The White House Flip Side, March 9, 2018

While we catch the most important stories coming from the White House as they happen, some minor stories and small details fall through the cracks on busy news days. When they do, we pick them up … on the flip side.

note: this post is updated throughout the day as events warrant

See all of the daily White House Flip Side Chronicles HERE.

Presidential Itinerary – the details

The president’s summarized daily schedules can be found HERE.

There have been no updates on the president’s meetings for the day. He received his daily intelligence briefing before noon and the rest of the day is empty of public events. His Twitter account has been silent except for the “jobs, jobs, jobs” tweet listed below.

Update: Trump took to Twitter in the afternoon and at some point during the day had a phone call with President Xi Jinping of China. The tweets are in the tweet section and readout of the China call is at the bottom of this page.

Executive Actions

Pardon of Navy Sailor Kristian Saucier

President Trump issued a Presidential pardon Friday for Navy Sailor Kristian Saucier who was jailed for taking photos of the inside of a submarine he was assigned to. The only official statement was made by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders during Friday’s press briefing.

Trump Signs H.R. 1725, H.R. 3122 and H.R. 4533 into Law

On Friday, March 9, 2018, the President signed into law:

H.R. 1725, which requires the VA to report on the progress of an initiative to improve processing of certain veterans’ claims for disability benefits;

H.R. 3122, the “Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017,” which requires the VA to publish on its Internet website a warning about certain financial and legal practices that could alter a veteran’s eligibility for benefits;

and H.R. 4533, which designates the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington, Kentucky, as the Lexington VA Health Care System and makes certain other designations.

Statements

On North Korea’s return to the negotiating table

Mike Pence issued a statement HERE.

Rally in PA on Saturday

President Trump’s re-election campaign announced a rally to be held near Pittsburgh, PA Saturday. Details HERE.

Trump’s Tweets

Executive Branch Nominations

• Elizabeth Darling of Texas, to be Commissioner on Children, Youth, and Families, Department of Health and Human Services
• Judith Mayka Stecker of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services (Public Affairs)
• James McDonnell of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary (Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction), Department of Homeland Security

Communications with Heads of State (readouts often come the day after the conversation)

Call with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia

No readout was available at the time of this posting, but President Trump tweeted out some basic information about the call:

Call with President Xi Jinping of China

President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Xi Jinping of China about recent developments related to North Korea. The two leaders welcomed the prospect of dialogue between the United States and North Korea, and committed to maintain pressure and sanctions until North Korea takes tangible steps toward complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization. President Trump expressed his hope that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un might choose a brighter path for North Koreas future.

Call with President Mauricio Macri of Argentina

President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Mauricio Macri of Argentina to discuss the strong partnership between the two countries. President Trump underscored the need for countries in the region to work together to bring democracy back to the great people of Venezuela, and the two leaders discussed potential United States tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum. They agreed to stay in touch to strengthen the robust bilateral relationship.