Iran
Before addressing the legislation, Trump told gathered reporters he had it “on good authority” that Iran’s plans for executions have stopped. Tehran had previously signaled it would pursue fast trials and executions in its response to protesters who had taken to the streets across the country, according to the Associated Press. Trump had warned for days that the United States could strike Iran militarily if mass killings continued.
Venezuela leaker
Trump then announced that a leaker connected to Venezuela had been apprehended. “The leaker has been found, and is in jail right now — and that’s the leaker on Venezuela, a very bad leaker,” he said. He did not clarify which case he was referring to. “There could be some others,” Trump added. “We’re hot on their trail.”
Executive orders and Venezuela call
Trump signed executive orders related to tariffs on semiconductors and rare earth minerals before turning back to the dairy bill.
Following the signing, Trump disclosed that he had completed his first known phone call with Delcy Rodríguez, who became Venezuela’s acting leader after the U.S. ousted President Nicolás Maduro the previous week. Trump also said he expected to be briefed on meetings between U.S. officials and leaders from Greenland and Denmark related to his push for the United States to take control of the island.
The milk
When Trump addressed the legislation itself, he gestured toward a glass bottle of whole milk that had been placed on the Resolute Desk. “You see that beautiful milk? That’s why we’re here,” he said.
Dr. Ben Carson, referred to by the Associated Press as a national nutrition adviser, compared low-fat milk to “dishwater.” A child gave the president a detailed explanation of how milk is produced. Speakers at the event described milk as “the most wholesome nutritious drink known to humankind.”
Trump joked that the bottle had “been sitting here for five days” and offered it to the press. The event ended with the bottle untouched.