Wegmann: see you here every day? How frequently? birthright citizenship unconstitutional; NATO

Briefings Frequency

“Quick programming note and then a question on taxes. Well, in terms of programming, should we expect to see you here every day? How frequently will these press briefings be?”

Phil Wegmann (Real Clear Politics):

• Programming question
• Daily briefings?
• Frequency framework
• Press relationship

“It is a good question, April.”

Leavitt acknowledging April Ryan (CNN veteran).

Trump Accessibility

“So look, the president, as you know, is incredibly accessible.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• Trump very accessible
• Press engagement
• Framework ongoing

“First day here, he wanted all of you in the Oval Office. You got a 60-minute press conference with the leader of the free world.”

Day 1 framework:

• Oval Office access
• 60-minute presser
• Free world leader
• Extensive engagement

Simultaneous Signing

“While he was simultaneously signing executive orders, I may add that’s pretty impressive.”

The framework:

• Press conference
• Simultaneous signing
• Multitasking framework
• Impressive framework
• Trump style

“I don’t think the previous office holder would be able to pull such a thing off.”

Biden contrast:

• Not capable (per Leavitt)
• Limited press engagement
• Minimal multitasking
• Biden era characterized
• Reflection framework

Trump Best Spokesperson

“So look, the president is the best spokesperson that this White House has. And I can assure you that you will be hearing from both him and me as much as possible.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• Trump best spokesperson
• Personal framework
• Both framework
• As much as possible
• Accessibility commitment

Tax Cuts Question

“And then a question about tax cuts. The president has promised to extend the tax cuts from the previous term. I’m curious, does the president support corresponding spending cuts, as some Republicans have called for in Congress, and will the new Treasury Secretary be leading those negotiations with the Hill, as Mnuchin did during the first administration?”

Wegmann’s framework:

• Tax cut extension
• Corresponding spending cuts
• Republican concerns
• Treasury Secretary negotiation role
• Mnuchin comparison

Tax and Spending Commitment

“The president is committed to both tax cuts and spending cuts.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• Both commitments
• Tax cuts + spending cuts
• Parallel framework

“And he has a great team negotiating on his behalf.”

The team framework:

• Trump has great team
• Negotiating on behalf
• Multiple people involved
• Collaborative framework

Trump as Negotiator

“But there’s no better negotiator than Donald Trump.”

The framework:

• Trump best negotiator
• Personal credit
• Historical framework
• Branding

“And I’m sure he’ll be involved in this reconciliation process as it moves forward.”

Framework:

• Reconciliation process
• Trump involvement
• Moving forward
• Active engagement

Mnuchin Framework

Steve Mnuchin (first term):

• Treasury Secretary
• Led 2017 TCJA negotiations
• Hill liaison
• Successful framework

Scott Bessent (second term):

• Treasury Secretary
• OBBB negotiations
• Similar role
• Different personality

Birthright Citizenship

“Signed an executive order as it relates to birthright citizens trying to eliminate that. About 22 state attorney generals have said that this is unconstitutional. A federal judge has just agreed with their argument. What’s the administration’s argument for doing away with birthright citizenship?”

The framework:

• Executive order signed
• 22 state AGs opposing
• Federal judge agreed with opponents
• Administration argument?
• Constitutional framework

The 22 AGs:

• Multi-state lawsuit
• Democratic majority
• Immediate challenge
• Various arguments
• Constitutional framework

Legal Opinion Framework

“The folks that you mentioned have a right to have that legal opinion. But it is in disagreement with the legal opinion of this administration.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• Opposition has right to opinion
• Administration disagrees
• Legal framework
• Reasonable disagreement

Unconstitutional Framework

“This administration believes that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional. And that is why President Trump signed that executive order.”

The framework:

• Administration position
• Unconstitutional
• Foundation for EO
• Legal argument

14th Amendment Framework

“A legal immigrants who come to this country and have a child are not subject to the laws of this jurisdiction. That’s the opinion of this administration.”

Leavitt’s specific framework (with slight error — should be “illegal”):

• Illegal immigrants not subject to jurisdiction
• 14th Amendment “subject to jurisdiction” clause
• Original intent framework
• Narrow reading

The 14th Amendment:

• “All persons born or naturalized…”
• “And subject to the jurisdiction thereof”
• Jurisdiction meaning disputed
• Historical framework
• Legal debate

Supreme Court Framework

“We have already appealed the lawsuit that was filed against this administration. And we are prepared to fight this all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to, because President Trump believes that this is a necessary step to secure our nation’s borders and protect our homeland.”

The framework:

• Appeal already filed
• Supreme Court path
• All the way framework
• Necessary step
• Border security
• Homeland protection

NATO Question

“And foreign policy, if I may. The president’s commitment to the NATO Defense Alliance, is it as strong as the prior administration? Is it the same as when he served as president in his first term in office?”

The framework:

• NATO commitment
• Prior administration (Biden) comparison
• First term comparison
• Current status

NATO Fair Share

“As long as NATO pays their fair share, and President Trump has called on NATO allies to increase their defense spending to 5 percent.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• Conditional commitment
• Fair share requirement
• 5% defense spending (from 2%)
• Major increase
• NATO allies

The 5% framework:

• Current target 2%
• Trump pushing 5%
• Major doubling-plus
• European resistance
• Strategic framework

Davos NATO Head

“You actually saw the head of NATO at Davos last week on Bloomberg television saying that President Trump is right.”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte:

• Davos engagement
• Bloomberg TV
• Trump right framework
• Defense spending increase agreement

“And if Europe wants to keep itself safe, they should increase their defense spending.”

European framework:

• Self-preservation
• Increased spending needed
• Trump’s framework accepted
• Rutte agreement

Peace Through Strength

“I would just add that there was no greater ally to our European allies than President Trump in his first term. The world for all nations in Europe, and of course here at home, was much safer because of President Trump’s peace-through-strength diplomatic approach.”

Leavitt’s framework:

• Trump great ally first term
• Framework claim
• World safer (Europe and home)
• Peace through strength
• Diplomatic approach

Trump First Term Framework

Trump’s NATO first term:

• Pressure for 2% spending
• Member compliance increased
• Russia deterrence
• No major wars
• Framework successful

The framework:

• Putin didn’t invade (first term)
• Biden weakness enabled Ukraine invasion
• Trump framework returning
• Deterrence restoration

Leavitt Background

Karoline Leavitt:

• 27 years old (youngest ever)
• Trump 2024 campaign spokesperson
• Saint Anselm College
• Trump 2.0 Press Secretary
• Effective communicator

Trump’s Press Accessibility

Trump’s press framework:

• Very accessible
• Frequent engagement
• Various venues
• Direct communication
• Not scripted

First-term pattern:

• Weekly pressers ranges
• Daily gaggles
• Rose Garden events
• Multiple interviews
• High engagement

Second-term pattern:

• Similar engagement
• Oval Office access
• Aircraft gaggles
• Event engagement
• Leavitt amplifier

Birthright Citizenship Context

The 14th Amendment (1868):

• Post-Civil War
• Former slaves citizens
• Definition expanded
• Various interpretations
• Legal framework

The “subject to jurisdiction” clause:

• Ambassador children excluded
• Native American born sovereign (historically)
• Various categories
• Illegal immigrant parents?
• Contested

Trump’s interpretation:

• Illegal immigrants not subject to full jurisdiction
• Narrow reading
• Historical framework
• Born to legal residents only

Opposition interpretation:

• All born here citizens
• Traditional reading
• Long-standing practice
• Constitutional framework

Legal Battle

The birthright citizenship legal battle:

• Multiple state AG lawsuits
• Multiple federal judges
• Injunctions issued
• Supreme Court expected
• Eventual decision

Predicted outcome:

• Supreme Court hearing
• Major ruling
• Constitutional framework
• Either interpretation vindicated
• Long path

NATO 5% Framework

The NATO 5% framework:

• Trump pushing
• Historical 2% target
• European reluctance
• Economic impact major
• Strategic shift

The math:

• Current: Europe ~$350B defense
• 5% GDP: ~$700B
• Major expansion
• Industry impact
• Ukraine framework

Significance

The Leavitt briefing captured:

1. Trump accessibility: Framework emphasized
2. Tax and spending cuts: Both commitments
3. Birthright citizenship: SCOTUS path
4. NATO 5%: Framework push
5. Peace through strength: First-term framework

The accessibility framework contrasts with Biden era. Biden rarely did press conferences, minimal multitasking, limited engagement. Trump opposite framework.

The tax and spending cuts framework preempts concerns. Republicans often criticized for tax cuts without spending discipline. Leavitt committing to both.

The birthright citizenship framework goes to Supreme Court inevitably. Constitutional question, major decision, framework test.

The NATO 5% framework represents massive strategic shift. European defense industrial base expansion needed, economic impact, geopolitical framework.

Key Takeaways

• Leavitt on accessibility: “So look, the president, as you know, is incredibly accessible. First day here, he wanted all of you in the Oval Office. You got a 60-minute press conference with the leader of the free world. While he was simultaneously signing executive orders, I may add that’s pretty impressive. I don’t think the previous office holder would be able to pull such a thing off.”
• Leavitt on Trump spokesperson: “The president is the best spokesperson that this White House has, and I can assure you that you will be hearing from both him and me as much as possible.”
• Leavitt on tax and spending: “The president is committed to both tax cuts and spending cuts. And he has a great team negotiating on his behalf. But there’s no better negotiator than Donald Trump.”
• Leavitt on birthright citizenship: “This administration believes that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional. And that is why President Trump signed that executive order … We are prepared to fight this all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to, because President Trump believes that this is a necessary step to secure our nation’s borders and protect our homeland.”
• Leavitt on NATO: “As long as NATO pays their fair share, and President Trump has called on NATO allies to increase their defense spending to 5 percent, you actually saw the head of NATO at Davos last week on Bloomberg television saying that President Trump is right. And if Europe wants to keep itself safe, they should increase their defense spending.”