think you will want to respond to this. southern poverty law center says that the number of anti-muslim groups in the u.s. triple during the time of the campaign. is this message in this administration, anti-semitism is not allowed, xenophobia is not allowed. anti-muslim sentiment, has the president has been forceful in that issue? >> i think the president in his desire to combat radical islamic terrorism. he indicates that people who want to possess a peaceful position have every right under our constitution. but if you come here and express views that intend to do our people, our country harm he is going to be adepressive, whether it's domestic acts or attempts from people abroad to come into this country. there is a difference between preventing attacks and making sure that we keep this country safe so there is no loss of life and allowing people to express themselves in accordance with our first amendment. those are two very, very

different, different different things. corbin. >> sean, you talk about how the manufacturing -- >> i didn't know where you were going. >> as long as we are in the back. you are next. >> the manufacturing ceos are coming on thursday. let me ask you about the border adjustment tax. the president earlier this year called it quote too complicated. does he still feel that way? and whether he feels this is complicated or not, is there something within the administration one way or another about whether the president, the administration wants to see this in or out of the tax package? >> there is several pieces to that. i'll try to unpack -- that counts for like eight questions. >> does he feel it's complicate and what's your -- >> this meeting on thursday is going to be a historic opportunity for ceost to come in and talk to members of the white house staff and others through various agencies about how we can create jobs, how regulations

are stifling economic growth. and i think we will have further details on that. but this is going to be a real interesting opportunity to really create a dialogue. i think in a manner that has not been done before but i don't want the get ahead of myself on this. where we can really discuss some of the inhibitor to job creation, job retraining, what do we need for american workers to get them ahead of the curve? with respect to specific policy positions i think the president has been very clear in the next couple weeks we expect to have a tax plan that gets out there. that is being worked on continuously. i'm not going to get in front of that. while the ceos are here that's an opportunity for then to express what some of the policies arehat ar helping them create job growth and help the economy and as well as what is hindering. >> global tv news, brazil. there are doubts in brazil about what is going to happen to the

relationship between the two countries with the new administration especially related to immigration and also to trade deals. does president trump also plan to review policies, bilateral policies with brazil and trade deals? and also my second question, how does the administration seek the current turmoil, economical and political turmoil in brazil. and one more question if i might. president trump has spoke with some foreign leaders from south america, argentina, colombia and peru, but it was the vice president that spoke with the president from brazil. why is that? >> well, obviously we cherish our relationship with brazil. i thinks that a timing factor and i think we look forward to meeting with the president soon. it is just a matter of getting things on the schedule. we are going to review all the trade deals out there. some them occurred well into a decade, two decades ago. i think the idea is to make sure

we are looking at all of the trade deals we have throughout the globe to make sure they continue to benefit america and american workers. in many cases we can update these deals. so it's not any one particular country i think that we are going to look throughout the whole host of trade agreements, and then other trade-related agreements that we have with -- with countries to make sure that they are the most up to date. and they address the technological advances that have occurred. and look at the various services, you know, whether it is financial services or manufacturing. and that they reflect the current state of play. this isn't any one country. i think the president made clear throughout the campaign and subsequent that he wants to review every trade dl to make sure that america and american works are maintaining the best deal possible. >> on the turmoil, how does the administration see the turmoil in brazil. >> i think that's a question for the department of state right now. corbin? >> thanks sean, two questions

for you. one on the nsc meeting this afternoon, is that the first meeting of the national security council with all the principals there. >> no, it is a retune briefing but because of the nature of it it's happening in the situation room. >> is that with staff. >> staff, not with the principals. >> when is the first formal meeting of the national security council? >> i think general mcmaster got here at noon today. i -- we move fast, but i think that we need to give him a few days probably to get his team together. so you know the president was obviously very pleased with the selection. i think when you saw the bipartisan support that general mcmaster received from the variety of the political spectrum, people who have served and republicans and democrats, academic, pundits, columnists, you know he made an outstanding choice. we want to get him in, show him around the office and get him going. when we have a date to i a announce the next meeting we'll

let you know. >> the join address for next week what's the president's goal for that address? >> i think i will have a further update as the week goes on. the president is going to lay out i think two main things, where we have come and where we are going. i think that he is very pleased with the progress he has made so far in the first month in office and i think it's an opportunity to remind members of congress and the american people what he promised them on the campaign trail, what he has done already in a very significant way to achieve and fulfill those promises that he made, but also talk about the challenges that we have as a nation and where we're going. and that's everything from from our relationship with other countries in this world to some of the various domestic problems that we face, the challenges that we face in cities, health care, education. but the president wants to make sure that the american people ve a very clr indication as to where he is taking this

country and why he is going to enact the policies he is going to enact. john, george i'm sorry. >> thanks sean. let me ask you about the vice president's european trip. >> yes. >> i'm curious whether he received any commitments from our european allies to commit more in terms of their financial contributions to nato? >> i think several of them, i saw chancellor merkel's comments previous to that noting that they understand that the u.s. is asking for that commitment. look, we are one of the only countries -- there is a handful -- that are doing what nato requires, which is 2% of gdp, some are at one point something, and some are below that. we have got to ask them to do what they agreed to do. i think we have had a positive reaction from most of the nato countries that understand that the financial commitment that they agreed to is something they need to live up to. i think the vice president continued to receive assurances much like the president has through his foreign leader calls where people not only understand it but are willing to follow

through on it. >> is it an ongoing process? >> of course. we need to follow up to ensure that the commitments they are making are followed up. dave. >> sean, thanks. the dhs memos today, obviously, these immigration enforcement efforts cost money, hiring more agents. >> right. >> do you indicate that the current budget is sufficient? >> right now i.c.e. and dhs in particular as well as cvp are looking at what this is going to cost and how much and putting a request together and figuring out how much can go handled through reallocations how much we can save in another area then we will work with congress. >> one other subject, there was an election record report out today that the president raced more small donations in 2016 than hillary clinton or bernie sanders campaigned. did they have a reaction to that? >> i would advise you to go through the rnc on that.

that's a political heart we generally don't discuss. >> will the trump administration scind the guidance to allow transgender children to use a separate rest room facility? >> i would tell you that there will be further guidance coming from doj in particular with respect to not just the executive order but also the case that's in front of the supreme court. the president has maintained for a long time that this is a state's rights issue and not one for the federal government. so while from will be further guidance coming out, i think all you have to do is look at what the president's view has been for a long time that this is not something the federal government should be involved in. this is a statsd' right sh you a. >> in the wake of the vice president's trip to europe this is questions as to the administration's position on the future of the european union with regard to a number of political movements across the

continent advocating for the disbandment eventually of the european union. i wanted to see if you could clarify the administration's position on the future of the european union? >> i think the vice president made it clear to the leaders and thael we will continue to work with them and reaffirmed our commitment 20 working with these nations. there is no update. cecilia. >> two parts. is one of the goals here mass deportation? >> no. >> not at all? >> this isn't -- look, what we have to get back to is understanding a couple of things. there is a law in place that says if you are in this country illegally that we have an obligation to make sure that the people who are in our country are here legally. what the order sets out today is ensures that the million or so people that have been adjudicated already, that i.c.e. prioritizes, creates a system of

prioritization and make sure that we walk through that system in a way that protects this country. this is consistent with everything the president has talked about, which is prioritizing the people who are here, who represent a threat to public safety or have a criminal record. all this does is lay out the exact procedures to make sure that that subgroup of people who pose a threat to our nation because of a conviction or a violation of public safety or have a criminal record are adjudicated first and foremost. that's it. plain and simple. >> is then, a follow-up to that. is the white house's message to date undocumented people in this country whose only crime is being this country illegally don't worry? >> nothe message -- the message from this white house, and from the dhs is that those people who are in this country and pose a threat to our public safety or have committed a crime will be the first to go and we will be aggressively making sure that that occurs. that is what the priority is. >> what about the others who

aren't? they are also fearful right now. >> cecilia, the president has said multiple times we have got to look at this issue on a very, very case -- holistic way. when you look at the number of people in the country illegally the number one priority is making sure people who pose a threat to this country are immediately dealt with. we are talking about close to a million people who have been adjudicated and have had their status processed through a formal due process system. so what we need to do now is to mack sure that we focus the resources and the efforts on those people going first and foremost. and the fact sheet and the information that we put outlays that out very, very clearly, what is being done. for so long the people at i.c.e. and cvp had their hands cuffed when we were going to deal with the mission of their job. the last administration had so carve outs who kpob and couldn't be adjudicated it made it ditch

for law enforcement to do their job and enforce the laws this country. when we have done is made sure they have the ability and the guidance and the resources to do what they -- what their mission is. that's it, plain and simple. and the president is consistent with his priority of making sure that people who pose a threat to this country are the first ones to go. sean. >> alexis. >> on immigration, just to follow up, the president has a carve out himself for daca. >> yes. >> explain what you were saying on thursday about the process the administration is taking. >> yeah. and this ishat i was basically talking to cecilia about, which is the president has made clear when you have 12, 14, 15 million people in the country illegally that there has to be a system of priority. right now, i.c.e.'s prird is going to be making sure we focus first and foremost on those specifically in the dwidance that talk about daca and dapa

nlts unless someone who fits into that program fits into the category is not subject to what is being dealt with now. remember, everybody who is here illegally is subject to removal at any time. that is consistent with every -- every country. not just ours. if you are in this country in an illegal manner, then obviously, there is a provision that could ensure that you be removed. but the priority that the president has laid forward, and the priority that i.c.e. is putting forward through dhs's guidance is to make sure the people who committed a crime or pose a threat to our public safety are the priority of their efforts, first and foremost. caitlyn. >> let me follow up. >> hold on, yeah. >> the president has also and his team has also had reservations about undocumented people in the united states who are beneficiaries of public assistance or access to benefits either at the state or the federal level. what is the president going to

be doing to either issue guidance or executive action of some sort to indicate that he would like to preclude that from tinning? >> i think we have talked in the past about the respect that the president has for taxpayer monies with respect to sanctuary cities and the enforcement measures he is putting forward on immigration. right now, obviously, the actions today are focused on people who are in this country and what we need to do on our southern border to facilitate the building of the wall that he has talked about. so we're doing this one step at a time in a methodical way. right now the focus is to make sure that i.c.e. and cvp and dhs have the authority and the resources to carry out that first mission. we will have more. and he continues to see that immigration is one of those issues that was very clear and consistent on in the campaign and we are going to continue to implement the policies that he talked about to keep the country safe. caitlyn. >> john kasich has been a vocal

critic of president trump saying in the campaign his immigration plan was crazy, statements that the elections were rigged were silly. what is the president hoping to accomplish at their meeting a the white house on friday? >> governor kasich has reached out on multiple occasions to meet with the president and follow on. the president has shown through the transition and since his time in office that he wants to meet with anybody that can help move this country forward and share in his vision. i think that includes people who are with him, who are not with him, who are on the other side of theize, who are independents, union workers, business leaders. now that he is president, and frankly i would date it back to the transition, he understands that he is the president for every american and he has talked consistently about having a united country. you do that by bringing people togeer, whether or not they agree with you on every issue or one or two sues. but if there is common ground

that can be found to move the country forward, then great. i think so many of the president's priority issues are issues that ohio is dealing with. he wants to make sure that he can continue to work with governor kasich so that every american benefits. april. >> kasich asked for the meeting? >> yes. >> what did the president gain from his tour today? you talked about where he visited, the exhibits that he visited. did he also visit slavery? and the reason why i'm asking this is because when he was candidate trump he said things like, you know, we made this country, meaning white america, not necessarily black. >> i don't know why you would say that. what do you mean -- >> no, no, no. he said that. i heard him say that. >> the answer to your question is one of the first exhibits he visited was one of slavery exhibits. and the director walked him through some very amazing stories and statistics about

where slavery was prevalent not just in traditional southern colonies but throughout the country. they did have a very robust discussion about slavery early on in the tour. and i think that it was a very eye opening and powerful tour for him. frankly, for every american. i would encourage any american that can find the time and get in -- because it's so popular -- but it is really enlightening as far as parts of our history that people may not fully appreciate or know and the contributions and the sacrifices that so many americans have made that are critical piece to our history that sometimes don't get the attention they deserve. i think the president walked away from there -- and i mentioned in the remarks, that he mentioned alanny that he wanted to come back. because you can't do it justice. it's much like the holocaust museum where you go through once and then you sit there and start

thinking of all the things that you saw and think i would like to go back and more fully explore what i just saw because it piqued some degree of interest or intellectual curiosity. but he was taken aback. it is a powerful institution and tour and covers a lot of ground. i think he was really proud to share with dr. carson. when you walk through that museum and you see all the elements of our history and you waug up to this one glass exhibit that is dr. carson's scrubs and pictures of him -- to experience that with him and his wife for the first time, and you realize how amazing that is for any american to be part of the smithsonian, and you are standing with dr. carson and his wife, where he is experiencing it with you for the first time, and how powerful that must have been was i think a real interesting opportunity for him to sit there hand to handed with another american and watch them

be part of american history. and you also appreciate some of the real contributns that dr. carson has made to medicine and what he -- and the depth and breadth of his accomplishments. >> lastly, kind of putting this with the next question, is there any advancement on the cbc meeting with the president and also the head of cbc said he was wondering if the president saw anything from current and past members of the cbc while he was in the museum to get a little bit of information on them before this meeting happens? >> i will have further updates on that. i know the president looks forward to that meeting. and i think that we are in the process of trying to begin setting that up. and so i'll have further updates on that once we get closer. i know we have got some additional work before the month concludes on historically black colleges and universities and meetings that we are working on with them. i want to get them locked in.

>> what did he think about the members that he saw in the museum? >> well, when he walked through one of them, there is a jumbo tron and we paused for a while and john lewis was there giving a powerful speech. we paused and watched that for a little while. again, that respectfully when you walk through a museum like this there is a lot of moments where you are just stopping taking it in. and there is -- you know, if you haven't been there, you walk up this one ramp and they stop and there is two big screens. one of them is a video screen, and it is a massive jumbo tron. >> civil rights. >> right. and we watched the video of john lewis. talking there and describing his efforts in championing of voting and civil rights. i don't -- i know the president paused and watched it and listened to it. again, i would just go back to how he described his overall -- we didn't dissect the different things but i watched him. and it was a very powerful experience for him and i know he

looks forward to going back. halle. >> two questions for you, first one on undocumented americans you made clear that the president's priority is to deport those who pose a threat to public safety. >> right. >> i know you are familiar with the case in arizona, the mother of guadalupe dee rayos. is she a priority? >> i'm going to leave that to e deputy. >> is she a threat? >> i think the answer is that i.c.e. determined she had violated the law in a way that was in accordance with this. again we have got to get back to this idea that our job especially here at the white house isn't to call balls and strikes and say this person only violated part of law or let them go on this. if this was any other subject, tax evasion, and we say they only cheated on their taxes a little, you wouldn't be saying should they really be going to prison or getting a fine. at some point laws are laws, if

people have a problem with the law, whether at the local, state or federal issue, then we should petition the lawmakers and executive at that branch of government and change it. but our job shouldn't be should have individual not have to abide by the law, this individual get a pass. if we want to change the law we have aamazing process in the country to create and change laws. i don't want to comment on the specifics of any one case because i think that then puts the white house in the position of deciding who is following the law and who isn't and who should get a pass. >> prioritization of cases. >> there is a difference. when you have 13 or 14 million people that are in the country different -- i think it's one thing to prioritize people who pose a threat to public safety and go after this or that individual or whatever. that is -- there is no question. you have to have priorities in anything. what do you do first, what do you second, what do you do third. when you are talking about 13, 14, 15 potentially more millions

of people in this country the president needed to give guidance especially after what they went through in the last administration where there were so many carve outs that i.c.e. agents and cvp agentsh to figure out whether the person fit into carve out before they could adjudicate the case. the president says there are laws to be followed, you should do your mission and follow the law. for specific issues i would refer you to i.c.e. halle, is on number o. >> 13, 14, million, where did you get that number. >> glen, halle's turn. >> do you want to take that now. >> no i'm not going to allow you to be interrupted. >> an the anti-semitism, you said the president has taken opportunities in the past. last a week ago, he had an

address where he made clear he was not anti-semitic. as far as a broader message to american people he didn't offer one. why didn't he do the forceful message sooner? >> i think the idea halle -- he has. i think there is a point at which he talked literally on election night about uniting this country and making sure all americans are -- every time there is an instance. it's interesting. i get a question, is he going to denounce this one, denounce this one? at some point the question is asked and answered. he has stood forcefully against. >> that's not what i'm asking. >> what are you asking? >> i'm asking if he is comfortable with his role as the person who needs to be delivering a broader message. not denouncing. >> he is comfortable and understands as the leader of the free world the president this country, the kmaper in chief that he has an awesome responsibility to make it very clear where we are going was a

country and what our values are and he has spoken forcefully that we don't stand for this kind of behavior, words, intolerance that we are a country that should bring people together and we shouldn't tolerate people who are hating on individuals because of their gender, or their religion or because of the color of their skin or a variety of other things. but that there is a point at which it's south korean. i think the president haseen very clear over and over again, you know, going back through the campaign, the transition and now, that that's the kind of president he wants to be, that's the kind of country he wants to lead. trey. >> following the dhs memos this morning the aclu said they won't allow the courts to allow them to become reality. how is the administration preparing for another legal battle? do you have a response to the aclu? >> i think we have done a phenomenal job working with the various departments, particularly dhs, doj, state, and through the white house staff, to make sure that we are

well within any concerns that the court might have. as i mentioned i think it's important to continue to emphasize we feel as though the first one did that as well. and we were vindicated several times in the court. we have an issue with the ninth circuit. i think we will overcome that ultimately on the merits. in the meantime a dual track is something that we wanted to pursue to make sure that we do everything we can as i mentioned before to keep the country safe. yeah. >> thank you. sean? >> sure. >> the australian foreign minister is here today. >> i'm sorry. >> the australian foreign minister is meeting the vice president today and also the secretary of state tomorrow. i guess we can assume that the u.s./australia refugee deal will come up. last time we spoke the president was considering and reviewing the deal. can you update on. >> i'm going to wait. we will have a read out on that okay. everyone gets two. >> if you could update us on the current position on th the

deal. also given that recent displeasure of the president for it, will the australian president be wanting to return the favor. >> i'll wait. we will get a read out. i have got nothing. i don't want to get ahead of the meeting yes. >> two questions. one on the refugee order that we are expecting in the next couple of days. so that it withstands the legal challenge can you tell us what the language might look like as it relates to syrian refugees? >> i appreciate the effort but when we have it ready we'll get it out. >> total ban on syrian refugees. >> again, i appreciate the second try but we are not ready to i a announce it. part of it is that we are making sure that it is completely ready to go. and so when we have that, we will get it out to you. the reason that we haven't announced it is it's noted to be

announced. >> i want to try one more on this. >> of course. >> the comments that the president made today about anti-semitism in terms of the timing. obviously he was asked about night right. >> but they also came after his daughter, ivanka who send out that tweet. has she counselled him? was she one of the people saying you need to forcefully denounce this. >> because the president was visiting the african-american museum he wanted to make it clear, i think it was powerful that while there and while understanding the struggles of so many. we talk about how one of the beauties of history is that we don't repeat itself. i think when you are at a museum like that and seeing the struggles that so many americans faced and overcame that you want to remind people that there is still issues that our country is grappling with and that there is no place for that hate and for that language. and i think, you know, as i mentioned, it was a very powerful opportunity for him to say that and to make clear again what his opinions were.

sarah. >> does he regret not doing it last week. >> i think the president was very clear. that was a very -- i think as i mentioned to halle, he has discussed this over and over again. i think there is a point to which his position is abundantly clear. his attempts and his desire and his rhetoric to unite the country has been expressed over and over again. sarah. >> thanks sean. the "new york times" is reporting that trump's budget director is preparing a budget that eminates the export/import bank. several lawmakers have come out of private meetings with president trump and said that in those private meetings he expressed support for the export bank. which is it? >> i can't confirm that the omb director, the budget director is working on a boj -- i can confirm that the director is working on a budge. i can't get ahead of the director. they are talking to members of congress and other interested parties about funding levels and such. but we are not at a position to

go yet. yes. >> sean, just wanted to circle on alexis's question. since the dhs guidance did not eliminate daca does that mean the program is remaining in place, it is a civil matter and it's not going away? >> no, jordan. what it means is that this particular enforcement is tailored to what i've been referencing over and over again that what we are talking about today is the implementation of those two executive orders. one specifically that is tasking the agencies under dhs to address a very specific problem of the million or so, plus or minus, people that they have identified that have been jude kated having already gone through the process to be adjudicated and taken out of the country. >> that means the decision on daca could come at any day? >> that's right. what it means more than anything is that this order does not address that. it's very clear in the q and a. again, i would refer you back to

dhs's website that has all of that. goil. >> two questions, please. it's been one month on the job for you and for the president and you are already the talk of the town around the globe. my two questions are -- >> my wife would disagree with you. it's not always positive, too. >> it looks like, sean, the president's order is working actually, sir, around the globe because more than 60,000 pakistanis have been deported, what they said they were illegals and also threat to the country. and also at the same time pakistani government arresting hundreds of terrorists inside the country. any presidential message? >> no, i'm not going to -- there is nothing i have in terms of an update of what's going on in pakistan. i would refer you to department of state with respect to specific policies. but the broader point that you are making is i think each

countries needs to look at what they need to do to control the people that are entering their country and keep their people safe. when you look at our laws in particular and compare them to so many other countries around the globe we actually tend to probably fall in the lower end of how tough our immigration policies are vis-a-vis someone else. yeah -- >> my second question, saun sean. >> oh, sorry. >> as part of the illegal immigration concern in the u.s., millions of illegal immigrants were waiting for the last eight or ten years that they might see a light in the dark tunnel. and now they are hoping that president trump will have a light for them. so what is the presidential messarage for them who are in this country for five, ten, 15 or 20 years but they don't have any criminal records? >> right, the president has said before, he has a big heart. and i think that as we continue to develop policy on immigration it's going to be, as we have

talked about in the past prioritized what we go after first, second, third. the president has made it very clear he understands the plight of some of those individuals. he's got a big heart. he understands the impact it has on many families and many communities. but we will continue to develop policies that will address that. and again today's focus is specifically on those two executive orders. i'm going to limit it to that. >> sean. >> yeah. >> at the beginning of the month, senator john mccain sent a letter to the president requesting that the administration provider arms to ukrainians fighting russian separatists within their country. when will the president respond to senator mccain's letter? and what is the administration's position on lethal aid to ukrainians fighting russian separatists? >> i don't have anything for you on. that i'll try to get back to you on that i know we are pleased

that senator mccain supported the appointment of mcmaster. >> contradicts of the president said at times he doesn't talk tough enough on the subject. general mcmaster has been labeled as being hawkish. i'm curious what if any difference in tone or tenor or strategy we should expect now they are working together? >> i think there was widespread praise for general mcmaster and his understanding of national security and foreign policy. he is going to be an asset to the national security team. ultimately the president has been the decider, whether russia or any other issue. you are right, he has made it clear that if he can get a deal with russia, something the last several administrations tried to do, he is going to do it. if he can't, he won't. but he is going to try. and i think his success as a businessman and negotiator should be seen as a positive sign for him to be able to do

that. but he understands that if he can find common ground on defeating isis and combatting terrorism, growing the economy where we can find areas of economic interests, then we are going to do it. but that's, you know, that's where we are going to continue to work with russia, if he can. if he can get a deal, he will, if he can't, he won't. but he will try. others have tried. but he is going to try everything that's possible that if it'sn the interesof the united states he will get a deal with them. >> another question on mcmaster, will he restructure and bring on his own people? there were reports that admiral hayward want allowed to. >> he will have 100%. president has been clear with that. he is the national security adviser and he will have whatever he needs to implement a successful team. you know, with respect to

admiral harwood that you brought up. the admiral made it clear he wanted this job, he would love to take it. he was test impressed with the team but during the course of discussions he said before i continue with this discussion i need to address family and financial concerns. he came back and said i am unable to continue the discussions because of family concerns and financial issues we have. i spent 40 years serving in the united states navy. i talked to him saturday night. he said if there was an opening in a year or two i would be honored i am impressed with the team that's there. i would urge people to actually talk to him. he was so excited about being part of the team. he was available to as many reporters as he could take. we gave out his contact information. and he has been very clear. he wrote a letter to the president prior to -- first thing tuesday morning. he was in the uae. and he said because of family concerns, financial constraints having served this nation for 40

years, i can't take this job but i'm unbelievably impressed. all of the rumors about the discretion he would have over staff or any other thing were 100% false. he made it clear that he would love to serve in the future, that he was impressed with the team, that he wanted to do this. there were just some constraints, financially and family wise that come with or after having served 40 years in the military, sacrifices financially and family wise that he had had to make. but i talked to him several times, the team talked to him. ultimately the president was very, very impressed with general mcmaster. he had always been one of the individuals that he was -- thought stood above so many other folks. he was impressed with the entire list of john bowl boulton and others. so many people had spoken to him, general mattis, tom cotton, others really played up

mcmaster's command of the issues. management, style, understanding of the geopolitical landscape. i think that's why you saw such amazing widespread bipartisan praise for him and why he will be such an asset to the national securitytime team. ultimately we ended up with the best choice. and i think that's going to benefit not just this administration but our entire nation. >> anyone else -- any senior -- >> sorry? >> can we expect he will replace anybody? >> i can't be clearer. i think we have an amazing team. he has been impressed with him. but the president has, as he did with other candidates, told them they would lead the team and they would have the discretion. jeff? >> follow on that. you said he has the full authority to structure his office as he sees fit. does that extend to the principles committee as well. if he advises the president he would prefer not to have the chief strategist as a member of the principles committee would

the president. >> the president made clear to him he has full authority to structure the national security team the way he wants. obviously with something like that he would come to the president and make that rel dak. but the president would take that under serious considering. i don't want to go ahead with this person or that person or structure but the president made it clear with him and other candidates that they had 100% control and authority over the national security committee. thank you guys i'll see you tomorrow. >> retire? >> he will stay on active duty? >> does that require senate confirmation. >> no. he will stay on active duty. that was the case with powell and other folks. >> when the no, eo comes up you won't rescind can original? >> that's correct. thanks, guys. >> are you referring to the attacks -- the anti-set ittic attacks. a different energy and

atmosphere we have seen in the past. calmer, less combative. a lot of things going on in there. there are four main subjects. the first is the hiring of lieutenant general mcmaster to be the national security adviser. sean spicer opened with that. they also talked quite a bit about anti-semitism and donald trump's response to it. also immigration. what will the new immigration order look like? and what will it mean? does this administration believe in mass deportation? what was not talked about and what perhaps added a more comfortable feel for sean spicer was what was not really heavily discussed, i should say, that is general michael flynn and the ties to russia. but let's start with anti-semitism because that is the news that is dominating the day. sean spicer defending the president's response to anti-semitism, this after dozens of bomb threats at jewish community centers across the country. take a listen. >> you said that he has taken opportunities in the past.

just last week though he had the opportunities to deliver a message to the american people will anti-semitism. he made very clear he was not not anti-semitic and he was insulted by that. as far as a broader message to the american people he declined to offer one. is the president comfortable with his obligation as the leader of this country to deliver that kind of broad and forceful message to americans? if so, why didn't he do it sooner in the case of -- >> the idea -- halle, he has. i think there was a point where he talked literally on election night about uniting this country. every time there is an instance it's interesting -- i get a question, is he going to denounce this one is he going to denounce this one, at some point the question asked and answered. >> donald trump saying that -- excuse me. sean spicer saying that president trump's answers are never enough. we should remind our audience he was asked aboutantisemitism two times last week and thester

first time he answered by talking about his electoral win, the second time he called the question insulting. let's go to halle jackson. she was in the briefing room. you just saw her ask sean spicer that question. how much pressure is the white house feeling right now to come out forcefully to denounce anti-semitism in a broadway? >> i think you heard what the press secretary had to say at the podium. he was pressed about it repeatedly from the reporters in this room. this was after craig melvin got that question to the president earlier this morning here in washington. it is clearly something against the backdrop of the threats against the jewish community centers across the country. against the backdrop of the vandalism at the jewish cemetery in st. louis that has americans concerned. you heard sean spicer's response, he says he believes the president has spoken repeatedly and forcefully about the need to unite this country. the question we posed is whether or not the president is comfortable with that obligation to send that message.

it sounds like from his perspective he is. >> craig melvin interviewed president trump this morning while he was touring the african-american museum. let's listen to that. >> will you denounce anti-semitism once and for all just to clear up the confusion? >> i do all the time. i do all the imtoo much of i think it's terrible. i think it's horrible. whether it's anti-semitism or racism or anything you want to think about having to do with the divide, answered semitism is just likewise. it's just terrible. you don't know where it's coming from. i certainly hope they catch the people. i think you maybe have had it for longer than people think and maybe it gets brought up a little bit more. but i will tell you that anti-semitism is horrible and it's going to stop, and it has to stop. >> so you are denouncing now once and for all? >> oh, of course i do it -- wherever i get a chance, i do it. >> craig melvin is also on set with us right now. craig, talk to me about this

interview. how open was donald trump to responding in that way. >> did you feel like he was prepared to do so? >> i do. i do feel like this was one of the questions for which he had probably prepared in advance. i mean hillary clinton tweeted about this this morning. we know that the president spends a fair amount of time on social media. but his own daughter, who flanked him this morning, ivanka there also talking about what we've seen play out in this country most recently yesterday in missouri at the cemetery, those grave sites defaced. and as you indicated, the number of jewish community centers around this country that have been dealing with bomb threats in chicago and nashville and birmingham and a host of other cities throughout the year. yeah, i think you got the sense that the president may have been ready for that question to a certain extent. >> that he needed to response respond to it after the criticism he had been getting. >> yeah. and this idea that he has done it a thousands times,

repeatedly, i did not get an opportunity there to say well no that's actually not true, mr. president. you have not done it a thousand times. but i think this is the white house's attempt to try a finally close the book on this d move on. >> to reset, if you will. let's also bring in karen finny, former dnc communications director and michael steele. michael, let's start with you. was that enough? >> i think society. i think it's part of clearing the decks, if you will. they have dealt in the past couple of days with the anti-semitism issue, the national security council and clarifying the immigration orders. i think those are three big things they would rather not talk about going into next week the big speech with congress. >> that press conference wasn't as contentious. they weren't dealing with the bad news. russia was barely addressed.

michael flynn was barely addressed. this was something of a good day for sean spicer to come out and address the press on. >> it appears they had a three day strategy. saturday you had president trump doing a big rally. he was then able -- which started to change the story away from flynn. then you had the mcmaster news. and then today with him visiting the museum he had something else to talk about. you always want to have something else to talk about. here's the problem, though. i disagree with sean. this is one of the things about the presidency that i don't think trump understands and i don't think sean understands. he will always be asked any time there is an incident like that where there is a. bolling or there is a threat. i mean that is just the nature of the presidency. the other problem for donald trump is that he has no correlate on this issue. >> why do you say that? >> he ran a very divisive campaign. he ran -- with people like steve bannon and jeff sessions in his administration. there are a lot of people who do not feel either one of them are people who represent this idea

of bringing americans together. someone associated with white nationalism, someone like jeff sessions who is associated with anti-voting practices. point being he is probably going to have to continue to denounce not just anti-semitism, but it would sure be nice to hear him denounce the anti-muslim sentiment that's been increasing in this country and not saying from the podium that members of the immediate ya are enemies of the people. >> donald trump would need to stop tweeting, roll back a lot of what he said during the campaign. is that realistic? >> i don't think it's realistic because i don't think it's who he is. and that's why i say this is why his staff needs to understand he doesn't have a lot of credibility when he says i have been denouncing it over and over. a as president you have to keep denouncing it and number two, you don't have the history on it. >> this country has a history of divisive campaigns but then

coming together as a country to get things done. i think that's what the president is trying to do. >> the other thing sean spicer was addressing at length was this new immigration order that we are expecting to come out soon. pete williams, our justice correspondent is also in washington, in our washington newsroom. what can you tell us about what we are expecting to see in this new order? >> well we are talking about two separate things here, of course. the executive order. the revised executive order which we believe will come out later this week will be intended to address some. problems that were identified by the ninth circuit court of appeals when it agreed to keep it on hold and turned down the government's request to let them enforce it. presumably, this will mean that probably the same countries will be covered but it won't supply explicitly to green card holders for one. that's a big exception. that the executive order won't apply. remember the original didn't say

specifically. it was a couple days later that the white house counsel said it doesn't apply to green card holders. this one will be for explicit. secondly, this one will say that anybody who is in the air when the executive order goes into effect will be allowed to enter the country. that shoulreduce the kind of chaos at the airport that we s when the original executive order was rolled out. secondly in terms of immigration we had the new memos from the department of homeland security today. telling in essence the nation's federal law enforcement officers, i.c.e. and cvp how to carry out the president's executive orders from january how to get people heringly back into their countries of origin, out of the country. >> same topic but two different aspects of the topic. >> right. >> karen, let me start with you. immigration. when sean spicer was asked what they would be -- what he would consider, what this administration considers being a

crime -- >> right. >> deporting undocumented immigrants who have committed a crime. >> right. >> a reporter was trying get clarity on whether that meant folks who just came -- folks that came into the country. >> that's right. >> was that enough of a crime to mean they were eligible for deportation? >> right. it sounds like there is still a lot to be worked out. it did not sound like sean had the full answer to that because you are now talking about someone who for example, is using fraudulent papers in order to work. that is a crime. i mean the act of being in this country illegally is a crime. so the question is, does this count? or are we talking about, which as we you under president obama where it was let's prioritize people who are committing heinous acts, whether that would be theft or rape or murder or -- so there was a different kind of prioritization of what was meant by a crime and what kind of crime and the kind of people who pose, you know, a real threat to

the country which is a little bit dierent than someone who is using, you know, perhaps, as an example fraudulent papers to work, paying into the social security system by the way not getting the benefits of that payment, is that really the same thing as someone who is committing more heinous acts? >> either way what we are ultimately talking about is enforcing the law. one of the things that fueled the frustration that led to the rise of president trump was the idea that in part the idea was not being enforced. >> was the law being enforced. >> of course not. the president was prioritizing people to be deported rather than doing the job. >> deportations under president obama actually went up. >> they did, but they didn't deport everyone what was breaking the law. >> they are talking about giving i.c.e. the resources needed to actually enforce the law. >> pete, cecilia vega asked about this and sean spicer said absolutely not -- pete not there any longer. i'll throw it to you guys are we

going to see deportation for this? is this mass deportation? sean spicer said no. >> it remains to be seen. we know from the first we heard of this it created a lot of fear and anxiety in communities across this country whereas sean spicer and president trump have stood there and said it's only bad guys and drug dealers, but that's not actually true. we've seen mothers and fathers and families with mixed status where their children are now here in the united states and their parents have been deported. >> talk about the expanded definition of a felon that we might end up seeing. >> i think the important thing here is that we all agree our immigration system is broken. we need to fix it. there is aore sensible and humane way to handle this. but simply not enforcing the law shouldn't be the default action. >> there are folks out there who wonder why there was so much emphasis on president obama, quote, unquote, not enforcing the law when he ultimately did deport more people than past

presidents did. but my last question is if they expand the definition of a felon to include those who are -- the me about it karen, what would the expanded definition of a felon mean, what would it look like? >> it could be -- one of the questions is we don't quite know. it could be again, someone who is here illegally, does that count, someone who is using false documents fraudulently to work all the way up to what we would consider more heinous crimes. it sounds like from what sean was saying we don't quite know the answer and how they will enforce that. >> still an open question. craig melvin thank you for sticking around with us. karen finny, michael steele, pete williams. halle jackson. appreciate it. after the break, gop law mickers are getting an earful in their home districts. right now the iowa senator is hosting a rounds table with

veterans. as you can see there is a big turnout at all of these places. w50e8 take you live there in a moment. stay with us. when did mixing food, with not food, become food? thankfully at panera, 100% of our food is 100% clean. no artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, or colors. panera. food as it should be.

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so congress is on a break. but it's anything really but a sincere break. republican lawmakers are facing contentious town halls back home. constituents are angry, us fr

frustrat frustrated. they want to know what president trump is planning to do. in iowa, joanie ernst is holding a round table with veterans this hour. ron, what are you hearing? >> this was billed as a round table discussion for veterans. and as you can see inside, senator joanie ernst is inside. this is a standing room only crowd. they had it set up for about 100 seats. we thought they would have trouble filling those 100 seats. no the case today. there has been an outflow crowd out here in the lobby. a lot of folks with various signs because they want face to face time with their senator to talk about not just veterans affairs but about where the country is headed. they have been voicing from time to time their disples ooir at what they see from washington. we will get you back to you but

it's been an interesting. >> kokoda, ron, i'm going to blame the producers for delivering me a pronunciation on that and not delivering. that wrap things up for me. jacob is in for kate snow. >> katie, mococoda come on. next time. so long, katey. i'm in for kate he. >>. here will our top stories at this hour. right now the department of homeland security is rolling out president trump's plans for a wider crackdown on people coming into the united states illegally. a campaign promise manifest with one big glaring exception. we'll have an explanation and a live report for you coming up. plus a conversation with the president of the united states. my colleague craig