Its another busy day here at the white house. On the economic front this week, the president will secure his push for tax relief for hard working american families, we are pleased to announce that the president will be traveling to indianapolis, indiana on wednesday, and while there he will deliver remarks on the historic tax cuts and reforms that he has been working on with members of congress. During his remarks the president will discuss deetz details and work for reform. He will also discuss the elimination of loopholes that have rigged the current tax code in favor of the wealthy and well connected. As the president has said before, we will give our workers the level Playing Field they deserve and they will win. Because if the fight is fair, no one on earth can beat the american worker, these cuts and reforms will deliver massive job creation and Economic Growth and were confident the American People will be very excited about what we are proposing. While we are working to grow the economy of today, the president will also sign a president ial memorandum to ensure that American Children are te are technology is playing a growing role in our economy and this means that Technical Knowledge and skills are more important than ever. But more than half of our schools do not offer courses in computer programs and nearly 40 do not offer physics and the secretary of Education Betsy Devos will directs the secretary to establish high quality education with a particular focus on Computer Science as one of the departments education prioritp. Finally, the memo directs secretary questidevoss to explo administrative actions that will secure Computer Science in second and programs. Expand apprenticeships giving more americans the opportunity to earn while they learn and give them skills training that will put them on the path to fulfilling work, the president believes its our important to give our students, especially underrelated groups, minorities and women and those are Rural Communities every opportunity to succeed. By signing this memoranda, hes taking action to ensure they have access to the high quality education they deserve. The timing of this memo is particularly fitting today. September 25th is the 60 it of the little rocks nine first day at central high school. A few weeks prior to the first day, the governor called in the Arkansas National guard to stand by as the segregationists blocked the nine students from entering the schools. They moved closer and closinger, somebody started yelling, i tried to see a friendly face somewhere in the crowd, someone who could maybe help. I looked into the face of an old woman and it seemed like a kind face, but when i looked at her again, she spat on me. 20 years ago today as a new student at central high myself, i watched president bill clinton and my dad governor Mike Huckabee open the door to the little rock nine, the same doors that had been closed to them because they were black. The little rock nine are american heroes who courageously advanced racial equality. As President Trump has said, racism is evil, it has no place in our country. Today central high is one of the most racially diverse and high achieving schools in arkansas. This is a testimony to how far we have come in the last 60 years. Its not lost on the president or his administration what they need to do. We need better schools to secure a more prosperous america for all of our students. With that, ill take your questions. Sarah, clearly the president has strong views on important players in professional sports teams should stand for the National Anthem. Given the response that the president has gotten over the last 24 hours, who believes that what the president said on friday night was very divisive, does the president regret at all describing these players who take a knee for the National Anthem as s. O. B. S who should where tifired. This is not about the president being against anything, this is about the president and americans being for something, being for our flag, honoring our National Flag and the men and women who fought to defend it. 2 general composed entirely of volunteers. It obviously takes a special kind of patriotism for people to volunteer to risk their life for their country, theirs is not blind patriotism, that pretends theres nothing wrong with the country, every man and woman in uniform knows we still have work to do to achieve the equality, opportunity and justice for all for whom we aspire, but whats right about america is worth defending and if its worth defending its worth honoring. I just hope the athletes who are are protesting understand why veterans like me intend to keep standing for the National Anthem. We do so not because of everything thats been done in americas name, its because of despite that the world is a better place because america exists, that seems to me to be worthy of respect. Did the president go too far in referring to these players as s. O. B. S who should be fired . I think its always appropriate for the president of the United States to defend our flag, to defend the National Anthem and to defend the men and women who fought and died to defend it. The president uses twitter to emphasize things that are most important. During the last 24 hours, the president has tweeted more than a dozen times about sports, about kneeling, about nascar on this topic, he tweeted zero times about puerto rico. So i guess the bottom line is what message is the president sending right now by emphasizing sports over hes emphasizing something that should be unifying, celebrating and promoting patriotism in our country is something that should bring everybody together. When it comes to puerto rico, the president has said both administrator long and Senior Advisor to the department of Homeland Security tom bossert today, they are on the ground to assess the damage. We have provided special funding for the people of puerto rico and others who have been impacted by these storms, and we will continue to do everything we can under the federal to government to provide assistance. You said instead of emphasizing something that brings americans together. Then what message does it send for the president to stand behind the president ial seal at a rally in alabama and call an american citizen whos expressing his 1st amendment rights. I think its always appropriate for the president to defend the flag and the National Anthem. Its always appropriate for the president of this country to promote the flag and ask people to respect it. Switching topics here, north koreas foreign minister said that President Trump had decl e declared war on north korea and that it will take counter measures. Did the not at all, we have not declared war on north korea and frankly the suggestion of that is absurd. What is the white houses reaction to north koreas threat to shoot down american aircraft even if its not in their air space . Its never appropriate for a country to shoot down another countrys aircraft when its over international waters. We seek denuclearization of the krae korean peninsula. Does the president believe that there are very fine people who kneeled yesterday watching those games or are they all s. O. B. S . I think youre trying to conflate Different Things here, we certainly respect the rights that people have. But this isnt about the president being against something, this is about the president being for something, this is about the president being for respecting our country through symbols like the American Flag, like the National Anthem and the hundreds of thousands of people that actually stand versus the few hundred that may have knelt. The president said that kneeling has not to do with race, Colin Kaepernick teak to his knees in many of these games specifically because he said black people in this country were not being treated fairly by police, how is that not an issue of race. I think the focus has long since changed and certainly the message and a lot in what has been communicated over these last several weeks through this process, through this protest by these players. Sarah, from this podium you have often expressed some frustration about the media not focussing on the agenda that the president has, substantive issues, things he wants to get done, tax reform, health care, et cetera. When did the president decide at this rally that he was going to spend so much time talking about the flag itself . And doesnt that disstrakt from t distract from the kinds of things you are trying to accomplish, whether its health care or tax reform or puerto rico or the showdown with north korea. I certainly dont think defending the American Flag is this is something that every american can get behind and support and celebrate is National Pride in our country and supporting those that have fought and died to defend it from all different backgrounds, so i think again, that that is servel should go a priority of the president. But you act like thats all he did over the weekend, we also did a lot of other things, were continuing to push forward on tax reform. Continuing to push forward on health care, continuing to push forward on the safety and security of our border. With that in mind, that was a point, he said i want to put this in the headlines. Im not sure when that decision was made, i wasnt there, but i know its a priority for the president to always defend the flag, always defend the National Anthem. A couple of questions, on the german election, has the president called merkel yet to congratulate her on her win . I know they spoke on friday, and theyre working on timing for a second call of congratulations but i dont believe thats taken place yet. She won on sunday, is there a reason why he hasnt called . Th and on tax reform, can you say if the president has signed off on that, does the president have a final plan now for tax reform . Hes had quite a few conversations with members of his team, both secretary mnuchin and secretary cohen, both of those continue and hell make announcements on specifics on wednesday in indiana. Over the weekend president was warned by top aides including mcmaster not to provoke kim, particularly in the United Nations speech because it could potentially backfire . The l. A. Times report, that the president was warned not to provoke kim jongun in the United Nations speech because it would potentially backfire and now we see that they have taken this as a declaration of war. As i have said many times before i would use another news source as your souse, and i would push back on that story from the times, thats a false narrative, the National Security team was involved and engaged throughout the speech writing process and was very happy with the president s speech at the u. N. Sarah, when Colin Kaepernick says that his protest is about fighting Police Brutality, fighting racial disparity, racial injustice, youre not taking him at his word, youre saying the focus has long since moved on. But when White Supremacists say that their protest is about heritage not hate, the president does take them at their word, so why is that this disparity about who gets to provide what protest is about . I think the debate for them is about Police Brutality, they should probably protest the officers on the field that are protecting them instead of the American Flag. I wanted to ask on the interview the president gave this morning on the radio, he seemed pretty pessimistic about health care and i wondered what his interactions were today, is he calling individual senators . Is the Vice President calling . I know the Vice President has been doing that, what is his thought today . And do you think there will be a vote this week . Were calling on congress to do what they were elected to do and certainly what most of them campaigned on and thats to repeal and replace obamacare. Were continuing to push forward, we know we cannot live with the obamacare status quo, its a complete disaster, so were hoping this vote will go through. But is he engaged . He continued to be engaged through his legislative affairs team and the Vice President. Can you tell me what the dinner is on tomorrow . There is a fundraising dinner and ill have to get back to you with specifics. This is a significant week, a pivotal week for the president , for republicans, its an opportunity, some are saying the last best chance for repeal and replace obamacare. And much of yesterday, the beginning part of today was focused as far as the president is concerned on the nfl, on players who take a knee. Can you explain how repealing and replacing obamacare when the president spends so much time on that other issue, the issue involving sports . It really doesnt take that long to type out 140 characters and this president s very capable of doing more than one thing at a time and more than one thing in a day. Its taking up so much oxygen, when the president speaks about that particular issue, you see how the majority of questions have been asked of you so far today have been about this particular thats determined by you guys. Its a tremendous amount of power when he tweets and we report on it. So when he tweets on something, it does take away from the legislative agenda, would you not agree . No, i dont. I think its important for a president to show patriotism, to be a leader on this issue and he has. Thank you, sarah. Two questions. Second carson recently voiced his disagreement with the president and the Vice President on the runoff in alabama tomorrow. My question is, not about the runoff but about the personnel. Are members of the cabinet and the president s official family free to disagree with him on matters such as political contest . The president has a lot of people with a variety of backgrounds and certainly with a variety of opinions. He always welcomes them voicing those. On that specific issue i couldnt speak to that because i havent talked to the president about it. Second question. On september 15th, spokeswoman for the state department spoke at the National Press club and i think this is important because Prime Minister rahoy is meeting with the president tomorrow, the u. S. Took no position on that is scheduled in catalonia october 1st about separating and becoming a separate country and, i quote, we will work with any government or entity that comes out of it. End of quote. Does that mean that if catalonia votes to succeed from spain, the u. S. Is going to recognize it as an independent country . I dont have anything further other than what heathers already said. If it changes ill let you know. David boyer . Thanks. Is the white house reviewing Jared Kushners use of private email account for official government business and how widespread is the use of private email accounts in this white house . To my knowledge, very limited white House Counsel has instructed all white house staff to use their government email for official business and only use that email. Is he instructed since this came up . I think we did instruct it on the this one pretty regularly, so sarah, politicos reported that secretary price has been taking private jets for months and Kellyanne Conway traveled with him to six states. So given the comment on some of these trips, was the white house aware of prices travel and given that he spent more than 400,000 in taxpayer money on private jets just since may, is there any standard for what is and isnt tolerated by this white house when it comes to this kind of conduct . This wasnt a white house approved travel. This was done through the general budget at the department of Home Department of hss and i think secretary price addressed this over the weekend. Theyre conducting both an internal and an ig review and all travel on private charters has been suspended since thats completed. Can i get the white houses take now on that travel since it wasnt approved ahead and is it ever appropriate for a cabinet official to spend taxpayer money on private planes and say a military flight for National Security. I think there are certain instances where it probably is but i think that has to be done by a case by case basis. Im not going to give a blanket statement on hypothetical situations that i couldnt possibly be aware of. Whether or not the white house looking back on that, do you approve of the travel . The white house again, that travel wouldnt have gone through the white house for approval and so i couldnt speak to that. Mike . Two immigration related questions, one do you anticipate a refugee announcement in the next couple of days on both the cap on refugees from the president which has to happen before the end of the fiscal year and if so, you know, will that can you give us some sense of what thats going to be . Are there going to be restrictions built in . And second, on daca, theres been word now on a set of principles that the white house wants to put out that describes the way forward towards a legislative deal, is that something that you can give us some guidance on . On the first question, i expect that something will happen on that relatively soon and when we have those details and its appropriate well be happy to share them. Again, i think itll be soon and well let you know when thats been finalized. In terms of your second question, yes, on responsible immigration reform, we will be putting out specific principles that the white house supports and would like to see done legislatively. When will that happen . Probably in the coming days. Can you just clarify, are you encouraging nfl players to protest police . No, no. Thats not what im saying. I pointed out the hypocrisy of the fact is if the goal is in the message is that of Police Brutality which theyve stated, then that doesnt seem very appropriate to protest the American Flag. Im not sure how those two things would be combined. Today iraqi kurds are [ inaudible ] i was just wondering, you already expressed i was wondering if the white house the iraqis as they weigh their as they weigh their response to this we hope for a unified iraq to annihilate isis and certainly a unified iraq to push back on iran. Why is saudi arabia not included in the list of countries because the way that the travel will order has been placed is that countries have to meet a minimum baseline requirement and also be part of sharing information over this last period of time theyve stepped up and met those baseline requirements that the United States is laid out. Zeke . Do you address some of the criticism from the islands the territories, delegates, representatives, about the slow pace of the federal assistance . What steps is the administration taking presently and in the coming days to increase the pace of relief and aid flowing to the island and more broadly, was the administration [ inaudible ] to other massive storms that the third one maybe is that a bridge too far. The federal response has been anything but slow. Theres been an unprecedented push through of billions of dollars in assistance that the administration has fought for. Tom bossert and brock long are on the ground today to do a more thorough and deeper assessment of what needs there are. Our focus is still continuing to be on the life saving efforts and the immediate Disaster Response efforts which are still currently under way and those funds have been secured and are available and once we have a greater insight into the full assessment of damage then well be able to determine what additional funds are needed but were still in that fact finding process on that piece of it. One followup. On jens question earlier about tax reform. You didnt answer her question about the whether the plan will be announcing we heard from a number of different states, [ inaudible ] Corporate Tax rate will be set. Is the tax plan finalized right now . There are certain details that are finalized, the president will be announcing those on wednesday. Jordan . Thank you. What will you what would the administration say to people on the island that saying theres not enough time to do this big factfinding mission, theres isolated areas on the island that dont have any water, electricity or gas. Theres buildings that dont even have roofs. Theres water coming into houses. This is all been reported out there in the media. What would you say to the people on the island . Again, the response has been at an unprecedented level and were supplying federal assistance as quickly as possible. Well continue to do that. The president asked both tom bossert and brock long to go beyond the ground and help come back and give us a list of what is needed and we can turn around quickly. Im talking about longer term assessment which simply cant be done. We want to make sure the funding is provided but we also want to make sure that were funding the correct things. Sarah . Steve bannon and another former white house official are supporting rory moore. We also know that bannon met with who is challenging dean haler. Does the president believe, he talked about loyalty friday night, does he believe he owes it to republican senators who votered for a Senate Health care bill to support them . How do they feel about his own people basically supporting a challenger and has he spoken to them about it . Ive said many times before, due to the political nature of the question, im not going to weigh in on a specific involvement. Im not asking specifics. The preds talked about loyalty friday night. Does he feel on principal, that if republicans vote the way he pushes them to or wants them to or asks them to, does he owe them something in return, and does he feel that the people who have worked in this white house should go along with his thoughts on these i think the president feels that he owes it to the American People who elected him, which means they supported the agenda that he was trying to promote and the more that we have likeminded officials helping promote and push that agenda and pass that legislation, i think the better off we are and thats certainly the reason that the president was elected and so i think the more that we can have people help make that successful, thats certainly i think a positive thing and a right step forward. Halley . I want to followup here. Will the white house commit to releasing private emails related to government business . Id have to ask. Im not aware of something. Does it seem like something you would do . Im not going to get ahead of the conversation that hasnt taken place. Will you let us know . Sure. My other question is, when you talk about the president wanting to defend the flag. You know the oath of office was to defend the constitution. Does the president have a problem with the First Amendment . Not at all. The president is simply stating that pride in our country is a good thing, its something that we should all celebrate, something that should bring us together not divide us. Standing up for the National Anthem he feels is support of that. Why is it that the president over the weekend is going after or seeming to go after africanamerican athletes and then this morning hes putting out a tweet praising nascar, which obviously is geared towards a different demographic, and the way they stand and respect and honor the flag, is he trying to wage something of a culture war . The president s not talking about race, the president s talking about pride in our country. What you saw yesterday were players and fans of all races joining together as americans to honor our service members. Thats what the president is talking about, thats what his focus is on. As you guys know the president has a event in a few minutes so well close there. Thank you very much. Have a good day. It is a cultural reference. You should at least speak to that. Tom brady didnt come to the white house