Including the staff the the congressional black caucus, and staff throughout various committees. Weve used this work period as an opportunity to invite staffers from both sides of the aisle to come to the white house and discuss shared priorities and find Common Ground on the way forward. And were not just reaching out to capitol hill. We have actively engaged with key leaders and policy makers around the country. Its critical to gather information from states and from people throughout the country rather than just leaders in washington. So to discuss specific action he can take. They leaders, many of whom represent some of the countrys largest manufacturers, Cabinet Members and key aides of the president s staff. The Working Group will engage in a deepdive conversation on the attendees specific areas of expertise. Topics of discussion include deregulation, tax and trade, and infrastructu
infrastructure. After the gripes conclude their discussion, the president s it is staff will compile the feedback and for a Listening Session on some of their recommendations. As you can tell by the structure of the meeting, the president is expecting these real creating a dynamic and booming economy that works for all americans. This tibets to be at the top of his domestic policy agenda. As a successful businessman, the president knows if were going to get the country back to work, we need to hear directly from sxwrob creators, what is holding them back and where appropriate take tips to remove the behalfiers. The in a key economic and Economy Economic indicators are showing its working. Ceo and confidence are up, and jan wear numbers were strong. The meetings on thursday will continue to build on that momentum. With that, im glad to take some questions. Steve holland . Steve is not here. Jeff mason against it then. Can you give us an update on the administrations plans with regard to transgender bathrooms again in schools . And can you confirm there has been disgreat between Secretary Devos and the Attorney General . Why expect further guidance to come out on that today. The president , as i said yesterday, is a Firm Believer in States Rights. When you look at the guidance issued under the obama to the best of my knowledge that was he stalled, and several legal reasons and several procedure renals, both who jointly issued that guidance are now working together again under a trump administration. They have been reviewing the guide krantz that was signed and i think theres several he areas
president had very specific goals to enact that he promised the American People, you want to make sure the person fulfilling that job is actually committed to the agenda and vision the president set forth and promised the American People. So there is thats something were always going to be making smur is in alignment. Is the Approval Process in some what slowing down the appointment of crucial staff. Not at all. When you like across where we are were doing very very well with getting all of these positions filled. I think once in a while you might hear one or two people, but overall generally speaking, i mentioned how much of the Beachhead Teams we had and those members appointed had 120 days they were there to a i lieu it to make sure a and thats whats happening, but make no mistakes. We were ahead of the curve on the Beachhead Teams, very clear with the landing teams, its been a methodical process than seen from top to bottom through, and i think were doing a phenomenal job. Marta . Which marta . Oh, luck where me. Reporter i have a [ laughter ] reporter the president in the Roosevelt Room just said, among other things that the tax plan is nearly finalized but cant be submitted until the Health Car Plan Statutorily what i wanted to clarify, is the white house doing a Health Care Proposal . Or was he talking about congress and the white house . Obviously theres two vehicles, requisition the bloom better answer, the fy17
reconciliation was never completed, because the budget wasnt finalized in the last congress. I think we want to look at the opportunities and make sure and then you could utilize the 2018 reconciliation to do tax reform. Again, thats not prescriptive, but as far as why the president is saying it that way is because weve got that option available to us right now. I think the president is committed to making sure that the promise that he made to the American People to repeal and replace obamacare continues to be first and foremost, and then his tax plan, but its not a we can walk and chew gum kind of thing. We can continue to work with the leadership in both houses. Reporter just the bloom birk the time line, there is things that will happen then, there will be a budget plan that you guys are going to present on march 13thish . Ish. This is where i got lost. Something from him and something from them and then a plan afterwards . Look, when were really to announce i think you have obamacare, the budget, tax reform, a very busy march and april for us, and we continue to work with congress to make sure that its implemented. Noah beerman. He had a complete shutdown of muslims during the campaign. There were a lot of people who thought that was a very good proposal. Can you explain his elf lice of backing down from that . And can you say whether he regrets using that rhetoric, since it ended up hurting the court case . Again i go back to the merits of the case, and the order that gave him the authority to make that. U. S. Code 1182 is very clear. The president was very clear in his Executive Order that these were countries that we didnt have the proper vetting for when
it came to ensuring the safety of americans. Thats what the Executive Order said. The authority is re clear, and i think youll continue to see the president take the steps necessary to protect this country. Thats why hes talking about fighting this on both fronts, making sure we keep evolving through the court system, and then looking forwards the next draft of the Executive Order that will continue to achieve the goal of protecting the American People. Thats where we are, thats what the order says, and so i think we continue to feel confident that thats but it was crafted in a way that was very clear about the countries and was not focused on Anything Else but the Vetting Requirement we have to make sure that we know who is coming into this country and were here not to do us any harm. Talking about fulfilling his promising, can you explain why he decided to back down from that . I think hes made it clear, noah, from the beginning that
this was a countryfocused issue, and i dont see anything other than that with reference to that. Debra saunders . Reporter is the oscars are for sunday night. Will the president be watching . If theres a meryl streep kind of moment, how do you think hell react . And why this has happened in other award ceremonies. Why do you think this happening . Why do i think what happens . Actors. I have no idea. Its a free country. I think hollywood is known for rather being farther to the left, and i have to be honest, i think the president will be hosting the governors ball, mrs. Trump looks forward to putting together a phenomenal event that will welcome our nations governors to the capitol. I think thats where theyll be focused sunday night. So well go from there. Reporter the president has a
big audience next tuesday in the joint and. Does he have a sell of goals in mind . Do you think well see specific policy rollouts as part of that speech . I think i mentioned this yesterday. I think its going to talk remind the American People what hes done already, and make sure that he explains to them not just because of a sense of accomplishment in moving the country forward, but because i think its important for the American People to know he was an agent of change. He came here to get things done, and he didnt waste any time. He committed to keeping hi word, and then i think hell lay out his vision. The problems that we face as a country, the violence in some of our inner cities, but also some of the solutions that we can act on and some of the partnerships we can create, its obviously still a Work In Progress, but i think it will look forward to where he wants to take this
country and talk about working with congress and other leaders throughout the country to get things done, but i think in the drafts i have seen so far, it is going to be a very strong blueprint of where he wants to take this country. In the past i think a lot of president s or some, rather have gotten into detail spocks. I think youll see him try to talk about politics, and what defining success is, what that goal means, but its still a Work In Progress republican optimistic . Yeah, i think this is an opportunity for him to lay out a very positive vision for the nation and really let america know where we can go and how we can get there, and the potential we have as a nation. Anita . Reporter will he i know past president s, including President Obama, immediately hit the road but Something Like the
state of the union address. To sell policies, since its more of a vision i think there will be some travel. Thats evolving right now. Theres a lot of things that were trying to look at, and i think as we look at the speech and some of the objectives and goals and vision that hes sharing, talk to him about potential places to go to highlight that, but i think youre going to see a fair amount of visits in the next few weeks to highlight some of the places that he wants to take it. Reporter ive seen members of Congress Last were, theres the legislative meeting today. It feels as if we havent seen as many Executive Actions or Executive Orders. I know we have the one vetting coming out this week. Are we in a different phase that hes sort of done the Executive Orders he wants to do . No, we have several in the pipeline, and part of it is just you know, these days are
focused with these meetings and getting things done, and trying to plan ahead. So as we see fit, and as the Implementation Process of a lot of these goes through the process, well have future plenty more. Fimplgts legislative emphasis now . Its both. Part of this is we work through congress, aknit were talking about fundamental tax reform, something that happened since 1986. The repeat and replacement of obamacare, which is mammoth. I think part of it is those things take time. He has a Joint Address on tuesday. Theres a lot of things that are happening, and therefore we need to kind of make sure that we appropriately use the schedule. But i can assure you if youve missed Executive Orders, you will see a bunch. I know, i want to do make sure you knew. Jonathan karl. At the present time referred to
socalled Sangry Crowds . Is he suggesting this is manufactured anger and this is not real anger and real thanks. I think theres a hybrid there. I think some people are clearly upset, but there is a bit of professional protester manufactured base in there. But obviously there are people that are upset, but i also think that when you look at some of these districts and some of these things, it is it is not a representation of a members district or an incident. It is a loud group, small group of people disrupting something, in many cases for media attention, no offense. Just because theyre loud doesnt necessarily mean there are many. I think in a lot of cases thats what youre seeing. Reporter not saying theres real anger i just said that. Reporter theres real concern i think thats a false narrative. I dont the president has been very clear, look, you have
to look at what our Health Care System is right now. In so many counties around our nation weve gone down to one provider. Thats not choice, thats not access and in a lot of cases were not taking medicare, the doctor you used to have havent participating anymore and by the way, states like arizona, you have over 100 increase in premiums. Many statesi doubledigit. And i think that the idea that we have to remember is that the American People got sold the Affordable Care act. Its neither affordable or accessible. Theyre losing their coverage and premiums are spiking. If people this should be appl d applauding the president s action for wanting to ensure we have a system in place that does what they were promised a while back. Thats what i think is missing from this dialogue. Ive seen some folks protesting, saying im on obama care and im
going to lose my thing, and when they asked how old they were, theyre not on obamacare, theyre on medicaid. Theyre not making it up, but some are on employerbased insurance, or medicaid or medicare because of their age. So they have no problems. But i think in other cases people are being told the plan theyre on is unsustainable, that these carriers throughout the country. Look at them over and over again pulling out of the exchanges. The reality is they are losing their health care, but theyre losing it under obamacare because the exchanges are collapsing on themselves, carriers are pulling out, so the president s plan is actually going to do exactly what they were promised eight years ago and didnt get. So for those who are worried, the answer is help is on the
way. Reporter what goes tis the . First, the president made cheer well have it out in a couple weeks. The goal is they god it jammed through the democratcontrolled, so taking the time, getting this right to achieve the goss is probably the right thing to do considering the experience we had the last time. Hall hallie . Reporter at one point the Caitlyn Jenner could use whatever bathroom he wanted so why system a priority . I dont think its a priority. Its not a priority. There is a case pending in the Supreme Court in which we have to decide whether or not to continue to issue guidance to the court. Its not its dictated by that. The Obama Administration a issued joint guidance. We now have to decide whether or not this administration wants to continue that track that they were on. Its plain and simple. If we dont, but there are problems in the legal and process way in which that guidance was issued. So its incumbent upon us to actually follow the law and recognize that title ix never talked about this. This was an act in 1972. There was no discussion of this back then. To assume certain elements were thought about back then would be completely preposterous. You think Secretary Devos is on board with this . Yes, is 00 . The Second Question is on mexico. The Secretary Of State along with Secretary Kelly. Obviously there have been tensions between did this is this a cleanup job . No, i think the president s and Foreign Ministers had several contacts with our staff. I would argue that we have a very healthy and robust relationship with the Mexican Government and officials. I think, president nieto has
echoed that. I think theres an unbelievable and robust dialogue. Thank you. Reporter on syria, the general indicated the u. S. Needs to take a larger share of the burden and send troops to syria. Has the president discussed this with his National Security team . Im going to refer you backs to dod. I would argue youve seen the president talk about safe harbors in syria with several foreign safe havens, thank you, thats an area at the top of the president s Foreign Policy agenda that hes continued to talk to leaders especially in the middle east, about trying to make sure we deal with that issue in that area right now. But im not going to get ahead of the dod on this . Look, i will if i have an
update, i will give it to you tomorrow. President trump indicating the Prime Minister wants the u. S. An Canada Council for advancement of women entrepreneurs, have you talked a bit about how its growing . Staff is implementing the president s agenda. It occurred six, seven days ago. Well have further updates, but i know that he continues to be in touch with the Prime Minister trudeau and our staff continues to do to work on the back end to make this happen. A few questions for you. Does the white house not have confidence in its Cabinet Secretaries if its looking over their shoulders . Does the white house does the president not trust his Cabinet Secretary . The staff to find people who agree with the president s agenda . Not at all. The president named these folks, because theyre an unbelievably
qualified individuals. Part of is youre attaching major deposition, somewhere in the area of 5,000 positions to fill. I dont even this i the secretaries, to some degree, depending on the department have a full background. As they get pumped through the pipeline. Again there are areas that are of key prior