Press Release
☷Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre En Route Milwaukee WI
White House ( By Press Release office)
Mar 15,2024
| 5| 0
Hey everyone , just wanted to give you a quick update . We ' re on our way to Milwaukee , Wisconsin , where the President will be announcing $3 . 3 billion to help rebuild communities across more than 40 states . This funding will improve access to healthcare , schools , and jobs by revamping transportation infrastructure . Specifically , $36 million will go towards the Milwaukee Sixth Street project to make the area safer and more welcoming . This initiative aims to undo the harm caused by past highway construction that divided communities . The President is focused on investing in all of America and ensuring no community is left behind . Happy to answer any questions you have , shoot . Ms . Jean - Pierre: Yeah , let me just take a moment here . We ' re happy to see this bill moving forward and we hope the Senate acts quickly . Addressing the threat of certain technology services in the US is important , as it puts Americans ' personal information and national security at risk . Our National Security Advisor , Jake Sullivan , has been clear about this . He asked if we want American data and companies in the US or in China . So , this bill doesn ' t ban apps like TikTok , but it ensures that those who can exploit them or harm us don ' t own them . It ' s going through the process and we ' ll provide technical support during the Senate process as well . As for the bill itself , we ' ll wait for the Senate ' s discussions . We want the Senate to take swift action . We ' re not concerned about jeopardizing relations with China . We ' ve been working on our relationship with China and that will continue . The President has always been clear on this . On Poland , the President had an important bilateral meeting with President Duda . At the Vilnius summit last summer , NATO Allies agreed that spending more than 2 percent on defense would be necessary . This year , 19 NATO Allies are set to meet that requirement , which is a significant increase since 2014 . We expect that number to continue increasing before the Washington summit . Now , let ' s talk about Haiti . CARICOM has set a 48 - hour deadline for a transitional government . If they don ' t meet the deadline , we will let the Haitian people decide on their efforts and timelines . We believe Haitians should choose their leaders and determine their future . We are committed to supporting them in creating a transitional presidential council to restore security and hold free and fair elections . If you add up the GDP of all NATO European Allies , they will spend 2 percent of their GDP on defense . This shows that Allies understand the importance of investing more in security after Putin ' s actions in Ukraine . We believe Allies will continue to increase their defense spending , and we will keep pushing for progress in this area . As for the upcoming summit , we hope to see more NATO members reaching the 2 percent target . The President is aware of Putin ' s nuclear comments , and while Russia ' s rhetoric is concerning , we will continue to support Ukraine against Russian aggression . Regarding the situation in Gaza , the administration ' s stance on Israel potentially restricting access to the Al - Aqsa Mosque during the holy month is not clear . As for meeting with members of the Arab community , it is uncertain if the President plans to do so during his upcoming trips to Wisconsin and Michigan . I don ' t see those reports you mentioned , so I can ' t really comment on that . I ' ll just leave it at that . As for Aaron Rodgers potentially joining the RFK Jr . ticket , he was a popular quarterback in Wisconsin for a long time . But , I can ' t really talk about upcoming elections . The campaign events are happening in Milwaukee , Wisconsin and Michigan , so you can ask the campaign about that . As for the Russia situation , I don ' t have much to add . The case is closed . Putin reiterated his nuclear posture , but we haven ' t seen any reason to change our own assessment of threats or any indication that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine . Regarding the assault in Lithuania and the accusations against Russia , I would need to check with our team at the National Security Council before commenting . And on the topic of Israel using hunger as a weapon of war in Gaza , we have been clear about the importance of increasing humanitarian aid to the region . We ' ve been seeing innocent Palestinian civilians who really need basic essentials like food , water , and medical help . It ' s a humanitarian crisis in Gaza , so we ' re doing everything we can to get aid to those in need . We ' re working with Israel to make sure more aid gets through , and the President has emphasized the importance of getting American hostages back home through a potential ceasefire deal . This is our top priority , and we ' re working around the clock to make it happen . We ' re also increasing efforts to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza and recently announced additional funding for this cause . It ' s crucial that we provide these essential needs to the people in Gaza . I think one reason he ' s going to these states is to announce and continue talking about the priorities he mentioned in the speech . Is there any concern that this won ' t make an impact , especially in these critical states? MS . JEAN - PIERRE: So , a couple things . The State of the Union was a success . Over 30 million Americans watched , which is important because they got to see the President talk about his vision and the future of the country . We ' ve heard positive responses to it . It ' s not unusual for presidents to go on trips after the State of the Union to take their message directly to the people , and that ' s what he ' s doing . He wants to build on his success and that ' s why he announced the $3 . 3 billion to reconnect communities in 40 states , which is significant considering the impact these infrastructure projects have on black and brown communities and low - income areas . This is something Americans want to see . As for the polling , I have to be careful and not speak about 2024 . But looking back , in 2022 and 2023 , we were told there would be a red wave , but the President ' s policies helped us be successful and we saw positive results , like in the special election in New York where a red district turned blue . And about the meeting with Muslim and Arab groups in Michigan , the campaign was referred to , but the people in Michigan have made it clear that they want to talk to the policy people directly . So , the White House sent policy people there , as you mentioned . The President is the "Policymaker - in - Chief , " so does he have any plans to meet with the community while he ' s in the state? He has mentioned letting them speak when pro - Palestinian disruptions happen at events . So , is he going to engage with them? I was just trying to figure out when your question was going to end , sorry . Anyway , the President has already had a good back - and - forth engagement with leaders in the Muslim American , Arab American , and Palestinian American communities . It ' s also important for his White House officials , senior advisors , and aides to go to the communities and hear directly from them . They ' ve had multiple conversations and meetings , so we are engaging . I don ' t have information about another meeting the President will have with community leaders , since he ' s already had one . But I want to emphasize that it is important . Why? It ' s because of the President ' s policies and what he believes in , which he thinks most Americans care about . Whether it ' s fighting for our democracy , women ' s healthcare and reproductive rights , or working towards a bipartisan deal on the border , the President wants to show leadership and meet the majority of Americans where they are . That ' s how we see things , you know? People say it ' s going well , the President ' s policies are popular , and Democrats have been successful lately . So , that ' s all I ' ll say about that . I think it ' s really important that White House leaders and senior aides are out there meeting with community leaders to listen to them directly and understand their pain . We know this is a really tough time for people . When there are disruptions or protests , the President always says , "Let them speak . " We believe in peaceful protests and making sure voices are heard . That ' s why White House officials have been sent to listen directly to the communities . As for meeting with prominent members of the Black community , I ' ll let the campaign address that . On NATO , the President supports increased defense spending , but we don ' t have plans to change the Defense Investment Pledge right now . We ' ve seen an increase in countries meeting their obligations , which is good . The timeline for communities to see the effects of the $3 . 3 billion investment will vary , but it ' s important to reconnect communities that have been divided for decades . It disproportionately affects Black and low - income communities , taking away healthcare , jobs , and schools . To follow up on that , shouldn ' t he have another meeting with them now that voters have started expressing their opinions in the primary election? Also , he has met with other groups , so why hasn ' t this group gotten another meeting with him? It doesn ' t change the fact that White House officials and senior aides have had multiple engagements with these communities . That ' s important . And the President has met with leaders of those communities . So , to say that he hasn ' t , he actually has . As regularly . When he met with them , 30 , 000 people hadn ' t been killed yet . Hold on a second . Let ' s not add "as regularly . " He has done it , and his White House officials have been doing it on his behalf because the President wants to make sure his policy people , the top level of the White House , hear directly from the community . That ' s important . And I don ' t want that to be discounted as we ' re going back and forth here . It ' s important . In this interview this weekend , the President was asked about red lines . And he said , "Well , another 30 , 000 people shouldn ' t be killed , " which seems to imply that there is some number that would be acceptable short of that . No . I disagree with that . Look , I ' m not going to go over that again . What I can say is the National Security Advisor , Jake Sullivan , discussed that with some of your colleagues in the briefing room , so I would refer you to that . Alright , guys . One more . Thank you . Has the President had any contact with the UK about Kate Middleton? I ' ll say this . Has he been briefed on the photograph? I have not spoken to the President about Kate Middleton . I will say this . We certainly wish her a speedy recovery . She has asked for privacy . Her family has asked for privacy . And we ' re certainly going to respect that . Thanks , guys . Thank you .
PLAY the NEWS
* May be useful for visually impaired persons .
Press release information:
Direct link to press release:
Click here .
