Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sarah Sanders for January 23, 2018
Q - about the Africa meeting. It deals with economics, it deals with national security, as well as immigration. In light of all the controversy over immigration and the alleged racist comments that were made, can you both talk about that? And also how you're trying to quell the upset of the African Union and the African leaders after last week.
MR. COHN: I'll let you - I've talked enough.
GENERAL MCMASTER: Okay. Well, the President will be building on what was a very successful meeting with African leaders on the side of the U.N. General Assembly late last year.
And it was in that meeting and in some remarks that I think could have received broader attention, the President laid out a very clear direction for our relationship with key African nations in particular.
And the need is obvious for us to work together on issues of security. Our interests overlap completely in the area of transnational terrorist organizations and other who are attempting to polarize societies and create these cycles of violence - tribal and sectarian violence - that is a grave threat to security and then also of prosperity, as a result.
And our interests overlap in encouraging American investment in Africa, and African investment in the United States. The President and Administrator Green have laid out a very clear vision for how we want to evolve our economic relationships and our development initiatives in Africa, in particular in the National Security Strategy.
Africa is the perfect place for us to transition from just delivery of assistance to robust trade and economic relationships that benefit the people of the United States and the people of Africa.
And, as you know, there have been some tremendously successful programs - the PEPFAR program, for example, that shows the power of when the United States works with key African leaders and communities to take on threats that are health-involved. But also you see tremendous security cooperation and relationships over time.
So there's a lot they're going to be able to talk about, especially because President Kagame is going into the presidency of the African Union. So it will be a discussion about how to advance a mutual agenda that is in the interest of the African continent, and nations within that continent, and the United States.
Q How would you characterize the relationship with Britain at the moment, given the decision of the President to pull out of his trip to the UK next month? And do you think that there will be a fresh arrangement made for a visit to take place in the foreseeable future?
GENERAL MCMASTER: Well, of course, the President is prioritizing his meeting with Prime Minister May because we do have a special relationship. It's a special relationship not only in words, but it's how we work together, really, on every issue. It is very, very hard to find any place where our interests don't overlap almost completely with those of the United Kingdom.
And we are working together in a very effective manner, at the U.N., for example, on some of these problems, but then in a bilateral sense - within international organizations, but bilaterally.
And so the President will talk about those key topics of mutual concern. You can imagine what those are. And so we have seen there, obviously, no diminishment - only growth and strength of our relationship and cooperation with a great ally.
Q You mentioned the President wants to make bilateral trade agreements, and he's made pretty clear he doesn't like multilateral ones. Could you just tell us what bilateral trade agreements are in the works right now, and what do you think will be the first ones completed?
MR. COHN: Look, we've got Ambassador Lighthizer working on a bunch of different agreements as we speak here. He's also involved in NAFTA renegotiation. We're also having conversations with Korea, on renegotiating some of the terms in Korea. So he's got a lot on his plate -
Q So are there any new bilateral agreements?
MR. COHN: There are some new discussions that we're starting to work on. So there are things -
Q Can you mention the specific country?
MR. COHN: I'm not going to. I'm not - I'm going to let Ambassador Lighthizer handle his negotiations in the fashion he wants to handle them. And when he think it's time to make them public, he'll make them public.
Eamon, the last question. Then you can have Sarah back.
Q You guys are going to be in a hotbed of globalization tomorrow at Davos. You're going to get a question about the tariffs that you put into place. The question is often asked by critics, isn't this just hurting American consumers who want to go out and buy washing machines or solar panels, that they're going to pay a higher price at the store when they go to do that? How do you answer that?
MR. COHN: Well, on the washing machine situation, as I said, both of these companies are opening manufacturing plants. One of them could be open within the next 30 days or less, which will hire 1,000 new employees there. So they will be manufacturing washing machines here in the United States. We do have a very large domestic manufacture of washing machines.
So when we've looked at it - we've studied this quite extensively - and I said, this was a very rigorous process that went through a bipartisan committee; they made a recommendation. Then, the Trade Ambassador held hearings as well; he made a recommendation. And then there was extensive meetings with the President. The President understands that, and he understands the importance of the economy and the price of consumer goods to consumers.
So we've taken that all into account as we've made the decisions. The President cares enormously about growing the economy and keeping the economy on the right track, and making sure that our consumers have the best opportunity possible. But he also cares very much about the workforce in the United States, and making sure that we create a great job environment and we create workforce participation, and we create wage growth. And we've got to get both of those right; it's something we're committed to do.
Thank you very much.
Q Just to follow up, you've been to Davos a lot over the course of your career. The President, I don't believe, has been there before. So what's one thing, you think, he'll find there that he wouldn't expect?
MR. COHN: A lot of snow - 14 feet of snow. (Laughter.) And I've never seen 14 feet of snow there either. So it will be interesting to see.
MS. SANDERS: Thank you, Director Cohn, General McMaster. Before we get started with questions, I have a story that I'd like to read, and then deliver a special message from the President.
Today, an inspiring family and a brave little girl from Brownfield, Texas are facing a challenge that is inspiring their friends and neighbors, and now, hopefully, an entire nation.
Nine-year-old Sophia Marie Campa Peters suffers from a rare disease that causes the blood vessels in her brain to narrow and close. Three years ago, this condition resulted in Sophia enduring four massive strokes.
The strokes left her partially paralyzed. Since then, she has undergone numerous surgeries, but she has faced each one of them with a fearless exuberance for life that warms the heart of everyone she meets.
When the doctors told her she would never walk again, she dismissed them. "If you're only going to talk about what I can't do, then I don't want to hear it," she said. "Just let me try."
Not only did she try, she succeeded, leaving her doctors dumfounded. When they asked how she was doing these things, she had a simple answer: "Because I'm awesome," and she'd smile.
During the holidays in 2016, Sophia had several more minor strokes, but she kept fighting. One of the neurosurgeons told her mom, "This little girl has God on her side."
These experiences led Sophia's mom to realize that her daughter's incredible faith could have a profound impact on others. "In a world where things are so bad and ugly, when there is so much loss of faith," she said, "people needed to hear Sophia's story so that they could hear a true testament to God's grace and His glory revealed."
This Friday, Sophia will undergo brain surgery at Boston Children's Hospital, and she has one request: She has asked the entire world come together and pray for her on the day of her surgery. In her amazing, nine-year-old mind, that meant creating a goal of just reaching 10,000 people.
We want to make sure she gets that and far exceeds it. So today, Sophia, I'm here to tell you that millions of people from every corner of the world will be praying for you on January 26th.
And among those will be people and all of us here at the White House, including President Trump. He told me to tell you to keep fighting, to never give up, keep inspiring us all, and never, ever lose faith in God. With Him, all things are possible.
Thought that was a very inspiring and a great message for all of us to remember and remind us. So thank you, Sophia, for your strength and for reminding us of that today.
And with that, I will take your questions.
Steve.
Q Sarah, given how far apart the parties are on the immigration deal, how hard is it going to be to get a deal by February 8th?
MS. SANDERS: I don't think they're that far apart. Look, you saw a perfect example of their ability to come to the table and talk about a lot of things. I think there are a couple of places where everyone agrees.
DACA is something both Republicans and Democrats, the House and the Senate, all want to find a solution to - a permanent solution to that.
Border security - Democrats may not agree on the exact amount, but they certainly agree that there is a need for that in their willingness to do that.
Look, a lot of these individuals - both Democrats and Republicans - have voted for ending chain migration, ending the visa lottery system in the past, so I think that indicates their willingness and their agreement on that issue as well.
I think there are some - certainly, maybe the depth to which we go in each of those areas - and that's part of the negotiation. But we certainly think that there are a lot of things that we agree on. And I think, if we focus on what we agree on a lot more than what we disagree on, we can have a lot of progress and hopefully get to something that helps everybody and solves a big problem.
Q And what is the President going to do to facilitate an agreement?
MS. SANDERS: He's going to continue what he has been doing - talking to members from both the Republican side, Democrats, House, Senate.
And one of the things I think that has been very important in this process, and one of the things I think was really important in the shutdown process is the President has laid out exactly what he wants to see, and he's laid out the principles that need to be addressed for a piece of legislation that he's actually willing to sign.
And I think that is a huge and, first, very important step. And then he'll help facilitate those conversations and negotiations as we move forward.
Cecilia.
Q The President said today nobody knows for sure whether they'll be able to reach a deal on DACA. Could this White House envision a scenario in which these DREAMers are deported? Would that be something the President is okay with?
MS. SANDERS: Look, I think the President has stated what he would like to see happen. And at this point, the President is willing to sign something to find a permanent solution for DACA, and he has placed the responsibility which the Constitution has placed - and he has reminded the Congress that it is their job to actually get that legislation passed and send it to him.
Again, he's going to play a big role in the process, but it's on Congress to get that legislation through the two bodies and hit the President's desk.
Q And the budget director said today that the President's position on DACA depends on what the White House gets in an immigration deal. Is the White House using these DREAMers as a bargaining chip? Is that the strategy?
MS. SANDERS: Not at all. But you can't fix the problem if you just tinker with the immigration in a small way. We want to make sure that we're not having this problem and this conversation and this fight in two years; in three years; in four years.
We want to address making a permanent solution to DACA, but at the same time closing the loopholes so we don't have to continue having this battle. But we also want to put some things in place with border security. Because if you don't, you're not actually solving the problem, you're just extending it and making us have to deal with it at a later time.
Kevin.
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