White House defends US evacuation plans for Americans stranded in the Middle East

Описание: (AP) White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the Trump administration's evacuation plans for Americans stranded in the Middle East Wednesday insisting "there have been plans in place" and the State Department has been clear to those in the region to leave immediately.

The president's top spokeswoman pushed back against criticisms that the administration didn't do enough to ensure Americans could leave the Middle East following the U.S. strike in Iran.

"We will help every single American who wants to come home if they're making that request of the State Department," she said.

Leavitt also said a State Department hotline that told callers not to rely on help from the U.S. government to leave the region has been corrected.

The press secretary also said Spain has agreed to cooperate with US operations in the Mideast after Trump had threatened to cut off trade with Madrid.

“With respect to Spain, I think they heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “And it’s my understanding over the past several hours, they’ve agreed to cooperate with the US military. And so I know that the US military is coordinating with their counterparts in Spain.”

Trump on Tuesday said he was going to “cut off all trade with Spain,” the day after Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said his country would not allow the U.S. to use jointly operated bases in southern Spain in any strikes not covered by the United Nations’ charter.

Courtesy: Associated Press

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