REMAKRS: CIA Director John Ratcliffe Speaks at White House Briefing With Trump on Iran

[0:00] Steve Witkoff's over here. He's doing fantastically. Jared Kushner. [0:04] But the people that are here, the job they did is amazing. [0:08] And I think I'm going to introduce the head of the CIA, and he is a man who is central casting, okay? [0:16] If we cast a movie, he's going to play the head of the CIA. He's one of the few. [0:21] John Ratcliffe, he did a phenomenal job that night. [0:25] He did something that I don't know if you want to talk about it. [0:27] If you want, you can. I'm not sure he's supposed to. I'm not going to talk about it. [0:30] But he really, the CIA, was very responsible for finding this little speck. [0:35] It's like they used an expression on one of the shows the general was talking about. [0:40] It's like finding a needle in a haystack, finding this pilot. [0:44] And the CIA was unbelievable. [0:46] And you may, if you can, you'll talk. It might be classified, in which case I'd have to put him in jail if he talks about it. [0:53] And I don't want to put him in jail. He doesn't deserve that. [0:56] So, John, do you want to say a few words? Thank you. [0:58] Thank you, Mr. President. [1:02] It's a privilege to be here with you. [1:04] It's a privilege to be here with you today to share what we can about this exceptional mission [1:08] and to recognize the ingenuity and bravery of those who executed it, [1:14] as well as the leadership and resolve of the president who ordered it. [1:19] One thing that has been clear to me in this role is that the flawless military operations [1:24] that the Department of War is known for are hostage to flawless intelligence. [1:30] We saw that in the skies over Iran in Operation Midnight Hammer last summer. [1:35] We witnessed it in Venezuela. [1:37] During Operation Absolute Resolve, we've seen it against the cartels in the Western Hemisphere and we're seeing it every day in Operation Epic Fury, [1:47] including this mission to rescue an aviator buried deep behind enemy lines. [1:54] Because it is the unique tradition of the U.S. armed forces that we leave no man or woman behind. [2:02] This was a no-fail mission. [2:04] That was the spirit in which the President put us to work. [2:08] And we were determined not to let him down or our airmen down. [2:11] down. [2:14] As an agency, the CIA possesses unique capabilities that only the President can deploy. [2:21] Some of these capabilities fall under covert action authorities, and because covert means [2:26] exactly that, I'm not going to be able to tell you everything that you want to know. [2:34] At the President's direction, we deployed both human assets and exquisite technologies [2:39] that no other intelligence service in the world possesses to a daunting challenge comparable [2:45] to hunting for a single grain of sand in the middle of a desert. [2:52] This was also a race against the clock, as it was critical that we locate the downed [2:56] aviator as quickly as possible, while at the same time keeping our enemies misdirected. [3:04] For that reason, in addition to the human and technical assets deployed by the President [3:11] to find our airmen, CIA executed a deception campaign to confuse the Iranians who were [3:17] desperately hunting for our airmen. [3:20] On Saturday morning, we achieved our primary objective by finding and providing confirmation [3:28] that one of America's best and bravest was alive and concealed in a mountain crevice, [3:35] still invisible to the enemy, but not to the CIA. [3:40] That confirmation was relayed by Secretary Hegseth to the President, and the operation [3:45] quickly moved to the execution phase. [3:49] Following the successful exfiltration on Saturday night, our intelligence reflects [3:54] that the Iranians were embarrassed. [3:56] They were also embarrassed and ultimately humiliated by the success of this audacious [4:00] rescue mission. [4:03] When the President asked me to lead the CIA, he made it clear, get back to basics, no [4:09] politics, no agendas, tackle the hardest problems, and execute the toughest missions. [4:16] This President is about results, and now that's what his CIA is about too. [4:23] The professionals at the agency and at the Department of War deserve immense credit for [4:29] their flawless execution during this difficult time. [4:31] Thank you. [4:31] SECRETARY POMPEO. [4:32] Thank you very much, Mr. President. [4:33] Let me make one comment. [4:34] One thing about the American people is that they have no force or instinct to act with [4:38] dare mischief. [4:41] There are many great people and many great people who are successful at their best during [4:45] mission. [4:46] Their skill, creativity and courage are unmatched on the battlefield wherever they step. [4:50] But none of that matters, and all of that is wasted without a President with the political [4:56] courage to put them into action. [4:57] Mr. President, I've had the privilege of seeing you act with political courage and the best [5:04] interest of the United States up close on a daily basis. [5:06] And I'm grateful that this successful mission has given the American people a window into [5:08] our service members' confidence is boosted by a Commander-in-Chief who has their back [5:14] the same way they have yours. [5:16] And I know that the confidence of CIA's officers is boosted by the knowledge that their work [5:23] is in forming a President who is not afraid to make the hardest decisions when the stakes [5:29] are highest. [5:31] And to the American people, your confidence should be boosted by knowing that the security [5:37] of the nation is in the hands of a President who is willing to take on problems that have [5:43] confounded both sides of the political aisle for nearly half a century. [5:47] It is an honor to serve under a leader who just proved that you can believe him when [5:54] he says, no matter what, we will leave no one behind. [6:00] We will come for you. [6:02] Thank you. [6:12] Well, John, thank you for the collaboration of the CIA as well. [6:14] Incredible and ongoing partnership. [6:17] Ladies and gentlemen, fellow Americans, and especially the brave warriors in our armed [6:21] forces. [6:21] Over this Easter weekend, the United States military has once again proved why we possess [6:28] the greatest fighting force the world has ever known. [6:32] In two extraordinary combat search and rescue operations deep inside enemy territory in [6:38] Iran, our warriors executed missions of breathtaking skill, courage, and precision. [6:46] When our warriors are unleashed, as this President has allowed them to be, they are unstoppable. [6:54] When American airmen were downed by the enemy, they were unstoppable. [6:55] When we were downed behind enemy lines, our forces and our President did not hesitate. [7:00] Special operators supported by elite air crews and intelligence professionals moved swiftly [7:04] and decisively into treacherous mountain terrain under the constant threat of Iranian forces [7:10] closing in. [7:11] Ultimately, it was an impotent Iranian threat. [7:16] And today, as the CIA director mentioned, Iran's military, and we know this, is embarrassed [7:21] and humiliated. [7:23] And they should be. [7:25] Now, these are not routine operations. [7:26] They were high-risk, high-stakes missions conducted in the heart of enemy territory. [7:31] This was not just barely into Iran. [7:33] This was deep into Iran, involving coordinated strikes to suppress threats, deception tactics [7:38] to protect our teams, and full synchronization across air ground and special operations. [7:45] The Iranians are still asking themselves right now, how did the Americans do this? [7:52] One downed airman evaded capture for more than a day, scaling rugged ridges while hunted [7:57] by the enemy. [7:58] When he was finally able to activate his emergency transponder, his first message was simple [8:06] and it was powerful. [8:07] He sent a message, God is good. [8:12] In that moment of isolation and danger, his faith and fighting spirit shone through. [8:18] You see, shot down on a Friday, Good Friday, hidden in a cave, a crevice, all of Saturday, [8:28] and rescued on Sunday. [8:31] Flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday. [8:34] That's what happened. [8:35] A pilot reborn, all home and accounted for, a nation rejoicing. [8:44] God is good. [8:47] Despite incoming fire and unforgiving conditions, our troops brought every American home. [8:52] No American lives were lost. [8:55] We leave no man behind, and that is not luck. [8:58] It's the result of unmatched training, superior technology, an unbreakable warrior ethos, [9:04] and sheer American grit. [9:07] Our special operators, pilots, and support crews performed. [9:10] Performed with near perfection under fire. [9:14] And they were lethal. [9:17] Just ask any Iranian soldier who dared attempt to get anywhere near that pilot before or [9:23] during that mission. [9:25] Death from above. [9:28] Our troops turned a potential tragedy into a resounding demonstration of American resolve [9:32] and capability. [9:34] That's what excellence in uniform looks like. [9:38] But make no mistake about it, none of this would have been possible without the courageous [9:43] leadership. [9:44] And ironclad determination of President Donald J. Trump. [9:50] From the moment our airmen went down, President Trump made it clear we will leave no one behind. [9:56] The first mission, the first of two, was an audacious daylight thunder run right up the [10:03] middle. [10:04] It was authorized in less than two hours from that pilot going down when we knew where he [10:10] was. [10:12] And it was authorized in the middle of the night because anybody that's worked for this [10:15] man knows he's up in the middle of the night. [10:17] It was authorized immediately, without hesitation, audaciously. [10:21] The second mission, as soon as we knew where that pilot was, and John was certainly helpful [10:25] in that, also executed immediately. [10:30] You know, I looked up at my screen when the final mission was complete inside our SCIF, [10:33] our secure facility. [10:34] And we have a running VTC, a running coordination cell. [10:39] And the top of it read 45 minutes and 45 hours and 56 minutes. [10:47] For 45 hours and 56 minutes, we held that call open for coordination. [10:50] First of all, we had to do it. [10:50] From the moment our pilots went down, our mission was unblinking. [10:56] The call never dropped. [10:57] The meeting never stopped. [10:59] The planning never ceased. [11:02] The president demanded rapid, decisive action. [11:05] He backed our military with the full weight of his resolve, refusing to let enemy propaganda [11:09] or tactical setbacks deter us. [11:12] His leadership ensured that every lethal and nonlethal resource was brought to bear, that [11:17] our forces had the authorities and the support they needed to succeed. [11:22] When the president says he has the backs of our warfighters, he means it, and it means [11:27] a great deal, and it's a big difference on the battlefield. [11:32] President Trump understands that peace through strength is not a slogan. [11:36] It is a doctrine that saves American lives. [11:40] His unwavering commitment to rebuilding our military and restoring the warrior spirit [11:44] has paid dividends in missions just like this one. [11:49] Under his command, America projects power with confidence and brings our people home [11:54] with confidence. [11:55] And that continues today, by the way. [11:58] Per the president's direction, today will be the largest volume of strikes since day [12:01] one of this operation. [12:03] Tomorrow, even more than today. [12:06] And then Iran has a choice. [12:08] Choose wisely, because this president does not play around. [12:14] You can ask Soleimani. [12:16] You can ask Maduro. [12:17] You can ask Khomeini. [12:21] To those heroes who planned and executed these rescues, your nation stands in awe. [12:25] I stand in awe. [12:26] The chairman stands in awe. [12:27] We all stand in awe of your professionalism and your commitment. [12:29] We all stand in awe of your professionalism and bravery. [12:31] We serve for you. [12:33] You embody the very best of America. [12:35] To the rescued airmen and their families, welcome home. [12:38] Your courage and endurance, the quiet declaration of faith amid the storm inspires us all. [12:46] God is good every day. [12:50] And to our adversaries watching from Tehran, let this be a clear message. [12:55] The United States military will go anywhere at any time to protect our own and complete [13:01] the mission. [13:03] We execute with confidence. [13:04] We execute with precision. [13:05] We control the sky. [13:06] You see, we flew for seven hours in daylight over Iran to get the first pilot. [13:14] And we flew seven hours in the middle of the night to get the second. [13:18] And Iran did nothing about it. [13:22] We fight with honor. [13:23] And under President Trump's leadership, we win. [13:26] So God bless our troops. [13:28] God bless President Trump. [13:30] And God bless the United States of America. [13:31] Thank you. [13:35] Well, good afternoon, everyone. [13:37] Thank you, Mr. President. [13:38] Thank you, Mr. Secretary.