Politics

 Today, we reflect on the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and recommit to honoring his moral vision on the path to redeeming the soul of our Nation.      Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born into America when racial segregation was the law of the land.  He had every reason to believe that history had already been written and division would be our Nation’s destiny.  But Dr. King rejected that outcome.  He heard Scripture’s command to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly.  He clung to the Declaration of Independence’s promise of equality for…

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, let me just say briefly what a pleasure it is to be with the secretary-general, as always, but especially in this time where the United Nations is playing such a critical, vital role.  We have a lot of important things to go over, starting, of course, with Gaza and the conflict between Israel and Hamas.  I’ve seen every day what the United Nations is doing with the extraordinary courage and bravery of its people to try to make sure that people who desperately need it get the help, the assistance, the support they need – Palestinians in…

Aboard Air Force OneEn Route Allentown, Pennsylvania 12:57 P.M. EST MR. BATES: Good morning. Q Good morning. MR. BATES: I have a few things at the top. And then Admiral Kirby is going to take questions. We are on our way to Pennsylvania, where the President will visit several small businesses in Lehigh Valley and the Allentown area. Allentown, a historic steel town, was hollowed out by failed trickle-down economics. But thanks to Bidenomics and the President’s Investing in America agenda, Allentown and communities nationwide are experiencing an economic comeback. As we saw yesterday, the President’s economic agenda is working,…

Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs James C. O’Brien was in Kyiv, Ukraine today, where he met with Ukrainian Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak, Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, and Minister of Reconstruction Oleksandr Kubrakov to discuss preparations for winter, economic recovery efforts, and to reiterate enduring U.S. support in the face of Russia’s aggression. Assistant Secretary O’Brien will travel to Warsaw, Poland December 19 where he will meet with senior officials in the newly formed Polish government to build upon our already strong bilateral relationship and discuss our continued support for Ukraine. …

Jill and I are devastated to learn that American Judy Weinstein is also believed to have been killed by Hamas on October 7. This tragic development cuts deep, coming on the heels of last week’s news that Judy’s beloved husband, Gad Haggai, is believed to have been killed by Hamas. We are holding Judy and Gad’s four children, seven grandchildren, and other loved ones close to our hearts.  I will never forget what their daughter, and the family members of other Americans held hostage in Gaza, have shared with me. They have been living through hell for weeks. No family…

Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma will travel to Sacramento and Roseville, California, December 20.  In Roseville, the Deputy Secretary will welcome approximately 750 new U.S. citizens participating in a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization ceremony.  In Sacramento, the Deputy Secretary will meet with Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis to discuss how the State Department can continue to deliver for the people of California, including by facilitating tourism and safe travel, academic and business exchanges, and promoting international trade and investment.      Official news published at https://www.state.gov/deputy-secretary-verma-travels-to-sacramento-california/

President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador received yesterday in Mexico City a delegation of senior officials from the United States led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House Homeland Security Advisor Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall. President López Obrador thanked President Joe Biden for sending the U.S. delegation to Mexico following the two leaders’ telephone conversation last week focused on migration management. The two countries reaffirmed their existing commitments on fostering an orderly, humane, and regular migration. This includes reinforcing our partnership to address the root causes of migration, such as poverty, inequality, and…

U.S. Deputy Special Representative Jung Pak held a trilateral call with Republic of Korea (ROK) Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Kim Gunn and Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Namazu Hiroyuki to discuss the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) December 17 intercontinental ballistic missile launch. They strongly condemned the launch, which violated multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions and undermined peace and stability in the region and the world. They emphasized the importance of continuing close trilateral consultations and responses, including at the UN Security Council, to mitigate the threat posed by the DPRK.  They also called for the full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and urged the DPRK to return to…

Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Paul Whelan Official news published at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/12/28/statement-from-national-security-advisor-jake-sullivan-on-paul-whelan/

A comprehensive bilateral tax treaty between the United States and Chile enters into force today. The Chile tax treaty is the first new comprehensive bilateral tax treaty signed by the United States to enter into force in more than ten years. The U.S. Senate provided advice and consent to ratification of the treaty on June 22, 2023, and President Biden signed the instrument of ratification in December. The treaty entered into force today when the United States notified Chile that it had completed the required procedures for bringing the treaty into force.   The Chile tax treaty will reduce tax-related barriers to cross-border investment between the United States…