U.K. Reporter Asks Leavitt About Whether Trump Admin Might Raise Free Speech Concerns In Trade Talks

At a press briefing, Karoline Leavitt was asked about free speech concerns in the U.K.

Transcript

00:00...to continue construction of that border wall as well.

00:03Sure, go ahead.

00:05Madam Levitt, congratulations on this endeavor to bring in new media,

00:09and can I start by thanking you for including the British.

00:12And I'm deeply proud to be the only British representative here.

00:17I hope in future events you might include more.

00:20I've got two questions if I may be so bold regarding my little country across the pond.

00:26First and foremost, it's regarding trade deals.

00:30So your vice president, Vice President Barnes, has said no free speech, no deal.

00:36The British business secretary, whose name is Jonathan Reynolds,

00:42has said that in the trade talks with the U.S. Commerce Department,

00:47free speech has been not a material factor in negotiations.

00:53So my first question is, is it the case that free speech is no longer part of negotiations?

00:59And my second question, if I may, is in Britain we have had over a quarter of a million people

01:06issued non-crime hate incidents.

01:10As we speak, there are people in prison for quite literally reposting memes.

01:14We have extensive prison sentences for tweets, social media posts, and general free speech issues.

01:26Would the Trump administration consider political asylum for British citizens in such a situation?

01:33Well, to your latter question, it's a very good one.

01:36I have not heard that proposed to the president, nor have I spoken to him about that idea,

01:40but I certainly can and talk to our national security team and see if it's something the administration would entertain.

01:46Yes, please.

01:46To your first question about free speech in the United Kingdom,

01:50the vice president has been incredibly outspoken about this for good reason.

01:53And the president has spoken about this as well, directly with your prime minister when he was here for a visit to the White House.

01:59So it remains a critical endeavor of ours to show the Brits and your country, which we love and admire,

02:07about the First Amendment and the importance of free speech in a sovereign nation.

02:13As for the trade talks, I understand they are moving in a very positive way with the United Kingdom.

02:18I don't want to get ahead of the president or our trade team and how those negotiations are going,

02:23but I have heard they've been very positive and productive with the United Kingdom.

02:27And I will say the president always, both publicly and privately, speaks incredibly highly of your country.

02:33He has a good relationship with your prime minister, though they disagree on domestic policy issues.

02:39I've witnessed the camaraderie between them firsthand in the Oval Office,

02:43and there is a deep mutual respect between our two countries that certainly the president upholds.

02:49You're welcome.

02:50Mr. Spicer, it's good to see you.

02:52Hi.

02:52Good to see you.