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Wolf

White House Press Briefing Soon; White House Press Briefing. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired March 10, 2017 - 13:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:34:18] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Live pictures at the White House press briefing room. Press Secretary Sean Spicer will walk in soon, start answering reporters' questions. Live coverage coming up on CNN.

Meanwhile, there's a lot to discuss with my panel. Joining us, CNN political director, David Chalian; CNN justice reporter, Laura Jarrett; CNN senior economics analyst and former senior Trump economics advisor, Stephen Moore; and CNN political analyst, David Gregory.

David, this effort to repeal and replace Obamacare, it's going to have a lot of trouble getting through the way it is right now, the House. But the Senate potentially looks even more problematic.

[11:34:58] DAVID GREGORY, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: It's a real test for the president in terms of his deal making both within his own party and probably less important with Democrats since there's not support there. His ability to corral Republicans around this core promise, also a gateway to getting broader tax reform becomes really, really important. If he doesn't have enough control over Republicans to get it, it's a hard thing. I think this clash that you're seeing is the pragmatist at some level in President Trump who doesn't want to take away all of an entitlement already been given with conservative ideology which says we have some real problems with the entitlement aspect of this, the big government aspect. There's a lot of hurdles to get through.

BLITZER: If he fails, Stephen, to get this through, this health care legislation as it is right now, it will remind me at least those old enough to remember, in 1993, there was something called Hillarycare that failed to get through during the first year of the Bill Clinton administration.

STEHPEN MOORE, CNN SENIOR ECONOMICS ANALYST: Republicans have stumbled many times, as have Democrats on health care.

David, the reason it's going to get done is it has to get done, for the very reasons you said. Republicans can't afford to fail here, this was one of their central promises not just in this campaign through the last seven years. It will get done. It will be an ugly process. I actually agree with you, Wolf. I think the problem is not the

House. I think they will make a compromise with the conservatives. How do you get 50 Senators to sign on anything? That's a tough act.

BLITZER: Only 52 to 48, David Chalian, in the Senate and you have moderate Republicans, whether Susan Collins of Maine or Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

(CROSSTALK)

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Longer than the margin --

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Their views are very different than the so-called Tea Party activists in the House of representatives, you lose three Republicans, if the Democrats stay firm it's over.

CHALIAN: It's true. I think the Senate will be the tougher fight. But we can't ignore the possibility that if it does indeed pass the House, the psychological around the bill shifts a little bit. There's a momentum that goes with getting to it the Senate. Not that it makes it any easier, but it's a different context at that point about what to do with it. All of a sudden, the political priority you guys are talking about, they need to do this. You mentioned Hillarycare. You can't overstate how much if President Trump isn't able to get this first major accomplishment through, how much that clogs up the rest of the system and stalls out other major priorities. It really does.

(CROSSTALK)

CHALIAN: That political imperative will play psychologically in the Senate as well.

MOORE: There is a plan to take the Senators bowling.

(LAUGHTER)

It worked with House members.

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: -- bowling over at the White House.

Laura, you've been doing reporting on the travel ban 2.0. It's already facing legal challenges in Hawaii, Washington State. Update our viewers on the latest information you're getting.

LAURA JARRETT, CNN JUSTICE REPORTER: Last night, we saw a filing from Washington State. They still say this travel ban is flawed for statutory and administrative reasons. They're now using their own words against them, last month, using statements from White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, and the policy advisor said on FOX last month, we're making tweaks around the edges, minor tweaks. They're saying if that's the case this order is still very flawed and the motivation is the same.

BLITZER: If the courts oppose, rejects 2.0, the second revised version, there are significant changes from the first travel ban proposal it would be another pretty serious setback to this new administration.

GREGORY: It would. They would in effect have to keep going back and have presumably another big fight with the judiciary ill-advised the way they went about it. The whole busy of the urgency with which they meant to be acting because of the fears of allowing refuges and other immigrants into the country gets undercut the more this gets put on the back burner. It becomes a political capital issue. What we've been talking about with regard to Obamacare, the president is heavily involved as he should and will continue to have to do, to have to fight on this other front, which is why I thought as a political matter this was so ill-advised the way they came off the blocks on this thing.

BLITZER: We'll see what happens.

Let's talk about the jobs numbers, Steve. You are an economist and know something about this. How much credit, the February numbers, unemployment numbers and job creation numbers, 235,000 jobs created, how much credit does the Trump administration actually deserve with this?

MOORE: I'm a little biased because I helped him with his economic plan.

(CROSSTALK)

(LAUGHTER)

MOORE: I think it's very clear, undeniable, ever since election night, we saw it with the stock market and saw it with consumer confidence, investor confidence up and good numbers on business spending last month. There's a new bounce with the economy. I do think Trump can take credit for this.

(CROSSTALK)

[13:40:14] BLITZER: Let me read you the tweet Reince Priebus, the White House chief of staff. put out: "Trump delivers. 235,000 new jobs and unemployment rate down to 4.7 percent. Great news for American workers."

But listen to the president of the United States, who used to pan these numbers whenever they came out during the campaign.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Every time it comes out, I hear, 5.3 percent unemployment. That this is biggest joke there is.

Don't believe those phony numbers when you hear 4.9 and 5 percent unemployment. The numbers probably 28, 29, as high as 35. In fact, I even heard recently 42 percent.

The unemployment number, as you know, is totally fiction. If you look for a job for six months and then you give up, they consider you statistically employed. It's not that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Is the real unemployment number now, as he said, 28, 29, as high as 35? I've heard 42 percent unemployment.

MOORE: It's not 40 percent. I do think there's actually something to what he said. It's true today as when he said it during the campaign. The headline on employment rate number that we report --

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: The 4.7 percent.

Moore: 4.7. It is misleading to people because it does not include the people who dropped out of the workforce or the six million Americans who want a full-time job and are working part-time. I do think we ought to -- just in the media, we should change the way we report the unemployment number. Maybe we should include people that can't find a job.

One other thing, there are so many people out there in states like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, those states Trump won. When I was on the campaign, and you tell people the unemployment 5 percent, they would laugh in your face.

(LAUGHTER)

GREGORY: You agree it sounds like a typical politician opposed to candidate, taking credit for good numbers. It would be political malpractice if he did not take credit.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: The press briefing is about to begin. I assume Sean Spicer will be welcoming these numbers.

CHALIAN: He already tweeted about. As you said, Reince Priebus did. They're not just saying great numbers, they're pointing to 4.7 percent for unemployment as the number they're touting. I have no doubt he will take a victory lap here. As David said, as they should. The economy whether the promise to get rid of regulations or tax reform coming. Clearly, the confidence --

(CROSSTASLK)

CHALIAN: -- he's having a confidence moment right now and this is a good report. But that's ironic. MOORE: And this makes it easier. As he becomes more popular these

numbers will help his approval, it makes it a little easier to get major reforms like the tax reform and Obamacare changes.

BLITZER: In fairness, as Cristina Alesci, our reporter, note, in February 2016 and February 2015, the number was almost exactly the same, 235,000 jobs created, as it is in 2007.

MOORE: I'll make a prediction to you on CNN. This summer, we will get the summer of -- we've been waiting seven years.

GREGORY: This is why health care is so important because his ability to get to the agenda items that is fueling a lot of this confidence somewhat irrationally in the market, a confidence game, that could be impacted if he doesn't achieve repeal of Obamacare. These things are related.

BLITZER: We're waiting for Sean Spicer.

Let me get back, Laura, to an issue you've been working on. You cover the Justice Department for us. Is there any indication at all the Justice Department will accept the recommendation of the FBI director and provide any evidence they might have that President Obama ordered the wiretapping of then candidate Trump?

JARRETT: I wouldn't hold your breath on that.

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: Hold on a minute. Sean Spicer is beginning.

[13:44:24]

SEAN SPICER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Happy Friday to you all. Good afternoon. Two more days until all the work week's over.

(LAUGHTER)

A little attribution to Rahm Emanuel for that one.

As many of you know, today is day 50 of President Trump's administration. We have a lot to talk about a lot that's gotten also.

I also want to acknowledge that today is also Brian's (ph) birthday.

(LAUGHTER)

So, happy birthday to Brian (ph). I'll let you guys celebrate amongst yourselves afterwards.

In just these first 50 days, the president's taken many key steps towards delivery on the pledges he made to the American people as a candidate.

He's jumpstarted job creation, not only because of his executive actions, but through the surge of economic confidence and optimism that has been inspired since his election.

SPICER: President Trump knows exactly what businesses need to thrive and grow, therefore adding well-paying and steady jobs to the market.

Obviously, we're very pleased to see the jobs report that came out this morning. It's great news for American workers.

During the first full month of the Trump presidency, the economy added 235,000 new jobs and the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.7 percent.

Notably, we also saw significant growth in the construction, manufacturing and mining sectors. The unemployment rate ticked down and labor-force participation rate ticked up. Showing that even as more people are reentering the job market due to the economic optimism that I spoke about, business are continuing to grow and create new jobs.

The president looks forward to continuing his work with the private sector to clear roadblocks to key infrastructure projects, withdraw from job killing trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and slash the bureaucratic red tape that makes additional hiring difficult for American businesses.

He has taken action to ensure the safety and security of the United States homeland, it's borders and its people.

He has proposed great rebuilding of our nation's military, following a full review of our military readiness and supported by $54 billion budget increase.

He's implemented new protections to prevent people from coming into our country that seek to do us harm as a result of the presidential memorandum that he signed on January 28th.

The president has received as plan to defeat ISIS designed by the secretary of defense and the national security team.

Just as he has promised during the campaign, he has made enforcing out nation's immigration laws a top priority, signing executive orders that start works on a southern border wall that enhance the public safety of Americans through ordering the strong enforcement of immigration laws that are already on the books, halting funding to jurisdictions in the United States that don't comply with federal immigration rules and directing the Department of Homeland Security to hire a combined 15,000 new officers and agents to support the system and protect the nation.

He's outlined an aggressive legislative agenda that includes tax reform that bring relief to small business and the middle class, a massive commitment to infrastructure investment that will generate jobs and rebuild our nation and repealing and replacing Obamacare.

In fact, just this week he began working with congress directly on repealing the worst parts of Obamacare and replacing it with the American Health Care Act.

And this particular legislation is just one prong in the president's comprehensive approach to reforming our health care system.

The administration is also taking additional steps to stabilize health insurance markets and start bringing down cost for the millions of Americans that have been affected by Obamacare, such as stabilizing insurance markets through regulatory reform, including the ability to purchase insurance across state lines, providing individuals and families with lower access -- with access to lower cost options but loosening the restrictions on the financial structure of plans offered through the Obamacare exchanges.

And finally, the president's committed to working with Congress on additional legislation that won't be subject to the budget reconciliation process that will allow the purchase of health insurance across state lines, that will streamline the process of the FDA to bring down the cost of critical medicine, to allow for the expansion of health savings accounts, to allow more Americans to use their funds for more health care costs -- health care related costs and so much more.

There's a one page fact sheet that lays out the three prongs of the president's plan to repeal and replace. All Americans can see that one pager that's available at whitehouse.gov repeal and replace.

Feel free to download it and share it this weekend.

This administration's already looking forward to all that we've been planning to accomplish in the days and weeks ahead.

You should have a document outlining in each of the -- your e- mail boxes of the president's major actions during these 50 first days.

We've made it available to public as well as whitehouse.gov.

In terms of the schedule for his 50th day in office, the president will be having a series of meetings and calls moving even further along on some of the most significant campaign promises that he made to the American people.

After receiving his daily intelligence briefing this morning, the president led a health care discussion with key House committee chairs. The president thanked and congratulated the chairs on successfully ushering the American Health Care Act through the first phase of the legislative process.

He noted that he was pleased to see the bill pass through both committees, the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Ways and Means Committee with unanimous Republican support.

They discussed working together on additional legislation to further work towards turning health care into a system that works for every individual and family and business.

Together the president and Republicans in congress will act decisively to keep their promise to the American people.

SPICER: In attendance at the meeting, including the vice president were Congresswoman Black, the chair of the House Budget Committee; Congressman Brady, the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee; Congressman Walden, the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee; Congresswoman Foxx, the chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee; and Chairman Goodlatte of the Judiciary Committee.

In addition to this Hill outreach, senior officials at the Department of Health and Human Services have met with the American Medical Association to discuss the bill and will be meeting with additional stakeholders in the coming days. The president's committed to making the system better and that includes making sure his team hears feedback from all interested groups in pursuit of a more affordable and accessible health care.

This afternoon, the president had a call with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. We'll have a readout of that call soon. The president had lunch with Secretary of State Tillerson and this afternoon the president will meet with Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson. He looks forward to discussing HUD's mission to create strong, sustainable, and inclusive communities with quality affordable housing, especially the ways in which we can partner with the private sector to come up with innovative solutions to turn our public housing system around and empower our struggling communities.

Looking ahead to the weekend, the president will spend this weekend here at the White House in series of meetings with his team. The president's -- the vice president's office has already announced the details of his trip to Louisville, Kentucky where he will participate in listening sessions with small businesses and job creators throughout the community.

And then joined by Governor Bevin, we'll hear from local small businesses. The Vice President will discuss the president's economic agenda, especially the repeal and replacement aspects of Obamacare and how it will reduce the burden on small businesses. He will then conclude with formal remarks at the train parts and distribution center. Also coming up, Judge Gorsuch's confirmation hearings will begin on March 20.

Yesterday, the American Bar Association reported their committee was -- the committee determined that by unanimous vote, Judge Gorsuch was given a, quote, "well-qualified mark for the Supreme Court." The president looks forward to seeing Judge Gorsuch receive a speedy and fair hearing and an up and down vote on the Senate floor. Finally, the president's weekly address is out.

It discusses Women's History Month and his plans to repeal and replace Obamacare. It aired this morning on Facebook Live, it is now available to watch on YouTube and WhiteHouse.gov. Obviously I encourage everyone to go check it out. And with that, I'd be glad to take your questions.

John?

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: Your pin's upside down.

SPICER: John Roberts always helping me with the fashion tips (ph).

QUESTION: It's still upside down.

QUESTION: You want it less stressful, Sean (ph)?

(LAUGHTER)

SPICER: I appreciate that. Thank you, no. There's no promo. John, now on to your questions.

(LAUGHTER)

QUESTION: Our involvement of sending Rangers and Marines into Syria marks a dramatic change in our presence on the ground there and I'm wondering, how much autonomy is the president giving General James Mattis to involve U.S. forces on the ground in Syria?

SPICER: A U.S. Marine artillery unit and a team of Rangers have recently been positioned in Syria to provide a combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. The commander the agility to expedite the destruction of ISIS in Raqqah in particular. The exact numbers and locations of the forces are still a sensitive order to protect the location of the forces.

But there will be approximately an additional 400 enabling forces deployed under existing authorities for a temporary period to enable our Syrian partnered forces to accelerate the defeat of ISIS specifically in Raqqah. I think as I've mentioned before, one of the things that the president has ensured is that the commanders have the flexibility to do what they need to fulfill the mission.

The president is obviously, as commander in chief, made aware and signs off on all of those missions. But at the end of the day, it's going to be up to the generals to execute their mission to make sure that we continue to defeat ISIS and protect the nation.

QUESTION: Now, our involvement there really sort of complicates the whole picture because we're aligned with the Kurds but then at the same time, the NATO ally Turkey sees the Kurds as the enemy. And then there's what happens with Russia and its involvement with the Syrian government. So, the -- the big problem with Iraq was we never planned for the day after.

SPICER: Right.

QUESTION: So what are the plans for the day after here when Raqqah falls? Who occupies it?

SPICER: Well, one of the things that, you know, I mentioned in the script that is part of what the president has done during his first 50 days is issue an executive order on January 28th for the secretary of defense to submit a comprehensive plan in consultation with the Joint Chiefs and other members of the national security team to defeat ISIS. That is part of that plan.

And so, I think you are seeing a comprehensive approach to not only how we're going to engage in Syria but the total defeat and elimination of ISIS. So that is part of an ongoing process that the secretary of defense, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and others have been involved in, in briefing the president.

[13:55:20

QUESTION: But does the president have an idea of who should occupy Raqqah? Should it be Kurdish forces? Should it be coalition...

SPICER: Again, I'm not -- I'll -- I think...

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: Should American forces stay there?

SPICER: Right, I think that as we devolve (ph) that plan, I'll have more for you on that. I think you've already killed "one question Friday."

(LAUGHTER)

We're going to get back to it.

Jon Karl -- "one question Friday."

QUESTION: OK, I'll make it one.

Sean, the chair and ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee have asked the Justice Department to turn over any information that they have that there was any wiretapping both of President-elect Trump, candidate Trump and Trump Tower. If there is no evidence that any wiretapping took place, will the president apologize to President Obama for asking such a serious charge?

SPICER: I think -- let's not get ahead of ourselves. I think it's important to see where that goes, and I don't want to prejudge their work at this time.

Jim?

QUESTION: But if there's no evidence, I mean, what's the...

SPICER: Again -- but I think you're asking well what if there's evidence? I mean, I'm not going to get into a series of hypotheticals, prejudging the outcome of a report or an investigation that hasn't occurred yet. I think once that's done, we'll respond appropriately.

Jim?

QUESTION: Thank you, Sean. Senator Cory Gardner was reported by Politico yesterday to have said he doesn't believe that a $14 billion wall along the Mexican border is the best way to provide border security. Does the White House see support for the border wall weakening in Congress?

SPICER: No. The president was very clear. That was something he campaigned on and promised the American people, as an effort to both protect our national security and our economic security. And he's going to fulfill that pledge. He's already started to work with the Department of Homeland Security on both the plans and the funding mechanism and the bidding and the RFP process will roll out slowly -- or shortly, I should say. But that's a pledge that he intends to maintain.

John Bennett (ph)?

QUESTION: Sean, a lot of action on the Hill of course with health care lately, but April 28th is right around the corner, government funding expires. Given that during the transition period, you guys asked for a short-term C.R. so you could weigh in once you were in office. What's the White House doing right now to avoid a shut down? I talked to some sources, they could point to the specific talks. So what's the state of play there?

SPICER: Director Mulvaney is going to release his budget on the 16th. That's the first step in working with them to get the budget under control. We're approaching $20 trillion of our debt, and I think we need to get spending under control. And so part of funding the government goes hand in hand with keeping a track of what we're spending it on and how we're spending it, and what our priorities are. We've begun that pass-back process that we've talked about internally within the executive branch.

Director Mulvaney has had several conversations with members on the Hill on both sides, and he's going to continue to have them. I know the vice president has been actively engaged as well.

But to your question, I mean, that's part of the process. We need to release a budget first about what our priorities are for the coming fiscal year, and then make sure that we do what we can going forward. But this goes hand in hand with that.

QUESTION: We need to finish out the current...

SPICER: I understand. Right, you're talking -- fiscal year '17, but I think they go hand in hand. I think you need to close out F.Y. '17, and then I think our budget lays out where we want to go in F.Y. '18. And I think once we have a handle on F.Y. '18, we can start to backfill 27 -- excuse me, '17.

QUESTION: Do you want cuts for the rest of '17?

SPICER: I'm not going to -- I appreciate -- we're not having that discussion here.

John Gizzi? QUESTION: Thank you, Sean.

And I will honor the "one question Friday."

SPICER: Well, thank you. QUESTION: The president has said in the past that he welcomes compromise, and is very open to compromise on the immigration legislation that's coming up. This morning when she spoke at the Christian Science Monitor Press Breakfast, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said that she would like to see the comprehensive immigration package that passed the Senate but was stopped in the House and brought back. And that was her version of a compromise on immigration. What's the administration's position on what former speaker and minority leader....

SPICER: I think you're referring to the Gang of Eight though, correct?

QUESTION: That's correct.

SPICER: I think the president's been very clear during the campaign trail that that's not a bill that he supports. But he looks forward to engaging with members to find a way forward to fix our broken immigration system. That bill in particular, I think is a nonstarter, it was a nonstarter when it came out the first time. I think it continues to be a nonstarter, but the president recognizes that the system is broken and that he wants to work with Congress to fix it.

Hunter (ph)?

QUESTION: Thank you, Sean.

Does the White House believe there such a thing as the deep state that's actively working to undermine the president?

SPICER: Well, I think that there's no question, when you have eight years of one party in office, that there are people --

[14:00:00]