Blake.
Q Sarah, thank you. Picking back up on trade, the EU has responded with retaliatory tariffs. Canada did so over the weekend as well. Mexico has done so as well. China has put their tariffs on as well - some of them - and some are expected to come 34 billion dollars' worth in the next few days. Is the United States winning this battle? And if so, how?
SANDERS: Again, the President is focused not on the short term but on the long term, and he wants to make sure that we're doing things that help protect American workers and protect American industry. And he is going to keep pushing to make sure that we have good trade deals. We have been in trade deficits with nearly every country across the globe for years, and the President wants to ensure that that doesn't continue.
Q But how long is the "long term"? Because if there's - for the folks who are actually impacted by this, and they just hear, "Well, we're in it for the long term" - is the long term weeks, months, years? How long is the long term?
SANDERS: Look, we're not setting a timetable, and there are a lot of different negotiations going on, and we've made progress on a number of fronts. And the President, again, is committed to making sure we have good deals.
He'd be happy to get rid of all tariffs and all barriers. So if there's countries out there that want to do that, I'm sure he'd be happy to sit down and make that happen right now and move this process forward a whole lot quicker.
Q And so he's (inaudible) with the $34 billion on Friday?
SANDERS: I don't have any changes right now.
Hallie.
Q Sarah, two clarifications, just quickly here on two different topics. Number one, would the President like to see Roe v. Wade overturned?
SANDERS: Once again, I'm not going to get into any specifics that we would be looking at.
Q Not about this conversation with these justices. I'm saying, does he himself - as just a matter of how he feels, his own policy - does he want to see Roe overturned?
SANDERS: Again, as this is ongoing, I'm not going to weigh into anything specific on that front at this point.
Q That is a presidential policy question. I'm not asking about the conversations. Does he have a position on it or is he not (inaudible)?
SANDERS: I understand. And I'm telling you, while we're in the middle of this process, I don't have an updated comment on that front.
Q So let me ask about North Korea. Does the President still trust Kim? Does he believe he's a credible negotiator?
SANDERS: Again, we see progress and momentum in the process, and we've had good conversations as recently as yesterday. And we're going to continue those conversations later this week, and push forward.
Jeff.
Q Sarah, the President said today that the WTO treats the United States very badly and, if that doesn't change, that he'll do something. Is he considering anything other than leaving the WTO? And does he have a timetable for that decision?
SANDERS: As Secretary Mnuchin and the President have said, that is not accurate that the U.S. is leaving the WTO. But he certainly voiced frustration, and he's been clear that he has concerns; that there are a number of aspects that he doesn't believe are fair. And China and other countries have used the WTO to their own advantage, and we're focused on fixing the system, and that would include that.
Q So what he said today - that if the WTO's treatment of the U.S. doesn't change that he'll do something - what was he referring to?
SANDERS: I don't have a specific announcement on what he'd do. Right now he'd like to see the system get fixed, and that's what he's focused on doing.
Kaitlan.
Q Does the President feel that Senator John McCain should resign so the governor can pick a new senator who will then vote on his Supreme Court nominee?
SANDERS: I haven't asked him about that specifically.
Q One more question. This is such a pivotal choice for the President. It's going to affect his legacy for decades to come. Why is the White House moving this so quickly? When he announces on Monday, that will be just a little over two weeks, I think, since Kennedy announced he's retiring.
SANDERS: The President put out his list nearly two years ago of what those individuals would look like, and has continued - he made updates to the list just last year. And these are all individuals that have been looked at and considered, and not just for the last week but for the last two years. And it's something that the President has been very thoughtful in and is going to make the right decision when that moment comes on Monday.
Ayesha.
Q Thank you. Just to follow up on the question that Jeff asked, so what exactly does the President want to see from the WTO? What actions does he expect them to take?
SANDERS: The President would like to see just an overall more fair trading system. And we're going to be continuing negotiations with individual countries as well as organizations, and we'll keep you posted on any details.
Francesca.
Q Thank you, Sarah. Two questions: one domestic and then one foreign. Back on Michael Cohen, can you at least tell us whether the President watched the interview this morning, and potentially how he feels about the idea that his former attorney said that he would put his wife, his son, his family, his country first, but not the President?
SANDERS: Once again, I'm not going to weigh into this issue, and I'd refer you to the President's outside counsel.
Q Okay, and then the other question. In response to Jordan, you made very clear that sanctions for Russia, as it pertains to Crimea, are not on the table going into this meeting with Vladimir Putin. But what can you tell us about election meddling? Are sanctions for the election meddling on the table in this discussion?
SANDERS: Again, I'm not going to get ahead of the President's meeting, but we'll keep you posted as it takes place.
John.
Q Yeah, thank you, Sarah. Two questions, please: one foreign and one domestic. A week ago -
SANDERS: Starting a new trend. (Laughter.)
Q A week ago, you told us that the President intended to call President Erdoğan of Turkey following his reelection, or his election as President. And we never got a readout on that call or whether or not he congratulated him. Would you elucidate on the call that he made to President Erdoğan?
SANDERS: You always have one of those zingers in there, John. (Laughter.)
Q Thank you.
SANDERS: I know that they spoke last week. I'll get back to you with details of the call.
Q Will you put out a readout?
SANDERS: Again, I'll check into it and get back to you with details of the call.
Q And the other question I had was regarding the President's position on Roe v. Wade. In the third debate with Secretary Clinton, the open question was about this very subject, and he did say the Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade and the issue of abortion would be returned to the states. Is that still his position now?
SANDERS: The President is pro-life. But in terms of the process of selecting a Supreme Court nominee, as the President said last week, he's not going to discuss specific cases with those nominees.
Q Just a quick question on China trade. You said that a lot of negotiations are taking place right now. Is there any reason to assume or to see that there have been progress with the Chinese before the deadline to implement tariffs this week?
SANDERS: We're continuing those negotiations. I don't have anything further at this point for you.
Saagar.
Q Thanks, Sarah. Now that Goodlatte I and Goodlatte II are both dead in the House, is the President open to any standalone bill which would stop family separation at the border permanently and reform the U.S. asylum process, which is led by GOP senators and some members in the House?
SANDERS: We'd have to see the specific legislation before we weighed in directly. But certainly would be open to legislation that fixed the broken system. If Democrats would actually show up to do their jobs and participate in solutions, we would be happy to discuss those, and, again, support things that help fix the broken system.
Q To follow up on that. What is current U.S. policy at the border? Is it zero tolerance or is it catch-and-release?
SANDERS: The President's executive order has bought some time for Congress, but the clock is ticking. And Congress needs to act to fix this process because we're running out of time on what we have the ability to do, particularly with the district court that weighed in just last week.
Eamon.
Q Thanks, Sarah. Going back to trade for just a second. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which generally works very well with Republican Presidents, launched a campaign today to oppose the President's tariff agenda. They're saying that the administration is threatening to undermine the economic progress it worked so hard to achieve. What does the President make of that criticism of his agenda?
SANDERS: Again, the President is focused on helping protect American workers and American industries, and create a fair playing field. That's what he wants to do, and that's what he's hoping to achieve, and we're confident that he will.
Right here. Go ahead.
Q Two-part question. But before that, if I can make a quick comment. Sarah, you are most welcome at any Indian restaurant across the U.S., including especially in this area.
SANDERS: Thank you.
Q My question is - two-part question. One, when the President is going to make history by visiting India? Because 1.2 billion Indians are waiting for him because he's very famous in India.
SANDERS: I'll keep you posted. I don't think we have a trip planned, but once we do, we'll certainly make the announcement.
We'll take one last question.
Q Second part, please. I'm sorry.
SANDERS: Oh, sorry. Go ahead.
Q As far as legal immigration is concerned, people who came here legally and people who are living here legally, they are waiting at least 15 years to get a green card. And if this trend continues, that almost 500,000 green cards are backlogged, then it will take about 70 years for them to get green card. So any (inaudible) as far as clearing this backlog for the legal immigrant who are going across the U.S. demonstrating and asking the U.S. President for help?
SANDERS: Certainly, the President has talked many times about fixing the overall system, both illegal and legal immigration. We want to certainly address illegal immigration and securing our borders and protecting American communities. However, at the same time, there is a process that people should follow. And we want to look for ways to fix that process as well and expedite that.
I'll come back here for the last question.
Q Thanks, Sarah. Just continuing on immigration. Vice President Pence was just in Central America telling leaders that they need to do more to control immigration. President Trump has threatened to cut foreign aid to Central American nations if they don't do more to address the outflow of immigrants. Can you tell me what specific steps the White House has taken to carry out this threat? Has there been any meetings with USAID, State Department, to outline what could be cut?
SANDERS: Frankly, we'd like to see that not happen because we'd like to see them step up and do more to stop illegal immigration into the United States. We would like their help and their participation in making that happen.
Thanks so much, guys. Have a great day.
