*Subject:* *Bedminster 7/16 pool report #1*
Hello from the Embassy Suites in Piscataway Township, NJ. We’ll be heading to Bedminster early this afternoon. No word on the president’s schedule for the day, though he is expected to continue watching the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at his golf club.
The pool was briefed this morning on the administration’s upcoming “Made in America” week, the latest policy-themed week organized by the White House.
Some events on the schedule, according to White House spokeswoman Helen Aguirre Ferre:
-Monday: there will be a “made in America product showcase,” in which American-made products from all 50 states will be brought to the White House.
-Wednesday: the president will issue a proclamation on the importance of making products in America.
-In addition, the president will go to Newport News, Va., on Saturday for the commissioning of the USS Gerald R. Ford.
After “Made in America” week, there will be a themed week called “American Heroes” and another after that called “American Dream.” Your pooler was given no additional details on those weeks.
Helen was asked whether the president would use Made in America week to push Ivanka Trump’s clothing line to produce products in America, rather than overseas. Well get back to you on that, she said.
She declined to say whether the president made calls to senators over the weekend on the health care bill. The president has been monitoring whats going on with health care and he and his staff have been involved with whats going on in the senate, she said.
Asked for a reaction to Mitch McConnells decision to defer a vote on the health care bill amid Sen. John McCains surgery, Helen said, We wish Sen. McCain a speedy recovery.
A senior administration then briefed the pool, listing a litany of the administration’s actions over the last six months.
Two notable highlights:
Asked if the administration is considering import tariffs on products manufactured in other countries, the official said, “I think at this stage, everything is on the table. The official declined to say when the Commerce Department would release the findings of its Section 232 investigations on steel and aluminum. I dont know that theres any specific timeline as to when secretary ross will finalize and submit either of the two investigations, the official said.
Asked why there hasnt been a health care-themed week, the administration official said the weeks arent meant to be exclusively about the theme, adding that the White House is focused on health care every day.
Andrew Restuccia