White House Press Briefing

Summary

• The White House is actively pursuing negotiations with Iran to end the current conflict, describing talks as "productive" and ongoing, while dismissing a reported 15-point plan as containing speculation and misinformation.
• The administration's primary goals concerning Iran are preventing nuclear weapons, addressing ballistic missiles, and securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
• To stabilize oil markets, the administration has taken or announced several measures: coordinating a 400 million barrel release via the IEA, issuing a temporary Jones Act waiver, offering political risk insurance for tankers, and granting a nationwide emergency waiver for E15 gasoline (15% ethanol).
• A key uncertainty is the timeline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz to free oil tanker traffic, which the administration is "working towards as quickly as we can" but without a specific date.
• The White House is framing a stalemate over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding as a Democratic-led issue, claiming it has caused TSA chaos, and has deployed ICE agents to airports as a "creative solution" to reduce wait times.
• The administration strongly advocates for the "Save America Act," emphasizing voter ID and proof of citizenship, and the President is "willing to use any means necessary" to pass it, including budget reconciliation.
• Press Secretary Leavitt delivered sharp political attacks, discrediting critics like former official Joe Kent and Congressman Jamie Raskin, and accusing the Biden DOJ and prosecutor Jack Smith of conducting a "witch hunt."