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Good morning everybody. Morning. Thank you for joining us early today.

We have a very busy day. So we wanted to kick off the re week right this morning after a great trip last week. It's good to see all of you back in Washington.

This afternoon in the Rose Garden, President Trump alongside First Lady Melania Trump will sign the Take It Down Act into law. First Lady Melania Trump was instrumental in getting this important legislation passed. The Take It Down Act will protect victims of digital exploitation, hold internet platforms accountable by requiring them to remove such im imagery from their platforms, and provide justice for victims by allowing prosecutors to go after those who publish non-consent consensual explicit images online.

The first lady met with members in the House and the Senate, survivors and their families, and advocates throughout the process to get this bill across the finish line. We are grateful for the first lady's hard work and dedication to this issue and moving forward she will continue to champion the well-being of our nation's children through her be best agenda. I know the president looks forward to signing that bill into law later this afternoon and we will see you all there.

In other news, the one big beautiful bill passed the House Budget Committee last night, bringing it one step closer to final passage. The one big beautiful bill is perfectly named because it represents a once- ina generation opportunity to deliver on the Make America Great Again agenda responsible for President Trump's landslide victory on November 5th. The America First policies in this bill are the reason why Republicans currently have the majority in Congress right now.

Passing this bill is what voters sent uh Republicans to Washington to accomplish. And that's why it's essential that every Republican in the House and the Senate unites behind President Trump and passes this popular and essential legislative package. This bill will be the single most pro- small business, pro- family, and pro-American worker legislation ever.

This bill will give Americans the largest tax cuts in our nation's history. When Republicans pass the bill, Americans will be keeping more of their hard-earned money and taking home much bigger paychecks. The one big beautiful bill will deliver some of President Trump's central campaign promises.

No tax on tips for our hardworking waiters, waitresses, and service workers. No tax on overtime for our law enforcement officers, our firefighters, and all those who Americans who are putting in extra hours to make ends meet. and a large tax deduction on interest payments for Americans who purchase Americanmade cars.

Despite de desperate Democrat lies, the biggest beneficiary of this tax cut will be workingclass Americans and their families. Americans earning between $30,000 and $80,000 per year will pay about 15% less in taxes after this legislation is passed. And according to a brand new paper from the White House Council of Economic Adviserss, the average family with two children's take-home pay will be up to $13,000 higher because of the increase in wages and reductions in tax obligations.

The CEA study also said that the average overtime worker receives a tax cut of roughly $2,000. Again, this is great news news for our nurses, our police officers, and all those who work overtime to make ends meet across our country. Put simply, President Trump's One Big Beautiful bill will be a boon for workingclass America.

This one big beautiful bill is also pro- family. It will increase the child tax credit to $2,500 per child, establish optional savings account for newborn babies with a $1,000 credit added, and strengthen paid family leave. This bill also delivers historic tax relief to America's seniors by allowing middle and low-income Social Security recipients to deduct an additional $4,000 in payments from their taxable income.

If Democrats get their way and the Trump tax cuts are not extended, Americans will face the largest tax hike in history to the tune of $4 trillion. Republicans must not side with Democrats in helping them raise taxes. The one big beautiful bill also provides critical protections of Medicaid which will strengthen and preserve the program for decades to come through common sense efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.

Medicaid will no longer be used to pay for barbaric gender mutilation procedures on minor children. And the 1. 4 million illegal aliens who are currently improperly receiving Medicaid benefits will be kicked off the program to preserve it for hardworking American citizens who need it.

President Trump and Republicans are protecting Medicaid benefits for pregnant women, children, disabled individuals, low-income seniors and families, and the most vulnerable Americans in our society. And that's what Democrats are so angry about. Basic Medicaid protections that will stop the funding of transgender insanity and illegal aliens from ripping off American taxpayers.

As you all know, over his first four months in office, President Trump ended the previous administration's open border crisis and secured our homeland in record time, all using executive authority. Now, Congress needs to act. The One Big, Beautiful Bill is the most significant investment in our nation's border patrol and law enforcement agents in our nation's history.

The bill ensures that President Trump's popular and successful border security measures are made permanent. Republicans have the backs of border patrol and ICE agents who were put through hell over the past four years and have quickly worked to secure our southern border. And that's why this bill gives them more resources to do their jobs, including a $10,000 muchneeded bonus to ICE agents and border patrol agents over the next four years.

To provide those brave agents with desperately needed reinforcements on the ground, the bill allows for the hiring of thousands of new ICE personnel, customs officers, and border patrol agents. These significant hirings will empower President Trump to continue delivering on his promise to carry out the largest mass deportation in the history of our country. Again, that is a promise that Republicans made to American voters.

It's a promise they were elected on, and it's a promise Republicans on Capitol Hill need to keep, secure our border. To supplement those efforts, the bill fund the bill's funds um will fund the completion of President Trump's signature border wall. As a result, 701 miles of primary wall, 900 miles of river barriers, 629 miles of secondary barriers, and 141 miles of vehicle and pedestrian barriers will be constructed when this bill passes, along with cuttingedge technology to secure our homeland from dangerous illegal alien invaders.

This bill also advances our national security and defense interests by ensuring the United States military has the necessary resources to remain the strongest and most lethal fighting force in the world. The bill will provide resources for the construction of President Trump's Golden Dome to safeguard Americans from potential attacks, give the Coast Guard resources to build more modernized ships, and the Air Force resources to acquire better planes. If all of those incredible things were not enough, the big beautiful bill also finally modernizes air traffic control in America, a bipartisan issue.

The bill will allow President Trump to deliver on his promise to overhaul and update our air traffic control systems to keep Americans flying as safe and efficiently as possible. The previous administration failed to act and do this themselves despite repeated warnings from the GAO, which has resulted in unacceptable delays at major airports like Newark that the Trump administration is working hard to address. When the one big beautiful bill passes, we will replace the current antiquated system.

The FAA will enhance safety in our skies, reduce delays, and power the future of air travel in the United States. That's just some of what this historic legislation will accomplish. It is absolutely essential that Republicans unite behind the one big beautiful bill and deliver on President Trump's agenda.

There is no time to waste. Americans gave Republicans a once in a generation opportunity to course correct our country over many wrongs over the past four years. And Americans are counting on Republicans to work as hard as President Trump is in this White House every day on Capitol Hill.

Send this legislation to his desk as soon as possible for his signature. Here in our new media seat today, we have Liam Crosgrove, the White House correspondent for Zero Hedge. With that, Liam, please kick us off.

Uh, thank you, Caroline. So, my first question is on foreign policy. Sure.

The president has made uh several moves towards peace and multiple fronts. India, Pakistan, with the Houthies, uh, talking with Iran and talking with Putin. Um, Biden didn't even talk to Putin for the entire span of the war, which is crazy considering two nuclear powers were engaged in a proxy war.

Um, so I do admire these moves by the current president, I'll be honest. Um, however, we as of today, we are still funding both Israel's and Ukraine's wars. So, can Americans expect to finally be done financing foreign wars at some point?

Would it do you consider that one of the president's goals? Well, I think I can um summarize the president's foreign policy agenda with two words: America first. And that means putting the American people and the American taxpayer first.

And that's why the president is moving as quickly as he possibly can and working overtime uh to end these conflicts in both Israel and in Gaza and also the Russia Ukraine war. As you all know, the president will be speaking with Putin at 10:00. He plans to call President Zullinsky when that call concludes.

I spoke to the president about that call at 10:00. I don't want to get ahead of those very important conversations, but of course, you will hear directly from the president or me after those calls conclude today. So, you can expect that.

As for Israel and Gaza, the president continues uh to uh not only himself but his national security team engage uh in talks on both sides of this conflict. The president made it very clear to Hamas that he wanted to see all hostages released. And last week uh when we were flying out of town, there was great news on that front with the return of Eden Alexander who was the last remaining hostage in Gaza.

So to answer your question, the president is always thinking about the American people, the American taxpayer first. He wants these conflicts to end uh not just to save money but most importantly to save lives. Thank you.

And uh my only other question for you is so over the weekend uh President Trump posted truth social a video highlighting what most people call the Clinton body count which is the strange number of suicides that seem to happen in Clinton circles. Um I have a headline here from the Washington Post that said Trump pedals false conspiracy theories tying the Clintons to several deaths. Um, so I just wanted to highlight real quick.

This wasn't in Trump's video, but this is from the Arkansas Times and it's the death of Mark Middleton, who was a former Clinton White House aid who was found dead on a Clinton Foundation property. And I'll just quote from the Arkansas Times. Middleton apparently shot himself in the chest with a shotgun and also hung himself from a tree with an extension cord.

So, I have no idea how somebody commits suicide that way, but if the Washington Post is here, maybe you can enlighten us as to how that was actually a suicide. Um, so anyways, that's just a leadin to my question about the most famous Clinton related suicide, which is that of Jeffrey Epstein. Um, there's still a lot of questions around that case.

You've released phase one of the Epstein files. What was missing from that is any connection to his ties to intelligence agencies. And that's really the whole story that not just trafficking young girls, but doing it on behalf of intelligence agencies and even potentially uh as part of a blackmail ring with potential ties to the Israeli government.

So, uh, for phase two, when can we expect it? Will it have information pertaining to those aspects of the Epstein case? I know the attorney general has committed to releasing those files.

I would defer you to the Department of Justice on her timeline, but um, when she has made a promise in the past, she has kept it, and I'm I'm certain that she will in this case as well. Rachel, thanks so much. Caroline, the president set a two-e deadline for Ukraine and Russia to negotiate a deal.

That time is now up. Does the president intend to set a new deadline on this call with President Putin and how much longer is he willing to give these talks? Yeah, I don't want to get ahead of the specifics of the conversation the president will be having with President Putin in less than an hour this morning.

Uh, but he has made clear throughout the entirety of this conflict since he inherited it from Joe Biden. Don't forget this is a war that began because of the previous administration's incompetence and weakness and President Trump is working very hard to fix it. He has made it clear to both sides that he wants to see a peaceful resolution and a a ceasefire as soon as possible, but as for specifics on a timeline.

I won't get ahead of the president. And just on the goals um for this call in particular, is the goal to get Putin to agree to a ceasefire? Is the goal to lead to some sort of in-person negotiations with Putin and the president?

Well, I think again, we'll see how the call goes and the president has made it clear his goal is to see a ceasefire and to see this conflict come to an end. and he's grown weary and frustrated with both sides of the conflict. The president has his team have put an enormous amount of effort in solving this very complicated war that again began uh because of the last administration's weakness.

Does he still want to meet Putin personally? I think the president would certainly be open to that. But let's see how this call goes today.

What's the status of the secondary sanctions package? The president's been talking about that. You haven't imposed them yet, but is that still on the table?

I think everything's on the table. Yes. And again, I won't get ahead of the president in any commitments or decisions, but certainly it's something he's been looking at and discussing.

Elena, hi K. I want to ask you about the House uh bill, budget bill. So, does the president agree with Republicans behind this bill that Medicaid work requirements should be implemented as soon as 2026?

So, the president wants to preserve and protect Medicaid for in for Americans who this program was intended for. uh the most vulnerable in our society, pregnant women, low-income families, seniors, those who truly need these bene these benefits. Uh and it should be going to people who physically uh cannot work.

We want to see abledbodied Americans uh at least working 20 hours per week. Uh whether that's part-time or full-time, whether that's even looking for work or volunteering for 20 hours a week if they are receiving Medicaid. These are common sense uh provisions.

These are common sense changes that were actually introduced by former Democrat President Clinton. They've been supported by every Democrat president since, including the previous president, Joe Biden. Uh but again, these are common sense re uh reforms to ensure uh that those that this program was intended for receive those benefits.

And then just a quick followup, um is the president okay with this bill adding to the deficit? This bill does not add to the deficit. In fact, uh, according to the Council of Economic Adviserss, uh, this bill will save $1.

6 trillion. And the president absolutely understands and hears the concerns of fiscal conservatives and of Americans who want to get our fiscal house in order. That's what the intention of this bill is.

There's $1. 6 trillion worth of savings in this bill. That's the largest savings for any legislation that has ever passed Capitol Hill in our nation's history.

The next bill that even comes close was $800 billion dollars. That's less than half of the savings that we see in the one big beautiful bill. And so, uh, the the goal of this bill is to produce economic growth, to cut taxes, and to get our fiscal house in order, and this is the right step in the right direction towards doing that, Edward.

Yes. Thanks. And and then I'll go to you.

Um, I want to get the president's reaction to Moody's downgrading the credit rate credit rating of the United States. Sure. Well, look, the president uh talked about this over the weekend.

The secretary of treasury also talked about it. When you look at the world, uh the world has confidence in the United States of America and our economy. Once again, the president just last week uh secured trillions of dollars in investments from countries in the Middle East.

We have seen trillions of dollars of investments flowing into our economy since the president took office. That is because America uh or people around the world have confidence in the United States of America. And if you also just look at the raw economic data that we're seeing last week when we were out of town, inflation dropped once again.

Oil prices are dropping, gas prices are dropping. The president has added nearly a half million jobs to the American economy already. Uh so there's a lot of optimism in this economy and the president disagrees with that assessment.

And I want to ask you one one more thing if I could. Um on your Middle East trip, the United Arab Emirates uh is is getting some of the most advanced uh AI chips and there's agreements there. The UAE is the newest member of bricks.

Is there a concern from the president that those chips and the technology will pass through to China, India, uh, Russia and, uh, Iran? Part of going to the Middle East was to ensure that the United that this part of the region, the our Gulf partners know that the United States of America is there for them again and that they should be investing in the United States, not in China. And these AI agreements, particularly the one uh the the secretary of commerce signed in the UAE has security guarantees to ensure that China is not getting the advantage, but the United States is getting the advantage when it comes to AI and that the UAE and the US are hand working hand inand together um to invest in this space.

So you read the agreements, there are security guarantees. Uh and it this was a great trip for the country, no doubt. Go ahead.

Thanks Caroline. Um, Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel has said today that Israel will take control of all of Gaza. Um, is that a goal that President Trump is comfortable with or or that he supports?

I'll have to talk to the president about those comments as they just came, I believe, from the prime minister this morning, and I'll let him speak on that. The president has made it very clear he wants to see this conflict in the region end. He wants all hostages to be released.

He was pleased uh that Edon Alexander was returned home safely um to his loving family. The president spoke with Eden directly uh while we were traveling to the Middle East last week. Um as for the prime minister's comments, I'll let the president himself respond to those.

Sure. Um how about two questions? One, how involved does the president invol uh intend to be directly in talking to house members about the bill over the next couple of weeks or the next next week?

Sure. Well, over the weekend, the president was in direct conversation and communication with the speaker of the house. He's been very involved.

He always is. He's willing to pick up the phone when uh he is asked to. Um so he'll continue to be very engaged in this process with both House members and his friends on the Senate side as well.

And on former President Biden's cancer diagnosis, the the president put out a very, you know, nice message on Troop Social. Uh has he talked to President Biden directly? Does he intend to call?

What does he intend to say directly? uh not to my knowledge. I don't believe they have spoken, but I'm sure the president would be open to doing that.

I spoke to him last night about the uh former president's cancer diagnosis and u the statement that he put out was the uh initial reaction he had with me on the phone as well. Peter, follow up on former President Biden. White House doctors may have missed the early stages of his prostate cancer.

So, is President Trump worried about the quality of care that presidents get here? Not as far as President Trump is concerned. The uh White House physician we have here is phenomenal and the team of physicians that take care of the president, particularly at Walter Reed Medical Center are great.

The president had his physical recently. As you know, he had uh perfect results. He's in very good shape.

I think those of you who traveled to the Middle East with us last week can attest to the president's endurance. And by the way, I will add we returned home from a very long and tiring trip last week. And on Saturday, where was the president?

In the Oval Office, working all day. He doesn't stop. He doesn't quit.

He's in great health and he trusts his physicians. Two more things. Uh Putin ghosted everybody at these peace talks last week as President Trump phones him today to try to figure out an end to the Ukraine war.

Does he think that Putin is the good guy or the bad guy? I'll let the president speak on that conversation later. uh he's made his his uh feelings about uh both sides of this war quite clear throughout it.

He wants to see it end. The last one, what does President Trump mean when he says that Taylor Swift is no longer hot? Look, he uh is speaking about Taylor Swift's political views and how perhaps it has impacted the support of the American public for her work.

And I will leave it at that. Annie, go ahead. Thanks so much.

Um, Carolyn, I'm just going back one more time to the White House medical office because there seems to be some question about this with regard to President Biden's screening. Can you say whether or not President Trump is screened for prostate cancer as part of his physical? To the best of my understanding, he is.

Uh, but we can certainly check in with the White House physician and go back and look at that physical report. And then just one other question. Um, recently, um, uh, Steven Miller at the White House made some comments about considering suspending habius purpose, and I'm curious if there's any update on how the White House is exploring that option to enact the president's agenda.

I don't have any update at this time, but I can check in with our deputy chief of staff, Mary Margaret. Go ahead. Thanks, Caroline.

Um, given the ongoing revelations about the former president's mental acuity and how staff and media covered that up, especially with the release of this book, uh, two days, I think, uh, is there any interest in further scrutiny of Kevin Oconor, the former president's position? Um, I'll let the president speak on that. I'll I spoke to the president again about the former president's health diagnosis last night and, uh, he wanted to extend his warmest wishes to the former president and his family.

Um, but as for any further action, I'll let the president speak on that first. Michelle, Vice President Vance's meeting with Zilinski. Can you share any more information on that?

Uh, my understanding was it was a a good meeting, a productive meeting. Um, and we're grateful that the vice president did it and that he also went to uh the Pope's first mass in Rome. I also have an update on that.

Uh the vice president passed along a letter to the pope from the president and from the first lady extending their warm wishes and inviting them to the White House as soon as they possibly can come. Michelle uh on Iran Steve Wood said yesterday that continued enrichment is a red line for the US. The Iranian foreign minister says that's going to continue no matter what.

How committed is the US to that red line and what's the next step for the next round of talks? We are 100% committed to that red line. the president, special envoy Whit, Secretary Rubio have made that incredibly clear, not just to the American public, but also in those discussions that special envoy Witoff has had directly with the Iranians.

And the next round of talks, I don't have an update for you, but we can get one. Um, to the back row. Go ahead.

Thank you, Caroline. South Africa's president says he's going to come to the White House to meet with President Trump on Wednesday. What are the president's expectations for that trip?

and South Africa's president recently said he believes the folks that have been resettled here recently are cowards running away from problems in South Africa. Does the White House have a response to that? So, I did see the South African president put out that statement.

I want to confirm on our end with our secretary of state and national security adviser and we'll get back to you on that. Monica, thanks Caroline. Uh you mentioned the president and the first lady are signing the historic take it down act this afternoon.

I'm curious to know what are some of the repercussions or consequences for these online platforms or perpetrators that won't comply with the act. Well, what this bill does, it takes the initial step to ensure that prosecutors are able um to take down, that's why it's called the Take It Down Act, uh platforms that are allowing this sexually explicit content on their platform. So, it gives them more leeway to go after them as they see fit.

But as for specific repercussions, I would defer you to the Department of Justice of how they plan to implement this bill once it is signed later today. Brian, yes, thank you. Uh, you said in your opening statement, you talked about this MAGA baby savings account.

Exactly how would that work? Uh, who would be eligible for it? I'm assuming women would be eligible for that.

Yes. So, we one of the provisions in the one big beautiful bill. As I said, this is a very pro-f family piece of legislation.

Not only does it increase the child tax credit, but it also includes uh MAGA baby savings accounts uh for children that are born before January 1st, 2024 under eight years old, US citizens, and have at least one parent with a valid social security number. Uh and when this tax provision becomes law, um the child will if if the parents seek to do this will be set up uh with a savings account. Essentially, it's a 401k for a newborn baby.

um and child's relatives, their parents um can uh contribute up to $5,000 per per year of after tax dollars annually to that account. Um and then later in the baby's life at age 25, savings account holders can withdraw up to the full balance of the account. Upon reaching 30, the account holders can access the full balance of the account for any purpose desired.

So, it's a great initiative for new parents, uh new mothers who want to set up the savings account for their children. Ouija, thank you. Caroline, President Trump and his top economic aids have repeatedly said that Americans will not pay the cost of tariffs.

In fact, last week, Lutnik said people have to drop the quote silly arguments that consumers would pay u the costs. But over the weekend, as you know, the president posted that Walmart should eat the tariffs and not charge the value customer anything. I'll be watching and so will your customers.

So, um, does he acknowledge that if companies don't absorb the full cost, Americans will have to pay? Well, first of all, the CEO of Walmart made those comments about the tariffs on an ear earnings call where CEOs, I believe, are legally obligated to give the most dire warnings and forecasts to their uh investors and stakeholders. The reality is, as the president has always maintained, Chinese producers will be absorbing the cost of these tariffs.

And that is why China was so quick to hustle to the negotiating table with the United States of America. They need our markets. They need our consumers.

And I would again point you to the inflation report that came out last week showing that inflation is declining in large part because energy uh prices are dropping across the board in this country because of the president's robust uh energy agenda that he has taken since January 20th. So the president is committed to ensuring that prices remain low for American consumers. uh and he maintains the position that foreign countries will absorb these tariffs.

What does he mean by I'll be watching Walmart? Uh he'll be watching seeing what they're doing. Jennifer, on the gift plane from from Qatar, three things.

Is there a timeline for the US receiving that plane? Do you know how long it will take to retrofit the plane to presidential standards? And thirdly, has the intelligence community, security folks, have they weighed in on whether that plane can actually be secured to presidential standards?

I'm glad you brought up this question because I was watching the American press spew a lot of misinformation about the plane donation last week when we were abroad. Let's be very clear, the government of Qatar, the Qatari family has offered to donate this plane to the United States Air Force uh where that donation will be accepted according to all legal and ethical obligations. It will be retrofitted to the highest of standards uh by the department of defense and the United States Air Force.

This plane is not a personal donation or a gift to the president of the United States. And everyone who wrote that last week should go and correct their stories because this is a donation to our country and to the United States Air Force. As for a timeline, because it is the United States Air Force that is accepting the plane, I would defer you to them for specifics because the president frankly has nothing to do with it.

It's the Air Force's project to take on. Sure, Elizabeth. Thanks so much, Caroline.

Um, did the president call fiscal conservatives who were hesitant to vote for the big beautiful bill? And if so, what did they say? What did he say?

Uh, the I don't reveal the president's private discussions unless he gives me the liberty, too. But he has been engaged in this process. He spoke to the speaker of the house and uh he will continue to make those phone calls if it's necessary for him.

Sure. Thank you, Caroline. I'll go to both of you.

Go ahead. Thank you. Uh any updates on Greenland?

Will the president be making any trips and do we have any details you can share with us? I don't have any future foreign trips to read out for you. We just returned home from one.

Uh but the president maintains u the the uh reasoning for Greenland's strategic purposes in the Arctic. Um and he continues to remain committed to the idea of uh obtaining Greenland in in whatever means we can to advance our uh national security interests in the region. Thank you.

I have a question. Was Lebanon part of the discussions during the Middle East tour? And did you meet with any Lebanese representatives?

Uh to my knowledge, the president did not meet with any representatives from uh Lebanon, although he did talk about the election that they recently had there and how he hopes that uh Lebanon can come to a more peaceful place in their country and that we drive out uh Hezbollah, Iranianbacked Hezbollah proxies uh in Lebanon to ensure peace and prosperity in that country and also for the greater Middle Eastern region. And I would just add to that before I I wrap up because the president's call will begin in a few minutes. The president's historic tour to the Middle East last week truly reset our foreign policy agenda in that region.

I think actually in fact the Washington Post um had a headline, President Trump remakes US foreign policy in the Middle East. And that's absolutely true. He took a courageous and bold step to lift sanctions on Syria.

He strengthened our ties with our Gulf partners. uh and he put Iran into a very difficult position because the United States of America is back. And I will summarize the president's trip with an anecdote that I heard directly from a member of one of the foreign delegations.

I asked him how hopeful uh their country was when they learned President Trump won the election. And he told me when President Trump won the election, it was the like the lights turned on in a dark room. For the past four years to the rest of the world, America was dark.

We were unresponsive. We did not pick up the phone. We did not return calls.

All of that has changed under the leadership of this president. And I think the world saw that last week with this historic and wildly successful trip. And the work continues.

The president will be speaking to President Putin at 10 a. m. And we'll have a readout for you after that call.

And we'll see you in the Rose Garden at 3:00. Thanks, guys. Thank you everyone.