English subtitles for clip: File:12-5-16- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Earnest: Good
afternoon, everybody.

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Happy Monday.

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I hope you all enjoyed
your weekends.

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I do not have any
announcements at the top,

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so we can go straight
to your questions.

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Kevin, would you
like to begin?

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The Press: Sure.

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Thank you, Josh.

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Has the President talked
to anyone affiliated with

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President-elect Trump's
transition team or to

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President Xi about the
President-elect's call

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with the leader in Taiwan?

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Have any concerns been
expressed with foreign

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leaders at all
about this call?

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Or is this simply
President-elect Trump's to

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own and for the current
administration to

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distance itself from?

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Mr. Earnest: Well,
Kevin, I don't have any

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presidential conversations
to tell you about.

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I can confirm that U.S.

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officials, including
senior officials at the

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National Security Council,
have been in touch with

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their Chinese counterparts
to reiterate our country's

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continued commitment
to a one-China policy.

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This is a policy that
is based on three joint

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U.S.-China communiques
that were negotiated by

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different U.S.

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Presidents in different
parties and, of course, by

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the Taiwan Relations Act.

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This is a policy that has
been in place for nearly

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40 years, and it has been
focused on promoting and

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preserving peace and
stability in the strait.

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The adherence to and
commitment to this policy

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has advanced the ability
of the United States to

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make progress in our
relationship with China

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and, of course, has
benefitted the

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people of Taiwan.

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Taiwan, after all, is the
ninth-largest trading

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partner of the United
States, and they certainly

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benefit from peace and
stability in the strait.

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And pursuit of and
commitment to that

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peace and stability
advances U.S. interests.

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If the President-elect's
team has a different aim,

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I'll leave it to
them to describe.

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The Press: Have you had
conversations with the

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President-elect's team,
and did you get the sense

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that this call is designed
to forge closer

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relations with Taiwan?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I think it's hard to

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determine exactly what
the aim was of the

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President-elect.

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I know both the Vice
President-elect and his

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campaign manager were --
when asked about this over

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the weekend, indicated
that these were courtesy

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calls -- or that this was
a courtesy call and the

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President-elect was merely
returning that call.

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The Washington Post today
tells a different story,

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with some Trump aides
indicating that this was a

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long-planned call and that
this is part of a broader

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strategic effort.

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It's unclear exactly what
the strategic effort is,

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what the aim of the
strategic effort is, and

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it's unclear exactly what
potential benefit could be

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experienced by the United
States, China or Taiwan.

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But I'll leave that
to them to explain.

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The Press: Keeping on
foreign affairs, what is

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the President's reaction
to the election

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results in Italy?

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And he put some political
capital into this,

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bringing Prime Minister
Renzi in for the

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final official visit.

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Is he disappointed
in the results?

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And is he concerned that
this is kind of the

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beginning of the
unraveling of

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the European Union?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
obviously both the

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President and the
President-elect had quite

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a bit to say about this
when Prime Minister Renzi

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was here at the White
House back in October.

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And the President, at that
point, indicated his hope

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that the Italian people
would be supportive of the

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referendum and the reforms
that Prime Minister Renzi

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put forward.

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Didn't turn out that way.

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I would warn against
painting with an overly

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broad brush about the
potential consequences

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of this outcome.

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There certainly is a not
entirely unreasonable

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tendency to want to loop
together the outcome in

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the UK and even the
outcome of the U.S.

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presidential election
with this outcome.

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But each of these
is different.

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We're talking about
different constituencies.

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In one case, we're talking
about a presidential

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election; in two other
cases we're talking about

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a referendum, only one
of which actually had a

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direct impact on Brexit.

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So there are some broader
trends that are worthy of

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analysis, but I think
there's a risk in

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oversimplifying that
analysis based on the

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outcome of yesterday's
referendum in Italy.

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The Press: Thank you.

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Mr. Earnest: Okay.

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Roberta.

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The Press: Since Friday,
what contact has the

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administration had with
other allies in Asia who

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may have been concerned
about the call?

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Mr. Earnest: I don't have
any other diplomatic

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conversations to
tell you about.

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Obviously the United
States, through the State

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Department and other
agencies, including

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occasionally from the
National Security Council,

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is in touch with our
allies not just in Asia

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but around the world.

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I think that there were a
couple of conversations

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over the weekend
between senior U.S.

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officials at the National
Security Council and

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Chinese officials to
reiterate and clarify the

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continued commitment of
the United States

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the our longstanding
one-China policy.

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But beyond that, I
don't have diplomatic

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conversations
to read you out.

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The Press: You can't say
one way or the other

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whether there were other
conversations

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with other allies?

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Mr. Earnest: I can't say
one way or the other.

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The Press: And I guess I'm
wondering, with the rebels

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in Aleppo being almost
completely overwhelmed,

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how concerned is the White
House that Al-Nusra or

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other groups like that are
going to step in and sort

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of gain strength because
of what's happening?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
our concern with the

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situation in Aleppo right
now, Roberta, is focused

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on the plight of thousands
of civilians, including

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children, who are
caught in harm's way.

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And the reports continue
to trickle out of Aleppo

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are increasingly dire
and the situation

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there continues to worsen.

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And it's clear that while
far too many innocent

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lives have already been
lost, there are many more

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innocent lives that are at
risk, including

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women and children.

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And it is a reflection of
the depravity of

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the Assad regime.

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It is a reflection of the
willingness of the Russian

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government and the
Iranians to risk deepening

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involvement in a quagmire
to accomplish a goal of

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trying to shore up their
influence in the region.

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And it raises profound
moral concerns.

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It also serves to isolate
Syria, Russia and Iran from

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basically the rest of
the world, who's deeply

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concerned with the
violence that they

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see continuing to be
perpetuated in

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that war-torn country.

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The Press: So it raises
profound moral concerns.

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Are any adjustments
being made to U.S. policy

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in Syria because
of what's happening now?

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Mr. Earnest:
Well, the U.S.

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efforts underway right now
are diplomatic in nature.

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And we have said from the
beginning of this conflict

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that a military solution
is not available.

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The only available
solution is a diplomatic one.

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And for a time, the United
States, through the

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historic and tenacious
efforts of Secretary of

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State Kerry, were focused
on trying to reach a

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bilateral negotiated
agreement with the Russians.

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But again, despite his
tenacious efforts, that

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kind of solution
was not to be found.

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But Secretary of State
Kerry has remained

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undeterred and has
continued to pursue a

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multilateral negotiated
agreement to try to bring

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the violence to an end,
or at least reduce the

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violence and not allow so
many innocent Syrians to

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be in harm's way of a
bloody bombing campaign.

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But I'd refer you to the
State Department of an

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update on those efforts,
but obviously that's

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something that he
continues to work on very

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diligently because of our
nation's profound concern

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for the plight of those
innocent Syrian men,

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women and children.

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Michelle.

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The Press: Thanks, Josh.

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Among the criticism that's
been out there of Donald

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Trump's foreign policy or
his contact with foreign

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leaders are that he's
winging it, and also we've

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heard from one who is a
congressman, that

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that's how wars start.

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How seriously does the
administration take

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some of these contacts?

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I mean, do you think that
this borders on dangerous?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
whenever you are talking

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about the President-elect
of the United States

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interacting with foreign
leaders, it's

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incredibly important.

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It has profound
consequences for our

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country and for our
national interests

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around the world.

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In talking about this
situation -- well, let

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me be more specific.

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Last week, we had some
conversations about a

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conversation that the
President-elect had

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with the Prime Minister
of Pakistan.

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And I noted in answering
questions about that

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telephone call that
President Obama, over the

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course of his eight years
in the White House, has

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benefitted significantly
from the expertise,

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advice, and experience of
career diplomats at the

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State Department.

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And that expertise and
advice is available to the

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President-elect.

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That advice will continue
to be available to

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him when he enters
the Oval Office.

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President Obama
benefitted from it,

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and President-elect
would, as well.

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The Press: Do you think
that his contact with

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Taiwan and his tweeting
about China,

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is that dangerous?

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Mr. Earnest: Well, I think
what is true is that there

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has been a longstanding
policy in place that's

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been governed by our
one-China policy,

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undergirded by three
different joint

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communiqués negotiated
between U.S. Presidents

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and their
Chinese counterparts.

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My understanding is that
these -- or the facts are

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that these communiqués
were negotiated, one in

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1972 by President Nixon,
one in 1979 by President

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Carter, and one in 1982
by President Reagan, and

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those joint communiqués
have guided our

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approach to this region
of the world.

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And the Chinese government
in Beijing places an

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enormous priority on this
situation and it's

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a sensitive matter.

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And some of the progress
that we have made in our

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relationship with China
could be undermined by

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this issue flaring up.

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It's also unclear how the
people who live in Taiwan

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benefit from this
issue flaring up.

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The response from the
Chinese government in the

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aftermath of this call has
primarily been to

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ratchet up the rhetoric
against Taiwan.

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And it's unclear to me how
that kind of consequence

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benefits the people of
Taiwan or benefits the

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ninth-largest trading
partner of

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the United States.

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So these are significant
issues and worthy of

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careful consideration.

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The Press: And we know the
Chinese officials reached

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out to the current
administration after this

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phone call with Taiwan.

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00:12:26,278 --> 00:12:29,081
So what does this
administration say to the

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00:12:29,081 --> 00:12:31,217
Chinese in this instance?

252
00:12:31,217 --> 00:12:32,284
I mean, what
really can you say?

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00:12:32,284 --> 00:12:36,222
Mr. Earnest: What we have
made clear in a couple of

254
00:12:36,222 --> 00:12:40,492
different phone
conversations is that the

255
00:12:40,493 --> 00:12:42,661
administration is
committed to our nation's

256
00:12:42,661 --> 00:12:47,233
pursuit of a one-China
policy rooted in three

257
00:12:47,233 --> 00:12:49,234
communiques and the
Taiwan Relations Act.

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00:12:49,235 --> 00:12:52,204
This is a policy that's
been in place for 40 years

259
00:12:52,204 --> 00:12:55,774
-- or almost 40 years, and
it's a policy that has

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00:12:55,774 --> 00:12:58,210
been aimed at promoting
peace and stability

261
00:12:58,210 --> 00:12:59,211
in the Strait.

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00:12:59,211 --> 00:13:01,580
And this has been a policy
that has advanced the

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00:13:01,580 --> 00:13:04,150
interests of the United
States both in terms of

264
00:13:04,150 --> 00:13:06,619
advancing our relationship
with China, but also in

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00:13:06,619 --> 00:13:10,756
terms of the interests of
the people of Taiwan,

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00:13:10,756 --> 00:13:12,725
who happen to be the
ninth-largest trading

267
00:13:12,725 --> 00:13:13,726
partner of the
United States.

268
00:13:13,726 --> 00:13:15,728
So there are significant
economic consequences

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00:13:15,728 --> 00:13:16,728
here as well.

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00:13:16,729 --> 00:13:18,731
The Press: So, in saying
that, are you expressing

271
00:13:18,731 --> 00:13:20,733
confidence to them that
that policy will continue?

272
00:13:20,733 --> 00:13:22,734
Or do you really have
no way of knowing?

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00:13:22,735 --> 00:13:24,737
Mr. Earnest: Well, it's
the President-elect and

274
00:13:24,737 --> 00:13:26,906
his team who can speak to
what sort of policy

275
00:13:26,906 --> 00:13:28,907
they intend to pursue
after January 20th.

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00:13:28,908 --> 00:13:29,909
I can't speak to that.

277
00:13:29,909 --> 00:13:31,911
The Press: But you say
that there have been

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00:13:31,911 --> 00:13:33,078
a number of phone
conversations with

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00:13:33,078 --> 00:13:34,146
the Chinese government.

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00:13:34,146 --> 00:13:34,947
Mr. Earnest: I'm aware
of two different phone

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00:13:34,947 --> 00:13:36,916
conversations with
officials at the

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00:13:36,916 --> 00:13:38,217
National Security Council
with their

283
00:13:38,217 --> 00:13:39,050
Chinese counterparts.

284
00:13:39,051 --> 00:13:39,652
The Press: Okay, great.

285
00:13:39,652 --> 00:13:40,186
Thanks, Josh.

286
00:13:40,186 --> 00:13:41,320
Mr. Earnest: Justin.

287
00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:42,955
The Press: I wanted to
return to Italy first.

288
00:13:42,955 --> 00:13:45,524
I was wondering if you
could talk a bit about

289
00:13:45,524 --> 00:13:48,494
what you anticipate it
meaning for European

290
00:13:48,494 --> 00:13:52,031
refugee policy, and also
if the administration --

291
00:13:52,031 --> 00:13:55,700
if anybody in the Treasury
Department or here at the

292
00:13:55,701 --> 00:13:56,869
White House has been
in touch with sort of

293
00:13:56,869 --> 00:14:01,707
financial markets out of
this concern that this

294
00:14:01,707 --> 00:14:04,944
could either impact the
Euro, or kind of spark

295
00:14:04,944 --> 00:14:08,546
fears of a recession or a
run on the banks -- all

296
00:14:08,547 --> 00:14:11,350
these different possible
economic consequences.

297
00:14:11,350 --> 00:14:13,352
Mr. Earnest: There are
obviously a range of

298
00:14:13,352 --> 00:14:15,353
potential contingencies
any time there is a

299
00:14:15,354 --> 00:14:17,356
significant national
election like this.

300
00:14:17,356 --> 00:14:19,525
It's no secret that the
Treasury Department has

301
00:14:19,525 --> 00:14:25,197
been closely monitoring
the financial system in

302
00:14:25,197 --> 00:14:26,865
Italy for some time now.

303
00:14:26,865 --> 00:14:29,034
There have been increased
signs of volatility there.

304
00:14:29,034 --> 00:14:31,036
I'm certainly no expert on
those issues so I'd refer

305
00:14:31,036 --> 00:14:33,037
you to my colleagues at
the Treasury Department

306
00:14:33,038 --> 00:14:34,039
for an analysis.

307
00:14:34,039 --> 00:14:36,040
I know that a number of
analysts have suggested

308
00:14:36,041 --> 00:14:47,686
that the market reaction
is indicative of this

309
00:14:47,686 --> 00:14:50,589
being the anticipated
outcome, but I'll let

310
00:14:50,589 --> 00:14:53,659
those analysts speak
to that assessment.

311
00:14:53,659 --> 00:14:57,396
Obviously, the United
States and Italy have an

312
00:14:57,396 --> 00:15:00,332
important economic
relationship, and the

313
00:15:00,332 --> 00:15:05,070
United States benefits
from Italy and the EU more

314
00:15:05,070 --> 00:15:07,072
generally making smart
financial and

315
00:15:07,072 --> 00:15:09,074
economic decisions.

316
00:15:10,676 --> 00:15:15,547
With regard to the
potential consequences for

317
00:15:15,547 --> 00:15:17,850
the unity of the European
Union, I think that

318
00:15:17,850 --> 00:15:19,151
remains to be seen.

319
00:15:19,151 --> 00:15:22,121
Obviously, this is not a
-- the referendum was not

320
00:15:22,121 --> 00:15:28,260
on -- was not a question
about Italy's relationship

321
00:15:28,260 --> 00:15:30,596
with the EU, but there
are a range of broader

322
00:15:30,596 --> 00:15:34,633
potential consequences
that I can't speak to.

323
00:15:34,633 --> 00:15:36,969
But obviously, there are
some important political

324
00:15:36,969 --> 00:15:42,541
decisions for Italy in
the near term in terms of

325
00:15:42,541 --> 00:15:44,743
Prime Minister Renzi
submitting his resignation

326
00:15:44,743 --> 00:15:47,546
and the need to form a
new government -- whether

327
00:15:47,546 --> 00:15:49,615
that's a caretaker
government or another

328
00:15:49,615 --> 00:15:52,117
government is something
that ultimately the

329
00:15:52,117 --> 00:15:54,887
Italian President will
have some say on.

330
00:15:54,887 --> 00:15:57,488
But, look, the United
States and Italy have an

331
00:15:57,489 --> 00:15:59,491
extraordinarily
important relationship.

332
00:15:59,491 --> 00:16:02,026
And that relationship was
on display when Prime

333
00:16:02,027 --> 00:16:04,029
Minister Renzi was here at
the White House just

334
00:16:04,029 --> 00:16:05,397
six weeks or so ago.

335
00:16:05,397 --> 00:16:09,635
And obviously, there's a
deep cultural relationship

336
00:16:09,635 --> 00:16:10,636
between our two countries.

337
00:16:10,636 --> 00:16:13,472
There are many people who
live in this country

338
00:16:13,472 --> 00:16:15,473
who proudly identify
themselves as

339
00:16:15,474 --> 00:16:16,475
Italian-American.

340
00:16:16,475 --> 00:16:19,645
The security relationship
between the United States

341
00:16:19,645 --> 00:16:21,079
and Italy is critical.

342
00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,849
Italy is a NATO member
and has made important

343
00:16:23,849 --> 00:16:25,851
contributions to our
counter-ISIL campaign, to

344
00:16:25,851 --> 00:16:28,954
the NATO effort
in Afghanistan.

345
00:16:28,954 --> 00:16:30,955
And we obviously work
closely and consult

346
00:16:30,956 --> 00:16:32,925
closely with Italy as
we resolve some of the

347
00:16:32,925 --> 00:16:35,093
security concerns with
regard to ISIL's

348
00:16:35,094 --> 00:16:36,495
presence in Libya.

349
00:16:36,495 --> 00:16:39,698
So this is an
extraordinarily important

350
00:16:39,698 --> 00:16:41,699
relationship to the United
States and to our

351
00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:43,702
national security and
to our economy.

352
00:16:43,702 --> 00:16:46,205
And that will continue to
remain the case even as

353
00:16:46,205 --> 00:16:48,207
they work through some of
the political challenges

354
00:16:48,207 --> 00:16:49,608
that they're
currently facing.

355
00:16:49,608 --> 00:16:50,809
The Press: I want to ask
about the decision by the

356
00:16:50,809 --> 00:16:53,779
Army Corps to delay the
Dakota access pipeline for

357
00:16:53,779 --> 00:16:54,847
an environmental review.

358
00:16:54,847 --> 00:16:58,016
I'm interested both in
your general reaction, but

359
00:16:58,016 --> 00:17:01,053
also if the White House
was in any way sort of in

360
00:17:01,053 --> 00:17:03,389
contact with the Army
Corps or dictating

361
00:17:03,389 --> 00:17:08,260
this decision to sort
of further --

362
00:17:08,260 --> 00:17:10,429
Mr. Earnest: Justin, I've
indicated before that the

363
00:17:10,429 --> 00:17:13,399
White House was being
regularly updated on the

364
00:17:13,398 --> 00:17:17,402
talks between concerned
local residents

365
00:17:17,403 --> 00:17:21,206
and federal agencies,
including the U.S.

366
00:17:21,205 --> 00:17:23,207
Army with regard to the
construction of this

367
00:17:23,208 --> 00:17:24,843
infrastructure project.

368
00:17:24,843 --> 00:17:27,012
The White House did not
and has not been dictating

369
00:17:27,012 --> 00:17:29,313
the outcome, but rather
has been updated by

370
00:17:29,314 --> 00:17:32,918
the Army Corps on the
negotiations.

371
00:17:32,918 --> 00:17:36,187
The President, a couple of
weeks ago, welcomed the

372
00:17:36,188 --> 00:17:38,390
indication from the United
States Army and other

373
00:17:38,390 --> 00:17:42,628
government agencies
to redouble their

374
00:17:42,628 --> 00:17:45,264
consultation with those
communities that are most

375
00:17:45,264 --> 00:17:47,331
directly affected by the
construction of this project.

376
00:17:50,002 --> 00:17:52,370
This is typically the kind
of principle that you

377
00:17:52,371 --> 00:17:55,741
would hear from
conservative politicians

378
00:17:55,741 --> 00:17:57,743
-- that whenever the
federal government is

379
00:17:57,743 --> 00:17:59,745
undertaking a project that
has a direct impact on a

380
00:17:59,745 --> 00:18:06,517
local community or a local
American citizen, that the

381
00:18:06,518 --> 00:18:12,424
rights to that person and
that community should be

382
00:18:12,424 --> 00:18:14,426
very carefully considered.

383
00:18:17,496 --> 00:18:19,498
There has been some
criticism from

384
00:18:19,498 --> 00:18:22,201
self-described
conservative politicians.

385
00:18:22,201 --> 00:18:25,037
Why they have reached a
different conclusion in

386
00:18:25,037 --> 00:18:26,538
this case is something
you'd have to ask them.

387
00:18:26,538 --> 00:18:29,374
It's curious to me.

388
00:18:29,374 --> 00:18:33,946
But I think more
generally, the President

389
00:18:33,946 --> 00:18:36,113
believes that this kind
of consultation between

390
00:18:36,114 --> 00:18:39,551
federal agencies and local
communities is important,

391
00:18:39,551 --> 00:18:41,787
particularly when a local
community has such a

392
00:18:41,787 --> 00:18:44,890
significant stake in
the outcome or is so

393
00:18:44,890 --> 00:18:47,659
significantly affected by
a project like

394
00:18:47,659 --> 00:18:48,660
this moving forward.

395
00:18:48,660 --> 00:18:50,329
And that was the case
in this situation.

396
00:18:50,329 --> 00:18:53,966
And the result has been
for this federal agency to

397
00:18:53,966 --> 00:18:56,834
determine that more
study is required.

398
00:18:56,835 --> 00:18:59,505
But ultimately that was a
decision that was arrived

399
00:18:59,505 --> 00:19:01,840
at by the agency -- in
this case, the

400
00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:03,442
United States Army.

401
00:19:03,442 --> 00:19:04,977
The Press: Protestors
there obviously are happy

402
00:19:04,977 --> 00:19:07,546
with the delay, but
there's been complaints

403
00:19:07,546 --> 00:19:10,249
throughout the last few
weeks about some of the

404
00:19:10,249 --> 00:19:12,384
tactics that have been
used by local law

405
00:19:12,384 --> 00:19:15,320
enforcement, whether it
be using water cannons

406
00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:17,589
on freezing nights,
or rubber bullets.

407
00:19:17,589 --> 00:19:20,993
I'm wondering what the
White House's perception

408
00:19:20,993 --> 00:19:23,395
of the way local law
enforcement has treated

409
00:19:23,395 --> 00:19:25,898
these protests is, and
if there's been any

410
00:19:25,898 --> 00:19:28,433
consideration of sort of a
federal intervention into

411
00:19:28,433 --> 00:19:32,037
the interaction between
protestors and

412
00:19:32,037 --> 00:19:32,638
law enforcement.

413
00:19:32,638 --> 00:19:34,639
Mr. Earnest: I'm not
aware of any contemplated

414
00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,209
federal interaction this point.

415
00:19:37,209 --> 00:19:39,211
What I am aware of is the
very first thing that the

416
00:19:39,211 --> 00:19:41,213
President said publically
about this matter

417
00:19:41,213 --> 00:19:42,214
earlier this fall.

418
00:19:42,214 --> 00:19:44,216
And the very first thing
that he said was he

419
00:19:44,216 --> 00:19:47,019
encouraged protestors
to abide by the

420
00:19:47,019 --> 00:19:49,021
responsibility that they
have to exercise their

421
00:19:49,021 --> 00:19:51,322
constitutional rights
to protest peacefully.

422
00:19:51,323 --> 00:19:53,392
They have that
responsibility.

423
00:19:53,392 --> 00:19:55,427
The President also made
clear that law enforcement

424
00:19:55,427 --> 00:19:57,428
officials who have a
responsibility to keep

425
00:19:57,429 --> 00:20:02,100
that peace have a
responsibility to handle

426
00:20:02,100 --> 00:20:07,072
themselves in a manner
that would promote

427
00:20:07,072 --> 00:20:14,012
peace in watching over
these protests.

428
00:20:14,012 --> 00:20:15,147
So that's important.

429
00:20:15,147 --> 00:20:17,381
And that's the
responsibility that people

430
00:20:17,382 --> 00:20:18,917
on both sides of this
issue have, and the

431
00:20:18,917 --> 00:20:21,786
President's expectation
is that those are

432
00:20:21,787 --> 00:20:23,055
responsibilities that
they should uphold.

433
00:20:23,055 --> 00:20:23,755
The Press: One last one.

434
00:20:23,755 --> 00:20:27,059
President Rouhani said
over the weekend that if

435
00:20:27,059 --> 00:20:30,228
President Obama did not
block the Iran Sanctions

436
00:20:30,228 --> 00:20:34,166
Act there would be a "firm
response" from Iran.

437
00:20:34,166 --> 00:20:35,967
I'm wondering what your
reaction to that is, and

438
00:20:35,968 --> 00:20:37,803
especially your level of
concern, considering that

439
00:20:37,803 --> 00:20:39,538
the Ayatollah and others
in Iran have said

440
00:20:39,538 --> 00:20:42,441
continuing this
legislation, even though

441
00:20:42,441 --> 00:20:45,744
it doesn't directly impose
sanctions itself, would

442
00:20:45,744 --> 00:20:48,813
be a violation of the
Iran nuclear deal.

443
00:20:48,814 --> 00:20:52,117
Mr. Earnest: Well, we've
made clear since Congress

444
00:20:52,117 --> 00:20:54,119
was considering the
passage of this

445
00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,688
legislation that this
legislation was not

446
00:20:57,689 --> 00:21:00,392
inconsistent with the
agreement that was reached

447
00:21:00,392 --> 00:21:02,394
in the Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action -- this

448
00:21:02,394 --> 00:21:04,396
was ultimately the
international agreement to

449
00:21:04,396 --> 00:21:06,365
prevent Iran from
obtaining a nuclear weapon.

450
00:21:06,365 --> 00:21:08,367
We've been clear about
that from the beginning,

451
00:21:08,367 --> 00:21:09,368
and that's clear today.

452
00:21:09,368 --> 00:21:12,870
And in fact, we made clear
that if Congress did pass

453
00:21:12,871 --> 00:21:14,873
legislation that
undermined the deal that

454
00:21:14,873 --> 00:21:17,576
was inconsistent with the
Joint Comprehensive Plan

455
00:21:17,576 --> 00:21:19,811
of Action that the
President would veto it.

456
00:21:19,811 --> 00:21:23,415
And given the support in
the Congress for the deal,

457
00:21:23,415 --> 00:21:27,052
there was sufficient
political support to

458
00:21:27,052 --> 00:21:29,987
ensure that the President
could back up that promise.

459
00:21:29,988 --> 00:21:31,990
In this case, because
the legislation doesn't

460
00:21:31,990 --> 00:21:34,126
undermine the deal and is
not inconsistent with the

461
00:21:34,126 --> 00:21:36,528
agreement, the President
does intend to

462
00:21:36,528 --> 00:21:37,663
sign it into law.

463
00:21:37,663 --> 00:21:38,897
Olivier.

464
00:21:38,897 --> 00:21:39,697
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

465
00:21:39,698 --> 00:21:40,565
I've got two for you.

466
00:21:40,565 --> 00:21:42,434
The first one -- I'm
trying to understand this

467
00:21:42,434 --> 00:21:44,670
outreach -- this
conversation between the U.S.

468
00:21:44,670 --> 00:21:47,439
and China in the aftermath
of the President-elect's

469
00:21:47,439 --> 00:21:49,641
phone call.

470
00:21:49,641 --> 00:21:52,511
They know that he doesn't
speak for you guys and

471
00:21:52,511 --> 00:21:54,513
that you guys don't speak
for him, so I'm trying to

472
00:21:54,513 --> 00:21:56,514
understand how your
message of continuity

473
00:21:56,515 --> 00:21:59,251
of policy can get
across to them.

474
00:21:59,251 --> 00:22:01,253
They've got to know, as
you acknowledge, that

475
00:22:01,253 --> 00:22:03,254
in January, everything
could change.

476
00:22:03,255 --> 00:22:05,257
So are you promising them
that he's going to see the

477
00:22:05,257 --> 00:22:07,259
light somehow, or what's
the message there?

478
00:22:07,259 --> 00:22:09,261
Mr. Earnest: No, there's
no attempt and no effort

479
00:22:09,261 --> 00:22:11,663
and, frankly, no desire to
make promises on behalf of

480
00:22:11,663 --> 00:22:13,098
the President-elect.

481
00:22:13,098 --> 00:22:15,200
When the President-elect
assumes office, when he

482
00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,202
assumes the awesome
responsibility of

483
00:22:17,202 --> 00:22:18,537
governing the greatest
country in the world,

484
00:22:18,537 --> 00:22:26,645
that's something that
he'll do on his own.

485
00:22:26,645 --> 00:22:28,613
The assurances that we
could offer the Chinese

486
00:22:28,613 --> 00:22:31,616
government were the
ongoing commitment of the

487
00:22:31,616 --> 00:22:35,887
U.S. government to the pursuit
of a one-China policy that

488
00:22:35,887 --> 00:22:37,889
we believe has benefitted
the United States,

489
00:22:37,889 --> 00:22:38,889
China and Taiwan.

490
00:22:38,890 --> 00:22:44,329
But the Chinese government
and senior officials in

491
00:22:44,329 --> 00:22:47,799
the Chinese government are
sophisticated enough to

492
00:22:47,799 --> 00:22:51,002
understand the
complexities of the U.S.

493
00:22:51,002 --> 00:22:54,606
political system and they
understand that President

494
00:22:54,606 --> 00:22:59,244
Obama's ability to set our
policy towards this region

495
00:22:59,244 --> 00:23:02,113
of the world expires on
January 20th, and someone

496
00:23:02,114 --> 00:23:03,348
else will take over.

497
00:23:03,348 --> 00:23:07,152
Our message -- the message
that was conveyed by

498
00:23:07,152 --> 00:23:10,489
senior National Security
Council officials was

499
00:23:10,489 --> 00:23:14,426
intended to make clear
that the policy position

500
00:23:14,426 --> 00:23:15,460
of the Obama
administration

501
00:23:15,460 --> 00:23:16,461
had not changed.

502
00:23:16,461 --> 00:23:18,463
The Press: And then could
you give us a flavor -- we

503
00:23:18,463 --> 00:23:21,266
got a flavor of the speech
tomorrow from Eric last week.

504
00:23:21,266 --> 00:23:23,268
Could you flesh it
out a little bit more?

505
00:23:23,268 --> 00:23:25,270
What is the President's
purpose in giving this

506
00:23:25,270 --> 00:23:26,271
speech tomorrow?

507
00:23:26,271 --> 00:23:28,473
Is this a legacy-minded
assessment of his eight

508
00:23:28,473 --> 00:23:30,475
years in office on the
foreign policy front?

509
00:23:30,475 --> 00:23:32,476
Is it about
unfinished business?

510
00:23:32,477 --> 00:23:34,479
And to the degree that
it is about unfinished

511
00:23:34,479 --> 00:23:37,215
business, is he planning
on suggesting to the

512
00:23:37,215 --> 00:23:39,216
incoming administration
that they finish that?

513
00:23:39,217 --> 00:23:42,788
Mr. Earnest: Well, I don't
have a whole lot more to

514
00:23:42,788 --> 00:23:44,389
say about the
speech for tomorrow.

515
00:23:44,389 --> 00:23:45,556
We'll try and get you some
more information before

516
00:23:45,557 --> 00:23:48,527
the end of the day today,
just as you prepare to

517
00:23:48,527 --> 00:23:49,995
write about the
President's speech.

518
00:23:49,995 --> 00:23:51,830
I think, in general, what
I can tell you is that the

519
00:23:51,830 --> 00:24:00,038
speech is focused on
underscoring how important

520
00:24:00,038 --> 00:24:01,873
some of the reforms are
that President Obama has

521
00:24:01,873 --> 00:24:08,713
put in place with regard
to greater accountability

522
00:24:08,713 --> 00:24:11,316
and transparency in
our national

523
00:24:11,316 --> 00:24:13,985
security programs.

524
00:24:13,985 --> 00:24:18,657
These reforms were
necessary in part because,

525
00:24:18,657 --> 00:24:22,561
when President Obama took
office our country was

526
00:24:22,561 --> 00:24:24,963
benefitting from new
technology, including the

527
00:24:24,963 --> 00:24:29,901
use of unmanned aerial
vehicles, to apply

528
00:24:29,901 --> 00:24:33,004
pressure to terrorist
organizations and

529
00:24:33,004 --> 00:24:36,942
terrorist leaders in
remote locations.

530
00:24:36,942 --> 00:24:39,644
And President Obama
believed it was important

531
00:24:39,644 --> 00:24:43,181
and worth a lot of time
and effort to impose some

532
00:24:43,181 --> 00:24:45,684
constraints on how that
program was used and to

533
00:24:45,684 --> 00:24:47,953
make it more transparent.

534
00:24:47,953 --> 00:24:51,056
And the President's view
is that by putting in

535
00:24:51,056 --> 00:24:54,459
place that legal
architecture, it

536
00:24:54,459 --> 00:24:56,461
would make the program
more durable.

537
00:24:56,461 --> 00:24:58,697
It would also inspire
greater confidence around

538
00:24:58,697 --> 00:25:01,233
the globe in our ability
to conduct these

539
00:25:01,233 --> 00:25:03,768
programs consistent with
our values.

540
00:25:03,768 --> 00:25:06,771
And so much of the
authority and influence

541
00:25:06,771 --> 00:25:08,773
the United States wields
around the world is

542
00:25:08,773 --> 00:25:14,545
derived from our adherence
to these universal values.

543
00:25:14,546 --> 00:25:21,519
So I think the goal
tomorrow is to help the

544
00:25:21,519 --> 00:25:24,656
American people understand
why these reforms were so

545
00:25:24,656 --> 00:25:29,226
important, and understand
why they're so valuable to

546
00:25:29,227 --> 00:25:32,831
our national security
moving forward.

547
00:25:32,831 --> 00:25:34,832
There will be an
acknowledgement that there

548
00:25:34,833 --> 00:25:36,835
is additional work in this
area that needs to be done

549
00:25:36,835 --> 00:25:38,837
and will require
thoughtful consideration

550
00:25:38,837 --> 00:25:40,839
by national security
professionals in the

551
00:25:40,839 --> 00:25:41,840
next administration.

552
00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:45,944
But the President is
quite proud of all of the

553
00:25:45,944 --> 00:25:48,413
progress that we have
made, both in terms of

554
00:25:48,413 --> 00:25:50,615
keeping the country safe,
but also in making sure

555
00:25:50,615 --> 00:25:53,585
that our country lives up
to the values that are

556
00:25:53,585 --> 00:25:55,220
central to our greatness.

557
00:25:55,220 --> 00:25:56,621
Jordan.

558
00:25:56,621 --> 00:25:57,489
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

559
00:25:57,489 --> 00:26:00,558
I want to know if the
White House has any

560
00:26:00,558 --> 00:26:03,094
reaction to the arrest
that was made yesterday

561
00:26:03,094 --> 00:26:05,497
at Comet Pizza up
in Northwest.

562
00:26:05,497 --> 00:26:07,899
I'm asking because the
President has spoken out a

563
00:26:07,899 --> 00:26:10,302
number of times on the
corrosive effect that fake

564
00:26:10,302 --> 00:26:12,337
news has had on the
political discourse, and I

565
00:26:12,337 --> 00:26:14,306
know that a lot of the
rumors surrounding that

566
00:26:14,306 --> 00:26:19,311
establishment was spread
by fake news online.

567
00:26:19,311 --> 00:26:22,246
Mr. Earnest: Well, let me
start by complimenting and

568
00:26:22,247 --> 00:26:24,249
crediting local law
enforcement here in the

569
00:26:24,249 --> 00:26:27,018
Washington area who
responded with a lot of

570
00:26:27,018 --> 00:26:29,754
professionalism to that
situation in

571
00:26:29,754 --> 00:26:31,389
preventing any bloodshed.

572
00:26:31,389 --> 00:26:36,293
So this is just another
example of how our men and

573
00:26:36,294 --> 00:26:38,296
women in blue never take
a day off from

574
00:26:38,296 --> 00:26:39,297
keeping us safe.

575
00:26:39,297 --> 00:26:41,299
We owe them a debt of
gratitude, and that

576
00:26:41,299 --> 00:26:44,636
certainly applies to the
brave men and women who

577
00:26:44,636 --> 00:26:46,604
serve in the Metropolitan
Police Department here

578
00:26:46,604 --> 00:26:49,040
in Washington, D.C.

579
00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,209
The second thing I can
tell you is that those law

580
00:26:51,209 --> 00:26:53,211
enforcement officials are
continuing to investigate

581
00:26:53,211 --> 00:26:54,546
this situation.

582
00:26:54,546 --> 00:26:56,548
I know there have been
some interviews that have

583
00:26:56,548 --> 00:27:01,886
been conducted with the
subject and I think

584
00:27:01,886 --> 00:27:03,888
there's some interest in
trying to learn more

585
00:27:03,888 --> 00:27:05,889
about what exactly his
motives were.

586
00:27:08,593 --> 00:27:12,764
I think more generally
it's -- even without

587
00:27:12,764 --> 00:27:14,765
knowing precisely what
those motives were, I

588
00:27:14,766 --> 00:27:16,768
think there's no denying
the corrosive effect that

589
00:27:16,768 --> 00:27:22,107
some of these false
reports have had on

590
00:27:22,107 --> 00:27:23,108
our political debate.

591
00:27:23,108 --> 00:27:28,113
And that's concerning
in a political context.

592
00:27:38,990 --> 00:27:45,030
It's deeply troubling
that some of those

593
00:27:45,030 --> 00:27:50,402
false reports could
lead to violence.

594
00:27:50,402 --> 00:27:57,976
So, again, it's unclear
if that's exactly

595
00:27:57,976 --> 00:27:59,978
what happened in
this situation.

596
00:27:59,978 --> 00:28:03,114
I'll let local officials
speak to that.

597
00:28:03,114 --> 00:28:07,519
But this is something that
I think everybody is going

598
00:28:07,519 --> 00:28:09,521
to spend some time
thinking about,

599
00:28:09,521 --> 00:28:11,523
particularly people in
this room and the people

600
00:28:11,523 --> 00:28:14,993
who represent news
organizations in this room.

601
00:28:14,993 --> 00:28:16,995
How people understand
what's happening in the

602
00:28:16,995 --> 00:28:19,863
world is important to
the functioning

603
00:28:19,864 --> 00:28:22,434
of our democracy.

604
00:28:22,434 --> 00:28:25,336
And this is something
that I assume the next

605
00:28:25,336 --> 00:28:26,938
administration is going to
have to spend some

606
00:28:26,938 --> 00:28:28,173
time thinking about and
working on as well.

607
00:28:28,173 --> 00:28:31,543
The Press: Do you think
the President-elect or his

608
00:28:31,543 --> 00:28:33,343
top advisors need to speak
out about this problem, too?

609
00:28:33,344 --> 00:28:36,448
We've seen the son of
Michael Flynn, the

610
00:28:36,448 --> 00:28:40,685
incoming national security
advisor, spread some of

611
00:28:40,685 --> 00:28:42,287
the rumors about this
pizza shop on his

612
00:28:42,287 --> 00:28:43,054
Twitter account.

613
00:28:43,054 --> 00:28:45,857
So given that, do you
think that senior members

614
00:28:45,857 --> 00:28:48,259
of the Trump team
need to respond?

615
00:28:48,259 --> 00:28:51,529
Mr. Earnest: I'm not here
to issue any specific

616
00:28:51,529 --> 00:28:54,566
challenges to the incoming
administration on any topic.

617
00:28:54,566 --> 00:28:58,770
I think we all hold a
responsibility, regardless

618
00:28:58,770 --> 00:29:00,772
of whether or not we are
planning to serve in a

619
00:29:00,772 --> 00:29:04,008
government position or if
one of our family members

620
00:29:04,008 --> 00:29:06,377
is planning to serve in a
government position, that

621
00:29:06,377 --> 00:29:08,379
we shouldn't be
propagating false

622
00:29:08,379 --> 00:29:10,380
things that could
inspire violence.

623
00:29:10,381 --> 00:29:14,986
I think that's a --
there's probably some

624
00:29:14,986 --> 00:29:18,423
overlap of the Golden Rule
there I think somewhere

625
00:29:18,423 --> 00:29:19,424
that may be worth
considering.

626
00:29:19,424 --> 00:29:22,793
The Press: Just lastly,
there was a group of 22

627
00:29:22,794 --> 00:29:24,829
Republican senators who
sent a letter to President

628
00:29:24,829 --> 00:29:27,365
Obama today asking him
to stop issuing any

629
00:29:27,365 --> 00:29:29,467
non-emergency rules and
regulations in the

630
00:29:29,467 --> 00:29:30,869
final weeks of the
administration.

631
00:29:30,869 --> 00:29:32,102
Just wondering if the
White House has received

632
00:29:32,103 --> 00:29:33,972
that letter and if you
have any response to it.

633
00:29:33,972 --> 00:29:37,041
Mr. Earnest: I haven't
seen the letter, but it's

634
00:29:37,041 --> 00:29:41,812
not the first time we've
been asked about a letter

635
00:29:41,813 --> 00:29:44,916
that purports to carry
the same kind of message.

636
00:29:44,916 --> 00:29:47,318
And I think I'll just
reiterate something that I

637
00:29:47,318 --> 00:29:49,387
think President Obama has
said, which is simply that

638
00:29:52,090 --> 00:29:54,091
the rulemaking process in
the Obama

639
00:29:54,092 --> 00:29:56,794
administration continues.

640
00:29:56,794 --> 00:30:02,667
And our goal is not to
generate a bunch of new

641
00:30:02,667 --> 00:30:06,271
rules in response to
the surprising election

642
00:30:06,271 --> 00:30:10,475
outcome, but rather to
ensure that the rulemaking

643
00:30:10,475 --> 00:30:13,878
process that has long been
underway is completed

644
00:30:13,878 --> 00:30:16,347
effectively and in a
timely fashion

645
00:30:16,347 --> 00:30:18,550
before President Obama
leaves office.

646
00:30:18,550 --> 00:30:21,186
And that's what we're
focused on doing.

647
00:30:21,186 --> 00:30:22,187
Kevin.

648
00:30:22,187 --> 00:30:23,187
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

649
00:30:23,188 --> 00:30:24,189
Any update on the
situation in

650
00:30:24,189 --> 00:30:26,424
Oakland, California --
devastating fire there?

651
00:30:26,424 --> 00:30:28,193
Is there any federal
response to what has

652
00:30:28,193 --> 00:30:29,427
happened there?

653
00:30:29,427 --> 00:30:31,428
Mr. Earnest: Obviously,
Kevin, what happened in

654
00:30:31,429 --> 00:30:34,065
Oakland is a
heartbreaking situation.

655
00:30:34,065 --> 00:30:38,369
Dozens of people who
thought they were

656
00:30:38,369 --> 00:30:42,807
showing up to a party
didn't go home.

657
00:30:42,807 --> 00:30:45,443
And it raises lots of
questions that are still

658
00:30:45,443 --> 00:30:48,879
being carefully considered
by investigators about

659
00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:53,151
building codes and what
sort of precautions were

660
00:30:53,151 --> 00:30:57,488
put in place to ensure
the safety of partygoers.

661
00:30:57,488 --> 00:30:59,991
And obviously, those
precautions were woefully

662
00:30:59,991 --> 00:31:04,729
insufficient, and
it's a tragedy.

663
00:31:04,729 --> 00:31:06,731
I can tell you that White
House officials have been

664
00:31:06,731 --> 00:31:08,733
in touch with the mayor's
office to offer our

665
00:31:08,733 --> 00:31:11,936
condolences and offer our
support to local officials

666
00:31:11,936 --> 00:31:13,937
that are bearing
a heavy burden.

667
00:31:13,938 --> 00:31:16,541
And this is another
situation where you've got

668
00:31:16,541 --> 00:31:19,577
first responders who put
themselves in harm's way

669
00:31:19,577 --> 00:31:21,579
to try to protect the
public -- in this case,

670
00:31:21,579 --> 00:31:27,150
firefighters and EMTs that
used their skill

671
00:31:27,151 --> 00:31:27,852
to save lives.

672
00:31:27,852 --> 00:31:31,656
And we're certainly
grateful for that.

673
00:31:31,656 --> 00:31:33,925
But this is a community
that's mourning and it's

674
00:31:33,925 --> 00:31:37,294
obviously a very
sad turn of events.

675
00:31:37,295 --> 00:31:39,697
The Press: Let me
ask you about Gitmo.

676
00:31:39,697 --> 00:31:41,832
I understand there was
indeed a transfer.

677
00:31:41,833 --> 00:31:43,368
Can you give us more
details about that,

678
00:31:43,368 --> 00:31:45,270
and do you expect
others this week?

679
00:31:45,270 --> 00:31:46,604
Mr. Earnest: I'd refer
to my colleagues at the

680
00:31:46,604 --> 00:31:48,006
Department of Defense
for the details.

681
00:31:48,006 --> 00:31:51,476
But there was one
Guantanamo Bay detainee

682
00:31:51,476 --> 00:31:55,313
that was transferred
to Cape Verde.

683
00:31:55,313 --> 00:31:59,484
This is an individual who
will be subject to some

684
00:31:59,484 --> 00:32:01,819
security requirements that
were negotiated in advance

685
00:32:01,819 --> 00:32:04,755
by the United States with
the local government there

686
00:32:04,756 --> 00:32:06,758
to ensure that this
individual does not pose

687
00:32:06,758 --> 00:32:10,094
an undue threat to our
national security.

688
00:32:10,094 --> 00:32:15,133
The population at Gitmo
is now down to 59.

689
00:32:15,133 --> 00:32:18,670
And there are still at
least a couple dozen of

690
00:32:18,670 --> 00:32:23,875
those individuals who are
eligible for transfer, and

691
00:32:23,875 --> 00:32:25,877
we're continuing to do the
diplomatic work of finding

692
00:32:25,877 --> 00:32:30,548
an arrangement for those
individuals to be

693
00:32:30,548 --> 00:32:32,550
safely transferred to
another country.

694
00:32:32,550 --> 00:32:34,752
The Press: So it's still
the President's intention

695
00:32:34,752 --> 00:32:37,922
to continue with the
transfers but not

696
00:32:37,922 --> 00:32:41,092
necessarily close down the
facility -- is that sort

697
00:32:41,092 --> 00:32:43,161
of a fait accompli
at this point?

698
00:32:43,161 --> 00:32:45,163
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
we're continuing to do

699
00:32:45,163 --> 00:32:49,767
this important work, and
this is work that's rather

700
00:32:49,767 --> 00:32:52,103
painstaking in making
sure that were carefully

701
00:32:52,103 --> 00:32:54,105
reviewing the files,
putting the national

702
00:32:54,105 --> 00:32:57,075
security interests of the
United States first, and

703
00:32:57,075 --> 00:32:59,177
doing the important work
with countries around the

704
00:32:59,177 --> 00:33:01,178
world to try to find a
suitable location where

705
00:33:01,179 --> 00:33:03,614
these individuals
can be transferred.

706
00:33:03,614 --> 00:33:06,184
Our stated goal of closing
the prison is still rooted

707
00:33:06,184 --> 00:33:09,987
in the ideas that closing
the prison would be good

708
00:33:09,987 --> 00:33:12,357
for taxpayers because it's
prohibitively expensive to

709
00:33:12,357 --> 00:33:17,862
continue to run it, and
our view is also that

710
00:33:17,862 --> 00:33:21,432
continuing to have the
prison open only serves to

711
00:33:21,432 --> 00:33:23,434
advance the recruiting
interests of extremist

712
00:33:23,434 --> 00:33:27,305
organizations that do view
the continued operation of

713
00:33:27,305 --> 00:33:29,307
the prison at Guantanamo
Bay as an effective

714
00:33:29,307 --> 00:33:30,308
recruitment tool.

715
00:33:30,308 --> 00:33:32,310
And this is not just an
observation that was

716
00:33:32,310 --> 00:33:34,312
made by the Obama
administration.

717
00:33:34,312 --> 00:33:36,313
Senior officials who
served in President Bush's

718
00:33:36,314 --> 00:33:38,316
administration said the
same thing and have

719
00:33:38,316 --> 00:33:40,318
advocated for the closure
of the prison for

720
00:33:40,318 --> 00:33:41,319
the same reasons.

721
00:33:41,319 --> 00:33:43,321
So this has bipartisan
support among national

722
00:33:43,321 --> 00:33:45,322
security professionals
that this is a prison

723
00:33:45,323 --> 00:33:46,324
that should be closed.

724
00:33:46,324 --> 00:33:50,461
And we continue to be
strongly opposed to the

725
00:33:50,461 --> 00:33:52,463
politically motivated
effort by the Congress to

726
00:33:52,463 --> 00:33:54,866
prevent and obstruct the
successful closure

727
00:33:54,866 --> 00:33:55,867
of the prison.

728
00:33:55,867 --> 00:33:58,336
The Press: I want to last
ask you about the comments

729
00:33:58,336 --> 00:34:00,304
you made earlier about
what happened in Italy.

730
00:34:00,304 --> 00:34:02,306
You said it would be a
mistake, you said,

731
00:34:02,306 --> 00:34:03,307
to oversimplify.

732
00:34:03,307 --> 00:34:05,309
But would you at least
acknowledge the there is a

733
00:34:05,309 --> 00:34:07,712
populist wave that appears
to be happening

734
00:34:07,712 --> 00:34:08,612
throughout Europe?

735
00:34:08,612 --> 00:34:10,848
Mr. Earnest: Well, Kevin,
I think that's overly

736
00:34:10,848 --> 00:34:14,552
stated just because we saw
the outcome in Austria --

737
00:34:14,552 --> 00:34:17,255
The Press: Would you also
acknowledge, given that

738
00:34:17,255 --> 00:34:20,124
history in contributing
-- one of their citizens

739
00:34:20,123 --> 00:34:22,859
being one of the most
reviled in all of

740
00:34:22,860 --> 00:34:24,862
history might sort of set
them separate.

741
00:34:24,862 --> 00:34:27,130
I'm not suggesting that
they're somehow not from

742
00:34:27,130 --> 00:34:29,167
that community, the
European Community, but I

743
00:34:29,167 --> 00:34:31,168
am suggesting is when
you see what happened in

744
00:34:31,168 --> 00:34:35,572
France, Brexit, now Italy,
there seems to be

745
00:34:35,572 --> 00:34:36,774
a building populism.

746
00:34:36,774 --> 00:34:40,511
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
I think what is true is --

747
00:34:40,511 --> 00:34:42,513
and this is true
irrespective of the

748
00:34:42,513 --> 00:34:44,815
election outcomes -- I
think it is true that

749
00:34:44,815 --> 00:34:51,488
there are people in Europe
who are frustrated that

750
00:34:51,489 --> 00:34:56,627
the current state of the
economy doesn't allow them

751
00:34:56,627 --> 00:34:58,629
to meet the aspirations
that they have set

752
00:34:58,629 --> 00:35:00,631
for themselves and
their family.

753
00:35:00,631 --> 00:35:03,533
And they are
looking for answers.

754
00:35:03,534 --> 00:35:06,704
And the President made
the point on a number of

755
00:35:06,704 --> 00:35:09,340
occasions that
policymakers need to be

756
00:35:09,340 --> 00:35:13,911
focused on expanding
economic growth and

757
00:35:13,911 --> 00:35:16,614
looking for ways to drive
that growth, both by

758
00:35:16,614 --> 00:35:21,419
investing in the citizens
of their country, but also

759
00:35:21,419 --> 00:35:25,656
in making investments in
local markets to try to

760
00:35:25,656 --> 00:35:27,491
spur that economic growth.

761
00:35:27,492 --> 00:35:29,494
That would be good for the
global economy but also

762
00:35:29,494 --> 00:35:31,562
would be good for the
living conditions and the

763
00:35:31,562 --> 00:35:33,096
aspirations of the
people in their country.

764
00:35:33,097 --> 00:35:39,470
And there's a reaction on
the part of some people to

765
00:35:39,470 --> 00:35:45,676
give into the temptation
to try to withdraw from

766
00:35:45,676 --> NaN:NaN:NaN,NaN
the international
community, the sense that

767
00:35:45,643 --> 00:35:52,016
there will be a bigger
slice of the pie, so to

768
00:35:52,016 --> 00:35:56,087
speak, to enjoy if you
build fences around the

769
00:35:56,087 --> 00:35:58,322
country and prevent other
people from getting

770
00:35:58,322 --> 00:36:00,324
access to the pie.

771
00:36:00,324 --> 00:36:04,328
That actually flies in the
face of a strategy that's

772
00:36:04,328 --> 00:36:08,533
rooted in using our
interconnected, integrated

773
00:36:08,533 --> 00:36:12,502
world to grow the size of
the pie, and give more

774
00:36:12,503 --> 00:36:16,407
workers the opportunity to
succeed, and ensure that

775
00:36:16,407 --> 00:36:24,615
the economic growth and
productivity and economic

776
00:36:24,615 --> 00:36:27,785
benefits of globalization
are not just enjoyed by

777
00:36:27,785 --> 00:36:30,321
those at the top but that
that prosperity is

778
00:36:30,321 --> 00:36:31,455
enjoyed by everybody.

779
00:36:31,455 --> 00:36:35,226
The Press: Is that
message winning?

780
00:36:35,226 --> 00:36:36,661
Mr. Earnest: Well, look,
I think that this is a

781
00:36:36,661 --> 00:36:40,798
fundamental question that
is facing leaders all

782
00:36:40,798 --> 00:36:44,368
around the world, not just
in Europe, and there's a

783
00:36:44,368 --> 00:36:47,305
fundamental tension here
that needs to be resolved.

784
00:36:47,305 --> 00:36:51,241
And, again, I think this
is something that we can

785
00:36:51,242 --> 00:36:56,447
say irrespective of
election outcomes because

786
00:36:56,447 --> 00:36:59,050
I think there's nothing
that was on the ballot in

787
00:36:59,050 --> 00:37:01,919
Italy that was directly
related to the EU or to

788
00:37:01,919 --> 00:37:04,555
the prospect of Italy
leaving the EU.

789
00:37:04,555 --> 00:37:07,792
But, look, I think these
are broader trends that

790
00:37:10,328 --> 00:37:12,330
leaders all around the
world are going

791
00:37:12,330 --> 00:37:15,600
to have to confront.

792
00:37:15,600 --> 00:37:16,467
Ron.

793
00:37:16,467 --> 00:37:18,035
The Press: Just quickly
on the Oakland fire.

794
00:37:18,035 --> 00:37:20,870
The federal involvement
in that was just

795
00:37:20,871 --> 00:37:21,706
support, resources?

796
00:37:21,706 --> 00:37:23,641
Is that the
extent of it now?

797
00:37:23,641 --> 00:37:25,843
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
the role of the federal

798
00:37:25,843 --> 00:37:28,846
government is to offer
assistance to local

799
00:37:28,846 --> 00:37:30,815
officials who are dealing
with the situation.

800
00:37:30,815 --> 00:37:32,817
And right now, local
officials are engaged in a

801
00:37:32,817 --> 00:37:35,820
painstaking effort to comb
through the remains of the

802
00:37:35,820 --> 00:37:40,324
fire in search of
additional people who may

803
00:37:40,324 --> 00:37:42,326
have died in the fire,
but also in carefully

804
00:37:42,326 --> 00:37:44,562
investigating this
particular incident.

805
00:37:44,562 --> 00:37:46,663
And I know that some law
enforcement officials have

806
00:37:46,664 --> 00:37:50,067
locally indicated their
intent to consider this

807
00:37:50,067 --> 00:37:51,369
from a criminal angle.

808
00:37:51,369 --> 00:37:53,437
I'd refer you to them
for the investigation.

809
00:37:53,437 --> 00:37:55,106
The Press: That's the part
I was wondering about.

810
00:37:55,106 --> 00:37:58,175
Is there federal concern
about some of these issues

811
00:37:58,175 --> 00:38:00,044
that have been raised
about inspections, about

812
00:38:00,044 --> 00:38:02,480
the -- that people were
living in a place that

813
00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:06,183
apparently wasn't a
home or a

814
00:38:06,183 --> 00:38:07,051
residential environment?

815
00:38:07,051 --> 00:38:10,453
Is that part of your --
the federal government's

816
00:38:10,454 --> 00:38:11,789
concern and involvement?

817
00:38:11,789 --> 00:38:13,791
Mr. Earnest: Thes
regulations that relate to

818
00:38:13,791 --> 00:38:15,793
building codes and fire
codes are something that

819
00:38:15,793 --> 00:38:17,795
are administered
at the local level.

820
00:38:17,795 --> 00:38:21,732
So I'm not aware of
any involvement by the

821
00:38:21,732 --> 00:38:23,200
Department of Justice
in this matter, but you

822
00:38:23,200 --> 00:38:24,268
should check with
them to confirm.

823
00:38:24,268 --> 00:38:26,704
The Press: And just
lastly on the transition.

824
00:38:26,704 --> 00:38:28,706
We're a few weeks into
now, and I know you don't

825
00:38:28,706 --> 00:38:30,708
want to comment on
specific appointments and

826
00:38:30,708 --> 00:38:32,710
so on and so forth, but
there are a number of

827
00:38:32,710 --> 00:38:34,712
issues that have been
raised about the

828
00:38:34,712 --> 00:38:36,714
President-elect's
businesses and conflicts

829
00:38:36,714 --> 00:38:39,183
of interests, some
appointees have raised

830
00:38:39,183 --> 00:38:41,686
some eyebrows -- the
national security advisor,

831
00:38:41,686 --> 00:38:43,320
counsel to the President,
the head of Health

832
00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:45,056
and Human Services,
for example.

833
00:38:45,056 --> 00:38:47,825
There have been these
phone calls with foreign

834
00:38:47,825 --> 00:38:49,926
leaders that have
raised some issues.

835
00:38:49,927 --> 00:38:52,963
Is the President still
satisfied with the

836
00:38:52,963 --> 00:38:53,998
way things are going?

837
00:38:53,998 --> 00:38:58,069
And you've said his goal
was for a smooth and I

838
00:38:58,069 --> 00:38:59,603
think you even used
the word

839
00:38:59,603 --> 00:39:01,539
successful transition.

840
00:39:01,539 --> 00:39:03,541
Does he still see that
happening now, given

841
00:39:03,541 --> 00:39:04,542
where we are?

842
00:39:04,542 --> 00:39:06,711
Mr. Earnest: Well, Ron, I
think this is a situation

843
00:39:06,711 --> 00:39:08,812
where the President is
focused on making sure

844
00:39:08,813 --> 00:39:11,582
that this administration
is doing everything

845
00:39:11,582 --> 00:39:15,286
possible that we can and
doing everything that is

846
00:39:15,286 --> 00:39:19,557
under our control to
facilitate a smooth and

847
00:39:19,557 --> 00:39:21,192
effective transition into
the next presidency.

848
00:39:21,192 --> 00:39:23,394
Obviously, this
administration is not

849
00:39:23,394 --> 00:39:25,629
going to be in a position
to offer them personnel

850
00:39:25,629 --> 00:39:32,236
advice or certainly not
advice that would be

851
00:39:32,236 --> 00:39:36,107
unsolicited from the
podium, or to try to help

852
00:39:36,107 --> 00:39:38,342
them craft what sort of
policies they

853
00:39:38,342 --> 00:39:39,410
want to implement.

854
00:39:39,410 --> 00:39:42,046
If they're interested in
the advice of members of

855
00:39:42,046 --> 00:39:44,647
the President's transition
team, then they certainly

856
00:39:44,648 --> 00:39:47,485
know how to seek out
that advice, and the

857
00:39:47,485 --> 00:39:49,653
President's team stands
ready to share it.

858
00:39:49,653 --> 00:39:52,823
But ultimately, what the
President and his team are

859
00:39:52,823 --> 00:39:55,926
focused on is making
sure that we are taking

860
00:39:55,926 --> 00:39:58,929
everything that is under
our control, and orienting

861
00:39:58,929 --> 00:40:01,699
it in the direction of
ensuring a smooth and

862
00:40:01,699 --> 00:40:03,934
effective transition that
will give the incoming

863
00:40:03,934 --> 00:40:06,837
President and his team
the best opportunity to

864
00:40:06,837 --> 00:40:09,673
succeed at uniting and
leading the country.

865
00:40:09,673 --> 00:40:13,343
Whether or not the
incoming administration is

866
00:40:13,344 --> 00:40:16,113
oriented effectively to
take advantage of that

867
00:40:16,113 --> 00:40:18,115
opportunity is something
that you have

868
00:40:18,115 --> 00:40:19,750
to ask them about.

869
00:40:19,750 --> 00:40:24,288
The Press: Increasingly,
though, more is not under

870
00:40:24,288 --> 00:40:26,223
your control or the
President's control.

871
00:40:26,223 --> 00:40:30,361
Is there some tension,
some feeling that he has

872
00:40:30,361 --> 00:40:33,663
of his inability
to shape events?

873
00:40:33,664 --> 00:40:36,300
And while, again, you're
trying to make this

874
00:40:36,300 --> 00:40:39,170
effective and facilitate
what the incoming

875
00:40:39,170 --> 00:40:41,872
administration wants to
do, there's obviously

876
00:40:41,872 --> 00:40:43,607
these contradictions
between what the President

877
00:40:43,607 --> 00:40:45,609
would like them to be
doing versus what

878
00:40:45,609 --> 00:40:46,710
they are doing.

879
00:40:46,710 --> 00:40:47,778
How does he
reconcile that?

880
00:40:47,778 --> 00:40:49,446
Is it just that the
election has consequences

881
00:40:49,446 --> 00:40:52,249
and you just have to --
you can't throw your hand

882
00:40:52,249 --> 00:40:53,116
up and walk away?

883
00:40:53,117 --> 00:40:57,288
To what extent is he
trying to influence events

884
00:40:57,288 --> 00:41:01,725
in terms of policy and so
forth for the transition?

885
00:41:01,725 --> 00:41:04,562
Mr. Earnest: Look, what
this President is trying

886
00:41:04,562 --> 00:41:08,766
to do is to make sure that
his team is oriented in

887
00:41:08,766 --> 00:41:10,835
such a way that we can
provide all of the

888
00:41:10,835 --> 00:41:12,837
cooperation and
information that the next

889
00:41:12,837 --> 00:41:17,107
President's team requires
to get off to a running start.

890
00:41:17,107 --> 00:41:19,844
And President Obama
believes that that is in

891
00:41:19,844 --> 00:41:22,246
the best interest of the
country to do that and

892
00:41:22,246 --> 00:41:24,381
that's why we are focused
on that direction.

893
00:41:24,381 --> 00:41:27,283
Look, the truth of the
matter is that even if

894
00:41:27,284 --> 00:41:33,624
Secretary Clinton had won
the election, it's still

895
00:41:33,624 --> 00:41:37,794
likely that her team would
be sending signals about

896
00:41:37,795 --> 00:41:40,164
making changes to policies
that President

897
00:41:40,164 --> 00:41:41,932
Obama kind of liked.

898
00:41:41,932 --> 00:41:44,535
So this is the nature of a
democracy and this is the

899
00:41:44,535 --> 00:41:49,006
nature of a peaceful
transfer of power -- that

900
00:41:49,006 --> 00:41:51,141
the person who's been in
office for eight years has

901
00:41:51,141 --> 00:41:54,411
to willingly give up power
and give up influence and

902
00:41:54,411 --> 00:41:55,412
give up authority.

903
00:41:55,412 --> 00:41:59,383
The Press: But sometimes
that's very

904
00:41:59,383 --> 00:42:01,785
difficult to accept.

905
00:42:01,785 --> 00:42:05,923
Mr. Earnest: Well, look,
I think that's -- well, I

906
00:42:05,923 --> 00:42:07,658
guess what I would say
is that's the reason it

907
00:42:07,658 --> 00:42:09,526
doesn't happen
in most places.

908
00:42:09,526 --> 00:42:11,528
Most countries in the
world, they don't have

909
00:42:11,528 --> 00:42:13,596
this kind of process, and
for most of human history,

910
00:42:13,597 --> 00:42:16,000
the process has been
bloody and has been

911
00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:19,136
a transition by force.

912
00:42:19,136 --> 00:42:21,138
That's the genius
of our system.

913
00:42:21,138 --> 00:42:23,473
And it does require the
person who's currently

914
00:42:23,474 --> 00:42:26,176
sitting in that office to
put the interest of the

915
00:42:26,176 --> 00:42:28,345
country ahead of its own
political preferences.

916
00:42:28,345 --> 00:42:30,747
That's absolutely true.

917
00:42:30,748 --> 00:42:32,750
But that is a
responsibility that

918
00:42:32,750 --> 00:42:36,420
President Obama has
embraced, and the country

919
00:42:36,420 --> 00:42:39,156
is better off for it.

920
00:42:39,156 --> 00:42:40,124
Maggie.

921
00:42:40,124 --> 00:42:42,125
The Press: You've
announced that Prime

922
00:42:42,126 --> 00:42:44,128
Minister Abe will be
visiting Pearl Harbor as

923
00:42:44,128 --> 00:42:46,130
the first Japanese Prime
Minister to do so.

924
00:42:46,130 --> 00:42:48,465
This is right after
President Obama went to

925
00:42:48,465 --> 00:42:49,934
Hiroshima as the
first sitting U.S.

926
00:42:49,934 --> 00:42:52,336
President to do so
since the bombing.

927
00:42:52,336 --> 00:42:54,337
Why are these historic
visits happening now?

928
00:42:54,338 --> 00:42:56,740
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
obviously the decision by

929
00:42:56,740 --> 00:43:00,044
Prime Minister Abe to
travel to Pearl Harbor is

930
00:43:00,044 --> 00:43:03,814
a decision that he made,
and he issued a statement

931
00:43:03,814 --> 00:43:07,451
today indicating that is
he hopeful that his visit

932
00:43:07,451 --> 00:43:16,794
will be an indication of
how adversaries have an

933
00:43:16,794 --> 00:43:19,730
opportunity to reconcile
their differences and

934
00:43:19,730 --> 00:43:22,433
pursue a peaceful future
together as allies.

935
00:43:22,433 --> 00:43:24,435
That's certainly what
happened between the

936
00:43:24,435 --> 00:43:25,436
United States and Japan.

937
00:43:25,436 --> 00:43:30,274
And there are Presidents
in both parties that have

938
00:43:30,274 --> 00:43:33,777
sought to advance those
shared goals, and

939
00:43:33,777 --> 00:43:35,779
certainly Japanese prime
ministers in a variety of

940
00:43:35,779 --> 00:43:39,917
parties that have sought
to advance those shared goals.

941
00:43:39,917 --> 00:43:42,752
I know that Prime Minister
Abe also indicated his

942
00:43:42,753 --> 00:43:49,526
desire to travel to Pearl
Harbor as a show of

943
00:43:49,526 --> 00:43:51,528
respect for those
who died on that day.

944
00:43:51,528 --> 00:43:59,903
So, look, President Obama
visited Hiroshima

945
00:43:59,903 --> 00:44:02,439
earlier this year.

946
00:44:02,439 --> 00:44:08,645
It was a powerful image
seeing the American

947
00:44:08,645 --> 00:44:11,849
President and the Japanese
Prime Minister standing

948
00:44:11,849 --> 00:44:15,919
side by side in that city.

949
00:44:15,919 --> 00:44:18,187
And I would expect that
seeing the Japanese Prime

950
00:44:18,188 --> 00:44:21,725
Minister and the American
President standing side by

951
00:44:21,725 --> 00:44:28,866
side in Pearl Harbor, at
the memorial of the USS

952
00:44:28,866 --> 00:44:34,104
Arizona, just a couple
of weeks after the 75th

953
00:44:34,104 --> 00:44:36,540
anniversary of that attack
I think will be

954
00:44:36,540 --> 00:44:37,841
similarly powerful.

955
00:44:37,841 --> 00:44:42,846
And I think it is just one
more occasion for us to

956
00:44:42,846 --> 00:44:46,517
remember the substantial
sacrifice and the

957
00:44:46,517 --> 00:44:48,118
remarkable patriotism of
the greatest

958
00:44:48,118 --> 00:44:51,889
generation of Americans.

959
00:44:51,889 --> 00:44:54,358
President Obama's
grandfather played an

960
00:44:54,358 --> 00:44:56,593
important role in World
War II in terms of signing

961
00:44:56,593 --> 00:45:01,665
up to fight for his
country, and remembering

962
00:45:01,665 --> 00:45:03,667
that Greatest Generation
of Americans, his

963
00:45:03,667 --> 00:45:05,803
grandfather is obviously
at the forefront of his mind.

964
00:45:05,803 --> 00:45:13,210
But millions of Americans,
I think, certainly can

965
00:45:13,210 --> 00:45:16,146
spend some time this week
remembering the remarkable

966
00:45:16,146 --> 00:45:18,816
contribution and the
remarkable sacrifice that

967
00:45:18,816 --> 00:45:22,953
millions of Americans made
to ensure that the United

968
00:45:22,953 --> 00:45:24,988
States emerge victorious
from World War II.

969
00:45:24,988 --> 00:45:28,058
The Press: When President
Obama visited Hiroshima,

970
00:45:28,058 --> 00:45:29,359
was this visit by the
Prime Minister

971
00:45:29,359 --> 00:45:31,061
already in the works?

972
00:45:31,061 --> 00:45:33,063
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
there had always been

973
00:45:33,063 --> 00:45:38,135
a number of conversations
between the U.S.

974
00:45:38,135 --> 00:45:41,505
President and the Prime
Minister of Japan about

975
00:45:41,505 --> 00:45:45,976
the symbolic value of an
American presidential

976
00:45:45,976 --> 00:45:48,946
visit to Hiroshima.

977
00:45:48,946 --> 00:45:55,152
And I know there had been
discussions previously

978
00:45:55,152 --> 00:45:57,387
about the Japanese Prime
Minister visiting

979
00:45:57,387 --> 00:45:59,389
Pearl Harbor, as well.

980
00:46:02,392 --> 00:46:05,095
I think if the two were
directly linked, they

981
00:46:05,095 --> 00:46:07,096
probably would have been
announced simultaneously,

982
00:46:07,097 --> 00:46:08,465
but they were not.

983
00:46:08,465 --> 00:46:10,467
But, look, there have
always been discussions

984
00:46:10,467 --> 00:46:13,237
about these important
symbolic gestures, and

985
00:46:13,237 --> 00:46:16,373
there's no downplaying
the significance of the

986
00:46:16,373 --> 00:46:19,209
Japanese Prime Minister's
decision to visit Pearl

987
00:46:19,209 --> 00:46:22,346
Harbor just three weeks
after the 75th anniversary

988
00:46:22,346 --> 00:46:24,548
of the attacks there.

989
00:46:24,548 --> 00:46:25,582
Sarah.

990
00:46:25,582 --> 00:46:26,083
The Press: Thanks, Josh.

991
00:46:26,083 --> 00:46:27,751
A couple of questions
related to the transition

992
00:46:27,751 --> 00:46:30,220
and the President's
stated commitment to it.

993
00:46:30,220 --> 00:46:33,823
First, there have been
some Democratic senators

994
00:46:33,824 --> 00:46:36,360
on the Hill who have
talked about seeing what

995
00:46:36,360 --> 00:46:40,264
happened to Chief Judge
Garland, to now Attorney

996
00:46:40,264 --> 00:46:44,635
General Loretta Lynch, and
saying that maybe they

997
00:46:44,635 --> 00:46:48,071
should kind of not really
rush on President-elect

998
00:46:48,071 --> 00:46:48,906
Trump's nominees.

999
00:46:48,906 --> 00:46:52,241
The President knows how
important it is to have

1000
00:46:52,242 --> 00:46:53,877
people in his Cabinet
when he's getting

1001
00:46:53,877 --> 00:46:54,578
up and running.

1002
00:46:54,578 --> 00:46:57,648
How does he feel about
the idea of slow-walking

1003
00:46:57,648 --> 00:46:58,849
Trump's nominees?

1004
00:46:58,849 --> 00:47:01,518
Mr. Earnest: Well, look,
there is the stated fact

1005
00:47:01,518 --> 00:47:03,554
about the way that
Chairman Grassley handled

1006
00:47:03,554 --> 00:47:05,556
his business over the
course of the last year,

1007
00:47:05,556 --> 00:47:08,825
or couple of years.

1008
00:47:08,825 --> 00:47:11,194
Attorney General Loretta
Lynch, the first African

1009
00:47:11,195 --> 00:47:13,597
American woman to serve as
the Attorney General of

1010
00:47:13,597 --> 00:47:17,801
the United States, waited
longer than her six or

1011
00:47:17,801 --> 00:47:20,971
seven predecessors
combined to be

1012
00:47:20,971 --> 00:47:24,942
confirmed into that job.

1013
00:47:24,942 --> 00:47:28,178
Why Republicans imposed
that kind of delay on her

1014
00:47:28,178 --> 00:47:30,180
candidacy and her
nomination I think is

1015
00:47:30,180 --> 00:47:34,151
something that only
they can explain.

1016
00:47:34,151 --> 00:47:38,221
With regard to Chief Judge
Garland, he has waited

1017
00:47:38,222 --> 00:47:43,360
more than 200 days for
action in the Senate

1018
00:47:43,360 --> 00:47:47,564
Judiciary Committee, and
we've heard from Chairman

1019
00:47:47,564 --> 00:47:51,801
Grassley a blanket refusal
to even consider his

1020
00:47:51,802 --> 00:47:54,504
nomination despite the
fact he's got more

1021
00:47:54,504 --> 00:47:56,473
experience on the federal
bench than any other

1022
00:47:56,473 --> 00:47:58,475
Supreme Court nominee in
American history, despite

1023
00:47:58,475 --> 00:48:01,712
the fact that Republicans
acknowledge that he

1024
00:48:01,712 --> 00:48:04,014
represents a consensus
pick, and despite the fact

1025
00:48:04,014 --> 00:48:08,051
that he is somebody who
has served his country

1026
00:48:08,051 --> 00:48:13,257
bravely, including
investigating and

1027
00:48:13,257 --> 00:48:17,561
prosecuting the
perpetrators of one of

1028
00:48:17,561 --> 00:48:23,967
the worst terrorist attacks
on American soil.

1029
00:48:23,967 --> 00:48:27,504
But when President-elect
Trump signals his intent

1030
00:48:27,504 --> 00:48:33,810
to nominate an attorney
general, Chairman Grassley

1031
00:48:33,810 --> 00:48:37,781
kicks the squeaky wheels
of the Senate

1032
00:48:37,781 --> 00:48:42,519
judiciary conformation
process into motion.

1033
00:48:42,519 --> 00:48:48,024
And I do think it reflects
an unprecedented injection

1034
00:48:48,025 --> 00:48:54,998
of partisanship into what
had previously been a

1035
00:48:54,998 --> 00:48:59,403
committee that went to
some length to try to

1036
00:48:59,403 --> 00:49:02,105
prevent partisan politics
from infecting the process.

1037
00:49:02,105 --> 00:49:10,681
But under the purview of
Chairman Grassley, it's

1038
00:49:10,681 --> 00:49:14,584
clear that the process
hasn't just been infected

1039
00:49:14,584 --> 00:49:16,986
but they've got a
full-blown fever

1040
00:49:16,987 --> 00:49:19,189
of partisanship.

1041
00:49:19,189 --> 00:49:21,191
But when you are the
Republican chair of the

1042
00:49:21,191 --> 00:49:24,294
committee presiding over
a partisan committee and

1043
00:49:24,294 --> 00:49:26,296
considering the nominees
of the Republican

1044
00:49:26,296 --> 00:49:29,165
President, I guess
it's smooth sailing.

1045
00:49:29,166 --> 00:49:30,100
We'll see.

1046
00:49:30,100 --> 00:49:33,437
The Press: So he doesn't
have advice or a sort of

1047
00:49:33,437 --> 00:49:35,672
principled suggestion to
Democrats about how

1048
00:49:35,672 --> 00:49:36,673
they should handle --

1049
00:49:36,673 --> 00:49:38,674
Mr. Earnest: Look, I
think individual Senate

1050
00:49:38,675 --> 00:49:40,677
Democrats are going to
have to decide

1051
00:49:40,677 --> 00:49:41,678
on their own.

1052
00:49:41,678 --> 00:49:43,980
But I do feel confident
that they'll consider the

1053
00:49:43,980 --> 00:49:46,249
merits of the nominees
that are handed down, but

1054
00:49:46,249 --> 00:49:48,718
how they want to respond
to that is something

1055
00:49:48,719 --> 00:49:51,121
that will be ultimately
left to them.

1056
00:49:51,121 --> 00:49:54,224
The Press: And a question
that I want to distance

1057
00:49:54,224 --> 00:49:56,493
from Ron's a little bit,
but it's sort of

1058
00:49:56,493 --> 00:49:58,295
along a similar line.

1059
00:49:58,295 --> 00:50:00,263
You've talked about how
-- and the President has

1060
00:50:00,263 --> 00:50:02,299
talked about how important
it is to have a smooth

1061
00:50:02,299 --> 00:50:04,301
transition and how it's
kind of his last big

1062
00:50:04,301 --> 00:50:06,770
priority to really make
sure that his staff is

1063
00:50:06,770 --> 00:50:09,706
doing everything that they
can to help the

1064
00:50:09,706 --> 00:50:12,175
incoming Trump team.

1065
00:50:12,175 --> 00:50:15,912
Is that incoming Trump
team taking advantage of

1066
00:50:15,912 --> 00:50:18,982
all that cooperation and
information that -- and

1067
00:50:18,982 --> 00:50:21,518
you used the word -- that
the incoming President

1068
00:50:21,518 --> 00:50:25,288
requires to have a
successful start?

1069
00:50:25,288 --> 00:50:27,624
Mr. Earnest: Listen,
I'll refer you to the

1070
00:50:27,624 --> 00:50:30,459
President-elect to assess
how well his transition

1071
00:50:30,460 --> 00:50:31,461
team is performing.

1072
00:50:31,461 --> 00:50:34,397
I'm not going to hand
out grades from here.

1073
00:50:34,398 --> 00:50:39,269
What I can tell you is
that the President's team

1074
00:50:39,269 --> 00:50:41,270
is focused on making sure
we're doing everything we

1075
00:50:41,271 --> 00:50:44,374
can to facilitate a smooth
and effective transition.

1076
00:50:44,374 --> 00:50:47,209
But ultimately, how well
the President-elect is

1077
00:50:47,210 --> 00:50:49,212
served by his team is
something that

1078
00:50:49,212 --> 00:50:50,213
he'll have to assess.

1079
00:50:50,213 --> 00:50:52,482
The Press: And so you or
President Obama will not

1080
00:50:52,482 --> 00:50:57,454
be issuing any sort of
opinion or pulling back

1081
00:50:57,454 --> 00:50:59,289
the curtain at all about
how the process

1082
00:50:59,289 --> 00:51:00,857
is actually going.

1083
00:51:00,857 --> 00:51:02,726
Mr. Earnest: Look, I think
that there are a number of

1084
00:51:02,726 --> 00:51:04,561
ways in which we've tried
to characterize exactly

1085
00:51:04,561 --> 00:51:14,237
how the process is going,
but I certainly wouldn't

1086
00:51:14,237 --> 00:51:18,475
want me handing out a
grade, if you will, to

1087
00:51:18,475 --> 00:51:21,310
affect the ability of
people to do their jobs.

1088
00:51:21,311 --> 00:51:24,748
Ultimately, if I stand up
here and sort of offer up

1089
00:51:24,748 --> 00:51:27,017
a new assessment where, in
my view, they may or may

1090
00:51:27,017 --> 00:51:30,086
not have fallen short,
that may not lend itself

1091
00:51:30,086 --> 00:51:32,923
to the kind of cordial,
professional, collegial

1092
00:51:32,923 --> 00:51:41,263
relationships that will
contribute to the most

1093
00:51:41,264 --> 00:51:42,666
effective transition.

1094
00:51:42,666 --> 00:51:46,970
So this is just one of
those situations that

1095
00:51:46,970 --> 00:51:50,272
crops up all too
frequently when I'm

1096
00:51:50,273 --> 00:51:56,012
standing at this podium at
least, where discretion is

1097
00:51:56,012 --> 00:51:57,914
the better part of valor,
I guess, a little bit here.

1098
00:51:57,914 --> 00:51:59,816
Gardiner.

1099
00:51:59,816 --> 00:52:02,384
The Press: Josh, this
administration has made a

1100
00:52:02,385 --> 00:52:07,023
huge priority out of
responding to online

1101
00:52:07,023 --> 00:52:08,892
threats from jihadists.

1102
00:52:08,892 --> 00:52:12,495
You have a whole set
of people at the State

1103
00:52:12,496 --> 00:52:14,197
Department; you have them
at the Pentagon; you've

1104
00:52:14,197 --> 00:52:17,267
got people who have gone
after those who posted

1105
00:52:17,267 --> 00:52:19,970
these messages and killed
them in the Middle East.

1106
00:52:19,970 --> 00:52:23,772
The administration has
gone to Silicon Valley and

1107
00:52:23,773 --> 00:52:26,743
had conversations with
Twitter and social medial

1108
00:52:26,743 --> 00:52:29,446
companies about making
sure they crack down on

1109
00:52:29,446 --> 00:52:31,481
these jihadi threats.

1110
00:52:31,481 --> 00:52:35,452
You had an entire set of
businesses up here on

1111
00:52:35,452 --> 00:52:38,588
Connecticut Avenue for
months getting direct

1112
00:52:38,588 --> 00:52:41,825
death threats, and they
said that nothing

1113
00:52:41,825 --> 00:52:43,058
was done about them.

1114
00:52:43,059 --> 00:52:47,063
Is it only a priority if
these are jihadi threats?

1115
00:52:47,063 --> 00:52:50,000
And is it not a priority
for this administration

1116
00:52:50,000 --> 00:52:53,703
if businesses and normal
people are getting death

1117
00:52:53,703 --> 00:52:57,040
threats and being
terrorized for months with

1118
00:52:57,040 --> 00:52:59,409
no action on the part
of this administration?

1119
00:52:59,409 --> 00:53:02,646
Help me understand
the difference there.

1120
00:53:02,646 --> 00:53:05,582
Mr. Earnest: Well
Gardiner, I would strongly

1121
00:53:05,582 --> 00:53:07,116
disagree with the
assessment that somehow

1122
00:53:07,117 --> 00:53:09,986
the administration had not
done anything to respond

1123
00:53:09,986 --> 00:53:12,288
to this situation,
particularly when it comes

1124
00:53:12,289 --> 00:53:16,226
to violent threats.

1125
00:53:16,226 --> 00:53:18,228
I'll refer you to my
colleagues at the

1126
00:53:18,228 --> 00:53:20,230
Department of Justice and
the FBI for the role that

1127
00:53:20,230 --> 00:53:22,499
they may have played
in investigating

1128
00:53:22,499 --> 00:53:24,500
those threats.

1129
00:53:27,504 --> 00:53:30,373
I'd also refer you to
the Metropolitan Police

1130
00:53:30,373 --> 00:53:32,576
Department here in
Washington for a

1131
00:53:32,576 --> 00:53:34,578
discussion of any work
that they may have done to

1132
00:53:34,578 --> 00:53:38,481
ensure that the D.C.
residents who were

1133
00:53:38,481 --> 00:53:40,450
patronizing those
establishments were

1134
00:53:40,450 --> 00:53:41,451
able to do so safely.

1135
00:53:41,451 --> 00:53:46,256
The Press: Did you know
the FBI investigated this

1136
00:53:46,256 --> 00:53:49,091
and went after the people
who had given those

1137
00:53:49,092 --> 00:53:51,595
threats over the course of
these many months, despite

1138
00:53:51,595 --> 00:53:53,863
the fact that the business
owners themselves

1139
00:53:53,863 --> 00:53:55,565
say nothing has been done?

1140
00:53:55,565 --> 00:53:57,567
Mr. Earnest: I can't speak
about any sort of

1141
00:53:57,567 --> 00:53:58,602
criminal investigations.

1142
00:53:58,602 --> 00:54:00,670
I do know that it is
a matter of standard

1143
00:54:00,670 --> 00:54:06,176
practice that if people
are threatened with

1144
00:54:06,176 --> 00:54:09,712
violence, that that
raises significant legal

1145
00:54:09,713 --> 00:54:11,715
questions, and legal
questions that

1146
00:54:11,715 --> 00:54:14,184
must be checked out.

1147
00:54:14,184 --> 00:54:16,386
And whether that is local
law enforcement or federal

1148
00:54:16,386 --> 00:54:19,656
law enforcement, that's
something that they

1149
00:54:19,656 --> 00:54:21,658
have to work out among
themselves.

1150
00:54:21,658 --> 00:54:23,926
Obviously there's a joint
terrorism taskforce that

1151
00:54:23,927 --> 00:54:28,064
in some cases can pool
resources to ensure that

1152
00:54:28,064 --> 00:54:33,803
those investigations are
conducted using the best

1153
00:54:33,803 --> 00:54:36,205
practices that are
maintained by

1154
00:54:36,206 --> 00:54:37,173
individual agencies.

1155
00:54:37,173 --> 00:54:41,845
But the safety and
security of the public is

1156
00:54:41,845 --> 00:54:44,814
the President's highest
priority, and that's true

1157
00:54:44,814 --> 00:54:50,654
when it comes to
administering our national

1158
00:54:50,654 --> 00:54:53,490
security policy around the
globe, but it's also true

1159
00:54:53,490 --> 00:54:55,491
when we're fighting crime
here in the United States.

1160
00:54:55,492 --> 00:55:01,031
And the administration has
a quite strong record that

1161
00:55:01,031 --> 00:55:03,900
we're proud of in terms of
the impact of some of our

1162
00:55:03,900 --> 00:55:06,670
crime-fighting policies
and our investments in

1163
00:55:06,670 --> 00:55:08,672
local law enforcement
agencies on the

1164
00:55:08,672 --> 00:55:11,141
overall crime rate.

1165
00:55:11,141 --> 00:55:13,143
But yes, I would quibble
with the notion that

1166
00:55:13,143 --> 00:55:15,145
somehow -- in fact, I
wouldn't just quibble; I

1167
00:55:15,145 --> 00:55:17,580
would strongly disagree
with the notion that the

1168
00:55:17,580 --> 00:55:19,582
administration had done
nothing in the

1169
00:55:19,582 --> 00:55:20,583
face of these threats.

1170
00:55:20,583 --> 00:55:22,585
The Press: I think
everyone in this room has

1171
00:55:22,585 --> 00:55:25,588
gotten threatening emails
and threatening things on

1172
00:55:25,588 --> 00:55:27,424
social media and the rest.

1173
00:55:27,424 --> 00:55:30,493
Again, the administration
specifically went to

1174
00:55:30,493 --> 00:55:32,996
Silicon Valley, had these
meetings to talk about

1175
00:55:32,996 --> 00:55:37,000
what these companies were
doing about their response

1176
00:55:37,000 --> 00:55:39,703
to threats from abroad.

1177
00:55:39,703 --> 00:55:42,305
I guess what I'm asking --
I've never heard you

1178
00:55:42,305 --> 00:55:45,408
talk about what the
administration is doing,

1179
00:55:45,408 --> 00:55:48,144
even not just on a law
enforcement basis but a

1180
00:55:48,144 --> 00:55:50,479
policy basis, reaching out
to these

1181
00:55:50,480 --> 00:55:51,548
Silicon Valley companies.

1182
00:55:51,548 --> 00:55:54,216
I mean, the President has
recently been discussing

1183
00:55:54,217 --> 00:55:58,054
the problem of fake
news on Facebook.

1184
00:55:58,054 --> 00:56:03,126
Why hasn't there been
a concern -- a growing

1185
00:56:03,126 --> 00:56:06,496
concern on the part of the
administration about what

1186
00:56:06,496 --> 00:56:11,334
seems to be a growing
amount of vitriol directed

1187
00:56:11,334 --> 00:56:13,770
at a variety of people,
sometimes violent vitriol,

1188
00:56:13,770 --> 00:56:14,871
within the United States?

1189
00:56:14,871 --> 00:56:17,040
Mr. Earnest: Well
Gardiner, I think over

1190
00:56:17,040 --> 00:56:20,710
the course -- over the last
year or two, you've heard

1191
00:56:20,710 --> 00:56:25,315
the President I think
speak quite bluntly about

1192
00:56:25,315 --> 00:56:28,685
the rhetoric that was
being used in the

1193
00:56:28,685 --> 00:56:31,287
context of this political
campaign, and the impact

1194
00:56:31,287 --> 00:56:35,024
that that could have on
the broader political

1195
00:56:35,024 --> 00:56:37,460
debate and the climate --
political climate

1196
00:56:37,460 --> 00:56:38,962
in the country.

1197
00:56:38,962 --> 00:56:41,264
So I do think this is
something that we have

1198
00:56:41,264 --> 00:56:44,367
talked about, and it's
something that the

1199
00:56:44,367 --> 00:56:50,807
President is concerned
that that kind of harsh,

1200
00:56:50,807 --> 00:56:54,544
sometimes violent,
rhetoric obscures

1201
00:56:54,544 --> 00:56:56,546
legitimate policy debates
that we should be

1202
00:56:56,546 --> 00:56:59,381
having in this country.

1203
00:56:59,382 --> 00:57:02,519
So with regard to the role
of Silicon Valley and some

1204
00:57:02,519 --> 00:57:04,520
of these technology
companies and the role

1205
00:57:04,521 --> 00:57:07,957
that they can play in
policing the standards for

1206
00:57:07,957 --> 00:57:10,192
people who use their
platform, I know that's

1207
00:57:10,193 --> 00:57:12,262
something that they've had
a broad internal

1208
00:57:12,262 --> 00:57:15,498
debate about, as well.

1209
00:57:15,498 --> 00:57:17,500
Obviously, there are some
important First Amendment

1210
00:57:17,500 --> 00:57:19,502
issues that come into play
when we're having

1211
00:57:19,502 --> 00:57:20,503
this discussion.

1212
00:57:20,503 --> 00:57:23,106
Those First Amendment
issues aren't prioritized

1213
00:57:23,106 --> 00:57:25,108
in the same way when we're
talking about overseas

1214
00:57:25,108 --> 00:57:28,278
terrorist organizations
that don't enjoy the same

1215
00:57:28,278 --> 00:57:30,712
kinds of protections that
American citizens do.

1216
00:57:30,713 --> 00:57:35,385
But the same observation
that I made about these

1217
00:57:35,385 --> 00:57:42,158
technology companies with
regard to the use by

1218
00:57:42,158 --> 00:57:45,295
terrorists of these
platforms also applies to

1219
00:57:45,295 --> 00:57:47,363
some of the harsh
rhetoric that we've seen.

1220
00:57:47,363 --> 00:57:53,102
And it's simply this: That
many of the entrepreneurs

1221
00:57:53,102 --> 00:57:56,439
in Silicon Valley didn't
develop this technology to

1222
00:57:56,439 --> 00:58:00,710
make it easier for hate
to be propagated online.

1223
00:58:00,710 --> 00:58:02,879
Their idea was to build
a community where people

1224
00:58:02,879 --> 00:58:05,114
could more effectively
communicate and

1225
00:58:05,114 --> 00:58:07,116
engage in commerce.

1226
00:58:08,351 --> 00:58:12,889
So they've got their own
built-in interest in

1227
00:58:12,889 --> 00:58:14,891
protecting the First
Amendment rights of their

1228
00:58:14,891 --> 00:58:21,431
users while also creating
a community and a platform

1229
00:58:21,431 --> 00:58:24,067
that people actually
want to use.

1230
00:58:24,067 --> 00:58:28,404
And yes, if you do
administer a platform

1231
00:58:28,404 --> 00:58:31,074
that is used extensively to
propagate hate and to

1232
00:58:31,074 --> 00:58:35,545
inspire acts of violence,
well, I think most people

1233
00:58:35,545 --> 00:58:38,381
are going to be less
likely to use the platform.

1234
00:58:38,381 --> 00:58:40,716
So this is the kind
of balance that these

1235
00:58:40,717 --> 00:58:43,753
technology companies are
going to have to strike,

1236
00:58:43,753 --> 00:58:45,755
and it's something that
I know that they've

1237
00:58:45,755 --> 00:58:47,056
been grappling with
for some time.

1238
00:58:47,056 --> 00:58:48,157
In some cases, I know that
they've been doing it

1239
00:58:48,157 --> 00:58:51,761
even outside the context
of politics.

1240
00:58:51,761 --> 00:58:53,763
The Press: Do you think
the market just will

1241
00:58:53,763 --> 00:58:55,765
have to police itself
on that then?

1242
00:58:55,765 --> 00:58:57,734
Mr. Earnest: Well, look, I
don't think it necessarily

1243
00:58:57,734 --> 00:59:00,770
has to be -- I think there
is a -- given the First

1244
00:59:00,770 --> 00:59:08,645
Amendment questions that
are raised, the role for

1245
00:59:08,645 --> 00:59:10,613
the government to play in
all of this is going

1246
00:59:10,613 --> 00:59:12,615
to be necessarily
limited by that.

1247
00:59:12,615 --> 00:59:15,151
But I don't think it
eliminates the

1248
00:59:15,151 --> 00:59:16,252
possibility that the U.S.

1249
00:59:16,252 --> 00:59:19,889
government could
contribute to a

1250
00:59:19,889 --> 00:59:22,292
productive, fruitful
conversation about the

1251
00:59:22,292 --> 00:59:27,462
effective administration
of these online platforms

1252
00:59:27,463 --> 00:59:30,733
to ensure that people's
lives aren't at risk.

1253
00:59:30,733 --> 00:59:32,001
The Press: What will
happen to the

1254
00:59:32,001 --> 00:59:33,836
Aleppo insurgents who
don't leave?

1255
00:59:33,836 --> 00:59:35,404
Russia says they will be
regarded as

1256
00:59:35,405 --> 00:59:38,107
terrorists and risk death.

1257
00:59:38,107 --> 00:59:40,176
Can you help with that?

1258
00:59:40,176 --> 00:59:42,679
These are obviously, in
many cases, people who

1259
00:59:42,679 --> 00:59:45,114
have been supported
by the United States.

1260
00:59:45,114 --> 00:59:48,418
Mr. Earnest: Well, what I
can say about this is that

1261
00:59:48,418 --> 00:59:52,455
we know that it has been
the strategy of the Syrian

1262
00:59:52,455 --> 00:59:55,825
government, backed by the
Russians and the Iranians,

1263
00:59:55,825 --> 00:59:57,794
to bomb innocent civilians
into submission.

1264
00:59:57,794 --> 01:00:02,265
And the focal point of
much of that bombing

1265
01:00:02,265 --> 01:00:08,270
campaign has been
eastern Aleppo.

1266
01:00:08,271 --> 01:00:16,546
It's a bloody tactic.

1267
01:00:16,546 --> 01:00:17,513
It's disgraceful.

1268
01:00:17,513 --> 01:00:24,053
And it's heartbreaking
because of the scale of

1269
01:00:24,053 --> 01:00:26,055
innocent lives lost.

1270
01:00:27,657 --> 01:00:30,593
It's why the United States
has been working so

1271
01:00:30,593 --> 01:00:33,096
tenaciously through
diplomatic channels to try

1272
01:00:33,096 --> 01:00:35,098
to bring the bombing
campaign and the violence

1273
01:00:35,098 --> 01:00:38,768
to an end, or at least
reduce it enough that

1274
01:00:38,768 --> 01:00:40,770
innocent people can get
out of harm's way and

1275
01:00:40,770 --> 01:00:44,440
humanitarian assistance
can be consistently provided.

1276
01:00:44,440 --> 01:00:46,442
But there hasn't been a
willingness on the part of

1277
01:00:46,442 --> 01:00:48,444
either the Syrians, the
Russians or the Iranians

1278
01:00:48,444 --> 01:00:51,014
to engage in that
process particularly

1279
01:00:51,014 --> 01:00:53,016
constructively, and at
least in a way that

1280
01:00:53,016 --> 01:00:55,685
would yield a sustainable
outcome.

1281
01:00:55,685 --> 01:00:56,953
Hopefully, that
will change.

1282
01:00:56,953 --> 01:00:58,955
Hopefully, there's more
progress that we can make.

1283
01:00:58,955 --> 01:01:02,191
And hopefully the Russians
will show some

1284
01:01:02,191 --> 01:01:03,192
renewed interest in this.

1285
01:01:03,192 --> 01:01:05,328
And we would
welcome that change.

1286
01:01:05,328 --> 01:01:10,333
But far too many lives
have been lost and, yes,

1287
01:01:10,333 --> 01:01:14,704
it's true that even more
are at risk because of the

1288
01:01:14,704 --> 01:01:17,907
deplorable tactics that
are used regularly by the

1289
01:01:17,907 --> 01:01:20,410
Syrians with the support
of the Russians and Iranians.

1290
01:01:20,410 --> 01:01:23,745
The Press: Josh, when the
Prime Minister from Japan

1291
01:01:23,746 --> 01:01:26,315
comes to the Pearl Harbor
Memorial -- one of the

1292
01:01:26,315 --> 01:01:28,351
reasons this hasn't
happened for so long is

1293
01:01:28,351 --> 01:01:30,820
the Japanese don't feel
that they have anything to

1294
01:01:30,820 --> 01:01:32,622
apologize for generally.

1295
01:01:32,622 --> 01:01:35,924
They feel that the attack
grew out of the oil

1296
01:01:35,925 --> 01:01:37,026
embargo and all this.

1297
01:01:37,026 --> 01:01:40,797
So how are veterans'
groups going to react with

1298
01:01:40,797 --> 01:01:46,936
Abe showing up and just
sort of bowing but no apology?

1299
01:01:46,936 --> 01:01:50,139
Is there not going
to be an apology?

1300
01:01:50,139 --> 01:01:52,909
And how do you think
that's going to play in

1301
01:01:52,909 --> 01:01:53,910
the United States?

1302
01:01:53,910 --> 01:01:55,645
Because from the United
States' point of view, of

1303
01:01:55,645 --> 01:01:59,515
course, the Pearl Harbor
attack was completely

1304
01:01:59,515 --> 01:02:03,853
unjustified and a total
surprise, and an act of

1305
01:02:03,853 --> 01:02:07,557
total violence and war
that was, from our

1306
01:02:07,557 --> 01:02:10,593
perspective -- there is
no justification

1307
01:02:10,593 --> 01:02:11,928
for it whatsoever.

1308
01:02:11,928 --> 01:02:14,029
So, I mean, this was
obviously a problem when

1309
01:02:14,030 --> 01:02:15,731
the President went to
Hiroshima -- there were

1310
01:02:15,731 --> 01:02:17,567
people in Japan who
believed the United States

1311
01:02:17,567 --> 01:02:19,635
shouldn't have dropped the
atomic weapon;

1312
01:02:19,635 --> 01:02:20,570
we don't feel that way.

1313
01:02:20,570 --> 01:02:22,071
So how is this
going to play out?

1314
01:02:22,071 --> 01:02:25,141
Mr. Earnest: Well, listen,
I don't want to prejudge

1315
01:02:25,141 --> 01:02:27,543
at this point what Prime
Minister Abe may choose to

1316
01:02:27,543 --> 01:02:30,146
say when he visits
Pearl Harbor.

1317
01:02:30,146 --> 01:02:34,417
I think that most
Americans would warmly

1318
01:02:34,417 --> 01:02:36,752
receive the sentiment
that he expressed in his

1319
01:02:36,752 --> 01:02:37,987
statement earlier today.

1320
01:02:37,987 --> 01:02:43,259
He indicated that he
will visit Pearl Harbor,

1321
01:02:43,259 --> 01:02:45,361
together with President
Obama, to "mourn the

1322
01:02:45,361 --> 01:02:46,929
souls of the victims."

1323
01:02:46,929 --> 01:02:49,332
He continued saying, "I
would like to express my

1324
01:02:49,332 --> 01:02:51,234
resolve toward the future
that the tragedy of wars

1325
01:02:51,234 --> 01:02:54,069
should never be
repeated again.

1326
01:02:54,070 --> 01:02:55,738
At the same time, I'm
hoping to make it an

1327
01:02:55,738 --> 01:02:57,906
opportunity to send out a
message about the value of

1328
01:02:57,907 --> 01:03:00,610
reconciliation between
Japan and the United States."

1329
01:03:00,610 --> 01:03:05,548
So again, I think the kind
of sentiment that's being

1330
01:03:05,548 --> 01:03:08,783
expressed by the Prime
Minister of Japan is one

1331
01:03:08,784 --> 01:03:12,221
that would be warmly
received by most Americans.

1332
01:03:12,221 --> 01:03:23,132
But, obviously, the
benefits of a visit like

1333
01:03:23,132 --> 01:03:30,506
this is it displays the
kind of opportunity that

1334
01:03:30,506 --> 01:03:32,942
lies for America's
future, that lies ahead.

1335
01:03:32,942 --> 01:03:41,851
Not long ago, within
the lifetime of many

1336
01:03:41,851 --> 01:03:46,422
Americans, the United
States and Japan were at war.

1337
01:03:46,422 --> 01:03:51,327
And hundreds of thousands,
if not millions, of our

1338
01:03:51,327 --> 01:03:53,729
citizens were
killed in that war.

1339
01:03:53,729 --> 01:03:59,702
And 70 years later, the
United States and Japan

1340
01:03:59,702 --> 01:04:05,908
actually have formed
an alliance that has

1341
01:04:05,908 --> 01:04:08,044
benefitted both our
countries and our national

1342
01:04:08,044 --> 01:04:09,912
security and our economy.

1343
01:04:09,912 --> 01:04:15,283
And I think this visit
further underscores the

1344
01:04:15,284 --> 01:04:18,321
benefits of pursuing
peace and reconciliation.

1345
01:04:18,321 --> 01:04:23,025
The Press: But you don't
think people are going to

1346
01:04:23,025 --> 01:04:25,027
sort of see the guy coming
from a country that caused

1347
01:04:25,027 --> 01:04:27,029
the deaths to occur saying
simply, well, we'll mourn

1348
01:04:27,029 --> 01:04:29,031
the deaths but I'm not
going to say that I

1349
01:04:29,031 --> 01:04:31,033
even feel bad about
causing the deaths?

1350
01:04:31,033 --> 01:04:33,035
Mr. Earnest: Listen, I
can't speak for every

1351
01:04:33,035 --> 01:04:35,037
single American and how
they will respond to

1352
01:04:35,037 --> 01:04:37,406
or react to this
particular situation.

1353
01:04:37,406 --> 01:04:46,682
If I were a World War II
veteran who was drafted by

1354
01:04:46,682 --> 01:04:50,819
the United States military
to go and fight for our

1355
01:04:50,820 --> 01:04:54,824
country overseas in the
aftermath of the Pearl

1356
01:04:54,824 --> 01:04:58,794
Harbor attack, I might
feel quite embittered.

1357
01:04:58,794 --> 01:05:05,234
And I think it would be
a perfectly natural and

1358
01:05:05,234 --> 01:05:09,138
understandable human
reaction to not be

1359
01:05:09,138 --> 01:05:16,979
particularly satisfied
with the words of the

1360
01:05:16,979 --> 01:05:18,981
Japanese Prime Minister.

1361
01:05:21,751 --> 01:05:24,487
But I think the thing that
we know about the Greatest

1362
01:05:24,487 --> 01:05:36,165
Generation of Americans is
they're anything -- well,

1363
01:05:36,165 --> 01:05:37,166
let me say it this way.

1364
01:05:37,166 --> 01:05:39,235
This Greatest Generation
of Americans, I think

1365
01:05:39,235 --> 01:05:49,412
we take a risk if we
underestimate their

1366
01:05:49,412 --> 01:05:53,982
patriotism and their
capacity to set aside

1367
01:05:53,983 --> 01:06:00,923
their own personal
interests and prioritize

1368
01:06:00,923 --> 01:06:04,759
the ambition and
opportunity of the

1369
01:06:04,760 --> 01:06:07,163
American people.

1370
01:06:07,163 --> 01:06:09,932
And so, yes, there may be
some who feel

1371
01:06:09,932 --> 01:06:12,734
personally embittered.

1372
01:06:12,735 --> 01:06:15,104
But I'm confident that
many will set aside their

1373
01:06:15,104 --> 01:06:19,040
own personal bitterness,
not because they're

1374
01:06:19,041 --> 01:06:21,043
personally satisfied by
the words of the Prime

1375
01:06:21,043 --> 01:06:23,512
Minister, but because they
recognize how important

1376
01:06:23,512 --> 01:06:25,514
this moment is for
the United States.

1377
01:06:25,514 --> 01:06:28,884
And that's certainly
why they qualify to be

1378
01:06:28,884 --> 01:06:31,153
described as the
greatest generation.

1379
01:06:31,153 --> 01:06:32,154
Jared.

1380
01:06:32,154 --> 01:06:34,156
The Press: Josh, earlier
you said that some

1381
01:06:34,156 --> 01:06:36,192
of the calls by the
President-elect could

1382
01:06:36,192 --> 01:06:38,661
potentially undermine some
of the progress that's

1383
01:06:38,661 --> 01:06:41,197
been made with the
relationship with China.

1384
01:06:41,197 --> 01:06:43,766
You've also said and the
President has said that

1385
01:06:43,766 --> 01:06:46,068
we're in a situation where
we have one

1386
01:06:46,068 --> 01:06:46,936
President at a time.

1387
01:06:46,936 --> 01:06:51,073
Do any of the calls or any
of the other actions that

1388
01:06:51,073 --> 01:06:53,142
have been taken at
this point by the

1389
01:06:53,142 --> 01:06:55,344
President-elect nibble
around the edges or even

1390
01:06:55,344 --> 01:06:57,847
take a big bite out of
this concept of

1391
01:06:57,847 --> 01:06:59,749
"one President at a time"?

1392
01:06:59,749 --> 01:07:02,484
Mr. Earnest: Listen, I did
not participate in any of

1393
01:07:02,485 --> 01:07:04,487
the phone calls that the
President-elect has

1394
01:07:04,487 --> 01:07:05,955
made over the last
several weeks.

1395
01:07:05,955 --> 01:07:08,491
The Press: But you're
aware of the reaction to them.

1396
01:07:08,491 --> 01:07:10,493
Mr. Earnest: Yeah, I'm
aware of the reaction to

1397
01:07:10,493 --> 01:07:12,495
them but I'm not aware of
what he said in them, so

1398
01:07:12,495 --> 01:07:14,497
that's why it's hard for
me to assess whether or

1399
01:07:14,497 --> 01:07:16,866
not this would erode
a principle that the

1400
01:07:16,866 --> 01:07:19,134
President-elect and
his team have strongly

1401
01:07:19,135 --> 01:07:20,569
supported, which is the
idea that there's one

1402
01:07:20,569 --> 01:07:22,138
President at a time.

1403
01:07:22,138 --> 01:07:24,140
The Press: When we're
talking about the

1404
01:07:24,140 --> 01:07:26,709
President-elect still in
his capacity as a private

1405
01:07:26,709 --> 01:07:30,879
citizen, does anything
that he's done approach a

1406
01:07:30,880 --> 01:07:33,115
violation of the Logan
Act, any prohibition

1407
01:07:33,115 --> 01:07:35,984
against someone who's
not in an elected office

1408
01:07:35,985 --> 01:07:40,956
making arrangements on
behalf of the state or

1409
01:07:40,956 --> 01:07:41,424
government of the
United States?

1410
01:07:41,424 --> 01:07:43,626
Mr. Earnest: I'm not aware
of the finer points of the

1411
01:07:43,626 --> 01:07:45,594
Logan Act, so there may
be somebody else that you

1412
01:07:45,594 --> 01:07:46,595
consult on that one.

1413
01:07:46,595 --> 01:07:49,397
The Press: Senator Cruz
has said that he would

1414
01:07:49,398 --> 01:07:52,835
rather the President-elect
talk to Taiwan than talk

1415
01:07:52,835 --> 01:07:55,171
to Cuba or Iran.

1416
01:07:55,171 --> 01:07:57,772
What do you make
of that statement?

1417
01:07:57,773 --> 01:07:59,842
Mr. Earnest: Well, I guess
the first thing I would

1418
01:07:59,842 --> 01:08:03,345
point out is that there
are any number of American

1419
01:08:03,345 --> 01:08:05,948
officials who are in touch
with Taiwanese authorities

1420
01:08:05,948 --> 01:08:06,949
on a regular basis.

1421
01:08:06,949 --> 01:08:10,619
The Press: He was talking
about the implications of

1422
01:08:10,619 --> 01:08:15,024
these unprecedented calls
or thawing relationships

1423
01:08:15,024 --> 01:08:16,591
that are long frozen.

1424
01:08:16,591 --> 01:08:20,161
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
the relationship between

1425
01:08:20,162 --> 01:08:24,333
the United States and
Taiwan is an unofficial

1426
01:08:24,332 --> 01:08:27,268
one, but it's not frozen.

1427
01:08:27,269 --> 01:08:29,271
After all, Taiwan is the
ninth largest trading

1428
01:08:29,270 --> 01:08:30,606
partner with the
United States.

1429
01:08:30,606 --> 01:08:31,273
Mark.

1430
01:08:31,273 --> 01:08:33,776
The Press: Josh, are you
saying that, in the

1431
01:08:33,776 --> 01:08:37,278
White House view, the
President-elect's phone

1432
01:08:37,279 --> 01:08:39,782
call the Taiwan President
or the phone call that he

1433
01:08:39,782 --> 01:08:43,586
had with the Taiwanese
President is a breach of

1434
01:08:43,586 --> 01:08:46,155
the Shanghai Communiqué
in and of itself?

1435
01:08:46,154 --> 01:08:50,859
Mr. Earnest: Well, again,
I think what is clear -- I

1436
01:08:50,859 --> 01:08:55,731
think this is just an
objective fact -- for the

1437
01:08:55,731 --> 01:09:02,103
last 40 or so years, there
hasn't been another phone

1438
01:09:02,104 --> 01:09:04,206
call between the President
of the United States

1439
01:09:04,206 --> 01:09:06,375
or a President-elect of
the United States and

1440
01:09:06,375 --> 01:09:10,412
President Tsai or one
of her predecessors.

1441
01:09:10,412 --> 01:09:13,415
So that's just a fact.

1442
01:09:13,415 --> 01:09:19,121
What this administration
has pursued very carefully

1443
01:09:19,121 --> 01:09:25,027
is a one-China policy
that promotes peace and

1444
01:09:25,027 --> 01:09:26,795
stability in the strait.

1445
01:09:26,795 --> 01:09:31,567
And that's served the
United States well.

1446
01:09:31,567 --> 01:09:36,272
It served our ability to
work effectively with

1447
01:09:36,272 --> 01:09:38,506
Chinese authorities, and
it's also served our

1448
01:09:38,506 --> 01:09:40,509
ability to work
effectively with

1449
01:09:40,509 --> 01:09:42,144
Taiwanese authorities.

1450
01:09:42,144 --> 01:09:47,349
But if President-elect
Trump and his team have a

1451
01:09:47,349 --> 01:09:49,351
different goal in mind or
a different strategy in

1452
01:09:49,350 --> 01:09:51,987
mind, I'll leave it to
them to articulate what

1453
01:09:51,987 --> 01:09:54,924
those goals might be and
what strategy they intend

1454
01:09:54,924 --> 01:09:55,925
to pursue to achieve them.

1455
01:09:55,925 --> 01:09:58,127
The Press: Would the
administration like a

1456
01:09:58,127 --> 01:10:00,129
clarification of what
their goals are?

1457
01:10:00,129 --> 01:10:05,934
Mr. Earnest: I'm not --
look, I'll leave it to the

1458
01:10:05,935 --> 01:10:09,505
President-elect and his
team to communicate what

1459
01:10:09,505 --> 01:10:12,875
they would like about his
strategy or the

1460
01:10:12,875 --> 01:10:14,843
policy that they intend
to pursue.

1461
01:10:14,843 --> 01:10:17,446
I think what I can do is
do my best to describe to

1462
01:10:17,446 --> 01:10:21,116
you the strategy that
we have pursued and the

1463
01:10:21,116 --> 01:10:23,118
significant benefits that
have been enjoyed by the

1464
01:10:23,118 --> 01:10:25,120
United States and the
American people as a

1465
01:10:25,120 --> 01:10:26,121
result of that strategy.

1466
01:10:26,121 --> 01:10:27,756
If he's got a different
strategy that he intends

1467
01:10:27,756 --> 01:10:31,627
to pursue in pursuit of
some different goals and

1468
01:10:31,627 --> 01:10:34,163
some different benefits,
then I'll leave it to him

1469
01:10:34,163 --> 01:10:35,164
to articulate that.

1470
01:10:35,164 --> 01:10:36,532
Thus far, I think it's
kind of hard to see

1471
01:10:36,532 --> 01:10:39,068
exactly what that would be
when you consider that the

1472
01:10:39,068 --> 01:10:42,738
reaction from the Chinese
has been to ramp up or

1473
01:10:42,738 --> 01:10:45,708
ratchet up their rhetoric
that is aimed at Taiwan.

1474
01:10:45,708 --> 01:10:47,776
I'm not sure how that
benefits the United

1475
01:10:47,776 --> 01:10:49,712
States, and I'm not sure
how that benefits the

1476
01:10:49,712 --> 01:10:51,714
United States
relationship with Taiwan.

1477
01:10:51,714 --> 01:10:54,183
I'm not sure how that
benefits the Taiwanese people.

1478
01:10:54,183 --> 01:10:56,185
I'm not sure how that
benefits the U.S.

1479
01:10:56,185 --> 01:10:57,019
relationship with China.

1480
01:10:57,019 --> 01:11:01,957
But I'll leave it to the
President-elect and his

1481
01:11:01,957 --> 01:11:03,959
team to offer up
those explanations.

1482
01:11:03,959 --> 01:11:07,196
The Press: And on the
Pearl Harbor visit, is it

1483
01:11:07,196 --> 01:11:09,164
your understanding that
both leaders will

1484
01:11:09,164 --> 01:11:11,166
be making speeches
at that visit?

1485
01:11:11,166 --> 01:11:13,435
Mr. Earnest: Well, when
President Obama visited

1486
01:11:13,435 --> 01:11:19,074
Hiroshima, both leaders
had an opportunity to make

1487
01:11:19,074 --> 01:11:23,978
statements, but I think
they stopped short of

1488
01:11:23,979 --> 01:11:25,514
something that could be
described as a speech.

1489
01:11:25,514 --> 01:11:29,118
And I think in this
setting, I would expect

1490
01:11:29,118 --> 01:11:30,519
that you'll have an
opportunity to hear from

1491
01:11:30,519 --> 01:11:33,222
both leaders at
the memorial site.

1492
01:11:33,222 --> 01:11:35,224
The Press: You said it
was Prime Minister Abe's

1493
01:11:35,224 --> 01:11:37,226
decision to come, but
clearly it was

1494
01:11:37,226 --> 01:11:39,228
coordinated with the White
House, correct?

1495
01:11:39,228 --> 01:11:40,229
Mr. Earnest: Yes, it was.

1496
01:11:40,229 --> 01:11:41,230
There were discussions.

1497
01:11:41,230 --> 01:11:43,232
In fact, President Obama
and Prime Minister Abe had

1498
01:11:43,232 --> 01:11:45,834
an opportunity to discuss
the potential of this

1499
01:11:45,834 --> 01:11:52,741
visit when they spoke in
Lima, at the APEC Summit

1500
01:11:52,741 --> 01:11:54,810
just a few weeks ago.

1501
01:11:54,810 --> 01:11:55,811
Bill Press.

1502
01:11:55,811 --> 01:11:58,246
The Press: Josh, does the
President have a candidate

1503
01:11:58,247 --> 01:12:00,249
for the next head of
the Democratic

1504
01:12:00,249 --> 01:12:01,250
National Committee?

1505
01:12:01,250 --> 01:12:03,819
Mr. Earnest: The President
has not endorsed any of

1506
01:12:03,819 --> 01:12:05,821
the candidates for DNC
Chair, and I don't

1507
01:12:05,821 --> 01:12:06,822
anticipate that he will.

1508
01:12:06,822 --> 01:12:09,191
The Press: So would you
say then that of the three

1509
01:12:09,191 --> 01:12:11,760
candidates remaining --
Jamie Harrison, or Ray

1510
01:12:11,760 --> 01:12:14,563
Buckley, or Congressman
Keith Ellison -- that the

1511
01:12:14,563 --> 01:12:17,466
President would be happy
with any one of the three

1512
01:12:17,466 --> 01:12:18,767
as the next DNC Chair?

1513
01:12:18,767 --> 01:12:20,235
Mr. Earnest: I don't
anticipate that the

1514
01:12:20,235 --> 01:12:21,536
President is going to
weigh in particularly

1515
01:12:21,537 --> 01:12:23,739
aggressively in support
or against any

1516
01:12:23,739 --> 01:12:24,505
of the candidates.

1517
01:12:24,506 --> 01:12:25,908
The Press: Well, that
leads to my third

1518
01:12:25,908 --> 01:12:28,210
question, which is, if the
President has said that he

1519
01:12:28,210 --> 01:12:31,580
recognizes that the
Democratic Party needs a

1520
01:12:31,580 --> 01:12:33,282
lot of work to get back
on top and start winning,

1521
01:12:33,282 --> 01:12:35,718
particularly at the state
legislative level and

1522
01:12:35,718 --> 01:12:40,222
governors races because of
reinforcement -- so if the

1523
01:12:40,222 --> 01:12:42,724
President really intends,
and he says he's going to

1524
01:12:42,725 --> 01:12:45,360
focus on that in his
post-presidency, he's

1525
01:12:45,360 --> 01:12:48,230
going to focus on that,
wouldn't he have an

1526
01:12:48,230 --> 01:12:50,132
opinion about the person
that he's going to

1527
01:12:50,132 --> 01:12:51,733
be working with as
head of the DNC?

1528
01:12:51,734 --> 01:12:54,169
Or wouldn't we
expect him to?

1529
01:12:54,169 --> 01:12:55,404
Mr. Earnest: He may.

1530
01:12:55,404 --> 01:12:56,872
He just may not
choose to express it.

1531
01:12:56,872 --> 01:12:59,808
Cheryl, I'll give
you the last one.

1532
01:12:59,808 --> 01:13:02,778
The Press: Okay, thanks.

1533
01:13:02,778 --> 01:13:04,079
Just quick on the CR
that expires Friday --

1534
01:13:04,079 --> 01:13:04,713
Mr. Earnest: Yeah.

1535
01:13:04,713 --> 01:13:05,880
The Press: -- have you
heard from Capitol Hill?

1536
01:13:05,881 --> 01:13:08,150
Are they going
to have one --

1537
01:13:08,150 --> 01:13:09,518
Mr. Earnest: Still haven't
seen the bill, have we?

1538
01:13:09,518 --> 01:13:10,252
The Press: Haven't
seen the bill yet.

1539
01:13:10,252 --> 01:13:10,886
Okay.

1540
01:13:10,886 --> 01:13:11,453
Mr. Earnest:
No, we haven't.

1541
01:13:11,453 --> 01:13:12,654
Look, I know there
have been a number of

1542
01:13:12,654 --> 01:13:15,023
discussions, including
over the weekend, between

1543
01:13:15,023 --> 01:13:17,459
officials on Capitol Hill
and some officials at

1544
01:13:17,459 --> 01:13:19,528
the White House.

1545
01:13:19,528 --> 01:13:22,364
But this is a basic
governing responsibility.

1546
01:13:22,364 --> 01:13:25,400
Republicans have the
strong majority in both

1547
01:13:25,400 --> 01:13:26,768
the House and the Senate.

1548
01:13:26,769 --> 01:13:30,439
They've already put off
passing a budget once,

1549
01:13:30,439 --> 01:13:34,143
back when the first
deadline arose two

1550
01:13:34,143 --> 01:13:35,077
and a half months ago.

1551
01:13:35,077 --> 01:13:38,580
But, look, they've got
a deadline to meet on

1552
01:13:38,580 --> 01:13:40,749
December 9th, and
hopefully they'll meet it.

1553
01:13:40,749 --> 01:13:43,418
The Press: Do you see this
going into next week,

1554
01:13:43,418 --> 01:13:44,486
maybe just a two-
or three-day CR?

1555
01:13:44,486 --> 01:13:48,423
Mr. Earnest: I wouldn't
hazard a guess about what

1556
01:13:48,423 --> 01:13:49,424
the outcome looks
like at this point.

1557
01:13:49,424 --> 01:13:52,294
But like I said, the
original deadline was

1558
01:13:52,294 --> 01:13:54,096
September 30th.

1559
01:13:54,096 --> 01:13:54,996
We're now in the first
week in December.

1560
01:13:54,997 --> 01:14:00,135
So hopefully Congress will
get its act together, and

1561
01:14:00,135 --> 01:14:02,671
the Republicans who lead
both chambers of Congress

1562
01:14:02,671 --> 01:14:05,140
will fulfill the most
basic responsibility that

1563
01:14:05,140 --> 01:14:09,878
Congress has, which is to
pass a budget and

1564
01:14:09,878 --> 01:14:11,280
ensure the government
doesn't shut down.

1565
01:14:11,280 --> 01:14:12,815
Thanks, everybody.

1566
01:14:12,815 --> 01:14:13,848
Have a good
rest of the day.