In-town pool report #6: POTUS takes questions

"Don't worry about it," the president says, asked about whether he's concerned these cuts are coming at the expense of public health and the environment.

He touted economic growth under his leadership, using some common refrains.

On Iran and his meeting with Netanyahu: "We have to make a deal or it's going to be very traumatic."

"I'll talk to them as long as I like," he said of his communications of Iran.

"They should have made a deal the first time they got Midnight Hammer and said, and this will be very dramatic for Iran. If they don't make a deal, then it'll be a different story. But we had a very good meeting yesterday with Bibi Netanyahu, and he understands, but it's ultimately up to me, if the deal isn't a very fair deal and a very good deal with Iran, then it's going to be, I think, a very difficult time," he continued.

On the looming partial shutdown, the president indicated that he last spoke with Chuck Schumer a week ago: "They have some things that are really very hard to very, very hard to approve. Frankly, as you know, it only it's only pretend. We have various of the other bills that's all done, but we're left with this one."

He's still taking questions. More TK.

Megan Messerly

White House reporter

POLITICO