President Trump could consider visiting Pakistan
Q On Pakistan, would this White House agree with Donald Trump’s description that Pakistan is “amazing” and that its citizens are “one of the most intelligent people”? That’s the description the Foreign Ministry provided of the conversation that Trump had with their prime minister yesterday.
Earnest: I saw the read-out of the telephone call that you’re referring to. I can’t speak to the accuracy or to the tone of that phone call. I’d refer you to the president-elect’s team for more of a description of what the president-elect may have communicated to the prime minister of Pakistan. Obviously, President Obama’s conversations with his counterpart in Pakistan have been an important priority.
The US relationship with Pakistan is one that’s quite complicated, particularly when you consider our overlapping national security interests. The relations between our two countries, particularly over the last eight years, have not been smooth — consistently smooth, particularly in the aftermath of the raid on Pakistani soil that President Obama ordered to take Osama bin Laden off the battlefield.
But this obviously is an important relationship. There have been areas where the United States and Pakistan have been able to effectively coordinate our efforts. But one of the things that I’m reminded of is that every president, regardless of which party they’re in, benefits enormously from the expertise and service of thousands of patriotic Americans at the State Department.
These are men and women — some of them are career Foreign Service Officers. Some of them are just career civil servants. But these are individuals who are committed and passionate about serving our country and representing our country overseas, regardless of who the President is. And President Obama benefitted enormously from the advice and expertise that’s been shared by those who serve at the State Department. And I’m confident that as president-elect Trump takes office, those same State Department employees will stand ready to offer him advice as he conducts the business of the United States overseas. Hopefully he’ll take it.
Q According to their read-out, Trump also said he’d like to visit Pakistan. And I know President Obama has never been there.
Earnest: Not as President.
Q Not as President. Is there anything you can say about why he never visited as president?
Earnest: Yeah, at one point in his presidency, I do recall President Obama expressing a desire to travel to Pakistan. For a variety of reasons, some of them relating to the complicated relationship between our two countries at certain times over the last eight years, President Obama was not able to realise that ambition.
But one thing we do know is that it sends a powerful message to the people of a country when the President of the United States goes to visit. And that’s true whether it’s some of our closest allies, or that’s also true if it’s a country like Pakistan, with whom our relationship is somewhat more complicated. But ultimately, when President Trump begins planning his overseas travel, he’ll have a range of places to consider, and Pakistan would certainly be one of them.
Q Fifteen more questions. (Laughter.) Okay, so Pakistan read out this phone call with Trump, and they included direct quotes, saying in part, “You have a very good reputation. You’re a terrific guy. You’re doing amazing work, which is visible in every way. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.” So does this — given the meetings that we’ve seen and the ways that they were conducted, as well as the phone calls and the contacts that have been made with foreign leaders — do you think that this signals a different kind of engagement around the world? And does the administration have concerns so far?
Earnest: Well, listen, I mean, what you have read from is a readout that was put out by the Pakistani government reflecting a conversation and reflecting the words chosen by the president-elect. So I just don’t have a lot of insight into either of those things.
So what I can say is that President Obama benefitted from the professionalism and expertise of career diplomats at the State Department, who were able to offer him good advice about engaging with world leaders. And every president has benefitted from that advice, and I think that President Trump would certainly benefit from it in the same way that President Obama did when he took office.
QThanks, Josh. A couple of times you’ve been asked about the calls between the president-elect and the leader of Pakistan. You’ve mentioned that there are career diplomats at the State Department who are able and willing to help the president get ready for those types of discussions. Is that to be read as some kind of a tacit criticism of Trump for not taking advantage and talking to the State Department before making several calls to world leaders?
Earnest: No, I can’t speak to any conversations that the president-elect may have had with the State Department. It’s possible that he was briefed by the State Department before that call. I just — I don’t know, you’d have to ask them. I think I’m just making the observation that there are dedicated experts, public servants at the State Department that have years of experience that they have amassed and that they’re prepared to use to advise the incoming president. And President Obama benefitted from that expertise, and I’m sure that President Trump will, as well.