On Thursday, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce held a press briefing.
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00:00Better put my phones on Do Not Disturb.
00:05Hi, Matt.
00:06Hey.
00:08Happy Thursday.
00:10Happy 101st day.
00:12Happy May Day.
00:14Happy the beginning of the second 100 days.
00:18That's right.
00:20I'm sorry, ma'am.
00:21It started with a block.
00:22It did, didn't it?
00:25It did.
00:27So to speak.
00:29All righty.
00:30I hear it's beautiful outside.
00:35I wouldn't know.
00:37Well, you know, we could do these outside.
00:40You know, we could, as a matter of fact.
00:43We could.
00:43Don't tempt me.
00:45Lincoln Memorial is constant.
00:46It is, and then that beautiful garden atrium area that no one's in at the C Street entrance
00:53of this lovely building with a lovely statue that's, I'm recommending tables.
00:59And umbrellas and chairs, the vitamin D, be a lot of that.
01:06All right, you guys.
01:06So thank you all very much for being here.
01:08Happy May.
01:10May Day celebrated in a very different way in my world than the usual May Day.
01:15But yes, thank you everyone for being here.
01:18We do have an announcement here at the top as well.
01:20And let's get started, and then I'll be taking your questions.
01:23I won't answer all of them.
01:25But I'll be certainly taking them.
01:26We're going to try.
01:27We're going to try.
01:27That's always my effort.
01:29All righty.
01:29So as President Trump passes 100 days in office, he continues to deliver for the American people.
01:36President Trump has nominated and the Senate has confirmed more key foreign policy leadership
01:41positions in his first 100 days than during the same period of any of the last four administrations.
01:47On Tuesday, Tillman Fertitta has been confirmed by the Senate as our new ambassador designate
01:54to Italy and San Marino.
01:56Yesterday afternoon in the Oval Office, Secretary Rubio swore in Warren Stevens as the new U.S.
02:02ambassador to the United Kingdom.
02:04Thomas Barack also took the oath of office yesterday as the new U.S. ambassador to Turkey.
02:09And David Perdue took the oath of office yesterday as ambassador to the People's Republic of China.
02:14President Trump selected each of these talented individuals as his ambassadors to advance
02:20U.S. priorities in each of those countries.
02:22Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Besant also announced the signing of a historic agreement to establish
02:28the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund.
02:32This economic partnership marks a significant milestone in U.S.-Ukraine relations.
02:37This initiative will attract private sector investment, create jobs, develop secure supply chains,
02:43and drive economic growth, providing a solid foundation for Ukraine's recovery from the war.
02:50President Trump envisioned this partnership between the American people and the Ukrainian
02:54people to show both sides' commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine.
03:00With that in mind, President Trump and Secretary Rubio have identified Ambassador Julie Davis to serve
03:06as the charge d'affaires in Kyiv during this critical moment as we move toward a peace agreement to stop the bloodshed.
03:14Ambassador Davis is a distinguished career member of the Senior Foreign Service,
03:19holding the rank of Minister-Counselor.
03:21With a robust background in international diplomacy, she has served in pivotal roles over the last 30 years.
03:27Ambassador Davis is currently serving as the United States Ambassador to Cyprus,
03:31a position she has held since February 2023.
03:34This moment in time is one that calls for the Department's best,
03:38and Ambassador Davis is the President and Secretary's choice.
03:42Also, a quick point of personal privilege.
03:46In 100 days, I and the Spokesperson's Office have had 100 press engagements.
03:53This is on top of the Secretary's unprecedented transparency in interviews, gaggles, and other press.
04:01The Trump administration is, as we now can tell, the most transparent administration in history.
04:08And this matters because it allows the American people to not just see what's going on,
04:14which they of course deserve, but to be a genuine part of it.
04:17It's also a reminder to all of us who is in charge here.
04:21The American people tapped President Donald Trump to represent them in this historic endeavor.
04:28And with that, I will take as many of your questions as I possibly can.
04:33Yes.
04:34I mean, you can't – oh, you want to do –
04:36Yeah, well, let's do – we'll talk to Andrea Mitchell.
04:38Yes, ma'am.
04:41Would the Secretary consider a request from the President
04:46to replace Mike Wallace temporarily or in another fashion,
04:53if that is something that the President thinks would be good for the country?
04:58Is that something that the Secretary would consider?
05:01I've – obviously, I'm not going to jump ahead of thinking what the Secretary might say or do in any context.
05:11What we do know is that the President is, in fact, the one who is running this country.
05:17It is his leadership and vision that has set the tone and the trajectory and the policy.
05:24He has put together a cabinet that understands and operates within a commitment
05:30to the nature of the President's vision.
05:32And we do know, of course, within all aspects of this, especially with foreign policy,
05:37there has been tremendous success in our foreign policy.
05:40And, of course, it continues.
05:42And that is a dynamic that's not going to change,
05:44but is a result of President Trump's vision and his day-to-day work
05:49in making the situation possible and functional.
05:54And, of course, the – I would say, certainly, with what we've done in 100 days
05:58with getting people to the table, the nature of what is happening with the Houthis,
06:03the fact that Iran is at the table, it is a tremendously successful foreign policy.
06:09And whatever the President decides, it will be successful.
06:13All right.
06:13Now – so we've gotten a lot of activity down here in the first row.
06:17Can we just read something that's just come out from the President?
06:20Yeah.
06:20All right.
06:20Great.
06:21Terrific.
06:21Terrific.
06:22The President has just written on Truth Social that Mike Waltz is going to become
06:26the new U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
06:29Well, there you go.
06:30No longer the National Security Advisor.
06:31Fabulous.
06:32And in addition to that, he says that in the interim,
06:35Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Advisor
06:40while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department.
06:43Do you know how long he's going to be serving in both roles?
06:47It is clear that – I just heard this from you.
06:51I had – this is – the magic –
06:54You have no heads up at this point?
06:55Well, I have some insights as to the potential of certain things that might happen.
07:01But when the President – and this, of course, is all presidential decisions, right?
07:05So I'm with the State Department.
07:07It is, as I think would be clear to all of you,
07:10you don't want to get ahead of your skis in drawing conclusions
07:14or speculating about what may occur.
07:19And you can have a general sense of what's possible,
07:22and then you see that manifest usually.
07:24But I think the one thing I certainly – that I've learned
07:27is that things don't happen until the President says they're going to happen.
07:34So the fact that that is – was that obviously truth social?
07:38That's a truth approach.
07:38Yeah.
07:39So that is the miracle of modern technology and the social media.
07:43So that is an exciting moment here.
07:47I think that, as I know, Secretary Rubio – this is a man who, as I think you all know,
07:52has worn several hats from day one in managing the nature of what's happened here
07:57at the State Department at USAID, and it is – he's someone who is well-known by the President.
08:04The President makes perfect assessments about who would implement his agenda.
08:10And in this case, he's chosen certainly the Secretary and Mr. Waltz
08:16to facilitate his agenda moving forward.
08:19Not entirely surprising, I have to say, and good news for the American people.
08:24Did you say you had some insights that this might happen?
08:27Could you just elaborate on that a little bit?
08:29Well, I think that – no, I can't, but thanks for asking.
08:31And do you have – how come the insight that you do have, knowing the Secretary –
08:37Sure.
08:38– and knowing this building?
08:39How do you see this working, and what advantages do you see with Secretary Rubio's experience
08:46in this new world?
08:47Well, and also his experience, certainly, in the Senate for so long.
08:51He knows everyone in the city.
08:52He knows how the city and how the departments, how the government works.
08:56He has a great connection, certainly with – as a senator, with his constituents here
09:01in this building, with the people who work in this building, and with the American people
09:04now as they get to know him.
09:06So his experience also, really, we've seen him be at the White House several times a week.
09:12His close working relationship day-to-day with the President happens for a reason, because
09:17they work well together.
09:18They clearly have been in an environment where they've gotten to know each other very well.
09:22And we've seen the Secretary operate with – we have to admit, these last hundred days,
09:29it's like hanging on to a freaking bullet train.
09:32I mean, it is a fast dynamic with people who have a journey that is set with a goal that
09:39has been determined, and it's staffed with men and women who understand what the agenda
09:45is and how to get it done.
09:47Now, this is – obviously, the President knows everybody in his cabinet, and all those cabinet
09:53members have staffs, and every department has people that he gets to know and that make
09:58a difference in how the departments work.
10:00So when we think about how is Secretary Rubio going to do this, well, it's like, how does
10:04President Trump run the United States?
10:06You have people around you.
10:07It's not just you, right?
10:09These aren't single individuals working every day and pulling the levers.
10:13It's about managing people.
10:15It's about assigning people to the right roles, as the President has just done.
10:20And if anybody can do it, certainly, with the Secretary, as I've gotten to know him,
10:26then it will be Marco Rubio.
10:28So, Tammy, can we –
10:29All right, now.
10:30Are you – were you finished in the sense of –
10:32I did want to ask you about the hoodies, because Secretary Heggs had a very sharp –
10:38He did.
10:39So let's do this.
10:40If we're – are you going to continue on this line?
10:41No.
10:42We're going to move on.
10:43All right.
10:44So we're going – well, we've done three and four, and I know – look, this is – this
10:47is – and you are going to be all writing stories that I'm going to be fascinated
10:51to read.
10:52But I think that's pretty much as much as I can say about the nature of what's going
10:58to happen from this point forward today.
11:01And so let's go ahead with Andrea and see what else.
11:03Well, I just want to –
11:03Who are these –
11:04Is only Deputy Secretary Landa would step up to the daily management here at State?
11:12Is this a temporary –
11:13I – you know, Secretary Rubio is a very involved, energetic man.
11:19Many of you have traveled with him.
11:20You see what he's – what he's capable of.
11:22The American people have seen it.
11:24And there's been no point where there is a question about whether or not he could do
11:30something or how is he going to manage it.
11:33So there's no question about that.
11:35But he's not a man who does things in a partial way.
11:39And he would not have accepted an assignment if he didn't think he could do it.
11:44And he's, of course, working both.
11:45With that said, I can tell you that the other leadership in this building, as a newbie to
11:52politics, are remarkable.
11:55And certainly, Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau never met him, never knew him.
12:01And he chairs certain meetings.
12:06You know, you see him in the hallway.
12:08This is a man with an extraordinary experience.
12:11He cares about the individual.
12:13He has a terrific sense of humor.
12:16He asks all kinds of questions.
12:19And is one of the most transparent people I've met.
12:22He's also very, very good at his job with the diplomatic aspect and moving policy forward.
12:30He's a remarkable person.
12:32And I think you will – whatever had happened today, you would see more of him.
12:37And there's dozens of people in a framework of leadership in this building that have made
12:44me comfortable to accept this job, to be in this job, to speak to you in this manner.
12:49And the Deputy Secretary is one of them.
12:52But there are dozens of others as well who I have faith in.
12:56Do you see this as a Kissinger model, who is the only other President that I know of,
13:00who has done both the State Department and –
13:02Well, I guess we're going to have another one.
13:04All righty.
13:05Now, Matt.
13:06Matt, let's go.
13:07No, wait.
13:08Just a few more.
13:09You might.
13:09Let them go.
13:11Oh.
13:11Because I don't think you're going to have anything to say.
13:13Based on the little – based on the insight that you have, do you have any indication
13:18when Secretary would have received the call from the President this morning, last night?
13:22Anywhere?
13:22No, I can't.
13:23I can't reveal the nature of the details of any exchanges like that.
13:26Can I just – I just –
13:27All right.
13:27So now – yes, back to you in a moment.
13:30Matt is – are you – you're not ready?
13:32He's relaxing at this point.
13:34I – I –
13:34All right.
13:35That's fine.
13:36That helps me – that helps you know where we need to go.
13:38Yes, go ahead, Derek.
13:39Can you help us understand why this reshuffle is happening or what it says about the administration's
13:44policy priorities that these moves are taking place?
13:47I think what it says is what his first term said to people, is this is a man who is very
13:52active, day-to-day, involved, knows what he wants to accomplish.
13:56Things also sometimes change.
13:58I'm not going to guess at the decisions President Trump makes.
14:01What we do know is the results of those decisions.
14:03And I've said a few times in this room, as people try to look at the minutiae of necessarily
14:09the why or how many of one thing or a piece of gossip in a newspaper, that what really matters
14:16is the end result and what gets delivered.
14:19And I think that it is – for all of us, whether it's any kind of business, is being
14:25able to be flexible in a dynamic, in a moment, when you feel the need to be flexible.
14:30Clearly, this is the President's decision, and he made it for a reason, and I trust
14:33him and the American people will see the results.
14:35All right.
14:36Yeah.
14:37Go ahead, please.
14:38Can I – can I – can I –
14:39MS NAUERT – right after him now?
14:40We'll continue, sir.
14:41Can I – can I – can I – can I –
14:42MS NAUERT – go ahead.
14:43Go ahead.
14:45Thanks so much.
14:46In light of your tupper on Ukraine mineral steel, I have two questions.
14:47MS NAUERT – Yes.
14:48May I get – please get your response to Russian reaction, as Medvedev criticized the President
14:53for a deal and called Ukraine, quote-unquote, a nation that will soon disappear?
14:59MS NAUERT – I'm not going to comment on that particular remark.
15:06What we do know from this deal, and what the President has said, and what has been made
15:10clear now in this arrangement, is that it cements a partnership – an economic partnership
15:15– between the United States and Ukraine.
15:18And it is something that also speaks to the nature of how Ukraine will rebuild after this
15:23catastrophe.
15:25It is a terrific deal.
15:27I think that it is – and again, it's the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund,
15:33and it involves much more than just the critical minerals.
15:37And I think some of the – certainly what I think Ukraine understands and what we intend
15:44is that this is not just a financial arrangement.
15:47This is a bonding between two countries that will make a difference for a nation.
15:53Especially in Ukraine's situation, where they have a friend, and the rest of the world
15:57will notice that when you have a friend like the United States, and when we are in business
16:01with you and in your nation, it creates a stronger national security for everyone involved.
16:08And certainly in this case, when it comes to the profits that are generated, that that
16:12is then reinvested into Ukraine for the rebuilding dynamic that is going to obviously have to
16:18have to happen.
16:20It's a time where, as the Secretary's noted just a few days ago, as I mentioned to you
16:25as a matter of fact on Tuesday, that it's time for both of the nations involved in this
16:29conflict to come up with concrete proposals about how this conflict ends.
16:35And this relationship now with Ukraine reinforces the commitment of the United States to that
16:41nation.
16:42And it's – for the world, it's – better off, it also reminds the American people
16:47and the world that support of another country can take many forms, and that national security
16:53can be reinforced in many different ways.
16:56And that's what this arrangement accomplishes.
16:57And on that line, Tammy, the President last week was explicitly clear when he tweeted out
17:03– posted out, you know, a clear message to Putin saying, Vladimir, stop.
17:08Is there any disappointment on your end that Vladimir has not stopped?
17:11MS NAUERT, Well, this is, again, why the President is the President.
17:15The American people wanted Donald Trump in office.
17:18He has shown, certainly in his first term, that he is willing and capable of taking the
17:23action that's necessary to achieve his goals.
17:26He has done more than one would expect on the issue of diplomacy because he truly believes
17:32that people can come to a decision here to stop carnage and a meat grinder in that area
17:39and for the world and for the American people to see what that outreach has been and how
17:45certain people have responded, which then clearly informs the President and those who work
17:50with him, including Secretary Rubio, about the decisions that they need to make.
17:54So I think that it's – certainly the Secretary has been clear that we are watching Putin's
18:01actions, right, not his words.
18:04And in the process, he's refined a very specific timeline.
18:09Weeks ago it was weeks.
18:10A few days ago it was days that this would be a pivotal week.
18:14And look at that.
18:15It has been.
18:16All right.
18:17Yes, sir.
18:18Thank you very much, Ami.
18:20Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Kurdistan National Prayer Breakfast in Erbil,
18:27which was attended by 800 guests from around the world, particularly from the U.S.
18:34My question is, what is your view of such an event and of religion's freedom in the Kurdistan
18:41and more broadly?
18:42MS NAUERT, Well, that's – I have many opinions about that, which I can't speak
18:48about here, of course, at this podium.
18:50So on the issue of the event, if we want some answers and some commentary from the State Department,
18:55we'll send that away for you.
18:57But we'll take it from there.
18:58Did – here we go.
18:59Sean.
19:00Sure.
19:01Thanks.
19:02MS NAUERT, India, Pakistan.
19:03MS NAUERT, Yeah.
19:04The Secretary made calls yesterday to the Indian External Affairs Minister and the Pakistani
19:09Prime Minister.
19:10I know you issued readouts of that, but what's your take on how things have gone since then?
19:13Were there asks of the two sides?
19:16Do you think that his calls for de-escalation have been taken to heart?
19:20MS NAUERT, Again, the details of what has transpired in those conversations – spoke with the foreign
19:27ministers of both countries, of course.
19:29But we've also spoken to not just the Secretary, but there's been communication at all
19:34levels in that regard.
19:38And there is a few more things, though, that I do have for you, and I want to make sure
19:43I get to them as we watch this unfold.
19:47It's not unfamiliar to us regarding the region.
19:50Obviously, it does continue to evolve, right?
19:53There's – that's something we've all seen.
19:56We are monitoring closely.
19:59Yesterday, for those of you who were unaware of this, the Secretary spoke with Indian
20:04External Affairs Minister Jay Shankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif.
20:11As the President articulated to Prime Minister Modi last week, the United States stands strong
20:17with India against terrorism, and Prime Minister Modi has our full support.
20:23The Secretary encouraged both countries to work toward a responsible solution that maintains
20:31long-term – I should say – let me correct that – a responsible resolution that maintains
20:37long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia.
20:40We continue to be in touch with the governments of both countries, as I mentioned, at multiple
20:46levels.
20:48And that's what I have for you in the sense of the general overview after those phone calls.
20:54You have – you want to follow up on that?
20:56Sure.
20:57And we have – I see all of you.
20:58We'll continue.
20:59We'll continue.
21:00Just to follow up.
21:01And I said that there's – that there's been since then – I mean, the calls did
21:04de-escalate.
21:05Do you think those are being heeded?
21:06And are there particular asks, particularly of the Pakistanis, I guess, of cooperation?
21:08I know that – what – all I can say is that – and what has been conveyed here
21:13– is that there's constant involvement.
21:16This government is in constant communication.
21:19We are asking for a responsible resolution from both parties.
21:24And beyond that, there's nothing I can – I can give you any other details.
21:28But we're involved.
21:30All right.
21:31Now, you had some other – all right.
21:32Back.
21:33Right there.
21:34Thank you, Charlie.
21:35Two questions.
21:36One on Syria and the other one on Iran.
21:37I'm sorry.
21:38Please, please, please.
21:39One at a time, please.
21:40Syria and Iraq.
21:41Yeah.
21:42Iran or Iraq, please.
21:43Yeah.
21:44All right.
21:45Now, please – please.
21:46Let's not – I know there's a lot of – this is a room where many of you are reporting
21:52for certain regions and for certain countries.
21:55There is a lot of passionate things going on.
21:58These are existential issues.
22:00I'm in a position where I think many of you know me to some degree where the decorum
22:06has to be maintained for us to be able to have these kinds of conversations.
22:09And I want all of you to be in here.
22:11And I want all of us, as much as we can, to speak about these issues.
22:15So please be patient.
22:17And sometimes people leave here unsatisfied.
22:20Other people leave here early because they're unsatisfied early on.
22:24But we are all – we are doing our best, and I'm representing an entity that is working
22:29constantly on the issues you all care about and that everyone watching around the world
22:33cares about.
22:34So let's proceed here.
22:35Yes, sir.
22:36Let's not continue with the interruptions.
22:39For the sake of your colleagues, let's take some time and allow your colleagues to participate
22:44here.
22:46Go ahead.
22:47Let's start with Iran.
22:48Today the Omanese foreign – foreign minister announced that the fourth round of the indirect
22:52talks with Iran has been postponed.
22:54Can you – can you confirm that it's postponed or it's canceled?
22:57And then – what do you have to share on this with us?
23:00And the second one, do you have any reactions about the sectarian violence against the Syrian
23:04Jewish population with two days of deadly clashes near Damascus has left over 100 –
23:10MS.
23:11I can speak to both of those.
23:12This is what I can say about Iran, is that the United States was never confirmed to be
23:17participating in a fourth round of talks with Iran, which people had believed were Saturday
23:23in Rome, despite what – there had been some reports.
23:27The timing in the venue had yet to be confirmed.
23:31I think – again, there's – I would say this is a fluid situation, and I'm obviously
23:37saying things to you that are somewhat indistinct.
23:39But we expect another round of talks that will take place in the near future.
23:45So those details – it's – that's what I have here, is that – that's what I can tell
23:50you.
23:51And we aren't, though, going – of course, as you might imagine, going to get into the
23:54details of any of the negotiations themselves.
23:58And about –
23:59MS.
24:00And that was about, of course, the –
24:02Secretary on violence in Syria.
24:04MS.
24:05Yes.
24:06So let me – let's get to this here.
24:11We – as we always are in these regions, we're closely monitoring, so we're aware of
24:16this, to say the least, including the recent violence against members of the Druze community,
24:22so that – we are watching that for sure.
24:25We urge the interim authorities to hold perpetrators of violence and civilian harm accountable for
24:32their actions and ensure the security of all Syrians, every single one of them.
24:38And it is – that's all I can say.
24:42That's all I can say on that.
24:43All right.
24:44All right.
24:45All right.
24:46Go – yes, sir.
24:47I have a few questions for you.
24:48Number one, Trump administration, first term and second term, is a foundational part of
24:52foreign policy.
24:53We'll talk to anybody, whether inviting the Taliban to Camp David or King Jamun or Putin
24:58or whoever.
24:59It's no secret the Syrians are here in the states for talks with a lot of people.
25:04Why is the Trump admin kind of tiptoeing around the subject of meeting with the Syrians this
25:09week?
25:10MS.
25:11I don't think it's about tiptoeing.
25:12I think it's about, you know, what's appropriate.
25:17I can tell you that the Department of State officials met on April 29th with the Syrians
25:24interim authorities in New York.
25:26But just like any meeting with anyone, we're not going to tell you the details of that.
25:31As a general matter, we – as some of you might not know, but we don't comment on private
25:37diplomatic conversations.
25:38That would kind of ruin the point of them.
25:40We continue, though – we can tell you to urge the interim authorities to choose policies
25:45that reinforce stability for Syrians citizens, assure peace with Syrians neighbors, develop
25:51Syrians' economy, and result in good faith cooperation with the international community.
25:57And any future normalization of relations or lifting of sanctions, as an example, which
26:02we are asked a lot at this podium, will depend on the interim authorities' actions and
26:07positive response to the specific confidence-building measures we have communicated.
26:13And those are that they should fully renounce and suppress terrorism, exclude and remove
26:19foreign terrorist fighters from any official roles, prevent Iran and its proxies from exploiting
26:25Syrian territory, continue taking steps to verifiably destroy Assad's chemical weapons, assist
26:32in the recovery of U.S. and other citizens who have been disappeared in Syria, and ensure the security
26:39and freedoms of Syria's religious and ethnic minorities.
26:43I appreciate you coming to the meeting.
26:44That's it.
26:45Humar.
26:46Yes.
26:47Thank you, Tammy.
26:48I actually have a follow-up on that.
26:49Okay.
26:50So those were the demands that U.S. basically sent to the Syrian interim authorities.
26:55And then they sent back in writing a response saying, we have done some of these things, and
27:00then we're working on other things.
27:02So what is the U.S. assessment at the moment on Syrian interim authorities' progress?
27:09And was there any, because they want a clear roadmap for permanent sanctions relief, was
27:17that somehow, like, discussed in that meeting?
27:21And did you guys give them a clear timeline on when that would happen?
27:24Obviously, I can't tell you that.
27:27But you've got to ask.
27:28I understand that.
27:29Look, you're going to – I think we can all determine what the framework is and if it
27:34has been met when there's action.
27:36So it's – I don't want to – I can't say what I was just going to say.
27:43You can.
27:44No, I know I could, but I won't.
27:46I shouldn't.
27:47So there's things you can do, and then there's things you should do.
27:50So it does sound like the U.S. is not that satisfied with what they –
27:53No, do not draw conclusions, which sometimes people tend to do.
27:58My point is, is that if you're wondering when our requirements, of which I've detailed,
28:05some of, are met, you will see action from this government.
28:09If there is no action from this government, we would have to presume that that's –
28:15you know, certain things haven't been met yet.
28:17As far as to what was discussed in New York, that can't be discussed.
28:21I certainly have not been told what the details are of that particular meeting.
28:25And if I was, even though you're wonderful, I would not share it with you.
28:29I'm sorry.
28:30All right.
28:31Yes, sir.
28:32Yes, sir.
28:33Thank you so much.
28:34Yes.
28:35And then – but yes.
28:36In the white shirt.
28:37Yes, sir.
28:38I'll move to Gaza if you don't mind.
28:40Of course.
28:41Please.
28:42Sure.
28:43Certainly.
28:44For two months now, there have been a blockade of Gaza that no aid is coming in from the Israelis.
28:48There are so many reasons for that, I understand.
28:51But the President a few days ago said that food and medicine should enter Gaza.
28:56Yes, he did.
28:57He said more than that even.
28:58Yeah, yeah.
28:59And – but the Israelis are not – it doesn't seem that they are listening yet.
29:03I mean, food is still not there.
29:05There is a lot of signs inside Gaza, according to a lot of international organizations, a sign
29:11of famine growing in Gaza, fear of famine is growing in Gaza.
29:15What the administration is doing more to push or pressure the Israelis to allow –
29:21Well, obviously, at this point, we've – as I've noted, we've always – we have a policy.
29:26We want the aid to resume.
29:28We want humanitarian supplies and assistance to resume as long as it can be safely moved
29:35in and there's no looting and people aren't getting mugged and it's not being stolen.
29:41And, I mean, there are some standards about when you're going to send somebody into essentially
29:45a war zone.
29:46And I don't think that's a very high bar.
29:48At the same time, what are we doing?
29:50Well, the President of the United States is engaging in this as well.
29:54You know, we have wonderful envoys, people who have changed the world and saved people's
29:59lives and get the impossible done.
30:02And then you have Donald Trump who said in more detail – I have it for you here – he
30:07said regarding Gaza, we've got to get – we've got to be good to Gaza.
30:12These people are suffering.
30:14There is a very big need for medicine, food, and we are taking care of it.
30:19How that is manifesting – and we talked about this a little bit on Tuesday – I can't
30:22give you those details.
30:23But when the President of the United States is describing and effectively announcing that
30:28action is being taken, and especially this President, you know that is happening.
30:33The details of which I can't share with you.
30:35I know that, of course, we stand with Israel.
30:37They are one of our greatest allies.
30:40Our relationship with them is excellent.
30:43And we work with them and support them in what their needs are.
30:47But in this case, I think we have the best answer regarding the attitude of the United States,
30:52and that comes from President Trump.
30:54Yes, sir.
30:55Behind you, sir.
30:56Behind you, sir.
30:57Yes, behind you, sir.
30:58Sir, this is not going to – no, Said.
31:00Said, I will – we will – please – I've never had to do it.
31:04Said, I've never had to do it.
31:06And I – and I will – and I will do it.
31:09Said, for the – there's – there are many other people here, obviously many also who have
31:15concerns about the same city or have different kinds of questions and want the same kinds of answers.
31:21This is – this is not the fifth grade.
31:24This is the State Department of the United States.
31:27You're here.
31:28It is a privilege.
31:29I like – Said, I see you during the gaggles and every day, and I like you very much.
31:34And I understand your passion.
31:36But you are – but you are not directing this conversation or this room.
31:42Yes, sir, please go.
31:43Do you believe that the recent mineral deal with Ukraine sends a clear message to those
31:47who have accused President Trump of being sympathetic to Russia?
31:51Yeah, I think that the – there's a lot of media that goes on when you're dealing with issues of negotiations.
31:58The answer, of course, is not to not speak to people.
32:02And that has been – that was the idea and the theory for the – for the last administration,
32:06where Russia wasn't spoken to for at least three years.
32:10And so even a lot of heat of the idea of speaking to Putin.
32:14There was a lot of heat when you went to visit Kim Jong-un.
32:16You know, but Secretary Rubio is very similar when it comes to what President Trump's view is – is that people have to be spoken with face-to-face, one-on-one.
32:28That this is – that diplomacy is about human beings making arrangements, talking about things, finding a common ground.
32:35And you really – in all honesty, I know we got used to a lot of, like, non-human contact during COVID.
32:41And that is one of the biggest disasters to hit humanity that we can imagine that was enforced on us.
32:48So it is now clear that there is a commitment and an understanding of the importance of this kind of diplomacy.
32:55So don't – I'm not going to guess at the nature of what President Trump and Putin might discuss.
33:03I do know that President Trump is doing it for a reason, and that is to accomplish an end to bloodshed and massacres.
33:10It's – when you think about it, it's something that has to happen.
33:14That is what has always driven him.
33:16And with Ukraine, the same situation.
33:18You have – you have the president of that country in your house, in the Oval Office.
33:22You're supposed to have signed this – this deal that day when President Zelensky decided that was just not going to happen, I guess.
33:31And yet, it didn't end the relationship.
33:34They meet in Rome.
33:35They sit down with each other.
33:36And then this happens again.
33:38We know this is important to all of us and to those men and the women as well involved in these negotiations.
33:46But it is something that is with a goal to solve something.
33:51And it's – I don't think we should look at the minerals deal as a statement about Russia.
33:59Or if you talk to Putin on the phone, it's not a statement about something else.
34:03Trump has been very clear about his mission, and that is how we should have – we should look at – through that lens.
34:09All right.
34:10Yes, Andrea again.
34:11Just a quick follow-up on that.
34:12The President did indicate on his way back from the Vatican that he would consider secondary sanctions if Russia kept bombing.
34:20He did.
34:21Russia has kept bombing, hasn't agreed to the ceasefire, and he's now apparently agreed to secondary sanctions on Iran – on people who do oil business with Iran.
34:32Mm-hmm.
34:33Is he considering secondary sanctions on Russia?
34:36MS.
34:37Well, we know, again, that he's stated his willingness to do that about the nature of – clearly, we're not removing any sanctions that currently exist.
34:47The President wants in every action that we've taken as a nation to do it diplomatically.
34:53That he wants – clearly, because of the commitment to it, and yet he knows also that there is another part of the world, a whole globe, that needs some attention.
35:04And the Secretary has also made it very clear that while our style will change, the methodology of how we contribute to this will change in that we will not be the mediators.
35:15That is what I mentioned on Tuesday, and the nature of how this would change is we would not – we certainly are still committed to it, and we'll help and do what we can.
35:22But we are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings, that it is now between the two parties, and now – now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end.
35:38It's going to be up to them.
35:39Yes, Eric.
35:40Eric?
35:41Excuse me.
35:42Yes, thank you.
35:43I wanted to ask – so many times in here we're asking about the day-to-day things, but since we just passed 100 days of the administration,
35:50if you could describe kind of writ large what you think the biggest accomplishments of the administration have been on the Russia and Israel fronts,
35:57and also what you see as the biggest challenges at this point?
35:59Well, I think it's very simple.
36:01It's the fact that the parties are talking.
36:03In every single dynamic, the parties are talking.
36:06And that is an accomplishment no one else has been able to do.
36:11I think this reinvestment fund, this deal that has just been signed, is so critical in that it is going to be generational and it will make the difference for Ukraine at every stage and provides a kind of national security that nothing else really could when it comes to the way the world views Ukraine.
36:33So I think getting them to the table, changing the idea of the world of what's possible, and this critical minerals deal are three really very big things.
36:43Challenges?
36:44All right.
36:45All right.
36:46Said?
36:47Yes.
36:48Would you like to say something, sir?
36:49Thanks for your patience.
36:50I want – thank you very kindly.
36:51I just wanted to follow up –
36:52Yes, sir.
36:53– for you to clarify.
36:54Yes, sir.
36:55You said that aid was not going in because of security issues that –
36:59No, I said that we want the aid to go in and support humanitarian aid as long as there are guarantees regarding looting and safety and all – I think that's reasonable.
37:10Okay.
37:11Yeah, I understand.
37:12I just want you to confirm that that is the reason –
37:14Well, I'm not saying – no, I'm describing our standard.
37:17Right.
37:18I understand.
37:19I'm not giving you a reason for something, sir.
37:20Because, you know, in the past, you know, when the war was full scale, let's say, before the ceasefire, aid was still going in and security was provided for the aid to be distributed properly and so on.
37:34So there is basically, you know, like a pattern for that.
37:38There is a –
37:39There's ways.
37:40There's ways.
37:41Yes.
37:42That's what I – that's all I wanted.
37:43I'm sorry if I seem to –
37:44No, no, no.
37:45I appreciate that.
37:47But it's important to know that I will manage the room.
37:50Yes, absolutely.
37:51In any way that I need to.
37:53And I really – don't break my heart for needing to do it in a way that I'd prefer not to.
37:57No, no.
37:58In the back, sir – yes.
37:59Yes, sir.
38:00Yes, you.
38:01Thank you very much.
38:02There are nine or one fully detained U.S. citizens in Venezuela.
38:04Their families are asking for engagement or at least that the administration do something to get them back.
38:10Is it true that Special Envoy Claver-Carone is engaging directly with the Maduro regime
38:15for some kind of exchange, maybe Venezuelans in El Salvador for these nine U.S. citizens,
38:21or what is the engagement?
38:23Well, I cannot speak on any alleged or real diplomatic efforts of what's happening,
38:29and certainly not just that situation, but any other situation either.
38:32Yes, sir.
38:34I'm bringing it to 100 days, so welcome to the attention.
38:37Yesterday, the Secretary, he said, quote, in the first 100 days of the 47th presidency,
38:4247 wrongfully detained Americans have been returned to the United States thanks to the
38:47President's leadership.
38:49I just wanted to ask whether he was aware that wrongful detention is a specific determination
38:55made by the State Department and that it involves looking at the criteria within the
39:00Robert Levinson Act to determine whether a case of an American detained abroad is wrongful
39:05detention or whether that term, wrongful detention, has now changed under this Administration to encompass
39:12a bigger group of Americans detained abroad even if they don't fit that criteria.
39:18Well, I believe he also – he has a tweet out that refers to 47 unjustly detained Americans,
39:23and so that's what I'll speak to here, and that is, of course, a correct number.
39:29It will be higher, I believe, soon, including in Afghanistan, Russia, and Venezuela through diplomatic efforts.
39:36These are huge wins for the United States, and it is because of President Trump's leadership.
39:42What we can also tell you – I think this happened – was it yesterday, I believe?
39:47I'm pleased to report that President Trump has secured the release of another U.S. citizen,
39:51Joris Djankovic, from Belarus.
39:54Since President Trump took office, he was released on April 30th and returned to the United States.
40:01There is – we want to thank, of course, the Government of Lithuania, who remain incredible allies
40:08and who have offered critical support to our efforts these past few months to bring more Americans home.
40:15All right.
40:17And – yes, sir.
40:18A follow-up on Iran.
40:19The Iranian foreign minister has just tweeted that together with the Omani and U.S. interlocutors,
40:24we have decided to postpone the fourth round of talks for logistical and technical reasons.
40:29Can you confirm that the reason was logistical?
40:32Well, there – I can't confirm the details or nor would I speak to what someone in Iran might tweet,
40:39no matter their position.
40:40But I can have said earlier – and I'll repeat it – that the United States was never confirmed
40:45to participate in a fourth round of talks anywhere.
40:48The timing and venue – there could be one in that it would take place in the near future,
40:56but we won't discuss the where or the when.
40:59And so it's – what the Russians would say or what the Iranians might say or anyone
41:05who would tweet is, of course, not something I can speak to.
41:11But I can tell you that from what our people say and what our envoy says is that we – I
41:17guess something would take place in the near future, and as soon as we have those details,
41:21we'll let you know.
41:22And that is – it's a very big day.
41:24That is going to be it for me.
41:25Thank you, everyone.
41:26It's a beautiful day outside.
41:28And thank you.
41:29It got very, very – it got very saucy in here.
41:32And I want to thank everyone for caring about their region and their issues,
41:39and I appreciate everyone behaving as much as they possibly could.