TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2019 TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE June 11, 2019   Dear Madam Speaker:    (Dear Mr. President:) I am providing this supplemental consolidated report, prepared by my Administration and consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148), as part of my efforts to keep the Congress informed about deployments of United States Armed Forces equipped for combat. MILITARY OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF UNITED STATES COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS In furtherance of counterterrorism efforts, the United States continues to work with partners around the globe, with a particular focus on the United States Central and Africa Commands' areas of responsibility.  In this context, the United States has deployed United States combat-equipped forces to conduct counterterrorism operations and to advise, assist, and accompany security forces of select foreign partners on counterterrorism operations.  Specific information about counterterrorism deployments to select countries is provided below, and a classified annex to this report provides further information. Military Operations against al-Qa'ida, the Taliban, and Associated Forces and in Support of Related United States Counterterrorism Objectives Since October 7, 2001, United States Armed Forces, including Special Operations Forces, have conducted counterterrorism combat operations against al-Qa'ida, the Taliban, and associated forces.  Since August 2014, these operations have targeted the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which was formerly known as al-Qa'ida in Iraq.  In support of these and other overseas operations, the United States has deployed combat-equipped forces to several locations in the United States Central, European, Africa, Southern, and Indo-Pacific Commands' areas of responsibility. Such operations and deployments have been reported previously, consistent with Public Law 107-40, Public Law 107-243, the War Powers Resolution, and other statutes.  These ongoing operations, which the United States has carried out with the assistance of numerous international partners, have been successful in seriously degrading ISIS capabilities in Syria and Iraq.  If necessary, in response to terrorist threats, I will direct additional measures to protect the people and interests of the United States.  It is not possible to know at this time the precise scope or the duration of the deployments of United States Armed Forces that are or will be necessary to counter terrorist threats to the United States. Afghanistan.  Consistent with the strategy I announced publicly on August 21, 2017, United States Armed Forces remain in Afghanistan for the purposes of stopping the reemergence of safe havens that enable terrorists to threaten the United States; supporting the Afghan government and the Afghan military as they confront the Taliban in the field; and creating conditions for a political process to achieve lasting peace.  United States forces in Afghanistan are training, advising, and assisting Afghan forces; conducting and supporting counterterrorism operations against al-Qa'ida and against ISIS; and taking appropriate measures against those who provide direct support to al-Qa'ida, threaten United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan, or threaten the viability of the Afghan government or the ability of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces to achieve campaign success. Although reconciliation efforts are ongoing, and peace efforts are our top priority, the United States remains in an armed conflict, including in Afghanistan and against the Taliban, and active hostilities remain ongoing. Iraq and Syria.  As part of a comprehensive strategy to defeat ISIS, United States Armed Forces are conducting a systematic campaign of airstrikes and other necessary operations against ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria and against al-Qa'ida in Syria.  United States Armed Forces are deployed to Syria to conduct operations against ISIS with indigenous ground forces and to Iraq to advise, coordinate with, and provide support to select elements of the Iraqi security forces, including Iraqi Kurdish security forces.  Support to Iraqi security forces includes training, equipment, communications support, and intelligence support.  United States Armed Forces also provide limited support to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization mission in Iraq.  Actions in Iraq are being undertaken in coordination with the Government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and in conjunction with coalition partners.  Although these efforts led to the territorial defeat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, operations against the continuing terrorist threats emanating from Iraq and Syria remain ongoing. Arabian Peninsula Region.  A small number of United States military personnel are deployed to Yemen to conduct operations against al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and ISIS-Yemen.  The United States military continues to work closely with the Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) and regional partner forces to dismantle and ultimately eliminate the terrorist threat posed by those groups.  Since the last periodic update report, United States forces conducted a number of airstrikes against AQAP operatives and facilities in Yemen, and supported the United Arab Emirates- and ROYG-led operations to clear AQAP from Shabwah Governorate.  United States Armed Forces are also prepared to conduct airstrikes against ISIS targets in Yemen.   United States Armed Forces, in a non-combat role, have also continued to provide military advice and limited information, logistics, and other support to regional forces combatting the Houthi insurgency in Yemen.  United States forces are present in Saudi Arabia for this purpose.  Such support does not involve United States Armed Forces in hostilities with the Houthis for the purposes of the War Powers Resolution. Jordan.  At the request of the Government of Jordan, approximately 2,910 United States military personnel are deployed to Jordan to support Defeat-ISIS operations, to enhance Jordan's security, and to promote regional stability. Lebanon.  At the request of the Government of Lebanon, approximately 60 United States military personnel are deployed to Lebanon to enhance the government's counterterrorism capabilities and to support the Defeat-ISIS operations of Lebanese security forces. Turkey.  United States Armed Forces, including strike and combat-support aircraft and associated United States military personnel, remain deployed to Turkey, at the Turkish government's request, to support Defeat-ISIS operations and to enhance Turkey's security. East Africa Region.  In Somalia, United States Armed Forces continue to counter the terrorist threat posed by ISIS and al-Shabaab, an associated force of al-Qa'ida.  Since the last periodic report, United States forces have conducted a number of airstrikes against ISIS and al-Shabaab.  United States military personnel also advise, assist, and accompany regional forces, including Somali and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces, during counterterrorism operations.  Additional United States Armed Forces are deployed to Kenya to support counterterrorism operations in East Africa.  United States military personnel continue to partner with the Government of Djibouti, which has permitted use of Djiboutian territory for basing of United States Armed Forces.  United States military personnel remain deployed to Djibouti, including for purposes of staging for counterterrorism and counter-piracy operations in the vicinity of the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and to provide contingency support for embassy security augmentation in East Africa, as required. Lake Chad Basin and Sahel Region.  United States military personnel in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel Region continue to conduct airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations and to provide support to African and European partners conducting counterterrorism operations in the region, including by advising, assisting, and accompanying these partner forces. Approximately 700 United States military personnel remain deployed to Niger.  United States military personnel are also deployed to Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria to support counterterrorism operations. Cuba.  United States Armed Forces continue to conduct humane and secure detention operations for detainees held at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, under the authority provided by the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40), as informed by the law of war.  There are 40 such detainees as of the date of this report. Philippines.  United States Armed Forces deployed to the Philippines are providing support to the counterterrorism operations of the armed forces of the Philippines. MILITARY OPERATIONS IN EGYPT Approximately 455 United States military personnel are assigned to or supporting the United States contingent of the Multinational Force and Observers, which have been present in Egypt since 1981. MILITARY OPERATIONS IN GABON On January 4, 2019, I reported the deployment of United States Armed Forces to Gabon to be in position to support the security of United States citizens, personnel, and diplomatic facilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  The security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has improved, and the previously reported forces have since departed Gabon. UNITED STATES AND NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION OPERATIONS IN KOSOVO The United States continues to contribute forces to the Kosovo Force (KFOR), led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in cooperation with local authorities, bilateral partners, and international institutions, to deter renewed hostilities in Kosovo.  Approximately 660 United States military personnel are among KFOR's approximately 4,000 personnel. I have directed the participation of United States Armed Forces in all of the above-described operations pursuant to my constitutional and statutory authority as Commander in Chief and as Chief Executive (including the authority to carry out Public Law 107-40, Public Law 107-243, and other statutes), as well as my constitutional and statutory authority to conduct the foreign relations of the United States.  Officials of my Administration and I communicate regularly with congressional leadership and other Members of Congress with regard to these deployments, and we will continue to do so.                         Sincerely,                             DONALD J. TRUMP ###

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2019 President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees   Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate: Halil “Sul” Ozerden of Mississippi, to serve as a Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Sul Ozerden currently serves as U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi, where he has served since he was confirmed by the United States Senate and appointed by President George W. Bush in 2007.  Before taking the bench, Judge Ozerden was a partner and shareholder at Dukes, Dukes, Keating & Faneca, P.A. in Gulfport, Mississippi.  Upon graduation from law school, Judge Ozerden served as a law clerk to Judge Eldon E. Fallon of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.  Before entering law school, Judge Ozerden served as a flight officer in the United States Navy, achieving the rank of lieutenant.  While in the Navy, Judge Ozerden earned the Navy Commendation Medal for missions flown over Iraq and Somalia.  Judge Ozerden earned his B.S., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University and his J.D. from Stanford Law School, where he served as an Associate Editor of the Stanford Law Review. John F. Kness of Illinois, to serve as Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. John Kness is the General Counsel of the College of DuPage, where he oversees all legal matters at the second-largest institution of higher learning in the State of Illinois.  Prior to becoming General Counsel, Mr. Kness served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois, with stints in the National Security and Cybercrimes, Narcotics, and General Crimes Sections.  Mr. Kness served as a law clerk to Judge William H. Pryor, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.  Mr. Kness earned his B.A. and J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University.  Mr. Kness also has experience in law enforcement, having served as a patrol officer for the Oak Park Police Department prior to law school. Eleni M. Roumel of Virginia, to serve as Judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Eleni Roumel currently serves as Deputy Counsel to the Vice President of the United States, a post she has held since stepping down as Assistant General Counsel to the United States House of Representatives in 2018.  Before embarking on a career of public service, she was a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP, where her practice focused on class action and shareholder derivative litigation.  Ms. Roumel also served as an adjunct professor at Charleston School of Law, where she taught courses on Intellectual Property.  Upon graduation from law school, Ms. Roumel served as a law clerk to Judge William H. Pauley III of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  Ms. Roumel earned her B.A., cum laude, from Wake Forest University, her M.B.A. from Tulane University A.B. Freeman School of Business, and her J.D., magna cum laude, from Tulane Law School, where she served as Notes & Comments Editor for the Tulane Law Review.    ###

BACKGROUND PRESS CALL BY SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ON THE UNITED STATES STRATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2019

BACKGROUND PRESS CALL BY SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ON THE UNITED STATES STRATEGY ON WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY Via Teleconference   2:04 P.M. EDT          SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thank you so much.  And thank you everyone for joining us on the call today.  We're very excited to announce the release of the United States Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security, which President Trump just signed today.      This call will be background, to a senior administration official.  We will take questions after the call.  There will not be follow-up.  And with that, I'll go ahead and kick it over to my colleague to tell you a little bit about the strategy.      SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Hello, everyone.  I'm very excited today to talk about the strategy that, as my colleague mentioned, President Trump signed today.      To kick it off: President Trump is committed to protecting the United States and promoting global peace and stability by enhancing women's leadership in efforts to prevent conflict, stem terrorism, and promote security around the world.      As a little background: In October 2017, President Trump signed the Women, Peace, and Security Act, which aims to increase the United States’ efforts to enhance the meaningful participation of women in all aspects of overseas conflict prevention.  This is important because this is the first standalone, comprehensive legislation of its kind, globally, which solidifies the United States as a trailblazing global leader in building innovative solutions to difficult foreign policy challenges.      Promoting women's meaningful inclusion and participation across efforts to restore security and support economic development is not simply a women's issue; it is a national security issue and it's vital for human progress.      Women provide essential contributions to forging lasting solutions to conflict, terrorism, and crisis.  However, their perspectives and leadership are too often not tapped into.  A growing body of evidence actually demonstrates that women are partners that we cannot afford to ignore, as their participation leads to better outcomes not only for women, but for all societies. The administration fully supports the comprehensive integration of women into conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peace building, and disaster recovery efforts worldwide, and recognizes that the protection of women from violence is critical to their meaningful participation in promoting security. The United States Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security is a whole-of-government plan, and it directs the federal departments and agencies within foreign policy to take steps to promote women's participation and safety in efforts to resolve conflict, recover from natural disasters, and to promote security.      This strategy essentially directs the interagency with foreign policy and assistance missions to increase efforts to guarantee meaningful participation of women in conflict resolution and disaster recovery; to increase women and girls' level of physical safety, access to assistance, and justice in areas experiencing conflict or disaster; and it ensures that the impact of our efforts are lasting.      The United States strategy and effort within this space, in conjunction with the initiative to support women's prosperity, including the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, recognizes that societies that empower women economically and politically are far more stable and peaceful.      The primary implementers of this interagency strategy are the Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Agency for International Development -- USAID.      These departments and agencies will integrate the objectives of this strategy into their internal training and put its principles into action during foreign interactions and programs around the globe.      So as we approach next year's 20-year anniversary of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 -- which, for the first time, recognized women's essential contributions to preventing and resolving conflict -- the United States remains committed to expanding the role of women in the establishment and maintenance of global peace, security, and prosperity around the world.  Thank you.          SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thank you so much.  And so I apologize, I didn't mention on the call -- it did come out in the invite to the call though -- this call is embargoed until the release of the strategy and the statement goes out here from the White House, which I expect to happen sometime later on this hour.      With that, we'll go ahead and take a few questions on the strategy.  As a reminder, this call is on background, to a senior administration official.  And I'll kick it back over to our lovely moderator to give directions on how to get in the queue.      Q    Hi, this is Patsy Widakuswara from Voice of America.  Can you hear me?          SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  We sure can.      Q    Okay, great.  Thank you for doing this briefing.  I just really want to make a simple query.  Is there any new funding for this strategy?  And can you give us some real examples of what might be -- the initiatives be under this new strategy?  Thanks.          SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yes, so -- thank you for asking that.  As a little background, we have existed in this space -- in contributing to women, peace, and security -- for quite some time in the interagency.  And so, rather than use new funding, we're actually reframing funding that's already in existence.  So, in other words, we're pivoting the funding and trying to work towards kind of a more integrated strategy to build on lessons learned and efficiencies of the past.      Q    Yes.  My name is Edward Szall with TruNews.  The question I have is actually related to -- this was brought up, to my understanding, in the Ivory Coast by President Trump's daughter, Ivanka.  And I was wondering, in the speech, she noted that this could also mean, potentially, that a woman would be mandated to be in the room, for example, at peace talks with North Korea.  Can you give a comment on that?          SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  So, first of all, just to go back on kind of how we're going to implement this strategy -- we wouldn't necessarily mandate.  We rather, kind of, work to build capacity of different governments.      But we, for ourselves, mandate that the interagency -- like the Department of State, Department of Defense, and USAID -- will actually lead on programs under this strategy and kind of work towards integrated efforts. So, for the sake of right now, what's really mandated in this strategy is that, within 90 days, we come up with a (inaudible) to measure the framework and strategy moving forward.  Within 120 days, the interagency develops a consolidated implementation plan.  And then, within a year, we're really rolling out training to make this more established.  So, in other words, this takes time.      Q    Yes.  This is Karen Rubin from News and Photo Features.  So I'm wondering how this strategy and this philosophy underpins with the legislation and the support of this administration for legislation that takes away a woman's ability to make her own reproductive choices, and how it jives with the United States pulling back aid to countries that provide reproductive services? Also, I'm a little unclear as to why you give this timeline -- 90 days, 100 days, 120 days, a year -- when you said that this strategy has been in place for 20 years. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Sure.  So this is [senior administration official].  I'll leave it to [senior administration official] to answer the -- to clarify on where the strategy comes from after I mention this.  So this strategy resulted out of a requirement in the 2017 Women's Peace and Security Act that was passed by Congress bipartisanly and signed into law by the President.  So what you're finding in this strategy is answering a call from Congress that we worked with legislatures, with the interagency, and with NGOs to formulate. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  And just on the 90 days, 120 days -- just to clarify it, there might be a little bit of confusion here.  So the strategy is actually quite new.  The reference to something 20 years ago is the U.N. Security Council Resolution, which recognized that women made essential contributions to preventing and resolving conflict.  However, this strategy is new in its kind.  And as [senior administration official] mentioned it, it was actually just signed in 2017 as an act into legislation. So this strategy is -- and kind of the integrated efforts -- though we've done work in the past in this area, this is all very, very new.  And so, when you're hearing about the timelines rolling out, it's really making sure that the interagency is working together and that we're working as a whole-of-government effort to not only name priorities, but also figure out how to measure them. So, once again, it's new that it's such a comprehensive strategy. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Okay, great.  Well, thank you so much, everyone, for joining the call.  As I mentioned, the information on this call is embargoed until the statement goes out from the White House and the strategy has been released.  It is on background, to a senior administration official.  If you have any additional questions, feel free to send me an email.  And with that, we'll go ahead and complete the call.                                          END                2:16 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS UNLEASHING INNOVATION FOR AMERICAN FARMERS

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2019

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS UNLEASHING INNOVATION FOR AMERICAN FARMERS  “Our Nation will always be proud of the unmatched grit and faith and skill of the American farmer.” – President Donald J. Trump GROWING INNOVATION IN THE HEARTLAND: President Donald J. Trump is working to streamline the regulatory maze for agricultural biotechnology.  Today, President Trump is signing an executive order directing Federal agencies to streamline the agricultural biotechnology regulatory processes. This executive order will help eliminate delays, reduce developer costs, and provide greater certainty about the review process for farmers. Biotechnology has been used in farming for decades to produce safer, more sustainable crops. Streamlining the biotechnology regulatory process will help create an environment that fosters greater investment in these innovative crops.     The current regulatory process is a regulatory maze that can take over a decade to navigate, delaying innovations that can bring safe resilient crops to the market. An average of five petitions were processed by USDA each year from 1993 through 2017. HELPING FARMERS FUEL AMERICA: President Trump has delivered on his promise to open up E15 sales year-round, providing a boost to America’s corn growers.  The Trump Administration recently finalized a rule approving year-round sales of E15, which is gasoline with 15 percent ethanol.  The President made a commitment to finalize the approval of year-round E15 sales by the summer, and he has delivered. President Trump initiated the process to approve year-round sales in October of 2018. This expansion will provide consumers with more choices, while supporting America’s hardworking farmers. The Administration is also improving the renewable fuel standard (RFS) program by increasing transparency and reducing the potential for price manipulation in the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) market. ALLY TO AGRICULTURE: President Trump has been an ally and friend to America’s farmers.  President Trump recently announced up to $16 billion in funds to support our farmers against unfair trade retaliation. The President negotiated the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), which will provide fairer markets for our farmers and ranchers. President Trump has negotiated better deals for our farmers, opening up market access for American beef and lamb to Japan, pork to Argentina, and more. The Trump Administration is working to expand opportunity and prosperity in our rural communities, including by investing in rural broadband. Last year, the Administration launched a new program to promote high-speed internet connectivity in rural America, offering up to $600 million in loans and grants. ###

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE CHAIRWOMAN AND CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON APPROPRIATIONS, CHAIRMEN OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON ARMED SERVICES, AND CHAIRMEN OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2019 TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE CHAIRWOMAN AND CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON APPROPRIATIONS, CHAIRMEN OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ON ARMED SERVICES, AND CHAIRMEN OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS June 11, 2019   Dear Madam Chairwoman:   (Dear Mr. Chairman:) In accordance with section 5 of the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-68) (the "Act"), I have enclosed the United States Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security (the "Strategy").  The Strategy describes how my Administration will fulfill the policy objectives as set forth in section 4 of the Act.                                Sincerely,                                  DONALD J. TRUMP

BACKGROUND PRESS CALL BY SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ON THE VISIT OF PRESIDENT DUDA OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2019 BACKGROUND PRESS CALL BY SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ON THE VISIT OF PRESIDENT DUDA OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND Via Teleconference   1:07 P.M. EDT PRESS OFFICER:  Good afternoon.  Thank you very much for joining us this afternoon for this background call previewing the visit of President Duda of Poland.  To reiterate, the outline for today’s call: It will be on background, attributable to senior administration officials.  I will note that there’s a change to the embargo.  This call is embargoed until 3:00 p.m. today. I will introduce our speakers, and then I’ll turn to each one of them to provide a few remarks at the top, and then we’ll move to Q&A.  Our speakers today are [senior administration officials].  With that, I’ll turn to my colleague to kick us off. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Good afternoon.  As you know, we have a visit tomorrow from Polish President Duda.  He will be meeting with President Trump in the White House and with a high-level delegation, primarily on matters of security.  We’re looking to deepen the U.S.-Polish security partnership, consistent with NATO goals and NATO planning.  You will note that this is part of a pattern of high-level engagement that the President has undertaken this year with leaders from Central Europe. This is an important area, and we want to underscore our commitment to the defense of the region and to our shared relationship in NATO and shared values.  Poland is a particularly important part of this, as they have indicated their willingness to shoulder a greater share of the burden for their own security and for the security of the region.  Their defense spending is over the 2 percent NATO goal, and they have been a key partner in encouraging other allies to do so. This is a historic meeting, coming as it does 80 years since the beginning of the Second World War, in which Poland was the first country to undergo aggression from Germany.  It’s 30 years after the end of the communist rule in Poland, and 20 years since Poland has been a member of NATO.  So we’re celebrating many different anniversaries. So with that, I will end my preparatory remarks and turn it over to [senior administration official]. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  No, I think that that’s about right.  Again, we’re just here to reaffirm our commitment to the region and the region’s security, but we also are talking about a broader strategic relationship across many fronts.  Defense is obviously the most important and the most prolific one, but we also want to highlight our expanded trade relationships; also affirm our commitment to the region’s energy security and expanding our energy partnerships, as well; as well as people-to-people contacts and cultural relations, and things on that front, as well. So, really, a comprehensive look at our relationship will be discussed at this meeting tomorrow. PRESS OFFICER:  With that, we’ll turn to [senior administration official]. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Okay, thank you.  So, yes, I’m happy to be here to talk about the defense relationship with Poland.  Obviously, Poland, as a country, is a very strong ally with us at NATO, and they have stood with us around the globe, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, over the years.  And our relationship with Poland has helped to ensure peace and security not only in Europe, but around the world. This meeting between the Presidents is a great opportunity for us to highlight our deepening military-to-military relationship and our mutual commitment to NATO and its priorities.  And as everybody, I think, is aware, the Secretary of Defense -- Acting Secretary of Defense Shanahan will host his Polish counterpart today, in about 45 minutes, for a bilateral meeting here in the Pentagon.  So we’re looking forward to that as well. PRESS OFFICER:  Thank you.  With that, moderator, we’re ready to move to Q&A. Q   Patrick Tucker from Defense One.  Thank you everybody.  A sort of defense question.  Polish officials, beginning last week, have said that they've reached a deal with the White House on the size of a potential troop commitment, in terms of U.S. troops to Poland.  I know that they were looking for something on par to like a brigade.  Can you tell us what is the change that’s going to be in the U.S. military troop presence in Poland?  Has an agreement been formally reached on that?  How big is it?  And what are some of the other aspects of additional equipment or training, or things that are going to Poland that have been agreed to? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  So I think what you'll see tomorrow -- there will be a significant announcement made on this front tomorrow at the White House.  And we’re really looking forward to announcing this new military -- new facet of our military-to-military relationship.  We believe it’s going to significantly enhance our military-to-military relationship but also enhance the defense and deterrence posture in Europe as it relates -- and our commitment to NATO. So I’m not going to go into the details, but you’ll have to wait for the significant announcement tomorrow. Q    Hi.  This is Jeff Schogol with Task & Purpose.  Is there any legal agreement that prohibits the United States from permanently stationing troops in Poland, as opposed to having troops rotate in?  I think it’s referred to as the “founding agreement” with Russia.  Thank you. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Okay.  Thank you for your question.  So the NATO-Russia Founding Act is not a treaty, first of all; it’s a political agreement.  And tomorrow's announcement will be completely consistent with the commitments we’ve made at NATO.  And so I think I’ll just leave it at that. But as far as treaty agreements, we think that this announcement tomorrow will actually enhance our posture, our commitment to NATO and to the North Atlantic Treaty. Q    Hi there.  It’s Paul Sonne from the Washington Post.  I was just wondering: Is it accurate to say that there will not be a Fort Trump, as was floated by the Polish leader last time he was here in town?  And is it also accurate to say that there will not be any permanent Polish -- sorry, permanent American military bases or anything like that set up in Poland? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  From the NSC, I would once again say you’re going to have to wait until tomorrow for the full details that will be announced at that time, and they will pertain to the future of the U.S.-Polish defense relationship.  But we don't want to steal the President’s thunder for that, and I think you should look forward to hearing what he has to say. Q    Yeah, thanks.  Hey.  Aaron Mehta with Defense News.  I was wondering if you’re expecting a formal request from Poland to buy the F-35 during this trip and whether you expect that request would be cleared from this administration.  Thanks. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Okay, thank you.  So, yeah, I was actually honored to be able to accompany Minister Błaszczak yesterday down to Eglin Air Force Base to look at the F-35 training command down there.  As -- I think it’s public by now that they have already submitted a letter of request for the F-35, and we’re working through our formal military sales process right now to get them an offer, essentially. So that’s sort of where we are.  And I think that’s basically the facts of where we are on the F-35 in Poland right now.      Q    Hi, yes, this is Carla Babb with Voice of America.  I just want to go back to the troop commitment here.  You said that there's a significant announcement but then no other details to that.  So I'm trying to see why exactly we're on this call.  Is there going to be an increase in troops?  Or what -- can you give us any more details other than "there's going to be a significant announcement"?          SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Details will be available tomorrow.  At this time, we're not going to give anything else out on this particular issue.  What we want to do is discuss the fact that there is a very important presidential visit that is happening tomorrow, and it's going to be dealing with a number of issues beyond the significant announcement on the defense relationship.      Q    Yes.  Hi, this (inaudible) with (inaudible) Media.  On the energy security front, I was wondering if we should expect anything new on U.S. LNG exports to Poland and the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine to Europe?  Thank you.          SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  This will be a subject for discussion.  We are working hard with the government of Poland and with other governments in the Central European region on energy security and on diversification of energy supplies.  So we do expect to be making progress on this front as well.      Q    Hi, this is Jeff Schogol with Task & Purpose again.  I know you can't give details of what the President is going to announce tomorrow, but will it be accurate to characterize that more troops are going to Poland, or something that we can describe the type of announcement that will be announced tomorrow?          SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I'm not going to go into details on the announcement tomorrow.  It will be a significant announcement on the future of the security partnership.      Q    Yeah, thanks.  Aaron Mehta with Defense News again.  Just more broadly speaking, aside from the F-35, are you expecting any arms sales announcements or any sort of package agreement similar to the big Saudi package that was announced a couple years ago?          SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  This is [senior administration official] at DOD.  I don't -- I'm not tracking anything like that at this time, so -- but I would defer to the White House.      Q    This is Tom Squitieri with Talk Media News.  I'd like to follow up on Jeff Schogol's first question to get some clarity.  I want to make sure I understood you all saying that there's no treaty or no legislative blocking -- blockage -- to have its permanent, expanded U.S. presence in Poland.  I'm not asking you to confirm if that's what's going to happen, I'm just trying to understand that the agreement that Jeff refered to between the United States and Russia does not forbid a permanent U.S. facility in Poland.          SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Hi.  So, yeah, I'll try to make sure that my answer is clear.  So the first part of it is that the NATO-Russia Founding Act is not a treaty, it's a political commitment.  And the second part is that tomorrow's announcement will be completely consistent with the commitments we've made at NATO, and that includes the NATO-Russia Founding Act.  Over.      Q    Hi, yes.  This is Carla Babb with Voice of America again.  I just want to go back to what we were talking about with this significant announcement.  So in response to a question on the troop commitment, [senior administration official], I believe it was you that said that it would be made on this tomorrow.  And then on a question with Fort Trump, you said you're going to have to wait until tomorrow.  So can we at least say that the announcement will be in concern with troop commitments and Fort Trump?          SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  What I said is that the announcements tomorrow will be about the future state of our security cooperation and our defense relationships.  I did not mention any of the other things.  For specifics, I'm going to have to ask you to be patient and wait until then. Q    Thanks.  Patrick Tucker, again, with Defense One.  Is there a discussion at all about basing of missiles or potentially nuclear arms?  Is that something that had been spoken a little bit about?  Is that something that we can expect tomorrow, or is that a topic of discussion between the two leaders?      SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Hi, this is [senior administration official] from DOD again.  No, there are no discussions on those.  Thank you.      Q    Hi, this is Jeff Schogol with Task & Purpose again.  I'm just wondering if you can talk about the strategic importance of Kaliningrad and whether the Russians have moved S-400 missiles there.  Thank you.      SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Hi, this is [senior administration official] again.  I'm sorry, I think that’s probably a little bit beyond the scope of this call so I'm going to have to -- I'm going to have to demur on that one.      Q    Hey, sorry.  It's Carla Babb with VOA.  And I'm sorry about this.  The way of doing this is really hard because we don’t have any follow-up.  But again -- unless they want to leave my mic open. Again, I have five minutes into the call, someone -- and I didn’t write down names because this is a background briefing -- I have, in quotations, "a significant announcement made on this" in response to a Washington Post question about White House troop commitment.  So my story is going to focus on there's going to be a significant announcement on White House -- on the troop commitment to Poland. And so -- but your response was what you had said later now, which was on the security issue -- which was more broad and more vague.  But, again, so could somebody just tell me, in what was said five minutes into the briefing, was that a misspeak -- "a significant announcement made on this"?  "This" being referring to a troop commitment to Poland.  Or if misspoke, just let me know.  But if not, that’s what I think the four left on this call are going to focus on. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  As we have said previously, we're not going to go into details as to what will be in the announcement tomorrow because we don’t want to preempt our bosses on that.  So you can write about that there will be a significant announcement tomorrow.  It will involve our security relationship and force posture, but we're not going to provide any details today. Q    Hi, it's Margaret Talev at Bloomberg.  I won't beat a dead horse, but I also want to know what's going to happen tomorrow.  But can you tell us, is the President going to make any commitment or announcement about plans to travel to Poland himself later this year, tomorrow?  Or could you do that for us now? And also, will he seek to tie any of those commitments that are going to be announced tomorrow to any agreement by Duda and the Polish government on rule of law, human rights issues, free press -- any of those kinds of concerns about governance or democratic governance?  Thanks. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  To answer your second question first, what is being announced tomorrow is self-contained.  Certainly the discussions on the rule of law, human rights issues that you mention are part of the dialogue between the Presidents but not captured in what they have agreed, but will be continuing subjects for discussion. And the first part of the question, I'm sorry?  Oh, was the possibility of travel.  I'm not in a position to make any announcement about that at this point. Q    Hi.  It's Demetri Sevastopulo at Financial Times.  Two questions.  First is: What is the state of negotiations between the U.S. and Poland for what Poland does with Huawei in its future 5G networks? And secondly, I missed the start of the call.  Is there going to be a kind of a joint statement from the President tomorrow?  Or what's the format?  Thank you.      SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  The issue of communications security is something that the Presidents will discuss tomorrow and there will be some kind of joint statement issued.      Q    Hi, this is Elizabeth McLaughlin at ABC News.  I was wondering if you guys could possibly do this call again tomorrow after the announcement is made so that we can actually ask some questions and get into the details about what the announcement will entail tomorrow. PRESS OFFICER:  I will say that you should have received a media advisory about a press conference that will take place with the Presidents tomorrow, and I expect it will addressed at that time.      Okay.  With that, we're ready to conclude.                                          END             1:29 P.M. EDT

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2019 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP BEFORE MARINE ONE DEPARTURE South Lawn   12:35 P.M. EDT      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you very much.  This group gets bigger and bigger.  This is a big group by any standard.  This is like the Academy Awards used to be before they went political.  Now nobody cares.      But a great honor to be with you.  We're doing very well.  Mexico is doing a great job at the border, really helping us.  We want the Democrats to help us as much as Mexico.  And we'll have absolutely no problem at the border.  We'll clean it up very quickly.      But the agreement with Mexico has been great.  They've been working very hard.  We're doing very well together.  A good relationship.      Yes.      Q    Mr. President, in his speech today, Joe Biden will say that your policies represent an existential threat to this nation.  What do you say to Joe Biden?      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I heard Biden, who's a loser -- I mean, look, Joe never got more than 1 percent, except Obama took him off the trash heap, and now it looks like he's failing.  It looks like his friends from the left are going to overtake him pretty soon. But I heard he -- you know, his whole campaign is to hit Trump.  If you look at what the Obama administration did in terms of the military, in terms of security, in terms of other nations, in terms of almost everything, much of it now, fortunately for everybody here, has been overturned.      But, look, when a man has to mention my name 76 times in his speech, that means he's in trouble.  Now, I have to tell you, he's a different guy.  He looks different than he used to.  He acts different than he used to.  He's even slower than he used to be.  So, I don't know.  But when he mentions my name that many times, I guess they should be complimented.      Q    Did you ask staff to lie about your poll numbers?      THE PRESIDENT:  Who?      Q    Did you ask members of your team to lie about your poll numbers?      THE PRESIDENT:  I never do.  My poll numbers are great.  By the way, we've gotten fantastic numbers.  I guess Rasmussen just came out with a 50 percent.  And the amazing thing is all I do is get hit by this phony witch hunt, although they don’t mention Russia anymore because there was no collusion.  So now they want to try and say, "Well, did he obstruct a no-collusion?"  So there was no crime.  The crime was by the Democrats, folks.  They've committed, in my opinion, many crimes.  And time will tell what happens there.  But the crime was by the Democrats.      My poll numbers have been very, very good.  We're starting, really, next week.  It's going to be something, I think, very special.  We're starting in Orlando, Florida.      Q    Mr. President, are you elevating Joe Biden by continually attacking him?      THE PRESIDENT:  Excuse me?      Q    Are you elevating Joe Biden by continually attacking him?      THE PRESIDENT:  No, I'd rather run against, I think, Biden than anybody.  I think he's the weakest, mentally.  And I like running against people that are weak, mentally.  I think Joe is the weakest up here.  The other ones have much more energy.  I don’t agree with their policies, but I think Joe is a man who is -- I call him "One Percent Joe," because until Obama came along, he didn’t do very well.      But I -- look.  Look, but I don’t bring him up.      Q    He says your tariffs are going to hurt Iowa farmers.      THE PRESIDENT:  The best thing that ever happened to the farmers is me.  We gave $16 billion to the farmers to make up for the deficit with China.  We gave them $16 billion.  We don’t give them; they earn it, because they're patriots.  We gave them ethanol at 15, which nobody was ever going to do; which Biden didn’t do in eight years as, you know, Vice President.  The farmers are my best friend.  Nobody has treated the farmers better than Donald Trump.      Q    Mr. President, on Mexico.  Do you have an agreement with Mexico to become a safe third country for asylum seekers?      THE PRESIDENT:  (Displays a document.)  That's the agreement that everybody says I don’t have. Q    Can you tell us? THE PRESIDENT:  So, no, because I'm going to let Mexico do the announcement at the right time.  For Mexico, they want to go through it.  But here's the agreement.  It's a very simple agreement.  This is one page.  This is one page of a very long and very good agreement for both Mexico and the United States. Without the tariffs, we would have had nothing.  We had nothing two weeks ago.  Mexico told us "absolutely."  I don't know where the Times got the story, but -- I think they got it probably from somebody that worked here and said, oh, how well they were doing.  Well, for a long time -- for many years -- people tried to get what we got in a period of a couple of days.  And they couldn’t get it.  That's the difference: They couldn’t get it.      So, Mexico, we're getting along with them great.  Marcelo and the President and all of them, we're getting along great.  They've started a very strong action.  They're moving, right now, 6,000 soldiers to their southern border.  Who ever heard of that?  You think we had that two weeks ago? Two weeks ago, I'll tell you what we had: We had nothing.  And the reason we had nothing is because Mexico felt they didn’t have to give us anything.  I don’t blame them.  But this is actually, ultimately, going to be good for Mexico, too.  And it's good for the relationship of Mexico with us. So here's your thing.  You know, they all say, "Oh, he doesn’t…"  I just give you my word inside here.  And I would love to do it.  But you will freeze-action it.  You will stop it.  You will analyze it.  Every single letter you'll see.  But in here is the agreement. Q    Mr. President, Speaker Pelosi said today that every time you attack her, her stock goes up.  Are you helping her politically? THE PRESIDENT:  Now, look, Nancy is a mess.  The Democratic Party is a mess.  They're doing everything they can to win the election in 2020. They are guilty of many crimes.  Many, many crimes -- what they've done.  They're guilty of many, many crimes.  And hopefully, in a short period of time, that'll be seen.  They should never have done what they've done.  And all they do is waste time on these investigations where there's no obstruction, no collusion, no nothing. And in the meantime, they can't get a border deal done.  They can't do anything.  We need -- in addition to the great deal with Mexico, we need them to work on illegal immigration, on lower drug prices, on infrastructure.  And they're not doing anything.  They are -- they've come to a halt. Q    On that specific question, if I could: Did Mexico agree -- THE PRESIDENT:  Say it? Q    Did Mexico agree in the negotiations last week to become a safe third country for asylum seekers? THE PRESIDENT:  I don’t want to say, but you can just figure it out yourself.  And the reason is Mexico wants to handle.  That would have to go through their legislative body. Q    But I heard that they agreed to that on Friday. THE PRESIDENT:  A lot of people heard they agreed to it.  A lot of people are saying that.  Good luck.  Okay?  I'm not going to say one way or the other.  But I will tell you, right here is the story.  You know, I don’t like it when newspapers write fake news, or when reporters, like you, do fake news.  I don’t like that.  So right here is the agreement.  It's very simple.  It's right here.  And in here is everything you want to talk about.  Done.  It's done.  It's done.  It's all done.  Emerald. Q    On Joe Biden, he's reportedly going to change his rhetoric about China to say, "We need to get tough.  They are our competition." THE PRESIDENT:  Joe Biden thought that China was not a competitor of ours.  Joe Biden is a dummy.  Joe Biden thought China was not a competitor.  China made $500 billion, over a short period of time, against Obama, Biden -- and for many, many years, in all fairness to them. China is a major competitor and right now China wants to make a deal very badly.  It's me, right now, that's holding up the deal.  And we're going to either do a great deal with China or we're not doing a deal at all. Right now, China is paying us billions and billions of dollars.  They never gave us 10 cents.  And China ate our country alive during Obama and Biden.  They ate us alive.  And then, Biden has some kind of relationship financially, or his son, with China?  Tell me about that?  Because China ate the United States alive economically, and it's a shame. Q    Was it appropriate for you to attack Pelosi in Normandy?  Was it appropriate for you to attack Pelosi in Normandy? THE PRESIDENT:  No, no, Pelosi attacked me.  She was here.  She made a horrible statement that I'm sure she wished she didn’t make.  She made a horrible statement while I was with the Queen of England, while I was with -- while I was with the President of France.  And you're not supposed to do that.  Okay?  But the ones that committed the crimes are the Democrats and others. Q    Mr. President, do immigrants from Venezuela deserve asylum in the U.S.?  And why haven’t you given them temporary protected status? THE PRESIDENT:  We're looking at that and we're very much involved with the Venezuela crisis.  It's a horrible thing, a horrible situation.  It's been brewing for many years.  It really started, in the worst form, during the Biden-Obama administration.  But it's been brewing for a long time. Q    Can you give them temporary protected status? THE PRESIDENT:  So we're looking at that very strongly.  We're looking at that. Q    Mr. President, on Xi -- your tweet about Xi and the threat of tariffs if he doesn’t meet with you, where are you on that? THE PRESIDENT:  My relationship with President Xi of China is a very good one.  One of the people I really like.  I get along with him right.  He's representing China.  I'm representing the United States of America.  We're doing very well.  We're taking in billions and billions of dollars.  Companies are leaving China right now and they're coming here because they don’t want to pay the tariffs.  And they're going to other countries. But I think that China -- I can tell you China would like to make a deal very badly.  They're getting hurt very badly by the tariffs because companies can't pay the tariffs, so they're leaving China. And the other thing you have to remember about China is that China will subsidize companies so our taxpayer is not paying for very much of it.  A report came out; they're paying for very little of it.      But what it's doing is creating a fair playing field, which we've never had with China since the WTO -- the World Trade Organization.      Q    And will you meet at the G20?  Will you meet with Xi at the G20?      THE PRESIDENT:  We expect to meet with President Xi very shortly.  We think we'll meet him at the G20.  We're talking.  We have a very good relationship.      Look, we had a deal with China and then they went back on the deal.  They said, "We don't want to have four major points, five major points."  So we changed it.  But we had a deal with China.  And unless they go back to that deal, I have no interest.      Right now, we're taking in billions and billions of dollars.  I've created something -- what we've done in the last two and a half years, we've picked up $14 trillion in net worth of the United States.  And China has gone down probably by $20 trillion.  There's a tremendous gap.  When I came in, that gap was getting very close.      Q    Why are you so certain, Mr. President, that you will win Iowa in 2020?      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I love Iowa.  I've gotten along great.  I won Iowa by a lot the last time.  Usually a Republican would not win it by that much.  But I won Iowa, as you know, by a lot.  I have a great relationship with the farmers.  I have a great relationship with everybody.  I mean, Iowa, I think, is going to be something that we win very easily.      I think we're going to win.  I saw a fake poll -- a suppression poll in Pennsylvania.  I even saw one in Texas.  They're suppression.  They're fake polls, just like the fake media, of which there are many here.  They're fake polls.      We're going to win Texas by a lot.  We're going to win Iowa by a lot.  We're going to win, I would say, every -- Pennsylvania, I think we're going to do very well.  We have steel companies opening up that for 40 years they didn't open up steel companies.  Now they're opening up.  No, I think we're doing very well.      Q    (Inaudible) about your meeting with Kim Jong Un while you're in South Korea?  Are there discussions underway?      THE PRESIDENT:  So, I see that.  And I just received a beautiful letter from Kim Jong Un, and I think the relationship is very well.  But I appreciated the letter.  I saw the information about the CIA, with respect to his brother, or half-brother.  And I would tell him that would not happen under my auspices, that's for sure.  I wouldn’t let that happen under my auspices.      But I just received a beautiful letter from Kim Jong Un.  I can't show you the letter, obviously, but it was a very personal, very warm, very nice letter.  I appreciate it. And I'll say it again: I think that North Korea has tremendous potential, and he'll be there.  I think that North Korea, under his leadership -- but North Korea, because of what it represents -- the people are great, the land is great, the location is incredible between Russia, China, and South Korea -- I think North Korea has tremendous potential.  And the one that feels that more than anybody is Kim Jong Un.  He gets it.  He totally gets it. Q    (Inaudible.)      THE PRESIDENT:  I don't know.  I have not heard about that, but we'll see. Q    (Inaudible.) THE PRESIDENT:  I would, but I want to get it further advanced.      In the meantime, no nuclear testing.  No major missile testing.  Nothing like when I first got here.  When I first got here, it was a bad mess. We have a very good relationship together.  Now I can confirm it because of the letter I got yesterday.  And I think -- you know, I think that something will happen that's going to be very positive.  But in the meantime, we have our hostages back.  The remains keep coming back.  We have a relationship.      Q    Do you think he had his half-brother killed?  Do you think he had his half-brother killed?      Q    Are you saying that the CIA (inaudible) was wrong?      THE PRESIDENT:  Say it?      Q    Was the CIA wrong?  Did he have his half-brother killed?      THE PRESIDENT:  I don't know anything about that.  I know this: That the relationship is such that that wouldn't happen under my auspices.  But I don't know about that.  Nobody knows.      Q    McAleenan (inaudible) -- earlier he said that the border wouldn't --      Q    So, Mr. President, you said --      THE PRESIDENT:  Quiet.  Quiet.  Quiet. Go ahead.      Q    -- that the border wouldn’t be as bad today if they passed the 2013 immigration bill.  But that included the Gang of Eight amnesty.      THE PRESIDENT:  Up a little higher.      Q    That included -- McAleenan said that the border wouldn't be as bad if Congress had passed the 2013 immigration bill.  But that included the Gang of Eight amnesty.      THE PRESIDENT:  So, Congress has to get their act together.  They have to pass immigration laws.  They have to get rid of -- I mean, as far as I'm concerned, the most important thing is to get rid of the loopholes, because you have loopholes and asylum problems that they could do in 15 minutes if they wanted to.      The Democrats in Congress are causing this country tremendous drug problems, tremendous security problems, and they have to get together and they have to work out asylum and the loopholes.      It would take, literally, 15 minutes.  It's so simple.      Q    That 2013 bill included amnesty.  Does the administration support amnesty now, since McAleenan said that?      THE PRESIDENT:  What we're going to do is we're going to sit down at some point with the Democrats; we're going to work it all out.  It is a quick negotiation.  And they know I'm right.  They just don't want to do it politically.  They want to have open borders.  And open borders means crime.  And really, it means crime; it means drugs.      So we get 90 percent of our drugs coming in through the southern border, which I think everyone pretty much agrees too.  Hundreds of billions of dollars -- we can close it up so easy. Now, we took a big step with Mexico over the last three days.  This is an even bigger step.  But we took a big step with Mexico.  The Democrats have to sit down with us and we have to work something out very easily on asylum and on loopholes.      Q    Any plan, any thought, about another meeting with Kim Jong Un?      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, it could happen, but I want to bring it further down the line.      Look, in the meantime, he's kept his word.  There's no nuclear testing, there's no large, you know, long-range missiles going up.  The only thing he sent up were very short-term, short-range.  That was just a test of short range.  It's a whole different deal.      But he's kept his word to me; that's very important.  And again, the letter he sent was a beautiful letter.  It was a very warm letter.  That's a very nice thing.  And I don't say that out of naiveté.  I say that was a very nice letter.      Q    The agreement in your pocket, when does that go into effect?  Does it happen even if Mexico brings down the numbers?      THE PRESIDENT:  This will go into effect, and it's my option.  It's not Mexico's.  But it will go into effect when Mexico tells me it's okay to release it.      Q    What if they bring the numbers down in the next 90 days?      THE PRESIDENT:  If they bring the numbers way down, we won't have to use it.  Okay?  If they bring the numbers way down, we won't have to.  But this my option.  It goes into effect when I want it to.  But I have a lot of respect for the President of Mexico, I have a lot of respect for the people we dealt with, so I don't want to do that.  And they have to go back to Congress to get that approved.      But it goes down -- listen, it goes down -- it goes into effect at my option.  But I wouldn't do that.  I want to deal with them, okay?      Q    Why haven't you nominated a DHS and Defense Secretary?      THE PRESIDENT:  Say it?      Q    Why haven't you nominated a DHS and Defense Secretary?      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I have -- Defense Secretary.      Q    When is that going to happen, though?      THE PRESIDENT:  I have.  It's done.  I put it out.      Q    When is DHS -- it's done?      THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.  It's done from the standpoint of the nomination.      Q    Are you saying --      Q    Why haven't you nominated DHS?       THE PRESIDENT:  Wait, wait, wait.  Pat Shanahan was nominated two weeks ago.      Q    (Inaudible.) THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, no, I put it out. Q    When are you sending it?  When are you sending it?      THE PRESIDENT:  I put it out officially.  No, now he has to go through the process.      Q    Okay, what about DHS?      THE PRESIDENT:  He's now going through.  That, we'll make a determination.  I think Kevin is doing a very good job right now.  But we'll make a determination in the not-too-distant -- we have Acting.  We'll make a determination.  But I think Kevin is doing a very good job.      Q    Have you spoken to the leadership in Iran?  Are you hopeful about peaceful dialogue with Iran?      THE PRESIDENT:  I hope that everything works out with Iran.  Iran is a country that now, because of all of the sanctions and other things, is a much different country than when I came here.      When I came here, they were all over the place causing terror, causing problems.  They're not doing that right now.  And I think they respect the United States right now much more than they ever have.      So Iran has got a lot of problems, and I'd like to help them with those problems.  We'll see what happens.  But they have tremendous inflation.  Their money is worthless.  You can't buy a loaf of bread.  It's a lot of problems in Iran.  And it's a lot different than it was two and a half years ago.  And big things were sanctioned, but I think the biggest thing was when I -- and the most important was when I terminated the Iran nuclear deal, which was an incompetent deal.      Thank you all.  I'll see you in Iowa.                                              END                12:54 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS SUPPORTING WOMEN’S POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT THROUGH INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN GLOBAL SECURITY PROCESSES

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2019 PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS SUPPORTING WOMEN’S POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT THROUGH INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN GLOBAL SECURITY PROCESSES “By investing in women around the world, we’re investing in families, we’re investing in prosperity, and we’re investing in peace.” – President Donald J. Trump   PROMOTING PEACE AND SECURITY BY EMPOWERING WOMEN: President Donald J. Trump has released a strategy to enhance women’s leadership in efforts to prevent conflict, stem terrorism, and promote security. Today, the Trump Administration released a Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security, which aims to increase women’s meaningful leadership in political and civic life. This strategy implements the Women, Peace, and Security Act signed by President Trump in 2017. President Trump was the first to sign standalone legislation on this topic, making us the first country in the world with a comprehensive law on Women, Peace, and Security. The United States will help enhance women’s participation in resolving conflict, countering violent extremism, and building peace and stability. When women are involved in peace negotiations, they are more likely to raise issues that help societies reconcile and recover. In fact, research shows the peace agreements are more likely to succeed if women participate. ADDRESSING INEQUALITY AND VIOLENCE: Across the world, there are strong correlations between women’s empowerment and stability. The United States recognizes that societies that empower women economically and politically are far more stable and peaceful.  Marginalization of women correlates with the likelihood that a nation will experience conflict. 14 of the 17 lowest-scoring countries in the Index for Gender have experienced armed conflict in the last two decades. The United States will promote the protection of women and support humanitarian assistance efforts that address women’s economic security, safety, and dignity. The United States will work with partner countries to remove barriers, laws, and regulations that impede women’s access to justice and participation in the peace and security process. AN ADMINISTRATION PRIORITY: The Strategy will build on President Trump and his Administration’s existing efforts to empower women and girls across the globe.  President Trump signed National Security Presidential Memorandum-16 to establish the Women’s Global Development Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative, advancing women’s participation in the global economy by focusing on workforce development, entrepreneurship, and creating an enabling environment. W-GDP Initiative recognizes that women’s economic empowerment is foundational to good defense policy, as underscored in the President’s National Security Strategy. The Initiative seeks to economically empower 50 million women across the developing world by 2025. The United States was a founding country of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) to increase access to finance for women entrepreneurs across the developing world.