The White House • April 27, 2018
Driving the Day
• Americans won 9 gold medals—and 23 overall—at this year’s Winter Games. President Donald J. Trump congratulated U.S. Olympians this morning. Watch here.
• President Trump welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Washington today, following Mrs. Merkel’s recent reelection to a fourth term. Watch live at 1:50 p.m. ET.
Meet America’s new Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo
Yesterday, the Senate easily confirmed Mike Pompeo to be our 70th Secretary of State. Pompeo, who has served as CIA Director since last year, drew unanimous Republican support and earned the votes of several key Democrats. “Considering his distinguished time as CIA Director & his exemplary career in public service, I will vote to confirm Mike Pompeo,” Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) tweeted this week.
Pompeo’s bipartisan confirmation attests to his record. Newspaper editorial boards across the country have praised his invaluable mix of instincts and experience. “He has invigorated the CIA clandestine service, tried to give Mr. Trump options on North Korea, and has gained the President’s trust,” The Wall Street Journal explained last Wednesday.
President Trump calls Pompeo a true patriot. “He will always put the interests of America first. He has my trust. He has my support. Today, he has my congratulations,” the President said in a statement.
Read President Trump’s statement on Mike Pompeo’s confirmation.
More: See what makes Mike Pompeo uniquely qualified to be Secretary of State.
What’s in your medicine cabinet?
Each day, Americans are prescribed medications that go unused. These left-over drugs often wind up in medicine cabinets, closets, and other spaces throughout the home. Unused or expired medicines often seem innocuous, but many contribute to accidental poisonings, overdoses, and thefts across the country.
Tomorrow is a good day to help change that. President Trump has announced that the 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be tomorrow, Saturday, April 28. Held twice per year, Take Back Day is an opportunity for families to dispose of expired or unused prescription drugs at one of any thousands of drop-off sites.
Disposal can also be done safely through the mail. Multiple retail pharmacies, such as Costco, CVS, and Rite Aid, sell postage-paid envelopes to mail in left-over medicines. Free mail-in envelopes are also offered by the National Safety Council.
What’s in your medicine cabinet? Today is a good day to find out.
Watch: President Trump’s weekly address on Take Back Day
Photo of the Day
Official White House Photo by D. Myles Cullen
President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks at the Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride | April 26, 2018
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President Donald J. Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel Strengthen the Close Relationship Between the United States and Germany
Issued on: April 27, 2018
The close friendship between America and Germany is built on our shared values. … It is the foundation of a very, very hopeful future.
President Donald J. Trump
A CLOSE AND HISTORIC RELATIONSHIP: The relationship between the German people and the United States predates America’s independence and extends to the deep bond the two countries share today.
The United States and Germany form the bedrock of the transatlantic relationship and the NATO Alliance, based on shared values of freedom, democracy, and human rights.
On October 6, 1683, 13 German families landed in Philadelphia and went on to found the first German settlement in America: Germantown, Pennsylvania.
Today, there are more than 44 million Americans of German heritage, comprising the United States’ largest ancestry group.
President Trump is the proud grandson of German immigrants to the United States.
Other notable Americans of German heritage include President Eisenhower, Neil Armstrong, Levi Strauss, Amelia Earhart, and Babe Ruth.
President Trump and Chancellor Merkel last met in July in Hamburg, Germany, when the Chancellor hosted the President at the G20 Summit.
This visit by the Chancellor will be her second to the White House during Donald Trump’s tenure as President of the United States.
COOPERATION ON JOBS AND TRADE: The United States and Germany have a deep trade and investment relationship, and the President and Chancellor Merkel have worked to enhance economic cooperation through collaboration on apprenticeships and women’s financial empowerment.
Germany has long been a leader with respect to its highly successful apprenticeship programs.
During Chancellor Merkel’s March 2017 visit to the White House, President Trump convened a group of U.S. and German business leaders to join the Chancellor and the President for a discussion on vocational training.
At the meeting, major companies announced that they would train thousands through apprenticeship programs and invest hundreds of millions of dollars in training.
In Hamburg, the President joined Ivanka Trump and Chancellor Merkel to announce a $50 million contribution from the United States to an initiative to empower women financially around the world.
In 2017, Germany and the United States conducted over $237 billion in total trade in goods and services.
In 2017, the U.S. exported $53.5 billion in goods to Germany.
In the first two months of 2018, the United States exported $9 billion in goods to Germany, an increase of almost $1 billion over the same period in 2017.
In 2016, German direct investment in the United States was valued at over $372 billion, with $14 billion in new investment.
In 2015, U.S. affiliates of German firms employed over 670,000 American workers and invested $7.2 billion in innovative research and development.
A PARTNER ON INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND COUNTERTERRORISM: Germany has been a valuable partner to the United States in the fight to eliminate ISIS and counter foreign threats.
Since 2014, Germany has pledged over $1.5 billion (€1.3 billion) for humanitarian assistance, stabilization support and development cooperation in Iraq.
German forces are some of the most active participants in the Defeat ISIS coalition, providing support troops as well as manned reconnaissance and aerial refueling aircraft.
Since 2012, Germany has pledged more than $6 billion (€5.5 billion) in assistance related to the Syria crisis, including money for de-mining, and has helped lead the drive for European sanctions against the Assad regime.
Germany is the second largest troop contributor to NATO missions and is a framework nation in Afghanistan.
In March 2018, Germany approved a 320 troop increase for the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.
Since 2017, Germany has also provided $2.4 billion in development and security assistance to Afghanistan.
Germany also serves as a framework nation for NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence on NATO’s Eastern Flank and contributes 530 personnel to Kosovo Force (KFOR).
Germany, alongside France, headlines Western efforts to restore peace in Ukraine and ensure its sovereignty and territorial integrity under the framework of the Minsk Agreements.Statement from Vice President Mike Pence on the Inter-Korean Summit
FOREIGN POLICY
Issued on: April 27, 2018
The fact that North Korea has come to the table without the United States making any concessions speaks to the strength of President Trump’s leadership and is a clear sign that the intense pressure of sanctions is working. The Korean peace agreement is a step toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but it is just one step. Any talks, promises, and assurances from North Korea will be met with reservation, vigilance, and verification. Planning for the United States and North Korea Summit continues, but as we’ve said before – the pressure campaign will continue unabated.
President Donald J. Trump Approves Kentucky Disaster Declaration
Issued on: April 26, 2018
Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal assistance to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides, and mudslides from February 21 to March 21, 2018.
Federal funding is available to the Commonwealth and to eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in the counties of Boyd, Bullitt, Butler, Caldwell, Campbell, Carlisle, Carroll, Carter, Crittenden, Fulton, Gallatin, Grant, Graves, Greenup, Hancock, Hardin, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Jefferson, Kenton, Lawrence, Livingston, McCracken, McLean, Metcalfe, Ohio, Owen, Spencer, Trigg, Trimble, Union, Washington, and Webster.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures throughout the commonwealth.
Brock Long, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Manny J. Toro as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the Commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
For further information media should contact the FEMA News Desk at (202) 646-3272 or FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.
President Donald J. Trump Approves Alabama Disaster Declaration
Issued on: April 26, 2018
Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Alabama and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and tornadoes during the period of March 19-20, 2018.
The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Calhoun, Cullman, and Etowah.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding also is available to the State and to eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and tornadoes in the counties of Calhoun, Cullman, Etowah, and St. Clair.
Furthermore, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Brock Long, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Thomas J. McCool as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
For further information media should contact the FEMA News Desk at (202) 646-3272 or FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.
