Last Updated Mar 9, 2018 2:32 PM EST
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders is holding the first briefing for reporters Friday since plans for a meeting between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were announced, and for the first time since Mr. Trump signed off on sweeping tariffs the day before.
“Let’s be very clear, the United States has made zero concessions,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said from the podium Friday, adding that the U.S. must see North Korea take “concrete” actions to follow through on its promises, namely, denuclearization.
“We have to see concrete and verifiable actions take place,” she added.
But it’s unclear if Kim has specifically promised to denuclearize. South Korea’s national security adviser simply said Kim is “committed” to denuclearization.
Asked by CBS News’ Chip Reid if Mr. Trump is simply giving Kim what he wants — recognition on the international stage — Sanders said that was not the case.
“Not at all, I think that the president is getting exactly what he wants,” she said.
The surprise announcement that Mr. Trump has agreed to meet with Kim stunned Washington and the world Thursday night, especially since Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had said earlier in the day that the U.S. was nowhere near negotiations with Kim.
“Kim Jong Un talked about denuclearization with the South Korean Representatives, not just a freeze,” Mr. Trump tweeted Thursday night. “Also, no missile testing by North Korea during this period of time. Great progress being made but sanctions will remain until an agreement is reached. Meeting being planned!”
- Date: Friday, March 9, 2018
- Time: 2 p.m. ET
- Who: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders
- Online: Watch live stream on CBSN, or in the player above
Likely topics for the briefing:
- Key details of the meeting with Kim Jong-Un — such as a time and place — have yet to be worked out, and skeptics worry Kim may not be serious about negotiation, or even be playing Mr. Trump. Those concerns are almost certainly to be raised in the briefing.
- Tariffs: Now that Mr. Trump has formally signed off on the tariffs, countries will be vying for exemptions. How will the administration approach those requests?
- Stormy Daniels: The White House still has questions to answer, with adult film star Stormy Daniels suing the president over a non-disclosure agreement she says he never signed.
- Trump is headed to California next week for the first time since he was elected — what are his plans?
- Gary Cohn and White House turnover — Top White House economic adviser Gary Cohn is on his way out, the latest in a string of high-level departures. Who will replace him, and is the administration concerned so many top officials are leaving?
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