Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2019 President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees, United States Attorney Nominee, and United States Marshal Nominees Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate: Peter J. Phipps of Pennsylvania, to serve as a Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Peter Phipps currently serves as U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania, where he has served since his confirmation by the U.S. Senate and appointment by President Donald J. Trump in 2018.  Before taking the bench, Judge Phipps served as Senior Trial Counsel in the Federal Programs Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division.  During his 14-year tenure at the Justice Department, Judge Phipps litigated some of the most significant cases implicating the interests of the United States and received numerous awards and commendations, including the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award.  Earlier in his career, Judge Phipps spent three years as an associate at Jones Day, where his practice focused on civil litigation.  He also served as a law clerk to Judge R. Guy Cole, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.  Mr. Phipps earned both a B.S. and a B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Dayton and earned his J.D. from Stanford Law School, where he served as the Managing Editor of the Stanford Law & Policy Review. Douglas R. Cole of Ohio, to serve as Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Doug Cole is a Partner at Organ Cole LLP in Columbus, Ohio, representing clients in complex litigation and intellectual property matters.  From 2002 to 2006, Mr. Cole served as State Solicitor of Ohio in the Office of the Ohio Attorney General.  In that role, Mr. Cole briefed and argued cases in the Supreme Court of the United States, the Ohio Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on behalf of the State of Ohio.  Before serving as State Solicitor, Mr. Cole was a Professor at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he taught courses in Corporations, Contracts, and Law & Economics.  Mr. Cole continues to serve as an Adjunct Professor at the law school.  Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Cole served as a law clerk to Judge Frank H. Easterbrook of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.  Mr. Cole earned his B.A. from Ripon College; his B.S.E.E., with honors, from the University of Wisconsin; and his J.D., with high honors, from the University of Chicago Law School. Charles R. Eskridge III of Texas, to serve as Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.  Charles Eskridge is a Partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP in Houston, Texas, where his practice focuses on complex commercial litigation.  Before joining Quinn Emanuel, he spent over two decades in the Houston, Texas, office of Susman Godfrey LLP.  Mr. Eskridge is a member of the American Law Institute and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston Law Center, teaching a course on the Origins of the Federal Constitution.  Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Eskridge served as a law clerk to Judge Charles Clark of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and to Justice Byron R. White of the Supreme Court of the United States.  Mr. Eskridge earned his B.S., magna cum laude, from Trinity University and his J.D., summa cum laude, from Pepperdine University School of Law. While in law school, Mr. Eskridge served as an editor of the Pepperdine Law Review. Kea W. Riggs of New Mexico, to serve as Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. Judge Kea Riggs currently serves as a Judge on New Mexico’s Fifth Judicial Circuit.  Before joining the State bench in 2014, Judge Riggs served as a Magistrate Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.  Previously, Judge Riggs was in private practice with Sanders, Bruin, Coll, & Worley in Roswell, New Mexico, and served the State of New Mexico as a Senior Trial Prosecutor, Children’s Court Attorney, and Assistant District Attorney.  Judge Riggs earned her B.B.A. from the University of Oklahoma and her J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. William Shaw Stickman IV of Pennsylvania, to serve as Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. William Stickman is a Partner with Del Sole Cavanaugh Stroyd LLC, where his practices focuses on commercial litigation and appellate matters.  From 2011 to 2017, Mr. Stickman served on the Pennsylvania Civil Procedural Rules Committee and helped to review, amend, and draft the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure.  Earlier in his career, Mr. Stickman served as a law clerk to Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.  Mr. Stickman earned his B.A., summa cum laude, and his J.D. from Duquesne University.  He was a member of the Duquesne Law Review during law school. Jennifer Philpott Wilson of Pennsylvania, to serve as Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.  Jennifer Wilson is a Partner with Philpott Wilson LLP, in Duncannon, Pennsylvania, where her practice includes civil litigation, criminal defense, and family law matters.  Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Wilson served as a Trial Attorney with the Department of Justice’s Tax Division and was an Associate with Chadbourne & Park LLP.  She has been an Adjunct Professor at Penn State University Dickinson School of Law, teaching a course on “Written Advocacy and Judicial Opinions.”  Upon graduation from law school, Ms. Wilson served as a law clerk to Judge Jon P. McCalla of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee and to Judge Julio M. Fuentes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Ms. Wilson earned her B.A., cum laude, from Swarthmore College and her J.D., summa cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School, where she served as the Executive Notes and Comments Editor for the Brooklyn Law Review. William D. Hyslop of Washington, to serve as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. William Hyslop is a Principal in the Spokane, Washington, office of Lukins & Annis PS, where his practice focuses on complex commercial and business litigation in the State and Federal courts.  Mr. Hyslop previously served as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington from 1991 to 1993.  Mr. Hyslop previously served as president of the Washington State Bar Association and Federal Bar Association for the Eastern District of Washington.  He received his B.A. from Washington State University, his M.P.A. from the University of Washington, and his J.D. from the Gonzaga University School of Law. Vincent F. DeMarco of New York, to serve as United States Marshal for the Eastern District of New York.   Vincent DeMarco is the former Sheriff of Suffolk County, New York.  Mr. DeMarco spent 23 years in the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Office: he started as a Deputy Sheriff in 1994, was elected as Sheriff in 2005, and retired at the end of 2017.  During that time, Mr. DeMarco served as Chairman of the Suffolk County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.  Mr. DeMarco received his B.S. from St. John’s University. Peter M. Vito of New York, to serve as United States Marshal for the Western District of New York.   Peter M. Vito is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Peter M. Vito & Associates, a Buffalo, New York, based private investigation firm he started in 1979.  From 2008 to 2012, Mr. Vito served as the Commissioner of the Erie County Central Police Services.  Mr. Vito began his law enforcement career as a Deputy Sheriff in the Erie County Sheriff’s Office in 1972 and served part-time as an Investigator for the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office from 1986 to 1993.  Mr. Vito received his B.A. from Canisius College. Wilmer Ocasio of Puerto Rico, to serve as United States Marshal for the District of Puerto Rico.   Wilmer Ocasio currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner of the Guaynabo City Police Department and as a Staff Sergeant in the Puerto Rico National Guard Security Forces.  Mr. Ocasio has held a number of positions in Puerto Rico law enforcement, including as Director of External Resources and Federal Grants for the Puerto Rico Police Department, Special Assistant to the Director of the Bureau of Special Investigations for the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, Security Director and Law Enforcement Liaison for the Puerto Rico Department of Family Affairs, and Sergeant-At-Arms for the Puerto Rico House of Representatives.  Mr. Ocasio earned his B.S. and his M.C.J. from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico.

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2019 Joint Statement from the President of the United States Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini   Thirty years ago, the Velvet Revolution inspired the world. The people of Czechoslovakia took destiny into their own hands and cast off decades of communist oppression. Seventy-five years ago, the Slovak resistance movement against Nazi occupation launched the Slovak National Uprising in August 1944, and this movement contributed to the defeat of Nazism and fascism. This year, the United States and the Slovak Republic mark these notable anniversaries together along with 15 years of Slovak membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Alliance. These milestones reflect Slovakia’s determination to anchor itself firmly within the Western community of nations. Now, our two nations are bound together by shared and timeless values—among them individual liberty, prosperity, the rule of law, democracy, sovereignty, and a commitment to peace and security. As leaders of the United States and the Slovak Republic, we recognize that safeguarding these values requires strength. We believe the NATO Alliance is the best guarantor of transatlantic and European security. We reaffirm that our collective security demands that each Ally meet the Wales Pledge to devote two percent of gross domestic product to defense and twenty percent of defense spending to investments in new equipment. The United States recognizes the significant steps the Slovak Republic has taken in the past year to increase its defense spending and modernize its armed forces, including the historic purchase of United States F-16 aircraft. We seek to build on this and deepen our defense cooperation by concluding a mutually beneficial Defense Cooperation Agreement between our countries. We praise the courage of American and Slovak troops serving together in Afghanistan and Iraq and as participants in NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence battlegroups. We remain firm in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and energy security, including through Slovak reverse gas flow to Ukraine. Continued sanctions against Russia must remain in force until the Minsk Agreements are fully implemented. Our countries also affirm that energy security is fundamental to national security. We reiterate our opposition to the use of energy projects as geopolitical weapons, including Nord Stream 2. We commit to deepening our cooperation in cybersecurity and to working to develop and implement telecommunications security principles. The United States and Slovak Republic believe in fair and reciprocal trade. We support an approach to United States-European Union trade relations that will bring jobs and growth to both sides of the Atlantic. We commit to explore opportunities for increasing investment between our countries and to strengthen our trading relationship further. We will work together to unlock the inherent innovation potential of our two economies. ###

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRIME MINISTER PELLEGRINI OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC BEFORE BILATERAL MEETING

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2019 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRIME MINISTER PELLEGRINI OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC BEFORE BILATERAL MEETING Oval Office   1:55 P.M. EDT      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Thank you very much.  It’s my honor to have the Prime Minister of Slovakia with us today in the Oval Office.  We have a lot of talking to do.  We’re dealing on trade.  We have a very big trade arrangement and deal.  They’re buying quite a few of the F-16 planes from us.  And a very big order, actually.  I’m very impressed.  And it’s -- I have to say, it’s a great plane.  It’s a great, great plane.      But we do a lot of trade.  And NATO partner.  And our relationship has been very good.  And this is the Prime Minister’s first time in the Oval Office, and I think he’s impressed with it.      PRIME MINISTER PELLEGRINI:  Yeah, I am.      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Thank you very much for being with us.      PRIME MINISTER PELLEGRINI:  Mr. President, I’m really very glad to meet Mr. President today here in the White House.  And I think the timing is really perfect because this year we are celebrating 30 years of freedom of Slovakia.      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  That’s right.      PRIME MINISTER PELLEGRINI:  And the United States played a key role in our struggle for democracy, and it helped us to transform our country.  And I’m very happy that today I can say that the United States and Slovakia are strategic partners and allies.      And, as the Prime Minister, I can say today that Slovakia is really a success story.  And I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, because, in Slovakia, we are able now to create thousands of new jobs and we have the lowest unemployment rate in our history.  And I would like to congratulate you on the amazing numbers, which were published today, and about the jobs which were created thanks to you policies.  I think it’s a huge success.      And congratulations, Mr. President, because I know how difficult it is to reach such numbers and to boost the economy.  And Slovakia has, in this moment, really a robust growth -- even one of the highest in European Union and Eurozone.  And we are lucky that also your economy is doing very well, because if the United States is going well, also Slovakia --      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  That’s right.      PRIME MINISTER PELLEGRINI:  -- is going well.      And I have to say, ladies and gentlemen, that Mr. President is really a leader, which is very clear that we have to do even much more when it comes to defense.  And as Mr. President mentioned, Slovakia is delivering.  It’s spending more.  We are modernizing our armed forces.  We are buying, also, U.S. military equipment.  And I can say that the 2 percent of GDP, we will reach earlier, as was our plan.  And in 2022, we will be on that number.      And, once again, it’s a great honor for me, great honor for our country, to be here in the White House with you, Mr. President.      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  That’s really nice.      I just want to add a little bit further that -- and it’s very nice what you said -- but we are aligned with you and it has helped your economy, and that’s been good.  And that makes me very happy because those are incredible people.  And the relationship has never been stronger than it is now.  And you’ve been with us all the way.      And what you said is true: Slovakia is very close to being up to the benchmark number -- the 2 percent number -- and maybe even go beyond it, because they understand the value -- the tremendous value -- from the United States.  Some countries aren’t.      But NATO -- as your Secretary General has said -- they’ve, over the last short period of time, picked up over a hundred billion dollars of additional money since I’m President because of the fact that I said you have to pay for your defense.  I mean, you have to help us because the United States pays for a really disproportionate share of NATO.      So, over $100 million -- over $100 billion has been paid by the various members of NATO.  Some are doing fantastically.  You are doing really well.  You're almost up to the number, and others aren't doing as well, but they will be, we predict.      And I think -- I also just want to mention that the economy is unbelievable.  We're at 3.6 percent unemployment.  That's the lowest number since 1969.  We have tremendous backing.  The companies are doing really well.  We have the lowest unemployment rates for different groups of people, whether it's African American, Asian, Hispanic.  Hispanic just set another all-time record for low unemployment.      The household income is the highest it's ever been.  Our country is doing well.  Never, probably, has done as well as it's doing right now, economically.  And so we're very proud of that fact.      We're dealing on China right now.  We're doing fine.  We're taking in billions of dollars from China in the form of tariffs, as you know.  We're charging China tariffs.  We've never taken in 10 cents from China, and now we're taking in billions and billions of dollars.  That's had a very positive effect on things.      But the deal itself is going along pretty well.  I would even say very well.  We'll see what happens over the next couple of weeks.  But we're getting close to a very historic, monumental deal.  And if it doesn't happen, we'll be fine too.  Maybe even better.      So I just want to thank you.  It's a great honor to be with you.  I've heard tremendous things.  And you're a very popular man in your country.  And I've had my best poll numbers too, so I feel very good.      But it's -- our economy is raging.  And when we have an economy that maybe is the best economy we've ever had, people tend to like you.      So, we're both doing well in that regard.      PRIME MINISTER PELLEGRINI:  (Inaudible.)      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Thank you very much for being here.      Steve, go ahead.      Q    Mr. President, you spoke with Vladimir Putin earlier today.      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Yes, I did.      Q    What options are you looking at to get humanitarian assistance to Venezuela?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Yeah, I had a very good talk with President Putin -- probably over an hour.  And we talked about many things.  Venezuela was one of the topics.  And he is not looking at all to get involved in Venezuela other than he'd like to see something positive happen for Venezuela.      And I feel the same way.  We want to get some humanitarian aid.  Right now, people are starving.  They have no water, they have no food.  This is, Mr. Prime Minister, one of the richest countries in the world 20 years ago, and now it's -- they don't have food and they don't have water for their people.  So we want to help on a humanitarian basis.      And I thought it was a very positive conversation I had with President Putin on Venezuela.      Q    Are you talking about extending the New START Treaty or adding China to it?  Or what, exactly?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  We're talking about a nuclear agreement where we make less and they make less, and maybe even where we get rid of some of the tremendous firepower that we have right now.      We're spending billions of dollars on nuclear weapons, numbers like we've never spent before.  We need that, but they are also -- and China is, frankly, also -- we discussed the possibility of a three-way deal instead of a two-way deal.  And China -- I've already spoken to them; they very much would like to be a part of that deal.      In fact, during the trade talks, we started talking about that.  They were excited about that.  Maybe even more excited than about trade.  But they felt very strongly about it.      So I think we're going to probably start up something very shortly between Russia and ourselves, maybe to start off.  And I think China will be added down the road.  We'll be talking about nonproliferation.  We'll be talking about a nuclear deal of some kind.  And I think it will be a very comprehensive one.      Q    Mr. President, did you address the election meddling issues that came up in the Mueller Report with Mr. Putin today?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  We discussed it.  He actually sort of smiled when he said something to the effect that it started off as a mountain and it ended up being a mouse.  But he knew that because he knew there was no collusion whatsoever.      So, pretty much, that's what it was.  It started off --      Q    Did you tell him not to meddle, Mr. President?  Did you tell him not to meddle in the next election?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Excuse me.  I'm talking.  I'm answering this question.  You are very rude.      So we had a good conversation about many different things.  Okay? Q    Did you ask him not to meddle?      Q    Did you tell him not to meddle in the next election?          PRESIDENT TRUMP:  We didn't discuss that.  Really, we didn't discuss it.  We discussed five or six things.  We also -- we went into detail on various things, especially, I would say, the nuclear.  Especially, maybe, Venezuela.  We talked about North Korea at great length, and pretty much that's it.      Also discussed trade.  We intend to do a lot of trade with Russia.  We do some right now.  It's up a little bit.  But he'd like to do trade and we'd like to do trade.      And getting along with Russia and China, getting along with all of them is very good thing, not a bad thing.  It's a good thing.  It's a positive thing.  Getting along with other countries -- including your country, by the way -- but getting along with countries is a good thing.  And we want to have good relationships with every country.      Q    Mr. President, should Mueller testify?  Would you like to see him testify before Congress?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  I don't know.  That's up to our Attorney General, who I think has done a fantastic job.      Q    And why shouldn't the Congress have the same right to hear from the Attorney General --      Q    Mr. President --      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Yeah, go ahead.  Yes, please.      Q    Mr. President, (inaudible) visit in Slovakia?  Because --      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, I'd like to.  I know people from Slovakia, and they're incredible people.  I would love to.  It's a beautiful country and it's doing very well.  It's doing very well.      Yeah.  Yeah, please.      Q    Do you want to introduce tariffs on the cars?  Because the car industry is very important.      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, the tariffs have been a necessary thing for me to do because in the case of the European Union, they have not treated us right.  We're losing $181 billion a year.  We have been for many years.  And the European Union has not treated us properly.  But we'll see what happens with regard to tariffs on cars with the European Union.  We haven’t made a decision on that.      Q    Mr. President, are you going to nominate a Defense Secretary?  Shanahan.  Are you going to make it official?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  It'll be discussed next week.      Q    Mr. President, it's World Press Freedom Day.  Can you say anything?  We've heard a lot about your grievances to us, but can you say --      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Say it again.  Say it again.      Q    It's World Press Freedom Day.  We've heard a lot about your grievances about us, but can you say something that you can improve to improve communication and relationship with the press?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, I think I have a very good relationship with some of the press.  And, unfortunately, some of the press doesn’t cover me accurately.  In fact, they go out of their way to cover me inaccurately, so I don’t think that's a free press.  I think that’s a dishonest press.  And I want to see a free press.      I mean, today I was happy to see on the front page of the New York Times -- for the first time -- where they were talking about spying and they were talking about spying on my campaign.  That’s a big difference between the way they've been covering, but that’s a big story.  That’s a story bigger than Watergate, as far as I'm concerned.      So, I want to see freedom of the press.  And I get treated fairly by some press, but I get treated very unfairly by other press.  And, frankly, I think that’s very dishonest.  And I don’t consider that.  When you have stories that are purposely written badly -- in many cases, very much on purpose -- I mean, you look at it -- that’s not free press, that’s the opposite of free press.      Q    Mr. President, have you decided whether you'll invoke executive privilege as it relates to Don McGahn?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  That'll all be determined over the next week or so.      Q    But you said it was done, so are you going block him?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  But, you know, I will say this: There has been no President in history that has given what I've given in terms of looking at just a total witch hunt.  I call it the "Russian hoax."  It turned out to be no collusion, no obstruction.  It was a total hoax.      And, yet, I was transparent.  We gave 1.4 million documents.  We gave hundreds of people.  I let him interview the lawyer -- the White House lawyer -- for 30 hours.  Think of that: thirty hours.  I let him interview other people.  I didn’t have to let him interview anybody.  I didn’t have to give any documents.  I was totally transparent because I knew I did nothing wrong.      It turned out I did nothing wrong.  No collusion with Russia.  Think of it: Thirty-five million dollars they spent, they wasted, over a period of two years.  No collusion, no obstruction.      Thank you all very much.  I appreciate it.  Thank you.  Thank you.      Q    Are you going to run on the economy?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Yeah.  Yeah.  I'll be running on the economy.  Sure.                               END                2:07 P.M. EDT

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to a Key Administration Post

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2019 President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to a Key Administration Post President Donald J. Trump today announced his intent to nominate the following individual to a key position in his Administration: Robert Wallace of Wyoming, to be an Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife, Department of the Interior. Mr. Wallace is a native of Evanston, Wyoming, and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.  His government experience includes time as both a seasonal ranger and, later in his career, assistant director of Legislative and Congressional Affairs for the National Park Service.  Mr. Wallace previously served as chief of staff to United States Senator Malcolm Wallop, chief of staff to Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer, and Republican staff director of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.  Mr. Wallace lives with his wife and two daughters in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

West Wing Reads Jobs Surge in April, Unemployment Rate Falls to the Lowest Since 1969

Jobs Surge in April, Unemployment Rate Falls to the Lowest Since 1969 “The U.S. jobs machine kept humming along in April, adding a robust 263,000 new hires while the unemployment rate fell to 3.6%, the lowest in a generation, according to a Labor Department report Friday,” Jeff Cox reports in CNBC. The American economy “easily beat Wall Street expectations of 190,000 and a 3.8% jobless rate.” Click here to read more. “President Donald Trump hits a new high on his economic approval ratings in a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS, reaching 56% of Americans saying he's doing a good job on the economy,” Grace Sparks reports for CNN. “At the same time, Trump's favorability rating has hit its highest point since the 100-day mark of his presidency.” “Doing her best to raise the level of civility in Washington, Nancy Pelosi called William Barr a liar on Thursday . . . The real reason for Mrs. Pelosi’s slander is what else Mr. Barr said the last time he was before Congress. He said that spying on a political campaign was a ‘big deal,’ that he thought the FBI did spy on the Trump campaign in 2016, and that he intends to find out what happened and why,” The Wall Street Journal editorial board writes. “What is perhaps most notable about this episode is that Robert Mueller — or, perhaps, as Barr hinted in his Wednesday testimony, people around him — were concerned about the media coverage and political discussion around his report. Particularly troubling was that it wasn’t damning enough of the president. This is not a prosecutorial concern, but a political one unworthy of people who were invested with incredible investigative power in the name of objectivity,” the National Review editorial board writes. “Bill Barr’s critics are demonstrating their lack of judgment and seriousness, not his.” “Only about 15 percent of America’s students have a reasonable understanding of American history. And the numbers look just as bleak in other core subjects,” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos writes in the New York Post. “There are many who propose we spend even more on doing the same thing over and over again. Albert Einstein called this ‘insanity.’ . . . Students deserve something different. And actually doing something different demands courage to confront a powerful and pernicious establishment — one that opposes change in education.”

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2, 2019

Presidential Message in Commemoration of the 77th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea On behalf of the United States, the First Lady and I send our greetings to the people of Australia and to all those gathered to commemorate the 77th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea. More than three-quarters of a century ago, American and Australian naval and air forces fought together to protect our shared values of freedom and democracy. The Battle of the Coral Sea demonstrated the strong relationship between the United States and Australia, which has continued to promote peace and prosperity around the world for more than a century. On this day, we remember the heroic and brave defenders who gave their lives for our freedom. Our nations and the world will be forever grateful for their sacrifice.

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2019 THE TRUMP ECONOMY SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS   April’s jobs report further illustrates that the American economy continues to roar ahead, lifting up American workers and bringing prosperity to communities across the Nation.   CNBC: Jobs Surge in April, Unemployment Rate Falls to the Lowest Since 1969 “The U.S. jobs machine kept humming along in April, adding a robust 263,000 new hires while the unemployment rate fell to 3.6%, the lowest in a generation, according to a Labor Department report Friday. Nonfarm payroll growth easily beat Wall Street expectations of 190,000 and a 3.8% jobless rate… Unemployment was last this low in December 1969 when it hit 3.5%. At a time when many economists see a tight labor market, big job growth continues as the economic expansion is just a few months away from being the longest in history.” CNN: Trump’s Approval Rating on the Economy Hits a New High “President Donald Trump hits a new high on his economic approval ratings in a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS, reaching 56% of Americans saying he’s doing a good job on the economy. The result comes on the heels of the announcement that the US economy grew at a much better rate than expected in the first quarter, and Trump’s performance on the economy becomes one of his prime selling points for next year’s general election.” MARKETWATCH: Productivity Soars 3.6% in First Quarter, Drives Fastest Yearly Gain Since 2010 “The productivity of American workers soared in the first quarter and pushed the increase over the past year to the highest level since 2010, a potentially great sign for the U.S. economy. The productivity of American workers increased at a 3.6% annual pace from January through March, the government said Thursday. That’s the biggest gain since the fall of 2014.” CNBC: U.S. Economy grows by 3.2% in the first quarter, topping expectations “The U.S. economy grew at a faster pace than expected in the first quarter and posted its best growth to start a year in four years. First-quarter gross domestic product expanded by 3.2%, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said Friday in its initial read of the economy for that period. Economists polled by Dow Jones expected growth of 2.5%. It was the first time since 2015 that first-quarter GDP topped 3%.” REUTERS: U.S. Consumer Spending Roars Back, But Inflation Tame “U.S. consumer spending increased by the most in more than 9-1/2 years in March as households stepped up purchases of motor vehicles, but price pressures remained muted, with a key inflation measure posting its smallest annual gain in 14 months.” GALLUP: Americans Feel Generally Positive About Their Own Finances “At the start of 2019, Americans’ optimism about their personal finances reached levels not seen in more than 16 years, as 69% expected they would be financially better off in a year…A majority of Americans, 56%, rate their current financial situation as ‘excellent’ (12%) or ‘good’ (44%), while 29% rate it as ‘only fair’ and 15% as ‘poor.’ This overall positive rating has increased 10 percentage points since 2015 and is currently the highest since 2002 though it is statistically unchanged since last year. Likewise, the 57% of Americans who now say their overall financial situation is getting better has risen 10 points since 2016 and is at its highest numerical point since 2002.” MARKETWATCH: Torrent of Job Offers, Bigger Salaries Offer More Proof U.S. Labor Market Is Still Red-Hot “Americans still think plenty of jobs are available and companies are offering better pay as they compete for a shrinking pool of available labor, new study by the New York Federal Reserve shows. The Fed study is the latest proof the jobs market continues to sizzle. … One-quarter of the respondents (25.7%) said they expected to receive at least one job offer in the next four months — the highest level since the survey began in 2014.” THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Workers, Retirees Are Feeling Better About Retirement Finances “With the U.S. economy strong and stocks near record levels, retirees’ and workers’ confidence in having enough money for retirement rose over the past year to new highs, according to a long-running survey released Tuesday. According to the annual survey by the nonprofit Employee Benefit Research Institute, 82% of polled retirees are optimistic about their ability to live comfortably in retirement, up from 75% last year.” WASHINGTON EXAMINER: Boom: Hispanics Lead Housing, Income Surge, Poverty at Record Low “Latinos are finding their economic legs under the Trump administration, leading the surge in home ownership and income growth and record low poverty rates, according to two comprehensive new surveys. … The reports detailed Hispanic housing and economic trends and found most signs better under Trump.” THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: U.S. Steel to Invest $1.2 Billion at Pennsylvania Mills  “United States Steel Corp. outlined plans Thursday for the biggest upgrade of its steelmaking operations in decades by investing more than a $1 billion in its plants near Pittsburgh. The centerpiece project aims to reduce the cost and the time to produce sheet steel at the company’s mill in Braddock, Pa.”

1600 Daily The White House • May 2, 2019 President Trump prays with faith leaders at the White House

The White House • May 2, 2019 President Trump prays with faith leaders at the White House From the Rose Garden of the White House this morning, President Donald J. Trump joined faith leaders in prayer and called religious liberty the bedrock of American life. “Every citizen has the absolute right to live according to the teachings of their faith and the convictions of their heart,” the President said. “To protect this heritage my Administration has strongly defended religious liberty.”    Watch: President Trump says we are “one Nation under God”   The President has stood by communities of faith since his first day in office. Some of the gestures are small but powerful: “It's all Merry Christmas again,” he said today, referring to how many stores and politicians used to tiptoe around the Christian holiday’s name. Other actions are policy-specific. “President Trump has taken steps to ensure that the Federal Government will never, ever penalize anyone for their religious beliefs ever again,” Vice President Mike Pence said while kicking off this morning’s events. Today, the Trump Administration continued that trend by unveiling additional protections for medical providers to keep them from being forced to perform procedures—including abortions—that violate their faith. One of the most powerful moments from today’s National Day of Prayer came when Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein took the podium. After being wounded in the shooting at the Chabad of Poway on Saturday, Rabbi Goldstein wrapped his bloodied hand in a prayer shawl, stood on a chair, and addressed the congregation: “We are a Jewish nation that will stand tall. We will not let anyone take us down.” Watch Rabbi Goldstein say a few words after the recent shooting. In photos: First Lady Melania Trump at last night’s prayer dinner  President Trump’s 100th judge—confirmed!  President Trump hit another milestone today, as the United States Senate confirmed his 100th judge to the Federal bench. These judges join the President’s two Supreme Court appointments—Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh—in reshaping America’s judiciary after years of activist rulings. They will succeed in upholding our Nation’s founding principles for one reason: They will follow the Constitution as it is written, not as they imagine it should be. Something to share: 100 Trump judges protecting your Constitutional rights America in lockstep with the Venezuelan people “I'd like to begin by sending our prayers to the people of Venezuela in their righteous struggle for freedom,” President Trump said at today’s prayer service at the White House. “The brutal repression of the Venezuelan people must end and it must end soon. People are starving. They have no food. They have no water. And this was once one of the wealthiest countries in the world . . . We will be there to help.” Dictator Nicolas Maduro is following Cuba’s playbook of torture and repression in a desperate attempt to keep the people of Venezuela from hearing Interim President Juan Guaido’s message. President Trump has made it clear that any outside interference to prop up Maduro, including from Cuba and Russia, is unacceptable. The United States calls on the Venezuelan military and security forces to protect all Venezuelans and accept Interim President Guaido’s legitimacy and offer of amnesty. The Trump Administration will hold accountable all those who threaten the safety of the Venezuelan people—or the restoration of Venezuelan democracy. President Trump addresses the situation in Venezuela. More: Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) accuses America of “bullying” dictator Maduro Photo of the Day Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour President Trump shakes hands with Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein of the Chabad of Poway at the National Day of Prayer Service | May 2, 2019

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2, 2019

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:      Roxanne Cabral, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of the Marshall Islands.      Kelly Craft, of Kentucky, to be the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and the Representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations.      Kelly Craft, of Kentucky, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations during her tenure of service as Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations.      Joshua A. Deahl, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of fifteen years, vice Eric T. Washington, retired.      Deborah J. Israel, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, vice Melvin R. Wright, retired.      John E. Kramer, of Florida, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Transportation, vice Shoshana Miriam Lew.      Paul Shmotolokha, of Washington, to be First Vice President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States for a term expiring January 20, 2021, vice Wanda Felton, resigned.