Remarks in an Exchange With Reporters Prior to Departure for West Palm Beach, Florida

Q. Mr. President, what decision——

Q. Do you hold Iran responsible for the death of the three Americans?

Q. Have you made a decision about what to do in the Middle East?

Attack on U.S. Servicemembers in Northeastern Jordan

Q. Have you made a decision how you'll respond to the attacks?

The President. Yes.

Q. And——

Iran/Deaths of U.S. Servicemembers in Jordan

Q. Mr. President, do you hold Iran responsible for the death of those three Americans?

Q. Mr. President, have you made a decision?

The President. I do hold responsible—them responsible in the sense that they're supplying the weapons to the people who did it.

Q. But directly responsible?

The President. Well, we'll have that discussion.

U.S. Response to the Attack

Q. [Inaudible]—how do you—how do you——

Q. These strikes have not deterred these attacks in the past. What will be different this time?

The President. We'll see.

Q. Mr. President, how do you decide——

Middle East Region

Q. Mr. President—[inaudible]—are you worried about a regional war in the Middle—a wider war in the Middle East? How worried are you?

The President. I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East. That's not what I'm looking for.

Former President Donald J. Trump/2024 Presidential Election

Q. Should Donald Trump be allowed on the ballot? Should Donald Trump be allowed on the ballot?

The President. As far as I'm concerned, that's fine.

Q. Why is he leading in the polls if he is a threat to democracy, as you say?

The President. Because guys like you. [Laughter]

Q. What am I doing? Come on.

Q. Mr. President——

The President. I'm teasing, man. I'm teasing. It's early.

[At this point, several reporters began asking questions at once.]

Border Security

Q. Mr. President, on the border, have you done everything you can do with executive authority? Or is there more you could do absent—[inaudible]?

The President. I've done all I can do. Just give me the power. I've asked from the very day I got into office. Give me the Border Patrol. Give me the people, the judges. Give me the people who can stop this and make it work right.

[Several reporters spoke at once.]

Middle East Region

Q. Is there some concern in the party about the possible escalation in the military involvement in the Middle East? What do you say to those in your party?

The President. There's concern—we'll see.