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CPAC 2017 live: Steve Bannon taunts media and vows 'every day will be a fight' CPAC 2017 live: Steve Bannon taunts media and vows 'every day will be a fight'
(35 minutes later)
8.52pm GMT
20:52
Trump supports a border adjustment tax – won’t it just be passed on to consumers?
When a company choses to leave our country and shed American jobs there is a big cost to our workers, he says.
With that he calls it a day.
8.51pm GMT
20:51
Does Steve Bannon really believe the media is the “opposition party”? Yes he does.
8.50pm GMT
20:50
Will the administration hold people like former labor secretary nominee Andrew Puzder to account when they employ undocumented immigrants?
Spicer says they will. Puzder did the right thing when he found out.
8.47pm GMT
20:47
Trump has said he has given permission for the US to sell two countries military equipment. Which countries? Spicer says they’ll reveal that at some point.
Updated
at 8.58pm GMT
8.46pm GMT
20:46
Where is the travel ban legal fight up to?
Spicer says it is being fought in “10 or so” courts and they continue to deal with it “in all of those venues”. And there is an “additional executive order” about to come out.
He repeats his pledge that they will “prevail” in court on the merits of the case.
8.45pm GMT
20:45
Is Trump still committed to pulling out of the Paris climate change deal?
That’s a conversation he is having with secretary of state Rex Tillerson, Spicer says.
8.44pm GMT
20:44
The media just got thrown out of the main hall so that it can be searched by law enforcement in preparation for Mike Pence’s speech here later, so I missed the last couple of questions.
What is the president’s thinking on Syria and the future of Bashar al-Assad?
Spicer refers that one to the State Department.
What about safe zones? Trump’s goal is to get commitments from other world leaders on that, Spicer says.
8.36pm GMT
20:36
Does the administration have any plans to build a wall with Canada?
Spicer laughs. The southern border is more important but we are paying attention to the northern border too, he says.
8.35pm GMT
20:35
What about Trump’s promises to fix America’s roads?
He is going to work with the Department of Transport on infrastructure projects and elements will be in his budget, Spicer says.
8.33pm GMT
20:33
Is the president leaving transgender children open to bullying?
There are already anti-bullying laws, Spicer says.
You’re missing the point, Spicer says. It should be a state decision.
The court stopped this in August last year, he says, because the Obama administration did not have the authority. “It wasn’t properly drafted,” he says.
But are they sending a message?
Spicer denies it. Trump sent a message when he said Caitlyn Jenner could use whichever bathroom she liked at Trump Tower, he says. “The message shows he’s a guy with a heart.”
8.29pm GMT
20:29
What is Ivanka Trump’s role in the administration? “She has a lot of expertise and wants to offer that, especially in the area of trying to help women.”
8.28pm GMT
20:28
Spicer is asked about that last quote. “Then that’s what I said”, he says, but then says it will be up to the Department of Justice.
8.26pm GMT
20:26
Spicer says “you will see greater enforcement of it” – suggesting the federal government may choose to enforce federal laws outlawing marijuana in states where it has been legalised.
8.25pm GMT
20:25
A Skype caller from Arkansas asks about medical marijuana. Will Trump’s Department of Justice choose to enforce federal anti-marijuana laws in states where it has been legalised?
Spicer says the president understands the pain and suffering of people who use medical marijuana because they are sick or dying.
But there’s “a big difference between that and recreational marijuana”, he says, making the leap to the increased use of opioids.
8.23pm GMT8.23pm GMT
20:2320:23
Will people who have committed crimes as minor as traffic offences be deported?Will people who have committed crimes as minor as traffic offences be deported?
If they are not here legally, they have committed a crime and might be deported, Spicer says. The people who have a criminal record or might endanger public safety will be first priority, he says.If they are not here legally, they have committed a crime and might be deported, Spicer says. The people who have a criminal record or might endanger public safety will be first priority, he says.
8.21pm GMT8.21pm GMT
20:2120:21
Is the administration vetting Miguel Estrada as solicitor general before the travel ban case gets to the supreme court? Is the president “discouraged” about getting the nominees he wants for the cabinet?Is the administration vetting Miguel Estrada as solicitor general before the travel ban case gets to the supreme court? Is the president “discouraged” about getting the nominees he wants for the cabinet?
Spicer won’t answer the first one. On the second, he says there are “a deep bench” of possible candidates for the cabinet. But he attacks the Democrats for putting cabinet nominees through the wringer during their Senate confirmation hearings. Some people look at that and say they don’t want to join the cabinet, he says.Spicer won’t answer the first one. On the second, he says there are “a deep bench” of possible candidates for the cabinet. But he attacks the Democrats for putting cabinet nominees through the wringer during their Senate confirmation hearings. Some people look at that and say they don’t want to join the cabinet, he says.
8.18pm GMT8.18pm GMT
20:1820:18
How can Spicer criticise the way the Obama administration’s transgender bathrooms guidance was drawn up when the exact same criticisms have been made of the way the travel ban was introduced?How can Spicer criticise the way the Obama administration’s transgender bathrooms guidance was drawn up when the exact same criticisms have been made of the way the travel ban was introduced?
Spicer says they are “apples and oranges”.Spicer says they are “apples and oranges”.
8.16pm GMT
20:16
Does Spicer agree that transgender rights is a federal civil rights issue?
The White House spokesman says the proper process was not followed by the Obama administration in introducing regulations introducing protections for transgender students that had allowed them to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity.
He won’t be drawn on whether it’s a civil rights issue. He says again that’s a states’ rights issue.
What is the president’s personal belief on the issue?
He thinks it’s a states’ rights issue, Spicer says.
8.13pm GMT
20:13
Has Trump changed his mind on which bathrooms transgender people should use? He said Caitlyn Jenner could use the female bathroom in Trump Tower last year.
No, says Spicer. That’s consistent – because he believes it’s a states’ rights issue. Essentially he’s saying that what’s right for Trump Tower might not be right for North Carolina.
8.12pm GMT
20:12
What year will Trump’s tax changes come into force?
Spicer gives a confusing answer.
A Skype caller asks about sanctuary cities and Trump’s recent widening of the number of undocumented people who will be targeted for deportation.
Spicer says the idea that states can decide not to follow certain laws is destructive of the rule of law. He claims large numbers of Americans object to sanctuary cities (cities where local law enforcement does not necessarily comply with federal immigration authorities to aid deportations).
8.06pm GMT
20:06
Spicer is asked about the travel ban supposedly being brought in because of a national security emergency.
He says the administration is delaying issuing a new order to get it right and make sure it is “flawless” this time.
“We’re acting with appropriate haste and diligence,” he says.
8.05pm GMT
20:05
Meanwhile at the White House, spokesman Sean Spicer has begun his daily briefing:
7.33pm GMT
19:33
Here’s video of Bannon and Priebus speaking at CPAC:
7.24pm GMT
19:24
Bannon: 'It's going to be a fight'
White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and chief of staff Reince Priebus put in a show of unity at CPAC. But although Priebus, a former party chair, listed Trump’s policy priorities and made it clear he was committed to trying to deliver them, it was the former Breitbart boss Bannon who seemed to truly live and breathe what he called Trump’s “economic nationalist agenda”.
Contradicting Priebus, Bannon said media coverage of the Trump administration would never improve, because the “corporatist, globalist” nature of the media meant it was intrinsically opposed to the new president’s policies.
And he told the press – which he referred to in the phrase he has made infamous as “the opposition party” – to get used to it. “The mainstream media better understand something – all those promises are going to be implemented,” he said. Trump, Bannon said, was “maniacally focused” on keeping his campaign promises.
His sense of triumph over the media was palpable – at one point he exulted in them “all crying and weeping” one election night – and his aggressive attitude to politics was also clear. “If you think they are going to give you your country back without a fight, you are sadly mistaken,” Bannon said. “Every day it’s going to be a fight.”
Updated
at 7.30pm GMT
7.14pm GMT
19:14
Priebus says Bannon is extremely consistent and very loyal to Trump’s agenda. He is a presence that is very important to have in the White House. He says he cherishes his friendship.
Bannon says “I can run a little hot” sometimes. Priebus is “steady”, he says. His job is one of the toughest in the White House.
Schlapp says “the best thing we can do is to let these two guys get back to work”. They walk off to a brief standing ovation.
7.11pm GMT
19:11
“If you think they are going to give you your country back without a fight, you are sadly mistaken,” says Bannon. “Every day it’s going to be a fight.”
Schlapp asks whether the Trump movement can combine with existing conservative movements.
We have to, says Priebus.
We’re a nation with an economy and a culture and a reason for being, Bannon says. That is what unites us.
Trump and Pence are coming to CPAC to show his appreciation.
“We’re at the top of the first inning with this,” he says. “It’s going to take just as much fight and determination.” He says “we want you to have our back”.
And he tells the crowd to “hold us accountable for delivering on what we promised”.
7.07pm GMT
19:07
Schlapp asks what the media keeps getting wrong about “the Trump phenomenon” and will it change.
Priebus says he hopes it will change. He says he became “conditioned” during the election to hearing about why Trump won’t succeed, despite the polling getting “better and better and better”.
He says people he knew kept telling him “Trump! Trump! Trump!”, which leads the crowd to start a brief chant. “Tomorrow,” Priebus promises them.
The country was hungry for something far bigger than one story and one issue, and it was President Trump that was the answer.
Bannon says he disagrees with Priebus. He says the media coverage will not improve, because the “corporatist, globalist media” are “adamantly opposed to Trump’s economic nationalist agenda”.
Every day, he says, Trump tells him he is going to stick to the issues he ran on.