Press session: President answers questions on Kennedy Center renovation, border, Iran, Trevor Noah/Jeffrey Epstein claim
February 02, 2026 | Department of State, Executive, Federal
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After announcing Project Vault, the president took questions from reporters on a range of topics.
On the Kennedy Center renovation, the president estimated the cost "probably around $200,000,000," said the center would close around July 4 for major work, and argued a full closure was needed to do the job properly. On the Federal Reserve he praised its leadership but gave no policy specifics.
Asked about Colombian President Gustavo Petro and drug trafficking, the president said he expected to discuss drugs and described recent changes in Petro's tone. On Iran, when pressed about the threshold for military action, he said he could not disclose operational details and that forces were moving while negotiations continued.
On body cameras in Minneapolis and border security the president said the body camera decision "wasn't my decision" but that cameras are generally useful for law enforcement, and he repeated a figure from a report claiming "0" people crossing the border in recent months (the transcript notes he cited a report he characterized as left‑leaning). On the government shutdown he said he had spoken with House leadership and believed they were "pretty close to a resolution."
When asked about comments by Trevor Noah, which referenced Jeffrey Epstein, the president denied any involvement: "I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein," and criticized the media coverage as politically motivated.
The session closed with the president reiterating themes of industrial revival tied to Project Vault and thanking attendees. Many of the reporters who asked questions are unnamed in the transcript; their questions are summarized and attributed generically to "reporters."
On the Kennedy Center renovation, the president estimated the cost "probably around $200,000,000," said the center would close around July 4 for major work, and argued a full closure was needed to do the job properly. On the Federal Reserve he praised its leadership but gave no policy specifics.
Asked about Colombian President Gustavo Petro and drug trafficking, the president said he expected to discuss drugs and described recent changes in Petro's tone. On Iran, when pressed about the threshold for military action, he said he could not disclose operational details and that forces were moving while negotiations continued.
On body cameras in Minneapolis and border security the president said the body camera decision "wasn't my decision" but that cameras are generally useful for law enforcement, and he repeated a figure from a report claiming "0" people crossing the border in recent months (the transcript notes he cited a report he characterized as left‑leaning). On the government shutdown he said he had spoken with House leadership and believed they were "pretty close to a resolution."
When asked about comments by Trevor Noah, which referenced Jeffrey Epstein, the president denied any involvement: "I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein," and criticized the media coverage as politically motivated.
The session closed with the president reiterating themes of industrial revival tied to Project Vault and thanking attendees. Many of the reporters who asked questions are unnamed in the transcript; their questions are summarized and attributed generically to "reporters."
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