NEW: President Trump takes aim at #China right as he steps to the podium
"China's pattern of misconduct is well known" per @POTUS at White House news conference "For decades they've ripped off the United States like no one has ever done before..."
"#China raided our factories, off-shored our jobs, gutted out industries, stole our intellectual properties & violated their commitments" says @POTUS
"I have never solely blamed #China for this. They were able to get away w/the theft...because of past politicians and frankly past presidents" add @POTUS
"My administration negotiated & fought for what was right ... fair and reciprocal treatment"
"#China has also unlawfully claimed territory in the Pacific Ocean, threatening freedom of navigation...and they broke their word to the world on ensuring the autonomy of #HongKong" per @POTUS
"The #UnitedStates wants an open & constructive relatioship w/#China but achieving that relationship requires us to vigorously defend our national interests" per @POTUS
"The world is now suffering as a result of the malfeasance of the Chinese gvt" per @POTUS "China's coverup of the Wuhan virus allowed the disease to spread all over the world, instigating a global pandemic that has cost more than 100,000 American lives..."
"#China has total control over the World Health Organization despite paying only $40 million per year" alleges @POTUS, saying US pays $450 million a year
BREAKING: "Because they have failed to make the requested & greatly needed reforms we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization" says @POTUS
Says funds will be redirected to other global health groups
"The world needs answers from #China on the virus. We must have transparency" demands @POTUS re #COVID19#coronavirus "...not only for us but for the rest of the world"
NEW: @POTUS says he is issuing proclamation to better secure US university research & to suspect the entry of certain individuals from #China who pose security risks
.@POTUS says US also taking closer look at investment in #China
"Investment firms should not be subjecting their clients to the hidden & undue risks associated w/financing Chinese companies that don't play by the same rules"
HAPPENING NOW - US intelligence chiefs testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee:
@ODNIgov Dir Avril Haines
@CIA Dir William Burns
@FBI Dir Christoper Wray
@NSAGov Dir Gen Timothy Haugh
@DefenseIntel Dir LtGen Jeffrey Krause
@StateDept Asst Sec for Intel Brett Holmgren
Noting that the current era is as challenging as ever, with a wide variety of threats, Senate Intelligence Committee Chair @MarkWarner calls for "redefining what we think of" when it comes to national security
@MarkWarner "We are no even seeing the possibility of foreign adversaries weaponizing space" in ways that could be detrimental to US way of life, per @MarkWarner
NEW: @FBI joins White House, Senate intelligence committee chair in sounding alarm about foreign interference in #Election2024
"This election cycle, the US will face more adversaries, moving at a faster pace & enabled by new technology
per Dir Christopher Wray at @INSAlliance
#ArtificialIntelligence advances "lowering the barrier to entry-making it easier for both more & less-sophisticated foreign adversaries to engage in malign influence" per @FBI's Wray
"Making foreign influence efforts by players old and&new more realistic & difficult to detect"
@FBI Where are US adversaries focused?
“The attack surface for the bad guys is the private sector” per @FBI's Wray "The intelligence that we need is in the hands of the private sector, often”
NEW: US worried about #Russia seeking to interfere in #Election2024
"Of course there are concerns" White House Nat'l Security Adviser @JakeSullivan46 tells @MeetThePress
"There's plenty of reason to be concerned" per @JakeSullivan46
"There is a history here in presidential elections by the #Russia|n Federation, by its intelligence services" he says
"We are going to be vigilant"
Concerns about #Russia|n interference in #Election2024 "not about politics" per @JakeSullivan46
"This is about national security. It is about a foreign country, a foreign adversary seeking to manipulate the politics & democracy of the United States of America."
NEW: US confirms #Houthis using "various #Iran|ian-origin missiles & unmanned aerial vehicles" in their attacks on shipping in the #RedSea #GulfofAden
Conclusion based on new analysis by @DefenseIntel
The assessment is based on information current as January 2024 - including a "comparative analysis of publicly available images of #Iran|ian missiles & UAVs to those displayed & employed by #Houthi forces in #Yemen to attack commercial shipping" per @DefenseIntel
US @DefenseIntel on #Iran|ian drones in #Houthi arsenal:
-Sayad (Sammad) - range of 1800km
-Shahed-136 - range of 2500km
-Waid-1 (version of the Shahed-131) - range of 900km
AQ "established up to 8 new training camps in Afghanistan, including four in #Ghazni, #Laghman, #Parwan & #Uruzgan Provinces w/a new base to stockpile weaponry in the #Panjshir Valley" per new @UN report
The new #alQaida camps appear to be "conducting suicide bomber training for TTP [Tehrik-i-Taliban #Pakistan]" per the @UN report
Intelligence provided by @UN member states also notes #alQaida is operating madrasas in #Laghman, #Kunar, #Nangarhar, #Nuristan & #Parwan provinces
AQ also "maintains safe houses to facilitate the movement between #Afghanistan & the Islamic Republic of #Iran"
NEW: @usairforce disciplines 15 Air National Guard members as a result of the so-called Discord intel leak this past April
Inspector General report cited lax inspections, lack of guidance & lack of supervision as contributing factors in the leaks by 21-year-old Jack Teixeira
"The IG investigation found individuals in Teixeira’s unit failed to take proper action after becoming aware of his intelligence-seeking activities..." per @usairforce statement
"...However, the investigation did not find evidence that members of Teixeira’s supervisory chain were aware of his alleged unauthorized disclosures" per @usairforce