Karoline Leavitt (00:11):
[inaudible 00:00:12] Happy Monday. It stopped raining, so I'll take a few questions.
Press (00:16):
Will the president delay that if the borderline is still going on? And on that has the president spoken to China about?
Karoline Leavitt (00:27):
Yes. So the president looks forward to meeting with President Xi in China. This is a trip I know he's long been looking forward to, and I know President Xi has been looking forward to welcoming President Trump. As for the dates, as you heard from the president last night, there's a possibility the trip could be delayed. We'll keep you posted on that, but these are leader to leader conversations that are happening. So as soon as we have an update, we'll provide the new dates.
Press (00:50):
Caroline, President Trump says that other countries should now step up to safeguard ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Why should other countries that weren't consulted about this war that, aren't involved in this war now put their troops in harm's way in the Strait of Hormuz?
Karoline Leavitt (01:05):
Because these other countries are benefiting greatly from the United States military taking out the threat of Iran. Rogue Iranian regime has long not just posed a threat to the United States of America, but of course to our Gulf and Arab partners in the region, as you see. I believe Iran has struck more than 300 civilian targets in the Gulf region. If you think about Europe, their ballistic missile capability that the United States military is currently wiping out was a direct and imminent threat to our European allies as well as our bases in the region, which is why President Trump took this action in the first place.
(01:41)
So these countries are absolutely benefiting from ensuring that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon. This is something not just the United States, but the entire Western world has agreed with for many, many years. So I think the president is absolutely right to call on these countries to do more, to help the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz so that we can stop this terrorist regime from restricting the free flow of energy. And the fact that they are doing so just underscores why President Trump needed to take this action in the first place.
Press (02:14):
The president just told the UK a few days ago that he doesn't need their ships. And now he says he does?
Karoline Leavitt (02:15):
The president spoke on that last night. He said that he wished the UK had stepped up sooner and quicker, but he continues to speak with our allies in Europe and is calling on them to do more. Just as he did when he called on them to step up with respect to their defense spending in NATO, he's calling them to do more here. And I think you'll see that come to fruition.
Press (02:32):
Karoline, why does the president feel like he needs 2,500 or so Marines in the Middle East right now?
Karoline Leavitt (02:38):
I would defer you to the Pentagon on that troop movement, and it's not something I'm going to get ahead of the commander in chief on.
Press (02:43):
[inaudible 00:02:43] the chief.
Karoline Leavitt (02:44):
Yeah. And look, I'm not going to get ahead of him on any options that may be on the table for the president.
Press (02:52):
And Karoline-
(02:52)
[inaudible 00:02:53] So Italy and Germany [inaudible 00:02:55]. What is the plan B for President Trump?
Karoline Leavitt (03:03):
Right now, the president is being very clear to NATO and to our allies in Europe of what he wants them to do. And again, I think you're going to see that come to fruition. I would just add on one scheduling note later this afternoon, you'll see the president yourselves. He just told me he wants to bring you all in for the Kennedy Center board meeting lunch so you can get ready for that if you're part of the pool today.
(03:22)
And then of course at 3:30 this afternoon, he will be signing an executive order alongside the vice president to formally launch the anti-fraud task force, which will investigate fraud across the country. The vice president will be leading that, so you'll see them in the Oval Office later today. So I'll leave it to the president to answer the rest of your questions.
Press (03:41):
[inaudible 00:03:42].
Karoline Leavitt (03:41):
Yeah.
Press (03:42):
Where does that stand right now? And has the president set a deadline that he wants to see China take any potential action?
Karoline Leavitt (03:48):
No, I just answered the question. It's a leader to leader conversation at this point. President looks forward to visiting China. The dates may be moved. As commander-in-chief, it's his number one priority right now to ensure the continued success of this operation, Epic Fury. So we'll keep you posted on the dates as soon as we can. Thanks, guys.