Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sarah Sanders | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    James S. Brady Press Briefing Room  •  August 1, 2018  • 1:32 P. M. EDT

    MS. SANDERS: Good afternoon. Later today, at 1:35 p.m. Hawaii Time, Vice President Mike Pence, at the request of President Trump, will participate in an Honorable Carry Ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor.

    The leader of North Korea has followed through on his commitment to return the first set of remains of Americans to our homeland. These brave souls deserve nothing but our honor and respect.

    The families of these soldiers have been waiting for more than 60 years for their loved ones to come home.

    We hope that as remains are identified, families like those of Commander John C. Micheel can find peace.

    John was assigned to Navy Squadron 125 and was killed while leading a dive-bombing mission into North Korea.

    John's nephew, Doug, who lives in Minnesota, recently wrote the President a letter explaining how his uncle was a special person who grew up in the Great Depression and wanted to serve his country.

    Another letter from Mary, in Pennsylvania, tells the President of her uncle, Corporal Andrew Boyer, who has been missing in action in Korea since September of 1951. Mary has a picture of her uncle hanging in her living room as a reminder of his commitment and service to our country.

    Both of these men and their families represent thousands of proud, patriotic American families. The President is committed to them and will work to bring them the closure they deserve.

    On another matter, we have seen all of the alarming images of the wildfires causing severe damage out west. The White House and FEMA have been actively monitoring the wildfires to ensure that federal assistance is provided as quickly as possible.

    On Saturday, the President declared that an emergency exists for the California wildfires. As a result, FEMA has placed resources from eight different federal departments and agencies to support the efforts of local firefighters and relief organizations.

    The President will continue to monitor this ongoing emergency and make sure the people of California receive the assistance they need to keep them safe and recover. Our prayers are with the firefighters who recently lost their lives battling these fires and their grieving families.

    Lastly, the President has been closely following the ongoing situation in Turkey involving Pastor Andrew Brunson.

    We've seen no evidence that Pastor Brunson has done anything wrong, and we believe he is a victim of unfair and unjust detention by the government of Turkey.

    At the President's direction, the Department of Treasury is sanctioning Turkey's Minister of Justice and Minister of Interior, both of whom played leading roles in the arrest and detention of Pastor Brunson.

    As a result, any property, or interest in property, of both ministers within U.S. jurisdiction is blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. For anything further, I would refer you to Treasury Department on that front.

    And with that, I will take your questions. Zeke.

    Q Thank you, Sarah. First, just a quick note on behalf the press corps. Last month, there were only three briefings with you, totaling under an hour. If at some point, over the next month or two - obviously there's travel concerns - but we'd appreciate if you were - if we'd have some more time. There are lot of issues we'd like to cover.

    One of those, first off, is the President's tweet this morning about the Russian probe. His direction to the Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking him to end the Mueller probe right now.

    The President said a few weeks ago that he did - or a few months ago, sorry, that he was not going to intervene with the Department of Justice's handling of that investigation. Does that tweet this morning mark a change in posture by the President?

    MS. SANDERS: It's not an order. It's the President's opinion. And it's ridiculous that - all of the corruption and dishonesty that's gone on with the launching of the witch hunt. The President wants to - has watched this process play out, but he also wants to see it come to an end, as he stated many times. And we look forward to that happening.

    Q And on a different topic, Sarah. You mentioned that the transfer of these remains marked a North Korea - the North Korean leader fulfilling his commitment to the President, as agreed in Singapore. There was a report yesterday that North Korea is still assembling ICBMs and - as well as, the Pentagon says it's not yet possible to verify that the remains that have been transferred back are, in fact, human or American.

    How does that meet, sort of, the test of North Korea fulfilling its commitment that it agreed to in Singapore?

    MS. SANDERS: I'm not going to comment on the first part of your question on any potential intelligence matter. In terms of the remains, we have the best of the best that have been working over the last several weeks on this process. We'll keep you updated on it. But we feel comfortable in the assessment that they've made up until this point.

    John.

    Q Sarah, on the next proposed tranche of tariffs against China, the figure initially for tariffs was 10 percent. But it's our understanding that the President now wants to take that up to 25 percent. What's the reason behind increasing it from 10 to 25? And in a tit-for-tat - if you want to call it trade war or something else - who has more bullets? China or the United States?

    MS. SANDERS: The President firmly believes that the United States certainly does. We'll have an update later today. And there will be a call at 3:30 this afternoon to walk through the details of that update in regards to the question you asked about 10 to 25.

    Look, the bottom line is the President is going to continue to hold China responsible for their unfair trade practices. This has gone on for long enough, and he's going to do something about it.

    Q Does the President believe that -

    MS. SANDERS: Back here. Sorry. Go ahead, John.

    Q I was just going to say, the President has made some headway with the EU in terms of lowering trade barriers, taking steps toward leveling the playing field. Does the President and his team believe that that is possible with China, without taking some real punitive measures?

    MS. SANDERS: Certainly we'd like to see the playing field level. The President, as both he and, I think, about 15 members of his administration have said repeatedly, we'd like to see the unfair trade practices stop. But until that happens, the President is going to hold their feet to the fire. He's going to continue to put pressure on China. And he's not going to sit back and allow American industries and American workers to be taken advantage of.

    Dave.

    Q Sarah, churches around the country, synagogues, some evangelical leaders have been up in arms in the last few weeks about last year's tax cut law. They say there's a provision in there that's going to force them to pay a new 21 percent of federal income tax on the benefits that they give to certain employees. Can you assure churches, from the podium there, that they're not going to have to pay a new tax?

    MS. SANDERS: I'm not going to make a blanket generalization about every church in America. But certainly the goal of the tax cuts and reforms package was to provide the greatest amount of relief to the greatest number of Americans, and we feel that it's done that. And we feel that the other policies that the President has put forward when it comes to the economy have certainly moved the ball forward, made our economy infinitely stronger than it has been in decades. And I think you can see that by all of the numbers that have come out over the last year and a half.

    Q These are traditionally tax-exempt groups. What is the President prepared to do to make sure they keep their tax-exempt status?

    MS. SANDERS: Certainly something that we're looking into. But I don't have anything specific for you on that front.

    Hunter.

    Q Thank you, Sarah. Federal law says that, quote, "Any threatening letter or communication aimed at impeding a criminal investigation constitutes obstruction of justice." Rudy Giuliani issued a statement saying he doesn't think this morning's tweet is obstruction because the President said Sessions "should" stop the Mueller probe, rather than ordering him to halt it. You just echoed that reasoning before.

    What I want to know is, is Rudy Giuliani the one giving the President legal advice on his tweets? And does that statement reflect the opinion of the President's legal team?

    MS. SANDERS: Look, the President is not obstructing; he's fighting back. The President is stating his opinion. He's stating it clearly. And he's certainly expressing the frustration that he has with the level of corruption that we've seen from people like Jim Comey, Peter Strzok, Andrew McCabe. There's a reason that the President is angry. And, frankly, most of America is angry, as well. And there's no reason he shouldn't be able to voice that opinion.

    Margaret.

    Q (Inaudible.) Isn't he putting -

    MS. SANDERS: Sorry, we're going to keep going. Margaret, go ahead.

    Q Sorry, will you just - okay. Tesla plans to spend $5 billion to build a plant in China. They're saying it's not going to affect Tesla operations in the U.S. But I'm wondering whether the administration has any concerns about Tesla's plans.

    MS. SANDERS: Certainly we'd love to see all American companies investing here. I don't have anything specific on Tesla, but we would encourage all companies to build their plants in America, put their investments here, and certainly not engage and help bolster a country like China that has continued to be part of a very unfair process and very unfair trading practices.

    Jon.

    Q Thanks a lot, Sarah. There was reaction to the President's tweets today from some of his allies on Capitol Hill. Republican Senator Hatch said, "I don't fully get what he's trying to do." And another Republican senator, Senator Thune, said the Mueller investigation needs to move forward. He said they ought to let them complete their work. Do you agree with that sentiment expressed by Senator Thune that this investigation by Mr. Mueller ought to be completed and not be sort of cut off at its (inaudible)?

    MS. SANDERS: We certainly think it should be completed. We'd like it to be completed sooner rather than later. It's gone on for an extensive amount of time. They've still come up with nothing in regards to the President. We'd like to see it come to a close. We've said that a number of times.

    So, sure, we actually agree on that front.

    Cecilia.

    Q If I may -

    MS. SANDERS: Sorry, just because we're tight on time because the President is going to be speaking.

    Q The Attorney General said -

    MS. SANDERS: Cecilia, go ahead.

    Q - recused himself from the Mueller investigation.

    MS. SANDERS: Sorry, Jon, just because we're tight on time, I'll try to get to as many people as possible.

    Cecilia, go ahead.

    Q Does the President still believe that millions of people are voting illegally in this country? Is that the basis for this push for requiring voter IDs?

    MS. SANDERS: Even if there are 10 people that are voting illegally, it shouldn't happen. The President wants to see the integrity of our election systems upheld, and that's the purpose of his comments. He wants to make sure that anybody that's voting is somebody that should be voting. And I think that's something that, frankly, should be celebrated, not discriminated.

    Major.

    Q When was the last time the President went to a grocery store?

    MS. SANDERS: I'm not sure. I'm not sure why that matters, either.

    Major, go ahead.