White House is pressed on border wall policy flip-flop
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00:00 who tragically lost the child she was carrying hours later in the hospital.
00:05 And in Philadelphia, where three police officers were shot while doing their jobs last night.
00:12 Americans should be able to go to their schools, places of worship, jobs,
00:18 and out in their community without the fear of gun violence.
00:23 Last week, the Department of Justice announced that they are awarding more than $4.4 billion
00:28 in grants to support state, local, and tribal community safety efforts
00:35 that reach every corner of the country.
00:38 This historic investment in community safety is a major stride
00:43 toward preventing violence in our communities.
00:46 Among some examples of where this critical funding will be going, number one,
00:51 first, community violence prevention efforts, including new investments in states,
00:56 including North Carolina, Colorado, and Ohio, efforts to support victims of gun violence
01:01 in all 50 states, investments in crime reduction strategies and support for law enforcement,
01:08 crucial resources to keep our kids safe in and out of school, and much more.
01:14 This is just the latest action from the Biden-Harris administration to keep communities safe.
01:20 And it builds on the historic action President Biden has taken to reduce gun violence
01:25 and gun crime, including signing into law Bipartisan Safer Communities Act,
01:30 announcing dozens of executive actions, and last month,
01:33 launching the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
01:38 Now, tomorrow, our administration will kick off the third Investing in America tour
01:44 with the President, the Vice President, the First Lady, Cabinet members,
01:48 and senior administration officials, making dozens of trips across the country
01:54 to highlight how Bidenomics is growing the economy from the bottom up and middle out
01:58 in communities across the country.
02:00 To mark National Manufacturing Day tomorrow, the First Lady will travel to Fishkill,
02:04 New York, to attend the launch of a new megatronics training lab funded
02:09 by the American Rescue Plan.
02:11 And the White House will launch our Advanced Manufacturing Sprint
02:14 to build a diverse skilled pipeline of workers,
02:17 including for union jobs in advanced manufacturing.
02:21 This tour comes as extreme Republicans in Congress continue to try to block
02:27 the President's Investing in America agenda
02:29 and repeal critical pieces of legislation
02:32 that are bringing investments and opportunity to their own districts.
02:36 We'll be sharing out some more additional information this afternoon,
02:41 so please stay tuned.
02:43 Sung Min.
02:45 -First topic, does the President support the ongoing strike
02:48 by Kaiser Health Care workers?
02:50 -And we've always said the President is always in support of union members,
02:55 you know, striking, number one, but also doing collective bargaining.
02:59 We know that works.
03:00 We've seen that work, whether it is the UPS strike or the West Coast ports.
03:08 And we know when the two sides or all sides come together,
03:13 and in a good-faith approach,
03:15 they can get to a place where union workers are getting their fair pay
03:19 and fair benefits, so certainly the President supports that.
03:22 -So, but is the strike for the President worth it
03:25 when there's already reports of babies
03:26 not being able to get check-up appointments
03:28 or non-emergency care being provided?
03:31 -Look, the President believes that all workers,
03:34 all workers, including healthcare workers
03:37 and those who make their work possible,
03:39 deserve a fair pay and benefits.
03:42 That's what he believes.
03:43 And, look, it's not new or unusual for care workers from any sector
03:47 to exercise their rights under the collective bargaining.
03:49 Again, when the two sides come together in good faith,
03:52 we believe that it works out.
03:54 There is a resolution.
03:56 There is a win-win scenario here.
03:58 And even the Treasury Department --
03:59 and I spoke to this earlier this week --
04:01 put out a report when we see that type of collective bargaining,
04:05 that it not only helps union workers,
04:07 but it also helps the economy and it helps non-union workers.
04:10 Look, we hope that they get to a place where they can all agree
04:16 so we can move forward so that mothers can,
04:19 indeed, make sure to take care of their kids, right?
04:21 That is, indeed, important.
04:23 But we've always been clear that he believes workers
04:26 have the right to ask for fair pay and fair benefits.
04:30 -A couple on Ukraine.
04:31 Does the White House have a reaction
04:32 to the attack in eastern Ukraine today,
04:34 where about 50 people were killed?
04:36 Ukrainian officials say it was a Russian rocket
04:38 that caused the accident or caused the incident,
04:41 and it's the deadliest attack in months.
04:43 -So, look, sadly, we are continuing to see
04:46 Russia launch strikes like the one today in eastern Ukraine,
04:50 which hit a grocery store, reportedly,
04:52 as far as we know, at this moment,
04:54 killed at least 49 people.
04:56 So we have to stop and think about this.
04:58 Let's stop and think about what we're seeing --
04:59 49 innocent people who were killed by a Russian airstrike
05:03 while they were shopping for food at a supermarket.
05:07 That's what they were doing.
05:08 And so, can you imagine just walking to the grocery store
05:12 with your kids, trying to figure out
05:14 what is it that you're going to make for dinner,
05:16 and you see an explosion happen, where bodies are everywhere?
05:22 And it's horrifying.
05:23 It is incredibly horrifying for the people of Ukraine,
05:26 for the folks who are -- like yourselves,
05:28 your colleagues who are reporting this on the ground.
05:31 And it is for these families and these kids.
05:35 So this is what is happening in Ukraine every day.
05:38 This is why we're doing everything that we can
05:40 to help Ukraine, to help the brave people of Ukraine,
05:43 to fight for their freedom, to fight for their democracy.
05:47 And so, this is, again, what the President
05:49 keeps talking about over and over again.
05:52 We have to continue to support the people of Ukraine
05:55 because this is the horrifying nature
05:57 that they live in every day.
05:59 -And one more on Ukraine, if I may,
06:00 because I know we've talked a lot about the "deal" --
06:02 in quotes -- with the White House and the Speaker.
06:06 When the Speaker was asked about this on Tuesday night
06:08 at his post-seekership press conference,
06:11 he said there was a concern in there,
06:15 "Does it have transferability on money?"
06:17 I believe, and my staff believe it did.
06:19 What I did say to the White House, if it does not --
06:21 if you think in some way it doesn't do it the way it should,
06:24 I will fix that.
06:26 I did say that. I did say I'd do it.
06:28 Is that the agreement that the White House had with the Speaker,
06:32 fixing some money transferability issues
06:34 as it relates to Ukraine?
06:35 -So, here's what I can say.
06:37 And just to what the President alluded to,
06:40 we have another package of aid of Ukraine --
06:43 for Ukraine soon as part of our normal cadence,
06:48 which includes weapons and equipment
06:49 for the fight that they're in.
06:50 And so we're going to continue to do that.
06:52 We're going to continue to make sure
06:53 that we meet the battlefield needs that Ukraine has,
06:57 using existing authorities, using those resources
07:00 provided by Congress, as we have said from the podium this week,
07:03 and certainly that's what the President was alluding to.
07:06 I'm not going to go beyond what the President said.
07:08 We ultimately, though, we believe
07:10 that Congress needs to act, right?
07:12 Even as we talk about these authorities,
07:15 these resource authorities,
07:17 funding authorities that we have, these PDAs.
07:20 And you've heard from my colleague at NSC
07:23 that we can go a bit longer, a bit longer,
07:26 but it's not the long-term solution.
07:27 So, the big piece of this right now
07:31 is that we need Congress to keep their promise,
07:34 to keep the promise that they made to Ukrainians
07:37 about continuing that bipartisan support.
07:39 We see it in both chambers
07:41 that there is a majority of support there.
07:43 And so that's what -- when we talk about the long-term,
07:46 how we move forward, that's what we want to continue to see.
07:49 Katz, go ahead.
07:50 >> The President just told me that a border wall
07:51 does not work.
07:53 If that's the case, why does his own Department
07:54 of Homeland Security Secretary say in a public notice,
07:57 "There is presently an acute and immediate need
08:00 to construct physical barriers"?
08:02 >> Here's what I can say.
08:02 I can speak to what the President
08:04 was very clear in saying,
08:06 and also what you all have been reporting about,
08:09 about this construction.
08:11 So, the facts are this. This is not new.
08:15 These funds were appropriated in fiscal year 2019
08:18 under Republican leadership, and DHS is required by law
08:21 to use the funds for appropriated purpose.
08:24 That's what we're seeing.
08:24 This was announced back in June by the DHS.
08:27 And so, look, we believe that there are better,
08:30 effective ways of moving forward
08:33 to secure our border and security --
08:35 our border security.
08:36 And we have continuously asked for Congress to act,
08:39 to provide our CBP, the law enforcement at the border,
08:44 to give them the resources they need to do their jobs.
08:48 And so, we're going to continue to call on Congress.
08:50 We believe -- and the President has been very clear,
08:52 even when you ask him, "Does a border wall work?"
08:55 He said, "No."
08:56 And he's been very consistent about that.
08:58 We believe that we need border technology
09:00 that is modernized and land ports of entry,
09:05 and that's what we want to see, and that's what I can speak to.
09:08 And this is something that we were required by law,
09:12 and we are complying.
09:13 This is an administration that does believe in the rule of law.
09:16 -But why now?
09:17 For instance, these funds have been available
09:19 since Biden took office.
09:20 Why at this time?
09:21 -And the President actually spoke to this,
09:23 and this is one of the things that he was saying,
09:25 that he's been asking Congress to reappropriate the funds.
09:29 He has been for the past couple of years, and Congress refused.
09:33 And we have to comply by law to get this done,
09:37 and that's what you're seeing happening right now.
09:39 -Would there be a way to continue to slow-lock this
09:41 and to delay it?
09:42 -We have to comply by law,
09:43 and that's what we're doing at this time.
09:45 We asked Congress to reappropriate the funds.
09:48 That's what we would prefer to see,
09:50 not waste the funding in the way that they're doing it right now,
09:53 that we are required to do.
09:55 But they refused, and so now we're moving forward.
09:58 -Go ahead. -Thanks, Corrine.
09:59 What specific law would the administration be breaking
10:02 if funds appropriated for the border wall are not used,
10:04 especially because the funds go unused all the time?
10:08 I mean, why not let it go unused this time?
10:11 -Well, look, I'm not gonna speak to the law.
10:13 I would have to refer you to Department of Justice.
10:15 I'm not a lawyer, but what I can tell you
10:16 is that this is a law that we are complying with.
10:21 We have asked Congress multiple times to reappropriate this.
10:25 This is not the way that we believe
10:27 is going to be effective here.
10:28 We believe in modernizing the system,
10:30 not actually building a wall.
10:32 The President said himself he does not think this is effective,
10:35 and so we're complying by law.
10:36 And we believe that in the rule of law here,
10:39 and we're moving forward in getting that,
10:41 in following the law.
10:42 -Is this the administration, in some ways,
10:44 recognizing that using these funds at this moment
10:48 will be useful in Texas?
10:49 -We are complying by the law that says that we need to do this,
10:53 and that's what DHS is asking for.
10:55 -And how is this consistent with what President Biden
10:58 pledged to do when he was elected,
11:01 which is that he will not use any funds to use the border law?
11:05 What will you tell -- -Well, let's make this really clear.
11:07 The facts are that this is not new, right?
11:10 This is something that came from the last administration,
11:12 under the Republican leadership, in fiscal year 2019,
11:15 and we are required to do this.
11:17 We are required -- DHS is required to comply by the law.
11:20 That's what we're doing here.
11:22 And, look, the President, he said this himself.
11:25 He basically asked Congress to reappropriate the funds.
11:29 They wouldn't do it, and so now we have to comply by the law.
11:33 Now, this was something that was announced six months ago.
11:36 DHS actually announced this six months ago,
11:39 and so this is not new.
11:40 This is actually not new.
11:42 -How would this situation in Texas?
11:44 -We believe that a border wall is not effective.
11:46 You heard that from the President
11:48 when your colleague, Selena, asked him directly.
11:50 He said, "We don't believe it's effective."
11:52 We have asked Congress to actually help us,
11:55 you know, use these funds in smarter, more effective ways.
11:59 That's what we've asked for.
12:01 They refuse, but we're going to continue to ask for Congress,
12:04 especially Republicans, who are holding this back, to act.
12:07 -If a border wall is ineffective,
12:09 why is the Homeland Security Secretary saying
12:12 that it's necessary to prevent unlawful entries
12:14 into the United States?
12:15 -I have not seen that full statement.
12:17 I know -- -It's in the notice that went out this morning.
12:19 -I hear you.
12:19 I'm just saying I've not seen his full statement on that.
12:23 What I can speak to is for the President.
12:25 The President's been very clear
12:27 that he doesn't believe it's effective.
12:29 He answered that question of your colleague.
12:31 That's what I can speak to.
12:32 That's what we're going to talk about.
12:33 And we've actually said there are smarter ways
12:36 and more effective ways in dealing with this,
12:38 and there are.
12:39 And so the President said himself,
12:42 he asked Congress to reappropriate these funds
12:44 for something that is more effective,
12:47 for ways to do this in a smarter way
12:49 as it relates to border security measures.
12:52 They refused.
12:53 This was announced back in June, and now we're moving forward.
12:56 -And he said in 2020, as a candidate,
12:58 so after this law was passed in 2019,
13:01 that there will not be another wall
13:02 constructed in my administration.
13:04 How can you say that he's not breaking that promise?
13:06 -Well, what I can say is that there's a law
13:09 that the DHS is complying with.
13:11 We believe in the rule of law,
13:12 and that's what we're moving forward with.
13:14 This was decided, as you just said, in 2019.
13:17 I believe there was a different President in 2019, right?
13:19 That was a Republican President who actually pushed this
13:22 forward -- Republican leadership pushed this forward.
13:25 And so now we're complying by the law.
13:26 And let's not forget, this was six months ago.
13:28 This was out there six months ago.
13:30 I know you guys are asking me about this now,
13:32 but this was actually not new, and this was done six months ago.
13:37 -Yeah, but to piggyback on that, Karine,
13:39 I mean, there were a series of waivers put forth last night
13:42 that expedite this process.
13:43 And can you help us understand, essentially,
13:46 is there a deadline in the law,
13:48 or why is it that this has to be used up right now?
13:50 Because you all have been not thus far using these funds.
13:54 So to piggyback on Nandita's question,
13:56 why not continue to slow on this if, philosophically,
13:59 you've learned to believe in it?
14:00 -Because the answer there is we've asked Congress
14:03 over and over again -- the President said this --
14:05 to reappropriate the funds.
14:07 They said, "No, we have to comply by the law.
14:09 That's what DHS is doing."
14:11 As you asked me about the environmental laws
14:13 that we had to deal with, you know,
14:17 we have to comply by the law, which requires --
14:20 because we have to comply by the law,
14:21 which requires the agencies to use these funds
14:24 so for their appropriated purpose.
14:26 Now, CBP will conduct environmental
14:28 and cultural resource surveys of this project,
14:31 and so certainly I would refer you to DHS and CBP
14:34 on the specifics of that and also the law itself.
14:37 What I can tell you is that we have to comply by the law,
14:41 and that's what we're doing,
14:42 and that's what DHS is doing.
14:43 Again, this was out --
14:45 this was announced back in June,
14:47 and this is how we're moving forward.
14:49 And you heard directly from the President.
14:50 His stance on the border wall has not changed.
14:53 He does not believe it is effective.
14:55 He's been very clear about that.
14:57 Again, your colleague asked him directly,
14:59 and his answer was no.
15:00 Go ahead, JJ. -Has the government
15:02 already contracted for this project?
15:04 -I don't have any news about contracts for this project
15:07 or how it's moving forward.
15:08 I would have to refer you to DHS on that.
15:10 -And on the Ukraine speech,
15:12 are you expecting it to be next week, early next week?
15:14 -So, I don't have anything new to share
15:17 on the Ukraine speech specifically.
15:20 But, look, the President was very clear.
15:22 He wants to give a major speech on this.
15:24 And so when we have more information,
15:26 certainly we will share it.
15:28 And you've heard me say this multiple times.
15:30 You heard the President say this.
15:31 There's strong bipartisan support from both chambers
15:34 for protecting our national security by backing Ukraine
15:39 as they continue to fight for their democracy,
15:42 for their sovereignty,
15:43 and resist a brutal invasion of Russian aggression,
15:46 obviously, which has committed war crimes and atrocities
15:50 and killed countless civilians
15:52 and kidnapped thousands of children.
15:53 We saw what's happening today in Ukraine at the grocery store,
15:57 where we know at least 49 people have died.
16:01 And that's horrific.
16:01 That is how they're living their life.
16:03 And also, I want to bring in the experts into this, too.
16:06 Across the spectrum, I have stressed,
16:08 if we abandon the people of Ukraine and Russia is successful,
16:12 it would send a terrible message and embolden dictators
16:15 and would be aggressors around the world
16:18 who may want to invade other countries,
16:21 so which could draw the United States
16:23 and create much more of a problem
16:25 and an issue around the world.
16:27 So, that's why we have to continue, we believe,
16:31 being behind the people of Ukraine.
16:34 When we have more to share on his speech,
16:36 we certainly will do that.
16:38 But, yes, the President is going to make a major speech
16:40 on Ukraine, and when we have those information,
16:42 we'll certainly share it.
16:43 Yeah, Peter.
16:43 -Karina, just want to follow up very quickly.
16:45 You said that it's not new, but to be clear,
16:46 that this was posted on the Federal Register
16:48 overnight on October 4th.
16:50 So, just to be clear about this, the President earlier today
16:54 said that -- he was asked, "Does the border wall work?"
16:57 He said, "No."
16:58 But in this statement that was posted within the last 24 hours,
17:02 the Department of Homeland Security Secretary
17:04 says, "There is presently an acute and immediate need
17:06 to construct physical barriers and roads
17:08 in the vicinity of the border of the United States
17:10 in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States."
17:14 So, who's right?
17:15 The statement from the DHS Secretary overnight
17:18 or the President's comments today saying they don't work?
17:20 -So, a couple of things.
17:20 Yes, it showed up on the Register today,
17:22 but the announcement -- this is not new.
17:24 This is from six months ago. -Well, it is new
17:25 because the waiving of the laws actually didn't happen.
17:28 -This is something that was out back --
17:30 that the DHS was put out back in --
17:34 it's six months ago.
17:35 So, they announced -- -Did they waive the laws
17:37 six months ago?
17:38 -Well, what I'm saying is DHS announced this back in June,
17:41 that the agency would do so.
17:43 They actually said that they would do that back in DHS.
17:44 -So, they moved forward with it today,
17:46 but the initial announcement was six months ago,
17:48 by waiving the laws.
17:48 So, that's what's new today. Understood?
17:50 -Yes. -So, the statement when he says
17:51 "presently" was filed. -Just want to make sure
17:52 we're clear on that.
17:53 -So, when he said, "There is presently" --
17:54 are you saying when he says, "There is presently,"
17:56 he was referring to six months ago
17:57 or referring to the date at which it was filed?
17:59 -What I can tell you is DHS announced this back in June,
18:02 that they were going to move forward with this.
18:04 That's what I can share with you.
18:05 That's what I know is to be true and is to be fact.
18:09 Look, I can speak for the President.
18:10 The President said he was asked directly.
18:12 He doesn't believe a border wall is effective.
18:14 -Does he have a disagreement with his Department
18:16 of Homeland Security Secretary?
18:17 -What I can tell you is what the President --
18:19 I want to tell you what the President said
18:21 and what your colleague asked him.
18:22 He said, "No, he doesn't believe
18:23 that the border wall is effective."
18:24 -I'm speaking in direct contradiction
18:25 to what his own Homeland Security Secretary says.
18:27 -No, I hear you. I hear you. I'm speaking for the President.
18:29 I'm saying that he has said that he does not believe
18:31 a border wall is effective.
18:33 That's what he was asked.
18:34 He has said that for some time now,
18:36 and it still remains to be the case.
18:38 He asked, right?
18:39 He asked Congress multiple times.
18:41 His team has asked Congress to reappropriate the funds.
18:43 They refused to do that. We're going to comply by law.
18:45 -But what you ask the President on our behalf,
18:47 then, in the absence of our ability to do that,
18:49 whether he disagrees with the statement
18:51 that there is presently an acute and immediate need
18:53 to construct fiscal barriers. -I'm happy to take that back.
18:55 I'm happy to take that back. Go ahead.
18:57 -Karen, again on the wall.
18:58 Mexico's President is saying that the plans to move forward,
19:02 quote, "are contrary to what President Biden
19:04 had been proposing."
19:05 Has the President addressed this with Mexico?
19:08 Have you guys -- has he talked to them?
19:09 -I mean, he just addressed it in the Oval --
19:11 -He's spoken to the Mexican leader.
19:13 -I hear you, but that just -- that just came out, right?
19:16 I'm assuming that he just made that statement.
19:19 Correct? -He could have talked to him
19:20 in advance.
19:21 -You guys just saw him.
19:22 He was meeting with his national security advisors,
19:25 right, with the new chairman.
19:27 So, first of all, you heard directly from the President.
19:30 He said that he does not think a border wall is effective.
19:33 So you heard directly from the President on that
19:35 as the President of Mexico is speaking to, right?
19:38 So you heard directly from the President.
19:40 I don't have a call to read out.
19:42 The President has been busy meeting
19:44 with his national security team.
19:46 I don't have a call to reach out.
19:48 As you know, members of his team here at the White House,
19:52 they went down to Mexico.
19:54 They did a delegation and went down there and had meetings.
19:57 I don't have a call to read out from the President.
19:59 Go ahead, Nancy. -Thanks, Green.
20:02 As someone who spends a fair amount of time
20:03 in the Oval Office with the President,
20:06 did you ever have a troubling encounter with Commander?
20:09 -No, not at all.
20:10 -So he never nipped you? -No.
20:12 -Were you ever wary of being around him
20:15 because of the biting incidents that you had heard about?
20:17 -Absolutely not, and I've seen Commander many times.
20:19 I was never worried, and I've never been bit by Commander.
20:22 -Have any of the members of your staff --
20:25 -What I can say, I don't have numbers of --
20:29 you know, exact numbers of any incidents with Commander.
20:34 I do want to lay out something that my colleague,
20:38 Elizabeth Alexander, over at the First Lady's office,
20:40 who's our communications director,
20:42 and just to be clear here,
20:44 and we want to make sure that folks understand,
20:47 just in case you guys didn't see her statement here,
20:50 and it goes as follows.
20:52 The President and the First Lady care deeply about the safety
20:54 of those who work at the White House
20:56 and those who protect them every day.
20:58 They remain grateful for the patience and support
21:00 of the U.S. Secret Service and all involved
21:04 as they continue to work through solution.
21:05 Commander is not presently at the White House --
21:08 on the White House campus,
21:10 and while next steps are evaluated.
21:12 That was a statement that came out
21:13 from the First Lady's office,
21:15 and so I will certainly leave it there.
21:18 But, no, as it relates to me, I was never weary of Commander.
21:22 I've seen him many, many times,
21:24 and so I can only speak for myself, though,
21:26 and I can't speak to anything else outside of that.
21:30 -I'm surprised. I've been bitten by a dog.
21:31 There was a dog that had bitten 11 or 12 other people.
21:35 I'd be a little nervous around that dog.
21:37 Why weren't you?
21:39 -I mean, I'm not sure why this has to do anything with me.
21:45 I was just not nervous at all.
21:47 So that is not a concern for me.
21:49 That is not something that I can't speak to anything else
21:52 outside of what you have heard from the First Lady's office,
21:56 and so I'll just leave it there.
21:58 All right.
22:00 -Do you want me to bring the dog into the briefing room?
22:03 That should be fun.
22:05 That should be fun.
22:06 Go ahead.
22:08 -Thanks, Kareen.
22:09 You'll take another question on the wall.
22:12 You said, quoting the President,
22:14 that he did not believe that a wall was effective,
22:18 and you, in your own words, said that it would be a waste.
22:21 I wonder if you could talk about why a wall is ineffective
22:25 for a number of different reasons,
22:26 whether it's stopping drugs, stopping illegal migration.
22:31 Obviously, the President has voted for the Secure Fence Act
22:35 in 2006,
22:37 specifically talking about how it would be effective
22:40 in stopping drugs.
22:41 -Well, we believe -- So, first of all,
22:43 he was asked, do you believe -- Let me get the exact.
22:46 Do you believe -- by your colleague, Selena, here.
22:48 Do you believe the border wall works?
22:49 He said no, right?
22:50 He answered that directly.
22:52 So, we believe there are more effective ways
22:54 of dealing with this, dealing with the border security.
22:57 And so, of course, we have repeatedly asked Congress
23:01 to make sure that CBP have the resources
23:03 they need to do their jobs.
23:05 And we think there are other ways to do that,
23:07 whether it's smarter, more effective
23:09 border security measures.
23:11 And so, you know, like border technology,
23:15 we believe that works when you modernize that.
23:17 And also, land ports of entry.
23:19 We believe that's what works to deal with border security.
23:24 And so, we've been very clear.
23:25 The President has been very clear about this.
23:27 He doesn't believe the border wall is effective.
23:31 And that has not changed.
23:33 That has not changed.
23:34 We are complying by the law.
23:36 DHS is complying by the law.
23:38 That's an appropriation that came from fiscal year 2019
23:42 under the last administration, Republican leadership.
23:45 And that's what you're seeing now.
23:47 -I just wanted to follow up with a question
23:50 about the letter that Governor Pritzker
23:52 sent earlier this week.
23:55 He asked for one person in the White House
23:57 who deals with the President to be a coordinator
24:00 for border issues, for irregular migration,
24:03 and how it's impacting some of these big cities.
24:05 What's the White House response to this idea
24:07 that he needs one person?
24:09 Because it sounds like he thinks that there's more coordination
24:11 that needs to be happening.
24:12 -So, here's the thing.
24:14 There are multiple folks here who deal with --
24:18 who have been in touch with governors
24:20 across the country on this issue.
24:22 You have the Intergovernmental Affairs Office,
24:24 which is led by Tom Perez.
24:27 And, you know, and so that is someone
24:30 who has kind of led these conversations
24:33 with these governors and talks to them pretty regularly
24:35 about the issues that they're having.
24:37 Any -- an array of issues, not just this.
24:41 And so -- and there are multiple other people
24:43 that have been in touch with governors across the country.
24:46 Look, let's not forget, we provided a billion dollars
24:50 to those counties, states, cities,
24:55 who are dealing with this issue, right?
24:57 And so we have been -- we've been very engaged,
25:03 whether it's the governor in Illinois
25:05 or the governor in New York, on how to move forward
25:09 to really deal with the issues that they're dealing with
25:11 on the ground in an effective way.
25:13 And so that's what we're going to continue to do.
25:20 You know, and, you know, it is an issue
25:23 that's incredibly important to this President,
25:26 and that's how we're going to continue to move forward,
25:28 have those engagements, have those conversations,
25:30 and figure out what ways the federal government
25:32 can help them on the ground.
25:34 Go ahead.
25:36 >> Thanks, Karine.
25:38 Two questions, one is about Commander --
25:42 are there more docs of the First Family
25:43 at the White House complex, or not?
25:46 He's wanting to find out if there's more.
25:47 >> I mean, it was just Commander that was here on campus.
25:50 As Isaac mentioned, he's not on the White House --
25:52 >> The question has to do with the --
25:54 the gap down in Central America.
25:56 There's a lot of talks between --
25:57 apparently the government of Panama
25:58 is making a complaint today against the government of Colombia
26:01 about not stopping all the migration
26:03 that is going either Panama or Colombia
26:07 to manage the migration flows in that region.
26:11 >> So, I don't have any new policy announcement
26:13 to make at this time, but as you know,
26:15 the President has had -- and his team, right,
26:18 whether it's DHS or State Department --
26:21 diplomatic conversations with folks in the region.
26:23 As you know, when it comes to migration,
26:25 it is a regional issue,
26:27 not just at the border in the South.
26:30 And so, we have consistently continued
26:32 to have those conversations, those diplomatic conversations.
26:35 As you know, he brought more than 20 countries to the U.S.
26:38 out west -- in the West Coast, as you all know,
26:41 to have those conversations on how we can work together.
26:44 There was a declaration that was put forward
26:46 on ways that we can move forward
26:48 in dealing with this migration issue that we see in the region.
26:52 I don't have anything new to read out --
26:53 new policies to read out today.
26:55 >> Okay.
26:56 >> Thanks, Karine. Just a couple on the border.
26:58 First, on the timing, I understand that you've said
27:00 this is in the works, that it's been out for six months.
27:03 But specifically on this notice coming out last night,
27:06 is it at all related to the funding request for Ukraine
27:09 that the administration has been pushing for,
27:12 given what some House Republicans are saying,
27:14 that they want border money right now,
27:15 that they want more focus on border security?
27:18 Is this some sort of -- we will put this out now
27:21 so we can make more of an effort to get the Ukraine funding?
27:25 >> Look, I wouldn't connect the two.
27:26 I think, again, the President has said multiple times,
27:31 when it comes -- as answering why now,
27:33 the President multiple times has asked Congress
27:35 to reappropriate these funds.
27:38 They wouldn't do it, and so we're moving forward.
27:41 This is nothing new.
27:43 This was announced by DHS about six months ago, back in June,
27:46 and that continues to stay the case.
27:48 Look, as it relates to the border
27:50 and what Republicans are asking for,
27:55 we believe one action should not --
27:58 one action should not be dependent on another action.
28:00 It should not be.
28:02 We've been very clear.
28:03 In August, the President told Congress
28:05 we needed up to 4,000 more troops
28:07 to support border operations; resources, equipment,
28:10 and overtime to support the operations of 24,000
28:13 more customs and border protection;
28:15 39,000 more detention beds;
28:17 new technology to prevent cartels from moving fentanyl.
28:20 And Republicans failed. They failed to act.
28:23 And, in fact, as I mentioned earlier this week,
28:26 there were -- two weeks ago,
28:27 they put forth a CR that proposed cutting the DHS
28:31 to 8 percent, which would remove law enforcement at the border,
28:35 which would make our border less secure.
28:38 And so, you know, those two things --
28:41 Ukraine funding and that should not be linked.
28:44 We have seen bipartisan support in both chambers
28:46 for Ukraine funding,
28:48 and that's what we believe should be --
28:50 we should be moving forward
28:52 and continuing that funding for Ukraine.
28:54 And we've been asking. We've been asking the GOP,
28:57 House Republicans in particular, hey, to take action, right?
29:00 To take action in helping us become partners with us
29:03 in dealing with what is happening
29:04 currently at the border.
29:05 >> The Press: And you've said many times that the President,
29:07 many times, has asked Congress to cancel or shift these funds
29:09 toward more effective uses at the border.
29:12 How has he specifically done that?
29:14 Has that been through formal budget or funding requests?
29:17 When did that happen?
29:19 >> Secretary Nielsen: So I don't have the exact timeline
29:20 of when those happened.
29:21 >> The Press: Can we get that?
29:23 >> Secretary Nielsen: I'm certainly going to ask
29:24 our Office of Leg Affairs.
29:25 Certainly, his team works on that.
29:28 And so I'll ask the Office of Leg Affairs.
29:29 >> And this appropriated funding from 2019,
29:32 does that have an expiration date?
29:33 >> Secretary Nielsen: I don't have an -- I don't have the --
29:36 the timeline or the date on if there's an expiration.
29:39 I would refer you to DHS on that particular question.
29:42 But again, we are complying by the law on this.
29:45 Okay, John.
29:46 >> The Press: Could there be future border projects
29:48 from the same amount --
29:49 allocation of funding that was appropriated in 2019?
29:52 I mean, is this the end of it?
29:56 >> Secretary Nielsen: Look, I don't know about
29:58 any additional funding from the fiscal 2019.
30:01 I can speak to this right now as it relates to the structure
30:05 that we are being compelled by law to have to deal with.
30:09 Anything specifically about border or what's next
30:12 or how they're moving, I would certainly refer you to DHS.
30:15 >> And real quick, back on Commander.
30:16 Where exactly is Commander the dog right now?
30:18 Is he in Wilmington?
30:20 >> Secretary Nielsen: I'm not going to go beyond saying
30:21 that he's no longer on campus.
30:22 >> Okay.
30:24 >> I'll go in the back. >> Thank you.
30:25 >> You've reiterated that the President's position
30:29 is consistent when it comes to the border wall.
30:32 His DHS Secretary previously said in 2021
30:36 he was against the border wall.
30:38 As many of my colleagues have pointed out,
30:40 he has recently said that there's, you know, an acute need.
30:43 It seems that his Secretary has changed his mind.
30:45 So, will the President -- or has the President inquired
30:52 what caused that evolution?
30:54 >> What caused the evolution of --
30:57 >> -- what it comes to?
30:58 >> Well, you just heard from the President.
30:59 I'm not going to get into --
31:00 >> Well, is he curious perhaps what may have caused all of it?
31:03 >> I'm just saying that you just heard from the President.
31:05 He was asked directly the question, and he said no.
31:07 I don't have anything else to add beyond that.
31:09 >> And then, is there any comment on reports
31:11 that a US F-16 shot down a Turkish drone
31:14 that was nearing American forces in Syria?
31:17 >> So, we did see those reports as I was walking out here.
31:20 I would have to certainly confer
31:22 with the National Security Council.
31:24 I just don't have anything to share on that.
31:26 But in the meantime, I would refer it
31:27 to the Department of Defense.
31:29 >> Thank you, Karine.
31:30 >> Go ahead.
31:31 >> Thanks.
31:32 >> Yes.
31:33 >> Thanks, Karine.
31:35 Two questions on two different subjects.
31:36 One, is the issue with the border wall funding
31:40 the same issue that caused former President Trump
31:44 to get impeached the first time
31:46 when he wouldn't spend money
31:48 that Congress told him to spend for Ukraine?
31:52 Is it the same -- if you were not to spend the money,
31:56 would you be facing the same sort of threat
31:58 that the former President faced?
32:00 >> You would have to do your research and look into that.
32:02 >> And then, the second question, unrelated topic.
32:05 Three-judge panel down in Alabama
32:08 has put out a new congressional map for Alabama
32:12 that appears to create a new Voting Rights Opportunity District.
32:17 Is the White House aware of that?
32:19 And do they have any comment on that?
32:20 >> So, the President believes the right to vote
32:23 and have that vote counted is sacred and fundamental.
32:25 It is the right from which all of our other rights spring.
32:29 A few months ago, the Supreme Court's ruling
32:32 confirmed the basic principle that voting practices
32:35 should not discriminate on account of race.
32:39 We're glad to see that process result in a federal court
32:42 selecting a map that allows all the people of Alabama
32:46 to have their voices heard.
32:48 Go ahead, Christina.
32:50 >> Karine, I understand you're saying that DHS
32:52 is complying with the law.
32:54 But to do so, the President is not keeping his promises
32:58 or his commitments to the immigrant community,
33:01 to environmentalists,
33:02 because he's waiving environmental laws
33:04 to build this wall.
33:06 Is there any concern that he's not keeping his promises?
33:09 >> The President is always working
33:13 to keep his campaign promises.
33:15 You've seen that in many other policies
33:17 and issues that he's worked on.
33:19 He's complying by the law.
33:20 He's following -- certainly, we believe
33:22 in following the rule of law.
33:24 And that's what he's doing here.
33:26 It is as simple as that.
33:27 >> Is he concerned about this border issue?
33:29 Because it does look like he's backtracking on a promise.
33:33 >> He's been very clear.
33:35 He even took the step to ask Congress
33:38 to reappropriate the funds.
33:39 That's how much he did not want these appropriated funding
33:45 to be used, right?
33:46 And so, they wouldn't do it. He took that step.
33:50 They wouldn't do it. Now DHS is complying by the law.
33:53 We're following the law here. It's as simple as that.
33:55 We are following the law. Go ahead.
33:57 >> You mentioned the Pfizer health care strike.
34:02 And the UAW strike is still going on.
34:05 At what point does that become a problem for the President
34:08 in terms of whether it's starting to have
34:10 a negative effect on the economy overall?
34:13 And will he speak out about that?
34:15 >> I mean, the President went to Michigan very recently,
34:19 just last week -- a week ago, actually --
34:22 to show his support and to stand in solidarity
34:26 with union workers.
34:28 And that is -- he did that because he believes
34:31 that unions have the collective bargaining rights
34:35 to ask for fair pay and fair benefits.
34:38 They should be able -- you hear the President
34:39 talk about this often --
34:41 the dignity, dignity of work,
34:43 having that dignity to be able to provide for their family.
34:46 And he believes, as it relates to UAW,
34:50 record profits should lead to a record contract.
34:55 That is something that the President
34:56 has been very consistent on.
34:58 And so -- and same for the Kaiser union workers.
35:03 They have the right to strike,
35:05 and they have the right to do collective bargaining,
35:08 which we have seen in multiple instances
35:10 in the past several months,
35:12 that when both sides come together in a good-faith effort,
35:15 that there's a win-win situation.
35:18 And so, the President is always going to be proud
35:21 of being the most pro-union President ever.
35:24 He has said that.
35:26 That's a label that has been given to him by unions.
35:29 And that's because he's done everything he can
35:32 to make sure that union workers are certainly respected
35:37 and have that dignity.
35:38 And he's going to continue to speak up for them.
35:39 That is something he will never back away from.
35:41 >> The Press: But at what point does that become a problem
35:43 if he creates a drag on the economy?
35:45 >> Ms. Jean-Pierre. I'm just not going to get into
35:45 hypotheticals here.
35:46 What I can tell you is that the President
35:49 is the most pro-union President for a reason,
35:51 because he believes -- he believes that union workers
35:55 have the right to ask for fair pay and fair benefits.
35:58 And it is something that they have the fundamentally right
36:02 to fight for and to ask for.
36:05 And so, again, he stood very proudly in doing a --
36:08 taking a historic action, going to an active picket line
36:11 to really speak on behalf of union workers.
36:14 >> Ms. Corrigan.
36:15 >> Thank you, Corrigan.
36:17 There is a Senate delegation going to China next week.
36:20 I wonder if the White House is going to give them
36:24 any advice or guidance,
36:25 and if the President will talk to them before
36:29 or after their trip.
36:31 >> So we've been in touch with Senator Schumer's --
36:34 Leader Schumer's office
36:36 about the upcoming Senate delegation,
36:37 as you just mentioned, that trip.
36:39 And we support, certainly, their engagement in the region.
36:44 So we would have to refer you specifically to Leader Schumer.
36:47 We certainly support their trip to the region.
36:50 >> Thanks a lot.
36:52 >> You're up here. You're throwing me off.
36:55 >> This is from the L.A. Times.
36:57 >> Oh, okay. All right. You miss the L.A. Times?
36:59 >> I do. I do. My hometown paper.
37:02 >> Okay. Don't tell time.
37:03 >> So, on President Biden's first day in office,
37:08 January 20th,
37:11 he posted a proclamation in the Federal Register
37:14 where he halted all funding
37:17 that was being redirected to build a border wall.
37:21 And he also ended the national emergency
37:23 on the southern border.
37:24 Also, in the first paragraph of that proclamation,
37:26 he asked for a careful review of all resources
37:29 that have been appropriated to the southern border wall.
37:32 What was the result of that careful review?
37:34 >> Don't have an update on the review,
37:36 but happy to actually talk to the team,
37:39 and we can work with you on getting the result of that review.
37:41 >> But, I mean, it's been two and a half years.
37:42 Was part of it --
37:43 >> I totally understand.
37:44 >> -- the decision in June to restart construction on that section?
37:46 >> No, I totally understand. You're asking me for a review.
37:49 I'm not going to make something up from here,
37:50 so I have to figure out from the team
37:52 what came out of that review.
37:53 So don't have an answer on that review
37:55 that you're asking about from the first day
37:57 of the President's administration.
37:59 But I will also add that first day,
38:01 the President put forth a comprehensive immigration reform,
38:06 right, to perform the system, to fix a broken system
38:08 that has been broken for decades.
38:10 You know, every President has had to deal
38:13 with the immigration system, a broken immigration system.
38:16 I don't want to say every President,
38:17 but the last few, for sure, in the last 20 years.
38:20 And so the President took that very seriously.
38:23 He put forth a piece of legislation.
38:25 It was his first piece of legislation, right?
38:27 That's how seriously he took it.
38:29 And then when Congress wouldn't act,
38:31 he took action.
38:32 He took action to make sure that we had CBP --
38:35 more additional CBP, 24,000 CBP folks on the ground,
38:39 by the border. That's something that he did,
38:41 make sure there was record funding.
38:43 And he recently, back in August,
38:45 as I just listed out moments ago,
38:46 asked for more from Congress, and Republicans refused to act.
38:50 Look, that is how seriously this President has taken it.
38:53 Of course, there's always more work to be done.
38:57 Since May, we have returned --
38:59 we have returned or sent away or sent back
39:05 more than 300,000 migrants who came here undocumented.
39:10 And so that shows that our commitment to the border,
39:13 and that shows a commitment in making sure
39:16 that we try to work in a system that is broken.
39:20 >> Ms. Psaki.
39:21 >> Can we have a follow-up?
39:22 >> Go ahead. In the back.
39:25 >> Thanks, Karine.
39:26 The Supreme Court is beginning a new term,
39:29 and this court has been known in the last couple years
39:31 to upend precedent on issues
39:33 that this White House very much cares about.
39:35 Can you talk about how you all are viewing
39:37 this Supreme Court term
39:39 and what you're specifically doing to prepare,
39:41 given there's so many cases with issues
39:44 that I know you all are watching?
39:45 >> So, we're always going to watch
39:48 what the Supreme Court does.
39:49 We don't ever know until it actually --
39:51 they actually make their decisions.
39:53 But certainly, we're going to keep a close eye
39:56 on what they're going to take up
39:57 and how that's going to affect the American people.
40:00 But I just don't have any specifics
40:03 on what we're specifically taking a look at.
40:06 But, of course, we're always curious
40:09 and always going to be certainly focused
40:11 on what the Supreme Court take up.
40:12 >> And Acting Secretary Sue and Gene Sperling
40:16 were assigned to work on the UAW strike.
40:19 Are they still in Washington,
40:20 or have they gone to Michigan at this point?
40:22 >> So, I don't have anything new about any engagement
40:27 from the Secretary or Gene Sperling
40:31 as it relates to UAW.
40:32 Certainly, if we have anything to share, we will do that.
40:35 Okay. Way in the back. Way in the back.
40:39 Go ahead.
40:41 >> Two questions on the border wall.
40:43 First, just to clarify, the White House says
40:46 that it's doing this only because it has to,
40:49 no other reason, like a surge in border crossings
40:52 or pressure from other Democratic leaders?
40:54 >> DHS was required to use this funds
40:57 for their appropriate purposes to comply with the law.
41:01 That's what they were required to do.
41:04 And we're going to continue to call on Congress
41:05 to take action to work with us
41:06 on dealing with border security
41:09 to make sure that we find smart ways
41:11 and more effective ways to deal with the border.
41:14 And that's what we're doing.
41:15 And that's what we're going to continue to work on.
41:19 We've done that as recently as this past August.
41:22 We've asked for $4 billion in supplemental funding
41:24 to deal with the border. And we need Congress here.
41:29 We need Congress to work with us on dealing with the issue
41:32 that's happening at the border.
41:33 >> Why is the administration waiving laws
41:36 to expedite construction if the border wall is ineffective?
41:40 >> I answered that question a couple times already.
41:43 I'll answer it one more time for you.
41:45 This is something that the DHS had to take a step forward
41:49 in complying with the law. That's it.
41:50 >> Thank you. Thank you, Karine.
41:55 Thank you, Karine. As a candidate,
41:57 President Biden said there will not be another foot
42:01 of wall constructed except what was appropriated in 2019.
42:07 He said there will not be another foot of wall
42:09 constructed in my administration.
42:11 So something changed. What?
42:13 >> You want us to break the law. Is that what you want?
42:16 You want us to not comply with the law?
42:18 >> I'm not -- I'm asking about --
42:20 >> You want us to not comply with the law.
42:22 You want us to not be an administration
42:24 that followed the world law.
42:25 >> You guys do this all the time.
42:26 The student loan forgiveness program,
42:30 you went to court to fight for that.
42:32 If this is such a problem, building 20 miles of wall,
42:34 why not just go to court?
42:36 >> We went to Congress.
42:37 The Congress appropriates the funding.
42:39 >> Why not fight some more?
42:40 >> Congress appropriates the funding.
42:42 We asked them to not use that funding
42:45 for that particular purpose. They denied it.
42:48 And now we're complying with the law.
42:50 >> If you have to build a border wall,
42:52 but you don't think that it's going to work,
42:54 then once it's done, are you just going to tear it down?
42:57 >> I'm not getting into hypotheticals from here.
42:58 I'm just telling you what I can tell you from here.
43:01 The facts are that DHS is complying with the law.
43:04 This is from fiscal year --
43:05 this was under fiscal year 2019, under Republican leadership.
43:09 And DHS is required to do this.
43:11 The President asked multiple times of Congress
43:14 to reappropriate.
43:15 They did not, and we're not complying by the law.
43:17 Thanks, everybody.
43:18 >> I'm going to put up my question about Afghanistan.
43:22 I think I need a nice big talk about Afghanistan.
43:24 >> Thank you.
43:26 [ Silence ]
43:42 [BLANK_AUDIO]