Mr. Spicer the story of every brave man and woman who paid the ultimate price in the battles of our revolutionary war and the battlefields today are a part of our nations proud history and i hope everyone takes time today to recognize the sacrifice so many made. With respect to the schedule today, later this afternoon, the president will be hosting house and Senate Leaders for a bicameral meeting to discuss his domestic policy agenda, specifically health care and tax reform and will host a bicameral dinner of republican members to discuss his overseas trip and the foreign challenges he is ready to tackle. He has signed in 36 individual bills into law, 14 under the congressional review act. He passed the repeal and replace of obamacare and embarked on his first trip overseas acting to rebuild americas standing in the world and become the First Administration since 1881 to confirm a Supreme Court justice in the first 100 days. Those will be discussed with some of these members of congress today. And now that they are back from memorial day recess. We look forward to carrying on with the agenda. On health care, we dont have time to waste. Obamacare continues to collapse. A third of the counties have only one provider. The average individual premiums have increased 105 from 2013 to 2017. And anthem, the only insurer in the state of ohio will be pulling out of every Obamacare Exchange living them without any options. The american pill has been saddled to get this disaster taken care of. Its time for us to provide them with the choice and control that all americans want over their own health care. The American People and have been suffering from overburdensome overcomplicated tax system which takes money out of the pocket of working families. We are working with congress to change that and delivering relief to middleincome earners. Tax reform is part of the critical agenda and his team are working with legislative leaders and Business Leaders to ensure that his plan that Congress Ends up taking on will make sure that it gets to his desk so he can finally fix the system. Later this afternoon, there will be a listening session with Business Leaders from the transportation sector. This is about a dozen listening sessions that we plan to hold in the next couple of months with job creators to hear about the reforms that would allow them to expand and create jobs for American Workers. The president is going to discuss these next steps on all of the above policies. The president s cabinet remains focused on their agenda. Secretary of labor announced that the department of labor will strengthen its focus on preventing visa Program Abuse and take legal action against those who abuse the programs. This includes reporting cases of criminal fraud to the office of inspector general, establishing a working group to maximize efficiency. Using all tools in conducting civil investigations to enforce protections for the American Worker provided by the visa programs and developing proposed changes to the Current System to better identify violations and fraud and greater transparency. The president was legitimated on a promise to prioritize the American Worker and his entire team here in the white house and throughout government is working hard in their respective areas to fulfill that. With that, i will be glad to take a few questions. Reporter moments ago, Mitch Mcconnell reiterated that he is not a fan of the president s tweets. He explained several times that the president likes to have it directly to the American People. Does he sometimes cross the line where his tweets become the agenda and impedes his ability to get things done. Mr. Spicer in the context of the question, the president is the most effective messenger on his agenda and use of social media, he has 110 Million People across different platforms give him an opportunity to speak to the American People. Reporter using it wisely can be two different things. Mr. Spicer the same people who are critiquing his use of it now critiqued it during the election and turned out pretty well. Reporter lets ask you about health care, senator Lindsey Graham said that he he was asked whether or not he will be able to get a package together. Senator burr said it will be unlikely to get a health care deal. Are they just misinformed . Whats the difference between the Republican Leadership and the white house is putting out and Republican Leaders are putting out . Mr. Spicer the president is going to talk about that when he meets with the leadership and will work their will. These every elected republicans in the house and senate campaigned on this in the last seven years and will come together to achieve the goals of lowering costs and providing greater access. There is a commitment and we we main hopeful it will get done. Reporter Chuck Schumer called the infrastructure plan an investment a Goldman Sachs plan and sure loser here in congress. Are you willing to commit more than the 200 billion to meet democrats whenever a bill comes forward to get across the finish line . Mr. Spicer the American Worker and our infrastructure are the president s priority and putting people back to work, establishing fixing those roads and bridges that allow our economy to thrive and grow. The president has talked about the impact of broken bridges and bad roads having an impact on the economy and the ability of people to deliver goods to market. He is going to create that partnership to ensure we maximize dollars and put people back to work. And you saw that yesterday in the air Traffic Control proposal where you had Union Support and bipartisan support, because the president s approach at this is that of a businessman of understanding how you can utilize that Publicprivate Partnership to maximize dollars and put people back to work and not transfer the dollars which doesnt have the same Economic Impact but is really engaging the private sector on this. Reporter the urgency for tax reform cannot be overstated. Again, nothing concrete at this point. Where is the urgency from the administration . Mr. Spicer that will be discussed today with the leadership. Something the president has talked about. Mr. Co hmpnuchin and n have been out there talking to groups. When you are talking about the magnitude on the corporate side and individual side and the impact that its going to have on our economy, we need to get it right. We have to involve stakeholders and thats what the president and his team is doing. David from fox 29 in philadelphia. Reporter sean, thank you so much for taking the time here. We appreciate here in philadelphia and greater delaware valley. We do have a question about the president s budget proposal, specifically the proposal to eliminate the deductions for local and state taxes, property taxes. In new jersey, folks reportedly pay the highest amount of property taxes in the nation. There was a poll that said 57 of folks surveyed arent in support of that. What do you say to the folks who are worried, they may take a major hit. Mr. Spicer david, thank you for asking. If you look at the principles outlined by director cohn and secretary mnuchin, one of the principles was increasing the standard deductions for a middleincome family that is a doubling of 24,000. 98 of the folks that file now would not take individual deductions because of the increase, the large increase that would happen. Most middleincome americans would save more under the president s plan because of the large increase that would exist with respect to the standard deduction. Reporter u. S. Led coalition struck forces in syria. Has the president been briefed . Mr. Spicer he has. Reporter on the president s tweets, are president trumps tweets considered official white house statements . Mr. Spicer the president of the United States they are considered official statements. Reporter is the president that his tweets could be used against him at the level of the supreme on when the cclu takes this case . Mr. Spicer the court should follow the law and the danger is real and the law is clear and theres no question we should prevail at the Supreme Court. Reporter can you tell us where the president is going to be on thursday at 10 00 a. M. . Is he going to watch comeys testimony . Mr. Spicer there is a meeting with mayors and governors to talk about some of the projects that need to go through the Publicprivate Partnership. He is giving a speech to the faith and Freedom Coalition downtown. It will be a very busy day. The president is going to have a very, very busy day as he does all the time and his focus is pursuing the agenda and the priorities he was elected to do. Kfyr guy here, scott at in the dakotas. Here osted a radio show and talked to listeners every day who are frustrated with the way washington likes. They are not fond of the swamp. Im curious if the infrastructure debate will be different. Our governor will be part of the governors and mayors that are coming on thursday. Does he believe infrastructure is more than roads and bridges, pipelines, broadband, flood protection which is creating jobs here right now . And will the infrastructure debate be received better than the tax reform debates have been so far . Mr. Spicer as you know, your governor will be here on thursday with a variety of governors and mayors to talk about infrastructure and the opportunity for your governor to talk about the infrastructure in the dakotas. There are several critical projects in roads and bridges that need to get addressed. How the governor prioritizes them. One of the issues discussed with respect to the president s infrastructure plan is creating different private pools of projects that allows for innovation and prirtization and that will be that is in partnership with localities and states to figure out what they can do to help raise the necessary funds and really do this in a businesslike and innovative ways. We have a ways to go. Reporter the president signed a letter of intent with the saudis to buy american weapons. Have there been any contracts signed yet with saudi arabia . Mr. Spicer the department of defense is the lead on that. There was 110 billion of defense procurement with saudi arabia. It was totalled up to 350 billion. The immediate 110 million reporter actual contracts . Mr. Spicer i believe some. It could lead to 3350 billion and 350 million on the commercial side that the department of commerce can provide you a better list. Reporter is there an actual contract right now . Mr. Spicer there were agreements with the department of defense who took the lead on that. I dont know what was actually signed. I know there were two pieces, the defense side and commercial side. You saw through the pool, there was press in the room when the commercial side was done. The initial 110 billion of the 3130 was upfront and done. About r i wanted to ask the isolation of qatar. The first was the president seemed to be taking credit for the actions and white house encouraged it. And the president know about it before it happened . Mr. Spicer this issue is not new. There has been tension among qatars neighbors for sometime. And the situation was notified through proper diplomatic channels. The administration is trying to restore cooperation which is support to Regional Security there. I think there is no his message of toughness on extreme terrorist funding and the u. S. Wants to see this issue deescalated keeping in principles with the principles he president laid out. Reporter there is a lot of ncerns that qatar has been removed and removing the amir from power. The government is financing terrorist groups, would it be beneficial . Mr. Spicer the president had a constructive conversation with the amir. And he was very hartened by his ommitment to formally join the terrorist targeting center and showing commitment to this issue. Reporter you mentioned tax reform at the top. Marc short had trouble yesterday trying to resolve what the administrations position on revenue neutrality is. The reason i raised this, milk mulvaney was quoted as saying several folks in the white house said they are interested in pushicing a larger tax bill rather than adding to the deficit. That is milk mulvaney. Marc wasnt sure whether revenue neutrality is a key priority. Can you assist us . Mr. Spicer part of that there is a discussion ongoing with congress. Director mulvaney and secretary mnuchin are talking about the plan going forward. Thats a conversation as i mentioned that the president is going to have a conversation in the next several minutes with house and Senate Leadership and will be a topic they will discuss. Reporter an increase in the deficit is something that the administration would find acceptable on tax reform . Mr. Spicer if there is a conversation that is going to go on with congress how to proceed and its not at this time, im not going to get in front of that discussion. Reporter who it was that changed the president s nato speech taking out the article five language, she would check on that. You didnt make that commitment, but sarah did. Do you have the answer . Mr. Spicer i dont know. Reporter can you confirm that is in fact, one happened, one speech and a different one was prepared late in the process and the speech took some of those who were aware of the first speech by surprise . Mr. Spicer the president s speech talked about article 5. We were at a nato article 5 commemoration. The idea that we would recommit ourselves that we were clearly there to celebrate seems to be a bit silly. I dont know the content of the speech, but its a silly discussion because we addressed it at the time. The president s presence at an article 5 commemoration and his discussion about nato invoking article 5 First Time Ever after 9 11 pretty much speaks to itself about our commitment to nato and all 13 articles that make up that treaty. Reporter could you find out exactly what happened . Mr. Spicer there are a lot of things reporter there was a report there was one version and another version was delivered. Mr. Spicer there are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes with every meething and preparation. Until the president gets a version that he feels is appropriate, its not appropriate for us to go out there and share it. I will follow up with sarah. To the broader point is that the president remains committed to nato and all the articles, not just article 5. Reporter how would you describe the president s confidence in attorney general Jeff Sessions. Mr. Spicer i have not had that discussion with him. Reporter in his confidence in the attorney general . Mr. Spicer i havent had a discussion with the president. Reporter the Chinese Government rejected calls from the state inaudible] eporter does [inaudible] mr. Spicer well continue to exert the proper diplomatic pressure on that. Its a state department issue and you should follow up with them. Reporter the london mayor says the president shouldnt come to the u. K. Mr. Spicer he appreciates her majestys gracious invitation. Reporter senior officials are saying as a result of the afghan review. Do you have a time line for us when can we see it . Mr. Spicer the president will continue to discuss that with general mcmasters and secretary mattis and others. And when he is comfortable with the plan, well let you know. Reporter what does victory look like in afghanistan . Mr. Spicer stable Government Free from threats. We want to make sure we root out all forms of terrorism and provide stability in the region. Porter yesterday [indiscernible] seems pretty clear that she is an opponent of the president and his policies. Was the president aware of the arrest . Mr. Spicer with respect to all kind of ongoing investigations, i would never comment. With that being said, you have heard the president very clearly talk about the concern that he has about unauthorized disclosures of class tied and Sensitive Information and the threat they can pose to national security. While i dont want to comment on any case or allege, it is important to note any disclosure of classified or Sensitive Information can clearly threaten our national security. Reporter you said on many occasions that the president s tweets speaks for itself. Yesterday in a series of tweets he accused the department of justice on the president s executive order on immigration. Given that he has faulted the d. O. J. , does he fault the person attorney he that, general Jeff Sessions . Mr. Spicer i have answered that question. Reporter what you just said about the persian gulf. Clear the president is taking sides in this. Mr. Spicer what way . Reporter he said perhaps this will be the beginning of the end of terrorism. Mr. Spicer he is noting the message of toughness on terrorist financing. Thats not what i said. I think he had a very productive iscussion with the amir in readd and they joined with the her gulf nations to get that out and pleased with the movements taken. He is concerned about Terror Financing and stomping out isis. Reporter first, is the president comfortable with Robert Mueller as the special prosecutor . And does he believe that the president has the right to replace the special prosecutor if he or she exceeds their mandate . Mr. Spicer i have not had i have not discussed that with the president. Reporter on sunday, the president put out a forceful commemoration of the battle of midway 70 years ago. He did not know anything about the 25th anniversary of tee emen square