In-town pool report #4
- From
- Swapna Venugopal
- Sent
- Thursday, October 16, 2025, 1:51 PM
Here are some details from WH Press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s gaggle including the Trump-Putin call, the judge’s ruling on RIFs. Other topics included the situation in Venezuela and IRS appointments. (A recording is attached at the bottom)
The POTUS call with Putin included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and VP JD Vance.
“It was a very good, productive call,” Leavitt said. “President Putin congratulated President Trump for solving the conflict on Israela nd Gaza and brining peace back to the Middle East.”
“He also thanked the first lady for her efforts to bring back children and save children in this brutal conflict.”
“The president feels great progress was made on this call.”
High level staff from the US and Russia might convene as early as next week.
“They talked about Budapest as being a location for the meeting (between Trump and Putin.) ”
Asked if there was a possibility of Putin and Ukrainian president Zelenskyy meeting, she said “I think he thinks it's possible.”
On court case that prevented RIFs.
“I have a very strong response. This is another far left judge who was smacked down by the Supreme Court in July for ruling on this exact same thing. In May, this judge tried to say that the president of the United States does not have the executive authority to hire and fire in the executive branch. Literally, nobody would ever try to make that argument except for someone who is extremely partisan. And of course the Supreme Court rejected that ruling in July and they said no, the president does have the ability and the legal authority to fire people from the federal government.”
Here's a link to the recording: https://www.temi.com/editor/t/tv3GQX-_z9KJfTQF_-NaC-I-0NDREXvj37VIq0X6ET-vyc0OXFt9y6SoNYSlaYNaLQhsEOf0w-CbjfOeIm3RBKOe6sM?loadFrom=SharedLink
Here’s a Truth Social Post by POTUS, sent at
“ I have just concluded my telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, and it was a very productive one. President Putin congratulated me and the United States on the Great Accomplishment of Peace in the Middle East, something that, he said, has been dreamed of for centuries. I actually believe that the Success in the Middle East will help in our negotiation in attaining an end to the War with Russia/Ukraine. President Putin thanked the First Lady, Melania, for her involvement with children. He was very appreciative, and said that this will continue. We also spent a great deal of time talking about Trade between Russia and the United States when the War with Ukraine is over. At the conclusion of the call, we agreed that there will be a meeting of our High Level Advisors, next week. The United States’ initial meetings will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, together with various other people, to be designated. A meeting location is to be determined. President
Putin and I will then meet in an agreed upon location, Budapest, Hungary, to see if we can bring this “inglorious” War, between Russia and Ukraine, to an end. President Zelenskyy and I will be meeting tomorrow, in the Oval Office, where we will discuss my conversation with President Putin, and much more. I believe great progress was made with today’s telephone conversation.”
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115384956858741387
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
White House Correspondent
USA TODAY
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