Friday, May 1, 2020

White House Photo's of the Week April 27 - May 1, 2020

Office of the Press Secretary
Photos of the Week


Monday, April 27,2020

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence, delivers remarks during a meeting with industry executives to discuss their response to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, April 27, 2020, in the Cabinet Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

 

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence, listens as Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar delivers remarks during a meeting with industry executives to discuss their response to the coronavirus pandemic Monday, April 27, 2020, in the Cabinet Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

 

President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence walk along the Colonnade of the White House Monday, April 27, 2020, en route to a coronavirus update briefing in the Rose Garden. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

 

President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks during a coronavirus update briefing Monday, April 27, 2020, in the Rose Garden of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

 

President Donald J. Trump participates in a coronavirus update briefing Monday, April 27, 2020, in the Rose Garden of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

 

President Donald J. Trump looks on as White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx delivers remarks during a coronavirus update briefing Monday, April 27, 2020, in the Rose Garden of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

 

President Donald J. Trump and Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir listen as Vice President Mike Pence delivers remarks during a coronavirus update briefing Monday, April 27, 2020, in the Rose Garden of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

 

President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are seen in the reflection on a monitor displaying the Opening Up America Again slogan during a coronavirus update briefing Monday, April 27, 2020, in the Rose Garden of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

 

President Donald J. Trump takes questions from reporters during a coronavirus update briefing Monday, April 27, 2020, in the Rose Garden of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

 
Tuesday, April 28, 2020

President Donald J. Trump, joined by White House senior advisors and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, meets with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

 

President Donald J. Trump looks on as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivers remarks during a meeting with White House senior advisors and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

 

President Donald J. Trump looks on as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivers remarks during a meeting with White House senior advisors and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

 

President Donald J. Trump looks on as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivers remarks during a meeting with White House senior advisors and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

 

President Donald J. Trump and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump walk along the Cross Hall of the White House Tuesday, April 28, 2020, as they arrive to attend an event in the East Room about the Paycheck Protection Program and its support of small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

 

President Donald J. Trump and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump receive applause as they arrive to an event about the Paycheck Protection Program and its support of small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

 

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, delivers remarks at an event about the Paycheck Protection Program and its support of small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

 

President Donald J. Trump, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and Small Business Association Administrator Jovita Carranza listen as Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump delivers remarks at an event about the Paycheck Protection Program and its support of small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

 

Michael Heup, an employee of Bitty & Beau’s Coffee, gives a thumbs-up to President Donald J. Trump and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump during an event about the Paycheck Protection Program and its support of small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

 

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee employee Michael Heup salutes President Donald J. Trump and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump during an event about the Paycheck Protection Program and its support of small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

 
Wednesday, April 29, 2020

President Donald J. Trump meets with Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards Wednesday, April 29, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

 

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, meets with Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards Wednesday, April 29, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

 

President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence walk along the Colonnade of the White House Wednesday, April 29, 2020, en route to attend a roundtable event with industry executives in the State Dining Room. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

 

President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks during a roundtable with industry executives to discuss a plan to reopen America Wednesday, April 29, 2020, in the State Dining Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) 

 

President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence listen as Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia delivers remarks during a roundtable with industry executives to discuss a plan to reopen America Wednesday, April 29, 2020, in the State Dining Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

 

President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence listen to industry executives during a roundtable to discuss a plan to reopen America Wednesday, April 29, 2020, in the State Dining Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

 

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence, delivers remarks during a roundtable with industry executives to discuss a plan to reopen America Wednesday, April 29, 2020, in the State Dining Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

 
Thursday, April 30, 2020

President Donald J. Trump meets with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

 

President Donald J. Trump meets with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

 

Vice President Mike Pence, joined by White House senior advisors, participates in a walking tour of the GM/Ventec Ventilator Production Facilty Thursday, April 30, 2020, in Kokomo, Ind. (Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen)

 

Vice President Mike Pence, joined by White House senior advisors, speaks to employees during a visit to the GM/Ventec Ventilator Production Facilty Thursday, April 30, 2020, in Kokomo, Ind. (Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen)

 

Vice President Mike Pence, joined by White House senior advisors, speaks to employees during a visit to the GM/Ventec Ventilator Production Facilty Thursday, April 30, 2020, in Kokomo, Ind. (Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen)

 

President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks about protecting America’s seniors during the coronavirus pandemic Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

 

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Cabinet members and White House senior advisors, signs a proclamation designating the month of May as Older Americans Month Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

 

President Donald J. Trump displays his signature on a proclamation designating the month of May as Older Americans Month during an event about protecting America’s seniors during the coronavirus pandemic Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

 

President Donald J. Trump listens to a reporter’s question during an event about protecting America’s seniors during the coronavirus pandemic Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

 

President Donald J. Trump responds to a reporter’s question during an event about protecting America’s seniors during the coronavirus pandemic Thursday, April 30, 2020, in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

 
Friday, May 1, 2020

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany takes questions from reporters during a press briefing Friday, May 1, 2020, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

 

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany takes questions from reporters during a press briefing Friday, May 1, 2020, in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

 

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence and United States International Development Finance Corporation CEO Adam Boehler, meets with Gilead Sciences, Inc. CEO Daniel O’Day to announce that an FDA emergency use authorization has been granted for Gilead’s remdesivir drug to treat COVID-19 patients Friday, May 1, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

 

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, listens as Gilead Sciences, Inc. CEO Daniel O’Day delivers remarks during a meeting to announce that an FDA emergency use authorization has been granted for Gilead’s remdesivir drug to treat COVID-19 patients Friday, May 1, 2020, in the Oval Office of the White House.  (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

 

President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks at a Presidential Recognition Ceremony celebrating volunteers during the coronavirus pandemic and their hard work, heroism, and hope Friday, May 1, 2020, in the Blue Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) 

 

President Donald J. Trump listens as Frank Siller, CEO of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, delivers remarks at a Presidential Recognition Ceremony celebrating volunteers during the coronavirus pandemic and their hard work, heroism, and hope Friday, May 1, 2020, in the Blue Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian) 

 

President Donald J. Trump talks with reporters outside the South Portico of the White House Friday, May 1, 2020, prior to boarding Marine One to begin his trip to Camp David. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

 

President Donald J. Trump aboard Marine One departs the South Lawn of the White House Friday, May 1, 2020, en route to Camp David. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

Proclamation on Public Service Recognition Week, 2020

Office of the Press Secretary
PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK, 2020

- - - - - - -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION
 

     During Public Service Recognition Week, we pay tribute to our Federal, State, and local government employees for their unwavering dedication to civil service.  On the front lines in times of prosperity and adversity alike, our world-class workforce remains ready and willing to serve their fellow Americans.  At all levels of government, our civilian personnel have made our Nation stronger and more prosperous.

     In recent weeks and months, our Nation's civilian officials have united with unprecedented urgency and resolve to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.  Their tireless efforts are ensuring Federal, State, local, and tribal governments continue to provide necessary services to their constituents, are helping forge productive government-private sector partnerships, and are bolstering our ongoing recovery efforts.  Our public health experts, who always play an integral role in protecting the health and wellbeing of our people, have provided critical and timely guidance to Americans on how to stay healthy and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.  Emergency managers, first responders, and law enforcement are continuing to provide life‑saving care, comfort, and support to those affected.  Postal workers are delivering essential supplies and communications.  Sanitation workers are keeping our communities clean.  School teachers and educators are continuing to provide virtual education and support to students.  And countless other public servants are diligently and humbly supporting our American way of life during this crisis.  Through their dedicated efforts, the American people are protected and supported despite the unprecedented challenges we face.

     As we start to see a promising forecast and eventual recovery -- thanks in large part to the extraordinary sacrifices the American people have made on behalf of their fellow citizens -- we can begin the critical work of reopening our country.  We know that our public service employees will play a crucial role in restarting our economy and getting our society fully revitalized, while also protecting American lives.  My Administration remains committed to supporting these men and women at all levels of government during this process, ensuring they have the resources and information they need to continue serving the American people while also safeguarding their own wellbeing.  Together, we will complete the work of rebuilding and restoring our Nation.

     This Public Service Recognition Week, we are especially grateful to our devoted public servants.  Their experience, expertise, and commitment to service will lift our Nation up during these difficult times and help ensure a swift recovery.  We will forever be indebted to them for their hard work, dedication, and courage, always remembering their irreplaceable contributions to our people and our country.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 3 through May 9, 2020, as Public Service Recognition Week.  I call upon Americans and all Federal, State, tribal, and local government agencies to recognize the dedication of our Nation's public servants and to observe this week through appropriate programs and activities.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fourth.
 
                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP BEFORE MARINE ONE DEPARTURE

Office of the Press Secretary
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP
BEFORE MARINE ONE DEPARTURE

South Lawn

 
5:24 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  So I’ll be going to Camp David for a working weekend.  We’re going to be spending a lot of time with meetings and phone calls and some foreign leaders.  So we look forward to that, and we’ll be back very soon.  I guess we’re doing something pretty big on Sunday night at the Lincoln Memorial.  That’ll be very nice.  But we’ll be back soon and I think some of you will be traveling out around the area where I’m going.  But we’ll be at Camp David for a working weekend.

Q    The North Korean leader just surfaced at a fertilizer plant in North Korea.  Do you know about this?  Anything you can tell us about him?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, I rather not comment on it yet -- Kim Jong Un.  We’ll have something to say about it at the appropriate time.

Q    Can you at least confirm that he’s alive?

Q    As a friend to the Brazilian President, would you advise him to support social distancing?

THE PRESIDENT:  I think he’s doing a very good job.  He’s a great friend of mine.  And the President is doing really well in Brazil.  We’re very proud of him.

Q    How about the situation with the coronavirus in Brazil?  Are you worried?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, they have -- they’ve been hit hard.  Brazil has been hit very hard.  But you have a President that’s doing a very good job.

Q    Mr. President?  Mr. --

Q    Mr. President, do you know that Kim is alive?  Can you at least say that?

THE PRESIDENT: I don’t want to talk about it.

Q    Mr. President --

Q    Are you going to be talking to him this weekend?

THE PRESIDENT:  I may.

Q    You -- you talked about potential tariffs on China yesterday.  Is that something that’s under serious consideration?

THE PRESIDENT:  So we’re going to see what happens.  A lot of things are happening with respect to China.  We’re not happy, obviously, with what happened.  This is a bad situation.  All over the world -- 182 countries.  But we’ll be having a lot to say about that.  We -- it’s certainly an option.  It’s certainly an option, John.

Q    You said that you have a good relationship?

THE PRESIDENT:  It’s certainly an option.

Q    Mr. President, are you going to be social distanc- --are you going to be social distancing during your work weekend?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, I will.

Q    May I ask you a quick question about reopening, Mr. President?  A week -- a week ago, you said you were not happy with Governor Kemp about opening up in Georgia.  While there have been --

THE PRESIDENT:  I didn’t say that, John.  I said I didn’t like the particular place -- a spa, a tattoo parlor.

No, no, I think it’s wonderful.  I want to see us open safely, but I didn’t like spas and tattoo parlors, and I wasn’t thrilled about that.  But I did -- I said nothing about Georgia, other than that.

I like the states opening.  They will be opening.  They're going to open safely and quickly, I hope, because we have to get our country back.

Thank you.  Thank you.

                                  END       5:28 P.M. EDT 

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts

Office of the Press Secretary
President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts
 
Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key positions in his Administration:

Marshall Billingslea, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.

Mr. Billingslea is the Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control at the State Department.  He has also recently served as an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing.

A former Managing Director at Deloitte, Mr. Billingslea has also served at the Department of Defense as Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Negotiations Policy.  He was Assistant Secretary General for Defense Investment at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, and a Senior Professional Staff Member for National Security Affairs for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr. Billingslea received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, the Cross of Merit of the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic, and the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana of Estonia, among other awards.  Mr. Billingslea earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College, and an M.A. from The Fletcher School, Tufts University. 

Jonathan Pratt, of California, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Djibouti.

Mr. Pratt, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Counselor, currently serves as the Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs for the State Department.  Mr. Pratt has also held assignments as the Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, and as the Office Director for Pakistan Affairs in the State Department.  He served earlier as the Political Counselor at the United States Embassy in Islamabad, as the Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, and as the Political and Economic Section Chief at the United States Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan.

Mr. Pratt’s other assignments include service at the United States Embassies in Angola, Jordan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Mr. Pratt earned a B.A. from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut and an M.A. from the University of California, San Diego.  He is the recipient of the State Department’s James Clement Dunn Award for Excellence and the Director General’s Award for Reporting.  He speaks Chinese, Arabic, French, Spanish and Portuguese.

Melanie Harris Higgins, of Georgia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Burundi.

Ms. Higgins, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Counselor, currently serves as Director of the Office of Central African Affairs at the State Department.  Previously, she was the Principal Officer of the United States Consulate General in Auckland, New Zealand and was the Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Throughout her two decades of service, Ms. Higgins served as the Acting Director and Acting Public Affairs Advisor for the State Department’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.  She also held a number of other positions at the State Department in Washington, D.C., Jakarta, Indonesia, Canberra, Australia, and Yaounde, Cameroon.

Ms. Higgins earned a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and an M.A. from the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies.  She is the recipient of the Sinclaire Language Award from the American Foreign Service Association.  She speaks French, Indonesian, and some Bosnian.

Jeanne Marie Maloney, of Virginia, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Ms. Maloney, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, currently serves as the Foreign Policy Advisor to United States Army Africa in Vicenza, Italy.  Previously, she was the Director of the Office of Security Affairs in the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs.

Ms. Maloney has served in various leadership positions at the State Department over the course of her career, including as Career Development Officer in the Bureau of Human Resources, Director of the Office of Terrorist Screening and Interdiction in the Bureau of Counterterrorism, and Deputy Political-Military Counselor at the United States Embassy Baghdad in Iraq.  Ms. Maloney was also the Director of the Office of Fraud Prevention Programs in the Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Ms. Maloney earned a B.A. from the College of William and Mary and an M.B.A. from the University of Tulsa.  She speaks Portuguese, Spanish, and basic Arabic.

Keith W. Dayton, of Washington, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Ukraine.

Keith W. Dayton currently serves as the Director of the George C. Marshall Center in Garmisch, Germany, a position he has held since 2010.  He also serves concurrently as Senior United States Defense Advisor to Ukraine.  His current service follows a four-decade career in the United States Army, retiring in 2010 with the rank of Lieutenant General.

Among his many assignments, Lt. General Dayton was the United Sates Security Coordinator Israel/Palestinian Authority, the Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy, Army Staff, the Pentagon, the Director of Operations for the Defense Intelligence Agency, and United States Defense Attache to Russia.

Lt. General Dayton earned a B.A. from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, a B.A./M.A. from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, and an M.A. from the University of Southern California in conjunction with the United States Army Russian Institute in Garmish, Germany.  He is the recipient of numerous awards for his military service, including from the State Department and from the Canadian, German and Austrian Governments.  He speaks Russian and German. 

Lisa S. Kenna, of Vermont, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Peru.

Ms. Kenna, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Counselor, is the Executive Secretary of the Department of State and a Senior Advisor.  She previously served as a Political Advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and before that she was chief of the political section of the United States Embassy in Amman, Jordan.

Ms. Kenna was previously Director of the Iraq office in the National Security Council at the White House following a tour as Deputy Director of the Iraq Political Office in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department.  She served as a political/military officer at the United States Embassy in Cairo, Egypt.  Other assignments overseas included the United States Embassy in Mbabane, Swaziland, and the United StatesConsulate General in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Before joining the State Department, Ms. Kenna was an attorney in private practice.  A graduate of Middlebury College and the University of Connecticut School of Law, she speaks Arabic, Persian and Urdu.

Michael J. Walsh, Jr., of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of Commerce.

Mr. Walsh is currently the Chief of Staff of the United States Department of Commerce.  Secretary Ross has also delegated the duties of the General Counsel to him.

Mr. Walsh joined the Department as the Deputy General Counsel from O’Melveny & Myers, LLP, where he was a Partner specializing in representing companies and their officers and directors in complex securities and ERISA class actions, shareholder derivative cases, internal and regulatory investigations, and SEC enforcement actions.

Mr. Walsh also served as the Pro Bono Partner for his firm’s Washington, D.C. office.  He received a J.D. from Columbia Law School and a B.A. from Boston College.

Jason C. Weida, of Massachusetts, to be Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services.

Mr. Weida has been serving as an Assistant United States Attorney in Boston since 2016.  He previously served at the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. in the Office of Legal Policy.

Before entering public service, Mr. Weida was an attorney at two national firms, Jones Day and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.  As a Litigation Associate, Mr. Weida maintained an active docket of pro bono cases, for which his office received the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Certificate of Recognition for Pro Bono Service.  He has overseen numerous complex investigations in healthcare and other sectors.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Weida clerked on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit for the Honorable Jeffrey R. Howard.  Prior to that, he clerked on the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island for the Honorable William E. Smith, and on the Rhode Island Supreme Court for the Honorable Paul A. Suttell.

Mr. Weida earned a B.A. from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, magna cum laude, and a J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law, with honors.  He is a recipient of the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service.
 
---
 
Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key positions in his Administration:

John C. Huffard, Jr., of Virginia, to be a Member of the President’s National Security and Telecommunications Advisory Committee.

Leonard L. Haynes III, of Louisiana, to be a Member of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Douglas R. Lengenfelder, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Air Force Academy.

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP IN A PRESIDENTIAL RECOGNITION CEREMONY: HARD WORK, HEROISM, AND HOPE

Office of the Press Secretary
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP
IN A PRESIDENTIAL RECOGNITION CEREMONY:
HARD WORK, HEROISM, AND HOPE  

Blue Room


4:47 P.M.  EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  It’s a great honor to have you all.  I know your stories.  I got to read about your stories.  In some cases, I knew your story without having to read about it -- from Staten Island.  So, thank you all very much.  It’s a great honor to have you. 

This afternoon, we're going to recognize several individuals who have responded to the invisible enemy with courage, determination, and grace.  Terrific people.  In recent weeks, our nation has endured extraordinary hardships and loss, and we mourn with one heart for every life that's been taken from us.

In the midst of so much pain, the heroes we honor today are a true source of inspiration for us all.  You really are very great inspiration for us all.  And the whole country is watching.

With us today is Kyle West from Cincinnati, Ohio.  Kyle is 23 years old, and he's proud to be a mailman in his hometown.  I know Cincinnati very well.  I actually worked in Cincinnati, and it was a great -- the Queen City.  I had a great experience.  Many of the people on this route are older Americans in a low-income area.  And as Kyle says of his job, “We're not just mailmen, we’re mechanics, movers, and many other things.  We’re part of the neighborhood.”  That's true, isn't it -- huh? -- for a mailman.  Kyle talks to roughly 500 of his customers each day, bringing a cheerful smile and a listening ear to every parcel of mail.

When the pandemic hit, Kyle delivered a note to hundreds of older Americans on his route.  It said, “If you are at risk and need help getting essential items, let me know.  I will do what I can to help.”  That means you get it done, right?  That's what he means.  “Sincerely, Mailman Kyle.”  Since then, Kyle has received more than 400 responses, and he’s delivered vital groceries to dozens of senior citizens.

Kyle, your love for your neighbors lifts us and the entire nation.  Would you come up and say a few words?  Please.  Thank you, Kyle.  It's terrific.  (Applause.)

I’ll move that down for you.  Thank you.

MR. WEST:  All right.  Thank you, Mr. President.  I'm greatly honored to be here to represent my fellow postal employees as we continue to provide our essential services to America.  Customers often -- often tell us during difficult times that seeing us out every day gives them a sense of normalcy in their life.

The gratitude we're receiving from our customers is greatly inspiring.  And the thank-you notes along our routes are helping us get through.

We're delivering a lot of essential items at this time.  The amount of medicine has greatly increased.  Customers depend on us for Social Security checks and other financial information: census material, mail-in ballots, and then essential items that they're ordering online.

At the Postal Service, we're continuing to follow CDC guidelines to keep ourselves and our customers safe: social distancing, wearing a face mask, lots of hand washing, and the cleaning of our vehicles and facilities.  I'm very proud to work for the Postal Service and to deliver for our country.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Great job, Kyle.  Thank you very much.

MR. WEST:  Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Great job.  Thank you very much, Kyle.

Also with us are Libby Bish and Rafael Melo.  And they’re real estate agents in Northern Virginia -- great business, real estate.  When one of their clients told them that his restaurant had been hit hard, Libby and Rafael decided they wanted to do something to help.  They began raising money to buy food from restaurants to donate to local hospitals.  Within a few weeks, they have raised over $6,000, made 18 deliveries, and fed over 500 healthcare workers.

And Libby and Rafael, please, I'd like to thank you and acknowledge you by having you step forward and say a few words.  Please.

Please, go ahead.  (Applause.)

MR. MELO:  Thank you, Mr. President.  You kind of covered it all for us already.  (Laughs.)  So we are real estate agents in the D.C. area.  And this mission really came about after receiving a phone call from some of our clients who work in the food and beverage industry here.  They gave us some insight on what COVID-19, how the -- the impact that it had on their business.

And from there, we just felt compelled to act.  So, we started a GoFundMe campaign to give them some additional business; took money, ordered catering directly from their restaurant, and we dropped it off with different staff working at various hospitals around the area -- tirelessly, obviously.

The campaign started picking up, so we started doing more donations.  And we kept dropping off -- we also increased our goal, but we kept dropping off at different hospitals around the area.

So another really cool factor that we did to sprinkle that -- to sprinkle in with this was we started compiling videos of some of our contributors expressing their gratitude, and those videos were being sent along with the food drop-offs.

Let me get you ready.  (Adjusts microphone.)

MS. BISH:  (Laughs.)  Some assistance with that.

Yeah.  So, Mr. President already addressed most of this, but we named our campaign “Frontline Fuel.”  We raised over $6,000, helped over 18 local businesses, and delivered meals to nurses and doctors in the area -- over 500 nurses and doctors.

We also partnered with a local boutique company that produces hand sanitizer, DEFY Aesthetic, to include in our drop-offs as an added bonus.  Our mission is simple: We want to help local business while also encouraging and helping healthcare workers who are selflessly working around the clock to ensure the health of our people.

Thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity.  It's an honor to be here today.

THE PRESIDENT:  Fantastic.  Thank you both.  (Applause.)  Thanks very much.  Great job.

Tall guy, right?  Next to -- so how tall are you?

MR. MELO:  6’8.

THE PRESIDENT:  6’8?  That’s a good height.

MS. BISH:  (Inaudible.)  (Laughs.)

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s a -- I have a son that looks like he’s going to be right around that number.  Barron.  Right?

MR. MELO:  Yes.

THE PRESIDENT:  It’s -- he’s going to be up there.  That’s really good.  Thank you very much, and thank you, Libby, very much.

Today, we also want our TJ Kim, a high school sophomore from McLean, Virginia.  TJ hopes to serve as a pilot in the United States Navy.  At just 16 year old -- 16, boy, that’s a great age -- TJ is already taking flight classes to get his pilot's license.  When he heard that hospitals needed more personal protective equipment, he launched his own mission, Operation SOS, which stands for Supplies Over the Skies.

He worked with his school, church, and community to collect medical supplies.  With the help of the flight instructor, who probably was a very good person -- what do you think?  Pretty good?

MR. KIM:  (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Good flight instructor too?

MR. KIM:  Yes.

THE PRESIDENT:  Knows how to fly, right?  Pretty good?

MR. KIM:  Yes.

THE PRESIDENT:  You better take lessons from somebody that knows how to fly.  But who also joins us today.

And TJ has flown and delivered more than 10,000 pieces of personal protective equipment.  That's pretty -- that's a lot of work.  That’s a lot of flying too.  That's great.  And there can be no better preparation for flying the military planes, right?

MR. KIM:  Yes, sir.

THE PRESIDENT:  I think there can be nothing better.

But you’re going to four rural hospitals in Virginia.  So, TJ, come on up and say a few words.  Please, great honor.

Thank you.  (Applause.)

MR. KIM:  Thank you, Mr. President.  I'm beyond humbled to be here today.  My name is TJ Kim, and I'm a sophomore at the Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland.  A little over a month ago, I turned 16 when, due to coronavirus, my school year and my lacrosse season were effectively over.  All I had left was my flight training.  Ever since I was nine, it's been my dream to attend the Naval Academy and become a fighter pilot in the Navy.

So I talked to my dad about ways that I could continue my flight training while serving the community at the same time.  We came up with Operation SOS, meaning Supplies Over the Skies. 

In my home state of Virginia, I found that there are seven critical-access hospitals serving the rural communities around them.  And I realized that while every hospital is hurting for tier-one PPEs, it was the rural hospitals that were often forgotten about.  So I wanted to do something to help and bless them.

I've flown four Operation SOS missions so far to Luray Caverns, Winchester, the Highlands of Hot Springs, and the northern neck of (inaudible).

I've sourced and delivered 8,000 medical gloves, 2,000 head covers, 1,500 shoe covers, 400 masks, as well as protective eyewear, isolation gowns, hand sanitizers, and disinfectant sprays.  The response has been amazing.

Throughout my journey, I've learned two lessons: First, is that it takes a community to serve the community.  What I mean is that I'm blessed by an incredible community that includes my family, my teachers and peers at Landon, my flight school, my neighborhood, and my church.  It's been their support that has allowed me to complete each Operation SOS mission successfully.

Second, I've learned that you are never too young to think about how to serve others in times of need.  Mr. President, you once said that America is the place where anyone can rise, and today there are youth everywhere in America rising up to help sew masks, deliver groceries to the elderly, and write thank-you letters to our frontline workers.  And when I think about them, I’ve realized just how undeserving I am to be here.

Mr. President, I'm so honored by this award, and I also don't know how to repay you.  Let me make you this promise instead: As long as there's a need and as long as I can find the PPEs and fly them to rural hospitals, I'm going to do it.

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s fantastic.

MR. KIM:  I promise to continue to rise and be of service to my campus, my community, my Commonwealth, and my country.

Thank you.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s great.  Where’s your flight instructor?

MR. KIM:  Oh, he’s right there, in the back.

THE PRESIDENT:  Where’s your instructor?

MR. KIM:  In the back, middle.

THE PRESIDENT:  Good.  How about standing up?  (Applause.)  Was he a great -- a great student?

PARTICIPANT:  (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Huh?  Did a good job?

PARTICIPANT:  (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  He did job, I’ll bet.  Thank you very much.  That’s great.  Thank you.

MR. KIM:  Thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT:  Fantastic story.

So a man that I know because I spent a lot of time -- and spend in a place called Staten Island.  Right?  That's true, Frank.  You know that.  Frank Siller from Staten Island, New York -- a really special place.  I spent many an hour -- many a day with my father there over the years.  And it's just great.

Nearly two decades ago, Frank founded an organization called Tunnel to Towers to support the loved ones of the fallen for first responders and service members.  He began this mission to honor the legacy of his younger brother, firefighter Steven Siller.  And so, Steven is looking down right now and he says, “My brother is in the White House, doing a real job.”  He's very proud of you.  I know how hard you work.  Coming from New York, I guess, especially, Frank, I know how hard you work.  And you've done a fantastic job.  We appreciate it very much.

But he was one of the immortal heroes who gave his life on September 11th, 2001.

As the virus began to spread in New York earlier this year, Frank leapt into action.  He helped raise money to deliver more than 1 million pieces of personal protective equipment -- that's a lot -- for hospitals in the city.

Frank and his army of volunteers have delivered food to firehouses and phone stations and police stations and all sorts of places all across New York and New Jersey.  Frank also raised over $5 million to help pay the mortgages of families -- homes that have 25 first responders.  I guess it's a total of 25.  So you have a lot of people that are very thankful, Frank.  I've heard a lot about it.  First responders and healthcare workers who have tragically lost their lives in the fight against the virus.  It's a vicious, vicious enemy.

Frank, I want to thank you for continuing to support our nation's heroes.  And, again, your family and your brother is very proud of you, looking down.  And please come up and say a few words, Frank, please.

Thank you.  (Applause.)

MR. SILLER:  Thank you, Mr. President, for inviting me here today and to honor and let people know the work that Tunnel to Towers foundation is doing.

My siblings and I, we started the foundation in honor of my brother, New York City firefighter.  On September 11th, 2001, he strapped 60 pounds of gear on his back and ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, which is almost two miles long.  And I know you know that.

THE PRESIDENT:  It’s a long tunnel.

MR. SILLER:  It's almost two miles long.  And he come out and run up West Street, went into the South Tower, up those stairs.  And while saving people’s lives, he gave up his own.

And we were -- since then, we've been honoring our military and first responders ever since.  We built specially adapted smart homes for our country's most catastrophically injured service members.  We deliver mortgage-free homes for Gold Star Families and fallen first responder families who die in the line of duty who leave young families behind.

And, Mr. President, when you said that we are at war with an invisible enemy, we couldn't have been more proud to know that we're doing our job, and what we're supposed to be doing as a local foundation, as a national foundation, to make sure that we take care of the frontline healthcare workers.

Saint Fran- -- we follow teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi, who said, "Brothers and sisters, while you are here, while you have time, let us do good."  And we know that is our guiding light from the foundation, is what we strive to do every single is to do good, and not just the memory of my brother, but all those who perished on 9/11, those who have perished ever since that have given us this great country, and those frontline healthcare workers who are willing to die for you and me today, who are on that frontline in the battlefield that you all often speak about.

And that's why our foundation has made a commitment.  We want America to make a promise to these great Americans, who are willing to die for you and me, that if they go out and they give their kids a kiss goodbye, and they don't come home, that we are going to take care of them.

You know I know we will, because we are and always have been the greatest country that has ever existed.  Why?  Because the goodness and the generosity of America will always take care of the greatness of America.

Mr. President, thank you once again for having me here today.  God bless you.  God bless America.  And remember, we are only the land of the free because of the brave.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Great job.  Thank you, Frank.  Thank you very much, Frank.  Beautiful.

In this hour of need, the world has once again witnessed the unbeatable strength of the United States of America.  All across our land, heroes have raced into action.  Doctors and nurses are enduring sleepless nights to save every possible life.  Farmers, truck drivers, and grocers are working to keep our shelves stocked and our people fed.  Families are helping neighbors in need, and entire communities are rallying together to defeat the plague -- this ugly, horrible plague.

The five Americans we recognize today are the first of a number of individuals we will honor in the coming weeks.  We're going to be honoring a lot of great people.  Our nation has just completed the “30 Days to Slow the Spread,” during which every American was asked to make sacrifices to help defeat the virus.

Not long ago, models predicted that between 1.5 million and 2.2 million people would have died in the United States without the mitigation.  Through our aggressive response and the remarkable commitment and bravery of American people, we have saved thousands and thousands of lives.  I can even make that, if you want, hundreds of thousands of lives.  People were thinking in terms of 1.5 million lives lost to 2.2 without the mitigation.  And hopefully, we're going to come in below that 100,000 lives lost, which is a horrible number nevertheless.  It's a horrible thing.  It could've been stopped.  It should've been stopped at source, but it wasn't.

But it's a tribute to this country and the people of our country what they've been able to do and the amount of lives that have been saved.

Because we've flattened the curve, slowed the spread, and massively expanded our healthcare capacity, we're now in the process of gradually reopening our country.  And it's being done with a tremendous -- a tremendous gusto and vigor.  We see that all the time, don’t we, Frank?  They want to get out there, and they want to get back.  That’s what they want.  They want their country back, and they're getting it back.  And we're getting it back safely and we're getting it back quickly.

It's a strategy guided by science, evidence, facts, and reason.  A never-ending lockdown would inflict colossal damage on the health and lifespans of our people.  Public health is closely tied to economic health.  No state or country can long ignore the facts and the truth.  And we're just very proud of the fact that people have put up with so much in order to keep the numbers down to the level.  And it looks like we'll be having our finished number.

It should be something -- you know, think of it: We could save anywhere from a million to even a million-five.  And, I guess, if you think about it, we could save 2.1, 2.5 million lives, depending on what happens.  And with this invisible enemy, as we said, nobody knows what really happens, but we've learned a lot in the last two months.

Throughout our history, it's America's love and strength, not its fears and doubts, that have paved the way and paved the road to victory.  Together, we'll emerge from this chapter of hardship and all of those deaths of such great souls and such great people.  With new unity and resolve, our people will thrive, our industries will roar, our innovators will astonish, and America will try triumph like never before.  And that's what I feel -- like never before.

We built the greatest economy in the history of the world.  Greatest employment numbers.  Greatest stock market.  Greatest number of jobs.  Any way you want it.  Greatest industries.  Greatest creations.  And one day, we had to close it down.  They said, "Sir, we're going to have to close it down."  And we did that.  And everybody suffered, but they did an incredible job.

And because of that, we've saved maybe millions of lives.  And I just want to thank everybody.  This is a scourge all around the world -- 182 countries as of a week ago, so it's probably higher.  A hundred and eighty-two countries are going through relatively the same thing, and it's a very sad -- it's a very sad chapter.  There was no reason for this.  There was no reason for this.  This should've been stopped at the source.

But I'd like to congratulate these incredible five Americans.  And I'd like to ask them to come forward and receive their award and their recognition.  And they deserve it.  And we'll be watching you throughout your life.  You may be around a little bit longer than me, Mr. Mailman, but I'll be watching you as long as I can.  I'm watching all of you, and I want to thank you very much.  And to my hometown man, thank you very much.  Thank you, Frank.  Please.

(The awards are presented.)

So, that was great.  And you represent a very important part of this country, and we appreciate it very much.  Thank you very much.  Go have a good day.  Bye.  (Applause.)

                         END                 5:10 P.M. EDT