White House 1600 Daily: President Trump proclaims Small Business Week

Driving the Day

President Donald J. Trump will hold meetings today with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari at the White House. President Buhari’s visit comes after President Trump hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron last week. Watch live at 1:30 p.m. ET.

President Trump proclaims Small Business Week

Today marks the beginning of Small Business Week. The U.S. Small Business Administration under Administrator Linda McMahon has been committed to expanding opportunity for entrepreneurs and job creators across the country. In addition to other events this week, SBA is hosting a 3-day virtual conference beginning tomorrow. “Small businesses are at the heart of our Nation,” President Trump writes in his Proclamation. “Our country’s 30 million small businesses employ nearly 58 million Americans — 48 percent of the labor force. Each year, small businesses create two-out-of-three net new, private-sector jobs in the United States.” The Administration’s economic program reflects that fact. In addition to ongoing regulatory rollback across the Federal government, the United States now operates “under a globally competitive tax system for the first time in decades,” according to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Learn more about Small Business Week 2018. Out today: Secretary Ross on tax reform’s results for U.S. workers and businesses.

What they’re saying: Secretary Pompeo on the job

Last week, the Senate confirmed former CIA Director Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State in a bipartisan vote. On Friday, the day after his confirmation, he took his first overseas trip as Secretary to Belgium to meet with NATO leaders. Officials from across the political spectrum praise Pompeo’s record. “Mike Pompeo is one of the most outstanding nominees we could have for Secretary of State,” Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-TN) says. “In his role at the CIA, Mr. Pompeo has demonstrated the ability to be an effective manager and operator on the world stage,” Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) adds. President Trump urges the Senate to move quickly on other key nominations. Among the most important is Secretary Pompeo’s successor as CIA Director. Gina Haspel, the President’s nominee, has spent 33 years of her life serving America in dangerous posts and foreign capitals around the globe. Before becoming CIA Deputy Director last year, she had served seven field tours and held three leadership positions at the CIA. Read more about bipartisan support for Secretary Pompeo and learn more about President Trump’s nominee for CIA Director, Gina Haspel.