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🔴LIVE: STATE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING ON USAID
Recorded: March 21, 2025 Duration: 0:39:43Space Recording
Short Summary
In a recent briefing, the U.S. State Department announced significant partnerships with Qatar and the UAE to facilitate humanitarian efforts, while also imposing sanctions on Iranian oil exports as part of a broader strategy to enhance national security. The administration's commitment to justice was underscored by the extradition of a suspect in a high-profile case, reflecting a growing trend towards accountability. Additionally, the U.S. continues to advocate for democratic governance in Syria and engages in diplomatic discussions with the Taliban, signaling a shift in foreign policy dynamics.
Full Transcription
Hi, everybody.
Nice climate control in here.
Yeah.
The air there. All right. Thank you, everybody. Lights seem a little brighter today. I don't
know if that's good or bad. All right. Yeah, these lights are really bright. Is that a
different setting or it might be my mood. All right, everybody. Thank you. Welcome aboard.
I've got a bit of announcement for you here before we start our everybody. Thank you. Welcome aboard. I got a bit of announcement for you here
before we start our questions. Thank you again for coming.
I'm Tammy Bruce, obviously the spokesperson for the State Department. Thank you very much for being here. As Secretary Rubio said, George Gleesman is free. George was wrongfully detained in
Afghanistan for two and a half years. He arrived at Joint Base Andrews earlier today,
where he was greeted by his wife and a small welcoming party. Ryan Corbett, who had been held
in the same cell as George in Afghanistan, was there with his wife, Anna. After a brief ceremony,
George and Alexandra flew to another location in the United States to rest and recover.
We are grateful for the government of Qatar's support in bringing George home. The United
Arab Emirates also played a role in facilitating the initial discussions. We remain deeply
concerned about the well-being of Mahmoud Habibi and other Americans still detained
in Afghanistan. The safety and security of Americans abroad
remains a highest priority of this State Department.
And we are working tirelessly to bring Americans home.
In addition, for the first time,
the United States is sanctioning
a so-called teapot refinery in China
for purchasing millions of barrels of oil
worth approximately half a billion dollars. We are also sanctioning
several additional entities and vessels in Iran's shadow fleet for shipping millions of barrels of
Iranian oil to China. Iran's behavior across the globe threatens U.S. national security interests.
President Trump has reimposed a maximum pressure campaign designed to end Iran's nuclear threat,
curtail its ballistic
missile program, and stop it from supporting terrorist groups.
The maximum pressure campaign is designed to drive Iran's oil exports, which it uses
to fund its destabilizing activities to zero. This includes oil exports to China. Now, also, we know that President Trump has never forgotten or stopped fighting for justice
after Sarah Root was tragically murdered in 2018 by an illegal alien who was driving under
the influence and became a fugitive from justice.
Today, nine years after Sarah's passing, the night of her college graduation, her parents will
know that their tireless advocacy was not in vain.
Justice and accountability under the Trump administration prevailed as the culprit of
Sarah's death has been extradited from Honduras to the United States, so he can face justice
once and for all.
I want to express this is the secretary's statement.
He wants to express his gratitude to the Honduran government for their cooperation in this extradition.
So, that is a statement that's been on the record from the secretary of state, Marco
Rubio, about this excellent turn of events regarding Sarah and the justice now that her
parents and her family
will be able to enjoy.
And I would like to open it up for questions
thinking you might have some.
Yes, sir.
Oh, Matt, Matt.
I wanted to just make sure he was watching
and listening, Matt Lee.
I was actually gonna say that I don't really have anything
that they can start off with.
I psychically could tell
because the page in front of you, sir, is blank.
So let's do something different. We'll come back to Matt so he can recover. Yes, sir.
I'm not even thinking of usurping that.
And let's also do for people who are watching at home, obviously, my fourth briefing, at some point
I won't keep numbering them, but a lot of new people keep watching every time and it's the
American people wanting to get a sense of what is on your minds, what we're doing. And I look forward
to doing that. So let's go.
Two questions for you. Yes, first off, hope you're doing well.
Yesterday, the interesting combination of Elizabeth Warren and Joe Wilson sent a letter
to secretaries Rubio and Besson inquiring about the possible unwinding of broad sanctions
on Syria, including investment sanctions, which leads to the question, where does the
State Department stand right now on Syria? Is it more the European flavor of kind of
opening up the arms a little bit? Is it Israel's view of staying away? It's too dangerous right
now. If you can give an overview, it'd be great.
I can give you, I can give you a little bit, certainly. I don't know if a full overview or not.
But we are monitoring the Syrian interim authorities' actions in general across a number
of issues as we determine and think about the future U.S. policy for Syria. We also continue
to call for an inclusive, civilian-led government that can ensure national institutions are effective,
responsive and representative.
Local ownership and broad societal support is necessary for stability in Syria and the
region. As recent deadly violence on the coast demonstrated, long-term stability and prosperity
for the people of Syria requires a government that protects all Syrians equally.
Ultimately, the United States wants a Syria that lives in peace with its neighbors,
respects human rights and prohibits terrorists from using its territory
as a safe haven.
A clear designs, they're clear parameters, easy to understand.
And we're watching to see how they behave and how they how they react.
Second question for you.
US-South Africa relations obviously not good right now
after declaring the ambassador for Saanen Andrade a new issue
arising now, the South African presidency putting pressure
on the Johannesburg City Council not to move forward
with an effort to rename the street upon which the US
consulate resides in honor of a Palestinian hijacker.
That move by the South African presidency, is that as a result of direct pressure from the State Department or is that being done on their own volition to try to mend fences?
Well, we have seen the reporting on the issue and we don't comment on internal deliberations between
really any city and its government, certainly the city of Johannesburg and the government in this case of South Africa. And perhaps South Africa would refer you to
Johannesburg or South Africa for more details. But that's what I have for you.
State, did state get involved in any manner?
That's what I have for you. All right, Matt Lee, who's still scrolling.
I'm trying to find something and I can't find it.
Well, welcome to my world. Yes, Nadia
two questions on Sudan first the
The army has took over the presidential palace
Do you see a change on the ground and what is US position?
Regarding this development and second on Gaza the Israelis are
this development. And second, on Gaza, the Israelis are declaring that they want to annex Gaza,
or parts of Gaza, at least. Is any new initiative to bring them back to the negotiation table for
the ceasefire? Well, first on your first question, the SAF, the Sudanese Armed Forces, they have
retaken the presidential palace in Khartoum. The ongoing fighting in Khartoum further underscores
the devastating consequences of the conflict for the people of Sudan.
And we continue to urge the warring parties to cease hostilities and facilitate the safe,
unhindered movement of lifesaving humanitarian assistance.
So we're watching that. I think the world should be. Much of it is watching that situation.
And that seems to be an important event. But we're watching and we're aware of it.
As far as Gaza, look, we're still dealing with the efforts to have a ceasefire, which
we had and was courtesy of Hamas, broken because of their lack of action on the parameters
of the ceasefire itself.
We of course stand by our ally Israel, as I mentioned, every day, happily so.
And so I certainly won't comment on or speculate on other hypotheses of what people think is
going or not going to happen.
I think the main goal is right humanitarian supplies, the nature of the violence stopping.
That is the sole focus of the nature of where we're at at this point.
I'm going to well, I don't know, is it?
Can I follow up on this?
I'll get back to you, Saeed. Let's keep going here.
This is your last chance. Yes, sir.
Today was supposed to be the deadline for the visa review that was called for in the executive order.
There's some indication that that deadline may have actually been extended.
Can you shed any light on that?
I can tell you that the deadline is now not today. I can't tell you the specifics, but
it's don't expect that to be that today is a day that something will have to come out.
Of course, what we do know is that what I can say to you is that the Department of State
is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa
process.
As laid out by Trump's executive order, which is what initiated this dynamic, the visa adjudication
process must ensure that U.S.-bound foreign travelers do not pose a threat to the national
security and public safety of the United States.
This was obviously a huge discussion on September 12, 2001.
And this is an issue that Americans care about and the nation's safety requires.
The department, however, does not comment on internal deliberations or communications
to the extent where, at least I can tell you that, the deadline is not today.
And then just one other thing, which is also kind of a very brief thing, but you know,
this lawsuit that's going on that's been the topic of, well, much attention on the AEA
to deport veterans.
Well, you obviously know I'm not going to speak to anything you're going to be asking
me because it involves a legal process.
Well, and filing even today.
Well, I know, but it says that there's cabinet-level discussions about using a state secret authority
to...
Well, I have to ask.
You do have to ask.
And this is, I think, for everyone watching and everyone here, they're learning from you,
unfortunately.
Yes, absolutely ask.
That's part of it.
Americans wondering what is it you guys are looking at? What are you concentrating on?
But also learning that when you've got a process
within the legal system and also diplomatic conversations,
et cetera, there are certain things
that I can't speak about.
And that's one of them.
But thank you, sir.
Andrea Mitchell.
Thank you so much, Tammy.
The president acknowledged today that if there are mistakes
that were made in taking some
of the people to El Salvador, in the identifications of people, that they will be corrected.
One of the efforts or the obligation of the State Department to follow up some of the
complaints from families that their relatives were taken and are not gang members and do
not have a violent history, to follow up with
El Salvador, what rights do people have once they are taken to El Salvador and are in that
prison under human rights and under State Department procedures, when they are taken
under the rubric of national security?
Well, a few things, of course.
I don't speak for the White House or the president.
He had some great comments to make earlier today, as you know, as you're referencing.
And I think his comments speak for themselves.
I also can't speak about the individuals who have been transported or legal
mechanisms or diplomatic mechanisms regarding their status.
But what I can say is that our relationship with President Bukele is excellent, that this
isn't a situation where there's no communication or relationship that doesn't continue on with
El Salvador or the president. And, of course, this is an issue that we also continue to
focus on.
So, that, I can tell you, is, if the president mentioned it, I think that sends a signal, if not more so,
about his commitment and the nature of what he knows
and what he says he's going to do about it.
And that's where we're gonna leave it.
Well, let me just follow up,
because the video certainly that was taken by El Salvador
showed some harsh treatment.
Does the US feel any obligation
in terms of human rights or legal authority
when people are taken to another
country to a prison to follow up on what the conditions are in which they're being held?
Well, again, that is also DHS. It's not the State Department's purview in that kind of
framework, even the removing of people from the country. It's not the State Department's
purview. That's a question for the DHS, but it's certainly not
something I can even speculate on,
or I'm not going to speak on the nature of El Salvador's
process and how it handles the nature of the people
that they repatriated.
But they were taken under the authority
of the Secretary of State.
And that was implemented by the Department of Homeland Security.
So yes.
All right, now, Jen. Yes.
Humira from... Humira. This is, in all honesty, and if I was on Broadway, it might be a different situation.
It's kind of hard to see. So you'll have to forgive me in the sense of that. Humira. Yes.
Thanks, Tammy. Just a few follow ups to colleagues' questions.
Just a few follow-ups to colleagues' questions.
You not yet asked about Defense Minister Katz's comments about annexation.
I just want to make it clear, does the Trump administration support Israel annexing or
holding, permanently holding territory in Gaza?
And is the administration doing anything specifically to reopen the border for the flow of humanitarian aid?
Again, we're in a dynamic where there is diplomatic conversations happening.
We're still working to implement ceasefires and dealing with issues and questions regarding what can happen on the ground when there's still hostilities and still conflict.
I will not speak to or or guess about what the president is going to do, what he's thinking.
It's not my place. And the good news is, we have a president and a secretary of state,
as I have mentioned a few times, that are not shy men, that you will hear from them.
And you do, courtesy of social media, courtesy of statements from this department or the
White House. So, it is certainly not my place. We want to have facts of the matter that I can state to you
regarding our positions. And it is, I think, as I have mentioned to many of you, after
25-plus years of being on talk radio and television, where there is
of being on talk radio and television where there is guessing or opinion, we can't do that.
And so I'm clearly very strict in that regard.
One more. Yes, yes, yes, sir.
One more on Syria.
One more on Syria.
Okay, thank you. And thanks for that serious statement. That might actually be the clearest
and the first time that administration talked about Syria. So my follow-up is this.
Can I mention though in the midst of that? It is because of your questions, the nature of what
your interests are, and the importance of what I think we encourage here when it comes to,
you know, there's all kinds of countries and cities that are in the news all the
time, but things are happening all around the world that affect all of us. And it's that kind
of modern age. And it's exciting to be able to look for those answers and at least provide some
insight. So I'm sorry, go ahead. There is a big expectation for any sanctions relief that
US could give to Syria. Is this something the administration is thinking
about and what would it take to give sanctions relief to Syria?
You know, there are, the sanctions dynamic has not changed and there's no plans to change it
at this point. But there is, so the existing measures that have always existed remain.
And I understand why that's a question.
But we have authorized Syria General License 24, which allows for transactions meant to
help stabilize Syria.
So it is not a blanket block, but the previous measures remain.
But there is General general license 24.
Again, that allows for transactions to help facilitate the stabilizing of that nation.
All right.
Yes, sir.
You speak a little bit on Syria.
I was wondering what's the State Department assessment on the new Syrian constitution
that was drafted by the interim authority, which the draft was rejected by the minority groups.
And they are saying that it has grants likely no rights
of these minority groups, like Kurds and Jews.
So one thing I can tell you, we are following developments
that Ahmed al-Sharah signed, I guess
signed a so-called constitutional declaration.
And note, concerns expressed around consolidation of power by al-called constitutional declaration. And note concerns expressed around consolidation
of power by Al-Sharad.
We continue to call, as I mentioned in my first part of my statement, for an inclusive,
civilian-led government to ensure national institutions are effective, responsive, legitimate,
and representative. And we are continuing to watch the interim authorities' actions
to see if they guarantee equal rights and treatment for all Syrians and preserve individual freedoms
as outlined in that constitutional declaration.
So we continue to watch, and I think that will bear out the nature of what it is we're
dealing with.
Bottom line, we continue to stand with the people of Syria.
And a question on Iran.
You spoke about Iran too, and that the policy of this administration is very clear.
I'm sorry, I'm not... Can you start again, please?
Yeah, sure. You spoke about Iran, and I think that the policy of this administration towards Iran is pretty much clear.
But the Iranian has rejected direct talks with you. But my question is that what other options are on the table
when it comes to Iran and make Iran that not pursuing
getting nuclear weapons?
Well, certainly sanctions, as we have applied,
to say the least.
Iran's behavior, as we know, across the globe,
threatens US national interests, which is
why President Trump has reimposed the maximum pressure campaign designated to end Iran's
nuclear threat, curtail its ballistic missile program, and stop it from supporting terrorist
groups.
The president has made clear Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.
So it — and that includes, again, the sanctions of nations
that are assisting that framework,
the sanctions, again, on a company regarding China.
And there's a number of things diplomatically
that can be done.
This administration has been very effective in that regard,
considering their position regarding
stopping malign behavior, while also believing
that wars have to end, to say the least.
All right.
Yes, Sayid, you asked before.
Keep going.
Yes.
Thank you, Tammy.
Just to follow up on the annexation issue, because it's a big issue.
It's been the American position, the steadfast official position, that no to reoccupying
Gaza and definitely no to annexation.
So do you feel that the U.S. is going to
stick to this policy, or there's going to be some change regarding this issue? And then
I have a follow-up on the humanitarian situation.
Well, and I know you ask, and I appreciate your passion and asking about the humanitarian
situation. That's what we all think about. We think about it here at State in a certain fashion, and you do yours. But, again, when we think about rumors or suggestions or hypotheses or
things talked about in the media is not a basis for my commentary about whether or not something
is or is not going to happen. What I have expressed to you, what we do know is what is
public and what is the policy of this administration, certainly, that Secretary Rubio
is committed to, which is ending bloodshed. Now, so, there's talk about annexing things,
or that is, if anything, for those of you who care about these issues, it is a distraction
to move past the nature of what's going on now via with one cause, which is Hamas's attitude
and actions.
And while you then, we have to deal with what is continuing and not happening because of
their choices, we are continuing to try to stop that.
So it's interesting that we can continue to keep in light,
sir, just a minute, keep in our minds
the nature of what's in front of us,
which is still to stop the wholesale slaughter of people,
the use of other individuals as human shields,
the general chaos that that causes,
and the fact that there are ways to stop it.
And that's what we're working on now. But others, perhaps, they want us to always talk
about something else, to get people distracted about that thing, so you stop looking at what
is the thing that we need to deal with immediately.
And I look to the Trump administration and to Secretary Rubio as examples of keeping their eyes on the prize and working methodically in this moment to get us to where we need to go.
Just to follow up.
Yes, go ahead.
If you want to stay on the region.
Thank you. We'll stay on the region. And yes, sir. Just tell me, just mentioned that your goal is to stop the war and to let the humanitarian aid get inside Gaza.
And this is, I believe, the goal of everyone else.
But according to the UN, Israel stopped aid from going through the crossing 20 days now consecutively.
This is the longest since October 7.
And this happened before the renewed airstrikes now.
So there was no military operations in the region that prevent AIDS from going in.
Do you feel that this is a collective
punishment for Palestinians in Gaza to force Hamas to give some concessions?
And is this acceptable? Well, when you're asking me if I feel something,
obviously I'm not going to go into a soliloquy of what I feel. What I can tell
you is I also won't speak about a hypothetical or a separate report of what has happened with Israel.
You would need to ask the Israeli government about if something occurred that you believe
occurred or want clarity on. I don't speak for the Israeli government or for their prime
minister. I speak for the U.S. State Department. That has an interest in it.
But you're asking a question we could, we probably could discuss over dinner,
but that's not a question for this podium
or for what we are discussing here.
What we do know, what we,
there are certain things that are facts of the matter
is that Hamas has put Israel and the world
and the Gazan people in this position
because of their, the madness, the savagery
that they decided would be a good thing to do. I don't know
what they thought would occur, but it perhaps is not what has occurred, which is a unity
around the world after we saw that atrocity on October 7.
What we also, though, have done for everyone affected as a global issue, certainly first
the Gazan people, the Israelis, et cetera, but as a global unified
effort is to stop the carnage. It's a meat grinder. It's people being used by others who just seem to
not certainly they're not focused on peace at the end. It is Hamas who needs to be asked certain
questions about why this continues, because this has been their choice. There
has been elements that have been agreed upon, other steps that people, the world came together
to facilitate that the United States was committed to, and it's still, they still abandoned it.
Edan Alexander, when we talk about hostages who have been released or killers of Americans who have been extradited.
There is an American who is still being held.
The bodies of the dead being held, that is what is in front of us.
This is what needs to be stopped.
And that is what we're committed to.
Yes, sir.
With the glasses there in the back.
No, the gentleman in front of you, sir.
So thank you.
Daniele Compartangelo for Italian NA7.
So a question still about the meeting.
If you confirm the meeting with the Israeli and the Americans
next week here at the State Department and the White House,
and if so, about Iran is going to be.
That's from a reporter on Axios.
So can you, if it's true, can you tell
us, can you give us a nice ending phrase there? Yeah, can you give us some insight of what we're
going to see? If this is at the White House, as you suggested, well it's, again, I can't tell you
what's going to happen at the White House and I won't be confirming any meetings in this regard.
All right, all right, now you're ready, right?
Let's do it.
Thank you, Tanya.
You have questions about this on Monday.
It will have been almost a week since there was
the announcement about termination of funds
to USAGM broadcasters such as Voice of America
and other grantees.
As a Senator, Secretary Rubio was supportive
of the US grantee broadcast of Radio Free Asia.
He protected it from cutbacks in the past. Does he want to revive the funding for Radio Free Asia,
which broadcasts into countries like China, Cambodia, and Vietnam? And is he aware that due
to the funding termination, a number of the journalists who work for Radio Free Asia are
potentially facing, could face deportation back to countries like China and Vietnam,
where they may face imprisonment as a consequence of the reporting work that they have done for the
U.S. government by working for this outlet. And the same goes for Voice of America journalists,
who also risk deportation back to countries such as Russia, Myanmar, Belarus, China and Vietnam.
Do you have a comment?
Well, I did have that question, and I have the question out to the secretary.
It's something that I'm following up with as well.
It has been a story, understandably.
You're interested in the answers to this.
So I'm going directly to him.
It's a it's he's a busy guy.
But as I'm going to continue to look for that from him.
What I can tell you also, though, is that we're reducing clearly, he was elected in
large part to reduce the federal bureaucracy, right? It's about waste and fraud, mismanagement.
This is something that has to occur. And in any dynamic, there's going to be actions and
tough decisions that have to be made. It's a, many of us personally also have to go through that
when you're looking at a budget.
The president continues to take action
to ensure the whole of the United States government,
including executive branch agencies,
are in line with the administration's policy priorities.
And I've said before, and I have to keep saying,
is that many, many things are fluid.
And it's why it's good why you're here and
why now we're doing this three days a week, but also when we address the issue, as I asked
about the issue of visas.
There are people who are reporting certain things. And, like in any situation, if you're
in the United States and you are and you have to leave, you can also apply for asylum. If you are in a situation where you believe you're returning to your home country puts you at
significant risk, we have clearly procedures where you can apply for asylum. And that is certainly
if someone is coming from that workplace or some other situation, that's something that people can
If you have a visa, and every situation is different. That's why we don't discuss individual
visa dynamics. But if someone is here and it is a work visa, and it's their employment
is ended, there is a period of time. It's like any other visa dynamic for anyone who
holds a visa. And you can learn about that at state.gov. You can talk to there's
a whole host of people that can help you. And if you I would guess if you're here on a work visa,
that was probably a complicated, semi-complicated procedure.
And so you're aware of these things. And so this is what is obvious for anyone in this kind of a
situation, especially for those worried about the nature
of reporting or a dynamic where they're concerned about returning, there are options like that.
And that, again, is a very basic situation for everyone in that kind of a situation.
Yes, sir.
Thank you, Tammy.
I want to follow up on Iran very quickly, then I'll move to Ukraine.
Please indulge me.
Sure. You started highlighting some of the tools in your toolkit on Iran very quickly, then I'll move to Ukraine if you please indulge me. You started highlighting
some of the tools in your toolkit on Iran sanctions. As far as a particular sanction law,
it's a law of the land which is called the MASA Act, which requires the administration to target
Iranian leadership for their gross human rights violations. Is this administration willing to
implement the MASA Act? Is this administration what? Willing to implement the? Is this administration what willing to implement?
Well, I'm not that would take me knowing what their thoughts are or discussing
what diplomatic considerations are, issues that I can't.
I'm certainly not going to speculate on.
That's a hypothetical for the most part.
And I can't do that.
Thank you. Very quick.
Oh, Ukraine. I was hoping you could fill us in on the delegation is headed to Saudi Arabia.
I know one of them is.
Wait, you're going to have to stop and maybe his mic can come up.
Start again. Yeah.
Maybe a little bit more slowly, too.
Absolutely. Thank you.
Hoping you could fill us in on the delegation is headed to Saudi Arabia.
Discuss Ukraine. Michael Anton from this building is part of the team.
Anyone else you could mention, please?
And also any reaction to overnight assault on Ukraine?
Well, I'm not going to speak about
the particular individuals on the teams.
All right, it is senior officials.
It's not principals.
That's what we have.
I think it's inappropriate to discuss certainly
personnel, let alone senior officials
who might be on a negotiation team. But yeah, it's a dynamic that clearly we'll get the
results from. We'll see the details. And then we can make some assessments about perhaps
who was involved and where we go next.
All right. Now, at the end of the row here. Yes, ma'am, go ahead, please. My question is on Afghanistan.
After four years for first time American delegate
and both traveled to Kabul yesterday
and discussed with the Taliban senior leader.
My question is, does it mean the new diplomatic approach
from United States towards Taliban?
And can you clarify a side that releasing American hostage,
what other topic were discussed
in this meeting with Taliban?
Well, I wasn't at the meeting with the Taliban,
even if I was, I wouldn't give you any details.
If there was, certainly these are diplomatic considerations
and we have what the main end result,
which I think is the North Star of this framework,
is that an American is home. So that's what we have to care about. In the meantime, I think is the North Star of this framework, is that an American is home.
So, that's what we have to care about. In the meantime, I think that there's a general
series of issues that we're dealing with, but keep encouraging you to think about the
nature of the subjects that are in front of us that we're working on that are steps and
longer processes to not just keep Americans safe and get Americans
home, but to change the condition of the world that's in front of us. All right. All the way in
the back. Gentlemen, the white shirt. Yes, please. Thank you. Going back to the issue of Voice of
America and like global engagement media, the State Department was very active fighting this
information, especially through the Global Engagement Center.
They were very important in unveiling Russian state disinformation campaigns,
Portal Combat and others in the previous administration.
I wanted to ask you if the Global Engagement Center is still active.
How concerned are you that RT Sputnik News, all that Russian disinformation outlets
are going to be counter now without American state media to counter their narratives and what they
have been doing in the past years? Well, that is a stretch here. And I've mentioned this on Wednesday
that we do have a lot of very familiar structures
and systems that are changing.
And that doesn't mean that the work stops.
It means that the efforts and the outreach
and the engagement will look different perhaps.
But our values and what has informed
the United States of America from day one
through all of this time, hasn't
changed. And it's why we remain the greatest and the strongest country in the world.
We can have these conversations. But while we're in the process of change in this fashion,
it's the change of an administrative structure regarding taxpayer dollars, as we assess, is the money we're
spending, does it align with the values, with the agenda of the Trump administration that
the American people overwhelmingly voted for to get things done?
And it doesn't mean burning the House down. It means looking at how we can make it better, what needs to be changed,
what needs to be reformed, so that we can spend money in a smarter, more efficient way.
So, yes, certain entities, certain buildings will be housed differently. Certain attitudes will
perhaps change. But the goals and the attitude and the values of the United States
not only haven't changed, they've been highlighted by the election of Donald Trump, a man who
has brought back the notion of the idea that any American should be forgotten, that there
should be no forgotten man or woman, that we have a responsibility to the world, but
not in participating and facilitating wars, in doing things new
and in a different way.
And that includes within the structure of this government
and how we apply our values.
So I would argue that this is not a,
it's not a retreat.
On quite the opposite, this is a preparation
to continue the work
in a smarter, stronger way.
All right, we'll take one more question.
Yes, Alex.
Thank you so much, Debbie.
If I could just follow up on my colleagues' questions,
could you take us through the choreography of this weekend
at these technical talks?
Is it over multiple days?
How are they dividing up the two different countries?
And then I'll have a follow up on the Taliban question as well. Yes, I, this is held very close. This is
all very serious. And so I'm, I'm not going to answer the details of how it's unfolding. I,
when, when this is complete, I will pursue the nature of getting some answers and the,
and the specifics for that for you.
And I do believe one thing I can say is like with everything, with President Trump and
Secretary Rubio, things happen quickly.
So I would suspect that we will have answers on this very soon.
And then in terms of just the Taliban, and that was an unusual meeting.
It wasn't just Adam Bowler, who was in charge of getting hostages out, but he was joined
by Zalmay Khalilzad. Does he have a formal role within the Trump administration?
And Palestinian-American billionaire Bashar al-Masri was also there. Can you clarify both their roles?
AMBASSADOR CLEMENT, D-MD, FACILITY, COUNTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BASHAR AL-MASRI, FORMER
COUNTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BASHAR AL-MASRI, FORMER COUNTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BASHAR AL-MASRI
Yes. There is no one with an official government role, the gentleman you mentioned. This is certainly not a negotiation. There was no swap made.
There was no thing given to accomplish this. As a matter of fact, other hostages from Afghanistan
were released on the day of Trump's inauguration, so a little bit after noon on the 20th.
So, I think this is, in addition to terrific envoys who know how to handle this situation, it
is also the impact of a strong America led by a man who is known to do what he needs
to do to accomplish his mission.
And that is, I think, often an unusual situation.
So I hope that answers your question.
Why were they there if they don't have official...
Well, I can't speculate on that.
That's something though at some point.
But I certainly am not in a position to speculate about why they were.
Yes, ma'am, the white jacket and then that's going to be it for today.
Sure.
After the Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu's arrest this week,
there are indications that Turkish government is now cancellling the main opposition party's latest party convention
and will appoint a trustee for the main opposition.
What is the US government's reaction to this?
Because there are opinion reports mentioning
that this operation came right after President Trump
and Erdogan's phone call.
Is this still internal legal process matter in your view?
What's your outlet again, by the way?
Oh, great, great.
Welcome aboard.
Well, I can tell you a few things.
First, we're following the events in Turkey,
as you might imagine, including the reported detention
of the Istanbul mayor and a large number
of municipal employees, journalists,
and other individuals.
We would refer you to the government of Turkey for comments on internal judicial matters.
And of course, it is worth reiterating that Turkey, we, it's important that Turkey protect
the freedoms and human rights of all of its citizens consistent with the country's constitution
and in line with our shared values and democratic traditions. I'm not talking corruption charges, mayor facing of course, but how about appointing a trustee
for the main opposition? Do you have anything on that?
Well, if that is going to come up, it's not again my place to discuss it or to surmise
or to hypothesize either. I think that's going to be it for today.
All right, everybody, we will be back on Monday. We will have our briefing on Monday and Friday next week.
All right, thank you, everybody.
Thanks for being here.
It's a beautiful day out there.
Enjoy it. you you
