department blocked the chinese telecom firm called zte from importing american parts for its products. u.s. officials say the company violated a settlement deal after getting around u.s. penalties on iran and north korea. they were trading with north korea when the sanctions said you didn't do that. in addition, cyber security officials warn the company's technology could be a major security threat. just two weeks ago, the pentagon banned zte phones from all stores on all u.s. military bases everywhere in the world. warning that china could use those phones to spy on american service members. but then yesterday seemingly out of nowhere, the president tweeted president xi of china and i are working to give zte a way to get back in business fast. too many jobs in china lost. commerce department has been instructed to get it done. let's go back to john roberts who is live at the white house. this one caught everybody off