White House press conference: Sarah Sanders clashes with reporters over border wall, Michael Flynn and Trump Foundation
The White House has held its first press briifing of the month, with press secretary Sarah Sanders clashing with reporters over the news that the president's charitable Trump Foundation will be dissolved and his former national security advisor Michael Flynn appeared in court for lying to the FBI.
The White House briefing no longer really deserves the "daily" moniker with the last one being held on 27 November. Only two were held in October and one on September.
Ms Sanders said that the delay in sentencing agreed by the judge in the Flynn case was between the former White House aide and the courts.
She added that "there is certainly concern" that Flynn lied but that the courts will determine that.
Ms Sanders referred all questions on the Trump Foundation to the Trump Organisation, saying the White House could not answer.
Questions about the foundation was one of several areas where Ms Sanders exchanged prickly comments with the assembled media.
On the issue of funding for the border wall Mr Trump wants with Mexico, Ms Sanders said that while the president waits for the Congress to pass a spending bill to keep the government open, he is talking to cabinet members about directing funds from their agencies towards the wall.
To see who the press conference unfolded follow our liveblog below
The White House is facing criticism for its lack of press briefings. Ms Huckabee Sanders has only took the podium for four press briefings in September, October and November.
It is expected that the White House will be addressing Michael Flynn, a former National Security Adviser to President Donald Trump, and his sentencing for lying to the FBI. Flynn plead guilty for lying to the FBI in relation to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.
In an interview with Fox News, Ms Huckabee Sanders accused the FBI for "[breaking] every standard protocol that they have" to make a case that Flynn lied to the agency during its investigation.
The press briefing scheduled for Tuesday at 1:30 pm E.T. will be the first appearance press secretary Sarah Sanders will have with White House reporters since November 27. This is also her fifth appearance since Labor Day in September.
It is expected that reporters will ask Ms Sanders about the delayed sentencing of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Other issues that might be discussed are special counsel Robert Mueller's probe, the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on possible Russian interference in Donald Trump's 2016 presidential win, the appointment of acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, and funding for a wall on the US-Mexico border.
A CNN White House reporter said protesters chanted "Lock him up!" as Michael Flynn left the court building. The chant is similar to the one Flynn said during Mr Trumps's campaign rallies when referring to Hillary Clinton.
The White House is about 30 minutes behind its scheduled 1:30 pm ET briefing. The press briefing follows Michael Flynn's sentencing hearing and a WH announcement that Mr Trump will support a bipartisan deal—$1.6B for border security vs. the previous $5B demand—to prevent a government shutdown before the holidays.
When Sarah Sanders asked if Flynn was ambushed by the FBI, she said: "No, we still firmly believe." Flynn, however, admitted he lied under oath. He was not entrapped.
Ms Sanders said Mr Trump will be going to Davos in 2019 along with a delegation including Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.
"We also know that the President never colluded with Russia," Ms Sanders said referring to concerns with the president and Flynn's involvement in possible Russian interference.
Ms Sanders says all cabinet secretaries are looking for funding to build the border wall. In regards to seeking funding from Congress, Ms Sanders said she is waiting to see what the Senate passes.
“We know Russia tried to create chaos,” Ms Sanders said when asked about possible Russian interference in Mr Trump's 2016 presidential win. She said Trump won in 2016 was because “he was the better candidate."
"We're disappointed in the fact that [the Senate has] yet to actually vote on something ... so when they do that we'll make a determination on whether or not we're going to sign that," Ms Sanders said regarding the fight over border wall funding and the looming government shut down.
"We’re not asking American taxpayers for that," Ms Sanders asked when asked if it's fair to place the burden of paying for the border wall on tax payers through federal agencies when he promised that Mexico will pay for that wall.
Ms Sanders said the money would be coming from unspent money in government agencies.
Ms Sanders said the president has given no firm commitment to Turkey on extraditing Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish Muslim cleric living in exile in the US, but said he will have "to take a look at it."
