Betsy WoodruffVerified account @woodruffbets 7h7 hours ago
*Subject:* *Travel print pool report # 7 - JBA arrival and gaggle ... news on Mueller*
Air Force One was wheels down at Joint Base Andrews at 9:02 PM local time. The plane is currently taxiing.
White House spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders gaggled on board the flight, and made news when she said POTUS has no intention to fire Robert Mueller as special counsel.
Heres my transcript. As always, check against the official version.
Q: Is the president considering whether or not he will fire or seek to have Robert Mueller fired as the special counsel?
While the president has the right to, he has no intention to do so.
Q: Did the president watch any of the Jeff Sessions testimony and what did he think?
He wasnt able to watch much of it. He was preparing for the stop here today, but what he did see and what he heard, he thought that Attorney General Sessions did a very good job and, in particular, was very strong on the point that there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.
Q: Did the president call the GOP healthcare bill mean during his lunch with GOP senators today?
Im not aware. I wasnt part of that meeting but, I know in general practice we dont comment on rumors or private conversations of that nature.
Q: Has the president authorized Defense Secretary Mattis to set troop levels in Afghanistan.
I dont have anything I can comment on that right now. I would refer you to Secretary Mattis at this point.
Q: The North Koreans sent back a university student who is in a coma. What does the president think about the fact this young man is in a coma?
Obviously, thats an extremely sad But bringing Otto home was a big priority for the president. He worked very hard and very closely with Secretary of State Tillerson in order to do that, and right now, his thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Q: Can you give us a little more detail on that? What do you mean when you say he worked hard with Tillerson? Can you give us some detail on meetings or details involving the president?
Not at this time. The secretary of state may be able to provide more information on that front.
Q: The president has said he wants the Republican healthcare plan to be more generous. What does he mean by that?
Again, Im not going to comment on rumored conversations. But hes been speaking about healthcare and his position on that. The big priority for him is the fact that ObamaCare is completely collapsing and we have to repeal and replace it. And has he has made very clear, thats a big priority for him right now.
Q: Theres talk a Senate bill could be coming out tonight. When he heard from all these senators today, is he happy with the direction the direction the Senate Republicans seem to be going in? Is he pushing them to be more generous on pre-existing conditions? Where does he stand in relation to the Senate bill?
I think at this point, hes just encouraged that things are moving forward. And again, I think his biggest priority is making sure that we get the best healthcare possible for the American people because the one we have isnt sustainable and so hes going to continue working with both the Senate and the House to make sure that ObamaCare is repealed and replaced with something much better thats affordable and sustainable.
Q: Do you have any more details on the announcement expected on Friday about changes to Cuba policy. What parts of the Obama administrations policy is the president planning to roll back? What is he planning to announce in Miami?
There arent any final decisions on that front yet. But as soon as we have information on that, I would be happy to share it with you.
Q: To follow up, you mean theres no final decisions or you just dont have them to provide to us?
My understanding is theres not a final decision and that its all still being reviewed at this time.
Q: But he is going down there despite the fact that no final decision [had been made]?
Again, we havent made an announcement about that specifically, but well keep you posted when we do.
Q: Has the president decided when hes going to announce whether he has tapes of the Comey conversations?
I dont know that hes made any more decision on that, other than what he said at the press conference last week that it would be soon.
Q: What are the presidents feelings on Mueller at this point? Did he interview him for FBI director and does he have confidence in him in his current role?
I do know that he did interview him I believe the day before he was named as special counsel and beyond that and what I said earlier, I dont have anything to add.
Q: Any more details on workforce development stuff? Apprenticeship program only at high schools or whether it would be corporations? Or how it would be encouraged?
I know that some more details will be coming out at the the event tomorrow, and certainly dont want to get ahead of any announcement there, but happy to answer following up from there.
Q: President said something about having every high school in the country have an apprenticeship program. Havent heard that before in background info. Will that be part of the announcements?
Im not going get ahead of any announcements or the event tomorrow. Im going to let the president make those announcements at that time.
On the Walker fundraiser, Sanders said the money would go toward the Friends of Scott Walker and that roughly more than 300 people attended. She did not provide ticket prices or amount of money raised.