- yesterday
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce held a press briefing on Monday.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Happy Monday. I'll explain in a moment. I will explain in a moment. Thank you for
00:09being here. It's a Monday and I will be a little short today as the president is
00:23beginning some signings at the White House in the Oval Office. We don't want
00:28to conflict so forgive me in that regard but I do have a few announcements for
00:34you here and we'll start. President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio
00:39continue to deliver on this administration's vision of peace
00:43through strength, resolute diplomacy backed by principled leadership. On June
00:4727th, Secretary Rubio, Undersecretary Alison Hooker and Senior Advisor Mossad
00:52Boulos hosted the ministerial signing of a landmark peace agreement between the
00:57Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda. The agreement marks a
01:02historic milestone for the Great Lakes region bringing an end to a 30-year war.
01:07The United States in coordination with the African Union, Qatar and Togo will
01:13continue supporting full implementation of this comprehensive peace deal to pave
01:17the way for mutual prosperity. Tomorrow Secretary Rubio will welcome his quad
01:23counterparts from Australia, India and Japan to Washington to reaffirm our shared
01:28commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. This ministerial reinforces our
01:34joint resolve to defend sovereignty, strengthen regional maritime security,
01:38and build resilient supply chains. And as you may know, today President Trump will
01:43issue a new executive order lifting US sanctions on Syria, reaffirming his belief
01:48that the Syrian people deserve a future of safety and prosperity. This policy reflects
01:54the President's conviction that American leadership can unlock new paths to regional
01:59stability. Finally, the Department's Middle East Task Force ended its activities on
02:05Friday, June 27th. US embassies and consulates throughout the region are open and
02:11providing routine and emergency consular services. The Department also continues to
02:16share information and updates with US citizens affected by the conflict.
02:21As of today, we have sent nearly 100 security alerts since the onset of the crisis.
02:27Additionally, a total of 16 flights departed Israel with over 650 US citizens and lawful
02:33permanent residents and their accompanying immediate family members. We are grateful to
02:39our partners in the region, particularly Greece, Italy and Cyprus for welcoming US citizens on
02:45these assisted departure flights, and to our partners in Qatar and around the world.
02:50It is a good thing to be able to say that today to you. I now welcome your questions. All right,
02:57yes, Humaira, not that you have anything ever on your mind. Let's do it.
03:02Thank you, Tammy. Yes, ma'am. So a couple of questions. One on Israel, actually. I was going to ask about Syria, but I'll get to it later. So Herod's newspaper last week reported that Israel's military
03:19advocate general has ordered an investigation into possible war crimes over allegations that Israeli forces deliberately fired at Palestinian civilians near Gaza aid distribution sites.
03:31These are the ones that GHF does, as you know. And then today, Israeli military acknowledged that Palestinian civilians were harmed at these aid distribution centers.
03:40So I'm wondering, in light of these assessments, is the administration going to rethink allocating that money to GHF?
03:50Well, I think the answer to that certainly is no. What we do expect, and the IDF and Israel have announced that they are, of course, investigating certain incidents. It is a good time for a reminder here that Hamas is responsible for the current situation in Gaza.
04:06They, of course, in Gaza. They, of course, initiated the attacks on October 7th. They continue to refuse to lay down their arms or to free the remaining hostages, including the remains of two Americans,
04:17and use violence to interfere with aid deliveries to the people of Gaza who are in dire need of food and aid. So in the meantime, I think that we also have to recognize that, of course, this remains a war zone effectively.
04:31There are four sides working for the GHF. We are coming up to, I think, about 51 million meals distributed. It is certainly not easy.
04:42There are efforts and those on the ground who do not want this to be a success, who have made the lives of the people of Gaza miserable for decades now.
04:53And this is a key, unlocking a door to a better future. So this is what the President has asked for, which is a new approach for Gaza.
05:02There is a demand, understandably, for aid to get in. The GHF is doing that. And as we also, of course, decry loss of life and the violence that continues.
05:13But that's why we do what we do and we continue to work for a ceasefire as well.
05:16Yeah, I understand all that. A quick follow up on that. I completely understand what you're saying. But does the administration have any concern about this?
05:23I mean, these are like Israeli, like these are Israeli authorities accepting that Palestinians have been harmed. Perhaps is the administration thinking about talking to GHF for like risk mitigation?
05:36Yes, you know, well, I won't get into the details of the conversations that are had. Obviously, you know that our work there doesn't stop. We continue on. We're still working. The President noted the other day that there's potential for a ceasefire. We look forward to that.
05:52Clearly, it's been maybe a little over a week since American power and Donald Trump's leadership has changed the Middle East forever. So there's still more to do. We recognize that Israel is doing the appropriate thing with investigating certain allegations.
06:07And we certainly like everyone else will be watching that. And at the same time, we also know that there are people on the ground who want to disrupt and disturb the success of this because of the nature of this industrial complex that has allowed this to go on for decades.
06:25So we are working to get aid in at the same time, still working for that ceasefire, still hoping to make the difference for Gaza. And of course, I think our action and the issues with Iran speak to our commitment to changing the Middle East so people can live in peace.
06:40Andrea Mitchell.
06:41Thank you so much. A related follow-up. Acknowledging that obviously Hamas started this on October 7th and since and broke the ceasefire and are still holding hostages.
06:55And some of us have not only witnessed the October 7th video, the IDF video, but the subsequent NOVA video, which is profoundly disturbing, acknowledging all of that.
07:08Yes, ma'am.
07:08How does the president's aspirations for a ceasefire now that the landscape has been changed appreciably, how does that – how is that affected by the Israeli strikes in Gaza City today?
07:22How does he view – does he view any of that with alarm? Are there conversations with the government of Israel as you –
07:27Well, I would – I would caution that with reports from the area that we, in fact, honor the fact that there are investigations and to wait for actual facts.
07:37That I think will be very useful. Again, at the same time, we know the president has an excellent relationship with Bibi Netanyahu that we, in fact, have made a commitment he has from the beginning of this administration to change that environment.
07:52And it's – it's – that commitment remains. Certainly, we – we know the story is that 51 million meals have been distributed through the region, through Gaza.
08:03We also know the president has called for new ideas. This is part of that. And – and the regional partners are acting on that as well.
08:10We know this can't continue. We – Israel is an ally of ours. We, of course – I'm not going to discuss or presume to know the conversations the president's having.
08:20That is – is his prerogative.
08:22Can I – may I just clarify?
08:23Yes, ma'am.
08:24I may have been imprecise. I was not referring to any strikes on the aid of food delivery. I was referring to separate strikes that have been reported in the north in Gaza City that resulted in several casualties.
08:39Well, again, this is a war – this is a war zone. Hamas has still not put down their weapons. They've – we had a ceasefire, which they violated and refused to engage in another one.
08:48We continue, despite all of that, to get another ceasefire, but the ceasefire was broken by Hamas. It's a war.
08:55If – to speak about the specifics of what Israel is doing, I would direct you to the Israeli government.
09:01And I think it's important to recognize that this is a process that is ongoing.
09:06Our role in this is to help ease the suffering as much as we can, and certainly part of that is going to hopefully get a ceasefire.
09:14The President is optimistic, and so we will be as well.
09:18All right.
09:19Matt Lee maybe has a question?
09:20Sure.
09:21Thank you, sir.
09:22Yes, I do.
09:23I do want to ask about Syria, but first I just want to – very, very briefly.
09:27I might want to go on and on, Matt.
09:29I don't know.
09:30How do you – well, my question is going to be very, very –
09:32Oh, all right.
09:33Yes, sir.
09:34Let's just decide when it's okay to speak about revoking someone's visa.
09:40Because for years and years and years – decades, in fact, in covering this building, it's
09:45always – the mantra has been visa records are confidential.
09:49And yet we have a situation where an entertainer in the UK has had his visa revoked very publicly
09:57and a deputy secretary of state and a tweet tweeted by Secretary Rubio and confirmed by other officials.
10:04So what's the deal with this law?
10:08Does it not really apply unless you want it to, unless you don't want to talk about it?
10:13Well, yeah, I can't speak to the decisions at the Times of when to discuss something of this sort.
10:19What we do know is a very public dynamic with individuals.
10:22We have a very public policy and procedure and process now that we're discussing regarding national security
10:29and how we are handling the visa process.
10:32In this particular case, of course, what you're referring to is the tweet from our deputy secretary of state, Christopher Landau,
10:40that the State Department has revoked the U.S. visas for the members of the Bob Villain band
10:46in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants.
10:51Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.
10:56Now, we've stated that when it comes to how we vet people, if they are going to be coming here to be helpful,
11:03to be nice people, to be great tourists, or if they're coming for other reasons,
11:08that every sovereign nation has a right to decide who's going to come to this country.
11:14So we've been public about that standard.
11:17And this was a very public event that violated, as you've seen from the deputy secretary's tweet,
11:24that very basic standard about the nature of who we want to let into the country.
11:30That's all right.
11:31It is important the American people support us taking care about who comes here.
11:36And I think his tweet and the secretary's language and his approach on the policy speaks for itself.
11:43Okay. So basically, if it's a public kind of facing thing, then you're okay with –
11:47Oh, I didn't say that. I said in this case that that's what has occurred.
11:50All right. Okay.
11:51And I think that it's – the policy certainly is clear for individuals,
11:56but when we're thinking about the nature of the policy itself that has been publicly discussed,
12:01they chose to do so this time.
12:02Okay. And then just also very briefly on Syria.
12:05There is this – as you mentioned, the president's going to be signing this executive order
12:09–
12:10Correct.
12:11– shortly in the next 10, 15 minutes or so.
12:12That's right.
12:13Can you give us an idea what the State Department component of the impact – of what this will do?
12:20What is – because I know it's Treasury and Commerce all involved.
12:24Right.
12:25So what is – what happens at the State Department after this EO is signed?
12:29Well, it is – sanctions and aspects like that, of course, belong to the Treasury.
12:34A lot of people don't know that, that they're the ones who manage that with the application and the nature of what occurs.
12:40I will repeat what my colleague Caroline said just a little bit ago about this event.
12:45The president is going to sign an executive order to terminate the U.S. sanctions program on Syria,
12:51and this is in an effort to promote and support the country's path towards stability and peace.
12:56The order will remove sanctions on Syria while maintaining sanctions on the former President Assad,
13:03his associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, persons linked to chemical weapons activities,
13:10ISIS members and their affiliates, and Iranian proxies.
13:15Again, this is an action that the president has promised and shocked the world within Saudi Arabia,
13:21because when he first announced this plan, he is committed to supporting a Syria that is stable, united,
13:27and at peace with itself and its neighbors.
13:30So in this particular application, of course, this is about the Treasury, it's about the White House,
13:36and certainly our special envoy, Ambassador Barrack, and his now application and work getting that country back on its feet.
13:47All right, Sean.
13:49Can I go back to the music a bit?
13:51Yes, sir.
13:52On Glastonbury, just getting to the decision to revoke the visas,
13:55members of this administration, particularly the vice president, have been very vocal about free expression,
14:00saying that even if things are hateful, particularly if the vice president took to task Germany and to a certain extent the UK,
14:06saying that there are laws that prohibit hateful content and insults that those are inappropriate.
14:11What's the difference here?
14:12I mean, I'm not justifying, I'm not supporting the...
14:15Of course.
14:16But why is it that this speech is out of line while you have, at the same time, a push to not to outlaw free expression elsewhere when it comes to insults?
14:25Right. I think that, again, this is not about the nature of a concert, I suppose, but it really is about our standards,
14:32about who we let in the country, that we're not telling people what they can sing about or what they can say.
14:37That's not involved here at all.
14:39They obviously felt free to say what they were saying and chanting at Glastonbury, and they can do that.
14:44And we can do what we do.
14:46So it really is about the issue of national security, about issues of violence, the increase, certainly, of anti-Semitism, but of terrorism in general.
14:55That dynamic, the crime in the United States, what happened with the open border, the transnational gangs that are here,
15:04this kind of wanton dynamic that has ruined American lives, that has created cities that are unlivable, and every American deserves better.
15:15They deserve to know they have leadership, as we do now.
15:18And that's why they voted for Donald Trump, was simple, basic law and order, respect for your neighbor, and if you're coming to this country, respect for the people who are here.
15:29So I think that when we think about who we – why you have a visa system, which is in part to vet and to stop and to ask questions, is to take that seriously.
15:40Well, can I just appreciate that?
15:42In one other case, a free expression, Hungary, Prime Minister Orban, who of course is a close ally of the President, tried to ban a pride parade this weekend.
15:50Tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of people came out.
15:53Does the U.S. have a view on that?
15:54Do you think that it's justified to ban an LGBTQ pride parade?
15:58Well, you know, when the Vice President or any of us speak about the nature of policy or I think what's important regarding freedom of expression,
16:06that's our plan and what we feel is important to convey, and then what countries do is their business.
16:12Events happen all over the world, as we know, every day, which the United States has no comment about.
16:19And we have nothing to add on this matter.
16:23But again, I think it's about what other countries do, the choices they make with their nations, and what citizens do and how they respond to that.
16:34With respect, I mean, the U.S. did criticize the U.K. over bans on anti-abortion protesters.
16:39Is there any contradiction?
16:41Well, again, I'm not going to speak to individual situations or instances or comments that are made.
16:47Again, we have events that happen all the time all over the world, which might be worth commenting on, but we don't comment on all of them, I think, for a very good reason.
16:56Yes, sir.
16:57On events happening all over the world, in Nigeria recently more than 200 people were slaughtered earlier this month in a series of attacks on Christian villages by Islamic militants.
17:10Some 6,000 were displaced.
17:13What's state doing to address this?
17:15Is there anything state can do to address this?
17:17Well, I can't speak about what is being discussed now or is in any kind of diplomatic conversations or planning, et cetera,
17:25but I'm going to be briefing again on Wednesday.
17:28Today is a unique week because we have the Quad with the Secretary tomorrow, which I'll be a part of.
17:32So we'll be briefing on Wednesday.
17:34Let's take that back and find out where that stands and what our plans are.
17:36I'll have that for you.
17:37Yes, sir.
17:38Thank you, Hamid.
17:39We'll move to Ukraine, if I may.
17:41Russians are stepping up their air attacks on Ukraine, which happened to be larger than ever before.
17:47The President on Friday addressed Ukraine each year, and he said that Putin, quote-unquote, respects our country again.
17:53Well, hours after that, Putin unleashed the largest ever air attack on Ukraine.
17:57Do you think Russia respects President Trump?
18:00MS NAUERT- I'm sorry, do I think?
18:01Do you think Russia respects President Trump, but President Trump says that they respect me
18:06and next hours – next thing we see, hours after that, they launch the largest air attack?
18:12MS NAUERT- Well, I – again, I don't – I've certainly, for obvious reasons, refused
18:16to characterize the most powerful man in the world who is saving this country and the world
18:20this time, but I can tell you other things that he has said, most recently on the 25th.
18:24He said, I consider him, Putin, a person that's been misguided.
18:28I'm very surprised, actually.
18:30I thought we would have had that settled, talking about certain issues.
18:34He also said – he called the other day.
18:36He said, can I help you with Iran?
18:38I said, no, no, you can help me with Russia.
18:41You need – you help me to get a settlement with you, with Russia, and I think we're going
18:45to be able to get that done too.
18:47And also on Putin's ambitions regarding Ukraine.
18:50He said, you know, I know one thing is that he'd like to settle.
18:54He'd like to get out of this thing.
18:56It's a mess for him.
18:57So the President, in negotiating and dealing with some of the worst conflicts, certainly,
19:03that we've ever had, the carnage that is going on, the President is the one person
19:09who's been able to bring everyone to the table, who's willing to talk to everyone,
19:13who has the power of the United States at his back and the support of the American people.
19:17And I think that he understands and he has repeated again within the last few days just
19:23his frustration and lack of acceptance at the attacks that have gone on in Ukraine by Russia
19:29and that it has to stop, that there are too many people dying.
19:33This remains a key element for his administration.
19:37It is a key part for – of the work that his administration as well is doing,
19:41is our support for Ukraine and the need for that carnage to stop.
19:44For some of us, we covered President's trip last week, and you addressed from the podium
19:48his signature achievement, which is 5 percent of GDP spending, you know, among NATO members.
19:54Lavrov today called it catastrophic, and he said that defense spending decision could lead, quote-unquote,
20:00NATO's collapse.
20:01How did you read that?
20:02MS NAUERT- Yes.
20:03I – I'm not going to speak to that, but what we do know is what apparently bothers Russia
20:09is the fact that NATO is going to be strongly returning to its original roots of being a deterrent,
20:15and that is what NATO's job has been.
20:17The advancement of their commitment to defense is remarkable, and not only – we, of course,
20:25support NATO completely, and their role is imperative for a safe and stable Europe.
20:31And that's the point.
20:32Being a deterrent, this kind of defense spending helps them achieve that.
20:36And, of course, it is something that would not have happened without President Trump's
20:40encouragement and demand, and so we're excited about that.
20:43All right.
20:44Yes, sir, in the back there.
20:45Thank you very much.
20:48Two quick questions.
20:49Some regional sources said this week or next week the U.S. representative to Syria will meet
20:56Muslim Kobani and Prime Minister Masrur Barzani in Erbil.
21:00Can you update us about that?
21:02MS NAUERT- No, I can't speak to any ongoing meetings or meetings that may or may not be
21:06coming up.
21:07And second question about Iran.
21:10Iran's representative to United Nations has said that the conditions are not favorable
21:15for negotiation with the United States.
21:18What is your response to this statement, and what is your message would you like to send
21:24to the Iranian people?
21:25MS NAUERT- Well, to the Iranian people, of course, as we've always been saying, is that
21:28every country is in the hands of its own people.
21:31When it comes to what Iran's leadership is saying of what's left of it, the President's
21:37words and the President's position is the one that prevails here.
21:40It is his guiding hand, and he has been very transparent about his opinion, his desire for
21:45Iran to move into the normal order with countries, but also his awareness that, as he has stated,
21:52that he continues to be willing to do whatever is necessary to make sure there's peace in
21:57the region.
21:58And now, this is the unusual point because of the President's schedule.
22:01It is 30 past the hour.
22:03I'm going to wrap it up today, but I will see you again on Wednesday.
22:07And you know how to reach me here.
22:08I think I've got an email.
22:09All right, thank you, everyone.
22:10Have a great day.
22:11I appreciate it.
22:13Thanks for your patience.