State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce held a press briefing.
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00:00Finally. I know you control the weather, too, Matt. You should have just done a little bit better.
00:09A few days ago when it was 28 degrees, had somebody better tell April that she's not February?
00:17All right.
00:21I have a few announcements.
00:25So the topper is a little long. I hope it'll be interesting enough for you. It's interesting for me.
00:34All right. Welcome aboard, everyone. Thank you very much for being here.
00:37As this is my first briefing this week, I'd like to wish Christians a blessed Holy Week and Jewish people all around the world a happy Passover.
00:47And now today, as anti-Semitism surges around the world, our message to Jewish communities remains unchanged.
00:54The United States stands with you. We will fight anti-Semitism with unwavering determination.
01:01We will advocate for the safety and security of Jews everywhere.
01:05And on to something else as well. On the tariffs, the coverage of President Trump's indefatigable effort to make this country great again involves the Herculean effort to change the trading trajectory of this country,
01:21which has been placed under a crushing burden of a web of unfair trade arrangements, resulting in American taxpayers being ripped off every single day.
01:32Only President Trump has the vision and the courage to say enough is enough.
01:37The United States of America has the great benefit of having the world's best dealmaker as president.
01:42His actions on tariffs have illustrated to our enemies and allies alike that the United States is a nation that should not be taken for granted
01:51and whose fortunes are directly connected to the success of every other nation on this planet.
01:58Through this process, Americans and people of the world over have been reminded about how America has been taken advantage of
02:06and that courtesy of President Trump, we have a way to fix the damage done to this nation and the world by the global left.
02:15Now with over 130 countries coming to renegotiate their trade relationship with the United States,
02:21President Trump has reset not just the trade environment, but has also reminded the world that respect matters
02:28and will be expected by President Trump and the people of this nation.
02:33In announcements for today as well, the State Department has canceled another 139 grants with $214 million
02:42under Secretary Rubio's direction.
02:46As the Secretary said, quote,
02:48the American taxpayers should not be funding misguided programs.
02:52We are cleaning up the mess the previous administration left
02:55and rebuilding an agency that's focused on putting America first.
03:00Now, let's look back to last weekend.
03:04Ambassador Stephen Whitcoff conducted talks with the Iranian foreign minister,
03:09which were hosted by the Omani foreign minister.
03:12As the White House statement described, quote,
03:14the discussions were very positive and constructive,
03:17and the sides agreed to meet again next Saturday.
03:22Our goal remains clear.
03:24In the words of Ambassador Whitcoff, quote,
03:26a deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal.
03:31Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East,
03:39meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.
03:45It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, yet fair deal that will endure,
03:54and that is what President Trump has asked me to do.
03:57Also last weekend, Expo 2025 Osaka officially opened on Sunday in Osaka, Japan.
04:06The 31,000-square-foot USA pavilion showcases American excellence, innovation, and leadership
04:13and reinforces our commitment to engagement in the Indo-Pacific and the U.S.-Japan bilateral relationship.
04:21Over the coming six months, the Expo looks forward to welcoming millions of visitors.
04:26Back here at home, Secretary Rubio joined President Trump in welcoming President Bukele to the United States yesterday.
04:33Since Secretary Rubio's visit to El Salvador, the United States has deported dangerous MS-13 and TDA gang members to El Salvador's prison.
04:43Because of this, our nation is safer and more secure.
04:46As Secretary Rubio said of President Trump and President Bukele,
04:50our hemisphere is lucky to have two leaders who are totally aligned in their commitment to law and order.
04:56Last, in non-foreign policy news, I want to applaud the Trump administration's FDA on their plan to phase out various animal testing requirements.
05:08As the FDA said in their announcement, quote,
05:11The new approach is designed to improve drug safety and accelerate the evaluation process while reducing animal experimentation,
05:20lowering research and developmental costs, and ultimately, lowering drug prices.
05:26Bravo.
05:28That's my topper.
05:31All right.
05:32Now, to your questions.
05:33Sir, Mr. Bentley, the AP.
05:35Thank you, Jeremy.
05:36Yes.
05:36I just wanted to, just a point of clarification.
05:39You said that only President Trump can undo the damage done to the world, the nation and the world, by the global left?
05:49I know, surprising that comes from me.
05:51It's surprising that that comes from me.
05:52It has to do with, you're talking about tariffs, right?
05:55The whole world free trade, international trade regulations that began after the Second World War.
06:01I'm looking at one, Eisenhower, two, Nixon, Reagan, Bush, one, Bush, two, and I'm...
06:11Yes.
06:11Well, you know, there's something.
06:13Let me answer you, sir.
06:14Are they part of global left?
06:14Let me answer you.
06:15Let me answer you.
06:17Everything that starts, like, well, trade, there's always a good idea, right?
06:22You always have a really great plan, and things move along, and it's very good, and it's very nice.
06:25And then time changes, and the left gets control of certain aspects, certain countries, certain congresses, and things begin to change, and spending begins to increase, and arrangements begin to change, and are not necessarily as good for the United States.
06:40The fact of the matter is, at this point in time, we are on an unsustainable path, a burden that is crushing.
06:47You see it in the actions that this administration has to take regarding the budget of this entire entity.
06:53This becomes an addiction.
06:56It's an addiction to other people's money.
06:59And as Margaret Thatcher noted, of course, is that the main problem with socialism, sir, the main problem with socialism is when you run out of other people's money.
07:09Because that eventually happens.
07:10I know that's not perhaps satisfactory for the Associated Press.
07:13But I love you anyway, man.
07:14I love you anyway.
07:15But your question is, at least my answer to what your statement was, is that at this point in time, President Trump is the only person that can undo the Leviathan that this trade framework became around the world, and he's doing it.
07:30And I've been watching this coverage, the pearl clutching.
07:36It's been remarkable.
07:38This is going to be one of the greatest resets of many resets that the Trump administration has implemented.
07:44And it's going to make a difference not just for the American people, but for all those countries that realize that this has to change.
07:50So it would be better for the world.
07:51My point was merely that are you trying to say that all those presidents and who you just mentioned while you're passionate about?
07:58I can't believe you.
07:59I've just talked away too much already.
08:01I think I've answered that.
08:02Yes, sir.
08:02I think I've answered that.
08:03All right.
08:03So on the grants that you just said were canceled, I have to segue from this.
08:08Can you be more specific about what those were?
08:11The two, was it 139?
08:14Well, we'll get those details.
08:16What we do know is that the Secretary himself felt passionate enough about this to tweet it himself.
08:22Oh, he did?
08:23And that what I stated to you about his commentary was from his account, the Secretary's tweet, at 1235 p.m. this afternoon.
08:33And I'll read it again because there's a couple more details here in the tweet.
08:37Under my direction, the State Department has canceled another 139 grants worth $214 million.
08:43The American taxpayers should not be funding misguided programs like building the migrant domestic worker-led movement in Lebanon
08:51or get the trolls out in the United Kingdom.
08:57We are cleaning up the mess the previous administration left and rebuilding an agency that's focused on putting America first.
09:03So those are two examples that the Secretary shared.
09:07There are, because I'm a mathematician, 137 more.
09:10And I'm sure at some point we will, I believe that, you know, I'll tell you what, let's see if we can find the full list.
09:17And we'll move ahead accordingly.
09:19So, and that just sugs into the broader budget question.
09:22You saw the reports yesterday, they were talking about the plans for drastic production in the State Department,
09:29the Function 150 budget, which includes state and USAID.
09:32What can you tell us about that?
09:36I can tell you that throughout the history of the United States, everyone has a budget plan.
09:40And everyone has ideas for budgets.
09:42And every president has a budget plan and sends it to Congress.
09:45And then Congress either accepts it or they have their own ideas, which happens more often than not.
09:50I can tell you that whatever you've seen in public was not released from this entity, was not released from this department.
09:58It was not released by the Secretary.
10:01That there is no final plan, final budget, final dynamic.
10:05That is up to the White House and the President of the United States as they continue to work on their budget plan and what they will submit to Congress.
10:13So, I would suggest that you check with the White House, but the kinds of numbers and what we tend to see is reporting that is early or wrong or based on leaked documents from somewhere unknown.
10:30And then everyone writes stories about those things.
10:32And earlier, when I was speaking with our bullpen here, whom I love most of the time, is to be – it would be wise to be cautious before acting on every single element you see leading up to something as important as this budget coming in from President Trump.
10:50And so we'll wait and see.
10:52Of course, again, these are not known or finalized or planned.
10:58Only President Trump has that information, and we're going to see it soon, I'm sure.
11:01All right.
11:02Yes, ma'am.
11:02There was some criticism from Democratic lawmakers about contributions to international organizations dropping by 89% from $1.4 billion last year to $169 million, including for eliminating funding from the UN and NATO.
11:21Is that something that the government is considering eliminating funding from the UN and NATO?
11:25You know, that's, again, that's from a story that is looking at a memo that was leaked or not from a plan that is a suggestion.
11:32What I can tell you, though, what I can tell you, though, is it really makes me concerned when I see the word eliminate.
11:39I traveled to NATO for that summit with the Secretary.
11:45Every meeting, every moment, every time on camera, in every bilateral meeting, talking with the Secretary General, the one message – it was caught with several messages,
11:56but the singularly important message that everyone there cared about, but the singularly important message that everyone there cared about was the fact that the Secretary of State of the United States reiterated our complete commitment to NATO, as has the President of the United States.
12:07Now, what we also want in our commitment means that we want to make sure and help to make sure that the nations in NATO can actually deliver on the mission of NATO, which is to be a deterrent.
12:20It is not to help with wars or to help fight them or to fund them or to make it a little bit better as the wars are going on.
12:28NATO is meant to be a collection of entities that would stop the bad actors from doing the bad thing because it would be very, very bad for them if they did it.
12:37And at this point, clearly, we've got nations that have got to ramp up, share the burden, increase their defense spending, not because we're meanies, but because we are committed to NATO.
12:52And NATO has to be the thing that it has been purported to be and expected to be at the beginning and wants to be.
12:59I have to tell you that there is recognition of this fact at NATO, the number of countries increasing their budget commitment to defense, the recognition that it was an important thing, without exception.
13:12And that's where, when we think about a story about eliminating funding to NATO, couldn't be further from the truth.
13:22This is about making NATO stronger, making NATO, well, dare I say, great again.
13:27But that's where it becomes like fear-mongering and understandably upsets people.
13:34But as I've said with the other review we've had with the foreign aid, some things will change, but it doesn't mean that we've changed our commitment to something, but it may look different.
13:47That if, in fact, other nations are coming together and raising their commitment and their contribution, perhaps the American contribution then does come down, and yet NATO is stronger.
13:58So that is, I think, part of what every family does, is looking out for each other, being honest, and providing solutions to that problem.
14:08So that story comes from the same speculation that has come from other documents that are moving about when it's, nothing could be further from the truth, and certainly commenting on numbers they might have is not helpful.
14:24There will be plenty to discuss when President Trump releases and sends to Congress his budget bill.
14:30Yes, sir.
14:31For that one on Syria and Yemen, has the department made any decision, or is it reviewing of potentially granting visas to any Syrian ministers for the next week forward by even making enough meetings?
14:46You know, let's take that back.
14:48I don't have information on that.
14:49It's a good question, of course, with the meeting coming up, but I'll have that to you.
14:53And was it Yemen?
14:54Yes.
14:54You know, we've obviously, the U.S. has been engaged in a military campaign over there for the past several weeks.
15:01Is the State Department leading any diplomatic path to get to whatever end result it is that the U.S. wants?
15:09And you've seen reports that the U.S. is now looking at potentially supporting ground invasion in Yemen, or supporting factions in Saudi Yemen,
15:18which should have no need them after the military campaign.
15:21Well, I won't speak on any negotiations that may or may not be happening, or diplomatic considerations.
15:28I think many people have seen the reports regarding actions that may or may not be happening on the ground in Yemen,
15:34as the Houthis' ability to resist is degraded.
15:38That's not something I can remark on.
15:41Of course, though, when we think about the nexus of the nature of what's happening in the Middle East,
15:47the United States has made its point clear through the Secretary and through the President,
15:52through the ceasefire work and the nonstop efforts regarding the issues in Israel and on the Gaza Strip,
15:59and certainly now in the remarkable fact that Iran is at the table regarding their condition,
16:07which has also been affected, of course, by the degrading of Hezbollah,
16:11certainly the disaster that Hamas has brought that region, including Iran.
16:16So when we think about the ceasefire and making people's lives better,
16:20it certainly affects the entire region.
16:23And I think that's what we can all account on.
16:26Yes, ma'am.
16:29I – you started out with some of your remarks saying that Iran will stop and dismantle its nuclear program.
16:37Well, let me see.
16:37That was Ambassador Whitcoff.
16:39Yeah.
16:40Yeah.
16:40What Ambassador Whitcoff tweeted earlier today.
16:44But just trying to get some clarity on what the administration sees as a potential end goal here with these –
16:53negotiations with Iran, because last week, heading into the talks in Oman,
16:59Whitcoff made some remarks to the Wall Street Journal in which he said that the red line
17:03would be the weaponization of Iran's nuclear capability,
17:08presumably leaving the door open to Iran maintaining its civilian nuclear program.
17:13So is the administration open to an end stage where Iran does still have a civilian nuclear program,
17:21but they are no longer able to speedily get a nuclear weapon?
17:26Well, first of all, for a comprehensive response, and we heard from Caroline earlier,
17:31the White House has that kind of response.
17:33What I can say, nevertheless, is that the Secretary has been clear, as has the President,
17:41as has been the Ambassador, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon or an enrichment program.
17:50What we hear – and I said this again to our friends earlier in the day as I do,
17:55some of you listening from home, I kind of spent about a half hour with our bullpen during the day,
18:01and we have some talks and find out what's on their mind.
18:04But what I mention, because there's always a reaction to a single tweet or a remark that's in a newspaper,
18:11and as we are clearly moving to a secondary meeting, which I still won't call a negotiation,
18:17but that could change, is that these are people who are the best in the world.
18:21Ambassador Whitcoff clearly is one of the best people in the world for negotiating
18:25and for dealing with bad actors and getting peace and ceasefires.
18:30But when things are being said in the moment, in public, it is –
18:35you must consider that these are not – that's not part of how they negotiate,
18:39in the sense of whatever they're talking about together.
18:42And that one should always wait and see that he's – no one's negotiating in public.
18:49No one is – I don't know who that message would be for or the nature of what's said and how and what format.
18:56I would say what matters is an end result.
18:59Our parties agreeing.
19:01Papers being signed.
19:03It is not what people say, but the actions they take.
19:07We have shown that as a nation when the actions that we take
19:10and the nature of what we commit to, you can combine the two of what we say and what we do.
19:16But I would say that there's one goal here, and that is that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon
19:25and certainly they – or the enrichment program.
19:30And that is, I think, a pretty easy thing to start with.
19:33And that is the one thing that we know that they're working on,
19:38and I think we'll have some success considering who we're addressing.
19:41Yes, sir.
19:42One more from Iran.
19:43You mentioned Ambassador Whitcomb's tweet today.
19:47Last time when I entered the box, he was talking about keeping Iran's enrichment levels
19:53below 3.67 percent, which is like on carbon and JCPOA.
19:58Today we talked about eliminating Iran's enrichment.
20:01So what's the reason of this difference here?
20:04Well, I – if – you can contact the White House, but what I just noted to you
20:10is that these are comments that are made.
20:12It could be made, you know, by anyone in the moment of something that's happening.
20:16I would point to his comment today on Twitter, but I also – you know, Ambassador Whitcomb speaks
20:23for himself quite well, and he is a very transparent man.
20:27What's going to matter is what is accomplished, what the end result will be.
20:31As opposed to parsing, you know, one statement or a sentence line there and another one over here.
20:37I know we all want answers because, well, humanity has an interest in the end result of this.
20:43But I would – I would just caution you in that regard.
20:45And to wait – and again, the last – the thing that matters is what is accomplished, what the last point is.
20:53And if anyone can do that, it would be President Trump and his vision along with Ambassador Whitcomb,
20:59who's done a great job in this regard.
21:00Yes, sir.
21:01Thank you so much.
21:03A couple questions on the Palestinian Authority.
21:05The Times of Israel reported a few days ago that Mahmoud Abbas had sent a letter to Secretary Rubio
21:10trying to open up the door to get certified that the pay-for-slave program has been ended by the Palestinian Authority.
21:17I know you're not going to comment on that correspondence, but in a broader perspective,
21:20the State Department is not exactly doling out foreign aid with any enthusiasm at the moment.
21:25And the purpose of ending pay-for-slave would be to restart foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority.
21:31So does the State Department have any appetite at this point to start that process
21:36if the end result is no foreign aid being distributed in the end anyway?
21:40And the second question I have is just the broader bird's-eye view relationship right now
21:46between the U.S. and the Palestinian Authority.
21:49Mahmoud Abbas boycotted during the first Trump term,
21:52and we've seen American officials go to Jerusalem a number of times.
21:56Historically, they made a corresponding trip to Ramallah or Bethlehem.
21:59We haven't seen that so far.
22:00So, bird's-eye view.
22:02I tend to – I think I always try to give you the bird's-eye view.
22:06But I would say that, you know, first of all, I can't comment on if there are any negotiations
22:13or diplomatic considerations.
22:14What I do take issue with immediately is that we're not – we don't have any glee or excitement
22:20over handing out foreign aid.
22:22Our commitment to foreign aid hasn't changed.
22:25It is in our nature as Americans.
22:28It's what we do.
22:30I would argue the starting of this country was an aid package for the future.
22:35My goodness.
22:37And it is certainly – it's also foreign aid.
22:39It's not a carrot or a stick in negotiations.
22:43If it's needed, it's needed.
22:45If it isn't, it isn't.
22:46We don't use it in that fashion.
22:49So it's – yeah, I like you very much, and I think you're a nice guy.
22:52But I'm – it's always disheartening.
22:55I don't want to be mean.
22:56I don't want to be mean.
22:57I don't need to demand I want to be mean.
22:59It's disheartening because – but it reminds me, and I'm glad that I'm here, to repeat,
23:05for people to not be left with that impression.
23:08That it's not like, oh, we've got to get foreign aid.
23:11You know, it would be great if nobody needed foreign aid.
23:13But we know that we are a country with incredible resources.
23:18We know that.
23:19And we have incredible responsibilities.
23:22And we do not shy away from them.
23:24It's part of why we do what we do.
23:26We want to be a part of the world.
23:29We know we can help, and we do.
23:30So it's not ever a part of that we just don't want to do something, and so we're not.
23:36It's can we.
23:38And it is – can it be done properly?
23:40Is it aligned with what's great for the United States?
23:42And mostly also, certainly it is not used as a weapon.
23:47And I just want to say that as strongly as I possibly can.
23:52And as far as the nature of what's happening, we are asked often by many of you in different
23:58ways, is that there is a constant, regular commitment to Gaza, to the Gazan people, certainly
24:05to one of our strongest, if not most stalwart ally, Israel, who have, by the way, a new ambassador
24:11from the United States, Ambassador Mike Huckabee.
24:14So we're very excited about the future.
24:17We are working constantly to make – to have a ceasefire and to change the trajectory on
24:23the ground.
24:23That has not stopped.
24:25Yes, sir.
24:25Yes, sir.
24:26Thank you, Tammy.
24:26Please.
24:27Meanwhile in Bangladesh, there are so many reports, like the New Year Times also, before
24:33two weeks, reported that alarming rise of Islamist terrorism, Islamist extremism in Bangladesh
24:40under the UNISPED regime, including protesters only openly displaying Osama bin Laden's images,
24:49and even Nazi symbols, like pictures like this from Dhaka, and targeting American brands
24:55like KFC, Coca-Cola, with anti-Semitic rhetoric allegedly incited by figures like advisors of
25:04interim government of Bangladesh.
25:07Sir, sir, I've heard you, and I know, and I appreciate your passion, and Bangladesh is a
25:16country with certain issues.
25:18They are also a country that we've talked about often, certainly, with questions from
25:24the crew here.
25:27So for a specific dynamic, I'm going to have us take that away.
25:31What I do have is something I want to mention regarding Bangladesh, which is that there's been
25:39an arrest of a UK MP, Tulip Sadiq.
25:43This from the Bangladeshi courts have issued that arrest.
25:47It is, of course, things like all of this, and what you're discussing, even protests,
25:51et cetera, are a matter for the Bangladesh authorities to handle.
25:55And, of course, talking with them matters a great deal as well.
26:00So ultimately, the future of Bangladesh is going to be decided by the Bangladeshi people.
26:04They're facing what you've been describing for some, and in others that, of course, we've
26:09seen the reports as well.
26:11And elections matter.
26:14We know I don't want it to sound trite here, but it's true.
26:17Democracy matters, and actions by people matter to confront issues that might, in fact, as
26:23we've seen over the last 20, 25 years, destroy their lives.
26:27It's pretty clear what the choices are for many nations on this planet.
26:31So thank you, sir.
26:32Yes, sir, with the beer.
26:34Thanks, Annie.
26:35I'm going to ask about negotiations with Russia.
26:38Has there been any discussion of sanctions relief?
26:43And has the White House asked the State Department to draw up any list of sanctions that could be removed?
26:48I won't speak to any discussion between the White House, certainly, and the State Department,
26:53Secretary Rubio, and any other leader here.
26:57What I can say is a reminder that what was clear from the beginning, there would be no negotiations,
27:06no decisions, no arrangements until after the carnage has stopped.
27:12And after Palm Sunday, it's clearly a dynamic that where there have to be more questions about the nature of who's really committed to peace and a ceasefire.
27:24But there is no negotiations or arrangements based on the regular statements from the administration and from Secretary Rubio as well,
27:36that until the carnage, it's a meat grinder, that has not changed.
27:40And until that stops, nothing like that is happening.
27:45And yet we continue to work, obviously, for the ceasefire in that regard.
27:50Yes, sir.
27:51I have a question about Sudan.
27:54The outgoing Biden administration declared the RSF's actions as a genocide.
27:58Does the Trump administration agree with that destination of genocide?
28:02Here's what I can tell you about what's been happening.
28:04The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the RSF's continued escalation of attacks on Al-Fasher, North Darfur,
28:12as well as the attacks on nearby Zamzam and Abu Shuk, internally displaced persons, which is the IDP camps.
28:20We are deeply alarmed.
28:22By reports, the RSF has deliberately targeted civilians and humanitarian actors in Zamzam and Abu Shuk.
28:29We condemn the RSF's attacks on the most vulnerable of civilians, including killings of at least 10 U.S.-funded relief workers,
28:39providing critical life-saving assistance.
28:41We urge the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers.
28:45We also call for the opening of humanitarian corridors to enable humanitarian access
28:51and the safe passage of civilians fleeing violence.
28:54The belligerents must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and must be held accountable.
29:02So are you planning to affirm the destination of Sudan?
29:04Well, I've made my statement clear, but what this does, Mark, today marks two years since the start of the conflict in Sudan.
29:13And this conflict has caused death, destruction, and a displacement crisis that has the potential to destabilize the entire region
29:20with massive flows of displaced people, arms, and disease.
29:24It is past time for the warring parties to put down their guns and negotiate a durable peace
29:29that allows for broad-based participatory dialogue so the Sudanese people can decide their future in a peaceful and unified Sudan.
29:38Yes, I've answered you quite extensively, sir.
29:43Go ahead, please.
29:44Ms. Suzanne, I wondered, and the previous administration have been involved in trying to facilitate peace talks between the two parties.
29:51Are there any such activities in the country?
29:53Well, I can't report on anything that is happening or might happen,
29:58but again, I think that the Trump administration and Secretary Marco Rubio have proven their commitment
30:04to these kinds of issues in a way that no other administration, frankly, has,
30:09in facing these dynamics all around the globe, especially with the nature of the kinds of carnage and the relentlessness.
30:17So while I can't speak to you about specifics, I think that we all know what this administration stands for.
30:22Yes, in the blue jacket.
30:24Two questions briefly.
30:26One is in regard of the visit of the Jordanian Prime Minister today at 3.30.
30:34If you can tell us a little bit about the topics that are going to be discussed during Picasso.
30:42No, no, no, no, it's so nice, it's so nice.
30:45You're the Italian reporter, the nice Italian accent.
30:50Can you, can you do it?
30:50It's like, no.
30:51No, I understand.
30:53I find it.
30:54The second question.
30:54There's plenty to talk about, I'm sure.
30:56I mean, you know.
30:57I understand.
30:58Yes.
30:58No problem.
30:59The second one is regarding the caps announced by Secretary Rubio, if I'm not mistaken, on the funds of United Nations and NATO.
31:12That was asked.
31:13That was asked.
31:14There's been no.
31:15There was some reports.
31:16Well, there was, there's always, there's, I love, I love you guys, but there's always some report.
31:20Can you share?
31:20And I, I answered very specifically that commitment to NATO is, is a strong commitment.
31:26I was there with the Secretary.
31:28That was a singular, a really a main message about our commitment to NATO is as strong, if not stronger.
31:35Our presence indicates that, but also our words and our actions indicate that.
31:40And our asking our NATO partners to become stronger and, and more involved in their own defense spending is an indication of that commitment to NATO.
31:51All right, you guys.
31:52I think, I think that's going to, that's going to be it, you guys, for today.
31:54I've got, I have, I have to be somewhere, which is unusual.
31:58Normally, it's only here that I have to be.
32:00What, what, what, you have a nice weekend, too.
32:03I'm sorry.
32:03All right.
32:03One more.
32:04One more.
32:04One more.
32:04One more.
32:04One more.
32:05One more.
32:05One more.
32:05One more.
32:05One more.
32:05One more.
32:06One more.
32:06One more.
32:06One more.
32:07One more.
32:08One more.
32:12One more.
32:16So, first of all, he did note that, and which means this country is certainly a little bit safer,
32:21isn't it?
32:22I would refer you to the Department of Homeland Security and DOJ, which makes those kinds of
32:27decisions.
32:28I would also note that it was great to have President Bukele here, clearly a remarkable
32:34man and such a great ally, helping to make America safer again.
32:38And his love for the American people is, I think, pretty obvious, even though he loves
32:45El Salvadorans more, I'm sure.
32:46But it was a great weekend in that regard.
32:49Obviously, not a good weekend with certain other actions.
32:53But this is a busy administration.
32:55It is a country that is standing ready to do what's necessary to help not just their neighbors,
33:03but also the rest of the world.
33:05We're not even a hundred days in, and it's ... I don't know ... I'm having a great time.
33:10I don't know about you guys.
33:11So I look forward to more, and thank you for that question, and I will see you on Thursday.
33:18Thank you everyone.
33:21Except for Matt Lee.
33:23I don't know ...