- 6/24/2025
On Tuesday, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce held a press briefing.
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00:01I really do think Sean could start an outfit of the day.
00:05I think we should have Sean's outfit of the day.
00:08Yeah, exactly.
00:09State Department stylist.
00:12The State Department stylist.
00:15You and Matt could compete, but I don't think Matt can agree.
00:19No, that's something I don't want.
00:22I can't, I couldn't win.
00:24Did anyone go to NAVA?
00:26No.
00:27Especially considering what would be a one-day choice.
00:32We're a half of the day.
00:34Is that just happened?
00:36I kind of wanted to do it.
00:41Instead we're all faking.
00:44Excuse us.
00:53I'm sorry.
00:55I'm sorry.
00:56Yeah.
00:57I don't know.
00:58I'm sorry.
00:59I'm sorry.
01:00If we can put the in for a second.
01:01I think he's a whole group.
01:02Let me do it.
01:03I mean I'll put it in for you.
01:04That's okay.
01:05Ok.
01:06I'll put it in my hand.
01:07I'll put it in my hand.
01:08And in your hand.
01:09It's okay.
01:10We're out.
01:11That's okay.
01:12I need to touch it.
01:14And it's okay.
01:16You've got a couple of where you live with the same thing.
01:18And have that poetry in your hand.
01:19That's okay.
01:20It's fine.
01:21I don't know.
01:51I don't know.
02:21I don't know.
02:22Thank you, ma'am.
02:31Hi, everybody.
02:36Thank you for coming.
02:40I appreciate you being here.
02:43I'll get mad at Fox when they try to come in here late.
02:46All right, you guys.
02:48Of course, a few comments here as we begin on this Tuesday.
02:53The past few days have proven that President Trump means what he says.
02:58America can be proud that we have a president who puts America first and is a peacemaker.
03:04As he said on his Truth Social, both Israel and Iran wanted to stop the war equally.
03:12It was my great honor to destroy all nuclear facilities and capability and then stop the war.
03:19Now, an update on the State Department's 24-7 efforts to assist U.S. citizens throughout the Middle East.
03:28The Department has provided information and support to over 27,000 people seeking guidance regarding the conflict between Israel and Iran.
03:37The vast majority of people we are in touch with are seeking information which we provide regularly.
03:43The State Department began assisted departure flights from Israel on June 21st.
03:49Flights have departed Israel with hundreds of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and their accompanying immediate family members.
03:58We are grateful to our partners in the region and around the world for welcoming American citizens.
04:04We also extend our deep appreciation for the Government of Qatar's cooperation in the defense of the Udayd Air Base,
04:12as well as our deep appreciation for the American, I should say, the Al Udayd Air Base,
04:18as well as the deep appreciation for the American men and women in uniform who are there
04:23and for the vital role they continue to play for U.S. and regional security.
04:28Yesterday, Iran launched several missiles against AUAB.
04:34Many of those missiles were successfully intercepted due to the combined efforts of the U.S. and Qatari armed forces.
04:42Thankfully, no Americans or Qataris were hurt.
04:46In further announcements today, Secretary Rubio has landed along with the President
04:51at the NATO Summit at The Hague.
04:54As the Secretary has noted, under President Trump's decisive leadership,
04:59we're driving historic change at NATO.
05:02Also this week, the United States will participate in the 55th Organization of American States General Assembly
05:09in Antigua and Barbuda, where we will engage with regional partners to advance our shared goals
05:15to make for a safer, stronger, and more prosperous hemisphere.
05:20Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will lead the U.S. delegation,
05:24reinforcing our commitment to supporting Rosa Maria Pia's candidacy to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights,
05:32addressing the crisis in Haiti, and countering the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in the Western Hemisphere.
05:40In addition, today, the Department of State's Rewards for Justice program announced a reward of up to $5 million
05:49for information leading to the location, recovery, and safe return of Mahmoud Shah Habibi.
05:55Mr. Habibi was abducted and detained by the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence on August 10, 2022.
06:04He has not been heard from since that time, and the so-called Taliban government has not yet provided any information
06:12about Mr. Habibi's whereabouts or condition.
06:16We encourage anyone with information on Mr. Habibi to contact
06:21that is plus one, two, zero, two, seven, zero, two, seven, eight, four, three.
06:30That is plus one, two, zero, two, seven, zero, two, seven, eight, four, three.
06:34Via signal, telegram, or WhatsApp, or go to rewardsforjustice.net.
06:40That, again, is up to a $5 million reward for Mahmoud Shah Habibi for his safe return.
06:48And, again, that is rewardsforjustice.net.
06:53Excuse me.
06:55Excuse me, Matt, please.
07:01I have more of an announcement here.
07:04To conclude today, the United States condemns the brutal and cowardly attack on the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church
07:14and offers its condolences to the victims and their families.
07:19We call on the Syrian government to hold all perpetrators of violence accountable
07:24and ensure the security of all Syrians, including members of religious and ethnic minorities.
07:31As Ambassador Barak has said, the United States continues to support the Syrian government
07:37as it fights against forces seeking to create instability and fear in their country and in the broader region.
07:46And now I will take your question.
07:49Daphne, please.
07:52Sure.
07:53From Israel-Iran, Trump has said that he was unhappy with both sides for breaching the ceasefire deal,
07:58but particularly frustrated with Israel.
08:00Does the State Department have concerns about whether this truce will hold,
08:03and what conversations is Secretary Rubio having today with counterparts about this deal?
08:08Yes.
08:09As I noted in my announcement, and actually what, of course, we always appreciate about President Trump,
08:15is you never really have to guess at what he's thinking, which is appreciated.
08:19One of the most transparent men we've known.
08:21Americans in the world have watched all of this unfold, I think, in a very clear way, and certainly with the leader of the free world, of the world, really, essentially,
08:31and Donald Trump making it clear his opinion.
08:33And this is what also, I think, keeps things moving.
08:36With any ceasefire dynamic, it's fragile.
08:39And in the meantime, of course, things did come together, and there has been quiet in that region.
08:45He did make clear his feelings about that.
08:47But as I mentioned in the opening, that he said, gosh, just a couple of hours ago, both Israel and Iran wanted to stop the war equally.
08:57It was my great honor to destroy all nuclear facilities and capability and then stop the war.
09:03So obviously, the President has believed from the beginning that diplomacy can stop wars, that it is the thing that we should rely on.
09:12He leaned into that, and it's continuing to work.
09:16This is a dynamic now that is in play and is, I think, steady, as he has, I believe, also recognized based on his comments.
09:26And then on his comments about China being able to continue to purchase oil from Iran, how did this come together?
09:34Was this part of the Israel-Iran ceasefire deal?
09:37And what does that look like going forward?
09:39Will sanctions that have been imposed be lifted?
09:42Will there be waivers?
09:44How does that look?
09:45Those are all very good questions.
09:46Yes, and it's obviously a very fast-moving – we've used the word fluid here many, many times – a very fast-moving environment.
09:54The President has signaled what he expects, what he is looking forward to.
09:58This is a cabinet and a government that acts to the nature of what he says and what he wants.
10:04And in this case, of course, I'm not going to discuss what that process will be, the nature of any of the applications via the various departments in this government.
10:14But clearly, we are focused on making sure that that guiding hand of President Trump prevails and moves this government forward.
10:22So we will have to wait and see when it comes to what that ends up looking like.
10:26All right. Yes, Andrea.
10:27Well, just to follow up.
10:28Yes.
10:29Does that mean – I mean, just to translate, are we lifting sanctions?
10:33Has anything happened to make that possible?
10:36You know, I'm not going to get ahead of the President or try to guess at what his strategy will be.
10:44But it will be one that will benefit this country and that, again, he is very clear.
10:49I think the difference is, obviously, sometimes you don't hear ahead of time about the trajectory of a President with President Trump.
10:56He speaks honestly with us.
10:58So I would suggest to not translate, to not speculate or guess, but to watch because things happen quickly.
11:07And I think we'll find out sooner than later.
11:09Yes, one more.
11:10Quick follow-up on something.
11:12You quoted the President as saying it was my great honor to destroy all nuclear facilities to stop the war.
11:17As far as we know, the bomb damage assessment has not been done.
11:22The Joint Chiefs Chairman was talking about how long it might take.
11:28Do we have something more conclusive about destroying all of the nuclear facilities?
11:33Well, a conclusive comment for me would be coming from the President of the United States.
11:38I have great admiration for you, Andrea Mitchell, but I think he might know more than you do at this point.
11:43More than I, more than any one of us here.
11:46At the same time, obviously, the information that we receive, that the American people receive, and which will be public, will take some time.
11:53But President Trump has indicated his pleasure at the success of that raid, which obviously was very limited in scope.
12:02And that's a very good point, I think, at the – when it comes to the nature of what's occurred.
12:08And I'm pleased that the President is pleased.
12:10Sean.
12:11Sean Tanden.
12:12Sure.
12:13Could I appreciate that?
12:14The President this morning, he was saying that basically stop the bombs was the message that he sent to the Israelis.
12:20Does he believe that the Israelis complied with this?
12:22Is he happy with how it turned out?
12:23Well, I think that there is – early on, and again, I'm here at the State Department.
12:29I know my colleague Caroline is very articulate and clear on the nature of the President, whom she represents, and the State Department – at the White House.
12:39But I think when we clearly look at the nature of how the day has transpired, there was some activity back and forth, and that has stopped, and the ceasefire has taken effect, and the President is pleased.
12:51So I think we can take that as an indicator of his feeling about it at this point.
12:55Sure.
12:56One more.
12:57Sure.
12:58And I mean, they're both – statements both from Tehran and from Jerusalem and from Tel Aviv today.
13:01Yes.
13:02But I mean, one of the things that from the Israeli military chief was saying that they reserved – this is just a phase, and they reserved the right to go back in.
13:08I mean, do you think that's consistent with the call for a ceasefire in terms of the Israeli statements on this?
13:12Well, I think the statements that we've looked at that we care about are the fact that both – well, certainly Israel has agreed to the ceasefire.
13:19And we believe there's a statement from Iran that has done so as well.
13:24So those are the statements that we care about.
13:26All right.
13:27Yes, sir, in the back.
13:28Right there, sir.
13:29Yes, sir.
13:30Thank you, Tammy.
13:31Obviously, pretty epic diplomatic developments last night.
13:34Yes.
13:35Can you walk us through any of the diplomatic steps that were taken that led to the ceasefire, and specifically Secretary Rubio's role?
13:41What are some of the ongoing efforts to make sure this ceasefire sticks?
13:44And then a separate but related question.
13:46The President spoke this morning about the great trading potential with Iran.
13:51Does this administration envision a broader rapprochement with Tehran that could lead to diplomatic ties being established, even the embassy being reopened?
14:01Well, on both those issues, I can't speak directly to them, but I can say a few things in that certainly I wasn't there.
14:09The Secretary of State was in a dynamic with the President that is a private dynamic as that team was addressing a war and the nature of how to stop it.
14:20So I can't speak to how that transpired or the decisions that were made, but obviously a successful evening, successful aftermath when it comes also to a very quick ceasefire.
14:32In the meantime, for your other question, which was – remind me again your second question?
14:39Well, President Trump this morning spoke a little bit about the potential for trade with Iran.
14:44Oh, the trade.
14:45The trade question.
14:46I was asking more about the –
14:47Obviously, again, while I can't speak obviously to the choices President Trump will make, what we do all know is that he is a businessman.
14:54Americans appreciate that about him, the nature of how he looks at the issue of national security and safety.
15:02And he has in the past addressed the issue of relationships with this country, keep other nations secure, that we are a good friend to have, that a friendship with the United States assists and helps facilitate the natural national security of another nation.
15:17So I look at that and his approach in certain things, and that's been certainly his attitude about it, and it seems to be a correct one.
15:28It's one I agree with.
15:29So I think we'll see that if that in fact is the case here, and we'll find out.
15:34All right.
15:35Yes, ma'am.
15:36Is there any sort of monitoring mechanism for this ceasefire if it continues to hold?
15:41Will there be a third party that is making sure that both sides are adhering to this ceasefire?
15:45Well, as the State Department, I can't really speak to that.
15:48I think that's a DOD question and certainly a White House question.
15:51And then how do you view the next steps for nuclear talks potentially resuming in light of this ceasefire?
15:58Is there anything on the schedule?
16:00Any follow on conversations between the two sides to try to resume the talks that had been?
16:05Well, I can't speak to a schedule.
16:07I can, and I can't, I'm not going to guess or speculate about when something might happen.
16:12What we do know, and President Trump throughout this process had been tweeting about the fact that this would be a good time for negotiations to renew, for these talks to renew.
16:24Of course, with some disappointment that it got to this point, he has been committed to diplomacy and to discussions.
16:31Obviously, he's displayed that for these last five months.
16:34And it, I would think that that has not changed.
16:37So, the commitment, not just from President Trump, but also from Secretary Rubio, to minimize the need and go out of your way for the need to not engage militarily is clearly a hallmark for him and his view of national security and foreign policy, as it is for Secretary Rubio.
16:58And I would expect that approach and that commitment to remain the same.
17:05Yes, go ahead.
17:06Thanks, Tammy.
17:07Just to follow on that.
17:08Over the weekend, the president, many other cabinet members, they said that the strikes by the U.S. military on Iranian facilities had obliterated the nuclear program.
17:16Because of that, do you see that as buying more time for these negotiations to play out?
17:21Has the urgency at all changed?
17:23And there are reports that Qatar has tried to mediate nuclear talks, try to restart those.
17:28Are you receptive of Qatari efforts at this point?
17:31Well, that's not something I can address in any detail at all.
17:34I do know that the president was very confident in his assertion of the destruction of those sites.
17:41That was necessary because of the point that he's had from the start of this, which is that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
17:48That has been a very singular, clear point.
17:51And the understanding is now they're not going to have one.
17:56And that clearly might open the door for the people involved in those kinds of decisions about how to move forward.
18:02But that was and the strikes indicated that it was a very distinctive, limited strike regarding the issue that was in the forefront of the president's mind that he made clear over and over again that they will not have a nuclear weapon.
18:17And now they will not have a nuclear weapon.
18:20How we move forward from here is up to the president of the United States.
18:23Said, yes, sir.
18:25Now that we have the ceasefire between Iran and Israel seems to be holding, are we likely to see renewed efforts to have a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza?
18:37I mean, you know, just for figures, Tammy, you know, maybe 400 people got killed in the exchanges between Israel and Iran.
18:46And in the same period, 700 Palestinians have died, many of them at the aid distribution center.
18:53Yeah, this is this is why.
18:55And we are reminded about why the ceasefire efforts are important.
18:59It is a reminder about why the president and why we're lucky for President Trump to be our president and for Secretary Rubio to be focusing on changing the status quo on this planet and changing the the old dynamic of wanting new ideas.
19:15And there's been his hallmark from the start.
19:18And that has not changed what we can say.
19:21And just as a reminder, Said, there is a deal on the table.
19:24Hamas must stop acting recklessly and accept it.
19:27As Special Envoy Whitcoff has said, Hamas's recent response to the offer was totally unacceptable and only takes us backward.
19:34It hasn't been that long, right?
19:36A lot of stuff is happening in a short period of time.
19:39But the fact of the matter is, is that we've never stopped working for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
19:46We've never stopped wanting that to end to get us out of that repetition of something that has certainly made the first victims the people of the Gaza Strip and then everyone else.
20:00It is it's a reflection of what needs to end and what has been the problem.
20:04President Trump has made clear to in this case, Hamas specifically, that they will face consequences if they continue to hold hostages, which they do, including those who have already passed away and those who are still living.
20:18Hamas has rejected repeated ceasefire proposals and therefore bears sole responsibility for how this is continuing.
20:26Said, if you have a chance, I don't know if you do in your work, to pose the same question to Hamas.
20:32It would be you could I hope you might be asking them.
20:37I'll do it through my article.
20:39All right.
20:40All right.
20:41All right.
20:42Yes, sir.
20:43They're in the middle here.
20:44Thank you very much.
20:45President Trump has long said that Iran should not have nuclear weapons.
20:50That is correct.
20:51That is clear.
20:52Do you think it is important for Iran to change its foreign policy because the U.S. always says it is the biggest state sponsor of terrorism and destabilizing region?
21:07I obviously can't speak to what's in the mind of the so-called leadership of Iran.
21:16I do know that the future of Iran is in the hands of the Iranian people.
21:21And whether or not certain individuals change their approach or belief, I think what has happened, the whole world has noted that the world has changed and that nothing will be the same.
21:31And how that plays out, we are very lucky that we have President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and a cabinet that is united in the nature of what we're trying to do for the next three and a half years.
21:43One more.
21:46One more one.
21:47One more one.
21:48And Kurdistan Regional Government leadership strongly welcome President Trump's statement about peace.
21:53Do you want to comment on it?
21:54Well, no, there's, again, things are happening and moving along so quickly.
21:57Obviously, everything in that region in the Middle East has changed.
22:02And we will have to see where those who are leading this charge and this change, again, the American leadership here with Trump, Rubio, and J.D. Vance, of course, just strong leadership across the board.
22:15We're very lucky, as we've seen also with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
22:19We are very early in this administration.
22:22Think about it.
22:23We are in the middle of June.
22:25And we've seen the results now of men and women who are focused.
22:28So we'll see.
22:29For the Kurds and others as well.
22:31Yes, sir.
22:32Thank you, Tammy.
22:32Two questions for you.
22:33Number one, especially considering the Secretary is now at NATO.
22:36Yes.
22:37Does the Secretary feel like European allies had America's back to the extent that they should in this Iranian operation?
22:45I'm not talking about militarily, but from a general support standpoint, beyond just platitudes of concern about the Iranian nuclear program, do you feel like you got backing from Europe on this?
22:56Well, I'm not going to comment or speculate on the feelings or assessments of our partners in any kind of dynamic.
23:05That's between them.
23:07It's about the leaders of the world right now.
23:08Now, what I can tell you is that President Trump and Secretary Rubio are right there in The Hague at NATO for conversations with our partners throughout Europe.
23:18And I think that everyone expects that to be very successful.
23:21It's going to be a very exciting time.
23:22It's a perfect time for those conversations to be had.
23:26And I mean, I'm not going to speculate on the nature of those those any conversations or can speculate on the feelings of people either.
23:34Second question for you.
23:35Yes, sir.
23:36In terms of regime change in Iran, the initial message coming out of the administration was we're not after regime change.
23:43We're after the nuclear weapons program.
23:45Then the president remarked today regime change is not a good idea because of the chaos that it would cause.
23:51So what is the administration, specifically the State Department's message here to Iranians who are suffering under the oppression of the regime?
23:58How do they move forward and do it does America have their back, considering the president said regime change is not a good idea right now?
24:06Well, again, that's in the perspective, certainly of the president and what his actions he feels, what actions are important, what our intentions were.
24:13It was very clear from the start, from the very beginning.
24:16For for for years, the president has spoken about the problem of Iran and how they can't have a nuclear weapon.
24:22This is not a new idea.
24:24And it's certainly a globally held idea.
24:28But we've said here at the State Department repeatedly in a number of different dynamics that the fates of countries belong in the hands of the people in those countries.
24:37That is the overriding general message of the Marco Rubio State Department.
24:43It is the kind of thing that when we think about, you know, not not just democracy, but the nature of the decision of citizens to decide what kind of leadership they want.
24:53That is what our position is for certainly Iran and every other country on on this planet.
25:00Yes, sir.
25:00Yeah. Thank you, Tommy. Two questions. One on your own.
25:03Have you received any signals or message from Iran that they are willing to come back to the table?
25:09This person. Secondly, are you still sticking with the proposal that you sent to Iran or you are open to discuss more broadly?
25:16Well, again, as we know, many, many things have changed in just the last few days.
25:21I and so I won't speak to what messages may have been sent to Iran, which would have been, of course, to the White House and to if Secretary Rubio as the national security adviser.
25:32So I would ask you to check with the White House for that.
25:35On Syria, yeah. On your opening remarks, you said that the United States is ready to help the Syrian government to fight against forces seeking to create instability.
25:47Would you elaborate that? What kind of support are you willing to offer to the Syrian interim government?
25:52Are you willing to help them or provide them military support?
25:56Well, I think already we know, of course, of the assignment as a special envoy of Ambassador Tom Barrack has been a very clear indicator of our commitment to helping Syria be able to be a functional and steady and stable government.
26:12He, of course, is the ambassador to Turkey.
26:15And our commitment through his work is about getting the structure, the stability of the government as functional.
26:23We also, of course, as you know, have lifted many of the sanctions to make it possible for other nations in that region to assist the new government also in becoming stronger and able to, in that region especially, deal with terrorist groups, especially deal with ISIS.
26:41And that is our commitment.
26:42So it is, I think, manifesting now very clearly.
26:45And Ambassador Barrack is there as our envoy in that regard.
26:50And it's a very exciting time with a lot of potential.
26:53Yes, sir.
26:53Yes, sir, in the gray suit there.
26:56Yes, sir.
26:57Thank you, Tammy.
26:58You've been in the negotiations process with the Iranians for almost the last two months at the State Department.
27:05And the Iranian foreign minister just last Friday, he said that they suspect that negotiations with the U.S. used as a cover for the Israeli attack.
27:17And a day after that came the U.S. raid on Iranian nuclear establishment there and the buildings.
27:26Are you able to build, restore the trust between you and Iran?
27:33And how do you see these claims from the Iranian side?
27:37Well, that's certainly a question that I can't answer.
27:40But we've got the best people in the world who are doing this for a living, who have committed their lives to making a difference here in the world.
27:48The president has not indicated that, as a matter of fact, he really opened his presidency with a willingness to talk with everyone.
27:56And as a peacemaker, that is what he's done.
27:58And I would suspect that that approach will continue.
28:02All right.
28:03Yes, sir.
28:04Go ahead.
28:05Thank you, Tammy.
28:06Do you think that there is any lesson for North Korea to learn from the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities,
28:14given that North Korea has been doubling down on its nuclear program,
28:18despite the Trump administration's commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea?
28:23Well, again, the nature of the choices that are made, I won't speculate about what other countries should think or do.
28:32At the same time, President Trump, in his first term, made significant outreach to North Korea.
28:39And what I can say, of course, and they've got their own nuclear program at North Korea,
28:44that we remain committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.
28:49That remains a commitment.
28:50If the North Korean nuclear issue can't be resolved through dialogue,
28:55I'm not going to speculate on hypotheticals at this point.
29:00But thank you very much.
29:01All right.
29:02Yes, there you are.
29:03Hello.
29:04Just a follow-up on North Korea.
29:07Has there been significant outreach from the State Department to the North Koreans?
29:10I'm not going to speak to any, whether they exist or not, any diplomatic efforts outside.
29:16All right.
29:17All right.
29:18And yes, go ahead.
29:19Thank you, Tammy.
29:20I just wondered whether you have any further information on reports of a drone attack that
29:24happened to multiple Iraqi military sites early this morning, local time, Tuesday, whether
29:30you know at all whether Iran was behind those drone attacks at all?
29:33I would suggest that the DOD might be the place that it might have an answer to that.
29:38Anything else?
29:39All right.
29:40Daphne?
29:40You're good?
29:41All right.
29:42And then, yes, go ahead, sir, at the end.
29:44What can you tell us about the material that was removed from those nuclear sites?
29:48There are satellite pictures of trucks lined out of them.
29:50Oh, nothing.
29:50I can tell you nothing.
29:52It's just saving some time here.
29:54Yeah.
29:54I'm not going to speculate or discuss what may or may not have been removed from a particular
30:00site.
30:01Well, then, can you tell us, based on what you do know, how far, how many years-
30:05I can talk about the English royal family.
30:07I love them.
30:08Yes, go ahead.
30:09How many years would this have knocked back the nuclear program, and could that have been
30:12avoided if the U.S. had remained in the JCPOA?
30:16You know, when it comes to what's happened with Iran, we can look back several decades
30:23about the nature of the choices that certain administrations made that helped facilitate
30:28the nature of the building of that program.
30:32Donald Trump inherited a world.
30:34He had left a world that was at peace, and he inherited one that was tipping over.
30:41And so his commitment, and what we look at here right now, is recognizing the status of
30:46things and what needs to be done to fix them.
30:48And that's what we're focused on.
30:50All right.
30:50And, Matt Lee, I have a feeling you might have a question.
30:53I vaguely remember that.
30:54Well, I did, but now it turns out that-
30:56Oh, you have a different one.
30:57I answered, so I do have a different one.
30:59Okay, good.
30:59But all I was trying to find out was whether-
31:01I know.
31:01I didn't mention that this Mr. Habibi was an American, which it turns out that he is.
31:05But, you know, has he been wrongfully determined to be wrongfully detained?
31:08We have determined that he has been disappeared and that he has not been heard from, and that
31:14that is why there's the rewards for justice, is that he was taken and he has not been heard
31:20from since.
31:21Okay.
31:22And we are hoping that this appeal may bring forward with up to $5 million.
31:26It makes a difference in everyone's lives.
31:27Sure it does.
31:28That we might get some information about him.
31:29Okay.
31:30Then, just the other thing, though, was you had been asked earlier and yesterday, I think,
31:34about this money that is apparently going to go to fund the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
31:41Have you been able to uncover anything about that?
31:44Well, here's what has always been the case with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
31:48I now know that there's, I think it's close to 44 million meals, 44 million meals that have
31:55been distributed, which is a pretty darn good record, and they continue now at four sites
32:00to distribute them.
32:02We have repeatedly noted that we have not funded this entity, but it is, I believe, really the
32:09response of the call from President Trump for that region and that area in particular
32:13that we've got to have new ideas about how to change the nature of what's occurring.
32:17The region has stepped up.
32:19Other nations have stepped up, agreeing that the situation in Gaza has to be dealt with
32:23differently.
32:24We have to refuse to let it continue.
32:27And while we have a humanitarian crisis manifesting, it is to do our best in an area that a terrorist
32:35group refuses to cooperate, ignores ceasefires, continues to hold hostages, and refuses to
32:42put down their weapons, that we are committed to endorsing, helping to make a difference.
32:50When it comes to how that will manifest for the GHF, I can't say right now.
32:55But again, it's nice to know that 44 million meals have been distributed.
33:00That, like everything else for the last few days in the Middle East, everything has changed.
33:07How that manifests in the Gaza Strip is yet to be determined, but I'm sure we'll, we have
33:13another briefing on Thursday, and who knows, we'll have something new at that point as well.
33:17All right.
33:17Yes, go ahead.
33:18And this will be it.
33:19Tammy, this weekend, Keith Kellogg went to Belarus and it secured the release of 14 political
33:23prisoners.
33:24Do you have any more details on those efforts?
33:26And did the Lukashenko regime get anything for releasing these prisoners' sanctions?
33:30I do have a few things I can say to you about that.
33:32And this is the condition of our world.
33:34This is a huge story and it really is, you know, comes up later, but it tells you the
33:38nature of what's transpiring.
33:40While in Minsk, the U.S. delegation led by General Keith Kellogg, Special Presidential Envoy
33:46for Ukraine, met with the leader of Belarus and his team.
33:51Special Envoy Kellogg discussed the Russia-Ukraine war and how President Trump is pushing hard
33:55to stop that war and end the killing.
33:57And Deputy Special Envoy John Cole led the discussions on U.S.-Belarus bilateral relations,
34:03which resulted in the release of 14 long-held political prisoners from Estonia, Japan, Latvia,
34:12Poland, Sweden, and Belarus.
34:15And that is the result of what you can do with diplomacy, with envoys, and with a commitment
34:20to peace and freedom for people around the world.
34:23And we are blessed to have President Trump as our president, the wisdom of the American
34:27people, and of course, Marco Rubio as our Secretary of State.
34:31We are five months in or so to this administration.