On Thursday, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott held a press briefing.
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00:00Hi.
00:01Again, my name is Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson.
00:08For those that are just tuning in, I'm in again for the day for Spokesperson Tammy Bruce,
00:13who is traveling with the Secretary.
00:16So a few remarks up top, and then I'll be happy to take some questions.
00:21Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio's leadership, the United States is ushering
00:25in a new golden era for the American people.
00:28This week in the Middle East, the administration has so far announced landmark agreements worth
00:33hundreds of billions of dollars.
00:35These deals will expand American manufacturing, strengthen critical supply chains, and fuel
00:41innovation.
00:42Meanwhile, at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland this week, Deputy Secretary Landau
00:47joined the Department of Commerce to promote new opportunities for foreign investment that
00:51will directly benefit American workers and businesses.
00:56On the security front, Secretary Rubio traveled to Antalya, Turkey, for the NATO informal for
01:02the NATO informal foreign ministers meeting, where he underscored the United States' commitment
01:08to strengthening our alliances and enhancing military readiness.
01:12As the Secretary stated, to better protect our alliance, defense production must rise.
01:18Military readiness must improve.
01:20And burden sharing must be real.
01:22The United States looks forward to charting a course towards the 5 percent NATO defense
01:26spending target.
01:29From Turkey A, Secretary Rubio will travel to Italy to accompany Vice President J.D. Vance
01:34for the inaugural Mass of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.
01:37This sacred moment marks a time of spiritual unity for Catholics worldwide.
01:41And the Secretary will join the Vice President in this prayerful celebration.
01:45And finally, to further support regional stability, the President also affirmed the United States'
01:50support for a peaceful future in Syria.
01:52As the President said, he is ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give
01:57them a chance at greatness.
02:00From revitalizing America's economy to forging pathways to peace, the Trump administration is
02:05delivering on its promises.
02:07The results are clear, and more is yet to come.
02:11And with that, I'll take some questions.
02:13Yes.
02:14Hi, it's Ellen Nickmeyer with the AP.
02:16Did the Trump administration on its Gulf trip raise the detentions of rights activists in Saudi Arabia?
02:27Did it ask for American citizens and American residents in Saudi Arabia to be able, allowed,
02:37free from travel bans and allowed to return home?
02:40And did it raise relatedly the issue of alleged UAE support to the RSF during the UAE stop?
02:56And then, separately, in a…
02:57Let me just address some of that, just a lot there already to unpack.
03:00I'm not going to discuss private diplomatic conversations, but what I can say is that
03:04when U.S. citizens have raised the challenges they experience with exit bans, we have provided
03:09consular assistance and work to ensure they receive fair and transparent treatment.
03:14That's what I have to offer there.
03:16When it comes to, again, not going to talk about private diplomatic conversations, but when
03:20it comes to those reports, we have heard of those reports when it comes to the RSF,
03:24excuse me.
03:25Both the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces have used weapons acquired from foreign actors against
03:29the civilian population and have committed human rights violations and abuses.
03:33Supplying arms to any of the belligerents prolongs the conflict and heightens the risk of further
03:38destabilization of Sudan and the region.
03:40The United States calls for an end to all external support to the warring parties and urges
03:44all our partners to press for a comprehensive cessation of hostilities and increased humanitarian
03:49access.
03:50I've got a second question, but I'll observe that the RSF actually – I mean that the U.S.
03:55actually has sanctions on the UAE for – UAE companies for support to the RSF.
04:00And separately, there's progress on – the Gaza Humanitarian Fund says there's – foundation
04:08says there's – it's making progress with Israel on resuming aid in Gaza.
04:13Can you address, you know, explain what the U.S. role in that is, the U.S. government role,
04:20what funding or support it's going to give?
04:24And if it's concerned by humanitarian groups' criticism that this violates humanitarian law
04:32by allowing a combatant Israel to control aid delivery to civilians?
04:39Well, look, one of the fundamental principles of this plan is that it is independent, meant
04:43to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.
04:45And we welcome the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's official launch yesterday.
04:49The Secretary also just spoke to this as well.
04:52We have seen what has happened in Gaza because of the hostilities that Hamas bears sole responsibility
04:58for.
04:59We have seen this announcement.
05:00We welcome creative solutions to get aid in there.
05:02But as the Secretary also just said, we need to see aid enter Gaza in a way that does not
05:07allow Hamas or other terrorists to take that aid.
05:10So we welcome this creative solution.
05:13We welcome the Foundation's announcement.
05:15I refer you to the Foundation itself for further details on this program.
05:19Can I follow up?
05:20Yes, Andrea.
05:21I want to ask you about Secretary Lando's trip out to Dulles to greet the South African refugees
05:32and State Department decision-making about the genocide designation that's under consideration,
05:40which the President had mentioned as genocide is happening there.
05:45There is a lot of evidence, public evidence, that is in open sources of farmers, white farmers not wanting to come,
05:56of black killings exceeding by large measure white killings in the crime problem that they do have,
06:04and that there is no white genocide to justify this kind of extraordinary accelerated refugee process for white South Africans.
06:15On the same day that temporary protective status was withdrawn from Afghans, thousands of them, many of whom are sponsored by U.S. military veterans because they were their translators.
06:28So can you unpack that and the disparity in treatment and what is the status of any kind of genocide investigation on what is happening to white South Africans?
06:43Well, the President has been very clear the concerns that he has in terms of South Africa.
06:47He has expressed those publicly and often.
06:50When it comes to temporary protected status, I refer you to DHS.
06:53That was always meant as a temporary program, a temporary benefit, but I refer you to DHS for more questions on that.
06:58Again, when it comes to the new arrivals that we saw, what we saw was a president who identified a priority that we fulfilled here at the State Department.
07:07And what's also clear is that the refugees that arrived met the same standard that is across the board for refugees.
07:13They met that standard.
07:14So what we're seeing here is a president who has been clear about his concerns with South Africa and the State Department has acted on that.
07:20And the refugees that we saw met the standard in statute for refugees.
07:24The standard may be uniform, but the speed is not.
07:28We have people, Afghans, who are still in refugee camps since the fall of the Afghanistan regime,
07:38who are waiting to hear about SIV status or waiting to hear about refugee status, who have worked with the U.S.
07:45They are in Doha.
07:47They are in Albania.
07:49They are in Pakistan for years waiting to get the kind of treatment.
07:55And that is not a DHS function.
07:57That is a State Department function.
07:59Well, on that SIV front, SIV interviews continue.
08:01That process continues.
08:03What we have seen, again, is a president being very clear about concerns he has regarding South Africa and the treatment of Afrikaners in South Africa.
08:09Is that data to back that up?
08:11Oh, is it all anecdotal from advisers?
08:13Well, this has been a concern that the president's had for a very long time.
08:15He's been clear about that for years, about the abuses we are seeing in South Africa.
08:20So this is a priority outlined by the president.
08:22The president then directs the State Department and others to implement that priority.
08:26And we're seeing the State Department fulfill those executive orders.
08:28Is there a formal genocide investigation underway at the State Department?
08:31Again, the president has spoken to this.
08:33I are afraid his comments.
08:34Nothing further to add on that front.
08:35But, Tommy, just to follow up, I mean, what evidence can you share today from the podium to underscore there's a fact there's a genocide going on in South Africa against the white?
08:49Well, look, the president, again, has been very clear on this.
08:51I refer you to his comments.
08:52When it comes to the treatment of the refugees that we saw arrive, that is that same standard in statute for refugees.
08:58And there were harrowing stories that they told about the treatment that they suffered.
09:02So what we are seeing is a problem that has been identified by the president and the State Department fulfilling those executive orders.
09:08So, again, we have heard these stories that have come through.
09:11The refugees there met the same statute for refugees that is uniform and standard.
09:16And that will continue to implement the president's priorities in this regard.
09:19Can I have one more question on this?
09:21Sure.
09:22You said they met the same statute, which indicates that there are others who are in the same exact boat that they are in right now around the world.
09:31So why was it a decision to prioritize these refugees over other refugees?
09:37And was there any racial element to this because they're white?
09:40So I want to just on that first part, what I mean there is there's a certain standard that's outlined.
09:44There's certain criteria that needs to be met.
09:46That's what I meant in terms of that standard.
09:48So there's a certain standard that is applied when someone's applying for a refugee status in this program.
09:53And so that standard is uniform across the board.
09:55So I want to clarify that aspect of it.
09:57And again, the president has been very clear about the actions we are seeing in South Africa.
10:02The fact that this was a priority laid up by the president and the State Department is fulfilling that priority.
10:06And you don't want to speak to any racial reasoning for allowing them to come in being white refugees versus not allowing any Latino or people of color coming into the U.S. as refugees this year.
10:19Fundamentally, what we have seen are harrowing stories from those refugees.
10:23They have met the standard that is applicable for those refugees.
10:27We have seen that process play out.
10:29This has been a priority for the president.
10:30And again, just looking at this scenario, we have heard harrowing stories here.
10:34That is what is at issue here.
10:37The fact that these people have gone through certain conditions.
10:39We have seen that standard for refugees apply.
10:41They have gone through this process.
10:42It's a priority from the president.
10:44And that's why we're seeing the actions that were taken.
10:47Can I just follow up on that?
10:48All right.
10:49Thanks, Tommy.
10:50I think also we're asking because the determination of genocide is normally something that is determined by the Secretary of State.
10:59So I just want to clarify, are you saying that this is now something that is determined by the President of the United States?
11:04And that's why I think Andrew was asking if there is an investigation in this building into whether that designation for genocide is being determined in this building still or if something has changed?
11:13Well, again, as I said, the President's been very clear about the issues that we have regarding South Africa.
11:17He's been very clear on that continually.
11:19I have nothing further to add at this point.
11:20But it's a legal determination.
11:21It's not a determination made by the President of the United States.
11:24That's why we're asking.
11:25Again, I'd address this issue in terms of the President's been very clear about the issues we've seen from the State Department's perspective.
11:30There's a priority laid out by the President.
11:32We are fulfilling that priority.
11:34And again, the stories that we have heard are harrowing.
11:36And so we're seeing the fact that these people have met that same standard for refugees.
11:39And we're seeing the State Department fulfill the executive orders of the President.
11:42Did they also get – did you also look through their social media files?
11:47I mean, is there some – to look for anti-Semitism, for instance, for some of the people who came?
11:54Well, as a matter of general policy, we're unable to comment on specifics of that nature.
11:58And so I'm not going to do that from the podium here.
12:00Can I ask you a different – oh, I just have a totally different question before we get on to the Middle East.
12:05All right.
12:06I had a question on Cuba.
12:08The Deputy Foreign Minister is saying that there's no Chinese spy base on the island despite – and is dismissing some recent satellite images.
12:17I just wonder what your assessment is.
12:19We will not talk about intelligence matters from the podium.
12:21So at this point, nothing to further – to add on that.
12:23No comment.
12:24Yes.
12:25Thank you, Tommy.
12:26Going back to Gaza on the issue of the aid, of course.
12:30Now, you know, for all the months before the January 19 agreement, aid was going in.
12:38Even in the most intensive fighting that occurred over a period of more than a year, aid was still going in.
12:45What has happened since March 2 until now that this allows aid to go in?
12:51Do we have, like, a timetable?
12:52And isn't it really ironic that the Palestinians, you know, have – demand a measure of basic human right, the right to eat, on the day – the 15th of May, which is, you know, the 77th anniversary of the catastrophe?
13:07We still have to talk and debate whether they have a right to eat or not.
13:11Well, what I can tell you what's happened is there has been this proposal to get aid into Gaza in a creative way that makes sure Hamas cannot steal it.
13:19That is what I can tell you has happened and that the United States has endorsed that effort to get aid in there.
13:24So that is what has happened.
13:25And what I can also tell you what happened is on October 7th, Hamas coming and committing atrocities.
13:31Hamas bears sole responsibility for this conflict, but as the Secretary just described, we care about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
13:38That's why we have endorsed this measure to get aid in there.
13:41That's why we have seen this be a constant topic of conversation here at the podium and elsewhere.
13:47And what we are seeing from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's announcement is a creative way to get in there and make sure aid is reaching the people that actually need it.
13:54Do we have a timetable for this?
13:55I mean, do we – can we say like in two weeks, three weeks, a month, the aid can go in?
14:00Well, look, what we're looking to is that delivering of aid by the end of the month.
14:04But ultimately, I refer to the foundation for more details on the specifics of that.
14:08Yes.
14:10One follow-up on Gaza, and I will also ask on Syria.
14:14Can you give us – provide us more details about who will fund this new foundation, Gaza Foundation, and what role the U.S. will actually play in the aid delivery?
14:27Well, ultimately, I refer you to the foundation for more details on the specifics of that nature.
14:31As the Secretary has said, we welcome this announcement to get aid in there.
14:35But I defer you to the foundation – refer you to the foundation for more details.
14:38And on Syria, Secretary Rubio meets Syrian Foreign Minister Al-Shayban and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan today in Antalya, Turkey.
14:46You just shared a readout of the meeting.
14:49Secretary Rubio said right after the meeting that the U.S. will start with initial waivers instead of fully lifting the sanctions.
14:58Can you provide more details on like when and under what conditions these sanctions might be fully lifted?
15:07And will the U.S. do anything to contribute to the reconstruction of Syria?
15:16Was this discussed during the meeting too?
15:18Look, what I can say, as the Secretary said during those comments, is that this is something that had been discussed, worked on, options considered for many weeks leading up to this announcement, and that we are going to be implementing what the President has announced as an administration.
15:33In terms of exact timelines, I have nothing further to preview on that front now, except for to say the fact that we are moving now to implement this announcement.
15:40And this was something that was discussed, as the Secretary said himself, for many weeks leading up to this announcement.
15:45Can we come back to the Gaza Foundation just to try to get some clarity on this?
15:52So you're talking about this being the U.S. has endorsed it.
15:55You're praising this creative thinking.
15:58Whose plan is it?
16:00Who is the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation?
16:02Well, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is the foundation.
16:05I mean, I refer you to them for more details on their leadership.
16:07Should we call this a U.S. plan? Is it an Israeli plan?
16:11The U.N. has said they're not going to be involved in it.
16:14So, you know, who do we credit with this creative thinking?
16:17Well, again, as I said earlier, this is an independent plan in terms of making sure that aid reaches the people that need it.
16:23As the Secretary said, we endorse this plan in the sense that we want to see creative solutions.
16:28As he also said, if there are better options to get aid in there, we'd like to see those options provided.
16:33But ultimately, again, as he said, our priority here is making sure that aid gets the people that need it in a way where that aid is not stolen by Hamas or other terrorists.
16:41When you say endorsed, it sounds like kind of moral support.
16:44But is the U.S. providing any funding for this?
16:47I refer you to the foundation for details on their funding.
16:49But why is that down to the foundation?
16:51I have nothing to preview in terms of this.
16:52I'm asking the State Department if the State Department is providing any funding for this.
16:56Nothing to preview at this time on that.
16:58So all you're doing is providing endorsement?
17:01Well, look, as the Secretary said, again, we welcome this creative solution.
17:04We see the plans moving forward there.
17:07They announced and detailed those yesterday.
17:09If I have my time incorrect on that, refer you to them for more details.
17:13And there's been reports that David Beasley, who's former World Food Program head, is going to be involved.
17:20Can you can you speak to that and anything about the leadership of this foundation?
17:24Well, when it comes to Dave Beasley, Dave Beasley would be fantastic.
17:28So we're hoping he comes on board as well.
17:30He accepted the Nobel Prize on behalf of the World Food Program when he was leading the organization.
17:35And he's one of the most respected humanitarian leaders in the world.
17:37And sorry, would he lead the humanitarian conversations for the State Department with Israel and Gaza?
17:43Is that the intent in here?
17:44MR.
17:45Nothing further to preview besides what I just provided here at this time.
17:47You're saying we would be good, but you don't have any information on him being involved?
17:51MR.
17:52Again, this is the data that we have here in terms of David Beasley would be fantastic.
17:56So we're hoping that he comes on board, but nothing further to add at this time.
17:59Can I just ask on a security point question?
18:01MR.
18:02I'm just – well, since he had the early one, we'll go over here.
18:05On Iran, today the President said the U.S. and Iran are very close to a deal and said that
18:11Tehran has already sort of agreed to terms.
18:13Can you elaborate on that?
18:15And is there another round of direct, indirect negotiations scheduled to get this over the
18:20finniff?
18:21MR.
18:22I'm not sure if you're on private diplomatic conversations nor negotiate through the media
18:25when it comes to the details of these negotiations, these talks.
18:28What I can say again, as we've reiterated here, is that the President has been clear that Iran
18:32can never have a nuclear weapon.
18:34The talks have been described as constructive by the participants in them.
18:38And so, again, Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.
18:41And the President has been clear he wants to see diplomacy – he wants to see a diplomatic solution
18:45here.
18:46Yes.
18:47Tony, can you speak to the remaining meetings for Secretary Rubio in Turkey and in Europe?
18:56I think you just mentioned his trip on Sunday – or the trip regarding the Vatican.
19:04But in terms of discussions about Ukraine, do you have anything to preview or to share in
19:11terms of will he engage with Ukraine's foreign minister and the other officials, even if
19:17Minister Lavrov or even if the Russian government does not have a presence at the Secretary's
19:23level in terms of officials engaged in Turkey at this point?
19:26MR.
19:27Well, the Secretary just spoke to this a little while ago.
19:29I refer you to his comments on that.
19:30MR.
19:31Okay.
19:33Thank you, Tommy.
19:34A question on Syria.
19:36After the President's meeting with the Syrian interim President and today's meeting between
19:40Secretary Rubio and Syrian foreign minister, do you recognize this Syrian interim authority
19:47now?
19:48Or do you still hold your previous position on that?
19:51MR.
19:52Well, look, what we want to see in taking a step back is Syria take certain actions that
19:56were detailed in the readout the White House put out.
19:59We've also seen the Secretary discuss this in terms of movement forward.
20:02I don't necessarily want to get ahead of where that movement might be, but ultimately just
20:07to reinforce the fact that, as the President said, we want to give Syria a chance at greatness,
20:12and we are working now to implement what the President announced in his speech in Saudi
20:15Arabia.
20:16And Secretary Rubio was touching the importance of protecting the human rights of all Syrians.
20:21We have seen this interim authority were violating many international laws, and they were even
20:28harassing the Jews people and the Kurdish and the Christians.
20:33What's your position on these minority rights in Syria after you met with the Syrian foreign
20:39minister and after the President's meeting with Ahmad al-Shara?
20:42MR.
20:43Well, again, not to discuss the private diplomatic conversations that were happening in that regard.
20:47We have been clear in regards to any nation that we have certain expectations, and there
20:52have been expectations that the President has communicated to Syria regarding a whole host
20:56of actions.
20:57And again, those actions that we're hoping that they take are hand in hand with this announcement
21:02in terms of lifting sanctions, that opportunity to achieve greatness.
21:05So it's the cessation of sanctions, but also the actions we're hoping to see them take would
21:10then contribute to that, that long peace, that prosperity that the President and Secretary want
21:14to see for the entire region.
21:16MR.
21:17Yes.
21:19Going back to Ukraine and Russian talk, is Secretary going to Istanbul as a Secretary
21:28of State or as a national security advisor?
21:31And is there any chance that he is going to meet with Russian delegation?
21:34MR.
21:35Well, again, the Secretary spoke to that just recently.
21:37I refer you to his comments on that.
21:39Nothing further to that.
21:40Yes.
21:42A high-level meeting of trading ministers from major countries is being held today on Jeju
21:51Island, South Korea, ahead of the APEC summit to be held in Gyeongju, South Korea, in October
22:00and November.
22:01Is there a possibility that additional U.S. and South Korea follow up the U.S. and China
22:08by rather the additional talks will be held?
22:13MR.
22:14Well, what I can say is that the President has been clear he wants to strike deals that
22:17benefit the American people.
22:18And when we see that, that also benefits our relationships with other countries.
22:22We're seeing benefits that help both in our bilateral relationship and that.
22:26So nothing to preview on a specific agreement.
22:27But I will say, I think this is a testament to the fact of the President's agenda.
22:32The fact that we have seen historic deals that have been brokered by the President that
22:35are already yielding results for the American people.
22:37We've seen inflation come down, gas and grocery prices falling.
22:41We've seen investment entering the United States.
22:44Of course, the major announcements we also see in terms of investment in the Middle East
22:48this week, but also in general, we're seeing a flood of investment into the United States.
22:52We're seeing that benefit for the American worker.
22:54And again, by putting that American worker first, the American people first, that leads
22:58to deals that benefit both countries in the sense of trade agreements.
23:02So again, we've seen countries come to the table, and the President's the best dealmaker
23:05in the world.
23:06Quick follow-up.
23:07The ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine failed.
23:12And do you predict that the meeting between Putin and Zelensky to take place soon?
23:19MR.
23:20I'm not going to speculate on that at all.
23:23MR.
23:24Thank you, Tommy.
23:25A couple of questions.
23:26One on Syria.
23:27I want to understand, does lifting sanctions on Damascus come up with any conditions?
23:34And secondly, on May 17, the Arab League is scheduled to be held in Baghdad, Iraq.
23:39Does the security review attend the meeting?
23:42MR.
23:43Nothing to preview on that second question.
23:44Again, on the first, let's reiterate what the President said.
23:47This is about giving Syria an opportunity for greatness.
23:50And there have been actions that have been communicated by the President.
23:53It was detailed in the readout that the White House put out.
23:56It has been detailed again from this podium in terms of actions that Syria should take.
24:00And those actions that we hope to see them take go hand-in-hand with that opportunity for
24:03greatness.
24:04That if they take those actions, we could see a long peace, prosperity.
24:09Again, something that the President wishes for the entire region.
24:12MR.
24:13Thank you very much.
24:16After successfully mediating ceasefire between Pakistan and India to prevent dangerous escalation
24:23in the region, President Trump has said that he will work with both countries to see if
24:28they could arrive on any solution for Kashmir dispute.
24:31What is your take on it?
24:33How does the State Department see this issue?
24:35Is it bilateral for you or it is open for any third-party mediation?
24:39MR.
24:40Well, look, what we're happy to see is a ceasefire.
24:42That's what we've said for the last couple of days now.
24:44And we want to encourage and see direct talks between the parties.
24:47We have been clear on that.
24:48Taking a step back, the President is a peacemaker.
24:50And we celebrate the advancement of peace.
24:52And we hope to see the ceasefire be maintained.
24:54And the President has also been clear in terms of the praise that he has given both prime
24:58ministers of both countries for the wisdom and the fortitude that they showed by choosing
25:03the path of peace.
25:05MR.
25:06Yes.
25:07Thank you very much, Tommy.
25:08Me?
25:09Thank you very much, Tommy.
25:11One on Pakistan and one on Afghanistan, please.
25:14Both the leaders in Pakistan and India — in Pakistan, he is known as a fake prime minister.
25:23And in India, the prime minister is known as a big hater of Muslim, Christians and Sikhs.
25:30Is the State Department at all worried that now, when they have extended the dateline until
25:3518th, after that, any nuclear thing is being discussed seriously or not?
25:40MR.
25:41Well, again, what we are happy to see is a ceasefire.
25:43And that's where our focus remains, the direct talks we want to see.
25:46And again, the President has been clear praising both prime ministers for choosing the path
25:49of peace.
25:50Second one on Afghanistan, please.
25:52So, Afghan girls are now without education for three years.
25:57Has the President or the Secretary at all entrusted in that country's girls to get educated and
26:05work towards their children not becoming terrorists again?
26:09Something like that?
26:10MR.
26:11Well, look, we've spoken at this before and other avenues.
26:14What I can say, again, is that when it comes to our national interest, when we're looking
26:17at our national interest, we're going to continue putting America first.
26:20But nothing further to add in terms of that question there.
26:23MR.
26:24All right.
26:26Thank you very much.