PRESS BRIEFING BY PRESS SECRETARY KAYLEIGH MCENANY James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2020 PRESS BRIEFING BY PRESS SECRETARY KAYLEIGH MCENANY James S. Brady Press Briefing Room   2:48 P.M. EDT      MS. MCENANY:  So, I'm sorry we are very late, you guys.  I'm sorry to keep you waiting.  I was working with the President on something, and he wanted me to hand this out to you all.  And I have it here, so I want to read it to the American public, directly from the President:      “It has been suggested that we should rename as many as 10 of our legendary military bases, such as Fort Bragg in North Carolina; Fort Hood in Texas; Fort Benning in Georgia.”  And the list goes on.  “These monumental and very powerful bases have become part of a great American heritage and a history of winning, victory, and freedom.  The United States of America trained and deployed our heroes [here]…and won two world wars.  Therefore, my administration will not even consider the renaming of these magnificent and fabled military installations.  Our history, as the greatest nation in the world, will not be tampered with.  Respect our military!”      So that was directly from the President.  And we spent some time working on that, and I wanted to deliver that to you.      Also, I wanted to take us through a few other things relating to the coronavirus.  First, the coronavirus task force briefing was held yesterday.  I was in it, and there was some very good news that I'd like to share with you.  I don't know if you all saw; there were two studies that came out -- very strong studies -- in the journal, Nature.  And in Europe, which had a very similar epidemic profile to the United States, 3.1 million lives were saved due to mitigation and the efforts taken by the European governments.  And as Dr. Birx noted to me -- she sent this to me just before I walked out here -- she said it suggests that the United States also prevented over 3 million deaths, thanks to the efforts of President Trump and the American people.      Another study found that the shutdown efforts prevented 50 million additional coronavirus cases.  So those are two very encouraging studies underscoring the work of the American people.      Also, the Washington Post noted that these two reports use completely different methods to reach similar conclusions.  They suggest that the aggressive and unprecedented shutdowns were effective at halting the exponential spread of the novel coronavirus.  So thank you, Washington Post, for that good reporting.      The Department of Agriculture, Secretary Sonny Perdue also had some very good news in the task force briefing I was at yesterday.  America's meatpacking facilities -- at one time, it looked like they were going to need to close; that was unacceptable to the administration.  So we took action -- the coronavirus task force took action -- and now I'm pleased to report that these meatpacking facilities are operating at 95 percent capacity compared to 2019.  We have beef operating at 98 percent capacity, pork at 95 percent, and poultry at 98 percent.      Throughout America's extraordinary efforts to slow the spread, President Trump ensured that the meat supply chain stayed functional and robust by directing these meatpacking facilities to safely operate in accordance with the CDC and OSHA guidelines.  His efforts secured America's continual access to a steady food supply chain.      And then, finally, and very importantly, I have some great data points to share on coronavirus testing capacity and minority communities.  Admiral Brett Giroir shared this with me yesterday and last night as well: He said that when we look at testing sites, President Trump's public-private partnership with retail companies has proven quite successful.  Testing sites are operating in 49 states with 70 percent of these sites located in communities with moderate to high social vulnerabilities.  And social vulnerability takes into account race, ethnicity, housing and economics, language barriers, and other factors.      Also, federally qualified health centers -- they’re FQHCs -- serve 29 million patients in 12,000 communities across the nation.  They provide care to one in five of those uninsured, one in five rural Americans, one in five of -- one in three of individuals below the poverty line, and more than 1.3 million homeless men and women, and nearly a million migrant agricultural workers.  And 92 percent of these FQHCs now offer COVID test.  And we've awarded them $583 million to 1,385 of these facilities.      And finally, finally -- I promise my last announcement:  The HHS Office of Minority Health issued a competitive funding opportunity to build a strategic network of national, state, territory, tribal, local, and community-based organizations that deliver vital health information and support linkages to services for racial and ethnic minorities.  And this -- this announcement -- this network is scheduled to be awarded at the end of June and is expected to reach at least 40 million individuals from racial and ethnic minorities.      These updates, I was told by Brett Giroir, were received very well at the Senate hearings.  And we thank the Vice President, Mike Pence, for doing an amazing job leading our coronavirus task force, and to President Trump, who has led in bringing America through the coronavirus pandemic.      And, with that, I'll take questions.      Q    Kayleigh --      MS. MCENANY:  Kristen.      Q    Kayleigh, thank you so much.  Does the President regret tweeting out a baseless conspiracy theory about a 75-year-old protester on the morning of George Floyd's funeral?      MS. MCENANY:  The President was asking questions about an interaction in a video clip he saw.  And the President has the right to ask those questions.      Q    But does he regret tweeting out this protester was assaulted?      MS. MCENANY:  The President does not regret standing up for law enforcement men and women across this country.      And let me say this and just give you a little bit about the mindset behind the President's tweet: Look, we are living in a moment that is -- it seems to be reflexively anti-police officer, and it's unacceptable to the President.  In this tweet that he sent out, he was in no way condoning violence, he was not passing judgement on these two officers in particular, but what he was saying is this: When we see a brief snippet of a video, it's incumbent upon reporters and those who are surveying the situation to ask questions, rather --      Q    But isn’t it incumbent upon the President to have facts before he tweets anything out?  He's the President of the United States.      MS. MCENANY:  The President did have facts, before he tweeted it out, that undergirded his questions.      Q    But it’s a baseless conspiracy theory.  Do you acknowledge that?      MS. MCENANY:  It's not a baseless conspiracy -- no, not at all.  I won't acknowledge that.  Because, look, you had -- let's contrast this to the George Floyd situation, which -- that horrific video that we all saw.  Every single police officer that I saw across the country came out and said, “This is an inexcusable action, and I condemn this police officer.”      In this case, there were 57 police officers who said, “I resign in protest over the way these two officers were handled.”  And the President says those law enforcement officers have a right to be heard.      John.      Q    But does the President think that anything justifies that 75-year-old man being pushed down to the ground, like we all saw in the video?      MS. MCENANY:  The President does not condone violence.  He wants to see the appropriate amount of police force used in any given situation, including this one, but he believes that the officers have a right to be heard.      Q    And very quickly: George Floyd's brother is here testifying.  Has the White House invited him here to meet with the President?      MS. MCENANY:  The President has repeatedly acknowledged George Floyd, his passing, the egregiousness of that atrocity, and has called the family by phone, as he did last week.      Yes.      Q    The President has got an event tomorrow in Dallas at a church, in which he'll meet with faith leaders.  He'll also meet with law enforcement officials, small-business owners.  The theme is a plan for “holistic revitalization and recovery."  Will the President be announcing any policy in regards to police reform tomorrow?  And what might that policy form?      MS. MCENANY:  Yeah, so that's a very important question.  And as it stands currently, the President has spent the last 10 days quietly and diligently working on proposals to address the issues that the protesters have raised across the country -- legitimate issues.  And that body of work, I'm told, is reaching its final edits, and we hope to produce it for you in the coming days.  I can't promise you it's tomorrow, but in the coming days, we look to deliver that.      Q    So then -- what then will tomorrow be about?  Will it be a listening session, as he had on Monday with law enforcement?  Or might there actually be some concrete policy proposals --      MS. MCENANY:  Yeah, it will be a round- --      Q    -- that could, at least, be done at the executive level?      MS. MCENANY:  It will be a roundtable, much like what you saw with law enforcement officers earlier in the week.      Q    And if I could just stay on that theme for a second: In terms of reform ideas that the President could support, Democrats have floated some in the House; Senate Republicans, led by Tim Scott, are working on others -- things like banning chokeholds, banning no-knock warrants, independent process to investigate misconduct.  Could the President support issues like that?      MS. MCENANY:  So, again, don't want to get ahead of the announcements.  What I would say is: Each issue is being looked at as to what would make a difference.  Everything that you've suggested has certain ramifications, so he has to look at each of these in great detail, as he's done over the last few days.      And I would just note: One thing that AG Barr said was that, in the Democrat bill, they talked about needing to reduce immunity to go after bad cops, but that would result in police pulling back, so that is one thing that is a nonstarter.      Q    So is that -- it's called "qualified immunity."      MS. MCENANY:  Yes.      Q    Is that a red line for the President?      MS. MCENANY:  That's a nonstarter in the Democrat legislation.      Yes, Jon.      Q    Does the President believe there's a problem with institutional racism in this country and institutional racism in law enforcement?      MS. MCENANY:  Look, I've answered this question.  I think this is the fourth time I've been asked it, and I've said each and every time: There are injustices that we have seen.  Clearly, that tape of George Floyd was inexcusable, gut wrenching, difficult to watch.  And it was really a beautiful funeral yesterday -- all the great testimonies to his life.  We recognize those injustices.  Sandra Bland, another example.      But this President knows, fundamentally, that most police officers in this country are good -- that the 750 men and women that have been injured; that David Dorn, the police officer who was killed; and Patrick Underwood, the law enforcement officer who was killed are emblematic of what police in this country stand for.  That is the best, that is the brightest, and that is our domestic heroes.      Q    But the reason why I'm asking it now is: Does he believe that action needs to be taken to fundamentally change the way law enforcement is done in this country, to make fundamental changes so that there isn't the kind of disparities that we see along racial lines?      MS. MCENANY:  Well, the President is looking at various proposals.  And I would say this President has done a whole lot more than Democrats have ever done when it comes to rectifying injustices -- where you had the crime bill of the ‘90s, which created great racial disparities in our justice system, and President Trump rectified some of those with the FIRST STEP Act.      So, President Trump is about action, and he's shown that.  And he recognizes injustices and acts promptly when he sees them.      Yes.      Q    Thanks, Kayleigh --      Q    Kayleigh, does the President agree with the recent announcements from the Marines and Navy about their policies banning the display of the Confederate flag?      MS. MCENANY:  So I haven’t spoken to him on that specific one.  He does, as I noted at the top of this briefing, fervently stand against the renaming of our forts -- these great American fortresses where, literally, some of these men and women who lost their lives, as they went out to Europe and Afghanistan and Iraq and all across this world to win world wars on behalf of freedom, a lot of times the very last place they saw was one of these forts.      And to suggest that these forts were somehow inherently racist and their names need to be changed is a complete disrespect to the men and women who the last bit of American land they saw before they went overseas and lost their lives were these forts.      Q    So an ex-judge appointed to review the Flynn case said the Justice Department “has engaged in highly irregular conduct to benefit a political ally of the President,” and he urged the presiding judge in the case to deny attempt by the government to dismiss the charges.  What is the White House reaction?      MS. MCENANY:  That's the first I’m hearing about it.  I’d pointed to DOJ on that.      Jeff.      Q    Thanks, Kayleigh.  Congressional Republicans, including Congresswoman Liz Cheney, have criticized the President's decision to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Germany, some saying that it will embolden Russia if we -- if the United States does that.  Did the President make that decision to punish Chancellor Merkel for deciding not to come to the G7 in June?      MS. MCENANY:  Look, I have no announcements on that front, and he never makes decisions to punish certain world leaders; he acts in the best interests of the United States.      Yes.      Q    Just one follow-up on another issue on Kristen’s --      MS. MCENANY:  Yeah.      Q    -- with regard to the tweet: One of the things that the President said in his tweet was that the gentleman “fell harder than [he] was pushed.”  How is -- how does that work in terms of physics?      MS. MCENANY:  Look, I -- the President raised several questions based on a report he saw.  He has a right to ask those questions.  And where he stands is squarely with law enforcement.  He was making no judgments -- not condoning violence, not saying what happened in this case with these two officers was right or wrong -- but he's standing back and saying we need to ask questions before we destroy lives and convict people in the court of public opinion.      Yes.      Q    Thanks, Kayleigh.  Two questions on the economy.  First of all, both the chair of the Federal Reserve and Steve Mnuchin said today the U.S. will definitely need another round of stimulus.  How urgent is that for the President?  I mean, how soon do we expect him to meet with Democrats to discuss the next legislation?      MS. MCENANY:  Yeah, it's a good question.  He met on a potential phase four policy last week.  It was a very promising discussion with his economic advisors.  So that's in the works, as to when and if we see that, but it is a topic of discussion.      He was encouraged by the jobs report.  We were supposed to lose 7.5 million jobs.  We ended up gaining 2.5 million -- a swing by 10 million.  It was described to me as one of the -- by one famed economist -- as one of the worst miscalculations of economists in history to be off by 10 million.  That's the size of Michigan.      So the President is encouraged because what we're seeing is a belief in the Trump economy and the Trump presidency.  What we're seeing is the market soar.  We're seeing the S&P have its best 50-day track record in history, because they believe in a President that has free-market policies that got us to the hottest economy in modern history and will get us there again.      Yes.      Q    Just to follow up on that: The Federal Reserve today offered a pretty grim economic outlook, saying unemployment is going to be elevated for years.  And also this week, we heard from the National Bureau of Economic Research, saying that the U.S. officially entered a recession.  What is the White House response to that?      MS. MCENANY:  We believe that next month's jobs report will be robust.  The President has been clear that Q4 -- he expects Q3 to be a transition period, Q4 to be robust, and next year to be a very hot year.  And I would note that those in the prediction business, they were off by 10 million.  That's not too good.      So I'd go back and look at some of the models that were off and how extraordinary the jobs report was last time, including 300,000 new jobs for black Americans.      Yes.      Q    Thank you so much.  The President met with Mitch McConnell today, we understand.  Can you kind of fill us in on what that discussion was about?  Any updates?      MS. MCENANY:  So I have no announcements on that front.  Those were his private meetings, so no announcements out of that.      Yeah.      Q    Can I just add to Jonathan's question?  You know a lot of people are concerned that there is -- you mentioned justice disparities.  There's a lot of concern of some Americans that police officers treat black individuals and people of color differently than white individuals.  Does the President share those specific concerns?      MS. MCENANY:  Here's what he's concerned about: He's concerned about what the -- and I've told you he's addressed injustices with Sandra Bland and George Floyd, and has repeatedly acknowledged that.      But here is, in addition to that, his concern, put very well by New York's Police Benevolent Association president Mike O’Meara: “Our legislators are failing us.  Our press is vilifying us.”  He's saying “us” as police officers.  “Stop treating us like animals and thugs.  We've been vilified, and it's disgusting.”      When you have a sitting congressman, Ilhan Omar, calling cops “cancer,” what do you think that leads to?  The AP reported on a shooting in front of a police department today in California.      Let's stop vilifying our officers.  Let's recognize injustice where we see it, but recognize all of us in here are safe because of our police officers doing their job each and every day.      Q    I understand that.  But there are concerns among many Americans that -- that people of color are not treated the same by police, and that is what many of the protests have been about.  Does the President share those specific concerns?      MS. MCENANY:  The President believes most of our police officers are good, hardworking men and women, like David Dorn, who was killed among these riots; like Patrick Underwood, who was killed among these riots.  Those are our police officers.  They are our best.  They are our brightest.      There are absolute places of injustice; we're addressing those.  We're looking at legislative proposals and EOs.  And, you know, what ultimately is determined, we’ll see in the coming days as to what will work as a policy prescription.      But stop vilifying our officers, because they deserve better than that.  They're out there; they're working hard.  Seven hundred and fifty injured just in the last week and a half, and we need to recognize that.      Yes.      Q    Kayleigh, back on the Buffalo protester: Is the President disappointed that more Republicans have not lined up to support the questions he asked, to use your characterization of it, which many people also characterize it as a conspiracy theory?      And secondly, has the President reached out either to the injured gentleman or to the police officers involved?      MS. MCENANY:  So, first of all, President Trump, I would say, he's not focused on what Republicans are saying or not saying on the Hill; he's focused on making changes.  As I said, he's been diligently hard at work the last 10 days, and that is where his focus squarely lies at the moment.      Yes.      Q    And has he reached out to either the gentleman or the --      MS. MCENANY:  Not -- not that I'm aware of, no.      Q    Will he consider it?      MS. MCENANY:  Not that I'm aware of.      Hello.  Yes.      Q    Thanks, Kayleigh.  You started this briefing reading off some statistics about success of mitigation efforts on the spread of COVID, but we're now seeing a spike in cases in more than a dozen states and increased hospitalizations in a lot of those as well.  So -- and many public health experts attribute these spikes to Memorial Day weekend gatherings and other aspects of the reopening process before these mass protests.      So why is President Trump continuing to urge reopening, giving -- given this trend?  And should we be slowing down a little bit on the reopening process as we see cases spike?      MS. MCENANY:  First, let me note, as it pertains to Memorial Day: A week ago today, the Vice President's team told me -- I wasn't in task force that day, but that it was said -- that, in fact, that there was no linkage to Memorial Day as being some point of spurring wild outbreaks and rises across the nation.      What I would say, though -- I talked to Dr. Birx and she said: What we've seen is that, in general, April averaged out to be about 30,000 cases a day; May was about 25,000 cases a day; currently, we're at around 20,000 cases a day.  And you've got to look in a nuanced way at each of these states.  Like, for instance, Texas is one of the places where they're saying we're seeing a steady slope, not a huge rise, but part of it’s in -- due to the fact that they're testing in long-term care facilities and in prisons.  And the more testing you do, the more cases you identify.      Q    And can I ask a follow-up?      MS. MCENANY:  Sure.      Q    President Trump is planning to restart campaign rallies within the next few weeks.  What sort of precautions is he going to be taking at his rallies for the safety of the rally-goers?      MS. MCENANY:  So we have no rallies announced just yet.  You’re right about the two-week timeline that was put forward.  But we will ensure that everyone who goes is safe.  But no specific announcements on that front.  And I would direct you to the campaign for more information on that.      Yes.      Q    Yes.  Thanks for taking my question.  Owen Jenson with EWTN News.  We've seen thousands of people in the streets protesting, exercising their constitutional right -- those, of course, doing it peacefully.  At the same time, churches, in many cases, told to limit their gatherings -- in some cases, to 10 or no more.  Does the President see a double standard there, constitutionally speaking?  And if, you know, can you explain, please?      MS. MCENANY:  There are absolute double standards that we've seen.  And that's why the Justice Department set up a task force, if you will, or a group to look at civil liberties as -- during coronavirus shutdowns.  You know, I read about one case where you had an allowance of outside gathering and protest, but indoor, churches could not gather even with socially-distance protocols.      He absolutely sees an issue.  There have been several cases pointed to where people attending church in their cars were targeted by law enforcement officers.  So, that -- that's unacceptable.      You know, people should be allowed to worship.  We have a First Amendment in this country.  There's a way to safely do it.  I went to mass and was able to safely attend, distance from people.  And there were appropriate protocols that were taken in that case.  And that's what we hope to see, as the President made eminently clear a few weeks ago.      Q    And just a quick follow-up on that.  Not too long ago, he asked for all churches to reopen.  Is he happy with the progress, or no?      MS. MCENANY:  He's happy with the progress.  I've seen -- in fact, that very week, a church that I visited reopened -- a church down the road from me.  So I think he gave a lot of courage to the faith community to reopen, to do so safely.      And, look, here we are, I think four weeks later, and we haven't been hearing about, you know, rampant outbreaks in places of worship.  The First Amendment is a beautiful thing.  People have a right to go to church or mosque or synagogue.      Yes.      Q    Yes.  Hi, Kayleigh.  Thanks.  Still COVID: The President seems pretty unconcerned so far about November and the COVID situation, and whether people are going to be afraid to go to the polls or whether it's going to be a lot of delays because of the COVID.  He recently said it's a “long way off,” I think meaning, the -- the pandemic will have died down by then, essentially.      But given that it hasn't actually gone away and people are still dying every day and there are some spikes -- and it's not that far away: five months -- are any measures being taken at all to guarantee that this election is going to go smoothly and everybody who wants to vote can vote?      MS. MCENANY:  Yeah, well, I -- you know, I've not seen much criticism of the protest and socially distance and mitigation efforts.      Q    I was talking about -- asking about the elections, not the protests.      MS. MCENANY:  I think there's a way to safely vote if you can safely protest.  And that's what the President would like to see.  There's a way to safely vote.  There's a way to safely go to church.      And you're asking a hypothetical about something five months from now, at a time, ironically, when the media hasn't expressed much outrage about a lack of mitigation efforts taken by some of the protesters.      Q    Kayleigh --      MS. MCENANY:  Raquel.      Q    Thank you so much, Kayleigh.  Two questions: First, is the President concerned the protests could lead to another outbreak of coronavirus?      And the second question: President Trump said that he does not believe that the death toll and coronavirus case figures shown in some countries.  Does he trust the figure from Brazil?  Is the White House concerned that the Brazilian government is hiding information about COVID-19?      MS. MCENANY:  So, I haven't spoken to him about the Brazil numbers.  But I have heard him, on several cases -- probably at least five -- mention that he'd seen what's going on in Brazil, and he was hurt to see how many people have been affected by COVID down there.  So he has mentioned Brazil specifically.  I believe he even sent some ventilators to Brazil because we had such an overflow of ventilators here because America really, under the leadership of President Trump, snapped into action and shored up what was supposed to be a ventilator shortage and delivered.  This administration delivered.      So I would just note that: that he has mentioned great concern for the people of Brazil.      Q    Kayleigh, just the first question that I asked: Is the President concerned the protests could lead to another outbreak of coronavirus?      MS. MCENANY:  We're monitoring that.  You know, right now we're encouraged to see that cases have declined month over month.  But, you know, the Vice President, as I walked out here, said the task force is well aware and monitoring individual situations in particular states.      Neils.      Q    Kayleigh, thank you.  Thank you.  Going back to where you started, with the statement about renaming the military bases: If Congress were to send over, say, the defense authorization with language that were to rename one of these bases for someone who, say, was a general who won the Civil War, would the President veto the defense authorization?      MS. MCENANY:  The President will not be signing legislation that renames America's forts.  It's important to note -- you know, Fort Bragg, for example: It's one of the largest military installations.  It's home to tens of thousands of brave American soldiers.  And when you think of Fort Bragg, we think of the brave soldiers that deployed from there.  We think of all five World War Two airborne divisions -- the 82nd, the 101st, the 11th, 13th, and the 17th -- all trained at Fort Bragg.  The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion -- this was the first black parachute battalion trained at this fort.      We must recognize the sacrifices made by these men and women, some of whom saw Fort Bragg for the last time before they went overseas.  We've got to think of the Fort Bragg soldiers that have led humanitarian option -- operations, like in Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti.      We've got to honor what has happened there, not rename it.  So that is an absolute nonstarter for the President.      And I would also note --      Q    Kayleigh, and then one more question on that, if I could.      MS. MCENANY:  Yeah.  John.      Q    One more question on that.  General David Petraeus is one of those people who went through Fort Bragg a number of times, even though his first command was at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  He penned a quite lengthy and detailed editorial about the reasons why those bases should be renamed, saying it's ironic that American soldiers and Marines are being trained at bases named for people who fought against the Union back in the Civil War; that many of the people for whom these bases are named were leaders held in questionable regard but who were elevated during the Lost Cause movement.      He goes on to say, “We do not live in a country to which Braxton Bragg, Henry L. Benning, or Robert E. Lee can serve as an inspiration.”  What does the White House say to that particular point of view?      MS. MCENANY:  Fort Bragg is known for the heroes within it that trained there, that deployed from there.  And it's an insult to say to the men and women who left there, the last thing they saw on American soil before going overseas -- and in some cases, losing their lives -- to tell them that what they left was inherently a racist institution because of a name.  That's unacceptable to the President, and rightfully so.      And I would also note: Where do you draw the line here?  I'm told that no longer can you find on HBO “Gone with the Wind,” because somehow that is now offensive.  Where do you draw the line?  Is it -- should George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison be erased from history?  What about FDR and his internment camps?  Should he be erased from history?  Or Lyndon Johnson, who has a history of documented racist statements.      And, finally, what about people that are alleged by the media to be segregationists?  NBC tells us Joe Biden didn't just compromise with segregationists; he fought for their causes in schools, experts say.  CNN tells us letters from Joe Biden reveal how he sought support of segregationists in the fight against busing.  The Washington Post tells us that Biden's tough talk on 1970s schools’ desegregation plans could get him new scrutiny.  And there are several more where that came from.      So, I'll leave you with a question: Should we then rename the Biden Welcome Center?      Thanks very much, guys.                                    END              3:14 P.M. EDT

1600 Daily The White House • June 10, 2020 JUST IN: More Good News on the U.S. Comeback

The White House • June 10, 2020 JUST IN: More good news on the U.S. comeback Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany just shared some terrific news about our nation’s fight to slow the spread of Coronavirus. According to Dr. Birx, a new study suggests that the United States prevented more than 3 million Coronavirus deaths thanks to aggressive mitigation efforts by President Trump and other officials. Those efforts include early travel restrictions with China, national public health guidelines, rapid testing and ventilator production, and more. Another study found that these national shutdown efforts prevented 50 million additional U.S. COVID-19 cases, as well. Thanks to the selfless patriotism of workers all across our country who did their part, America’s economy is now reopening safely, strongly, and well ahead of schedule. Pundits were stunned on Friday, for example, when they first saw the monthly jobs report for May. After “experts” projected that the United States would lose 7.5 million jobs last month, the economy added 2.5 million—the biggest monthly gain in history.  Larry Kudlow: America is coming back!  “It was, as economist Chris Rupkey emailed, the ‘biggest forecast miss of our life,’” The Washington Post reported. “What the heck happened? In short, give some credit to the government relief efforts, especially the Paycheck Protection Program, for bringing back jobs.” The Paycheck Protection Program, signed into law by President Trump, provides forgivable loans to businesses that kept their employees on payroll during the pandemic. In fairness to the media, they are used to the slow economic “recoveries” of the past, such as the weak growth seen under former President Obama. But the Trump Economy is different, bolstered by pro-growth, pro-worker policies that created wealth broadly, cut down income inequality, and dropped unemployment to its lowest rate in 50 years. “Because the patient was strong in the beginning, because [of] the policies that [President Trump] put into place to cut taxes, roll back regulation, unleash American energy, fight for free and fair trade, we created more than 7 million jobs” before the Coronavirus struck, Vice President Mike Pence says. Now, we’re rebounding quickly.  VP Pence: Credit President Trump’s leadership during this pandemic “The greatest comeback in American history,” President Trump called it on Friday, delivering remarks from the White House Rose Garden. “It’s not going to stop here.” As America reopens, President Trump and the Coronavirus Task Force continue to lead a nationwide response to keep the virus under control. “The best strategy to ensure the health of our people moving forward is to focus our resources on protecting high-risk populations—like the elderly and those in nursing homes—while allowing younger and healthy Americans to get back to work immediately and open up our schools,” the President said Friday. Another economic milestone came today: For the third day in a row, the NASDAQ stock index closed at an all-time high. “Tremendous progress being made, way ahead of schedule,” President Trump tweeted this morning. “USA!” “Trump Signs New Law Relaxing PPP Rules: What You Need to Know”  MORE: Press Secretary delivers statement on renaming military bases Photo of the Day President Trump signs H.R. 7010, the “PPP Flexibility Act of 2020” | June 5, 2020

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

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2020 President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts   Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key positions in his Administration: Brigadier General Anthony J. Tata, United States Army (Retired), of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. General Tata currently serves as the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense. Prior to his appointment, General Tata was the President and CEO of Tata Leadership Group, LLC and Co-owner and Chief Growth Officer of Air Data Solutions. General Tata previously served as President of KaylaTek, LLC, where he led the startup in providing innovative contract and consulting services to clients in the Defense, Energy, Logistics, and Transportation sectors. Prior to this position,  General Tata  served as Secretary of Transportation for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.  General Tata  also served as the Superintendent of Wake County Public Schools, and as COO of Washington, D.C. Public Schools. His extensive uniformed service with the United States Army included assignments as Deputy Director of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization; Deputy Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division & Joint Task Force-76 in Afghanistan; Executive Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army; Deputy Director of the Joint Experimentation, Joint Forces Command; Commander of the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, and Commander of the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the 82nd Airborne Division. General Tata  is a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, and Ranger Tab. He is a graduate of the School of Advanced Military Studies, the Catholic University of America, and the United States Military Academy. He also served as a National Security Fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. David Reimer, of Ohio, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Sierra Leone. Ambassador Reimer, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Counselor, is currently the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of Seychelles. Prior to that, Ambassador Reimer was the Director in the Office of West African Affairs at the Department of State and the Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Nouakchott, Mauritania. Ambassador Reimer’s other experience includes assignments as an Assessor on the Board of Examiners for the State Department and as a Senior Refugee Coordinator at the United States Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.  He also was the Deputy Director of the Office of East African Affairs and a Refugee and Migration Officer at the United States Mission in Geneva, Switzerland. Prior to joining the State Department, Ambassador Reimer was an International Affairs Specialist in the Office of International Cooperation and Development at the United States. Department of Agriculture.  Ambassador Reimer earned his B.A. from Goshen College and his M.P.I.A. from the University of Pittsburgh.  He speaks French, Italian, and German. ---   Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key positions in his Administration: David E. Richardson, of Michigan, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction. Andrew Rakowsky, of New York, to be a Member of the Federal Salary Council.

Readout of First Lady Melania Trump’s Call with Mrs. Tammy Murphy, First Lady of New Jersey

Office of the First Lady FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 1o, 2020 Readout of First Lady Melania Trump’s Call with Mrs. Tammy Murphy, First Lady of New Jersey    Today, First Lady Melania Trump and New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy held a call to discuss child welfare and well-being. The call follows their last interaction during a video-teleconference briefing with our Nation’s governors in May. Carole Johnson, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services, also participated in the call. Mrs. Murphy and Commissioner Johnson shared a few of the ways New Jersey has adapted to deliver social services remotely, including the successful expansion of its mental health hotline. The First Lady and Mrs. Murphy engaged in a conversation about the importance of technology in the delivery of remote services, especially for families and children, and the ability of technology to increase access to mental health services. The two First Ladies also discussed Nurture NJ, a statewide awareness campaign that Mrs. Murphy launched in 2019 to help reduce infant and maternal mortality and morbidity. Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Murphy agreed on the importance of ensuring equity in care and outcomes for all, and discussed the efforts underway to lower the high mortality rate for African-American mothers in New Jersey. Mrs. Trump spoke about her Be Best initiative and its focus on a child’s social, emotional, and physical health and the shared goals of both initiatives. Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Murphy agreed to stay in touch and continue to find ways to work together as our country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

1600 Daily The White House • June 9, 2020 How We Heal Our Nation

The White House • June 9, 2020

How we heal our Nation President Trump hosted a White House discussion yesterday with leaders from across America’s law enforcement community. Together, they voiced a goal shared by President Trump: healing the divides between police and the communities they serve.   President Trump: We won’t be defunding our police “I don’t know a law enforcement officer across this country who—who’s not just appalled by the incident that occurred in Minneapolis,” National Fraternal Order of Police President Pat Yoes said. “But that one incident certainly doesn’t reflect on the 800,000 men and women across this country that go to work every single day and try and make their communities better.” These officers believe there is an opportunity for real reform, as well. “It’s time for us to have some good, deep discussion, and look within and find ways to improve the criminal justice system,” Captain Yoes said. President Trump believes in a fair justice system that protects every single American. On Friday, Vice President Mike Pence sat down with African-American faith and community leaders at Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland. “It is undeniable that in the long struggle for equality in this country, people of faith have played the decisive role,” the Vice President said. “I couldn’t help but feel that as our nation reels from the tragic death of George Floyd, that a place to start the conversation is in a place of worship.”   Vice President Pence: Justice will be served Defunding the police, as some far-left extremists now call for, would hurt the very communities we need to support. America’s violent crime and murder rates have fallen under President Trump, proving that law-and-order policies make our country safer. Justice for all means enforcing the law fairly, not giving up on law enforcement. President Trump understands the difference, and responsible leaders will join him. Here are just a few highlights from the conversations that have been happening inside the White House and across America over the past few days:   Daniel Cameron, Kentucky Attorney General: We all have a responsibility to become better citizens   Sheriff Tony Childress of Livingston County, Illinois: The best ideology is to be a friend to the community   Scott Turner of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council: “Poverty doesn’t have a color. Poverty affects all of us.”   Vice President Pence: “Our focus now is on healing.” Photo of the Day President Trump walks to board Marine One | June 5, 2020

The GoldFish Report No. 504 Political Theater: Attempted Mutiny on the Bounty FAILED!!

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On The GoldFish Report No. 504 Political Theater, Louisa and Jim report and analyze the latest world and national events pertaining to the Dems latest false flag attempts to overthrow POTUS and the 2020 election, meanwhile the POTUS continues to work hard for the American People and turns this ship around! Link to POTUS letter to WHO : https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Tedros-Letter.pdf To receive our Reports you can subscribe to our BITCHUTE Channel at https://www.bitchute.com/profile/qrAL... and to become a Patron of The GoldFish Report you can go to our Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/user?u=10007100 . You can also subscribe to our "NEW" YouTube channel at, and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO-A Follow us on Twitter at @ReportGoldfish, www.thegoldfishreport.wordpress.com you can also follow us and like us on our 24/7 research news page at www.facebook.com/thegoldfishreport and to help support these and other programs please visit www.thegoldfishreport.com to make a donation. Thank you for your support and Thank you for viewing. Visit our NEW Vimeo on Demand to view our Educational Country Roads Reports at this link here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/thegoldfis... To View our NEW Educational Bullet Points Reports use this link here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/174952 For viewer support of The GoldFish Report's Project "The Road to the White House", Please donate at www.thegoldfishreport.com at out PayPal or become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/user?u=10007100. To View The GoldFish Report's POTUS Reports, you can visit our BitChute page or view the unlisted report on YouTube from our POTUS Report page on our website at www.thegoldfishreport.com DISCLAIMER The following videos were created for educational purposes only. The content of this material strictly for research purposes, and readily available to the general public via the Internet. Viewing of the GoldFish Reports acknowledges that senders and recipients hereby agree to this disclaimer, thus releasing the source author from any and all personal liability. Also, individuals who alter or deviate from this source material, may be exposing themselves to the full extent of law. THE OPINIONS AND HYPOTHESES OF OUR GUESTS AND GUEST CO-HOSTS DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GOLDFISH REPORT POTUS UPDATE. AN OPINION AND HYPOTHESIS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITH NEWLY PRESENTED RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE. THE GOLDFISH REPORT POTUS REPORT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR INFORMATION THAT MAY BE UNKNOWINGLY INACCURATE, ALTHOUGH WE DO OUR BEST TO PRESENT FACTS, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF WORLD EVENTS AND HOW THOSE MAKING THE DECISIONS MAY IMPACT OUR LIVES. VIEWER DISCERNMENT IS ADVISED. FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of criminal justice, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Copyright 2020 The GoldFish Report. All rights Reserved.

Memorandum on Safeguarding U.S. National Interests in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2020 June 9, 2020   MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE                THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE                THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE                THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY                THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY                THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND                BUDGET                THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL                SECURITY AFFAIRS SUBJECT:    Safeguarding U.S. National Interests in the             Arctic and Antarctic Regions To help protect our national interests in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, and to retain a strong Arctic security presence alongside our allies and partners, the United States requires a ready, capable, and available fleet of polar security icebreakers that is operationally tested and fully deployable by Fiscal Year 2029.  Accordingly, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct the following:     Section 1.  Fleet Acquisition Program.  The United States will develop and execute a polar security icebreaking fleet acquisition program that supports our national interests in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.     (a)  The Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), shall lead a review of requirements for a polar security icebreaking fleet acquisition program to acquire and employ a suitable fleet of polar security icebreakers, and associated assets and resources, capable of ensuring a persistent United States presence in the Arctic and Antarctic regions in support of national interests and in furtherance of the National Security Strategy and the National Defense Strategy, as appropriate.  Separately, the review shall include the ability to provide a persistent United States presence in the Antarctic region, as appropriate, in accordance with the Antarctic Treaty System.  The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of OMB, in executing this direction, shall ensure that the United States Coast Guard's (USCG) Offshore Patrol Cutter acquisition program is not adversely impacted.     (b)  The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commandant of the Coast Guard, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of Energy, as appropriate, shall conduct a study of the comparative operational and fiscal benefits and risks of a polar security icebreaking fleet mix that consists of at least three heavy polar-class security cutters (PSC) that are appropriately outfitted to meet the objectives of this memorandum.  This study shall be submitted to the President, through the Director of OMB and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, within 60 days from the date of this memorandum and at a minimum shall include:         (i)    Use cases in the Arctic that span the full range of national and economic security missions (including the facilitation of resource exploration and exploitation and undersea cable laying and maintenance) that may be executed by a class of medium PSCs, as well as analysis of how these use cases differ with respect to the anticipated use of heavy PSCs for these same activities.  These use cases shall identify the optimal number and type of polar security icebreakers for ensuring a persistent presence in both the Arctic and, as appropriate, the Antarctic regions;         (ii)   An assessment of expanded operational capabilities, with estimated associated costs, for both heavy and medium PSCs not yet contracted for, specifically including the maximum use of any such PSC with respect to its ability to support national security objectives through the use of the following:  unmanned aviation, surface, and undersea systems; space systems; sensors and other systems to achieve and maintain maritime domain awareness; command and control systems; secure communications and data transfer systems; and intelligence-collection systems.  This assessment shall also evaluate defensive armament adequate to defend against threats by near-peer competitors and the potential for nuclear-powered propulsion;         (iii)  Based on the determined fleet size and composition, an identification and assessment of at least two optimal United States basing locations and at least two international basing locations.  The basing location assessment shall include the costs, benefits, risks, and challenges related to infrastructure, crewing, and logistics and maintenance support for PSCs at these locations.  In addition, this assessment shall account for potential burden-sharing opportunities for basing with the Department of Defense and allies and partners, as appropriate; and         (iv)   In anticipation of the USCGC POLAR STAR's operational degradation from Fiscal Years 2022-2029, an analysis to identify executable options, with associated costs, to bridge the gap of available vessels as early as Fiscal Year 2022 until the new PSCs required to meet the objectives of this memorandum are operational, including identifying executable, priced leasing options, both foreign and domestic.  This analysis shall specifically include operational risk associated with using a leased vessel as compared to a purchased vessel to conduct specified missions set forth in this memorandum.     (c)  In the interest of securing a fully capable polar security icebreaking fleet that is capable of providing a persistent presence in the Arctic and Antarctic regions at the lowest possible cost, the Secretary of State shall coordinate with the Secretary of Homeland Security in identifying viable polar security icebreaker leasing options, provided by partner nations, as a near- to mid-term (Fiscal Years 2022-2029) bridging strategy to mitigate future operational degradation of the USCGC POLAR STAR.  Leasing options shall contemplate capabilities that allow for access to the Arctic and Antarctic regions to, as appropriate, conduct national and economic security missions, in addition to marine scientific research in the Arctic, and conduct research in Antarctica in accordance with the Antarctic Treaty System.  Further, and in advance of any bid solicitation for future polar security icebreaker acquisitions, the Secretary of State shall coordinate with the Secretary of Homeland Security to identify partner nations with proven foreign shipbuilding capability and expertise in icebreaker construction.     (d)  The Secretary of Defense shall coordinate with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to continue to provide technical and programmatic support to the USCG integrated program office for the acquisition, outfitting, and operations of all classes of PSCs.     Sec. 2.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:         (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or         (ii)  the functions of the Director of OMB relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.     (b)  This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.     (c)  This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.                         DONALD J. TRUMP

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 9, 2020

June 9, 2020 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 forces to conduct counterterrorism operations and to advise, assist, and accompany security forces of select foreign partners on counterterrorism operations.  In the majority of these locations, the mission of United States military personnel is to facilitate counterterrorism operations of foreign partner forces and does not include routine engagement in combat.  In many of these locations, the security environment is such that United States military personnel may be required to defend themselves against sporadic terrorist threats or attacks, and deploy United States military personnel with weapons and other appropriate equipment for their force protection.  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.  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, and supporting the Afghan government and the Afghan military as they confront the Taliban in the field.  In February, the United States took significant steps towards achieving peace in Afghanistan by reaching an agreement with the Taliban that was coordinated with Afghanistan's National Unity Government, and by releasing a joint declaration with the Government of Afghanistan.  These commitments represent an important step to a lasting peace in a new Afghanistan and create a path forward to end the war in Afghanistan.  Meanwhile, United States forces remain committed to our longstanding security relationship with the Government of Afghanistan and 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.  The United States remains in an armed conflict 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.  A small presence of United States Armed Forces remains in strategically significant locations in Syria to conduct operations and secure critical petroleum infrastructure, in partnership with indigenous ground forces, against continuing terrorist threats emanating from Syria.  United States Armed Forces in Iraq continue 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. As reported in January, I directed a strike in Iraq targeting Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, in response to an escalating series of attacks by Iran and Iranian-backed militias on United States forces and interests in the Middle East region.  I directed this action to protect United States personnel, to deter Iran from conducting or supporting further attacks against United States forces and interests, to degrade Iran's and Qods Force-backed militias' ability to conduct attacks, and to end Iran's strategic escalation of attacks on and threats to United States interests. 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.  The United States military continues to work closely with the Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) and regional partner forces to degrade the terrorist threat posed by those groups. 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 Houthis in Yemen.  Such support does not involve United States Armed Forces in hostilities with the Houthis for the purposes of the War Powers Resolution. United States Armed Forces are deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to protect United States forces and interests in the region against hostile action by Iran or supporting groups.  These forces, operating in coordination with the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, provide air and missile defense capabilities and support the operation of United States fighter aircraft.  The total number of United States forces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is approximately 3,600. Jordan.  At the request of the Government of Jordan, approximately 3,145 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 40 United States military personnel are deployed to Lebanon to enhance the government's counterterrorism capabilities and to support the counterterrorism operations of Lebanese security forces. Turkey.  United States Armed Forces 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 al-Shabaab, and remain prepared to conduct airstrikes against ISIS terrorists.  United States military personnel also advise, assist, and accompany regional forces, including Somali and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces, during counterterrorism operations.  United States Armed Forces are deployed to Kenya to support counterterrorism operations in East Africa.  Following the January 2020 attack on United States Armed Forces and interests in Manda Bay, Kenya, additional United States Armed Forces personnel and equipment were deployed to Kenya to increase force protection measures.  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 760 United States military personnel remain deployed to Niger. 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 460 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. 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 640 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

West Wing Reads Defund Police, Watch Crime Return

Defund Police, Watch Crime Return “One feature of our current politics is how quickly bad events trigger a rush to bad policies. So it is that the response to the killing of George Floyd has sprinted past police reform to ‘defund the police,’” The Wall Street Journal editorial board writes. “By all means let’s debate other policies and accountability in using force. But a political drive to defund police risks a return to the high-crime era of the 1960s and 1970s that damaged so many American cities.” Click here to read more.  “Vulnerable New Yorkers want more police presence, not less; they view officers as their only protection against predation. What will the activists seeking to defund the NYPD tell these law-abiding residents—that they are now on their own?” Manhattan Institute fellow Heather Mac Donald writes in the New York Post. “The owner of a manufacturing company based in Minneapolis has decided to move his factory after law enforcement was unable to protect the plant from burning during riots.” He said that the city’s local leaders didn’t “care about my business. They didn’t protect our people. We were all on our own.” Read more in The Daily Caller. “Debate is no longer allowed in America’s liberal newsrooms, and the left has the scalps to prove it. James Bennet is out as New York Times editorial-page editor.” Why? Because his paper published an opinion column by a U.S. senator arguing for deploying the military if violent riots got out of control, the New York Post editorial board writes.