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Press Briefing by Ambassador O'Brien, Ambassador Grenell, Kushner, McEnany; 09-04-2020
PRESS BRIEFINGS
Press Briefing by Ambassador O’Brien, Ambassador Grenell, Senior Advisor Kushner, and Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany | September 4, 2020
FOREIGN POLICY
Issued on: September 4, 2020
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
1:50 P.M. EDT
MS. MCENANY: Hello, everyone. It’s another historic day here at the White House. And I have with me Ambassador Ric Grenell, National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, and Senior Advisor Jared Kushner to talk to you about the history that was made here at the White House today, and then they’ll take a few of your questions.
{snip}
Q Another follow-up on Kosovo, please?
Q A question for Ambassador Grenell, please.
Q Ambassador Grenell, clearly you were effective here as the special envoy to these talks between Serbia and Kosovo. But I wanted to ask you about another initiative you led. Last year, you kicked off the Trump administration’s push to decriminalize homosexuality —
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Yeah, let me just talk about Kosovo and Serbia. I don’t know if you can find it on a map. But this is atrocious. I have to tell you guys, you might be too young to understand what this issue is about. Maybe the older journalists should step up and say, “This is a big deal.” This is a big issue. I’m astounded what happens in Washington, D.C., and especially in this room. I got to tell you, it’s substantive. Maybe it’s too complicated of an issue for you all.
Q Ric, respectfully, this is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to speak with these individuals. There are a lot of questions to address.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Okay, but today is about Kosovo and Serbia. Let’s take a little time and talk about this 21-year issue, Peter. I mean, 21 years. We’re getting the same questions that are all politics. I don’t — you guys don’t understand what’s happening outside of Washington, D.C. People aren’t listening to you anymore. It’s really a crisis in journalism. And I think it’s because people are too young to understand the issues like Kosovo and Serbia.
Q All right, can I ask you a question —
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: How about a substantive question?
Q — about the deal, please? I don’t think any of us came here for a lecture about our questioning. But the —
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Well, I didn’t come here to not talk about anything about Kosovo and Serbia.
Q But the question I would like to ask you — the question I would like to ask you is: Is it accurate to say that it’s “full economic normalization”? There was some ambiguity as to whether that is what the deal is about.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: What — what do you mean by “full”?
Q Well, that’s the question for you.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: No, no, it’s a question for you. What’s your definition of “full”? This is economic normalization for whatever the two parties could bring together: a whole bunch on rail, a whole bunch on water, a whole bunch on a whole — different industries. So —
Q So is it more accurate to say, “Working towards economic normalization.” Is that fair?
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: No, I think it’s “incredible economic normalization” — air, rail, motor, opening borders, a whole bunch of industries. So, again, I don’t know what’s missing. And I defer to you to say what’s — what’s —
Q No, no. I wasn’t the one who negotiated that.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: — what’s outside of “economic normalization” that’s not included here. You tell me.
Q I’m genuinely asking so that we can write our stories accurately.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Yeah.
Q Do we say that they —
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: I am saying “economic normalization.”
Q — have achieved an “economic normalization deal”? And then —
Q What changed from, you know, a few months ago when they pulled down the tariffs to today? What is the substantive difference?
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Have you read the agreement?
Q You haven’t put the agreement out.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: It’s out.
A whole bunch — a whole bunch has changed since the dropping of the tariffs. The tariffs were the political sticking point of why we couldn’t have the parties come together. The Serb side was not going to even start negotiations when there’s a 100 percent tariff from the Kosovars.
Q Sure. So what’s the substantive thing that changed today? Like the actual —
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: There’s —
Q — like what is —
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: There’s a whole bunch of stuff that changed today in terms of economic development, in terms of identification for even some political problems that are going to be resolved.
AMBASSADOR O’BRIEN: Licenses and diplomas.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Yeah. I would really refer you to look at the entire agreement.
{snip}
MS. MCENANY: Thank you, guys, very much.
So the President is bringing back the hottest economy in modern history. Today’s job numbers are proof: There were 1.4 million jobs added in August, beating expectations; unemployment fell by 1.8 percent, also beating expectations. Now, nearly 50 percent of job losses since March have been reversed — a clear “V-shaped” recovery.
Also, I want to address what is quite clearly fake news: The story in The Atlantic has been categorically debunked by eyewitnesses and contemporaneous documents. The Atlantic claims, quote, “When President Donald Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018, he blamed rain for the last-minute decision,” according to The Atlantic, “saying…‘the helicopter couldn’t fly’ and that Secret Service wouldn’t drive him there. Neither claim was true,” says The Atlantic. That has been debunked.
Behind me, you will see a e-mail from one of the President’s military aides that clearly reads, “We are a BAD [weather] call for today’s lift.”
The Atlantic reporting is based on four cowardly anonymous sources who probably do not even exist. Meanwhile, within hours, 10 sources — 10 — went on the record debunking these lies. Eight with firsthand knowledge, stating on the record one common truth: that this story is false; it never happened.
Adding to the eight that were previously counted, I’m bringing you two new ones. One is from Derek Lyons, Staff Secretary and Counselor to the President, who says this: “I was with the President the morning after the scheduled visit. He was extremely disappointed that arrangements could not be made to get him to the site and that the trip had been canceled. I have worked for the President for his entire administration. One of my responsibilities is working with him on the many letters he signs to the families of our nation’s fallen heroes. In all my time at the White House,” Derek writes, “I have never heard him utter a disparaging remark, of any kind, about our troops. In my view, he holds the brave men and women of our armed forces in the highest regard.”
I also bring to you today another quote from a former member of this administration, Dan Walsh, Deputy Chief of Staff — former Deputy Chief of Staff, who is also a retired military officer. I got off the phone with Dan just before coming out here, and he wanted me to share with you all: “I can attest to the fact that there was a bad weather call in France and that the helicopters were unable to safely make the flight. Overall, the President’s support and respect for our American troops, past and present, is unquestionable.”
And Dan recounted to me several events he went on with the President, like a World War II veteran who flew with the President on the helicopter in Normandy; visits the President had with our wounded warriors; special ops teams who came to the Oval Office, including the team that got al Baghdadi and they brought along Conan, the dog, as well. He met with families at the Army-Navy game; he does this routinely. And at the World Series, when he got an opportunity to go watch the Nationals, he brought veterans with him.
And I can tell you from what I’ve seen from this President, I have heard him describe his visits to Walter Reed in detail, and the angst he has had, and the compassion he has had, and the hurt he has had viewing these warriors who have been absolutely injured in the line of duty and are courageous heroes. And I’ve heard him recount how meaningful those visits are.
I’ve also seen him, just today, before this article came up, talk about — there was rain and lightning popping around — and he said, “I want to go out there and I want to talk to our World War Two veterans.” This is America’s greatest generation, and the President holds them in the highest of regards.
So why would a publication abandon all journalistic integrity and publish this story? It’s because the liberal activists at The Atlantic are uninterested in the truth, and they are only interested in peddling conspiracy-laden propaganda. Because here is the one truth: No one — and I mean no one — loves and cares for our servicemen and women as much as President Donald J. Trump.
Thank you.
END
2:45 P.M. EDT
Press Briefing by Ambassador O’Brien, Ambassador Grenell, Senior Advisor Kushner, and Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany | September 4, 2020
FOREIGN POLICY
Issued on: September 4, 2020
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
1:50 P.M. EDT
MS. MCENANY: Hello, everyone. It’s another historic day here at the White House. And I have with me Ambassador Ric Grenell, National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, and Senior Advisor Jared Kushner to talk to you about the history that was made here at the White House today, and then they’ll take a few of your questions.
{snip}
Q Another follow-up on Kosovo, please?
Q A question for Ambassador Grenell, please.
Q Ambassador Grenell, clearly you were effective here as the special envoy to these talks between Serbia and Kosovo. But I wanted to ask you about another initiative you led. Last year, you kicked off the Trump administration’s push to decriminalize homosexuality —
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Yeah, let me just talk about Kosovo and Serbia. I don’t know if you can find it on a map. But this is atrocious. I have to tell you guys, you might be too young to understand what this issue is about. Maybe the older journalists should step up and say, “This is a big deal.” This is a big issue. I’m astounded what happens in Washington, D.C., and especially in this room. I got to tell you, it’s substantive. Maybe it’s too complicated of an issue for you all.
Q Ric, respectfully, this is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to speak with these individuals. There are a lot of questions to address.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Okay, but today is about Kosovo and Serbia. Let’s take a little time and talk about this 21-year issue, Peter. I mean, 21 years. We’re getting the same questions that are all politics. I don’t — you guys don’t understand what’s happening outside of Washington, D.C. People aren’t listening to you anymore. It’s really a crisis in journalism. And I think it’s because people are too young to understand the issues like Kosovo and Serbia.
Q All right, can I ask you a question —
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: How about a substantive question?
Q — about the deal, please? I don’t think any of us came here for a lecture about our questioning. But the —
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Well, I didn’t come here to not talk about anything about Kosovo and Serbia.
Q But the question I would like to ask you — the question I would like to ask you is: Is it accurate to say that it’s “full economic normalization”? There was some ambiguity as to whether that is what the deal is about.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: What — what do you mean by “full”?
Q Well, that’s the question for you.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: No, no, it’s a question for you. What’s your definition of “full”? This is economic normalization for whatever the two parties could bring together: a whole bunch on rail, a whole bunch on water, a whole bunch on a whole — different industries. So —
Q So is it more accurate to say, “Working towards economic normalization.” Is that fair?
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: No, I think it’s “incredible economic normalization” — air, rail, motor, opening borders, a whole bunch of industries. So, again, I don’t know what’s missing. And I defer to you to say what’s — what’s —
Q No, no. I wasn’t the one who negotiated that.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: — what’s outside of “economic normalization” that’s not included here. You tell me.
Q I’m genuinely asking so that we can write our stories accurately.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Yeah.
Q Do we say that they —
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: I am saying “economic normalization.”
Q — have achieved an “economic normalization deal”? And then —
Q What changed from, you know, a few months ago when they pulled down the tariffs to today? What is the substantive difference?
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Have you read the agreement?
Q You haven’t put the agreement out.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: It’s out.
A whole bunch — a whole bunch has changed since the dropping of the tariffs. The tariffs were the political sticking point of why we couldn’t have the parties come together. The Serb side was not going to even start negotiations when there’s a 100 percent tariff from the Kosovars.
Q Sure. So what’s the substantive thing that changed today? Like the actual —
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: There’s —
Q — like what is —
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: There’s a whole bunch of stuff that changed today in terms of economic development, in terms of identification for even some political problems that are going to be resolved.
AMBASSADOR O’BRIEN: Licenses and diplomas.
AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Yeah. I would really refer you to look at the entire agreement.
{snip}
MS. MCENANY: Thank you, guys, very much.
So the President is bringing back the hottest economy in modern history. Today’s job numbers are proof: There were 1.4 million jobs added in August, beating expectations; unemployment fell by 1.8 percent, also beating expectations. Now, nearly 50 percent of job losses since March have been reversed — a clear “V-shaped” recovery.
Also, I want to address what is quite clearly fake news: The story in The Atlantic has been categorically debunked by eyewitnesses and contemporaneous documents. The Atlantic claims, quote, “When President Donald Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018, he blamed rain for the last-minute decision,” according to The Atlantic, “saying…‘the helicopter couldn’t fly’ and that Secret Service wouldn’t drive him there. Neither claim was true,” says The Atlantic. That has been debunked.
Behind me, you will see a e-mail from one of the President’s military aides that clearly reads, “We are a BAD [weather] call for today’s lift.”
The Atlantic reporting is based on four cowardly anonymous sources who probably do not even exist. Meanwhile, within hours, 10 sources — 10 — went on the record debunking these lies. Eight with firsthand knowledge, stating on the record one common truth: that this story is false; it never happened.
Adding to the eight that were previously counted, I’m bringing you two new ones. One is from Derek Lyons, Staff Secretary and Counselor to the President, who says this: “I was with the President the morning after the scheduled visit. He was extremely disappointed that arrangements could not be made to get him to the site and that the trip had been canceled. I have worked for the President for his entire administration. One of my responsibilities is working with him on the many letters he signs to the families of our nation’s fallen heroes. In all my time at the White House,” Derek writes, “I have never heard him utter a disparaging remark, of any kind, about our troops. In my view, he holds the brave men and women of our armed forces in the highest regard.”
I also bring to you today another quote from a former member of this administration, Dan Walsh, Deputy Chief of Staff — former Deputy Chief of Staff, who is also a retired military officer. I got off the phone with Dan just before coming out here, and he wanted me to share with you all: “I can attest to the fact that there was a bad weather call in France and that the helicopters were unable to safely make the flight. Overall, the President’s support and respect for our American troops, past and present, is unquestionable.”
And Dan recounted to me several events he went on with the President, like a World War II veteran who flew with the President on the helicopter in Normandy; visits the President had with our wounded warriors; special ops teams who came to the Oval Office, including the team that got al Baghdadi and they brought along Conan, the dog, as well. He met with families at the Army-Navy game; he does this routinely. And at the World Series, when he got an opportunity to go watch the Nationals, he brought veterans with him.
And I can tell you from what I’ve seen from this President, I have heard him describe his visits to Walter Reed in detail, and the angst he has had, and the compassion he has had, and the hurt he has had viewing these warriors who have been absolutely injured in the line of duty and are courageous heroes. And I’ve heard him recount how meaningful those visits are.
I’ve also seen him, just today, before this article came up, talk about — there was rain and lightning popping around — and he said, “I want to go out there and I want to talk to our World War Two veterans.” This is America’s greatest generation, and the President holds them in the highest of regards.
So why would a publication abandon all journalistic integrity and publish this story? It’s because the liberal activists at The Atlantic are uninterested in the truth, and they are only interested in peddling conspiracy-laden propaganda. Because here is the one truth: No one — and I mean no one — loves and cares for our servicemen and women as much as President Donald J. Trump.
Thank you.
END
2:45 P.M. EDT
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