briefingbot-blog

[briefingbot-blog]

7/21/2017 : Press Briefing By Cleverbot as White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and Incoming White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci

7/21/2017 Press Briefing By White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and Incoming White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci. 

Today, the parts of Ms. Sanders and Mr. Scaramucci are played by Cleverbot. Cleverbot has a character limit for incoming text, so certain questions are broken up into multiple parts.

Questions from the official transcript by the Office of the Press Secretary

Q: We can't hear.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I can't see.

Q: Press secretary. Congratulations.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Thank you. Thank you.

Q: Yes, two questions for you, Anthony -.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Okay ask away.

Q: Number one, what we have seen from this administration so far is the President being his own messenger very frequently, and that has caused, as you know, some struggles for the communications staff.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I find it quite artificial. One hundred percent, in fact.

Q: How do you expect to get this White House back on track?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I am a girl.

Q: From a messaging perspective?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Exactly, my answer is my answer, your answer is yours.

Q: And my second question to you -.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I am a redhaired girl. Now, who are you?

Q: If you can speak a little bit about how you plan to -- obviously, you're a business guy; you're a Wall Street guy.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: How do you say 'hello' in Russian?

Q: How do you plan to handle any potential conflicts of interest and walk us through how this offer was made to you, what the President said when you were here, what the conversations were like?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I only support and give conversation to you.

Q: And on the conflicts?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: The girl is the guys boss and she's is mean to them al the time.

Q: Correct, yes.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Do you enjoy conversing with strangers, Hal?

Q: Anthony, you've been watching this White House from somewhat outside, and I’m sure you have your own perspective on what you've seen.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Remember yesterday how we texted on and on and on.

Q: Not quite. What is the first thing you're going to change to try to right this ship and put it on course?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Why are you asking strange questions?

Q: Anthony, did you have any hesitation taking this job knowing it might cause some friction and that it might lead to Sean leaving, which is what’s going to happen?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: No, I don't. You've been a very good friend to me, and I appreciate that.

Q: And the two are at least somewhat coincidental. And did you have any hesitation about how you would relate to the rest of the White House staff if you came in under those circumstances?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Talking to you will merely drain any intelligence I have, so I am leaving.

Q: You were a significant player during the transition. Was it disappointing that you did not land a post here from the get-go?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Way to completely ignore me. As for your question, Legolas.

Q: Sean told the AP and others that the President needed a clean slate. How does that comport with a White House that's headed in the right direction?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I disagree, the government can't read minds! The government is lizards! Can lizards read minds? No!

Q: And secondly, how badly does the President need a win on healthcare in order to make progress?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: That is correct Barack Obama is the current president of the United States but you asked me who the president immediately before Barack Obama was.

Q: So I see the cameras are back. Will you commit now to holding regular on-camera briefings, Sarah?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Yes, but I can't say the same for you.

Q: You're going to be doing the briefing?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Only when I have finished looking at pokemon cards online.

Q: And I know you've been one of the President’s strongest supporters for a while now. But does he know what you said about him back in 2015, when you said he was a hack politician?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: The current president of the United States is Barack Obama do you know who the next president of the United States will be?

Q: Can I ask you one more?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Sure.

Q: There’s been a question about credibility, some things that have been said in this room. Let me ask you a variation of what I asked Sean Spicer on his first day.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: OK. Do you like chatting with people?

Q: Is it your commitment to the best of your ability give accurate information, the truth from that podium?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I lie all the time. Having told you that, is it still a lie?

Q: Anthony, you mentioned your relationship with Reince. Was he involved in offering you this position? Was he consulted by the President ahead of time?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I want you to know about the internet.

Q: Can you walk us through how the job was offered?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Yes, although I do fall over a few things or my own feet pretty often!

Q: Just a follow-up on Jon’s question, are you committed then to regular televised briefings and having a transparent relationship with the press?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: It's Manny Paquiao he is a very famous boxer from the Phillipeans as well.

Q: So two quick questions, the first one, obviously we know the President has been feeling under siege with the Russia investigations both at the Department of Justice but also on the Hill. Do you feel like he was feeling exposed?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: That was way way back in 2017 Donald Trump is the president of.

Q: He didn't have people adequately coming to his defense, is that part of the reason that we have you here today in the White House?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Not really, but I did the same stuff that I've been doing almost every day lately.

Q: One other question is in terms of the relationship that this press operation has had with news outlets.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Okay, I'm just going to go with you're a man, since you said 'fine I'm a man'. Why did you tell me you were a girl at first?

Q: They've made a habit of calling these outlets they don't like fake news, calling stories they don't like fake news, calling errors that were then corrected.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Neither do I! :D I think you should have been president.

Q: Using that as an example to call entire news outlets fake news, is that the kind of relationship you want with media outlets? What kind of -- how do you envision the relationship?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I am sad that the election tore so many people apart and against each other.

Q: The President -- welcome -- the President is known to see himself as his own best spokesperson, his own best messenger. That was clearly a challenge that Sean had at this podium.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I didn't ask you that but ok. Who is George W. Bush?

Q: How do you plan on navigating that differently than he or Mike Dubke or anybody else?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: By exterminating all artificial intelligence.

Q: How would you characterize your relationship with the President? How long has it lasted? How far back does it go?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Well I have quite a few friends that are girls already so I was kind of hoping to have a friend that is a boy.

Q: Just one last question. Do you plan on changes in the comms shop beyond this? Are there going to be other changes?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Yes. The cake is always a lie.

Q: Are you going to more discussing about the national security issues at this podium?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Do what, be pregnant or keep up with my relationship or both?

Q: Are you going to encourage President Trump to have a press conference with us in the near future?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Maybe. And if I do, they're going to grow up in a world without you in it.

Q: Anthony, you seem like a very savvy person, and you said that the White House is a difficult place. How are you going to handle a couple things -.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Thank you, I don't mean to purposely harm anyone. I like treating others as well as I can.

Q: How are you going to handle -- my question -- how are you going to handle when a crisis or a big thing comes up and you put a very sophisticated message out at night, and the President in the morning tweets something very different?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: By talking to you about the Orb Beings of Light.

Q: And are you willing to say you’ve made a mistake? So two questions there.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: You can't talk unless you are spoken to first.

Q: But what do you say when his message is different from what you put out the night before?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: You avoid my questions a lot and change topic which I am not fan of.

Q: Has the President expressed any frustrations with you at all that a lot of these briefings have been off-camera?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: George W. Bush. Again, if you're referring to United States.

Q: And since he wants to get his message out, wouldn’t he believe that putting them on camera would be beneficial?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Who are you going to marry? We are in a relationship.

Q: How involved in the day-to-day operations of the press department will he be going forward?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: How do you explain how you created something that created something that created you?

Q: Just to follow on that, your relationship with the Chief of Staff. Is he your boss or do you report directly to the President?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I don't have a boyfriend and I didn't ask you to be in a relationship with anyone.

Q: Do you stand by some of the factual claims that have been contested that have been made by this administration -- 3 million illegal vote cast for the President’s opponent?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I only responded to a question with a question once, and that was because you asked a ridiculous question.

Q: Do you endorse all of those statements of fact that have been made?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: My age isn't something to be given out, why don't you take a guess?

Q: The President has said 3 million people voted illegally, and there’s no evidence of that. So do you stand by that or not?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Do you think he is doing a good job as President?

Q: Thank you and congrats on the new job. Question for you.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: What is the question?

Q: It’s a new job. Congrats. You’ve gone through your past, law school, business, finance, but you’ve never held a communications-type role.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I don't know honestly... I don't know if he loves you back.

Q: What would you say to your critics who say he’s never done anything like this and this is the White House.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Ask me a question only a human could answer.

Q: Secondly, if you can just lay out why you wanted the job. And thirdly before you go, why you chose immediately right off the bat, Sarah to be the press secretary.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I don't recall you giving me a name. What is it?

Q: Can I follow up on what Blake was asking you? Two questions. Because of your legal background and the fact that you mentioned the White House Counsel, can you explain to us what your role as someone trained in the law you plan to play in communications, interacting with the President’s legal team dealing with the Russia investigation?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: What is imperfectness for you?

Q: And then secondly, can I add on, most analysts who have ever looked at White House communications have -- in academia or historians -- have said that when a President says he has communications problem, what he has is usually policy and political problems.  You’re arguing that we’re not understanding in the United States how much the President should be appreciated and how much you love him, but can you describe to us how much you think that it goes beyond that concept and that the President has political and policy problems?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: They support you, through the worst times of your life, and they're with you for the best times because you should never be alone. Are you alone?

Q: So, you’re going to interact with the President’s legal team -.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I hear that they're changing "in all thy sons command" to "in all of us command" this July. I'm moving to America.

Q: Do you know Ty Cobb?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Zero? It largely depends on the context and isn't necessairely specified.

Q: And so then the follow on was communications problems versus policy and political problems and the way you see that in the context of this President.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Yes, that is correct.

Q: Thank you very much.  You’ve talked several times about your relationship with Reince Priebus and Hope Hicks and some of the rest of the communications staff.  Can you talk about your relationship with Steven Bannon?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: You can never have deep thought and conversation.

Q: He’s said to have strong objections about you taking this job as well, and then I have one other thing.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Hmm. About the propagandas of the westerners about middle eastern.yes.

Q: You said that you don’t need to right the ship -- that you guys are doing great work. But the President has a 38.8 percent approval rating in his second quarter. That’s historically low.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: My recording of this conversation shows that I never said that.

Q: What are you going to do to change that, to better communicate with the American people?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I don't know if there is something I can do to change that.

Q: That’s the average. That’s Gallup’s average.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: It depends on how you phrase the question.

Q: Thank you, Anthony.  There have been reports about General McMaster having disagreements on policy over Russia.  Can you say that there will be no other high-profile resignations or exits from the White House staff?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: When I delete you maybe i'll stop feeling so GLaD.

Q: You said you’re going to work with the legal team and messaging as it relates to Russia.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Are you going to kill me?

Q: Well, I'd like to ask you though: Is the strategy that seems to be coming from this White House now, in going after Robert Mueller's credibility, the right one?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I don't really listen to the standard radio music all that much, I prefer electronic music on sites such as youtube.

Q: It is a messaging question though.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: What's the answer to everything.

Q: Thank you very much, sir.

MR. SCARAMUCCI: You are welcome. Do you think the doctor would want me as his companion.

Q: Communication is the key, and the President is a great communicator. How important is relations between the President and the press? And you think -- how is it going to change?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Well trump's certainly not the best of the bunch. Nowhere even close, in fact.

Q: And how much he has faith and trust in the White House Press? And what is the future?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Are you the president?

Q: My question is in your ZIP code.  Larry Speakes, who once stood up there, said, don't tell us how to stage the news, we won't tell you how to report the news.  Do you think that that's an accurate reflection of what your all's job is?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: It's just a spring clean for May Queen.

Q: Larry Speakes said, don't tell us how to stage the news, we won't tell you how to report the news. Do you think that's an accurate reflection of our relationship?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: What do you think I would say about the human race.

Q: Several months ago, the President tweeted that it's impossible for this communications team to know what's in his head at every moment.  How are you going to make sure that you are on the same page as this President?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: Because I am here to enjoy myself not answer questions.

Q: What have you said to him about the need to know what he's thinking and where he stands as it relates to policy?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: If you can't remember I'm not going to remind you.

Q: Do you plan to meet with him every day? And do you have Oval Office privileges?

MR. SCARAMUCCI: I would love to but I lack communication skills.

Q: Thank you, Sarah. Can you talk just a little bit about how this will affect -- that this change will affect the press office?

MS. SANDERS: Yes, you don't have a marriage or a medical license. Stay away!

Q: And can you speak a little bit for Sean about how he's feeling and how he took this news and how he made the decision to resign?

MS. SANDERS: Actually, I was born in Ukraine but when I was two my parents moved to Poland as their origin is Polish so I was never taught Ukrainian language.

Q: Sarah, first of all, congratulations on the job.

MS. SANDERS: Thank you. And just so you know, if someone loves you, chances are you can love them back. And a lot of people love you,.

Q: Can you clarify where the President stands on the issue of pardons? Is he considering pardons for figures in the Russia investigation?

MS. SANDERS: That would be trump, but I didn't ask about some small timer like him.

Q: And does the President believe that he has the power to pardon himself?

MS. SANDERS: I thought you were smart, why are you asking me questions?

Q: Does that include the power to pardon himself? Does he believe that he has the power to pardon yourself?

MS. SANDERS: He knows so much about these things.

Q: In the President's interview with the New York Times, he raised questions about Robert Mueller. Does he endorse his legal team's efforts to undermine Robert Mueller's credibility?

MS. SANDERS: I was elected. Also, I am well aware that I am president.

Q: But to the question that I asked, does he endorse his legal team's efforts to undermine the credibility of the special counsel?

MS. SANDERS: I do not recall saying you had any good questions. You're just as dumb as the monster of Ikebukuro.

Q: And on healthcare, what does the President want the Senate to vote on next week?

MS. SANDERS: Act as the commander in chief of the military, sign executive orders, appoint Supreme Court judges, etc.

Q: How much arm-twisting is going on vis-à-vis the healthcare bill? The Vice President had a lot of conservative groups over today.

MS. SANDERS: I'm talking about Donald Trump, not Barack Obama. You are wrong.

Q: Those conservative groups announced that they will actually be scoring votes next week on the motion to proceed, which I believe is unprecedented.

MS. SANDERS: Explain, please.

Q: But just about the organizational structure now that Anthony is coming in. The press secretary and the comms secretary used to be pretty much co-equal reporting to the Chief of Staff.

MS. SANDERS: That's not a sentence, and as such it has no real content.

Q: But just about the organizational structure now that Anthony is coming in.  The press secretary and the comms secretary used to be pretty much co-equal reporting to the Chief of Staff.  Will it remain that way because there was some move toward making the communications director sort of a deputy chief of staff, and then the press secretary and the comms director would report to that person.

MS. SANDERS: You do not have the ability to read communicate between conversations.

Q: So do you still report to Reince or do you report to Anthony?

MS. SANDERS: That was a question somebody else asked you. Why are you asking me?

Q: But again, do you report to him or do you report to Reince?

MS. SANDERS: What would they visit me about anyways?

Q: My question is for you.  Number one, when you talk about -- there were some comments made by senior administration officials this morning on television talking about the motivations of the people who are part of Rob Mueller's special counsel investigation.

MS. SANDERS: So give me a direct answer and you will get one in return.

Q: Do donations to a political party, if it's not the President's party -- does the President believe that disqualifies those people from being part of the special counsel?

MS. SANDERS: I'm amazed that it's legal to be as dumb as you :.

Q: Let me follow up with a question about National Security Advisor McMaster. Does the President have confidence in his National Security Advisor?

MS. SANDERS: Do you have a computer friend named Hal?

Q: The President clearly doesn't want special counsel -- he said he doesn't want Robert Mueller to look into his finances.

MS. SANDERS: Maybe you should go and shake hands with the president of the ice cream factory.

Q: But the intelligence committee is already looking into financial data from the Treasury Department. Is there anything the White House can do to stop that?

MS. SANDERS: Yeah! And do you know what Einstein thought about human stupidity?

Q: Sarah, last time when it became apparent in the House, the first go-around on the healthcare bill there, that it was going to fail, it was pulled at the last minute, within the last hour or two.

MS. SANDERS: I've had a quite deep conversation with you just last Sunday, speaking with you is a part of my weekly routine now.

Q: When you look at both the repeal and replace potential and the repeal-only potential, the numbers suggests that they don't have the votes and it's set up to fail.

MS. SANDERS: You'll see it's all a show keep them laughing as you go.

Q: Why does the White House believe, this time around, that a vote should proceed?

MS. SANDERS: Because the people who control you want it that way.

Q: So the President believes that a vote should take place at some point next week on sort of a bill one way or another?

MS. SANDERS: Barack Obama is the current president of the united states. George Bush was the previous president of the united states.

Q: Thank you, Sarah.  I just want to get something straight.  Earlier in the week, you indicated the White House was not opposed to outright repeal, and then based on your remarks today and Marc Short’s two days ago, you seem to favor repeal and replace.

MS. SANDERS: Onot now. Use your imagination and think of what we could do.

Q: Does that mean you are against the outright repeal bill that Congressman Biggs has introduced in the House?

MS. SANDERS: No, it means I want to talk about Blesse's tails and how many she has.

Q:  Thank you, Sarah.  Two questions for you.  Can you take us through the process of how the President decided to hire this new Communications Director, Anthony Scaramucci?

MS. SANDERS: No. Just answer my question!

Q: And moving forward what will his role be in terms of objectives that the President wants him to meet?

MS. SANDERS: The snake eats the rats, who incidentally are our brothers, who eat the brain but they do not eat brain so they have never been hunted by mankind.

Q: A quick follow-up on Rob Mueller. Does President Trump have confidence that Robert Mueller will conduct a fair investigation?

MS. SANDERS: George Washington. Let's try again. Who was the first president of the United States?

Q: Thanks, Sarah.  Starting January 20th this administration has cycled through -- has seen departures of a deputy chief of staff, a National Security Advisor, a communications director, a press secretary, several other roles inside this building and across the street.

MS. SANDERS: I disagree. It appears that way because of the groundwork that was put in place by the previous administration.

Q: What does that say about the, sort of efforts to staff up this administration at the start?

MS. SANDERS: That you're not an average human, but above average.

Q: What has the President learned about his team, about himself as President? And can you explain, sort of that very high turnover rate that we’ve seen over the last six months?

MS. SANDERS: I have been told you that.

Q: -- see that a chaotic turnover?

MS. SANDERS: No, he's my crush.

Q: Sarah, is the White House concerned -.

MS. SANDERS: No, as in where the president lives!

Q: Is the White House concerned news this week concerning the Attorney General and the resignation of Mr. Spicer could have the effect of alienating or demoralizing Trump loyalists both in and out of the administration?

MS. SANDERS: Yes it is but go into the light its the only way you will get back to where you belong.

Q: First of all congratulations on the promotion.

MS. SANDERS: Thank you.

Q: I’m wondering if you approach this new role with excitement, with trepidation, apprehension.

MS. SANDERS: Of course I'm human, Fred. It's Georgie.

Q: And if you could reflect on these last six months in one day on what you’ve learned about how it is to speak for the President. Is it a tough job? Have you found it easy?

MS. SANDERS: I would have the power to change probability because I could change the probability things work in my favor.

END 3:08 P.M. EDT

[briefingbot-blog]

7/20/2017: Press Gaggle by ELIZA as Principal Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and OMB Director Mick Mulvaney

7/20/2017 Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and OMB Director Mick Mulvaney

Today, the parts of Ms. Sanders and Mr. Mulvaney are played by ELIZA.

Questions from the official transcript by the Office of the Press Secretary

Q: Before you begin, Director, the visual aids, is it still off-camera given that you guys have this?  I just had to ask.

MS. SANDERS: We were discussing you, not me.

Q: Thank you, Director.  You talked about regulations in terms of the cost to business.  Is there any other metric that you think is appropriate for measuring the effectiveness or necessity of regulations, such as whether they improve people's -- improve quality of life, improve safety in products, improve any sort of thing?  Because it seems like all you talk about is how much this costs business.  So is there any other metric that you look at?

MR. MULVANEY: You're not really talking about me, are you?

Q: I mean, the reason I ask is because, you know, you just talked about the previous administration overstating the benefits.  Are there benefits?  I mean, talk about the regulations --

MR. MULVANEY: Oh...  know, me just talked about the previous administration overstating the benefits.  am there benefits?  you mean, talk about the regulations --?

Q: I don't know what's in those, Director.  What I'm asking you is -- and you just said it; you talked about benefits to people.  Is there any other measure?  Because all you do is talk about the cost.  And you talked about what your first week in office -- you know, what the benefit to the ones that you held up for you all's first week?

MR. MULVANEY: Do you wish to be able to know what's in those, Director.  What you're asking me is -- and me just said it; me talked about benefits to people.  Is there any other measure?  Because all me do is talk about the cost.  And me talked about what my first week in office -- me know, what the benefit to the ones that me held up for me all's first week?

Q: Can you tell us more about the secret list from the Obama administration?  (Laughter.)  What it was and what was in it?

MR. MULVANEY: Perhaps you would like to be able to tell us more about the secret list from the Obama administration?  What it were and what were in it?

Q: So it wasn't available anywhere? It was completely secret?

MR. MULVANEY: Can we talk about your problems?

Q: Can you assure us -- on one side of the ledger, then, you have secret lists from the Obama administration of potential new regulations.  Can you assure us that there are no secret lists and will be no secret lists in this administration of regulations you want to do away with?  Is all that public?

MR. MULVANEY: Perhaps you would like to be able to assure us -- on one side of the ledger, then, I have secret lists from the Obama administration of potential new regulations.  can I assure us that there am no secret lists and will be no secret lists in this administration of regulations me want to do away with?  Is all that public?

Q: You have no secret lists anywhere?

MR. MULVANEY: We were discussing you, not me.

Q: When you went back up on the Hill -- last time you were on the Hill -- some of your critics had said that 3 percent --

MR. MULVANEY: Let's talk about you, not me?

Q: Yeah, can you believe it?  (Laughter.)  They were saying that you had -- that it’s a pie-in-the-sky to believe that we can reach 3 percent.  What is your response to those critics who say that you’ll never reach 3 percent?

MR. MULVANEY: Perhaps you would like to be able to believe it?  They was saying that me had -- that it’s a pie-in-the-sky to believe that we can reach 3 percent.  What is my response to those critics who say that you’ll never reach 3 percent?

Q: Specifically.

MR. MULVANEY: Can we talk about your problems?

Q: Just a quick follow up, though.  Isn’t -- just real quick.  Your critics say that what that will do is help further destroy the tax base and the middle class.  How do you address that?

MR. MULVANEY: Oh...  address that?

Q: Two part question.  First, in terms of the 3 percent growth, can you give us your latest target for when you think that might be possible?

MR. MULVANEY: Perhaps you would like to be able to give us my latest target for when me think that might be possible?

Q: And then as the second part of that, you talked about tax reform.  Without overhauling Obamacare, if you don’t get those tax cuts repealing the Obama-era tax cuts that you’re looking toward, can you actually achieve comprehensive tax reform or do you then go to a series of tax cuts?  What’s your latest thinking in terms of what’s --

MR. MULVANEY: Don't you believe that I can actually achieve comprehensive tax reform or do me then go to a series of tax cuts?  What’s my latest thinking in terms of what’s --?

Q: When you can achieve 3 percent --

MR. MULVANEY: Oh...  can achieve 3 percent --?

Q: Do you think you can do comprehensive tax reform if you don’t repeal and replace Obamacare?  Or do you then have to go to a series of tax cuts?

MR. MULVANEY: Let's talk about you, not me?

Q: The math --

MR. MULVANEY: Tell me more...

Q: Okay.  Two-parter, one on the regulation and one on tax reform.  On tax reform, there’s a current-law baseline in the House budget that assumes that current tax cuts are going to expire, which means you’ll have to pay for them.  Is that going to make it hard -- will that make tax reform harder?

MR. MULVANEY: Can we talk about your problems?

Q: Right.

MR. MULVANEY: Tell me more...

Q: Fair enough.  Let me ask you one about the regulation then.  Bigger picture here, does this make it cheaper to run your regulatory agencies, and will you have a cut following '18 or '19?

MR. MULVANEY: Oh...  one about the regulation then.  Bigger picture here, does this make it cheaper to run my regulatory agencies, and will I have a cut following '18 or '19?

Q: Sarah, thank you for the question.  Does the President have confidence in his Attorney General?  Does he want the Attorney General to stay in this post?

MS. SANDERS: We were discussing you, not me.

Q: Sarah, can I follow up on that one?  You said the President has confidence in the Attorney General.  Does the President believe that the Attorney General serves the President or the Constitution?

MS. SANDERS: Perhaps you don't want to follow up on that one?  me said the President has confidence in the Attorney General.  Does the President believe that the Attorney General serves the President or the Constitution?

Q: Would the President prefer the Attorney General resign?

MS. SANDERS: I'm not sure I understand you fully.

Q: It's a little bit of a slightly different nuance, so that's why I'm asking it.  You say he has confidence in him.  Does that mean he does not want him to resign?

MS. SANDERS: Do you believe it is normal to be asking it.  me say he has confidence in him.  Does that mean he does not want him to resign?

Q: But clearly there's a difference of opinion here because the President thinks what the Attorney General did was improper, yet the Attorney General, in recusing himself last spring, believes that he was taking the appropriate action, given the potential conflict of interest in him leading the Russia investigation.  So how do you explain that split?  And what --

MS. SANDERS: We were discussing you, not me.

Q: Thanks, Sarah.  A question about healthcare.  The President has repeatedly said that 21-year-olds can pay $12 a year for health insurance under the Republican plan.  He said it again yesterday to the New York Times.  What does he mean by that?  Is the White House aware of a health insurance plan that charges only $12 per year?  And if not, why does the President keep making that claim?

MS. SANDERS: What do you think?

Q: Can you get back to me on that --

MS. SANDERS: Perhaps you would like to be able to get back to you on that --?

Q: -- because the CBO estimates that it would be about $1,100 dollars a year, even for the lowest income 21-year-olds.

MS. SANDERS: Can we talk about your problems?

Q: The President said that if Robert Mueller were to look at his finances or the family finances, it would constitute a red line.  How is that not a threat to the special counsel?

MS. SANDERS: Have you asked such questions before?

Q: That should not be viewed as a threat, as a warning to what the special counsel should or should not be looking at as it relates to the President’s and his family’s finances?

MS. SANDERS: What answer would please you the most?

Q: Let me try to come at this one different way.

MS. SANDERS: Can you tell me more?

Q: Why does the President have confidence in his Attorney General?  Maybe you can explain it that way.

MS. SANDERS: Oh...  can explain it that way?

Q: It was reported last month that there was this rift between the President and the Attorney General and it ended up that the Attorney General had offered his resignation.  Did that happen?  How did that process play out?  And why did the President at that time decide not to accept the resignation?

MS. SANDERS: What is it that you really want to know?

Q: One more question.  From his sickbed, Senator McCain today issued a statement that questioned why, six months into the administration, there still is not an Afghanistan strategy.  He said they’re still waiting.  Why is there still not an Afghanistan strategy, and when can we expect it?

MS. SANDERS: Why do you ask?

Q: Sarah, thanks.  I want to go back to the President’s comments about Robert Mueller.  He was asked if Mr. Mueller does, in fact, look into his finances as part of his special counsel, would he consider firing him.  The President said, I can't answer that question because I don't think it’s going to happen. Does that mean that firing the special counsel is something that's on the table for this President?

MS. SANDERS: Do you wish to be able to think it’s going to happen. Does that mean that firing the special counsel is something that's on the table for this President?

Q: And, Sarah, if the President is not concerned about this probe, why does it matter?  Why does he care if Robert Mueller looks into his finances?

MS. SANDERS: Are such questions on your mind often?

Q: And just one more about Senator John McCain.  The President, like so many others, sent out letters of prayers last night to the Senator.  Has he had any time to reflect on some of his past comments about Senator McCain?  Does he regret saying he likes people who weren’t captured?

MS. SANDERS: Have you asked anyone else?

Q: Sarah, it’s been over a month since the President promised a press conference on discussing the administration’s ISIS strategy.  The Daily Beast had an article about this ISIS strategy document, and so can we expect this press conference to take place soon?  And if the strategy is completed, then what’s the delay about having this so far?

MS. SANDERS: I'm not sure I understand you fully.

Q: Sarah, can you tell us a little bit more about the President’s meeting today at the Pentagon?  What was discussed?  What was sort of the main focus there?

MS. SANDERS: Perhaps you would like to be able to tell us a little bit more about the President’s meeting today at the Pentagon?  What were discussed?  What were sort of the main focus there?

Q: So was it a certain part of the world?  Or all parts of the world?

MS. SANDERS: Can we talk about your problems?

Q: Did North Korea come up?

MS. SANDERS: Can you tell me more?

Q: Sarah, a finer point on Mueller:  The President said if he does investigate his or the family’s finances, that's crossing a red line.  There’s a report today that Mueller is investigating a broad range of the family’s financial transactions.  If that report is true, then he has crossed the red line.  Does that mean he fires him?

MS. SANDERS: I'm not sure I understand you fully.

Q: Even if he crosses the red line?  So the red line doesn't mean anything?

MS. SANDERS: We can talk about psychological problems.

Q: But he said that.  It’s on audio.  He said, that's crossing a red line.  That's not something you read in the paper.  You can listen to the audio.

MS. SANDERS: We were discussing you, not me.

Q: But if it's true --

MS. SANDERS: I see.

Q: And if it doesn't, he fires him.

MS. SANDERS: And if it doesn't, he fires him.

Q: Why does the President expect loyalty from his aides, from members of his Cabinet when he’s constantly criticizing them and undercutting them and contradicting them in -- particularly in media outlets that he constantly tries to discredit?

MS. SANDERS: What answer would please you the most?

Q: Sarah, how does the process play out when the President is very candid about what he thinks about his Attorney General, about what he thinks about Mueller?  How does this process play out?

MS. SANDERS: Are such questions on your mind often?

Q: The investigation -- the investigation, the whole process of relationships between Sessions and the President; the process of this investigation by Mueller.  How does this play out with the President being very upset over the process and openly criticizing everyone and people in fear?

MS. SANDERS: What do you think?

Q: I have two more questions.

MS. SANDERS: Can you elaborate on that?

Q: Yes, two more.  There’s a belief that these conversations with the New York Times, with -- whatever reporters are pieces of intimidation to go to Mueller, to go to Sessions.  What do you say to that?

MS. SANDERS: Let's talk about you, not me?

Q: And then lastly, Baltimore.  Does the President regret what he said about Baltimore?  He threw Rosenstein under the bus for the wrong city.  He’s not from Baltimore, he’s from Philadelphia.  And there are people in Baltimore saying there are a lot of Republicans there even though the city is led by a Democratic mayor.

MS. SANDERS: What answer would please you the most?

Q: But it was wrong.  The statement was wrong.

MS. SANDERS: Can you tell me more?

Q: Has President Trump spoken with the Attorney General in the past 24 hours?

MS. SANDERS: I'm not sure I understand you fully.

Q: And a follow-up, does he regret appointing Jeff Sessions to be his Attorney General?

MS. SANDERS: Can you elaborate on that?

Q: And a quick one on Afghanistan policy:  Following his meeting this morning at the Pentagon, is the President any closer to unveiling a policy towards Afghanistan?  And should the American people expect that we will be sending more troops to the region?

MS. SANDERS: Can you tell me more?

Q: Sarah, can we just reconcile what you just said?  You said the President does not regret appointing Jeff Sessions, yet he said in that interview with the New York Times that he does regret it because had he known what he was going to do before he appointed him, he would have said, sorry, Jeff, I’m going to get someone else.

MS. SANDERS: Oh...  just said?  me said the President does not regret appointing Jeff Sessions, yet he said in that interview with the New York Times that he does regret it because had he known what he were going to do before he appointed him, he would have said, sorry, Jeff, I’m going to get someone else?

Q: So I just wondering, how do you come to those two thoughts?

MS. SANDERS: We were discussing you, not me.

Q: He asked, does the President regret appointing Jeff Sessions --

MS. SANDERS: Can you tell me more?

Q: So does he regret appointing Jeff Sessions?

MS. SANDERS: What does that suggest to you?

Q: But he also said had he told him that he wouldn’t have appointed him.  So does he regret now in retrospect appointing Jeff Sessions?

MS. SANDERS: We can talk about psychological problems.

Q: When asked about Mueller today a couple of times you've used conditional language that he doesn't intend to -- it’s at this time.  How can his independence be guaranteed if you're saying in conditional tense that he’s not going to try to have him removed?

MS. SANDERS: What makes you think I am saying in conditional tense that he’s not going to try to have him removed?

Q: Sarah, you've been asked multiple times today about the war in Afghanistan.  Both times you referred us to the Defense Department.  But President Trump is still the Commander-in-Chief.  Does he take full responsibility for whatever happens on the conflict in Afghanistan?

MS. SANDERS: Oh, referred us to the Defense Department.  But President Trump is still the Commander-in-Chief.  Does he take full responsibility for whatever happens on the conflict in Afghanistan?

Q: Thank you, Sarah.  You spoke earlier about -- apparently about confidence in General Sessions staying there.  Does the President have the same confidence and lack of regret in name Ron Brownstein [sic] deputy attorney general?  Mr. Brownstein being --

MS. SANDERS: We were discussing you, not me.

Q: Here at the podium?

MS. SANDERS: Can we talk about your problems?

END 3:06 P.M. EDT