- 6/3/2025
State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce held a press briefing.
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00:00oh it takes a team it takes a team hi everybody thank you very much for being
00:09here appreciate it welcome aboard just a reminder it's a beautiful day at least
00:16it was when I came in this morning of the number of people it takes to get me
00:21up here on the podium but they don't remind me to get rid of my lozenge so I
00:25have to do that myself thank you all very much for being here I did see Humira
00:31with Reuters putting some blush on in the bathroom I did see that do you know why
00:37but you know why because on occasion cameras do face this first row or so
00:43well it was not really in there it was in the ante room it was in the ante room
00:48which has chairs and a couch it's very fancy ish I'll keep that in mind oh no
00:53better be careful I will I will I know you do not keep your sources or
00:58secrets to yourself well you keep your sources to yourself all right yes you
01:04do too much though too much all right everybody thank you we do have a couple
01:09of announcements here I want to begin to reiterate the words of President Trump
01:16and Secretary Rubio in condemning the horrific terrorist attack in Colorado on
01:22the Jewish community who were raising awareness for the hostages still being
01:26held by Hamas since the beginning of Secretary Rubio's tenure as Secretary of
01:31State his focus on visas and the State Department's role determining who is
01:35allowed into this country has often been mocked derided or dismissed this heinous
01:42attack is a reminder that the decisions about who we let into this country and who
01:47we allow to stay is of vital national security and personal security importance
01:53to this country and of Americans everywhere as Secretary Rubio notes about
01:58this attack quote all terrorists their family members and terrorist
02:03sympathizers here on a visa should know that under the Trump administration we
02:08will find you revoke your visas and deport you also today the State Department is
02:15taking steps to impose visa restrictions on several Central American government
02:19officials who are responsible for deals with the corrupt China regime Cuban
02:24regime to import medical personnel in their forced labor scheme as Secretary Rubio
02:31notes these steps promote accountability for those who support and
02:35perpetuate these exploitive practices the Cuban labor export program abuses the
02:41participants enriches the corrupt Cuban regime and deprives everyday Cubans of
02:47essential medical care as they and they that they desperately need in their
02:51homeland our goal is to support the Cuban people in their pursuit of freedom and
02:56dignity all while promoting accountability for those who contribute to a
03:00forced labor scheme by pursuing these visa restrictions the US is sending a
03:06clear message about our commitment to promoting human rights and respect for labor
03:10rights worldwide we encourage other nations to join us in this effort end quote further we are
03:18closely monitoring Mount Aetna's eruption yesterday we are not aware of any US citizens
03:23affected at this time and we are monitoring the situation closely we strongly encourage US
03:30citizens in the affected area to monitor local news and follow the emergency instructions provided by
03:35local local authorities we will provide information to US citizens in the area
03:40through the smart traveler enrollment program
03:43messages our consulate websites social media and at travel.state.gov as
03:50necessary this is also an important reminder for all Americans traveling to enroll in the smart
03:58traveler enrollment program at step.state.gov that's step.state.gov and that is what I have for you
04:10right now looking forward to to your questions let me get this managed here as we move into the day with a number of issues I know on your plate
04:16Sean Sean. Sean Tandon. Thanks. Can I answer with Gaza?
04:23Certainly. I know that Karen Lovett spoke to this a while ago but you know yesterday Ambassador Harkabee in Israel made a statement saying that
04:31community reporting is incorrect in terms of senator incidents today we have the red cross and the 27 people were killed and Israel said that they confirmed that they opened fire at first as one shot in their description of how it transpired. Does the US have anything to say about the deaths today?
04:35And what it means for the aid effort there. Well the first thing I'd like us to not do is conflate different episodes. The earlier Huckabee statement of course the ambassador in Jerusalem for Israel this was there was a series of events that were
05:05fake news that were fake news that were debunked that were reported those having occurred and then there is a situation where there were reportedly 27 casualties at a site today and the IDF has noted that they are investigating so I think that there is an important difference it's important for us to recognize the difference certainly in a war zone
05:23but when there is an important difference but when there is news that is not true for us to be able to point that out but then also as we appreciate the fact that the IDF is investigating the latest incident and we'll be watching that report and investigation and keep you advised.
05:42Can I follow up on that? You're not disagreeing on the 27 casualties today?
05:48Well clearly the IDF is investigating a situation where there were casualties so I would it's a number I can't confirm yet but clearly we're going to get more information and we'll be watching that and monitoring that closely.
06:02Sure but with the investigation this is giving us to thoughts about how this is running.
06:07Well we wouldn't need of course the Israeli military as security they wouldn't need to be there if Hamas would lay down their weapons and release all the hostages and the bodies that they're also holding.
06:32They're also holding so let's not forget why this situation is maintained and is in the situation the condition that that we're in.
06:39It's it's it's important to not look at individual events in a vacuum in that regard but also we have everyone has wanted food and aid to go through into Gaza.
06:49It is a war zone and different kinds of decisions have to be made people put their lives at risk to get the aid into those kinds of regions.
06:58And this is one of those cases there's there's we'll find out through the IDF investigation what occurred.
07:04But the fact of the matter is I think we are now at 7 million meals distributed to date.
07:10Now obviously we would like perfection there is no perfection in under any circumstance.
07:16We would we would like it to be even more and they are going to be increasing I believe their sites for more distribution sites that will include northern Gaza as well.
07:26So it these are imperfect situations for catastrophic areas where the rest of the world has wanted this to be done.
07:36We have to try and that's what that's what they're doing they're not only trying they're succeeding in getting the meals distributed.
07:43And in the meantime we're going to be obviously be determining how that's working and how we can further improve perhaps.
07:50And I would guess that they're going to obviously is the ones on the ground make a determination about how to do this and refine it as we go on.
07:59Yeah, Andrea.
08:00Let me just follow up on that because no one should come to conclusions.
08:06We all have reporters on the ground.
08:08Israel has not let US based reporters in but we have partners there and staff members there who have been courageously there since October 7th doing this job.
08:21And if unlike other war zones in Ukraine, in Iraq and elsewhere where US reporters have always been in Vietnam, this is the first conflict where we have not been able to go in except with IDF escorts for particular photo opportunities.
08:40So that is one fact.
08:41But the ambassador, the chief diplomat, diplomatic representative of the United States ascribed collective guilt to what he said was not just misleading reports and the fog of war, we all know what happens in some instances and we're not sure of these cases, but to suggest that the press reports fostered anti-Semitism which led to the death of the two embassy
09:09people here in Washington and to other anti-Semitic attacks in this country is hyperbole beyond what is normal diplomatic practice.
09:23And as a journalist and as a member of this press corps, I think it's deeply offensive for someone who has.
09:30Well, I don't speak for Ambassador Huckabee.
09:33I understand, Andrea.
09:35I know.
09:36I understand.
09:37And I understand the depth of your work and the work.
09:41Andrea, I understand your work, the depth of your work, the work of people who cover war and the dangers that exist.
09:49I don't speak for Ambassador Huckabee.
09:52I'm not going to parse what he has said.
09:55But what I can tell you is that inevitably, as we have all watched, the kind of Jew hatred and anti-Semitism that has been promulgated through media has been nonstop even after October 7th.
10:10And that if you weren't involved in that and others who are not involved in that, that's not who he's speaking about.
10:15I would argue that it would be naive to suggest that the Jew hatred, whether it's through social media, through fake news, through the rhetoric regarding Israel, through the years, has not developed or perpetuated anti-Semitism.
10:34It's naive or mistaken.
10:40I'll give you that word.
10:43I think it's obvious that these things don't happen in a vacuum.
10:47And that the rhetoric against Jews for 2,000 years has been nonstop and quite blunt.
10:52And it hasn't stopped.
10:53And the world and the way the world has responded recently in the 21st century to the attack on Jews, including what's been going on at American universities, has been obscene.
11:03So I think we should allow individuals to have their opinions about what has contributed to the murder of two Jews in Washington, D.C., who are simply enjoying a night out, who, instead of being married in the next few months, had to be buried.
11:16I think that this is not the argument, but it is the story in that we are fighting a great deal with these stories about who's responsible, the focus on Israel, the nature of who's been attacking in that region, the responsibility of Iran, that we get food in.
11:38That's not good enough.
11:39What happens with Israelis and what they say is not good enough.
11:43What the president said, I'll reiterate here, is that we have got to move past all of this.
11:48There has to be new ideas.
11:49We have to end this circle.
11:52And that's what we're doing here.
11:54So when we think about this, I think the ambassador, our ambassador to Israel, has every right and will speak his mind as he is the ambassador to that important state that is constantly under attack.
12:08And it is a reasonable understanding of what has affected people worldwide, which is a rhetoric that has normalized the hatred of Jews and, in some cases, romanticized it.
12:20And we have to stand up against it, and we will, but I'm not going to condemn him for that.
12:27Can I wrap up on the distribution of food, though?
12:29Certainly.
12:30Let me just say that there is widespread criticism and actual self-criticism by the consulting group that was supporting the foundation, which is backed out of it, that the distribution system was not as professional as either the UN, excuse me, or the World Food Program and other people who are used to working in this area.
12:49And that there should have been more distribution points where people would not have been told to line up.
12:55Andrea, again, you know what, but these questions now, these are critiques of an environment that we've talked about regularly every day.
13:02But let me just say this.
13:03Every time I'm up here, it is this critique of, I say seven million meals have been distributed.
13:09But, you know, it would have been—but not for you.
13:11It should have been those guys over there or these people over here.
13:14Over the last three years, with the UN or the World Food Program, no one has distributed seven million meals to Gaza.
13:23Many, many hundreds of thousands of people in Israel, as well as the Hamas—the families of the people being held by Hamas are protesting this food decision.
13:34The former defense minister criticized these decisions.
13:37There's plenty of—
13:38Well, I'm sorry, Andrea, Andrea, I understand.
13:42I'm not—I don't think any of us are going to be protesting seven million meals being distributed.
13:50I just—that—when we think about what the story is, they're in that region and in general with everything that happens,
13:57someone's not going to be happy, someone's going to think it could have been done a better way, and yet it wasn't being done.
14:03It wasn't being done.
14:04This managed to—to be done.
14:05It is continuing on.
14:07I want as many meals to be distributed as possible.
14:10They—they seem to be doing that, and I understand everyone has their opinion.
14:14But this is not a debate about, you know, who would—would have had the better idea.
14:19This is what's happening, and the meals are being distributed.
14:23And I thought, after three months of being harangued in this room by many of you, about don't you care about the starving Gazans?
14:31Okay.
14:32Seven million meals, and now we're being harangued about it's not by the right people.
14:36Okay.
14:37We have to move on from that.
14:38Yes, sir?
14:39I'd like to just follow up on your opening, if I could.
14:43Certainly.
14:44You said about the Boulder terrorist suspects that Secretary Rubio has said,
14:50all terrorists, their family members, and terrorist sympathizers hearing a visa should know that under the Trump administration
14:56we will find you, revoke your visas, and deport you.
14:58The terrorist suspects' family members are in ICE custody now.
15:03Have their visas also been revoked by state?
15:05I will not speak to the action taken for these individuals, so I—I can't confirm or deny that.
15:13I would say now, of course, this is in ICE's realm and perhaps also in DHS, and you should ask them about the next steps that they're taking and what will happen to the family in this regard.
15:23The revocation of the visas in state profits?
15:26Well, but I'm—as I said when I opened, I'm not going to address that, whether that's occurred or not.
15:30Sorry.
15:31Oh, yes, Matt, please.
15:32Matt Lee.
15:33Sorry, I just wanted to ask—
15:34Don't be sorry.
15:35You're never sorry.
15:36But that's all right.
15:37Neither am I.
15:38I want to ask one question about Gaza, but first—
15:40Yes.
15:41Is there a paper coming out on this Cuba—or the Latin America human doctors?
15:45Yes, there is.
15:46As a matter of fact—
15:47Oh, okay.
15:48Because I—
15:49Once I missed it—
15:50I think this should already be out.
15:51It should already be out.
15:52So you will have a statement from the Secretary regarding the so-called Cuban doctors forced labor framework.
16:00There—I would suspect we'll also see a tweet.
16:04You might want to keep an eye on the Secretary's accounts.
16:06Okay.
16:07But yes, you will have a more extensive statement.
16:09But I have really poor service in here, so I—
16:12It's all right.
16:13I just back on to what Audrey was talking about.
16:17So it is still correct that the GHF, this foundation, there is no U.S. involvement,
16:23and that there is no U.S. personnel involved or working for it.
16:26Is that—that is correct, right?
16:28I have said—I think we've all been saying that, in fact, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation
16:34is an independent organization.
16:36It does not receive U.S. government funding.
16:39Right.
16:40Nevertheless, we are constantly looking, of course, for creative solutions to get aid into
16:43Gaza without—
16:44Right.
16:45But there are any U.S. officials working for it?
16:48There's—the Gaza—it—we—it does not receive U.S. government funding.
16:51Right.
16:52But there aren't any U.S. officials working for it?
16:54It does not receive U.S. government funding.
16:56That's the last time I'll repeat that sentence.
16:58Okay.
16:59So how do you know, then, that all of these reports are wrong if you don't have people on
17:04your island?
17:05Well, it's amazing how there are people on the—
17:08I'm not saying that you're white.
17:09And I'd say that also, it's—I don't think we need someone whom you know personally
17:17or is assigned to you to be in a region to understand what's happened on the ground.
17:22It's the State Department.
17:23It's the United States government.
17:25It's the ambassador in Israel.
17:27And I think that there's a point where there has to be recognition that we have a sense
17:32and we know—more than a sense—that we know what's happening on the ground.
17:35Cool.
17:36All right.
17:37Nadia.
17:38I want to address the high number of civilian casualties in Gaza.
17:41On average, there's 80 to 100 people, mainly women and children, are killed.
17:47Your predecessor defended Israel policy for years.
17:53But now that he's out of government, he said that, basically, Israel—he believes that
17:57Israel is engaged in some aspect of war crimes.
18:00Does this administration share this point of view, regardless of what Hamas has did and
18:05just completely separate of what's happening in Gaza now, considering the incidents, but
18:10the high numbers of civilians being killed every single day, including children?
18:14And your—I would caution that very often the media carries the reports that come from
18:21Hamas.
18:22And I would just—I think you know to look at those numbers with some suspicion.
18:28On someone's opinion about what Israel is or is not doing, everyone has an opinion.
18:35And everyone has the right to express that opinion.
18:38But I'm not going to comment on what someone else thinks is going on elsewhere.
18:41Yes.
18:42Pink Jacket.
18:43I actually have a question that was sent from a fellow journalist.
18:48And I promise I'll ask you—
18:51And tell me your name and your outlet again.
18:53We know with El Airby TV.
18:54Okay.
18:55Hi.
18:56The question is this.
18:57Today, an article from the media line reported that the United States is considering imposing
19:01visa and trade sanctions on Chile due to the Chilean government's decision to hold
19:07weapon purchase from Israel.
19:08Additionally, the Chilean government confirmed that Mr. Rubio reached out last Friday to
19:13express his concern regarding the relationship between Chile and Israel.
19:16Can you confirm the details of the call and provide information on whether the U.S. is evaluating
19:22these sanctions?
19:23Well, we have a tendency to not remark on anonymous comments of things that may or may not have
19:30happened.
19:31So we can—I can have them take back questions about the situation with Chile, but we'll get
19:38that to you later.
19:39And—
19:40Yes, sir?
19:41If it's—if it's something that I can actually comment on and not an anonymous comment,
19:46it's presented by someone else to you.
19:48No.
19:49Not—no.
19:50Who is going to be after Morgan Ortegas, the envoy to Lebanon?
19:54And the reason I'm asking is because I'm going to be there next week.
19:57Right.
19:58Right.
19:59Are we going to speak on personnel here or decisions that will be made by our special
20:02envoy?
20:03Yes, sir.
20:04Just on the aid position to Gaza, you said that there was a sense that people were criticizing
20:09this because they didn't—it was the wrong people doing it.
20:12Isn't it more about the mechanism that's been used?
20:16And the UN and all the major aid agencies have warned that if this kind of system was
20:22used, which places hungry and desperate people in very close proximity to Israeli troops
20:28who have previously used lethal force for crowd control, that that situation is extremely
20:35dangerous.
20:36And they'd also said, you know, there are risks for a whole load of other reasons as
20:39well.
20:40But they were warning for weeks, and that's why they didn't want to get involved in this,
20:44because it breaches all of the decades of expertise on delivering aid neutrally in a
20:51war zone to get to civilians, and that being the priority to get to the maximum number
20:56of civilians.
20:57I mean, do you see any—do you heed any of that advice or warning now, given what's
21:03happened over the last four years?
21:04Well, again, this is not our project.
21:07It is something that I think everyone's been and will be optimistic about.
21:11You know, I like the idea that 7 million mils have been distributed, so—and there is
21:16criticism that comes in.
21:18I would suggest that because it's a war zone, there was never going to be a perfect dynamic,
21:24except there was a ceasefire.
21:26And we were also moving in food and aid during the ceasefire.
21:29And then Hamas decided, no, that's not good enough anymore and started it up again.
21:34So, you know, we—our commitment isn't just because in good times or because it's easy or because it's safe.
21:43We've been working hard to try to have a framework and asking people for new ideas about how to get this done,
21:51because those known entities and known factors and known people have been unable to do anything.
22:00So we can wax lyrically about the past and people have better ideas and we're afraid of this.
22:06The this is, yes, moving into a war zone run by a terrorist group where you need the defense of people with guns because it's a war zone
22:17and they'd indiscriminately kill people, and they're still holding hostages.
22:21But you want to get food in there, and we've got to do it.
22:24And so I think that there is a framework of, yes, either the well-known stalwart entities that warned that—you don't need to be warned, it's a war zone.
22:35We know there's going to be some issues. But that—to not do this, it's been done, it's happening, it is—yes, dynamics are dangerous,
22:45and there are seven million meals that have been distributed. I can't stress enough that that is the story.
22:52And that will always be the story. And in the meantime, hopefully things will be refined and people learn.
22:57Nobody wants this environment, and we would—we wouldn't have it if Hamas actually behaved like human beings.
23:04Can I just clarify one thing you said earlier, which—you said that Israeli troops wouldn't have to be there basically if Hamas surrendered.
23:12But my understanding is that's not the position because, you know, we've had very senior ministers in the Israeli government say that the objective here now is to control and occupy the area, to clear it, and to basically to build—
23:24Well, you know, I'm sure—yes, there's—I know I see the newsletters and I see the magazines and the scholarly discussions about what Israel's really doing or not doing.
23:34Well—
23:35Well—
23:36All I know is is that prior to this delivery of seven million meals, the questions were, when are you going to get food into Gaza? It's happened.
23:44And now we can surmise and wonder and—and critique and point to others. But I think the story remains that this is the only way that has—has worked and that has been engaged with.
23:56And it's nice to sit in an air-conditioned office and critique those who are on the ground distributing meals. But that is going to remain the focus. Humaira, let's try again.
24:06Hi, Tammy.
24:07Hi.
24:08I do have a question about this, but then—
24:09Of course.
24:10I'm going to move on to Iran and Ukraine.
24:11Of course.
24:12Just to get this from you, in light of everything we've discussed here and in your answer to Matt, you have emphasized that U.S. does not fund this effort.
24:22But the United States, in light of everything that's happened over the past couple of days, will continue supporting this effort. Is that right?
24:29Oh, well, I—here's what I know, again, because it's not—
24:32Or is there an alternative?
24:33See, I—I love—you frame a question where you—it's important to ask the question, but it's also, you know, that I'm not going to speculate on decisions that are made, not only not by people here, but by people elsewhere, not in the State Department.
24:47So I can't speak to what is their decision-making, what—what's going to affect that decision-making, but it's not a decision the State Department's making.
24:58I can—so I can't answer that first—that it's going to continue on no matter—I don't—I don't—I can't answer that kind of a question.
25:04No, as in, like, the administration has been very supportive of this effort. Is there—are you going to keep supporting this effort, or is there—
25:10Oh, well, yes, we've been—we've been vocally supportive, like we—as we would, as one would hope, about the nature of the structure of getting food in.
25:18And so far, of course, because it's imperfect, because of the arena in which it's in, that seven million meals have been distributed.
25:25I'm—I'm impressed with that number. I hope other people are as well.
25:29Okay. On Iran, are you able to tell us, like, the latest on the talks after there's been so much reporting about the U.S. proposal, which is effectively allowing Iran on a limited basis for low-level uranium enrichment for a TBD period of time?
25:44Is there going to be a new round of talks anytime soon?
25:48Well, you did see the President Trump tweet, didn't you?
25:51Yes, but that—that—that—I didn't think that that would completely negate the reporting.
25:57I appreciate that. I think that's the biggest guffaw I've had here.
26:05The thing that matters when it comes to American policy and what's happening is what President Trump thinks and says.
26:12This is the Trump administration. It is an—it is sometimes an unusual communication structure, as we've learned here in this very room.
26:20But the fact is, President Trump tweeted that there is going to be no uranium enrichment.
26:25Does the President of the United States—not just any president, but Donald Trump—does his opinion that he makes public Trump news media reports?
26:36I think so. You know better than that.
26:39No, as in a—the whole sticking point here is to try to come up with some sort of a formula that's going to be acceptable.
26:45Well, that's a very different thing than what you just—what you just noted is that—so let me just make sure it's clear.
26:50The President has made clear and is the final word, obviously, and has been literally the final word in this regard, there will be no uranium enrichment.
26:58Now, if you're seeing reports about what the deal is, obviously that's incorrect.
27:05The President leads this. The President guides this. It is his guiding hand. It is—the American people are happy with that.
27:15They elected him for his expertise and his focus.
27:19So, President Trump's—not quite sure where—where you would think where President Trump's statement would not be the final dynamic here.
27:28And that, in fact, maybe reports could be wrong.
27:31That's not what I said.
27:32All right.
27:33So, are you saying that there was no proposal verbally or—
27:38Oh, I'm not—I'm not going to comment—
27:40I'm not going to comment on how the negotiations—
27:45You know, Humaira, you know I'm not going to comment on the process of negotiations.
27:51We've been as clear as we can with the various negotiations, the discussions that have been going on over a period of weeks.
27:58And there's been readouts put on those and, you know, some elements of some details.
28:03But you can't discuss the nature of what a negotiation is because there's many elements involved and many different intentions involved.
28:12And the end result, we won't know until it's over.
28:15So, I'm—I'm not going to say if there was a—a submission or what the details were.
28:20What I do know that is public and blunt is the President of the United States' statement about what it won't be.
28:28And that is the one thing we know at this point.
28:30All right.
28:31Yes, sir.
28:32Any idea about the next round of talks, when and where it will happen?
28:37No.
28:38And the other question.
28:39Senator Schumer yesterday accused the President of folding on Iran and said that the administration is getting ready to sign a secretive side deal with Iran.
28:48Any comments on this?
28:50No.
28:51What I can say though, of course, is that the maximum pressure campaign on Iran remains in full force.
28:58All right.
28:59Any idea?
29:00Any idea?
29:01Yes, ma'am.
29:02Just following up on Humera's question on Iran.
29:03Would you say that optimism that was expressed by the President last week is still there?
29:07He seemed very positive about prospects.
29:09Do you still see them moving forward or are they kind of a—
29:12No, there is a—the—no one's happy when people are killed.
29:17This has been the driving force of his decisions over the—since January 20th and before, is to save people's lives and to be a peacemaker and to get these horrible things to end.
29:29So, of course, all of us are affected by that.
29:33At the same time, seven million meals.
29:37Sorry, Iran, Tammy.
29:38Oh, Iran.
29:39Yeah.
29:40All right.
29:41Well, his optimism on that is true as well.
29:43I mean, you've got—
29:44You still believe they're going forward to peace?
29:45Well, he is—his actions and his statements are based in the nature of the conversations that he has, that he knows are being had.
29:55And his understanding of why people are doing what they're doing and what we can do as a nation to mitigate that.
30:06And he has been very vocal on his optimism in that regard as well.
30:11I have—I have not heard anything to counter that.
30:16But again, I'm not in those rooms and I'm not going to read his mind.
30:21I do know that these people have been at the table because of the nature of the power of his influence and the power of the United States.
30:29He wouldn't be doing something that he didn't think he could accomplish.
30:33And I think that is informed in part by his optimism.
30:36And then quickly on visas, are the student and exchange visas still on hold?
30:40And do you have an estimate of how much of a backlog this has now caused?
30:44All right, yes, yes.
30:48There is going to be—I can tell you there'll be more on this in—but before the end of the week.
30:56The original cable indicated it was going to be a matter of days.
31:02And I think that this is a sense of making sure that embassies and consulates are prepared to make sure that all the steps that are needed are able to be taken.
31:13And just making sure that things were in order, that this is not a never-ending dynamic.
31:19And we are looking at, again, an update in a matter of days in that regard as well.
31:26And any sense of the backlog that this has caused?
31:29Well, you know, no appointments were canceled.
31:32There were—people have been encouraged and continue to be encouraged to—there's two steps, right?
31:38You apply, but then you have to have an interview.
31:41And so inevitably, there are—no appointments were, you know, canceled or eliminated from availability.
31:51I think that when this returns, we're going to see that appointments are going to be able to be made.
31:57It's not like it's a time block that can't be returned, that days can't be returned.
32:02And I think that once this is done and it's back online, it'll go pretty quickly.
32:08Yes.
32:10Just a follow-up on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
32:14You mentioned that the IDF is looking into investigating the incident that happened most recently—
32:19Yes.
32:20—after several incidents of violence.
32:22You highlighted that they're succeeding in getting millions of meals distributed.
32:26And you said that in the meantime, we're going to obviously be determining how that's working and how we can—how this can—we can further improve this.
32:35And as my colleagues have pointed out, the U.S. government's very vocal about supporting this as a creative process—
32:42Sure.
32:43—and trying to improve a very dire situation on the ground.
32:45Sure.
32:46Do you have anything to say about how this process could be improved?
32:51No.
32:52There are people more knowledgeable than me, obviously, who are on the ground, who do this for a living, who are experts.
33:01I have no comment.
33:02No one here is going to have a comment or advice on how things should move.
33:12It's just the opposite.
33:13I spent 25 years in media doing exactly what you're asking.
33:18And it's a different language, but I'm here to just at least certainly try to get the details to you without opining or making suggestions.
33:26Do you—
33:27Yes, sir.
33:28Should I just follow up on one more?
33:29Sure.
33:30One more.
33:31Do you agree that the improvement—the area of improvement would involve something to do with the security situation and reducing—
33:36I will not speculate or give advice or muse on any aspect of that issue or pretty much any other.
33:44Can I have one—
33:45All right.
33:46Yes, sir.
33:47No, we're going to move on here.
33:48Yes, sir.
33:49Go ahead.
33:50Thank you, Sami.
33:51I'll stay in Gaza, but in different aspects.
33:53Lately—in the last couple of days, there were some developments in the negotiations toward reaching a ceasefire.
33:58There was a new U.S. proposal.
34:00Hamas wanted to enter some changes to it.
34:05It was not acceptable by the U.S.
34:07Yesterday, Hamas announced that it's willing to enter a non-direct negotiation with Israel to reach a framework that will lead to a ceasefire.
34:18Are you supportive of this?
34:20Well, again, I'm here to tell you what we know at this point.
34:25I'm not going to discuss something that is either in the midst of something being discussed with a foreign country.
34:30It's not my position to do that.
34:33At the same time, of course, we've made it clear that Hamas has to stop acting recklessly.
34:38We certainly can note that.
34:40And as S.E.
34:43Whitcoff had noted, Hamas's recent response to the existing offer was totally unacceptable and only takes us backward.
34:50So, you know, these are the people on the ground who will make those kinds of decisions, but I'm not going to comment on something that is still speculative.
34:58Yes, sir.
34:59Thank you, Hamas.
35:00I want to move to Ukraine if I may.
35:01Can I get your reflection?
35:02Yes, please.
35:03Let's do that.
35:04I want to move to the next couple of days and also next two days.
35:05I know that the Ukraine delegation is in town.
35:08I understand they were in this field this morning.
35:10We are in the second week of the president's latest two weeks deadline, if you want.
35:15And the Ukrainians say that yesterday they met with the Russians and, you know, whatever they put on the table, which was the last minute, they didn't have time to respond.
35:23Is it your concern of this slow walk in the process and what do you expect from the talks in the next two days?
35:29Well, I would disagree with your characterization that it's the latest two weeks deadline, right?
35:35Is that what you meant?
35:36You know, there is, again, a commitment to not have this go on for months or to have meetings about meetings.
35:41It's not going to go on for a year.
35:43The president and the secretary want an accomplishment and a deadline.
35:47They know what can be accomplished.
35:49And sometimes, remarkably, in negotiations, you have some progress and then things move forward, right?
35:57Then you actually can make a difference and you're somewhat flexible in being able to make it work.
36:02So I think that it has to be taken within that framework.
36:08As far as the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, you know, we did not have delegation there.
36:15I think we are certainly reading a lot of things in the media.
36:19But as the president has said and as the secretary has noted as well, this has now got to be between the parties.
36:25And there is some discussion of the exchange of wounded prisoners and very young prisoners.
36:33And we can read that in the news.
36:36But again, we do look at what people do, not what they say.
36:40I thought the media reports on the Russian side, they are beating up their demands.
36:44Not only they cover Ukraine, they also talk about Georgia, Moldova and their next aspirations.
36:50Does the United States have any position?
36:52Well, we've seen those reports.
36:53He's asking about Georgia and Moldova, the support of additional countries, et cetera.
36:58We've seen those reports.
36:59And we continue to support direct talks between Russia and Ukraine.
37:03We, of course, have said repeatedly there's no military solution to this conflict.
37:08And the president supports, though, any mechanism that leads to a just durable and lasting peace.
37:13Any mechanism.
37:15But, yeah, we'll have to see where that plays out.
37:18Yes, sir.
37:19Thanks, Tammy.
37:20Two questions for you.
37:21Number one, Korea Ambassador David Hale met today with the Lebanese prime minister.
37:25Is Ambassador Hale there in his capacity the State Department or in a private capacity?
37:30I'm going to have to take that back and get that back to you, sir.
37:33Second, exactly.
37:34Yes?
37:35The French presidential advisers spoke with their Israeli counterparts today,
37:39said they would not be moving forward with unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state
37:44at the upcoming UN two-state solution conference.
37:47I'm trying to get a sense of the American posture and policy toward this upcoming conference.
37:55Because, obviously, the Trump administration is not a proponent of moving forward with a two-state solution at the moment.
38:01Is it to take a hammer to this conference?
38:04Is it to work within the contours and try to find, like, a bridging solution with everybody?
38:09I mean, what is the approach to this conference from the State Department?
38:13Well, I would consider that a discussion of a diplomatic strategy or certainly plans that one would have or not have when we're discussing something as serious as this.
38:24It's good news if what you indicate is correct, that the French have backed away from what their plans are.
38:31But this is Israel, obviously.
38:34You can also check with Israel when it comes to their position in this regard.
38:38But I won't discuss from this podium what our plans would be at the UN or at any other conference.
38:44Yes, sir, at the end.
38:45Hi.
38:46Me?
38:47Sorry.
38:48Yes, sir.
38:49Yes, sir.
38:50Ryan from Bloomberg and new to the room.
38:51Terrific.
38:52Just back to Gaza.
38:53There's been a shift in tone in some European countries when it comes to Israel,
38:56notably in Germany, whose chancellor has said that the situation in Gaza could no longer be justified by a fight against Hamas terrorism.
39:04Some countries like UK and France are considering trade sanctions and restrictions on arms sales.
39:10Are you seeing a split with the U.S. when it comes to this?
39:13And do you have a message for your European allies?
39:16No, I have no comment on that.
39:18All right.
39:19We'll talk to you in the blue jacket, please.
39:22Thank you, Tammy, very much.
39:23Yeah.
39:24Thank you for the election on South Korea.
39:26As an ally of South Korea, what does the United States view about this Korean presidential election?
39:35And do you think the president elected in this election will be able to improve U.S. and South Korea relations?
39:47Yes.
39:48So there is an election.
39:49We are waiting for its certification.
39:53And we will certainly have a statement when that occurs.
39:56All right.
39:57Yes, sir.
39:58Thank you, Dan.
39:59Two questions.
40:00First, on Gaza and West Bank, where does the Trump administration stand when it comes for the two-state solution?
40:06Is it still on their radar, on this administration's radar, or it's not—
40:10Well, what we are focused on, obviously, is a ceasefire so that this wholesale terrorist slaughter of innocent people can finally, for once in a generation, come to a complete and total stop.
40:22But I would like to—we've discussed the Gaza situation quite regularly here, so let's—is that my microphone or someone else's microphone that I'm getting feedback on?
40:32One more.
40:33There is an audio problem.
40:35There is an audio problem.
40:37So let's make sure the mics are down unless someone is speaking.
40:42One more.
40:43Gotcha.
40:44All right.
40:45One more.
40:46Well, if you're going to move on from Gaza, there are a host of other subjects, and I'm having to go soon, and we've not touched on a number of things.
40:51Just one more.
40:52So one more.
40:53Yeah, thank you.
40:54How does the Trump administration assess the latest efforts from the interim government in Syria?
40:59All right.
41:00So Syria, we—of course, our asks of the Syrian government have not changed.
41:12We are, of course, continuing to support.
41:15Ambassador Barak is there as our lead in that regard, working with making sure that that government has a chance to succeed.
41:24We've taken actions here, of course, to make sure that there are waivers when it comes to sanctions, allowing a number of other issues to be able to be implemented, including memorandums of understanding regarding electricity and the basic functional aspects of life, which, of course, is of importance there.
41:42So I think that we're in a wait-and-see with an effort that we've made to make sure they have the greatest chance to succeed within a continuing expectation of making sure that every Syrian is involved in this process and that terrorism is something, and ISIS in particular, is something that is continued to be defeated in that region.
42:08So it is, so far, again, with Ambassador Barak, who's got a great Twitter account, or I should say X, and he's very prolific in his statements and very open and transparent.
42:20And you'll see there the fact that things are moving along.
42:24But, of course, we watch with the, I think, correct amount of expectation and seriousness about what's possible.
42:32All right. All right. So now, other than Gaza, more on Syria? All right.
42:38I have two questions on Syria. I want to know your comment or assessment about the recent negotiations between the Kurdish—
42:44You know, sorry, the Kurdish?
42:46The Kurdish-led administration negotiations with the Syrian interim government. You know, the Kurdish continue to emphasize the importance of preserving their autonomous administration in Rojava, not as Syria.
42:56Right.
42:57Does the United States support this approach? And the second question, there have been reports suggesting that the U.S. has given its tactic approval to the Syrian interim government to retain custody of the foreign fighters and potentially integrate them into their defense structure.
43:14These claims have gained traction following the recent visit of the U.S. Special Envoy to Syria—
43:19All right. So let—yes, let's—let me answer this, because we're running out of time. The first question we've discussed, certainly even when the Kurds were here, and the nature of our awareness regarding the energy issues, etc.
43:35So I'm not going to be repeating that. If there's anything new, can we take it back and see if there's anything new or a new development regarding the Kurds in that regard? But—and that's regarding, of course, Iraq.
43:46But I think regarding the military bases and the foreign fighters. So our asks of the Syrian government have not changed in that regard during, I guess, as Ambassador Barak noted in Damascus, we are clear about the challenges facing the Syrian government as they take concrete steps toward the president's request in building a secure and stable Syria.
44:10And the ambassador stressed that transparency is of utmost importance as the Syrian government develops a plan in the days ahead.
44:20I would—I would leave it at that in the fact that also referring you to the DOD when it comes to issues regarding bases, etc.
44:32But I think that it's remembering that our asks of the new Syrian government have not changed, and that we are watching their process and expecting transparency about the choices they make and how they make them.
44:50That's about as clear as—as unclearly clear as I can be. All right, we'll leave it with you.
44:55Thank you very much.
44:56Thank you very much.
44:57Apparently a security alert went out yesterday from the U.S. mission to Mexico warning Americans to use caution when using dating apps in various locations.
45:06I think that alert should probably be global. I don't—I don't know about—
45:11Apparently some people are getting kidnapped and held for ransom.
45:14Well—
45:15Is there any additional information or warning you can provide for ransom?
45:17We—I don't. We can—we can check on the dating apps these days, and we worry about kids online and everything that goes on.
45:26It's—it's something that I'm not read into enough to even riff about.
45:32But it's—if that's—if—clearly if that is occurring, it's a serious dynamic.
45:38People should, in fact, be aware of that wherever they are when it comes to meeting strangers using the Internet.
45:45All right, that's it. I'm glad we ended on that point. All right, thank you, everyone. I appreciate it.