U.S State Department press briefing led by Tammy Bruce on March 6, 2025, highlights U.S. foreign policy under the President and Secretary of State. The discussion covers diplomacy, global advocacy, and democratic values. The briefing underscores America's commitment to security, economic prosperity, and fostering a free, peaceful, and prosperous world through strategic international engagement.
#StateDepartment #TammyBruce #USForeignPolicy #Diplomacy #USGovernment #GlobalAffairs #PressBriefing #SecretaryOfState #ForeignService #EconomicProsperity #USInternationalRelations #Democracy #Peace #GlobalEngagement #NationalSecurity #USAID #PolicyBriefing #WhiteHouse #ForeignAffairs #GlobalLeadership
~HT.318~GR.125~ED.346~
#StateDepartment #TammyBruce #USForeignPolicy #Diplomacy #USGovernment #GlobalAffairs #PressBriefing #SecretaryOfState #ForeignService #EconomicProsperity #USInternationalRelations #Democracy #Peace #GlobalEngagement #NationalSecurity #USAID #PolicyBriefing #WhiteHouse #ForeignAffairs #GlobalLeadership
~HT.318~GR.125~ED.346~
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Well, this looks fabulous.
00:03I'm glad you're here.
00:04Thank you all very much.
00:07I'm Tammy Bruce, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department.
00:10It's lovely to see you here, everyone in the back, everyone watching on streaming or television
00:16or however you're seeing us.
00:17Thank you and welcome aboard.
00:20Statement before we proceed here.
00:23Good afternoon, of course.
00:24It is an honor to join you today for my first briefing at the State Department.
00:29My commitment to you and to the American people will always to be to speak directly
00:35and clearly about the policies and priorities of our country's lead diplomat, Secretary
00:41Marco Rubio, and the great men and women who serve the U.S. Department of State.
00:46To begin, I would like to acknowledge that after Secretary Rubio was confirmed in a historic
00:51bipartisan vote, he promised to deliver a foreign policy under President Trump's vision
00:57and leadership that would make America stronger, safer and more prosperous.
01:03Under President Trump's administration, the State Department puts America first as well.
01:08Peace through strength is back.
01:11And our North Star is the pursuit of peace.
01:14As Secretary Rubio says, peace is not a noun, it is an action.
01:20And the secretary has been taking action.
01:22It started on day one.
01:24Secretary Rubio got straight to work issuing common sense policies that returned the State
01:28Department to the basics of diplomacy.
01:31We are rewarding performance based on initiatives, skill and hard work, and we are ensuring every
01:36dollar we spend advances our national interests.
01:40During the secretary's first international trip to Central America and the Caribbean,
01:44he reaffirmed our commitment to the region where we live.
01:48He emphasized the importance of this relationship, highlighting our shared challenges and our
01:53shared opportunities.
01:56Already the secretary has achieved concrete deliverables to combat transnational crime,
02:01advance the cause of enduring peace and counter the malign influence of the Chinese Communist
02:06Party.
02:08At the United Nations, U.S. leadership led the Security Council, passing a historic resolution
02:12seeking to end the Russia-Ukraine war, implementing President Trump's executive orders.
02:18The secretary designated eight cartels and other transnational organizations as terrorists.
02:25The Houthis have been designated as a foreign terrorist organization, and their members
02:29are facing sanctions.
02:31And the Iranian regime is again under maximum pressure.
02:35And further in line with the president's promise to keep America safe, Mohammad Sharifullah
02:41was detained in Pakistan for the tragic Abbey Gate terrorist attack that took the lives
02:46of 13 service members of our country.
02:49He has been extradited to the United States to face swift justice.
02:54The secretary's highest priority is the safety and security of the American people.
02:59Earlier today, the department hosted a ceremony to raise the hostage and wrongful detainee
03:05flag.
03:06The flag symbolizes the United States commitment to Americans unjustly held overseas, and it
03:11will fly in front of the State Department through March 9th, which is the second U.S.
03:16hostage and wrongful detainee day.
03:20This administration has worked tirelessly to bring unjustly detained Americans home
03:24and to secure the release of all the hostages held by Hamas.
03:29And we will continue to do the critical work to accomplish this goal.
03:34During this historic joint event the other night, President Trump made clear that the
03:38United States is advancing our national interests to ensure the 21st century is an American-led
03:44century.
03:46America is back.
03:48I'm honored to stand here before you and to deliver this information for the American
03:52people, which they deserve to hear from their State Department.
03:57As someone who has served over, well, a long time in media, I understand firsthand that
04:02a free press is vital to our democracy.
04:05I look forward to engaging on our U.S. foreign policy priorities for the benefit of the American
04:10people.
04:11And I also just want to say a thank you to the civil service workers, the foreign service
04:18workers, the staff of this department.
04:21As someone who's been looking out from the outside into government and seeing always
04:26the problems, it has been a remarkable experience to work with these individuals in this department,
04:32but throughout the Department of State.
04:35It has been an experience for me that has changed my point of view on many different
04:42issues.
04:43And I want to thank all of them who made it possible for me to stand here today.
04:48This has been literally a team effort.
04:50It remains a team effort for people who love this country and serve her every day.
04:55And so there's something I never thought I would say, except screaming at the screen,
04:59but this gentleman sitting here, just a remarkable illustration of how life changes and has surprises
05:07for us.
05:09Matt Lee from the Associated Press.
05:11I'm going to also ask you, when asking a question, we have a number of cameras in the back.
05:17People are watching through streaming at state.gov, our social media accounts as well, and a variety
05:24of different ways.
05:25Announce your name, if you could, and your outlet.
05:27That would be terrific.
05:28Matt Lee, I'll announce for you, because you're so shy, with the Associated Press.
05:33Sir, what can I tell you?
05:35Well, first of all, thank you for your opening remarks there.
05:38And I would also say congratulations, because for those of us who were around back in the
05:42beginning of the first Trump administration, the first State Department briefing in 2017
05:48was on March 7th.
05:49So you have beaten that by one day.
05:52I don't know if you're aware.
05:54No, no, no, no.
05:55And not know.
05:56All right.
05:59I got that.
06:00You have a record already.
06:01Okay.
06:03So anyway, yes.
06:04Thank you very much for your commitment to speaking to us and being open and transparent.
06:07I just want to say before I begin, and I have a very brief question, but before we end that,
06:12I think everybody in this room understands that elections have consequences.
06:16Everybody in this room understands that the President of the United States sets the agenda
06:20for foreign policy.
06:22So the questions that you will get today and going forward are all aimed at trying to find
06:30out what that policy is, one, and then how the State Department is actually implementing
06:35it.
06:36So I hope in that, with that, that we can go forward.
06:39So the first thing, so my question is about the AID, USAID.
06:46So on January 20th, the entire Function 150 account of the federal budget, which is all
06:56of the State Department and USAID, including operations, salaries, was roughly about 1%
07:04of the budget.
07:06What's your understanding of where that number, that percentage is today?
07:11Well, what I can tell you is President Trump was elected to change the status quo.
07:18Part of what has initiated this dynamic that we've all watched play out is, what's it been?
07:23I think it's been six weeks, is an effort to deal with waste, fraud, and abuse.
07:28This began with a simple inquiry of USAID to look at their books, to look and inquire,
07:35and they refused.
07:37They said, we're an autonomous organization, you have no right to come in.
07:41The intention was not to do it in a manner that you've been watching unfold.
07:45It began because there was no cooperation at the beginning.
07:48And the inquiry, of course, was because of the debt, the nature of being $2 trillion,
07:54that it was an unsustainable and remains an unsustainable way of running anything, a household
07:59or a government.
08:00There's a point where you have to look up and say, we need to see at least what's happening.
08:05So this has been a pause, a 90-day pause, you shouldn't forget that, to look at the
08:09nature of how the taxpayer money has been spent, and if it was being used in the proper
08:14way for the things that we've allotted it for.
08:18And that began.
08:19It began, it was certainly in a manner that was not planned on, but we needed to do it.
08:26It was something that was, of course, important to accomplish the nature of dealing with.
08:30Is there fraud?
08:31Is there abuse?
08:32Is there waste?
08:33How do we fix the system so that taxpayer dollars are being used properly?
08:38And in the process, of course, we've looked through some of these issues.
08:42You heard at the joint session of Congress addressed by the president, some of the remarkable
08:48programs that we were paying for around the world, millions of dollars.
08:56And clearly, change has had to be made.
09:00And that's what we're doing right now.
09:02not only when it comes to what's being funded, but also how the bureaucracy works, and if
09:08a bureaucracy, the size that it was, needed to exist in the way that it exists.
09:14All of this review is important.
09:16At the same time, within a review like this, because you're looking at whether or not there's
09:20an efficiency in the way money is spent, it doesn't mean that we're not going to be doing
09:26foreign aid.
09:27It's a matter of how are we going to be doing the aid, and if it is effective, and if it
09:32is efficient, and if it achieves the goals that we want that make America safe, more
09:37prosperous, more secure.
09:39And there's nothing that's deviated from that.
09:43On the issue of the numbers, you asked about numbers.
09:45Clearly, this is a rapid dynamic.
09:49This is a process that is an internal process that involves an entire host of decisions
09:54that are being made over a number of different bureaus and dynamics that I'm not a part of.
10:01We see what the results are.
10:02We have been getting notifications about the nature of the numbers involved, but I can't
10:08go into specifics on this day or how they might even be tomorrow.
10:15The reason that I pushed on the percentage number was because one of the first fact sheets
10:19that this department put out, and I know that you probably didn't have much of anything
10:23to do with it, but it was about-
10:25Don't underestimate me.
10:26Not yet.
10:28It was on January 29th, and it was about the executive order, and it said in there, even
10:36setting aside generous support for Ukraine over the past several years, the U.S. is spending
10:40roughly $70 billion in foreign aid annually.
10:43Well, that was just not correct.
10:46And several hours later, after myself and other people pointed this out, it was changed,
10:51but it wasn't sent out again.
10:53It was just changed online.
10:54But it was changed to $40 billion instead of $70.
10:58And I just want to know, the people who put this together, and I don't know who they were,
11:04but that's a $30 billion mistake.
11:08Is that the kind of accounting that-
11:10No, it's not.
11:11And I think I can speak on behalf, certainly, of my department and of this entire department
11:18and the speed with which some of these things are happening, that mistakes are corrected.
11:23There was one.
11:24It was corrected, and that's certainly not going to happen again.
11:28That's what I can pledge to you.
11:31I do know, and as everyone learned on that day, that the data matters, which is why I'm
11:37not going to stand here and guess, that the facts of the matter matter.
11:42And we're determined, I am determined in this role, this is not just a first day for me,
11:48but also for the department, to see the nature as a reminder of what you're all interested
11:52in and what we have to speak to.
11:55And I appreciate that.
11:56But yeah, everything's a learning curve.
12:00But at that point, of course, that's a significant difference, and let's just say it's not going
12:04to happen again.
12:05Thank you, sir.
12:06Yes, Rich.
12:07Hi, Tammy.
12:08Fox News.
12:09We all know that, right?
12:10Yeah, you have to introduce yourself.
12:11I'm Rich Edson with Fox News.
12:12That's right.
12:13Thank you, Tammy.
12:16Tammy, on this USAID investigation, Peter Morocco has been on Capitol Hill over the
12:21past couple of days, briefing members of Congress and updating them on this, where
12:25he told them that they have uncovered waste fraud and abuse to a level that would require
12:31referrals to the Department of Justice for investigation.
12:35Can you provide any specific examples of illegal wrongdoing or what the department believes
12:43is illegal wrongdoing at USAID?
12:44Well, obviously, and this is my first chance to say of what I can't comment on, which is
12:50in general, certainly any possible litigation, the nature of negotiations or contemplations
12:56regarding action that the government might take, certainly not only because I've not
13:00been in the room, but it's because you've got, whether it's diplomatic conversations
13:06or issues of determining what we might do and what might not do, it also goes into hypotheticals.
13:13So no, I can't answer that.
13:15What I can say, again, is that the level of what we've discovered at USAID is troubling
13:24enough to where this is the kind of conversation that is perhaps going to have to be had by
13:32the American people and even perhaps Congress.
13:37But I think at this point, when we're looking at this kind of an issue that we see through
13:43our existing investigations and inquiries, that we've clearly got some problems.
13:50And so we're determined to correct those problems.
13:52Where it ends up is going to be, of course, something we'll see in the future, but that's
13:56not something I've been involved in.
13:57So a conversation with the American people in Congress, how about with the Department
14:00of Justice?
14:01Well, I don't know.
14:04I don't know.
14:05But it is the seriousness with which this is being addressed is something the American
14:11people should be happy about.
14:13It is why President Trump was elected, was to take action on the things that he campaigned
14:19on, as many people did as well.
14:21We knew something was wrong and it had to change.
14:24And this is up to, of course, to the people who are doing the investigations, whether
14:27or not any of that actually manifests.
14:29All right.
14:30Yes, Sean.
14:32And welcome to the podium.
14:34Sean Tandon with AFP.
14:35Can I switch the topic to the Middle East?
14:36The situation-
14:37Let me do, let me ask, though, anybody, any other questions on the USAID situation?
14:41A bunch of hands.
14:42I'm shocked.
14:44All right.
14:45Let's, we'll get back to you when we, when we move into the Middle East.
14:46Yes, ma'am.
14:48Daphne Solidakis with Reuters.
14:49Hi there.
14:50You said that this is a pause, but we got answers from the State Department saying they've
14:53already cut 92 percent of the awards worth $54 billion.
14:57Is there any chance of those coming back?
14:59And that made it seem like the review was done.
15:01Is it done or is the review still continuing?
15:03Well, when you have a review, it is to assess what's happening in front of you and then
15:07decisions are going to be made.
15:08Right.
15:09So you've got a review.
15:10You've got 90 days to make an assessment within that framework of what works and what
15:14doesn't work.
15:15If there were programs and if they've been cut, the answer would be is that they did
15:18not serve either American interests or make a safer, more secure or more prosperous.
15:24So those decisions are going to be made.
15:26Clearly, some have been in the process of the review.
15:29And are they final?
15:30And is the review-
15:31Well, I think that each case may be different, but we do know that actions have been taken
15:36based on the standards that we set, that the secretary of state has set, and we're
15:40moving forward.
15:41Yes, ma'am.
15:42Thanks, Tammy.
15:43Jennifer Hansler with CNN.
15:44We've heard from groups saying that they had contracts for work that had been granted
15:47waivers by the secretary because they were life-saving activities that were then given
15:52termination notices for the funding for those programs.
15:55Is there a review to see if these can be turned back on and how many of these life-saving
15:59programs have been cut under these terminations?
16:02Right.
16:03Just as a reminder, that part of what was a blanket waiver in this process, in the review,
16:09was of course, we will continue to fund and continue to act on the importance of money
16:14that goes to life-saving work.
16:16Many of those programs, which again, the president articulated during his address to Congress
16:21the other night, certainly did not meet that standard.
16:24So we have that blanket waiver dynamic.
16:29There are anecdotes of certain issues.
16:31We do know that if there's been a problem, that it is reversed.
16:35The secretary is directly involved in this process of assessing the nature of what's
16:40happening and who's getting these funds.
16:43There is also a process for people to reach into the State Department to make the difference,
16:47to apply for a specific waiver, or to indicate if there's an issue and make their case for
16:52these situations.
16:53And I know the secretary cares about the nature of foreign aid.
16:57It is something that has been, he's spoken about for years throughout also his tenure
17:02as a senator.
17:04And he is, I have to say, I did not know him well when I started in this position.
17:09And his commitment to the country and his personal involvement has been heartening.
17:15And I'm sure that in this kind of a dynamic, we've had some frameworks that have been arranged
17:22where people can get into the State Department, indicate if there's been an issue, and then
17:27action can be taken on those.
17:29And do you have an update on payments?
17:31Yes, sir.
17:32Yes, ma'am.
17:34Kamila Sheikh from CBS.
17:35Hi there.
17:36Just to follow up on one thing on Jenny's question, will we see a full list of the grants
17:40and the programs that have been cut or that will be cut in this 90-day review?
17:46You mentioned that there should be a conversation with the American people.
17:49Of course.
17:50I assume that means it will be something that will be transparent for people to see the
17:53list of the programs that have been cut.
17:55And then just on related to USAID, there's reporting from Reuters that more than 700
18:01diplomats have signed a letter that is destined to go to the dissent cable for this department
18:09expressing their concern about the cut, the dismantling, sorry, of USAID and the fear
18:14that this is undermining U.S. leadership abroad and helping create a power vacuum for
18:20the likes of China and Russia to exploit.
18:23Well, your question is important because it is about the list and what's been cut and
18:30what has been kept.
18:31And that is something that I want before I presume, because that's something I've learned
18:36to not do in this particular role, is to make sure that I have the right answer for you.
18:41So I'm going to make sure that we go back.
18:44And this is also, for me, it's important because I think many Americans have questions about
18:49the nature of the details of what's happening.
18:52But it is the foreign policy of the world, obviously, clearly major decisions being made.
18:58And my goal is to make sure, as we can, so that there's a serious ability to kind of
19:06own the information I'm saying to you.
19:09Those are going to be times when I have to come back to you, and this is one of those
19:11times.
19:12But it's a good question.
19:13And yes, I'd like to get that for you.
19:14And on the maps with the dissent cable?
19:16You know, in that regard, you know, we have a dissent cable framework that we're very
19:22proud of.
19:23That is important.
19:25And from what I've learned is that that did not actually go out in that framework.
19:31But also, we will not discuss those if there is internal communications or the nature of
19:37something like that transpiring.
19:39All right.
19:40So, done with USAID and Middle East now?
19:43Sean?
19:44Sure.
19:45Let me kick it off.
19:46Could I ask you about, there's a pressure, of course, on Hamas to extend the ceasefire
19:49deal.
19:50Israel on Sunday said that it's cutting off humanitarian assistance going into Gaza as
19:54a way of pressure.
19:55The European countries, the European allies, the United States have criticized this, saying
19:59that the situation, in their words, is quite catastrophic in Gaza.
20:02Does the United States support the holding of food and other assistance at this point
20:06as a way to achieve these aims?
20:09Well, what we've said before and has been the case before is that aid can only be delivered
20:14in a safe framework.
20:15So as long as it is something that is unsafe or we can't guarantee the safety of something
20:20moving in, that is going to be stopped.
20:23It is not a withholding, but it's certainly a reflection of the framework of the situation
20:29on the ground.
20:30And that continues.
20:32In the meantime, I think that it is also very clear, and this is, the president certainly
20:37has been tweeting about certain situations with Hamas and the nature of what was expected
20:43and has been repeated continually, that all the hostages have got to be released.
20:49They need to be released now.
20:50The bodies they are holding, everything, everyone needs to be released.
20:57And without doing that, there is no path forward.
21:01Secretary Rubio has made clear that as long as Hamas exists in that area with a gun, without
21:08a gun, as long as they are a factor in Gaza and exist, there is no way forward.
21:15It is an impossible situation.
21:18It is monsters who are controlling and destroying Gazan lives and the lives of people around
21:24the region.
21:25It remains an extraordinary dynamic where this administration has made clear, as has
21:30Senator, Secretary Rubio, that we have a framework where it has gone, it's over and over and
21:38over again.
21:39There's been nothing new.
21:41It's wash, rinse and repeat, back and forth, and for generations.
21:46And the approach now in this dynamic is that it has to be a new approach, and that is what
21:51President Trump has said from the beginning, that we've got to think differently.
21:56We've got to think differently about how things proceed in the region.
22:00And this is finally, after this idea, the prompting to think differently, there are
22:06some different and new ideas.
22:08But one thing stays the same and is unmovable here, and it is the existence of Hamas as
22:15a factor on the ground in that region.
22:17It will be impossible to continue.
22:20Yes, sir.
22:22My name is Said Erekat.
22:23I'm from Al-Quds newspaper.
22:24I've heard a little bit about you, and we've had some conversations.
22:26It's great to see you here, sir.
22:28It's good to see you behind the podium.
22:30I have two quick follow-ups, basically, to Gaza.
22:34The President said yesterday, well, he had strong words for Gaza, for Hamas, and for
22:40the people of Gaza.
22:41Now, at the same time, we heard about the meeting that took place between Mr. Bowler
22:48and some senior Hamas officials and so on, which gave people maybe hope that there's
22:53going to be movement towards the phase two of this deal that was struck back on January
23:0215.
23:03My question to you, how do you reconcile the two?
23:05And also, a follow-up to that, so I don't have to come back to you again, is also on
23:09Mr. Witkoff's statements and what he has to say, whether we have an idea as to when he's
23:16going to be going back to the region.
23:18Well, first of all, if you have a conversation with someone, it's not a negotiation.
23:24It's not irreconcilable.
23:27It is the conveyance of the American position in a different way.
23:32Nothing was different.
23:34Nothing was conveyed differently.
23:36There was no change of position.
23:38It was the conveyance of the existing American position about Hamas and how it cannot exist
23:45in Gaza.
23:46Now, whether it is through a tweet or a diplomatic cable or on television or through envoys or
23:55in a meeting, that message can be conveyed.
23:59And I think that that's what's important for the American people to realize, is that the
24:05steps for peace that need to be taken in any country will be taken, and especially in making
24:12sure that a bloodthirsty group like Hamas understands that our message is not fluid.
24:22Yes, Andrea Mitchell.
24:23Great to see you.
24:24Thank you so much.
24:25Change of subject.
24:26Are we?
24:27Well, okay.
24:28Yes.
24:29We'll go to you.
24:30First, we'll take a couple more on Gaza.
24:31Yes, ma'am.
24:33Nadia.
24:34Yes.
24:35Nice to see you.
24:36Good to see you, too.
24:37A couple of questions.
24:38Number one, the Security City is open to the Egyptian plan.
24:42It's been endorsed by the Muslim and Arab countries.
24:45What's your position on that?
24:46It's basically, in a nutshell, saying that Gazans can stay, they can rebuild it with
24:51Arab money and with Palestinians' leadership.
24:54And second, you know, the administration issued many ultimatums to the Hamas before.
25:01What's the difference this time?
25:03And the Secretary echoed what the President said on Gazans themselves.
25:08He said Gazans will await them a beautiful future, but if hostages are held, they're
25:14all dead.
25:15What does that mean?
25:17Well, first of all, we know that the President, in his comments about a new way forward, etc.,
25:24was an invitation for new ideas.
25:26And that seemed to have spurred some new ideas.
25:30But we also know that they have not really been seen as being adequate in the nature
25:35of what it is that we've been asking for.
25:39So it's always, I think that, especially from the words from the President himself, and
25:44I want to get his remarks especially for you, because these are, you know, this is, everybody
25:50clearly wants this to change.
25:51I think that that's obvious, especially with Egypt stepping up and handling it as they
25:57have.
25:58But then it's about what are the details, what's going to end, what's going to be on
26:02the ground.
26:03And hold on one second here, the issue of my notes, which might have to be resolved
26:08for the next briefing.
26:10Hold on.
26:11All right.
26:12Well, it's the, yes, I'm a paper person, as you might be as well.
26:21Well, let me just continue, though, on that manner.
26:25Is that the Arab deal, as it's noted, is that it does not fulfill the requirements, the
26:32nature of what President Trump was asking for.
26:35But it was not, but it was the welcomed effort of continuing to address this clearly has
26:41to continue.
26:43So we understand that it's obviously that region and everyone is interested, has a stake
26:47in this, to say the least.
26:49And the goal is, though, as it has always been, it's very simple, is for peace in that
26:53region and to not have it continue to return as a constant issue.
26:59And we think we have a very good chance at accomplishing that this time with the leadership
27:03and an articulated leadership regarding what's acceptable and what is not.
27:09So these conversations clearly will have to continue.
27:12We know we've got partners clearly in the region and Israel understands that as well.
27:18And this is what the world wants, not only in this conflict, but other conflicts.
27:23And no one wins.
27:24No one is winning here in this framework.
27:27And so regarding the Arab solution, the Arab deal via Egypt, that what I have for you right
27:34now is that it does not meet the expectations.
27:38And so we'll have one more.
27:39Yes, sir.
27:40In the back.
27:41Yeah.
27:42Right.
27:43Ryan Grim, Drop Sight News.
27:44There's been some reporting, our outlet, Israeli press here, some American press, that there
27:48was a side letter that the Biden administration signed or sent to Israel as part of the ceasefire
27:55negotiations that effectively said, okay, this is the deal on paper.
27:59We're going to move from phase one to phase two.
28:00Can I save you some time in your life?
28:03I'm not going to comment on something that happened prior to this administration or to
28:07things that have been heard or the idea of hypotheticals or rumored issues in letters
28:15and what rumored plans were.
28:18That is a non-starter.
28:20So if you have another thing you want to ask, let's do it.
28:22I do have one other thing.
28:23Yes, sir.
28:24Would a letter like that still be in force under the Trump administration?
28:28From one hypothetical to another.
28:30Clearly.
28:31I can't answer that.
28:32But thank you, sir.
28:33In the back.
28:34Yes, sir.
28:35Behind you.
28:36Thank you very much, Tammy.
28:37Jalil Afridi from the Frontier Post.
28:38Hello, sir.
28:39Nice to meet you.
28:40First, I want to say a quick thank you to the president.
28:41I have not seen any journalist saying thank you to him in 2020 during the corona days.
28:46I was one of the affectees as well who spent many months in the hospital.
28:50And the stimulus checks were amazing.
28:54Many journalists took advantage of it.
28:57My first question is, did anybody from the U.S. administration say thank you to Pakistan
29:03on official level regarding this new arrest?
29:08And second, is the president aware that the most popular leader of Pakistan, Imran Khan,
29:17has been in jail now for the last three years and lots of atrocities have happened?
29:23Is the president at all interested in paying a little attention to Pakistan beside this?
29:29Well, I will answer that noting that in his address to Congress, the president announced
29:35the arrest of an ISIS-K operative and planner responsible for the deaths, as I mentioned
29:40earlier today, of the 13 brave American service members and over 160 Afghans at Abbey Gate
29:46that he is now in custody.
29:49And we extend our gratitude to the government of Pakistan.
29:53We do for their partnership in bringing Mohammed Sharifullah to justice.
29:59We would also now refer you for those who want more information to the Department of
30:04Justice for further information regarding his case.
30:09And we have, regarding Pakistan and the nature of our relationship, we have a common interest
30:15obviously in fighting terrorism and the arrest of this terrorist also illustrated that U.S.-Pakistan
30:22cooperation on counterterrorism remains vitally important.
30:26So thank you, sir.
30:27All right.
30:28So now, Andrea, we'll move on here.
30:30Thank you very much.
30:31And thank you and welcome.
30:33And I think all of us are very grateful that the briefings are starting and that you were
30:37good.
30:38I hope to.
30:39I won't always necessarily.
30:40I hope.
30:41My goal is to make you all happy.
30:42Of course, that will be impossible.
30:44And I appreciate your patience with me today as I'm learning clearly the depth.
30:49This room, we've got an overflow room.
30:52We have, I don't want to say any numbers, I pledge not to give you numbers, but it's
30:57a remarkable thing.
30:58The American people care about foreign policy.
31:01They care about national policy.
31:03Your career in particular has kind of taught Americans that this information is interesting.
31:09It's usable.
31:10It's important.
31:11And so it's a pleasure to talk with you.
31:14And just thank you for your commitment to this.
31:17Yes.
31:18Does the Zelensky letter, which includes an apology and various commitments to peace,
31:27which were praised by Mr. Whitkoff at the White House today, does that letter meet the
31:33standard to the secretary that these talks can proceed?
31:39And will the secretary be attending the talks that are now contemplated next week in Saudi
31:45Arabia?
31:46And if you could give us any reaction to the Russian attack on a hotel today where American
31:54aid workers did escape, but at least four people that we know of were killed.
32:01If I could just also throw in, does the letter of apology solve some of the issues to the
32:11extent that the secretary believes intelligence and weapons, the weapons pipeline and intelligence
32:19sharing could be restored?
32:21Well, that's going, that's a road a bit too far.
32:25We will not discuss issues of intelligence or diplomatic agreements or the sharing of
32:30information.
32:31That I will not discuss.
32:32But from the start, after the Friday situation with President Zelensky and Secretary Rubio
32:39was in the room, it was a surprise that his behavior took a turn and in the Oval Office.
32:49And it was clear, as the president had stated publicly, that he was not ready for peace,
32:53that there was one thing that he should not do.
32:56And that was damage the nature of what was transpiring there, because we want to help
33:03him.
33:04We want to help Ukraine.
33:05We are the biggest supporters of Ukraine in this conflict than anyone else in the world.
33:13We have made it very clear from the start how we feel about this situation.
33:18But even after that, even that same night and continuing on, there was an open door
33:23that he wasn't ready for peace.
33:25If he becomes ready for peace, he can come back to the table.
33:29It was certainly not something that eliminated the potential to continue.
33:35But what it did do was highlight, and clearly with the follow-up message from President
33:40Zelensky, there was an awareness that, as he said, it did not go as planned.
33:45It was not a situation that was good or helpful.
33:49And as I'm paraphrasing here, and clearly made it indicated that he was ready to come
33:54back.
33:55I have not spoken in the last few hours with the secretary, but I do know that his posture
34:03has been the same, is that we have a goal.
34:08And we see what's happening.
34:09We want to make sure that certainly the president understood what was happening, that this door
34:14was still unlocked, that he could return.
34:18As we were looking at the nature of what was transpiring in Ukraine, that it's a stalemate.
34:22The secretary has called it a meat grinder, hundreds of thousands of people dead.
34:30And the carnage not stopping, it's a stalemate that both parties have to be brought to the
34:38table to end it.
34:39We also had terrific success, as I mentioned in my opening, at the UN.
34:44The first time since the beginning of this conflict, a three-paragraph statement about
34:50ending the conflict passed without opposition in the Security Council, which is a statement
34:56from those members, but also from the UN in general.
35:00It appears with that note that President Zelensky understands what's at stake, that we are here
35:07to help him, that there is one person who can bring those parties to the table, and
35:11it is President Donald Trump.
35:14The secretary has understood that from the beginning.
35:17This is a united understanding that this has got to end.
35:22And these are men who understand what America can do to help that come to an end.
35:26And I would believe with what has been said before, that in fact, if the president and
35:32the secretary believe that President Zelensky is serious, and that we can move forward,
35:37they have stated in fact that we would.
35:40So we look forward to that.
35:42And Saudi Arabia?
35:44What about Saudi Arabia?
35:46Is it contemplated that the secretary would be attending?
35:49I cannot comment certainly on issues that either have been discussed in a diplomatic
35:56framework or arrangements that might be implemented regarding these kinds of diplomatic negotiations
36:05or efforts.
36:06So I'm sorry, but I can't do that.
36:09All right.
36:10Yes, sir, in the back.
36:11Tom Bateman from the BBC.
36:13Thank you for starting the briefings again.
36:15On the issue of European peacekeepers, which the British and French have both said they're
36:19prepared to put into Ukraine under the president's plans, we heard from Sergei Lavrov, the Russian
36:26foreign minister today, who said that this would mean direct, official and unconcealed
36:31involvement by NATO countries in a war against the Russian Federation.
36:34There is no room for compromise.
36:36And this is an overtly hostile aim.
36:40Do you have any concerns about that?
36:42Well, I don't comment on remarks by leaders or foreign ministers of other countries.
36:48I'm here to represent the Department of State and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
36:54What I think the people of the world should note is the choices that are made by Secretary
36:59Rubio, by President Trump, and the actions that we take to implement our commitment to peace.
37:05Yes, ma'am, in the back.
37:06In the pink.
37:08Thank you very much.
37:10I'm Jenny Park with the USA Journal, Korea.
37:13I have two questions.
37:15First question, President Trump pointed out in his State of the Union address that South
37:22Korea has imposed tariffs four times higher.
37:29What measures will the United States take to resolve the tariff issue with South Korea?
37:39Last week, the North Korean Workers' Party secretly visited Russia and met with President
37:48Putin to upgrade the level of the Russia and North Korea alliance.
37:55Does the United States believe that the North Korean troops should withdraw from Russia
38:02to end the war between Russia and Ukraine?
38:07Well, thank you.
38:09I really can't remark on issues of the North Korean relationship with Russia at this point
38:16or that particular regional effort or action that may have occurred.
38:21So that's not something I can remark on right now.
38:23I certainly, for both of your questions, will go back and talk to the Secretary, mention
38:30to him, as I have and as I've pledged to many of you who I met earlier in our bullpen
38:35here, that part of my goal is to make sure that not only do I have a good broader view
38:42of what interests all of you, but to make sure that the Secretary knows as well.
38:47I think that that's part of what is important to our communications with you.
38:51Besides what we can and cannot share, it is to make sure that we know where your interests
38:56are also.
38:57All right, sir.
38:58Yes, sir.
39:00Congratulations.
39:01And thanks for doing this.
39:02At the opening remarks, you talked about Iran is under the maximum pressure.
39:06So I have a question related to that.
39:08And I'm sorry, what is your outlet?
39:11My name is D.R.
39:12Khoda.
39:13I'm working for Ruda Media Network.
39:14It's a Kyrgyz TV.
39:15All right.
39:16All right.
39:17Maximum pressure.
39:18Yeah.
39:19Iraqi sanctions waiver for Iran gas imports expires on March 8th, which is the day after
39:23tomorrow.
39:25Do you intend to renew this sanctions waiver or do you intend to renew that sanctions waiver
39:28for 120 more days?
39:32And I have the second question.
39:33Do you want me to ask now or after you?
39:35Well, let me let me answer that question because I see my staff standing up by the pillar because
39:40I don't tend to keep track of certain things, but like time.
39:44But here's what I can tell you.
39:45The Iraq sanctions waiver, as you've noted, for Iran gas imports expires on the 8th.
39:52And we have at this point, as you might imagine, we have nothing to announce with regards to
39:58the current electricity waiver that expires on the 8th.
40:02In line with National Security Presidential Memorandum No. 2, we are reviewing all existing
40:08sanctions waivers that provide Iran any degree of economic or financial relief.
40:16And we are urging the Iraqi government to eliminate its dependence on Iranian sources
40:20of energy as soon as possible and welcome the Iraqi prime minister's commitment to achieve
40:25energy independence.
40:26Hopefully, the United States is leading the way when it comes to that kind of an approach.
40:30All right.
40:31I think.
40:32Are we are we wrapping up here?
40:33I think we are.
40:34We will do this again on Tuesday unless circumstances change that.
40:39One last thing.
40:40Africa, please.
40:41Someone wants one.
40:42See, this is going to happen.
40:43It's like one last thing in Africa.
40:45All right.
40:46Hold on.
40:47One last thing.
40:48Africa.
40:50Yes.
40:51Yes.
40:52Africa.
40:53Let's do it.
40:55We have a lot of interests in that continent.
40:56So thank you.
40:57Yes, ma'am.
40:59So thank you.
41:00Yes.
41:01My name is Hariana Veras and I'm with TPA.
41:02Recently, I asked President Trump about his interest in joining the effort of the president
41:09of Angola, President John Lorenzo, who is mediating the conflict between DRC and Rwanda,
41:15if he would be interested to join the efforts of Angola to bring peace to DRC.
41:20He said that the situation in the DRC is a very serious situation.
41:25But we have seen that in this first 100 days of President Trump, he's making some movement.
41:31He imposed sanctions on the people that are directly involved on the conflict in DRC.
41:37And also Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
41:40He spoke with the foreign minister of Angola and also President Chiseked of Congo.
41:48Is there any plan or can we expect something more in terms of action from the United States
41:55to join Angola's effort to bring peace to DRC?
41:59Because every day people are dying and we have seen how eager President Trump wants
42:03to bring peace in many regions.
42:06Not only between Russia and Ukraine, but also he's showing interest to bring peace
42:14in other regions.
42:15Is the Democratic Republic of the Congo one of the countries that this administration
42:20will do something to bring peace?
42:21Well, I can tell you, and this is, I think, a good way to end the briefing today, just
42:26as a reminder, yes, of the global commitment that this administration has, but that Senator
42:32Why do I keep doing that?
42:33He's the Secretary.
42:34He's the Secretary of State.
42:36That the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has in the world.
42:41I can tell you that we stand in firm support of the Congolese people and of the sovereignty
42:47and territorial integrity of the DRC.
42:49I can say that in his calls with the two presidents, the Secretary urged an immediate ceasefire
42:55in the region, accountability for human rights abuses and violations, and for all parties
43:01to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.
43:04We expect to see leaders return to the Angolan-led Luanda process and the Nairobi process and
43:11take action to resolve the conflict.
43:14We are aware of this.
43:15He has communicated this.
43:17He's engaged with leaders in the region on this as well.
43:20And we remain diplomatically engaged.
43:23That is going to continue.
43:25It will not soften or end.
43:28And I appreciate you being here, because this is very important, and it's a big story.
43:32Might not get as much coverage in the media, but there's a lot of problems here in the
43:39world, and the Secretary is committed to solving them, as is the president.
43:44So it is a team and a whole of government understanding that our world here at home
43:49needs to change and reform, and the way that the world is unfolding now with its conflicts,
43:57that needs to reform as well.
43:58So the DRC, thank you.
44:00All right, everyone, thank you very much.
44:01I'll see you on Tuesday as well.
44:03Thanks for being here.
44:04Appreciate it.
44:05Don't miss out.
44:06Log on to OneIndia.com for more updates.