They can be used for good and they can be used for bad. Lets just not forget a little bit of a problem here. Good afternoon. Todays jobs report shows the extraordinary impact recent weather events have had on our economy. Calculations for movies and on that its estimate the recent storms could cost between 195 billion, and two in a 45 billion and economic losses. But those numbers as large as they are are not the best way to understand the impact the storms have had on the people of our nation. President trump has personally visited storm ravaged areas in numerous states and territories. He is seen the devastation and hes looked into the eyes of americans are struggling to find hope in the midst of heartache. The president is committed to these people will walk within every step of the way as the rebuild their homes, their communities and their lives. He has committed to all americans that were going to build an economy that works for everyone. We are encouraged to see that and the rate has once again dropped in workforce participation vaulted to three and half year high. This report underscores the need for congress to work with us to grow the economy and create jobs. The importance of passing tax relief for American Workers and business cannot be overstated. We have a once in a Generation Opportunity to create a tax code that is simple, fair and easy to understand. That means getting rid of the loopholes that primarily benefit the wealthiest americans and special interests. It also means lowering taxes from it in income american so they can keep more of their hardearned paychecks and by the Great American products made by american manufacturers. Dont read anything into anything beyond that as he wants options on the table so he can make quick decisions. A general comment or do you mean a specific country. I believe a general comment. Not aware of anything specific that was in reverence to. Sarah, i have two questions. One on the the other an dynamic to. When was the president made aware there was a fourth soldier missing in action and when did he welcome appar of that soldier having been killed. I believe that the notification was yesterday but id have to get clarification on the specific timing. When was the president made aware the soldiers body was found. I know it was pretty soon after it had been discovered, but as far as an exact time, i couldnt give you that. Chief kelly kept him updated on the situation. A question on da. A today the public welcomed hispanicin american leader toes the white house. He did not mention his decision to end daca or renew his call for congress to protect those who are going for deportation in march. Why did he not bring that up . I think hes been clear. Theres no reason to continue to reiterate they same position he has held. He called on congress to act on it. You can expect hell lay out his responsible Immigration Reform. Think you can count on that to happen very soon, and that is all part of the process moving forward, but he hasnt been unclear about what his position is on that front. April. Sarah, going back to the storm. When the president deals with world matters like this, all options on the table. Have you has this white house exhausted diplomacy . Because for him to say the calm before the storm, in listening to what you just said were continuing to put maximum economic and diplomatic pressure on countries like north korea. Were going to continue to do that. At the same time the president is going to keep all options on the table. The position has been consistent. The storm using that as an example. We have a lot of bad actors in the world, north korea, iran, several examples, blake. Ask you about the hhs decision to extend the contraception waiver. The. The aclu says the Trump Administration is forcing women to pay for their boss religious pursuit. The federal government cannot how to discrimination against women in the name of religion or otherwise. Your response would be what. I dont think its been a secret i would probably never use the aclu to get my talking points. The president believes the freedom to practice ones faith is a fundamental right in this country and all of us do, and thats all that today was about. Our federal government should always protect that right, and as long as donald trump is president he will. Youre not responding to the aclu. Washington what would you say to the women out there or to the families out there who now have to pay more out of their pocket to get contraception coverage. This president supports the first amendment, supports the freedom of religion. The Supreme Court has validated this decision, certainly many times over, and the president is somebody who believes in the constitution if people dont like what the constitution says, they should talk to congress about changing it. Given the lawsuit that the aclu has already filed, said it was planning to file, is the administration prepared to defend this contraceptive mandate, all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has made clear what its position is and supports what this administration has said. A legal fight that escalates to a Supreme Court it will show the administration is on the right side of the law. Go to calm before the storm issue. The president you already asked the question. This friday, thought we would change up. Its a followup. You said the president wants to preserve an element of surprise. Why dangle hints about his actions. I dont believe he did. Matthew. The calm before the storm. Didnt talk about any specific actions at all. Matthew. Following up on the hhs change, does the white house have any estimate of how many people could lose access to Birth Control under this change . Im not aware. Id refer you to hhs. Be president repeated the u. S. The he u. S. Tax nation in the world. Thats not true. Why does he came making that statement . I believe there are specific sectors wind within the country are among the highest taxed in the world and well be happy to provide that data. John. Thank you, sarah. I have two questions. First, there has been rumors that Prime Minister of greece will come here on the 17th, meet with the president and then meet with the Vice President on the 18th. And we have had no confirmation. Is the Prime Minister invited and is he coming to meet the president and Vice President. He is. I believe the data is correct, the 17th. The other thing is that the administration has had a vacancy without a permanent secretary of Homeland Security for two months, which is a record for that position not operating with a permanent secretary. Are we going to have an announcement on a choice for permanent secretary within days, next week perhaps, and rumors are consistent, he will make elaine duke the permanent secretary and send her appointment up. True or false. Im not going to get ahead of any announcement the president may make bat permanent person. I will say acting secretary duke is very competent and has managed the department of Homeland Security very well in a very tough and trying time, given the Hurricane Season that we have had, and certainly have not wanted to make a big shift in leadership during this time, and while theres so much going on there, in terms of a timetable, well keep you post evidence when he have an announcement. Thats what you just said about secretary dukes testimony you gave others the president s opinion of her as well. Yes, hes happy with the job she has done as acting secretary. Jordan. The immigration principles being floated out there would be harmful to the daca and believes daca should we separate from discussion about illegal immigration. Are you committed to attaching legal item the daca debate. We want to make sure that whoever we put forward is a responsible Immigration Reform and not one piece of this process dealt with separately. We need to make sure that were dressing all the problems probld not deeing with this again in two, four, five, six years, and we are putting forward a thorough and full plan and thats what youll see from the administration in short order. Fred . Thank you, sarah. Two questions. First, a lot of the view on the rule on payday lending. Not that im aware of. Have to check on that. A followup on the topic. There have been some House Republicans who believe that theres already cause for firing richard cordray, the handling of the wells fargo case. Why hasnt the president taken does he approve of the job that cordray has done . Win we have Personnel Announcements well coop you posted. Thats to two already. Margaret. Sorry. Sarah, 0 two quick questions. One, there have been some rumors about the future of secretary of state rex tillerson. Today and you continue to say the president remains confident in him as secretary of state. He does. As he said yesterday two days ago, as i said yesterday, nothing has changed despite what you may read in the media or watch on tv. I would certainly trust the president and my comments far above those of other reporters. I want to ask you, is the president if words matter, the president , cause miscalculation, when it comes to adversaries in the context of the questions ask the of you today when you have been asked of what he meant by calm before the storm. You mentioned north korea, iran. Theres implications that theres some kind of military action. There was some sort of forecast there can you clarify if we are interpreting things correctly . I havent been specific about anything. Were putting maximum economic and diplomacy pressures on countries like north korea. Im sale all options are on the table and were not going to announce what actions well be taking in the moment comes why did he say that. Would he be open to legislation banning as i said yesterday, we want to be part of the conversation. We want to gather more information. Were going to continue to do that over the coming days and thats the current position. It hasnt changed since yesterday. Two questions. One. I asked you about senator corker. Just not three. Two. Just two. I asked you about senator corker and the comments he made a few weeks back. Earlier this week he said that secretary tillerson, secretary mattis and sect kelly or basically what is keeping the country separated from chaos and said there are other people in the house who arent putting fort pull sis in a policies in a coherent faction. The president is the one that is keeping the world from chaos. He has an Incredible Team around him helping him lead that effort, and he has had tremendous accomplishments on the International Stage by working with allies and confronting enemies. Were going to continue doing that. Were going to continue doing that as a team with the president leading the effort. Sarah helping the effort, is ill come back to you. Getting back to the calm before the storm comments exwant to ask a different way. Theres a theory in washington forgive me if you have been asked before the president subscribes to the madman theory, that he makes a lot of unsettling, offputting comments that sort of throw people off, that he likes to keep his adversaries guessing, thats the point of making comments like calm before the storm and so forth. What is your sense of that . Is there anything to that . I think the president s addressed this himself. He doesnt want to lay out his game plan for our enemies. So if youre asking, is the president trying to do that . Absolutely. I dont think throw people off. I dont think that a secretary. Not trying to throw people off but not trying to broadcast or telegraph his exact actions. We have seen what a failure it is when an administration does that, and this is a president who is going to do it differently and better. A quick followup on that. When people are when they sort of catch their breath in the town, hold their breath in this town when he says Something Like that, you have a smile on your face. Is that somewhat satisfying. Is just picture people in the town actually holding their breath. Might be a welcome surprise for most of america. One more thing i want to pick up on what margaret was trying to get at. Let me put it this way. We exclude the possibility that the president was actually just being mischievous and messing with the press. I want say he is messing with the press. We have serious world issues here. I think that north korea, iran, beth continue to be bad actors and the president is somebody who is going always look for ways to protect americans and not going to dictate what the actions look like. Theres nothingon that. The question on iran. A couple days ago senator tom cotton gave a speech in which he said he believes the best outcome for the Iranian Nuclear deal would have to be referred to congress, but rather than have congress reimpose satisfactions which he called a backward looking step, we would use this period of 90 days to renegotiate several terms of the deal. Does the white house think that up sod like good wail to dewith the deal. Im not going to get ahead of the president s announcement on the decision. The president isnt looking at one piece of this. Hes looking at all of the bad behavior of iran, not just the nuclear deal is bad behavior but a the Ballistic Missile testing, destabilizing of the region, number one state sponsorror, cyber attacks, nuclear program, wants to look at a broad strategy that looks at all problem, not just oneoffing those. Thats what his team is working on and what he will be rolling out in the coming days. Is the president s wish that congress reimpose im not going to get into the tails of the president s additions until he makes that. Sarah, bat cuba. The cbs report is now americans who do not work for the government who are saying theyre subject to some the state department telling there are handful of americans who have reported these symptoms. Whats going on sneer how is the white house viewing this . How do we get to the bottom of this. Something we take extremely seriously. Were continuing to investigat. The state department is taking a lead on the effort and were going to continue to look into this until we get real answers. Just to drill down on what you said yesterday about the press, saying we owe it i dont anything anybody differences agree we should be factfinding but do you and at the president believe the president has a responsibility to be as truthful and honest, as much as possible, and for those surrogates who have used, your terms, al concern at the facts, that they then not do that. Absolutely. Think we all come here every day, and do our very best to give you the best and most Accurate Information we can april. Going back to the answer about leadership, the president residents leading, is the is general kelly part of the Leadership Team with the president as he is leading in the white house . Absolutely. Is the president have confidence in general kelly. Absolutely, today is friday, we can expect a resignation today . I dont think so. David. Since we last heard from you, harvey wine steen has become the subject of serious sexual hard racks allegation monday and building pressure among democrats who receive to additions from him to send the money back. Does the president support the idea that democrats who got donations from this person depend the money back. Thats a decision for those individuals to make. Whether or not thats money they want to take, thats up to them. Thats not a decision for us to make. One more. Why hasnt the president fired john coscon from the irs . Ill have to ask him. The president s lavashe de [inaudible] can you speak up a little bit . Nevadays credit federal money programs to deal with terrorist attacks for the great response. You have cuts in those programs in your budget plan. Are you rethinking that . I think at this point were continuing to move forward. If there is a moment where we feel like the Safety Security of american citizens may be at risk because of cuts, i think we have to revisit it at that time. Jim. Sarah, the nation lost 32,000 jobs in september, and i was just curious how the president feels about that and is he stepping up his effort to convince congress to pass major tax reform because of this surprising job loss . I think that todays report shows certainly the devastating impact of the Hurricane Season, burt while many displaced werent able to work the economy still remains extremely strong. Those people continue to have jobs, which is why the Unemployment Rate actually fell. I think one thing to really note in some of this administration wants to focus on, certainly moving into the future, i thinks tax reform is a big role in this but that one of the big feuers that i think we should look at is the drop in the unemployment raid, including new lows for africanamericans, teens and women, which is certain lay great step forward in this process. President trump has said that we should just let obamacare employment. And theres a report that President Trump permanently directed Administration Officials to deny a request from republican governor of iowa to fix the obamacare market in that state. Is that true . Im not aware of that specific directive. Id have to check into that and get back to you. If it is true im not going to comment on hypotheticals where i dont have the information in front of me. A question about the iran recertification process. Regardless of what the president when he makes this decision next week would you rather not have to do this every 90 days. Again, as i said earlier, were looking at something that is a broad strategy, doesnt just address one part of irans bad behavior, but that addresses a wide range of issues, so that would certainly be our focus. Hopefully they wouldnt continue to be a bad actor and we wouldnt have to do this. Our goal is to address a number of factors, not just one or two things. Peter. The president indicated the wanted [inaudible] agents of chaos within the pakistani areas. The Prime Minister was in the white house to meet general mcmaster. Seen any change in the pakistan behavior . Nothing specific i can weigh into at this time but will certainly keep you posted. Peter. The president campaigned for the candidate for governor of virginia, ed gillespie. Im not going to weigh in to specific races and the action wes may or may not take. Thats a great place to end this for friday and i hope everybody has a great rest of your friday and a good weekend. Thanks, guys. My question is why is this appropriate for him to ill wait. Thank you for your time. The briefing wrapping up at the white house, President Trump will several events at the white house today and last night meeting with military officials at the white house. A tweet, mr. President what did you mean by calm before the storm yesterday . Heres what he had to say. [inaudible] know what this represents . The calm before the storm. [inaudible] what storm is it, mr. President . Military people. [inaudible] thank you all for coming. What storm, mr. President . Youll find out. Give us a hint. Thank you, everybody