p>Q    On the domestic issues, internal Italian \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  The \u2014 the Italian \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible) sets them aside \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  The Italian \u2014 the Italian people get to decide who their government is.  It\u2019s a democracy, and the President respects that.<\/p>\n<p>And he also respects that \u2014 the work that he\u2019s been able to do with the Prime Minister, again, that cre- \u2014 on \u2014 on a range of issues.  But that\u2019s what they\u2019re going to talk about.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Weijia.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Karine.  Hi, John.  Thank you.  So, back to Jeremy\u2019s questioning.  Does the United States believe that there might be life outside of Earth?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I don\u2019t have a position on that one way or the other to speak to today.<\/p>\n<p>What we believe is that there are unexplained aerial phenomena that have been sighted and reported by pilots, Navy and Air Force; that these phenomena have in some cases had an impact on our training ranges, on our pilots\u2019 ability to fly, train, operate, and stay ready.  That alone makes it a national security issue worth \u2014 worth looking at.<\/p>\n<p>We don\u2019t know.  We don\u2019t have the answers about what these phenomena are.  Otherwise, I guess we\u2019d have a catchier name for it.  Unexplained \u2014 \u201cunidentified aerial phenomena\u201d doesn\u2019t exactly roll off the tongue, but it\u2019s an honest assessment of what we think about this problem set.  And so, we\u2019ll see where it goes.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Okay.  And then, on Trevor Reed, has the administration, on any level, communicated with Russia about Trevor Reed since he was injured?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Since he was injured?  I know of no communications with Russian officials since the reports of his injury.<\/p>\n<p>Q    I ask because Secretary Blinken echoed what we heard from Karine yesterday, which is that, you know, the administration believes that Trevor\u2019s case and what he did should be a separate case from the negotiations to bring Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich home.  But my question is: How can the administration say that so confidently if you haven\u2019t even heard from the Russians about it?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Well, I think the Russians have heard from us plenty.  We ju- \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    No, I \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  No, no, no.  Let me finish.  I think they\u2019ve heard plenty from us about where we stand on Americans fighting in Ukraine.  I mean, you don\u2019t have to \u2014 I mean, even the most casual observer sitting in Moscow can take two seconds online and see how vociferously and strongly we have not only not encouraged Americans to go fight in Ukraine but actively and energetically urged them not to. <\/p>\n<p>And so, I won\u2019t speak for Mr. Reed.  He can speak for himself and the decisions he made.  But I can assure you, and anybody in Moscow can look at what we\u2019ve said and be equally assured, that he went of his own accord.  Nothing has changed. <\/p>\n<p>And Karine, I think, did this very well with you yesterday, talking about the risks that Americans might take if they go to Ukraine.  They should not go.  This is not the time for Americans to be in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>As for Americans that are being wrongfully detained in Russia, nothing is going to change, from our perspective, about what we\u2019re going to have to do or try to do to get them out.  Evan and Paul need to come home.  And we\u2019re going to continue to work at that.<\/p>\n<p>But nobody in Moscow should be under any illusion that Mr. Reed was in Ukraine at our urging or our encouragement or that it\u2019s \u2014 that his decision to go there should be connected in any way to what we\u2019re trying to do to get those two wrongfully detained Americans home.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And you honestly believe that the Russians won\u2019t hold this against the U.S. as the U.S. tries to get the other two men out?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Man, I\u2019ll tell you, if I \u2014 if I could get inside the head of Russian officials and know what they were going to decide and do, I\u2019d \u2014 I probably would be in a very different place.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t know.  I can\u2019t \u2014 I can\u2019t possibly begin to predict what they\u2019ll think or say.  But if by some infinitesimal, small degree there\u2019s anybody in Moscow that thinks that we\u2019ve changed our policy about Americans fighting in Ukraine, again, I urge them to listen to this press conference and read everything we\u2019ve been saying for the last 16 months. <\/p>\n<p>Now is not the time for Americans to be in Ukraine.  And we had nothing to do with Mr. Reed being there.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Just a couple more.  Go ahead, Janne.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Thank you, Karine.  And hi, John.  I have two questions on Russia and North Korea and South Korea.  The Russian defense minister was invited to North Korea for the 70th anniversary of armistice agreement.  And it is known that the Russian defense minister will discuss importing weapons from North Korea.  What do you think about the direct arms deal with North Korea by Russian defense minister about this and not the Wagner Group\u2019s?  Can you comment on that?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I certainly can\u2019t confirm the report that you just laid out there.  That said, it\u2019s been no secret, and we\u2019ve talked about it many times, that Mr. Putin is reaching out to other countries for help and support in fighting his war in Ukraine.  And that includes, we know, some outreach to the DPRK.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s, I think, a testament of the fact that Mr. Putin knows he\u2019s having his own defense procurement problems, his own inventory problems, that his military remains on the back foot, and he\u2019s trying to shore that up. <\/p>\n<p>Nobody \u2014 nobody should be helping Mr. Putin kill more Ukrainians.  But the fact that he\u2019s reaching out to North Korea, or could be, additionally, that\u2019s \u2014 that wouldn\u2019t come as a surprise to anybody.<\/p>\n<p>Q    So do you think that this will be used in the war in Ukraine?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I couldn\u2019t begin to confirm that.  I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n<p>Q    One more.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We got to \u2014 we got to keep \u2014 go ahead, Francesca.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, John.  In the Department of Justice\u2019s statement on the Biden administration lawsuit against the state of Texas, it said, quote, \u201cThe presence of the floating barrier has prompted diplomatic protests by Mexico and risks damaging U.S. foreign policy.\u201d  End quote.<\/p>\n<p>Liz Sherwood \u2014 Sherwood-Randall and a group of Biden administration officials were in Mexico this week.  Did the Mexican government raise the issue of the floating barriers?  And does the White House believe that the floating barriers hurt U.S. diplomatic efforts?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  There was a delegation in Mexico, largely to look at issues surrounding fentanyl.  I don\u2019t know if the issue of the barriers came up.  That wasn\u2019t the purpose of Liz Sherwood-Randall\u2019s trip down there.  It was really to talk about the counternarcotics efforts, specifically \u2014 specifically around fentanyl.  And I would refer you to the DOJ on more details on that.<\/p>\n<p>On \u2014 on the bar- \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    But do \u2014 but do the floating barriers \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  On the \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 do you believe that it hurts U.S. foreign policy?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Well, it\u2019s certainly not helping.  But I can\u2019t tell you that there\u2019s been a direct impact on our diplomatic relations with Mexico.  They \u2014 they\u2019re very good.  They\u2019re very strong.  And we have a lot of mutual shared concerns \u2014 including, as I said, fentanyl \u2014 and certainly issues about immigration.  And we\u2019re working closely with Mexican authorities on that.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And on another topic, quickly \u2014 on Ukraine.  Do you believe that the counteroffensive is moving too slowly?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  President Zelenskyy himself has said that he \u2014 that it\u2019s not progressing as fast as he would like, and they\u2019re not moving as far every day as they would like.  The United States is not going to take a position on that.  We\u2019re not going to armchair quarterback this Ukrainian military operation.  They should be able to be the ones that \u2014 and only the ones to speak to progress against plan.  And again, they\u2019ve already acknowledged that they\u2019re not going as far or as fast as they would like.<\/p>\n<p>That said, they are moving.  It\u2019s not a stalemate.  They\u2019re not just frozen.  The Ukrainians are moving. <\/p>\n<p>And what we\u2019re going to do is make sure \u2014 and you saw this just yesterday; I think Karine announced another package of support \u2014 we\u2019re going to make sure that they have the kinds of tools and capabilities they need to stay on the move, that we\u2019re giving them the relevant kinds of tools they need to continue to make progress in their counteroffensive.  And to the degree it can be better progress, progress that they\u2019re more content with, then that\u2019s all to the good.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Darlene.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Back on Trevor Reed.  To what extent was the U.S. government aware of his plans to go to Ukraine and take up arms against Russia?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I\u2019m not aware that we had any \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    Did he give any advance notice to anyone at the White House \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I\u2019m certainly not aware \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 or NSC?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I\u2019m certainly not aware of any, nor \u2014 nor would we expect that.  I mean, other Americans have fought in Ukraine, unfortunately, and they don\u2019t have to report their departure or their whereabouts to the United States government.  I\u2019m aware of no information that we had.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s said, we made it very clear when the war started: Don\u2019t go.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then one question on the Prime Minister\u2019s visit tomorrow.  After she was elected, President Biden had warned of the spread of authoritarianism and far-right populism, given her political leanings.  Has his view of the Prime Minister changed at all because she is such a strong supporter of Ukraine?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  He has a good relationship with Prime Minister Meloni, and he has enjoyed working with her, as I detailed in the opening comments, across a range of issues and in a range of venues.  And they have spoken several times outside of those venues.  They \u2014 they get along quite well, particularly on issues of foreign policy.  And again, the President is looking forward to this visit.<\/p>\n<p>Q    I wanted to ask also about the visit with the Prime Minister tomorrow.  Does the President plan to bring up issues of LGBTQ rights in Italy?  That\u2019s been something that her party has been clamping down on in the past couple of months.<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  So just a couple of \u2014 I\u2019m not going to get ahead of the discussion that hasn\u2019t happened yet.  We\u2019ll give you a full readout when the meeting is over.<\/p>\n<p>But President Biden\u2019s foreign policy really is rooted in human rights.  And we approach our engagement with countries around the world from that perspective \u2014 a respect for human rights, civil rights, freedom of expression, and equality. <\/p>\n<p>And we\u2019re never shy about stating that either publicly or privately, and we\u2019ll continue to do that.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Jacqui?<\/p>\n<p>Q    To the back?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Alex.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Admiral, you had a question about the counteroffensive a little bit back.  Let\u2019s say there is not much more progress by the time, kind of, the late summer rains start, and then, you know, the cold, obviously, comes pretty early in that part of Eastern Europe.  I mean, is there a sense that they need to negotiate before this thing drags on into \u201924?  I mean, when does diplomacy kick in?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  When does what kick in?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Diplomacy.<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  That\u2019s going to be up to President Zelenskyy.  He gets to determine if and when he\u2019s ready to sit down and negotiate. <\/p>\n<p>Right now, his country is still under attack.  He still has tens of thousands of Russian troops on his soil dug in deeply, entrenched, protected by minefields, on ground that doesn\u2019t belong to them.  And he has every right to want to reclaim his territorial integrity and his country\u2019s sovereignty. <\/p>\n<p>But only President Zelenskyy is going to be able to determine that now.  He\u2019s put \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    But \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Hang on a second now.  He\u2019s put forward a 10-point peace formula that we are working with \u2014 with him and his government to help actualize because we believe that for any diplomacy to work, it\u2019s got to \u2014 it\u2019s got to start \u2014 the foundation has to be President Zelenskyy\u2019s view of what a just peace looks like.  So, he\u2019s laid that out with 10 points.  We\u2019re helping him actualize that.  <\/p>\n<p>So, to some degree, the work of diplomacy \u2014 the pre-work of diplomacy has begun \u2014 has begun months ago. <\/p>\n<p>And, in fact, Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor, spoke to \u2014 to Mr. Yermak, his equivalent in the Ukrainian government, just today.  And this was one of the topics that they discussed was this idea of a just peace and how to actualize it.<\/p>\n<p>Q    But Zelenskyy \u2014 he has said he needs F-16s, ATACMS, more heavy armor to make progress, especially because the defensive positions are so heavily mined and fortified.  I mean, isn\u2019t there kind of a disconnect that if you want them to win, should they not have what they say they need?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  They \u2014 they do have what they need.  We have provided the Ukrainians everything they asked for in the months leading up to the counteroffensive and continuing right through it.<\/p>\n<p>Again, Karine just walked you guys through a whole big old package yesterday.  And all the stuff that\u2019s in that package is stuff that\u2019s relevant to the fight that they\u2019re in in this counteroffensive.<\/p>\n<p>But this notion that they didn\u2019t get everything they needed before the counteroffensive or that a shortage of capabilities is what\u2019s causing delay is not true.  They got everything they asked for and continue to get everything they asked for now.<\/p>\n<p>Now, I \u2014 I recognize they alwa- \u2014 that \u2014 that \u2014 and you can\u2019t blame them for wanting more.  And we\u2019ve talked about F-16s; the training will begin sometime soon and hopefully thereafter followed by actual aircraft. <\/p>\n<p>And \u2014 but they\u2019ve got tanks.  They\u2019ve got artillery.  They\u2019ve got HIMARS.  And we\u2019re going to continue to work with them every single day about trying to fulfill their needs as best we can.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  Owen, you have the last question.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Karine. <\/p>\n<p>Admiral, good afternoon.  Has the \u2014 do you know if the administration has seen the images of the bombed-out Transfiguration Cathedral in Ukraine?  A few days ago, it happened \u2014 this big, beautiful cathedral bombed out.  Some debate over whether it was Russian missiles or falling Ukraine debris.  But have \u2014 have you seen those images?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  I have not.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Okay.  And then, finally, any update on the Tuberville situation, on the hold?  Is the administration planning on meeting with him?  What\u2019s the situation on that?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  Secretary of Defense Austin has spoken a couple times in \u2014 in just the last couple of weeks with Senator Tuberville.  He maintains his hold.  And now we\u2019re up to over 300 nominations that are being held.  And it\u2019s having a real effect on military families.  Spouses who are not able to take jobs in the next location because they can\u2019t set up a move.  That\u2019s not hypothetical; that\u2019s actually happening.  Children who are having to be disenrolled from schools that they were supposed to start in the fall because they can\u2019t execute the move to get there.  They can\u2019t make it in time for the school session to start.  That\u2019s not hypothetical; that\u2019s happening.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ve got senior officers who are being asked to delay their retirements, their well-earned retirements \u2014 speaking as a retiree \u2014 and they \u2014 and they\u2019re not \u2014 and they\u2019re not able to do that.  Or they\u2019re willing \u2014 they\u2019re willing to delay that to stay in the military a little longer while this \u2014 while this very dangerous hold persists.<\/p>\n<p>And some will inevitably start voting with their feet.  And they just won\u2019t be able to do that for a variety of reasons.  And we\u2019re going to lose that talent because they\u2019re not willing \u2014 they aren\u2019t willing as a family to stay behind.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Sure.  But one of Tuberville\u2019s contentions is that taxpayer dollars should not be funding travel-related expenses for abortions for military members.  You say what?<\/p>\n<p>MR. KIRBY:  The President and the Secretary of Defense say that it should be. <\/p>\n<p>I talked about this the other day, so I won\u2019t go through it all again, but our service members don\u2019t get to decide where they get stationed.  That\u2019s why you call them \u201corders.\u201d  You go where you\u2019re told to go.  You go where \u2014 you go where the duty demands.  And most of our service members serving in states across the country aren\u2019t residents of those states.  But they\u2019re also not going to violate state law.  If you get stationed in a place like Alabama, you\u2019re going to obey Alabama laws. <\/p>\n<p>But if you\u2019re a service member \u2014 and you deserve, as a service member, appropriate healthcare, including reproductive health care.  The military has an obligation to make sure you get that healthcare.<\/p>\n<p>And for those who say that this is some sort of political and it\u2019s not readiness \u2014 but it\u2019s readiness.  A healthy force is a ready force.  And woman service member or a woman family member has every right to expect that when they sign up to serve in the military, they\u2019re going to get the healthcare that they deserve. <\/p>\n<p>And so, the military has put in place a policy \u2014 not one that Secretary Austin wanted to have to put in place but these state laws are forcing him to put in place \u2014 to allow female service members and their fam \u2014 and \u2014 and women family members that need reproductive care \u2014 can\u2019t get it where they\u2019re stationed \u2014 to have the time off and some travel allowance to go take care of their own health. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a covenant that you make with the military when you sign up, and it\u2019s a covenant that the military makes with you when you sign up.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Appreciate it.  Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  All right, Darlene.  Whatcha got?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Have you seen the President since Hunter Biden showed up in federal court since the deal fell apart?  Did he have any reaction that he has agreed to allow you to share with us?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I\u2019ll tell you this, and I\u2019ll repeat this as what I said at the top, which is the President loves his son.  The President and the First Lady love their son, and they support him as he\u2019s rebuilding his life and trying to move forward.<\/p>\n<p>I have not spoken to the President today.  He has been busy continuing to work on behalf of the American people, as he does every day, with internal meetings.  And so, I will leave it there.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Is the White House any closer to figuring out when the President will make his promised visit to Africa this year?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don\u2019t have a visit to preview at this time.  But as you know, the President met with African leaders at the end of last year.  It was incredibly productive.  And he promised to visit the continent of Africa this year.  I just don\u2019t have anything to lay out.<\/p>\n<p>As you know, the Fir- \u2014 the First Lady has traveled to the continent; so has the Vice President.  And so, we have kept our commitment in continuing to grow and develop that relationship with countries in Africa.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And last question.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.<\/p>\n<p>Q    I wanted to follow up on your comments yesterday about Commander.  You shared a statement that said the Bidens have been working with Secret Service and the Residence staff on leashing protocols.  You talked about how the Secret Service has treated these biting incidents as \u201cworkplace incidents.\u201d  A statement went on to say that the President and First Lady are grateful to the Secret Service and the staff for keeping the family safe, but what we didn\u2019t hear yesterday was any statement of contrition or an apology or \u2014 you know, that they\u2019re mortified or regret that Commander has been behaving like this.  So \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 would you like to update the statement?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, the statement came from my colleague that I was reiterating over at the First Lady\u2019s office.  I would certainly refer you to the statement again.<\/p>\n<p>Look, we are \u2014 the President and the First Lady continues to be incredibly grateful to the Secret Service and the Executive Residence staff.  That continues to be the case. We are working through this to make this situation even better.  I don\u2019t have anything else to add.<\/p>\n<p>As I mentioned yesterday at the top, you know, being here on this complex, this White House complex, is incredibly unique and can be stressful situations for family pets.  And we are working \u2014 we are certainly working through \u2014 working through this particular situation with the Secret Service to make this \u2014 to make this better.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Hi, Karine.  Earlier this week, you said the President was never in business with his son.  But can you say specifically that the President did not have discussions of any kind with Hunter about his business dealings?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I appreciate the question.  I\u2019ve been asked this question multiple times in different various \u2014 variations in different ways.  I \u2014 as you mentioned, I was asked this question multiple times on Monday.  Nothing has changed.  I don\u2019t have anything to add to what I stated on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Can you give us a preview of the President\u2019s briefing on heat?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I gave you a little bit of preview.  He\u2019s going to be announcing some actions tomorrow.  The extreme weather, as you all know, has been \u2014 has been a difficult time for families and Americans across the country, especially out West.  And so, you\u2019re going to hear from the President about this. <\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s not forget: Climate change \u2014 climate change is real.  That\u2019s why the President has taken some historic actions to deal with this issue, to deal with climate change \u2014 a crisis that he called when he first walked into this administration.  And let\u2019s not forget: The Inflation Reduction Act is one of the \u2014 one of those laws that has \u2014 that is giving or going to give the most resources to deal with climate change.  The President is very proud of that.  And you\u2019ll hear directly from him on this issue tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  Have the President and his attorneys been in touch with Hunter\u2019s legal team today?  And, you know, have they been keeping tabs on the proceedings?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, I \u2014 I don\u2019t have anything to share.  I would refer you to \u2014 on this particular issue, I would refer you to Hunter\u2019s representative.  I would refer you to the Department of Justice.  I don\u2019t have anything to share beyond on what I shared at the top of this \u2014 of this briefing.<\/p>\n<p>Q    It\u2019s \u2014 it\u2019s extremely rare in such a high-profile case for a plea deal to fall apart like this.  Does the President believe that the prosecutors \u2014 the federal prosecutors in this case have acted appropriately and competently?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  As you know, Jeremy, this was an independent investigation that was \u2014 that was overseen by the Department of Justice.  We\u2019ve \u2014 as we\u2019ve been very clear, they are independent.  We give them the space to do \u2014 to do their work.  We believe in the rule of law.<\/p>\n<p>I just don\u2019t have anything else to share on this.  I would refer you to the Department of Justice.  Again, this was done independently.  And I would also refer you to the \u2014 to Hunter\u2019s representatives.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then, on \u2014 on Senator Tuberville and his continued hold on these military promotions, he floated a potential way to move the nominations more quickly by saying that he\u2019d be open to limiting the debate time on each individual nominee.  Does the President believe that it\u2019s time to start moving some of these military nominations individually and voting on them individually through the Senate?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, Jeremy, I understand the question, but this is something that one senator is holding up.  One senator.  One Republican senator.  And it shouldn\u2019t be done this way.  It shouldn\u2019t be done this way.<\/p>\n<p>I think the Admiral did a really good job laying \u2014 laying out what this means for our military families, our military service members.  They don\u2019t deserve to be treated this way.<\/p>\n<p>When we talk about this particular legislation and the \u2014 not just the legislation, but as we move forward with these types of nominations, they should be done in a bipartisan way.<\/p>\n<p>And so, it\u2019s unfortunate that this senator, Senator Tuberville, is treating this as a political stunt.  And it\u2019s \u2014 he has to answer to military families, and he has to answer to military members, who do everything that they can to protect us.  And he\u2019s putting them in harm\u2019s way.<\/p>\n<p>And so, I get the question, but this is really \u2014 this is truly, truly on Senator Tuberville here.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Does there ever come a point, though, where, you know \u2014 especially as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is set to retire, you need to fill that position \u2014 where it\u2019s maybe worth, especially for the most senior positions that really put national security at risk, to start moving some of these individually?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I \u2014 Jeremy, we shouldn\u2019t be in this situation.  I get it.  I hear what you\u2019re saying.  But we should not be in this situation.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Tuberville should not be putting our military in this situation, not be using political ploys or political stunts to put our military in this situation \u2014 to put not just the military but our national security for Americans across this country.<\/p>\n<p>And so, I get it.  I get that there are potential other pathways to get there.  But we shouldn\u2019t be here.  We just should not be here.  And what he is doing is dangerous and it\u2019s insulting.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Weijia.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  President Biden has spent most of his political career working on gun laws, on gun reform.  Does he believe that someone who is charged with possessing a firearm illegally should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, here, I\u2019m going to be \u2014 I think I know where this question is going, and I\u2019m just going to continue to say: As it relates to this \u2014 the case that we\u2019re seeing in Delaware, I\u2019m just going to not speak to that.  It is an independent matter.  This is up for the Department of Justice.<\/p>\n<p>Even with the question that you\u2019re asking me, it\u2019s up to \u2014 it\u2019s up to \u2014 it\u2019s a \u2014 it\u2019s one of those legal, criminal matters.  And it\u2019s up to that process \u2014 that legal process.  I\u2019m just not going to speak to it here.<\/p>\n<p>Q    But, again, the President, when he was a senator, crafted gun legislation.<br \/>\nMS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I understand.<\/p>\n<p>Q    As president, he talks often about the need to get illegal firearms off of our streets.  So when someone possesses one illegally, what does the President believe should happen to them?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  The President has been very clear.  You just laid out where his po- \u2014 position has been, what his policies have been, what he was able to pass into law.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m going to be very mindful here.  I\u2019m going to be very careful because I see where this question is going.  And I\u2019m just going to refer you, as this has been an independent investigation \u2014 it\u2019s overseen by the Department of Justice \u2014 I\u2019m going to let them speak to this as they are moving forward.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Karine.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  The President has nothing on his schedule today other than his daily presidential briefing.  So can you share with us what he\u2019s up to \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:   Yeah.  Yeah.  Happy to.<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 who is he speaking with?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yes.  Absolutely.  So, the President participated in an interview with Jay Shetty, who you all may know, to discuss the administration\u2019s effort to tackle the mental health crisis that affects millions of Americans.<\/p>\n<p>As you know, the President just \u2014 just yesterday announced a new rule to make sure that mental health is deal- \u2014 is dealt with in a \u2014 with a \u2014 in parity; that mental health is indeed health.  You heard him say that directly yesterday.<\/p>\n<p>Jay Shetty\u2019s podcast, \u201cOn Purpose,\u201d is the number one health and wellness podcast, with an average of 21 million downloads each month.  So \u2014 just so that you all have this, it will \u2014 the interview will post on Monday. <\/p>\n<p>And he, of course, has internal meetings.  He\u2019s had that throughout the day. <\/p>\n<p>And later today, he\u2019s going to be delivering a toast at a gathering to \u2014 to just say goodbye and thank you to Louisa Terrell.  As you all know, she will be leaving her position as the Director of OLA.  And so, we will all be toasting her later today.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then, can you give us an update when it comes to East Palestine?  The President has said that he would go.  He has not yet.<\/p>\n<p>And also, Governor Mike DeWine asked the President to issue a major disaster declaration a few weeks ago.  Will \u2014 is that something the President is going to do?  And if so, when?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, on your first question, the President intends to go.  Don\u2019t have a time or a date to preview at this time.  I have to look into Governor DeWine\u2019s request.  I have to check in with the team and with \u2014 and I would also refer you to FEMA.  I just don\u2019t have anything to share on that piece.<\/p>\n<p>Let me try and go around here.  Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Moments ago, you said that nothing has changed, when you were asked about the President\u2019s previous remarks on his son\u2019s business dealings.  But the language has, in fact, changed.<\/p>\n<p>So, I just want to clear this up once and for all.  The President has previously said that he has never discussed overseas business dealings with his son.  But the White House now says that the President has never been in business with his son.<\/p>\n<p>So, why the updated language?  Which statement is true?  Or is this semantics and they\u2019re both true?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  As I stated on Monday when I was asked this question multiple times, nothing has changed.  Nothing has changed on this.<\/p>\n<p>Q    So both of those statements are true?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Nothing has changed on this. <\/p>\n<p>And so, you could ask me a million different ways on this question.  Nothing has changed.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Yeah, the only reason I ask is because the White House and the \u2014 the President\u2019s circle \u2014 you know, that language does seem to be somewhat different, and I didn\u2019t know if there was any distinction there.<\/p>\n<p>I wanted to ask, though, about Elizabeth Naftali.  She\u2019s made more than a dozen visits here to the White House and met with some of the President\u2019s most senior advisors.  Can you tell us a little bit more about those visits, why she was here?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I would have to look into that.  I\u2019ve not \u2014 I\u2019ve not been tracking the \u2014 these visits that you\u2019re mentioning to me.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Karine.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  No problem.  Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m trying to \u2014 go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    I wanted to ask about the Methane Summit today at the White House.  Can you just sort of explain who is sort of on this task force that\u2019s being established; sort of what the next steps are; who was involved, I guess, in the summit today?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, as you know, the Methane Summit happened earlier today.  It is something that \u2014 as it\u2019s related to climate \u2014 certainly to climate change.  This is something that the President certainly is committed to.  And you\u2019ll hear from him more tomorrow as he talks to \u2014 as he talks about the execi- \u2014 the excessive heat that we\u2019ve seen.<\/p>\n<p>So, but just to give you a little bit of the download here \u2014 some details: It was the first-ever White House Methane Summit.  The event was brought together \u2014 brought together federal, state, and local leaders to discuss the need to reduce methane emissions, to protect public health, and create thousands of good-paying union jobs.<\/p>\n<p>The summit spotlighting cutting-edge detection technology and \u2014 technologies and how state and tribal governments are responding to dangerous emissions events.<\/p>\n<p>Look, the way \u2014 the reasons why we\u2019re doing it why \u2014 now is because millions of Americans are being impacted, as I just mentioned, from extreme heat.  You\u2019ll hear more from the President tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p>And so, it is important, and we think that the conversation is incredibly timely.  And so, we were ha- \u2014 we were glad to have it here at the White House.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Did the President take part in the summit at all?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, the President did not take part in the summit.  I just laid out what his day looked like.  He did an interview to talk about mental health because it\u2019s \u2014 it\u2019s part of the Unity Agenda that the President has been talking about for over a year now and wanted to make sure that he communicated directly to millions of Americans; 21 millions of Americans particularly \u2014 in particular listen to this podcast.  And I \u2014 I mentioned as well he had some internal meetings with some senior members of his team.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    I wanted to know if you have any updates on if President Biden is willing to declare a climate emergency.  There\u2019s been more push from progressive lawmakers and activists for him to do that.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I don\u2019t have anything new to share there.  As you know, you know, the President has the most aggressive and ambitious climate agenda since day one, as I mentioned at the top, as we\u2019re \u2014 as he\u2019s going to talk about the extreme health [heat].<\/p>\n<p>And \u2014 and the Inflation Reduction Act is certainly an example of how seriously the President has taken this.  And he\u2019s going to continue to take action.  You\u2019re going to continue to hear from him on this issue.  I just don\u2019t have anything to share on climate emergency.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Is that still on the table?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I just don\u2019t have any additional actions to preview at this time.  But, look, I think if you look at the President\u2019s actions over this past two years, he\u2019s taken \u2014 he\u2019s \u2014 he\u2019s taken more action, has been more aggressive on dealing with climate change than any other president.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s not \u2014 the Inflation Reduction Act is going to make a difference as we\u2019re trying to deal with this climate crisis.  And so, he has an ambitious agenda w- \u2014 to deal with climate \u2014 climate \u2014 climate change, and he\u2019s going to continue to move forward with that agenda.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  A group of automakers, including GM, are forming a new EV charging company to challenge Tesla.  I\u2019m just curious if the White House has any reaction to that or if you played any part in helping them get that launched.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Are you talking about the \u2014 the seven companies \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  \u2014 that are \u2014 yeah.  So, look \u2014 and you\u2019ve heard us \u2014 you\u2019ve heard me and others talk about this.  That\u2019s Bidenomics.  Bidenomics is working and is in action.  And because of this President\u2019s policies, you have these seven major automakers coming together to install, I think, 30,000 high-powered EV charging stations.  And that\u2019s a \u2014 that\u2019s progress.  That\u2019s going to help middle-class families.<\/p>\n<p>The President\u2019s Investing in America agenda, this is part of that.  This is part of Biden- \u2014 Bidenomics, as you hear us talk about.  It\u2019s creating new union jobs for installation and maintenance. <\/p>\n<p>So, this is impr- \u2014 important moves \u2014 step forward as we talk about how to deal with this climate crisis.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Any antitrust concerns about multiple companies working together in that fashion?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, I \u2014 I don\u2019t have any \u2014 any concerns to lay out t- \u2014 for you today.  But we think this is an important step forward as we\u2019re dealing with this issue, as we\u2019re also talking about buil- \u2014 creating jobs, as we\u2019re building to economy. <\/p>\n<p>Again, this is Bidenomics in action.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Francesca.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.  Has any progress been made since we last talked about this on bringing home Travis King from North Korea?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don\u2019t have anything new to share than what I shared yesterday during the briefing.  Look, as you know, we have \u2014 we have the U.N., we have the DOD, we have the State Department, here \u2014 us here as well at the White House are all engaging together on this.  I just don\u2019t have any more information to \u2014 to share.<\/p>\n<p>We are still trying to gather all the facts on this.  And our concern is the well-being of \u2014 of the private.  I just don\u2019t have anything further to share on this.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And the Federal Reserve has just announced an interest rate hike by a quarter point, which brings it to the highest level in 22 years.  Does the White House have a comment on that?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  As you know, we see the Federal Reserve as being independent.  We give them the space to make sure that they are able to make monetary decision.  It is up to them to make that decision.  I\u2019m just not going to comment about that \u2014 about their \u2014 about the decision today.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Regarding the federal judge in California blocking the administration\u2019s asylum rules, as of right now, what is the back-up plan should this ruling not be stayed by the next circuit of the Supreme Court?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, right now the way that we see the ruling is nothing has changed.  The \u2014 the \u2014 we think that \u2014 we think that they made a mistake, but nothing has changed.  It \u2014 we continue to move forward with our plan.  The Department of Justice has responded to this.  So I certainly will refer to \u2014 you to them, but nothing has changed.  We\u2019re going to move forward.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s not forget the action \u2014 the plan that the President has put forward has \u2014 has actually shown \u2014 actually shown a lower number in migrants\u2019 illegal \u2014 illegal migration into this country than we\u2019ve seen in the last two years.  So the plan the Pr- \u2014 the President has put forward is working, and that is important.<\/p>\n<p>Again, nothing has changed in this.  We\u2019re going to see \u2014 we\u2019re going to see \u2014 I believe we\u2019re going to see this \u2014 this stay that we\u2019re \u2014 for the next 14 days, and the Department of Justice has appealed it \u2014 and \u2014 and trying to extend the stay.  So that\u2019s where we are currently at this moment.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Jon.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks a lot, Karine.  Just the other day, a U.S. drone was damaged by a Russian military jet over Syria.  How does the U.S. classify that particular incident?  Has there been any outreach by U.S. officials to their Russian counterparts about this \u2014 about rules of engagement going forward?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, a couple of things: We\u2019ve seen the reports \u2014 the early reports of a second Russian fighter aircraft this week flying dangerously close to our drone on a def- \u2014 on a defeat ISIS mission. <\/p>\n<p>So I would reiterate that Russian \u2014 Russia\u2019s close approach to and deployment of flares over U.S. drones during a routine mission against ISIS targets violates \u2014 it is \u2014 indeed violates established protocols and international norms. <\/p>\n<p>So, we remain focused on \u2014 on the mission to defeat ISIS, as evidenced by our recent strike against an ISIS leader in Syria this month.  And so, we are certainly aware of the initial reports.  Don\u2019t have anything further to share on that piece.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And then, separately, not wanting you to comment on the Fed decision, rather to comment on the White House\u2019s view as it relates to inflation: Do you see inflation coming down from the level that it is right now, around 3 percent, even further by the end of this year?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I\u2019m not going to get into predictions or hypotheticals from here.  What I can say is that the President has been very committed \u2014 very committed to making sure that we lower costs for the American people. <\/p>\n<p>We have seen from other data points, as you know, that we\u2019ve seen inflation come down by two thirds in the past 12 months.  That\u2019s important.<\/p>\n<p>And a lot of that is because of the President\u2019s economic policies.  And not just that: We\u2019ve seen wages go up.  We see inflation easing.  We see creating jobs \u2014 more than 13 million jobs.  That\u2019s because of what this \u2014 the work that this president has done. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not going to get into hypotheticals.  I\u2019m going to let the experts detect or try to figure out what inflation looks like moving forward.  What we\u2019re going to focus on is doing everything that we can to lower costs for the American family.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thanks, Karine.<\/p>\n<p>Q    You said that you see inflation easing in the response that we just gave.  Is that based upon a forecast coming from the President\u2019s economic advisors?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  That\u2019s based on the facts.  That\u2019s based on the data that we\u2019ve seen: CPI, PPI, all the data that we\u2019ve seen the past couple of months.  That\u2019s where we\u2019re getting that.  Two thirds \u2014 that\u2019s \u2014 that\u2019s important.<\/p>\n<p>Inflation has fallen for 12 months in a row \u2014 12 months in a row.  And that\u2019s because of the work that this administra- \u2014 administration has done.<\/p>\n<p>And so, look, I\u2019m not going to get, again, into forecast here.  That is something for the experts to do.  But I can speak to the work that this president has done and will continue to do.  When it comes to his economic plan, the number one thing that he talks about is lowering costs for the American people, and he\u2019ll continue to do that.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks.  See you tomorrow, guys.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;Good afternoon, everybody. Q Good afternoon. Okay, a couple things at the top. So, from day one, President Biden has treated climate change with the urgency it requires. Against the backdrop of extreme heat we\u2019ve seen across America, tomorrow President Biden will announce additional actions to protect communities from extreme heat conditions. 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