WATCH: White House holds press conference as fallout from Epstein files continues on Capitol Hill

White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said her briefing started late because she and President Donald Trump were watching new surveillance footage released by the FBI into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.

Watch the briefing in the player above.

“The President encourages any American across the country who has any knowledge of the suspect to contact the FBI, which continues to assist state and local authorities who are leading this investigation on the ground,” Leavitt said. “And again, I will reiterate that the prayers of the entire White House are with Savannah and her family at this time, and we are hopeful that this person will be found soon and that her mother will return home safely.”

Levitt said the president’s reaction to the disappearance was “pure disgust.” She said he would like to punish anyone involved “to the fullest extent of the law.”

The White House will not confirm Trump’s reported call with Epstein

Leavitt said she didn’t know if the call happened, saying it was something that “may or may not have happened in 2006.”

According to a newly released document, the police chief in Palm Beach, Florida, told the FBI that he received a call from Trump in 2006 about Jeffrey Epstein, and that Trump told him: “Thank God you stopped him.”

He watches: The White House would not confirm whether Trump contacted the Palm Beach sheriff about Epstein

Although she could not confirm the call, Levitt said its reported contents confirm Trump’s repeated claims that he ended his relationship with Epstein decades ago, and that he himself did nothing wrong.

“This call, if it happens, confirms exactly what President Trump has said from the beginning,” Leavitt said.

Trump ‘fully supports’ Commerce Secretary despite Lutnick’s ties to Epstein

Leavitt said Lutnick “remains a very important member of President Trump’s team, and the President fully supports the Secretary.”

He watches: Lutnick downplays the relationship with Epstein during his Senate testimony

Levitt was questioned after Lutnick testified before Congress on Tuesday that he met Epstein twice after Epstein’s 2008 conviction on charges of soliciting a child for prostitution. The statement contradicts Lutnick’s previous claims that he cut ties with the late financier after 2005.

Lutnick is the highest-ranking US official to face calls for his resignation from lawmakers in both political parties amid revelations of his ties to Epstein.

Levitt does not rule out pardoning Maxwell

Levitt did not rule out whether the president would grant Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s imprisoned associate, a pardon in exchange for her testimony.

He watches: The fallout from the Epstein files mounts as Ghislaine Maxwell demands fifth place before Congress

“I haven’t discussed this with the president recently, because frankly it’s not a priority,” she told reporters during a White House briefing on Tuesday. “He focuses on many of the issues that the American people are dealing with and provides solutions to those issues.”

Maxwell’s lawyer said she would be willing to cooperate with a House investigation if the president grants her clemency.

Trump will spend the week saying fossil fuels will keep costs low

Levitt said Trump will hold an event Wednesday afternoon to “promote clean, beautiful coal” and will lead a separate event Thursday on ending the 2009 risk finding for regulating greenhouse gases that fuel climate change.

Coal has the dirtiest carbon footprint of major fuels, and is a significant source of planet-warming emissions, which scientists say contribute to more extreme weather, including drought, floods and wildfires.

But the administration downplayed the health and financial risks of climate change while claiming that its efforts would reduce Americans’ energy and automobile costs.

Using coal would lead to lower electricity bills, while the EPA’s removal of the greenhouse gas findings would result in an average saving of $2,400 for light-duty vehicles, Levitt said.

Affordability remains a major concern for voters running in the midterm elections next November.

The White House says Trump “floated” the idea of ​​naming Penn Station and Dulles Airport after him

It turns out that Trump really wants one of the country’s best airports and train stations named after him.

Levitt confirmed reports last week that Trump told Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer that he would be willing to unfreeze $16 billion in funding for critical infrastructure projects in Schumer’s home state of New York if Schumer supported the idea of ​​naming Penn Station in New York City and Dulles Airport in Virginia in honor of Trump.

“This was something the president brought up in his conversation with Chuck Schumer,” Leavitt said.

The Trump administration has halted funding that would have allowed construction of a long-awaited rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey after blaming congressional Democrats for the government shutdown last fall.

Levitt says Jimmy Lai’s case is important to Trump

Levitt said Trump defended Jimmy Lai, the former Hong Kong publisher, “both privately and publicly.” She also confirmed that the president raised the issue during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea in October.

He watches: Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Beijing-backed court

“It’s important to him,” Leavitt said. “He is looking forward to visiting China in April.”

China has not yet confirmed the state visit.

Lai, 78, was sentenced on Monday to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of national security charges in a Hong Kong court, sparking condemnation from Western governments. Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio called the ruling “an unjust and tragic outcome of this case” and urged Chinese authorities to grant Lai parole on humanitarian grounds.