Transcript - Press Conference: Karine Jean-Pierre Holds a Press Briefing at The White House - June 16, 2022 | Factba.se

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:00:00 - 00:00:11 ()

Hello. Hello. Good afternoon, everybody. Oh, good afternoon, everyone.

Question

00:00:11 - 00:00:11 ()

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:00:11 - 00:00:14 ()

All right. Woo hoo. It's Thursday.

Question

00:00:14 - 00:00:14 ()

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:00:14 - 00:00:19 ()

What are you trying to say? What are you trying to say, Steve? [Laughter]

Question

00:00:19 - 00:00:19 ()

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:00:19 - 00:00:39 ()

I hear you. Okay. [Laughter] All right. As the President has made clear, lowering prices for Americans is the President's top economic priority. And today he will sign the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, passed on a bipartisan basis, which will help lower costs for American retailers, farmers, and consumers.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:00:39 - 00:01:08 ()

He will be joined by bi -- bipartisan members of Congress and key stakeholders at the signing. In the President's State of the Union address, he called on Congress to address ocean carriers' high prices and unfair practices because rising ocean shipping costs, which are a major contributing factor to increased costs for American families, during the pandemic ocean carriers increase their prices by as much as 1,000 percent.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:01:08 - 00:01:31 ()

And too often these ocean carriers are refusing to take American exports back to Asia, leaving with empty containers instead. That's costing farmers and ranchers and our economy a lot of money. This bill will make progress reducing costs for families and ensuring fair treatment for American businesses, including farmers and ranchers.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:01:31 - 00:02:01 ()

The President looks forward to fulfilling this promise and signing this bill into law. Next, as a former chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the President is proud to -- to announce -- proud of the federal judges he has nominated and the unprecedented diversity that they represent. Yesterday, we continued that trend by putting forward Bradley Garcia, who -- who would be, if confirmed, the first Latino to ever serve on the DC Circuit.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:02:01 - 00:02:23 ()

The grandson of immigrants from Cuba, Mr. Garcia's credential are already being praised out of the gate by legal experts across the political spectrum. He has represented clients in over 50 cases before federal and state appellate courts and argued 13 cases before federal and state appellate courts. And with that, Will, you want to kick us off?

Question

00:02:23 - 00:02:35 ()

Yeah. Thank you. When was the last time the President was tested for COVID? And can you please give us more guidance on why the White House isn't announcing these tests unless we ask about them?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:02:35 - 00:02:55 ()

Well, the President has a regular testing cadence determined by his doctor. As we have said many times, if he were a -- to be a close contact as defined by the CDC, because that's what we follow, we would update his testing cadence accordingly and share that with all -- with all of you with -- with transparency, clearly.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:02:55 - 00:03:03 ()

He has not had a close contact that would change that cadence. So it stays as a regular cadence that he -- that is in close coordination with his doctor.

Question

00:03:03 - 00:03:06 ()

Wouldn't we not know about the close contact until --

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:03:06 - 00:03:14 ()

We -- if there were close contact, we would share that. We would have the transparency ensure [Ph] that. He just has not been a close contact. Okay?

Question

00:03:14 - 00:03:27 ()

On -- on another topic, is the White House concerned that European leaders might be pressuring [Zelenskyy] to make concessions? I'm interested in the visit by European leaders today. Was that a show of support or is that a intervention by people that are looking for the war to stop?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:03:27 - 00:03:54 ()

So I would let the European leaders speak for themselves on their country's travel and -- and their goals and agenda for that travel. Nothing has changed about what the President's view here is. He stated it very clearly in his New York Times op ed not too long ago and that it is basically nothing, and he said this before -- even before the op ed, which is nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and that Ukraine is a sovereign country.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:03:54 - 00:04:06 ()

President Zelenskyy is the democratically elected leader of that country and he -- only he gets to determine how this war ends. He gets to determine how he defines victory and he gets to determine how the outcome will be. Go ahead.

Question

00:04:06 - 00:04:22 ()

Thank you. I wanted to follow up on the military mission that captured this senior ISIS leader. Can you just sort of take us behind the scenes here a little bit? When was the President briefed? How long is this mission been under consideration? What more can you tell us about --

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:04:22 - 00:04:42 ()

So I can say the -- the operation was successful. No civilians were harmed nor were there injuries to coalition forces or damage to coalition aircrafts or assets, I would have to refer you to the Operation Inherent Resolve. They're the ones who ran this process and they put out a statement, and I'll let them speak to that.

Question

00:04:42 - 00:04:49 ()

Can you tell us, though, any more about this individual and just speak to the continuing threat from ISIS, both abroad and here at home?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:04:49 - 00:05:00 ()

So here's what I can say, and again, I'm going to let the Operation Inherent Resolve speak to this. It was a senior ISIS leader. I can confirm that. I just don't have more to share from here. I'll let them speak to it more broadly.

Question

00:05:00 - 00:05:01 ()

And is this threat--

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:05:01 - 00:05:05 ()

--I'll let them speak more broadly since this just happened. Go.

Question

00:05:05 - 00:05:12 ()

Karine, the stock market dropping again today, how confident are you that a big wake hike yesterday will tamp down on inflation?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:05:12 - 00:05:47 ()

So here's what I will say, is that we understand what American families are going through. As you know, this has been a priority, bringing down inflation and doing everything that we can from our perch to make that happen. As the President has said and he's written about, we are going to give the Federal Reserve their space to--their independence to deal with the monetary policies as they have the ability to do, and it's important to do that.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:05:47 - 00:06:09 ()

Many Presidents before had not allowed that to move forward and that to happen. But we are, but because it is well established, that countries with independent central banks have better economic outcomes over time, this part of our transition to stable and steady growth with lower inflation, that is the kind of economy that delivers for working families.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:06:09 - 00:06:19 ()

And so we're just going to give the Federal Reserve the space to do what they need to do.

Question

00:06:19 - 00:06:36 ()

And secondly, there are reports that the US Innovation and Competition Act to expand production of semiconductors could be slimmed down. What do you think about this? Would you still support a slimmed down version?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:06:36 - 00:07:10 ()

Well, we appreciate--we know the House and the Senate have been working very hard to get on a bipartisan basis through the conference process. So we're encouraged by the process in that--by the progress in that And we support an effort to find common ground, to reach a final agreement. And so the President and Congress share the same goal, which is to have something done by this summer.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:07:10 - 00:07:29 ()

And so we know that companies are making decision this summer on where to invest next year. But we know that they're currently working really hard to make sure that this is a bipartisan process. Okay.

Question

00:07:29 - 00:07:54 ()

Two quick ones for you or two subjects for you. Thank you. Is there any change in the White House's involvement in this ongoing attempt to get back two missing Americans in Ukraine or any coordination with the Ukrainian government in trying to do so? And has the President either been in touch with or sought to speak with their families?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:07:54 - 00:08:22 ()

So we can't confirm these reports. We don't know where their whereabouts are. We are working very hard to learn more about this, about these Americans who are now missing. Our hearts go out to their families during this difficult time that they're going through. It's worth repeating and we have said this many times, that it is not the time to go to America--sorry.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:08:22 - 00:08:46 ()

It's not the time for Americans to go to Ukraine during this time of war. The State Department has put out numerous travel advisories, warning Americans not to travel there and urging Americans to leave immediately if you are.

Question

00:08:46 - 00:09:16 ()

You mentioned the President as the former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was involved in the confirmation of Clarence Thomas. There are reports this morning about his wife and her interactions with John Eastman, the attorney who was pushing the idea that Vice President Pence could do something to block the certification.

Question

00:09:16 - 00:09:44 ()

And now the January 6th committee says they are planning to talk to her. Does the President have any concern about Justice Thomas continuing to serve on the court or would he perhaps suggest that he should recuse himself from any cases that come before it regarding January 6th?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:09:44 - 00:10:05 ()

So that is something that the court has to decide. That is not for us to comment on. I can say this, we have full confidence in the select committee, the January 6th Select Committee, and it is for them to decide how they're going to move forward on their particular process that they're going through.

Question

00:10:05 - 00:10:10 ()

Does he plan to watch the hearings today or in the coming weeks?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:10:10 - 00:10:33 ()

Well, I think he has said this before, and I said this a couple of days ago, he's probably going to catch it here and there. He has a busy schedule. I'm sure folks around him, his senior staff will update him as needed. Okay. Go ahead, Peter.

Question

00:10:33 - 00:10:46 ()

Thanks, Karine. Why is the President saying that--pardon me. Why is the President saying that inflation is worse everywhere but here?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:10:46 - 00:11:10 ()

Because what we have seen across the globe--first of all, inflation is a global challenge, as we have said. It is caused by, clearly, the pandemic, this once in a generation pandemic that we are coming out of. And also most recently, the war that Putin started in Ukraine, that has caused inflation as we look at food and as we look at gas prices.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:11:10 - 00:11:20 ()

So if you look at globally other countries, and if you look at where we are economically, when you think about the Group 7, the G7, we are in a much stronger place than we are economically, than the rest. And also--

Question

00:11:20 - 00:11:36 ()

--[Inaudible] globally, though. He says that inflation is worse everywhere but here. That's not true. The US has worse inflation than Germany, France, Japan, Canada, India, Italy, Saudi Arabia. So why is he saying that?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:11:36 - 00:12:02 ()

Well, I think what we are saying is that when you talk about inflation, it is a global thing, and it is not just about the United States. This is something that everyone is feeling because of coming out of once a once in a lifetime pandemic, because of the war that Russia has started in Ukraine.

Question

00:12:02 - 00:12:09 ()

Okay. Why isn't the President asking oil companies to drill more here in the US?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:12:09 - 00:12:13 ()

Let me just give you a little bit of a rundown of why we are here.

Question

00:12:13 - 00:12:27 ()

And just, I know his letter was a lot about refining and increasing refining, but that's a lot of oil that comes in from overseas. So why isn't he asking companies to drill more here in the US?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:12:27 - 00:12:53 ()

Well, hold on. So here we go. So this is where we are. I'm going to give you a little bit of a rundown of why we are here and what's going on and why we wrote the letter. So due to decreased demand at the start of the pandemic, US oil refineries reduced their capacity by more than 800,000 barrels per day.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:12:53 - 00:13:22 ()

Now that consumers demand has returned, thanks to the President's recovery plan, oil refineries have still not brought refinery capacity back to the pre-pandemic level. So that is the problem and that is what we're trying to address. At the same time, Putin's invasion of Ukraine put pressure on global supply and gas prices have gone up by nearly $2 since before the invasion.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:13:22 - 00:13:46 ()

So President Biden has taken historic actions to elevate this pressure, releasing record amounts of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and relaying the road to release oil to--that's at 240 million barrels of oil that he was able to do with his partnership. And so we are now at the highest levels of domestic production.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:13:46 - 00:14:15 ()

So we actually have, of crude oil since April of 2020, with an additional 9,000 approved drilling permits that remain unused, but refinery capacity needs to come back too. So that is what the problem is. We need them to actually refine the crude oil, which is not happening. And that's what we're calling on oil companies to do.

Question

00:14:15 - 00:14:18 ()

Why not just drill more here in the US, though?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:14:18 - 00:14:38 ()

Because we don't need to do that. What we need them to do is, with the oil that's out there, we need to them to refine that oil so that prices--so that the capacity could go up and then prices would go down, inherently go down.

Question

00:14:38 - 00:14:46 ()

Yeah. And so the President once said that he was going to end fossil fuel. Is that now off the table?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:14:46 - 00:14:53 ()

No. We are going to continue to move forward with our clean energy proposal, our climate change proposal.

Question

00:14:53 - 00:14:55 ()

Is that a priority, climate change over gas prices?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:14:55 - 00:15:00 ()

No, that's not what we're saying. We're saying that--I'm answering the question.

Question

00:15:00 - 00:15:05 ()

Is his priority lowering gas prices, or is it addressing climate change?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:15:05 - 00:15:26 ()

First of all, you can do both at the same time. What we're trying to deal for--what we're trying to deal with right now is how do we lower costs for American families. And one of the things that we are seeing currently right now with oil refineries is they are using this moment that there is a war in Ukraine to actually make a profit.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:15:26 - 00:15:41 ()

There are steps that they can take so that we can actually lower gas prices for families. And so the President has taken action, right? We talked about the strategic petroleum that he's done, tapping to--

Question

00:15:41 - 00:15:44 ()

--[Inaudible] barrels. How much has that lowered prices?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:15:44 - 00:16:04 ()

Here's the thing. Here's the thing, Peter. If the President had not taken the actions that he's taken in the past several months, the prices that we see now would be a lot worse. It's actually blunted some of the increase that could have been. And so the President has taken action. He has been a leader.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:16:04 - 00:16:23 ()

Now, he's asking Congress, clearly, to act in certain ways and also asking for the oil refineries to do their part and not make money off of a time of war. That's what we're talking about here. Go ahead, Peter.

Question

00:16:23 - 00:16:35 ()

Follow-up on a couple of questions first. The AP asked you the first question out of the case was when the President was last tested. We just didn't get an answer to that. [Inaudible]

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:16:35 - 00:16:59 ()

I did. I gave--it's a regular cadence. That's what we do. We will share, per CDC, when he is a close contact, and he has not been a close contact. If he were a close contact, we will let you know.

Question

00:16:59 - 00:17:14 ()

Again, I'm just confused because in the past, you guys have always told us the date of the most recent test. So why can't you tell us the date of the most recent [Inaudible] test?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:17:14 - 00:17:22 ()

Right now, I'm telling you he has a regular cadence. I just don't have a date to share with you, but he does have a regular weekly cadence.

Question

00:17:22 - 00:17:26 ()

Okay. We trust that as soon as you find out today, your staff will share with us?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:17:26 - 00:17:42 ()

We will be transparent about that, but he does have a weekly cadence. I just don't have a day in front of you of when he was last tested.

Question

00:17:42 - 00:17:49 ()

As soon as you go back there and find out the date, you'll share with us, you're saying.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:17:49 - 00:17:55 ()

I'm not saying that. I'm telling you that he has a weekly cadence.

Question

00:17:55 - 00:18:04 ()

I guess that's my question. Why has that changed? Because the past, they always told us.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:18:04 - 00:18:14 ()

Well, in the -- we have always said it's a weekly cadence. We have always said that.

Question

00:18:14 - 00:18:27 ()

But Jen would say it happened on Tuesday, just yesterday he had a test; or on Sunday, he was tested, it was negative.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:18:27 - 00:18:55 ()

But -- but he hasn't been in close contact. What we have said now is that if he is a close contact, according to the CDC, what close contact of that -- the definition of a close contact, we will share that with you. And then that's when his testing cadence would change. His testing cadence has not changed.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:18:55 - 00:19:04 ()

He gets tested once a week. I don't have the date in front of -- front of me at this time.

Question

00:19:04 - 00:19:11 ()

So he gets tested once a week. That's -- because in the past it had been more regular than that.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:19:11 - 00:19:19 ()

No, it actually has never. It's always been a weekly cadence of getting tested.

Question

00:19:19 - 00:19:22 ()

So he's only been tested once a week for the entirety of the time [Inaudible]

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:19:22 - 00:19:51 ()

That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what we normally do is he gets test -- he gets tested weekly, and that's been -- that's been his cadence, as when he's talking to as in coordination with his -- with his doctor. There has been times where he's tested more than that because we've traveled. When we traveled, we all had to take tests as we're traveling or other things.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:19:51 - 00:20:17 ()

Or when he went to the White House Correspondents Dinner, we had to -- we had to test as well. So sometimes it's not once a week, but I'm saying to you right now, it's a weekly testing cadence. That's what we do, as it's -- as is it's coordinated with his doctor.

Question

00:20:17 - 00:20:33 ()

Please understand that we're requesting to know it as soon as you can tell us when the most recent test was, acknowledging it's a recent test. Let me ask you, we saw the letter that [Inaudible].

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:20:33 - 00:20:39 ()

Well, I already -- I'm already telling you he gets tested regularly, in a weekly test.

Question

00:20:39 - 00:20:42 ()

But I'm saying our request continues.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:20:42 - 00:20:45 ()

And I'm telling you that he gets tested weekly, okay.

Question

00:20:45 - 00:20:49 ()

So let me ask you about the oil companies if I can, really quickly.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:20:49 - 00:20:50 ()

Question

00:20:50 - 00:21:04 ()

We saw the letter that he wrote to them. They -- they called for them to be in touch with the energy secretary to convene an emergency meeting on that topic. Any -- do you have any update on when that meeting will take place?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:21:04 - 00:21:33 ()

So we're -- we're finalizing details, and we'll be sure to pass that along as soon as we can. The President noted in his letter what he wants to do, and what he wants to make sure is that there is -- we create a forum so that the oil companies are able to put forth ideas. But he's willing to do everything he can from his -- from his -- from a reasonable -- using reasonable tools to get things done.

Question

00:21:33 - 00:21:58 ()

And he wants them to put forward ideas. But beyond that, I think, you know, he wrote a letter and he said, hey, I'm calling on you to do this. He said, I want them to be -- they need to be patriotic. In real terms,

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:21:58 - 00:22:24 ()

what power does the President have here? How can he compel these companies beyond, in effect, begging them, asking them to do anything? Well, that's one of the things that we want to do is have this meeting and hear from them, and hear what -- the ideas that they come forth with. And maybe there's a way that we can help them meet that capacity.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:22:24 - 00:22:46 ()

So he does want to create an environment, which is what the Energy Department is going to do, hopefully in the next couple of days, to sit down with the oil companies and try to figure out how do we do this in a way that both -- both sides can -- can agree on. Thank you.

Question

00:22:46 - 00:22:59 ()

I have two topics, but really quickly just following on Peter. Has the White House changed its policy on how much you will disclose to us about the President testing?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:22:59 - 00:23:31 ()

No, it's not -- it's not. I was asked, has he been tested? I'm saying that he gets tested weekly, and that's what we actually have said. I do not have a date when he was tested this week, but he is tested weekly as it is, you know, in coordination with his doctor. We've always said that. We have always said that he tests weekly.

Question

00:23:31 - 00:23:33 ()

It just seems different than the past.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:23:33 - 00:23:41 ()

Well, you're asking me when he was tested. I'm saying that I don't have a date for you at this time.

Question

00:23:41 - 00:23:47 ()

But you're also saying you were not going to share this today.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:23:47 - 00:24:01 ()

Well, because he gets tested weekly. And we have said, once -- once -- if he becomes a close contact, we will share that with you. But if he's not a close contact, then you just know that he gets tested weekly.

Question

00:24:01 - 00:24:09 ()

So he has not had a close contact. You're not going to tell us the date of his most recent test.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:24:09 - 00:24:11 ()

I'm telling you he got -- he gets tested weekly.

Question

00:24:11 - 00:24:21 ()

Okay. [Inaudible] This is definitely different. This is different than in the past. Yeah, I don't get that. We have previously been told when he got his most recent test.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:24:21 - 00:24:38 ()

I am saying to you, I don't have a date for you right now, but he gets tested weekly. As we've said many times, if he were a close contact as defined by the CDC, we would update his testing cadence accordingly and share that with you transparently. That's what -- if he is a close contact, we will share the date with you.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:24:38 - 00:24:42 ()

He has not had a close contact that would change that cadence.

Question

00:24:42 - 00:24:44 ()

Okay, I want to move on.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:24:44 - 00:24:50 ()

Okay, all right. I mean, that's -- that's what I -- that's what we've been saying for the -- for some time now.

Question

00:24:50 - 00:25:16 ()

There are reports that the White House is weighing a series of executive actions. If Roe is overturned, things like a national health emergency, or fighting state efforts to criminalize travel for abortion, can you confirm these things are under consideration? Are there other options you're looking at?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:25:16 - 00:25:46 ()

So the administration continues to explore every possible option in response to the anticipated Supreme Court decision in Dobbs, which would take away women's rights, guaranteed for nearly 50 years under Roe v. Wade to make their own choices about their reproductive health. If the Supreme Court overturns Roe, we will need Congress to take action to restore Roe.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:25:46 - 00:25:49 ()

I don't have anything else to share on that.

Question

00:25:49 - 00:26:02 ()

And the President's meeting yesterday with Schumer and Pelosi, did that yield any new plans on how to fight inflation, and why wasn't this meeting on the President's public schedule ahead of time?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:26:02 - 00:26:26 ()

It was a private meeting that the President had. We don't -- we don't -- we don't advise all the meetings, just like his conversations that he has with members of Congress. I'm not going to go into detail what was discussed, but he has regular conversations with members of Congress.

Question

00:26:26 - 00:26:50 ()

On housing, Karine, given the rising interest rates for mortgages, can you say if the White House is concerned about housing affordability or a slowdown in the housing market? As you know, rates for the 30-year mortgage average nearly 6 percent this week, and that jumped by more than half a percentage point; was the largest one-week increase since 1987.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:26:50 - 00:27:20 ()

So we know that housing affordability is a central -- is a central challenge for families. The President understands that. And this is why he's put forward the Housing Supply Action Plan, which includes steps to help boost housing supply and ease the burden of housing cost on families over time. So now with the federal actions constitute monetary policy, as we know, which is different.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:27:20 - 00:27:46 ()

Monetary policy actions help bring inflation down. As mortgage rates increase, demand in the housing market should cool. This is part of our transition to stable and steady growth with lower inflation. That is the kind of economy that delivers for working families. But again, we have -- that's why the President put forth the housing action plan as well, to help families as best that he could.

Question

00:27:46 - 00:28:07 ()

Karine, I know this has come up a number of times in recent weeks. The question about tariffs and other decisions specifically regarding China, and exclusions that might be made. And I guess I'm wondering, can you give us any sense of sort of what is under consideration and what possible timeline we might be looking at?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:28:07 - 00:28:20 ()

So I -- we don't have anything to share or preview at this time. It is under consideration. We are discussing this. We just don't have anything for you to share -- to share at this time.

Question

00:28:20 - 00:28:26 ()

Nothing about what is being considered.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:28:26 - 00:28:27 ()

No, not at this time.

Question

00:28:27 - 00:28:58 ()

Hey, Karine. Not to belabor this too much longer, but can you articulate a little bit when the White House is committing to releasing results of the President's testing? Because it's not only the cadence that we're asking about. It's when the last time he tested negative.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:28:58 - 00:29:29 ()

No, I understand. And -- and so what I'm trying to say, and this is what -- this is in -- in consultation with his doctor. The President has -- has a regular testing cadence. We have said before that he tests weekly. And again, as we've said many times, if it were to be a close contact as defined by the CDC, we would update his testing cadence accordingly and share that.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:29:29 - 00:29:52 ()

We would share what that would look like and be transparent about that. He has not had a close contact. Because he has not had a close contact, we have not changed that cadence, and is something that happens with his doctor. I do not have a date for you as to when he was last tested.

Question

00:29:52 - 00:29:55 ()

Has he ever tested positive?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:29:55 - 00:30:23 ()

No, he has not, not that I know of. We would share that. I think that is something we would share, because then that would change his testing cadence, clearly, if he had -- well, if he had a close contact. And so we would share that with you and -- and be transparent about that. We would be transparent about that.

Question

00:30:23 - 00:31:01 ()

Okay. Quickly, I wanted to return to something earlier in the week. You were asked whether the President believed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible for Jamal Khashoggi's death, and you didn't fully answer that. And I wanted to sort of give you another opportunity on that. But also ask if he disagrees with the US intelligence assessment, which has reached that conclusion.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:31:01 - 00:31:29 ()

So let me just say this as -- as we've said many times here. The murder of Jamal Khashoggi was something that many of us around -- around the world took very, very seriously. You know, but I can assure you -- but I can say that when the President walked into this administration when he -- his first year, he made sure that we had -- that there was a report.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:31:29 - 00:32:05 ()

The report was released. And in that report, it had the Khashoggi ban, which is a visa restriction policy. He wanted to make sure that that was out there. And let me tell you a little bit about that. It allows the State Department to restrict visas for individuals who are acting on behalf of a foreign government, use tools of repression against people abroad who criticize their government.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:32:05 - 00:32:32 ()

This includes those who suppress, harass, surveil, threaten or harm journalists, activists or other persons perceived to be dissidents for their work. And we can tell you we've used that banned 70 [Ph] times. The visas -- the visa restrictions appeal -- applies to countries worldwide. And so that was something that was incredibly important for the President to do.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:32:32 - 00:32:58 ()

And look, when it comes to human rights, when it comes to that -- that type of leader to leader conversation, this is -- this is a President who's a straight shooter and who will not shy away from having that conversation. So again, we issued an extensive report on Khashoggi's murder and we instituted that ban as I just laid out.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:32:58 - 00:33:07 ()

And -- and so that was something that was important for the President to do. And you've heard from him and he's talked about that.

Question

00:33:07 - 00:33:17 ()

But I'm still not hearing you say yes, he agrees with that assessment that NBS authorized the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:33:17 - 00:33:46 ()

What I can say to you is that again we issued this -- this extensive report and we've imposed sanctions or visa restrictions on over 70 Saudi individuals and entities including the Saudi Royal Guards Rapid Intervention Force. And as we have emphasized then, it was important to reorient but not rapture [Ph] relations with Saudi Arabia.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:33:46 - 00:34:10 ()

And so that was something that was important to do, but we released a report. We have used the ban multiple times. And this is something that we take very, very seriously when it comes to human rights. The President is -- is not -- will not shy away from having those conversations, especially when he is on this trip.

Question

00:34:10 - 00:34:21 ()

But, the executive summary of this report says, we assess that Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, approved an --

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:34:21 - 00:34:22 ()

And he released --

Question

00:34:22 - 00:34:26 ()

-- operation to capture and kill --

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:34:26 - 00:34:29 ()

And he released the report, right? This is a report that --

Question

00:34:29 - 00:34:32 ()

[Inaudible] agree with that assessment?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:34:32 - 00:34:56 ()

I'm telling you this is something that was -- the President took very, very seriously and he released that report. So clearly he would not release that report if he did -- if it is not something that he believed in, right? So --

Question

00:34:56 - 00:34:58 ()

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:34:58 - 00:35:04 ()

So I mean I'm trying to answer the question. All right.

Question

00:35:04 - 00:35:05 ()

[Inaudible] follow up.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:35:05 - 00:35:07 ()

Yeah. Go ahead. Go ahead.

Question

00:35:07 - 00:35:37 ()

[Inaudible] Karine, on baby formula. Back on May 22nd, Secretary Vilsack said that an abatement of the shortage will be seen within the next 30 days. We're coming up on that 30 day mark. You guys keep announcing regular announcements of these flights that are coming over, billions of bottles worth of formula.

Question

00:35:37 - 00:35:52 ()

But when are American families going to see, you know, this situation resolved? An actual progress where the shelves are full once again and this problem go away?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:35:52 - 00:36:34 ()

So as you know, we -- the President has made this a priority, right. He has used his authorities to make sure that we can do everything we can to help -- to help get baby formula on the shelves. And that's what he's done with the DPA that he authorized, which has helped. And -- and I can say that we announced a seventh Operation Fly Formula mission which will transport -- this happened yesterday, which would transport the equivalent of close to 550,000 bottles of Nestle spec -- specialty formula from Switzerland to Louisville, some of the most high demand formula in the United States right now.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:36:34 - 00:37:00 ()

In addition, when working with domestic manufacturers to [Ramp] up production including by invoking the domestic production as I just mentioned, if you look at Abbott, their supplies plan increased production by 25 percent. Reckett [Ph] has said it has been able to increase its amount put to market by 30 percent.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:37:00 - 00:37:39 ()

Gerber has said it increased additional supply to the marketplace by 60 percent since the recall. So we are doing everything that we can. Entering into a consent decree agreement between the FDA. So we're going to continue to work. We're going to continue to make sure that we -- we deliver for the American families, get that -- make sure that we get healthy formula.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:37:39 - 00:38:13 ()

We have to remember how this all started, right? This all started because Abbott -- there was a safety concern at Abbott. FDA acknowledged that, called them out on that, and then they had to shut down their -- their facility in Michigan. And so we have continued to -- to work with them to make sure -- and the other manufacturers to get make sure that we get as much baby formula as -- as we can.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:38:13 - 00:38:18 ()

And clearly with the operations that we're doing overseas.

Question

00:38:18 - 00:38:31 ()

Coming up to the end of the 30 day assessment that he had said at the end of May, I mean can you put a time frame on this now? Are families going to be scrambling the entire summer --

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:38:31 - 00:38:56 ()

I don't have a timeline for you on -- on -- on this, but what I can say is we're doing everything that we can from here to make sure that we get, you know, we get healthy baby formula for American families. We know how hard this is at this time. We know how difficult it is, but we have upped production as I just laid out, working with these different manufacturers.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:38:56 - 00:39:13 ()

We have brought baby formula overseas. We just had a seventh Operation Fly Formula mission just yesterday. So this has been a priority for this President. Go ahead.

Question

00:39:13 - 00:39:45 ()

Thank you. I know -- I know you just said you don't have your own confirmation about the reports of these two Americans in Ukraine, but given that their families are among the people saying this happened, it does seem like something has happened. So given the three other foreigners have been -- who have been taken prisoner have been sentenced to death, do -- does the White House have a message to the Kremlin on the treatment of these two Americans should they have been captured?

Question

00:39:45 - 00:39:52 ()

And specifically on whether, you know, you would like to send a message [Inaudible] death sentences?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:39:52 - 00:40:18 ()

I -- so when it comes to wrongfully detain and holding hostage Americans as -- as bargaining chips represents a threat to the safety of everyone traveling and working and living abroad. The United States opposes practice everywhere. And we have been very clear about that. You know the welfare and safety of US citizens abroad is among the highest priorities of the government.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:40:18 - 00:40:40 ()

And so, you know, we continue to be -- to work aggressively in trying to get back some of the wrongfully detained Americans out there and abroad who are being held hostage. I don't have anything more to say on that. When it comes to the other two -- the two -- the two who are -- who are reportedly missing, we just can't confirm that at this time.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:40:40 - 00:40:47 ()

And again, our hearts go out to the family, but it's not something that we can confirm from here.

Question

00:40:47 - 00:41:02 ()

Whether they're -- whether they've been taken prisoner or not, there are a bunch of Americans in Ukraine in combat. And so would there be consequences for Russia if they -- if they do to them what apparently they've already decided to do to three other foreigners?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:41:02 - 00:41:17 ()

I can't speak to that at this time, but I can say it is something that we are watching, that we call out. I just don't have anything to share on what our actions are going to be. Go ahead, Ed.

Question

00:41:17 - 00:41:38 ()

Thanks, Karine. So the Federal Reserve is predicting that growth -- GDP growth for the next two years will be 1.7 percent, under 2 percent -- to under 2 percent for the next three years. So is this what the President considers stable and steady growth?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:41:38 - 00:42:01 ()

What I can tell you is that we believe that we are in a transition right now coming out of a economic recovery -- a historic economic recovery because of the work that the President has done this past year and a half. And so we believe that we'll be in that transition -- we're going into that transition of stable and steady growth.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:42:01 - 00:42:23 ()

And -- and -- and we're going to continue to do the work that the President has laid out to lower inflation. And so part of that is letting the Federal Reserve do their part doing that -- they have the strongest monetary policies to really deal with this. We're not going to speak to that. We're going to let them be independent.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:42:23 - 00:42:29 ()

But the way that we're seeing this is we are on a track to have that transition to be in that stable growth.

Question

00:42:29 - 00:42:33 ()

But are you just lowering expectations then --

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:42:33 - 00:42:35 ()

What do you mean by lowering expectations?

Question

00:42:35 - 00:42:45 ()

For the economy going forward? For Americans to expect growth and see inflation come down?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:42:45 - 00:43:24 ()

Well, what we're saying is that we've had this economic growth, right. We've had this historic growth because of the actions the President took with the American Rescue Plan, the bipartisan infrastructure law as well. And all of the other -- other actions that he has taken when it comes to the economy, which has been very important to meet the moment that we were in a year ago, which we can't forget, there were 20 million people who were on uninsurance benefit.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:43:24 - 00:43:54 ()

When we first walked in, 3,000 people a day were dying from COVID. This was a very different time. And now what we're seeing is that that transition of that economic growth is going to get more stable. We saw that with the jobs report that came out about two Fridays ago. And so that's what we are -- we're looking at and that's what we're seeing.

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:43:54 - 00:44:08 ()

That's what our -- our experts here are looking towards too. And so -- but we're also going to continue to try to do everything that we can to lower prices and to lower costs for American families as well.

Question

00:44:08 - 00:44:08 ()

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:44:08 - 00:44:12 ()

Wait -- let me come -- I'm so sorry, MJ, go ahead. I'm so sorry.

Question

00:44:12 - 00:44:14 ()

I had a baby formula --

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:44:14 - 00:44:14 ()

Question

00:44:14 - 00:44:35 ()

-- follow up. The Abbott plant in Michigan has stopped production again because of severe flooding. It sounds like it could be another additional few weeks of delay. Is that something that the White House is monitoring? Do you all -- all have an assessment of how much longer this could delay things?

Karine Jean-Pierre

00:44:35 - 00:44:48 ()

So -- so obviously we know that -- we know about the news from Abbott and it's disappointing. It's a -- it is a disappointing --