State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce holds a press briefing.
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00:00Oh, they're just getting up. I thought they were standing for me. They're moving.
00:19Thank you, ma'am. Oh, gosh. Did I come in too quickly? Maybe I did for a change, but not too quickly, technically. Busy day.
00:49Great. Hi, everyone. Hello. All right. Thanks for being here. And for everyone watching at home, thank you very much, and for C-SPAN covering this, always live, which I appreciate.
01:11All righty. So, obviously, a little bit of an announcement. Happy 100 days. I know this was on your calendar, wasn't it? It should be. Happy 100 days, everyone.
01:24Just hours after President Trump took the oath of office, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was confirmed in a historic bipartisan vote of 99 to 0.
01:33From day one, he got right to work, and I can certainly attest to that.
01:37As I said in my first briefing, Secretary Rubio promised to deliver a foreign policy grounded in President Trump's vision, one that would make America stronger, safer, and more prosperous.
01:49100 days later, that promise is being kept.
01:52Secretary Rubio has returned the Department to the fundamentals of diplomacy, engaging in the persuasion and power of face-to-face meetings around the globe,
02:03reminding our partners that being friends with the United States brings benefits that improve the quality of everyone's lives.
02:10Here at the State Department, we are rewarding performance based on merit, demanding accountability for every tax dollar spent,
02:17and ensuring every policy serves the interests of the American people.
02:21To restore integrity and results-driven foreign assistance, the Department and U.S. aid have saved the American taxpayers billions of dollars by ending outdated and misaligned foreign aid programs.
02:34Instead, we are prioritizing core U.S. policies.
02:37That includes a life-saving response in Uganda, where more than 75 American experts worked hand-in-hand with local officials to officially end Uganda's 2025 Ebola outbreak,
02:51a tremendous global health achievement.
02:54The Secretary has traveled extensively, and don't I know it, to 15 countries, deepening U.S. diplomatic ties and securing major foreign policy wins.
03:04From Panama's decision to withdraw from China's Belt and Road Initiative,
03:09to his leadership in bringing Ukraine and Russia to the table to discuss a path towards peace,
03:15leading the nations closer to peace than ever before.
03:18His efforts to protect our homeland are having a global impact.
03:22We've designated six violent Mexican cartels, along with TDA and MS-13,
03:27as foreign terrorist organizations to block their financial networks and bar their entry into the United States.
03:33Our border is more secure than ever, and illegal crossings at our southwest border have dropped by 95 percent since 2024.
03:43This is due to President Trump's leadership and Secretary Rubio's historic action to secure agreements with Guatemala,
03:50Panama, and El Salvador to intercept and deport illegal aliens who enter their territories.
03:56And to further build regional peace, Secretary Rubio signed a declaration of principles between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda,
04:05launching a pathway to stability in the region.
04:08In the Middle East, he is actively working with Israel, Arab partners, and the European Union to shape post-war governance in Gaza
04:15and lay the groundwork for Arab-led reconstruction efforts,
04:19aligning with President Trump's long-term vision for peace in the region.
04:23He also has reinforced the United States as the premier strategic partner for Gulf allies,
04:31resulting in two landmark investment commitments from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia for technology, defense, and infrastructure.
04:39Those deals total $2 trillion in investments.
04:43We've also brought Americans home.
04:46Through diplomacy, we've helped secure the release of dozens of unjustly detained U.S. citizens,
04:51bringing them back to their families where they belong.
04:55We've reinstated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism,
04:59sanctioned Iran's shadow oil fleet, and Houthi financiers,
05:03as well as designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization.
05:07These steps send a clear message.
05:10Under this administration, there will be consequences for supporting terrorism.
05:13One hundred days in, the results are undeniable.
05:18This is American diplomacy the American people deserve.
05:22Decisive, accountable, and unapologetically America first.
05:28And I do believe that you may have some questions.
05:31Andrea Mitchell, who is now surprised.
05:35Hi, good afternoon.
05:38Andrea Mitchell.
05:38It was all set up.
05:39She is, well, she was thinking she had some extra time.
05:44But this morning, today, this afternoon, it's morning somewhere in Los Angeles.
05:48It's the morning.
05:49In Hawaii, it's very early.
05:51What can I do for you?
05:54Or would you want, should I ask her?
05:56I will go to Matt Lee first.
05:57All right, I'll start.
05:58Well, no, I'm, I, I, I, I, shall, shall we?
06:04Finally.
06:05Finally, I'm asking the questions.
06:07All right, here's what we'll do.
06:08We will go with Matt, and then I will come back to you.
06:11I just have two great briefings.
06:12You set that up as who set this up.
06:13I did not.
06:14All right, sir.
06:15Wait a second.
06:16And now I've missed you.
06:17Everyone missed you.
06:18It was notably different here in the room.
06:20With you gallivanting around London for some reason.
06:23But here we are now.
06:24We're all together.
06:25Waiting for the Secretary.
06:25You never showed up.
06:26Oh, well.
06:26But anyway, so listen, since last week, since I was away last week, and I know this came
06:31up last week, so I – but I just want to try and get a fine point – put a fine point
06:35on it, which is that tomorrow is the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam
06:42War.
06:44There have been reports that the U.S. has told – instructed or otherwise advised diplomats – U.S. diplomats
06:50in Vietnam not to attend commemoration ceremonies.
06:56Is that true?
06:57Because the answer that we keep getting is that the U.S. and Vietnam are strong partners
07:02and this and this, and they invited people, but there's no decision one way or another.
07:10So is it correct that they've been told or advised not to attend?
07:15MS NAUERT- Well, you know, as well as most people here, if not even better after decades,
07:20that I'm not going to discuss conversations that we've had with our diplomats here or overseas.
07:25But I will – in the event people are curious about the answer you expect, I will provide
07:30you an answer, and everyone else as well.
07:33The United States and Vietnam have a robust bilateral relationship, and we are committed
07:38to deepening and broadening those ties.
07:40We look forward to working with the Vietnamese Government and the people of Vietnam to address
07:46shared challenges and opportunities.
07:49And considering, again, half a century ago when that ended, we now, of course, have a generation
07:54– my generation – that it is amazing to be able to say that, to have this relationship
08:00with Vietnam as a good relationship and one that is bilateral and robust.
08:05So that is a very good example of what can happen over the time of about 50 years.
08:09Okay.
08:10MS NAUERT- Did you have a second question?
08:11Well, you – yeah, but just on this, I mean –
08:12MS NAUERT- Sure.
08:13So are U.S. diplomats going to be participating in these –
08:15MS NAUERT- I'm not going to answer that question.
08:17I'm not going to discuss what has been suggested or not suggested or communications with our allies
08:22and – or our diplomats in foreign countries.
08:25Yes, sir.
08:26Thanks.
08:27MS NAUERT- I have two questions.
08:28The first – there's reporting today that 4,000 visas for students with criminal
08:32records were revoked in the first 100 days of the administration.
08:36That's a number that's higher than we've seen before.
08:39So I wanted to see if I could get more fidelity on that than at a different topic.
08:44MS NAUERT- Well, I know that Consular Affairs and the State Department do not discuss the
08:49details of visas.
08:51We do not provide statistics.
08:53We do not discuss numbers.
08:55And so I would just remind people that certainly I wouldn't comment on a number that has been
09:01printed somewhere.
09:02What I can tell you is that it's something that we don't provide.
09:05And then separately, there's reporting that Iraq has arrested an ISIS suspect linked
09:12to the New Orleans terror attack on New Year's.
09:15Does the State have any comment on that or any participation?
09:19MS NAUERT- I spoke with the Secretary a little earlier.
09:22I did not ask him about that.
09:24So let's take that back.
09:26And I certainly would hope to speak with him again and can ask him that, and we'll get
09:29that back to you certainly.
09:30And now, Andrea Mitchell.
09:31Yes.
09:32MS NAUERT- I wanted to ask about Ukraine.
09:33MS NAUERT- Okay.
09:34MS NAUERT- Russia has continuous – continuously been bombing Ukraine, Kyiv the other day,
09:41more bombing overnight after calling for a ceremonial ceasefire, a three-day ceasefire next week
09:48to honor – so they can celebrate and honor their World War II victory.
09:53But they have still not agreed – leave almost 50 days since it was first proposed to the
10:01ceasefire, the 30-day ceasefire that Ukraine has accepted.
10:05And now, as well, Foreign Minister Lavrov in the interview has said that the Russian position
10:12includes the demilitarization – he says denazification, which is a false statement – but the demilitarization
10:22of Ukraine as one – as part of their agenda, as well as the lifting of sanctions, withdrawing
10:27lawsuits, canceling arrest warrants, and the like – first of all, the U.S. reaction to
10:33the continual bombing in Ukraine by Russia, and second of all, the Russian demand for demilitarizing
10:42– would the U.S. ever consider requiring the demilitarizing of Ukraine as a condition of
10:51a peace plan?
10:52MS.
10:53Well, you know I can't and would not discuss what the options were or what's on the minds
10:59of our diplomats.
11:01And I understand – and I hear from people outside of this briefing room and certainly
11:06from all of you, and it's your job to ask.
11:08But that is not something we can do.
11:10It's – it's harmful to get ahead of what our experts, what our diplomats, what Secretary
11:17of State, what the President of the United States, the most powerful people in the world
11:20meeting to find a resolution to this, and discussing it or speculating does not help.
11:27It increases, I think, fear and confusion.
11:30So I won't do that, but I do have something I can tell you that the Secretary said to me
11:36about the situation just a short time ago, Andrea Mitchell.
11:41We are now at a time where concrete proposals need to be delivered by the two parties on how
11:48to end this conflict.
11:51How we proceed from here is a decision that belongs now to the President.
11:56If there is not progress, we will step back as mediators in this process.
12:01Well, he said on Meet the Press that this week was going to be pivotal.
12:06MS.
12:07Oh, sure.
12:08This sounds like a pivotal statement to me.
12:09So is there some sort of a timeframe to what he's just said?
12:13MS.
12:14Well, he said now.
12:15He said now is the time where concrete proposals need to be delivered by the two parties in the
12:19conflict.
12:20And if there is not progress – which we leave, of course, I'm not going to speculate on what
12:25that timeline means to the President or to the Secretary – but that is a very distinct
12:31statement from the Secretary.
12:34Both the Secretary and the President are very transparent men, and the American people have
12:38been watching this process openly, which itself is kind of a new experience.
12:43But that is what he said to me just a little bit ago.
12:45All right.
12:46Can you speak to his level of frustration with the process?
12:49It seems to be reflected in his statement.
12:50MS.
12:51Well, no, I'm – I will not channel the Secretary.
12:53He, again, is very available.
12:57And he has been – again, you saw him this weekend on television – and he's a very
13:01clear, often unguarded, transparent man who cares about the nature of what is transpiring
13:08on this planet in a very unique position to make a difference.
13:11And that is what he wants to do.
13:12Yes, sir.
13:13Thank you, Camille.
13:14Just to follow up on what the Secretary has said, you quoted him as saying concrete
13:18proposals need to be delivered by both sides.
13:21Proposals on what?
13:23MS.
13:24Well, obviously to end the conflict.
13:25So you expect –
13:26MS.
13:27I mean, we're – clearly it's about what they've been working toward is a ceasefire,
13:30a complete, full, durable ceasefire, right?
13:36Not a three-day moment so you can celebrate something else.
13:41A complete, durable ceasefire and an end to the conflict.
13:45Does this mean that the proposals that the United States had on the table – is it off
13:50the table now that you're seeking –
13:51MS.
13:52I don't want to speculate on what the statement has – that's been made here means about
13:57things that have existed or have been discussed before.
14:01It's just what he has said today, and I think it's clear.
14:04Fair enough.
14:05And my second question on North Korea.
14:06They acknowledge finally that they apparently have sent their soldiers to fight for Russia
14:15and Ukraine.
14:16Does this change your approach, your view to the conflict at all?
14:22And any response that you could come up with?
14:25MS.
14:26Well, we know this is pretty simple.
14:29North Korea is not being helpful.
14:32They're not being helpful.
14:33There are other nations that also are facilitating this carnage, and their actions make it possible
14:40to continue.
14:42Third countries, like North Korea, have perpetuated the Russia-Ukraine war, and they bear responsibility
14:49for it.
14:50We continue – North Korea – I'm speaking about North Korea and third – other third
14:56countries, like North Korea – we continue to be concerned by North Korea's direct involvement
15:01in the war, North Korea's military deployment to Russia, and any support provided by the Russian
15:06Federation to the DPRK in return must end.
15:12This is, training of North Korean soldiers directly violates Security Council resolutions 1718, 1874,
15:19and 2270, which collectively impose a broad prohibition on providing or receiving military
15:25training or assistance to or from the DPRK.
15:29All right?
15:30Yes, sir.
15:31Can I do the comment?
15:32MS.
15:33Go ahead.
15:34Yes, sir.
15:36On the Middle East, UN Rights Chief Volker Turk today called for concerted efforts to end the
15:40Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, and Amnesty International accused Israel of committing
15:45a livestreamed genocide against Palestinians.
15:48We heard President Trump on Friday acknowledge the suffering of people in Gaza and the need
15:52for aid to go in.
15:54What is the Department's view of the ongoing blockade, and will the Secretary push to lift
15:58it?
15:59And I have a second question.
16:00MS.
16:01President Trump said just a few days ago that there is a very big need for medicine and
16:06food regarding, of course, Gaza and Gaza aid, and that we are taking care of it.
16:12And again, within the framework of the negotiations, the actions, the efforts, as we've discussed
16:17I think every briefing, which is appropriate, I think the President of the United States making
16:22that statement makes clear that action's being considered and taken and that the President
16:29is working on it.
16:30So we are taking care of it.
16:32How will that translate to actual action?
16:33MS.
16:34Well, we'll find out.
16:36He's not a slow man.
16:38Also the United States, of course, supports the flow of humanitarian aid with safeguards
16:42to ensure assistance is not diverted, looted, or misused by terrorist groups such as Hamas
16:48and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
16:51But for – one thing we certainly – I think I can say generally about the President is
16:57that when he says something he acts and he doesn't lollygag.
17:02And in this particular case, with both men setting these first hundred days as the hallmark
17:09of the nature of where they've both been personally committed, Secretary Rubio and President Trump,
17:14it is on peace and ceasefires for both Ukraine and Russia and certainly in Gaza.
17:21And his – noting what he wants to accomplish in that regard, again, there's a very big
17:26need for medicine, food, and we're taking care of it.
17:30So it will not be long, I'm sure, to see the results of his work.
17:34There's a second question.
17:35MS.
17:36Yes, sir.
17:37Go ahead, please.
17:38Thanks, Tammy.
17:39MS.
17:40Uh-huh.
17:41I wanted to move on to a country which is a neighbor, in fact, Canada.
17:44Unless mistaken, I haven't seen any reaction – official reaction by the White House or
17:51the State Department or officials on the election victory last night of Mark Carney as the prime
17:56minister.
17:57MS.
17:58Yes, indeed.
17:59Do you pledge today that a united Canada would confront the President?
18:03Well, here's what we can say about Canada.
18:06The United States extends its congratulations to Prime Minister Mark Carney and his party on
18:11their win in Canada's recent federal elections.
18:14The U.S.-Canada relationship remains one of the most extensive in the world.
18:19We look forward to working with Prime Minister Carney's government, particularly on key issues
18:23such as trade fairness, combating illegal immigration, halting the flow of fentanyl.
18:28And other dangerous drugs, and countering the Chinese Communist Party influence in our
18:35hemisphere.
18:36All right.
18:37Yeah, Daphne.
18:39On Syria, we're reporting that the Syrian foreign minister is set to meet with senior
18:44U.S. State Department officials later today in New York.
18:47Who will he meet from state, and what will Washington's message be to him on sanctions relief?
18:52MS.
18:53Well, of course, we know that – we can confirm that some representatives of the Syrian interim
18:57authorities are in New York for various UN meetings, but you knew that.
19:02We continue to assess our Syria policy cautiously and will judge the interim authorities by their
19:08actions.
19:09We are not normalizing diplomatic relations with Syria at this time.
19:15And I can preview nothing for you regarding any meetings.
19:19I have no meetings at all to be able to describe or to confirm for you.
19:23MS.
19:24Okay.
19:25Are you – you have – I'll follow up.
19:26MS.
19:27I have another question on Cuba, but if there's other questions, I'm sorry.
19:29MS.
19:30All right.
19:31Go ahead, Cuba.
19:32All right.
19:33Cuba today arrested high-profile dissident Jose Daniel Ferrer for violating the terms
19:37of his parole just three months after releasing him from jail as part of a Vatican-brokered deal
19:42of the Biden administration, and Felix Navarro, another high-profile dissident, was also arrested.
19:47MS.
19:48Mm-hmm.
19:49Does the State Department have any reaction to these arrests?
19:50MS.
19:51Yes, we do.
19:52We strongly condemn the brutal treatment and unjust detention of Cuban patriots Jose Daniel
19:56Ferrer and his wife and young son, as well as Felix Navarro and other pro-democracy
20:01activists.
20:02We call for the immediate release of the hundreds of unjustly detained political prisoners and prisoners
20:08of conscience that the Cuban regime holds.
20:10MS.
20:11All right.
20:12Now, who – somebody in the back?
20:13We were following up here.
20:14On Syria.
20:15MS.
20:16Syria?
20:17Yes.
20:18MS.
20:19Yes, please.
20:20So go ahead.
20:21In the jails in Syria, there are around 9,500 terrorists from ISIS.
20:27And I wonder whether the United States is going to ease the sanctions so the – those terrorists
20:34in Syria don't take advantage of the situation there.
20:41Also, there was yesterday civil unrest near Damascus.
20:47I wonder whether you have any comment on that.
20:50MS.
20:51I cannot comment on the nature of what's happening inside of Syria or the nature of the reaction
20:57of our government or of the State Department.
20:59I'm sorry about that.
21:00Yes, sir.
21:02Spain and Portugal suffered yesterday a massive blackout.
21:03Has the United States provided any support to them, and does it have any information of
21:04what were the causes?
21:05MS.
21:06Well, yeah, we're all curious about that.
21:07It was kind of terrifying to see for all of our friends in Spain and Portugal.
21:09One thing I can tell you of interest, of course, also to the State Department, is that there
21:26was no impact on the operation of our missions in Spain or Portugal.
21:30Electricity was fully restored to our missions as of this morning.
21:35And at this point, I could just refer you to the governments of Portugal and Spain for
21:40further information about what has happened.
21:42I know they're looking into it, obviously.
21:44But at this point, I have nothing further.
21:46All right.
21:47Yes.
21:48Thank you, Sandy.
21:49Following up on your comments from Secretary Ruby on the Ukraine proposals, our understanding
21:52is Ukraine and the Europeans have presented a counterproposal to what was put on the table
21:56by the United States.
21:57Is this – should we take this as a rejection of their counterproposal?
22:00MS.
22:01I think you should take it as what the Secretary meant, which is that – what is
22:05happening now is that what we expect from them are concrete proposals on how to end
22:10the situation.
22:11So that's his statement.
22:13I would not expand on it, as those are the words he used for me.
22:19I think it's very distinct that now we are at the time where concrete proposals need
22:25to be delivered by the two parties on how to end the conflict.
22:30How we proceed from here is now a decision of the presidents.
22:33If there is not progress, we will step back as mediators of the process.
22:38And does he have any follow-on conversations planned with his Ukrainian and European counterparts?
22:43I saw you spoke with his –
22:44MS.
22:45Nothing that I can report as of this moment.
22:46But clearly, this is not a closing of the door.
22:49This is now a step, a next step, which I hope that we are able to see.
22:55Yes, sir.
22:56Thank you so much, sir.
22:57Do you think that in the first hundred days, President Trump was able to make America
23:02more great again, make America more richer again, make America more safer again?
23:05MS.
23:06Are you setting me up?
23:07Are you setting me up?
23:08No, I'm just asking your opinion.
23:10MS.
23:11The ultimate – the ultimate freezing moment.
23:18I am standing here because of my faith in the President of the United States prior to
23:24him winning this particular election knowing from his past what he's accomplished.
23:30We – of course, the American people have felt the same way in returning him to this office
23:35after four years that were not good for the people of this country, economically or otherwise.
23:42There are an extraordinary number of accomplishments ranging from the closed border, inflation going
23:50down, people at tables to discuss peace and ceasefires that never anyone had imagined or
23:57was able to accomplish previously.
23:59In addition to the nature of the idea that – the State Department, as an example, that
24:05we have a responsibility when it comes to the money that is spent, that American taxpayers
24:10might have been the forgotten man and woman of the past, but they are now remembered again,
24:15and that the money that we spend is theirs, that they have worked for, and a commitment to
24:20the values and the nature of what matters to the United States.
24:23So we're doing these larger issues, but also, of course, every day we discuss the nature
24:28of what's happening in the world based on those values, and these men and women deciding
24:34to live their lives, including the men and women who I speak of often in this room, who
24:40anonymously spend their lives, decades in many cases, to help make sure that the people leading
24:47this country of either party have the information they need to make sure this nation is safe and secure.
24:54We now have an administration that is implementing those values and making it clear to the American people,
25:01and it's been 100 days, and already we know that tremendous change has happened, and it will continue
25:08to happen under the leadership of President Trump, his entire cabinet, but I'm standing at the State Department
25:14because of the leadership of Marco Rubio, and it's an exciting and good time for the globe.
25:21So the answer is yes.
25:22Yesterday, a State Department press statement says that the United States is in touch
25:27with the leadership of both Pakistan and India.
25:29MS NAUERT- That is correct.
25:30And trying to – trying to calm them.
25:31Do you have any something to say?
25:32MS NAUERT- Yes.
25:33The Secretary also gave me a note about that as well, sir.
25:36So we are reaching out – regarding the Kashmir situation, India and Pakistan, that he said we are
25:42reaching out to both parties and telling, of course, them to not escalate the situation.
25:48The Secretary expects to speak with the foreign ministers of Pakistan and India as early as today or tomorrow.
25:56He is encouraging other national leaders, other foreign ministers, to also reach out to the countries on this issue.
26:03So it is – again, as I've noted, every day action is being taken.
26:08In this case, the Secretary speaking directly to his counterparts in India and Pakistan.
26:14And we'll – we expect certainly the impact he's usually had with the individuals he's spoken with,
26:21and certainly with President Trump's leadership, India and Pakistan, having those conversations.
26:27It's very important for them.
26:28Hold on.
26:29MS NAUERT- And yes, sir – yes, I've been –
26:31on Monday, 68, mostly Ethiopian migrants killed in a detention center in Yemen.
26:39Are you in a position to confirm now that this was U.S. military – the result of U.S. military action?
26:45MS NAUERT- I'm not prepared to speak about that.
26:47What I can tell you is that Houthi attacks continue to hinder international trade routes in the Red Sea region
26:54and have cost the global economy billions.
26:57That must stop.
26:59And we are aware of various reports in the region, and we are referring questions first to the Department of Defense,
27:07but also I will have us take this back to see what more we can have for you later this week regarding that issue.
27:13Absolutely.
27:14Just –
27:15Can I have a follow-up on Pakistan?
27:16MS NAUERT- All right, Pakistan, certainly.
27:17A Pakistani minister made a statement about performing dirty work for the United States
27:22while also denying the existence of Lashkar-e-Tawibah in Pakistan.
27:26What is the State Department's response to that?
27:29MS NAUERT- Well, as I've noted, the only thing I'm really prepared to discuss here is the fact that the Secretary of State is going to be speaking with the foreign ministers of both countries.
27:39And will that be raised?
27:40Will that be raised?
27:41MS NAUERT- Well, I can tell you – obviously, we're also monitoring the developments across the board in that region.
27:47And we – as you know, at multiple levels, I have to say, are in touch with the governments of India and Pakistan,
27:54not just at the foreign minister level, certainly, but at multiple levels.
27:57We, of course, are encouraging all parties to work together for a responsible solution.
28:02The world is watching this.
28:04But I have no additional details in that regard.
28:07Yes, ma'am.
28:08Yes, ma'am.
28:09Yes, ma'am.
28:10Can you question on whether there has been any further collaboration between the United States and Pakistan
28:14since Pakistan facilitated the arrest of an ISIS suspect last month?
28:18MS NAUERT- Yeah, I recall that we appreciated that arrest when it occurred, and I said so here at this podium.
28:25But at this point, I think what we should all be looking for is the results of the conversations the Secretary has today
28:31with the foreign ministers of both of those countries.
28:34Can you stand me on Pakistan for all, please?
28:36MS NAUERT- Yes, certainly.
28:37Go ahead.
28:38Congratulations on your 100 days completion.
28:40MS NAUERT- Thank you, sir.
28:41So the Secretary, Senor Rubio, already spoke to Pakistan foreign minister in these 100 days.
28:48But the problem is that the entire U.S. Congress has voted that the election last year were rigged.
28:56Recently, your congressional leaders went to Pakistan, which includes a general, a very respectable general.
29:03He said that things are not going well and unelected leaders are ruling Pakistan illegally.
29:10So —
29:11MS NAUERT- Well, yes, this is – we have a very specific environment right now.
29:15We have very specific requirements that the Secretary of State is taking care of and engaging
29:20in.
29:21And we're going to leave it at that.
29:23And as a matter of fact – and we have – I've got an event I need to be going to regarding
29:27–
29:28MS NAUERT- Yeah.
29:29As a matter of fact, we'll take one more question perhaps on this issue.
29:31The young man there with the glasses there in the center here.
29:34Yes, sir.
29:35Thank you, Tommy.
29:36Moving to Indo-Pacific a little bit.
29:39First question on Taiwan.
29:41This is – today marks the first 100-day of Trump administration, but also marks the 100-day
29:46that we don't have an AIT chairperson yet.
29:49So when can we expect a new chair – AIT chairperson?
29:51Second question being that I don't think Secretary Rubio has traveled to Asia.
29:56Does he have any plan to travel to Asia in the near future and meeting with his Chinese
30:01counterpart in the near future?
30:03MS NAUERT- Well, I don't have an answer to the first question.
30:04We can perhaps take that back and see if we can get something for you.
30:07And at this point in time, I don't have anything to report to you about the Secretary's
30:11travels.
30:12But what I will tell you as to what I am going to here is the Secretary meeting with families
30:22of Japanese abductees.
30:24He is going to be meeting with a delegation of the Japanese legislative members, family
30:30members, and advocates for Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.
30:34We will have a readout for you that will be released following that meeting.
30:39And that is what I am heading to now.
30:41Thank you all very much.
30:42We have a very, very exciting week and happy 100 days.
30:46Thank you, everybody.