White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds briefing

Key Concepts

• Government Shutdown: A situation where Congress fails to pass appropriations bills, leading to a lapse in funding for government operations.
• Continuing Resolution (CR): A temporary funding measure that allows the government to continue operating when a new budget has not been enacted.
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A federal program that provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families.
• H-1B Visa: A non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations.
• Clemency: The power of a president to grant pardons or reduce sentences for federal crimes.
• NCPC (National Capital Planning Commission): A federal agency responsible for planning and land use in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
• Tariffs: Taxes imposed on imported goods.
• ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement): A federal agency responsible for enforcing U.S. immigration and customs laws.
• Regime Change: The removal or overthrow of a government.

Summary

This transcript appears to be from a White House press briefing, covering a range of topics including the President's upcoming international travel, the ongoing government shutdown, immigration policies, infrastructure projects, and foreign relations.

President's Upcoming Trip to Asia

The briefing begins with scheduling announcements for President Trump's trip to Asia. The President will depart on a Tuesday night for Malaysia, arriving Sunday morning local time. His itinerary includes a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia and attendance at the ASEAN leaders' working dinner. On Monday morning local time, he will travel to Tokyo for a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan on Tuesday morning. On Wednesday morning, the President will visit Busousan for a bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Korea, deliver keynote remarks at the APEC CEO luncheon, and attend a US-APEC leaders' working dinner. On Thursday morning, he will have a bilateral meeting with President Xi of the People's Republic of China before returning to Washington D.C. Upon arrival on Thursday night, the President and First Lady Melania Trump will host Halloween at the White House, welcoming law enforcement, military, and foster families.

Government Shutdown and its Impacts

The briefing then shifts to the ongoing government shutdown, now on its 23rd day. Senate Democrats are accused of voting 12 times to keep the government closed, resulting in negative consequences for American citizens. Specifically, over 500,000 civilian federal employees are expected to miss a full paycheck. Thousands of small business loans are being unapproved monthly, withholding nearly $4 billion in capital. The shutdown is also severely impacting airports, with the FAA issuing ground stops at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport due to a lack of air traffic controllers working without pay. Some controllers are reportedly resorting to second jobs like driving for Uber. Pilots' associations, including the Southwest Airlines Pilot Association and the Airline Pilots Association International, are calling for an end to the shutdown, warning of compromised system safety and potential disruptions during the busy Thanksgiving travel period. The White House urges Democrats to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government and avoid these "avoidable consequences."

Furthermore, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is beginning to lapse, with potential insufficient funds for over 40 million Americans by November 1st if the shutdown continues. The administration attributes this to Democrats' alleged desire to provide taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits to illegal immigrants, including criminals. Examples are provided of illegal immigrants from Laos, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico who were arrested for serious crimes and allegedly received Medicaid benefits under the Biden administration. The administration claims that a "one big beautiful bill" was implemented to end this "fraudulent scheme," but Democrats are allegedly trying to reverse it. Quotes from Senator Chuck Schumer, Representative Katherine Clark, and Senator Bernie Sanders are cited to support the argument that Democrats are using the shutdown as political leverage and are unconcerned about the suffering of Americans.

Healthcare Costs and H-1B Visas

In a Q&A session, a reporter inquires about the President's plans for preventing rising healthcare costs, given the stance on not negotiating ACA extensions until the government reopens. The response indicates that the President is committed to lowering healthcare costs, citing efforts to negotiate with "big pharma" for lower prescription drug prices through "most favored nations deals." The irony of Democrats holding the government hostage over a healthcare system they created (Obamacare) is highlighted.

Regarding H-1B visas and foreign students, the administration reiterates its commitment to putting American workers first and strengthening the visa system. The H-1B system is described as having been "spammed with fraud," driving down American wages. New policies have been implemented to refine the system, and the administration will fight lawsuits challenging these actions.

Pardon of Changping Xiao and Ballroom Project

The briefing addresses the pardon of Changping Xiao, with allegations of corruption due to financial interests with a cryptocurrency company linked to the President's family. The White House asserts that the President is exercising his constitutional authority to grant clemency and that pardon requests undergo a thorough examination. The case is described as an "overly prosecuted case" by the Biden administration, which was allegedly hostile to the cryptocurrency industry.

Significant time is dedicated to the construction of a new ballroom at the White House. The cost estimate has risen to $300 million, and the White House commits to releasing the full list of donors and the President's personal financial contribution. The project is being privately funded and is not costing taxpayers. The legal basis for demolishing the East Wing structure without NCPC oversight is explained by referencing a long-standing legal opinion held by the NCPC, which only requires submission for vertical construction. Historical examples of past White House construction projects are presented to illustrate that presidents have historically made significant modifications to the White House complex. The East Wing is expected to be modernized and more beautiful, with a ballroom capable of hosting large events.

Immigration and Law Enforcement

The briefing touches upon an incident where a semi-truck driver suspected of killing three people in a DUI crash is reported to be an illegal immigrant who entered under the Biden administration. California is confirmed to have issued him a commercial driver's license, and the Department of Transportation is reportedly cracking down on wrongfully issued licenses. ICE has lodged an immigration detainer for the individual. This incident is presented as part of a "disturbing pattern" of criminal illegal aliens being issued commercial vehicle licenses.

The administration's stance on immigration enforcement is further emphasized with concerns about Democrats creating an "ICE tracker" to monitor ICE activity, which is described as "obstruction of justice" and actively putting ICE agents' lives at risk. The administration urges Democrats to support law enforcement and focus on enforcing federal immigration laws.

Foreign Relations and Trade

The situation with Venezuela is discussed, with the administration stating it will not tolerate international narco-terrorist organizations trafficking drugs into the United States. The end goal regarding Venezuela is not explicitly stated as regime change, but rather to prevent drug trafficking.

The relationship with Colombia is described as being at a low point, with the President not interested in deescalation from the "unhinged leader of Colombia."

Regarding Russian sanctions, the administration states that sanctions have been imposed on Russian oil companies, and international news suggests a scaling back of oil purchases from Russia by China and India at the President's request. European countries are also being urged to stop their purchases of Russian oil. The President's frustration with the lack of progress towards peace from the Russian side is cited as a reason for the sanctions and the cancellation of a potential meeting with President Putin. The goal is to ensure any future meeting has a "tangible positive outcome."

Agriculture and Trade

Concerns from cattle ranchers regarding plans to import beef from Argentina are addressed. The administration states that the President hears these concerns and is committed to supporting both ranchers and American consumers. The immediate solution involves increasing supply through imports to lower beef prices. A long-term plan by the Secretary of Agriculture is outlined, focusing on strengthening U.S. cattle production, lowering long-term costs, and growing the domestic herd.

Other Topics

• Rhetoric: A Democrat's violent rhetoric is condemned as "jarring" and "unacceptable," with a hope that voters will reject their candidacy.
• San Francisco: The President's offer to surge federal law enforcement into San Francisco has been paused after the mayor expressed a commitment to fixing the city himself. The federal government will monitor the situation and may step in if the mayor fails to address the issues.
• Protests: Explicit calls for violence against public officials are condemned, and the White House hopes for arrests and prosecution of those making such threats.
• Legislative Filibuster: The President has not extensively discussed supporting the Senate ending the legislative filibuster to end the shutdown.
• NASA Administrator Nominee: The President will make a decision on nominating a NASA administrator in due time.
• SNAP Benefits: The administration supports legislation to ensure SNAP benefits are paid during the shutdown and hopes it will pass, but reiterates that a clean continuing resolution is the solution.
• NBA Gambling: The President is not known to be a gambler.
• Walter Reed Visit: The President's visit to Walter Reed involved advanced imaging, and his physicians have stated he is in "incredibly good shape."
• Homeland Security Task Force: The President is hosting an event with a newly created Homeland Security Task Force focused on federal and local law enforcement collaboration, highlighting successes in drug trafficking and cartel arrests.

Conclusion

The briefing highlights the administration's focus on the President's international agenda, the ongoing political battle over the government shutdown with significant consequences for federal employees, small businesses, and air travel, and the administration's firm stance on immigration enforcement. It also details ongoing infrastructure projects like the White House ballroom, foreign policy initiatives, and efforts to support American industries like cattle ranching. The overarching theme is the administration's commitment to its agenda and its framing of current challenges as being caused by partisan obstruction from Democrats.