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Friends. people are quite shocked he would receive the nomination. especially people who have worked there. you know what working there is like and you know the challenges that the v.a. secretaries face. he doesnt have the political experience, the policy experience. it would be very difficult for him to be successful in that environment. >> what do you need from your own personal experience working there, what do you need to be a successful leader in that position? >> well, you need to have exp...

>> reporter: thank you. were any of these background checks or since he was named for nominee of the v.a. secretary, has the white house ever been informed about these allegations, like excessively drinking on the job or passing out medication like candy since he was the physician for president trump? >> im not aware of any of those allegations being made until the nomination was made. >> reporter: and to follow up on what i was asking about the background check. when was his most recent backgro...

You know, which led me to ask a follow-up question about something that was raised in this briefing and that is why is it that the united states seems to be dropping when it comes to rankings of press freedom all around the world during this administration. it just happened recently, somebody asked about it in the room. i asked sarah sanders are you saying this administration is some sort of champion of a free press. she feels because she come up to the podium and answers questions that somehow ...

Of doing the job, he wouldnt have announced his nomination in the first place. >> reporter: just since you brought up being taken out of context, it seems to be a press-related question. are you trying to say this administration is a champion of a free press? >> i certainly think as i stated a moment ago, we support a prepress but we also for a fair press and i think those things should go hand in hand and theres a certainly responsibility by the press to report accurate information. >> reporter...

Given time. >> and knowing ronny jacksons character, i find it hard to believe as on-duty physician, i would -- >> i got you, i got you. >> even if all of this stuff is false, hes still not qualified to run this agency. >> this is low-hanging fruit in the whole narrative of whats going on here. what should be going on is can he execute -- >> which was the initial focus and then out come these stories and the allegations that now members of congress have paused the hearings because they want to f...

Never actually disavowed that proposal. it was also noted he has not made those comments since being sworn in as president. does the white house disavow that campaign proposal or does it stand by it? >> the administrations top priority is to secure the safety and security of the american people. for that reason the administration has put in place enhanced global security measures to improve screening and vetting capabilities and share information. its working. there has been significant improvem...

Actually create laws and they have to be part of this process and fi and fix this problem. >> id like to ask you about the drop for the ranking in the united states and the world press freedom index, the united states now down to 45 and according to reporters without borders, much of the blame for that goes to the president for his attacks on the media. whats the reaction of the white house and does it accept that the presidents comments has denigrated freedom of the press in the united states? ...

Li lets pivot to the white house. >> president trump and president macron had a number of important conversations on critical issues facing each nation at home and abroad. as the president said yesterday, the future between the united states and france has never looked brighter. tomorrow the administration will be participating in the 25th anniversary of take our daughters and sons to work day. the president looks forward to welcoming many of your children and the children of those who work here...

Administration is very important to me. he goes on, this is all about dr. jackson. and as far as experience is concerned, the veterans administration, which is approximately 13 million people is so big you could run the biggest hospital system in the world and its small time compared to the veterans administration. so nobody has the experience. let me add another voice here. brandon friedman, former director of digital media for veterans affairs, both a veteran in iraq and afghanistan. thank you...

Prescribed opioids. during the last national takeback day in october, americans disposed of a record breaking 900,000 pounds of prescription pills. the trump administration encourages everyone to take part. for more details, visit takeback day.dea.gov to find your election election site and learn how to safely dispose of prescription medication. with that ill take your questions. >> reporter: i asked the president about the allegations that dr. ronny jackson has been facing. more allegation have...