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The President:
Thank you very much.
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We appreciate it.
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We are having a meeting
today, which had a much
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larger group than this.
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This is the finals.
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But we discussed
many things.
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One of them obviously,
was North Korea.
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We discussed Venezuela.
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We discussed Afghanistan
and the Middle East Generally.
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We had some very good
meetings, some very good
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ideas, very good thoughts,
and a lot of
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decisions were made.
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This is a very
important day actually.
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Made a lot of decisions.
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With that, if you
have any questions?
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Yes?
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Male Reporter: Did you
make any decision
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on Afghanistan?
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Whether to add
additional --
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The President: Yeah,
we're getting close.
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We're getting very close.
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It's a very big
decision for me.
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I took over a mess.
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And we're going to make
it a lot less messy.
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But that has been a place.
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Seventeen years, our
longest war as I read in
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one of your columns.
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And frankly, it's going to
be a decision that's going
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to be made very soon.
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Male Reporter: And do you
have full confidence in
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our national security
in relation to --
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The President: Yes I do.
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General McMaster?
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Male Reporter: Yeah.
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The President: Absolutely.
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He's our friend.
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He's my friend.
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And he's a very
talented man.
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I like him.
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And I respect him.
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Female Reporter: Sir, why
did you decide to announce
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the transgender ban
reversal a couple of weeks
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ago and are you betraying
a community that you
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pledged to support?
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The President: No.
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No.
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Look, I have great respect
for the community.
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I think I have great
support, or I've had great
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support from
that community.
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I got a lot of votes.
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But the transgender, the
military is
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working on it now.
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They're doing the work.
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It's been a very
difficult situation.
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And I think I'm doing a
lot of people a favor by
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coming out and
just saying it.
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As you know, it's been a
very complicated issue
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for the military.
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It's been a very confusing
issue for the military.
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And I think I'm doing the
military a great favor.
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Male Reporter 2:
Mr. President.
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Do you have any response
to the Russian president
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expelling 755 workers
from our institutions?
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The President: No I want
to thank him because we're
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trying to cut
down on payroll.
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And as far as I'm
concerned, I'm very
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thankful that he let go of
a large number of people
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because now we have
a smaller payroll.
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There's no real reason
for them to go back.
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So I greatly appreciate
the fact that they've been
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able to cut our payroll
for the United States.
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We'll save a lot of money.
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Male Reporter 3: Mr.
President was it
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appropriate for the FBI
to raid the home of Paul
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Manafort, free Don and --
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The President: I thought
it was a very very strong
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signal or whatever.
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I know Mr. Manafort -- I
haven't spoken to him in a
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long time but I know he
was with the campaign as
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you know for a very short
period of time, relatively
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short period of time.
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But I've always known
him to be a good man.
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I thought it was a very,
you know -- they do that
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very seldom.
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So I was surprised
to see it.
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I was very very
surprised to see it.
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Male Reporter 3:
Have you spoken --
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The President: We haven't
really been involved.
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Excuse me?
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Male Reporter 3: Have you
spoken to the FBI director
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about it or the --
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The President:
No, I have not.
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I have not.
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But to do that early in
the morning, whether or
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not it was appropriate,
you'd have to ask them.
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I've always found Paul
Manafort to be
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a very decent man.
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And he's like a lot of
other people, probably
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makes consultant fees
from all over the place.
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Who knows?
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I don't know.
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But I thought that was a
very -- there's
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pretty tough stuff.
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Male Reporter 4:
Mr. President --
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The President:
To wake him up.
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Perhaps his
family was there.
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I think that's
pretty tough stuff.
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Male Reporter 4: Mr.
President, speaking of the
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Attorney General, have
you -- how would you
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categorize your
relationship currently
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with Attorney
General Sessions?
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Have you guys spoken about
some of the differences
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you've had in the past?
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The President: It's fine.
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It is what it is.
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It's fine.
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Now he's working
hard on the border.
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I'm very proud of what
we've done on the border.
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Very proud of General
Kelly, what he's
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done on the border.
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One of the reasons he's my
Chief of Staff right now
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is because he did such an
outstanding job
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at the border.
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We're down 78 percent.
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Nobody thought that would
be -- I mean in the old
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days, with other
administrations if you had
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down 1 percent, that was
considered a big thing.
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We're down 78 percent
at the border.
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And nobody thought
that was possible.
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So I'm very proud
of General Kelly.
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He's now Chief of Staff.
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At the same time, I'm very
proud of what we've done
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over the last six months,
between Supreme Court,
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between tremendous amounts
of legislation that's been
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passed, you know we had
42 to 48 bills passed.
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I'm not talking about
just executive orders.
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I'm talking about
bills passed.
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We had massive
executive orders.
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We got rid of
record-setting amounts of
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regulations.
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And a lot of it is
statutory where it's a
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90-day period that you
have to wait, then it's
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another 90-day period, you
have to wait 30 days, much
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more is coming out.
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And I believe
in regulation.
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You have to have
some regulation.
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But we're going to have
a small percentage of
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regulation compared
to what we have.
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And I think that's why you
see business enthusiasms.
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The highest it's
been in 18 years.
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Why unemployment is the
lowest it's been in 18
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years, and then the
unemployment
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rate just came out.
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It's the lowest it's
been in 18 years.
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And with that being said,
we have companies moving
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into the United States,
whether it's Foxconn, you
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saw the two larger auto
companies moving back,
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probably they'll
go to Michigan.
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But they're negotiating
with various states.
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We have had -- we have
done a lot in a
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short period of time.
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So I'm very proud of it.
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I think that General Kelly
is going to be a fantastic
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Chief of Staff, however.
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Male Reporter 5: Mr.
President, are you going
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to increase US military
presence in Asia?
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The President: We are
going to look at what's
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happening in Asia.
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We're looking
at it right now.
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We're constantly
looking at it.
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I don't like to signal
what I'm going to be doing.
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But we are certainly
looking at it.
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And obviously we're
spending a lot of time
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looking at, in
particular North Korea.
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And we are preparing for
many different alternative
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events at North Korea.
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If -- he has disrespected
our country greatly.
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He has said things
that are horrific.
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And with me, he's not
getting away with it.
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He got away with it for a
long time between
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him and his family.
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He's not getting away with
-- this is a
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whole new ballgame.
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And he's not going to
be saying those things.
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And he's certainly not
going to be
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doing those things.
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I read about where in Guam
by August 15th, let's see
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what he does with Guam.
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He does something in Guam,
it will be an event the
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likes of which nobody's
seen before, what will
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happen in North Korea.
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Male Reporter 5: And when
you say that,
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what do you mean?
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The President: You'll see.
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You'll see.
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And he'll see.
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He will see.
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Male Reporter:
Is that a dare?
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The President:
It's not a dare.
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It's a statement.
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Has nothing to
do with dare.
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That's a statement.
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He's not going to go
around threatening Guam.
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And he's not going to
threaten the United States.
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And he's not going
to threaten Japan.
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And he's not going to
threaten South Korea.
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No that's not a
dare, as you say.
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That is a
statement of fact.
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Male Reporter: Mr.
President, can you talk
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about the nuclear posture
and what your
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priorities are there?
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The President: Yeah.
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Nuclear to me, number one
I would like
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to denuke the world.
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I know the President Obama
said global warming is the
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biggest threat.
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I totally disagree.
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I say that it's a simple
one, nuclear is our
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greatest threat worldwide.
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Not even a question.
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Not even close.
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So I'd like to
denuke the world.
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I would like Russia and
the United States and
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China and Pakistan and
many other countries that
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have nuclear weapons,
get rid of them.
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But until such time as
they do, we will be the
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most powerful nuclear
nation on earth by far.
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The first order I gave to
my Generals, as you know,
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you know Mike, my first
order was I want this, our
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nuclear arsenal to be the
biggest and the
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finest in the world.
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And we spent a lot of
money, a lot of time, and
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a lot of effort and it's
in tip-top shape, and
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getting better, and
getting stronger.
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And until such time as
this scourge disappears,
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we will be so much better
and so much stronger than
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anybody else.
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And nobody, including
North Korea is going to be
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threatening us
with anything.
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Male Reporter: Sir?
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Sir, what specifically
have you changed in the
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nuclear arsenal?
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And the reason I asked
is that a lot of experts
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yesterday in response
to your tweet said that
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modernizing the arsenal
takes many years.
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It can't be done
in six months.
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It's a long process that's
only just begun and --
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The President: We've done
a lot of modernization but
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we've done a lot
of renovation.
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And we have it now in
very very good shape.
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And it will be in much
better shape over the next
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six months to a year.
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Male Reporter:
Mr. President --
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The President: It's a
very important thing.
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Actually it was the first
-- military is very
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important to
me, as you know.
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I did extremely well with
the military vote, Mike and I.
258
00:08:48,594 --> 00:08:53,164
But we are -- my first
order was, we have to do
259
00:08:53,165 --> 00:08:55,805
the military but before we
do the military per se,
260
00:08:55,801 --> 00:08:56,941
we're going to
do the nuclear.
261
00:08:56,936 --> 00:08:59,236
And we are in
very strong shape.
262
00:08:59,238 --> 00:09:02,278
We are going to be
increasing our budget by
263
00:09:02,275 --> 00:09:05,475
many billions of dollars
because of North Korea,
264
00:09:05,478 --> 00:09:08,448
and other reasons
having to do with the
265
00:09:08,447 --> 00:09:09,747
anti-missile.
266
00:09:09,749 --> 00:09:13,349
So we are going to be
increasing our budget by
267
00:09:13,352 --> 00:09:14,552
many billions of dollars.
268
00:09:14,553 --> 00:09:16,353
We'll probably be able to
report that
269
00:09:16,355 --> 00:09:17,925
over the next week.
270
00:09:17,924 --> 00:09:20,464
As you know, we reduced it
by five percent, but I've
271
00:09:20,459 --> 00:09:21,959
decided, I
don't want that.
272
00:09:21,961 --> 00:09:23,431
We are going to
be increasing the
273
00:09:23,429 --> 00:09:26,799
anti-missiles by a
substantial amount of
274
00:09:26,799 --> 00:09:27,799
billions of dollars.
275
00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:29,240
Male Reporter: Mr.
President, can you share
276
00:09:29,235 --> 00:09:31,235
with us your latest
thoughts on Iran speaking
277
00:09:31,237 --> 00:09:33,837
of nuclear deal and
whether you feel like they
278
00:09:33,839 --> 00:09:35,539
are in compliance or
will be in compliance?
279
00:09:35,541 --> 00:09:38,011
The President: I don't
think Iran is in compliance.
280
00:09:38,010 --> 00:09:41,610
We wrote them a very tough
letter to the, as you
281
00:09:41,614 --> 00:09:43,954
know, to the Congress.
282
00:09:43,950 --> 00:09:46,150
I personally don't think
they're in compliance.
283
00:09:46,152 --> 00:09:47,522
But we have time.
284
00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:48,690
And we're going to see.
285
00:09:48,688 --> 00:09:51,128
We also put down a lot
of defaults or potential
286
00:09:51,123 --> 00:09:52,863
default situations.
287
00:09:52,858 --> 00:09:54,898
I don't think they're
living up to the spirit
288
00:09:54,894 --> 00:09:56,394
of the agreement.
289
00:09:56,395 --> 00:09:59,035
President Obama and his
wisdom gave them a hundred
290
00:09:59,031 --> 00:10:00,771
and fifty billion dollars.
291
00:10:00,766 --> 00:10:04,036
He gave them 1.8 billion
dollars in cash, which is,
292
00:10:04,036 --> 00:10:06,206
that's a hard
one to figure.
293
00:10:06,205 --> 00:10:08,775
But that was his decision.
294
00:10:08,774 --> 00:10:11,144
I think it's a
horrible agreement.
295
00:10:11,143 --> 00:10:12,813
But they are not in
compliance with
296
00:10:12,812 --> 00:10:13,482
the agreement.
297
00:10:13,479 --> 00:10:16,149
And they are certainly
not in the spirit of the
298
00:10:16,148 --> 00:10:17,518
agreement in compliance.
299
00:10:17,516 --> 00:10:21,616
And I think you will see
some very strong things
300
00:10:21,620 --> 00:10:22,460
taking place if they
301
00:10:22,455 --> 00:10:24,125
don't get themselves in compliance.
302
00:10:24,123 --> 00:10:26,393
But I do not believe they
are in compliance right now.
303
00:10:26,392 --> 00:10:27,732
Male Reporter: Mr.
President what's the
304
00:10:27,727 --> 00:10:29,427
latest on the leak
investigation that the
305
00:10:29,428 --> 00:10:31,468
Attorney General announced
late last week and is
306
00:10:31,464 --> 00:10:33,534
there any separate
investigations that you're
307
00:10:33,532 --> 00:10:34,202
--
308
00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:35,530
The President: Yeah
sure we're looking.
309
00:10:35,534 --> 00:10:36,234
We're always looking.
310
00:10:36,235 --> 00:10:36,905
You have two leaks.
311
00:10:36,902 --> 00:10:39,202
You have the leaks coming
out of intelligence and
312
00:10:39,205 --> 00:10:41,475
various departments,
having to do with Syria,
313
00:10:41,474 --> 00:10:44,544
having to do with all
sorts of different places,
314
00:10:44,543 --> 00:10:47,043
having to do frankly
with North Korea.
315
00:10:47,046 --> 00:10:48,116
And those are
very serious.
316
00:10:48,114 --> 00:10:50,414
And then you have the
leaks where people want to
317
00:10:50,416 --> 00:10:51,546
love me.
318
00:10:51,550 --> 00:10:53,450
And they're all
fighting for love.
319
00:10:53,452 --> 00:10:55,122
Those are not
very important.
320
00:10:55,121 --> 00:10:56,591
But certainly we
don't like them.
321
00:10:56,589 --> 00:10:59,759
Those are little inner
White House leaks.
322
00:10:59,759 --> 00:11:01,029
They're not
very important.
323
00:11:01,027 --> 00:11:04,327
But actually I'm somewhat
honored by them.
324
00:11:04,330 --> 00:11:07,100
But the important leaks to
me, and the leaks that the
325
00:11:07,099 --> 00:11:09,699
Attorney General is
looking at very strongly,
326
00:11:09,702 --> 00:11:11,972
are the leaks coming
out of intelligence.
327
00:11:11,971 --> 00:11:15,071
And we have to stop them
for the security and the
328
00:11:15,074 --> 00:11:16,574
national security
of our country.
329
00:11:16,575 --> 00:11:18,115
Male Reporter: Mr.
President, you're passing
330
00:11:18,110 --> 00:11:20,050
notes to the special
counsel Bob Mueller.
331
00:11:20,046 --> 00:11:21,376
Can you talk a little bit
about what those notes --
332
00:11:21,380 --> 00:11:22,050
The President:
No, not notes.
333
00:11:22,048 --> 00:11:22,978
We're working with them.
334
00:11:22,982 --> 00:11:25,752
I mean we have a situation
which is very unusual.
335
00:11:25,751 --> 00:11:27,221
Everybody said
there's no collusion.
336
00:11:27,219 --> 00:11:29,659
And you look at the
counsels that come in, we
337
00:11:29,655 --> 00:11:33,555
have a Senate hearing, we
have judiciary, we have
338
00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:35,599
intelligence, so we
have a House hearing and
339
00:11:35,594 --> 00:11:37,664
everybody walks out even
the enemies they said, no,
340
00:11:37,663 --> 00:11:40,363
well there's no collusion,
there's no collusion.
341
00:11:40,366 --> 00:11:41,906
So they're investigating
something
342
00:11:41,901 --> 00:11:43,441
that never happened.
343
00:11:43,436 --> 00:11:47,176
There was no collusion
between us and Russia.
344
00:11:47,173 --> 00:11:48,573
In fact, the opposite.
345
00:11:48,574 --> 00:11:51,674
Russia spent a lot of
money on fighting me.
346
00:11:51,677 --> 00:11:54,947
And if you think about it,
I want a strong military.
347
00:11:54,947 --> 00:11:57,487
You see our budget is up
by -- it would be hundreds
348
00:11:57,483 --> 00:11:59,483
of billions of
dollars soon.
349
00:11:59,485 --> 00:12:00,955
Our military budget.
350
00:12:00,953 --> 00:12:02,653
Russia doesn't like that.
351
00:12:02,655 --> 00:12:05,325
Hillary was going to cut
the budget, substantially,
352
00:12:05,324 --> 00:12:07,124
the military budget.
353
00:12:07,126 --> 00:12:11,866
Russia, is very important
for Russia, oil.
354
00:12:11,864 --> 00:12:13,334
Oil and gas.
355
00:12:13,332 --> 00:12:16,972
We are now an exporter
because of an incredible
356
00:12:16,969 --> 00:12:18,339
six months that I have.
357
00:12:18,337 --> 00:12:20,207
An exporter of
oil and gas.
358
00:12:20,206 --> 00:12:21,976
That's bad for Russia.
359
00:12:21,974 --> 00:12:23,714
I always said, I don't
think Russia wants me,
360
00:12:23,709 --> 00:12:26,009
because I want a strong
military and I want
361
00:12:26,011 --> 00:12:27,581
low energy prices.
362
00:12:27,580 --> 00:12:29,120
Energy is a disaster.
363
00:12:29,115 --> 00:12:32,355
Low energy prices is a
disaster for Russia.
364
00:12:32,351 --> 00:12:34,351
Additionally it seems that
Russia has spent a lot of
365
00:12:34,353 --> 00:12:36,193
money on that
false report.
366
00:12:36,188 --> 00:12:37,888
And that was
Russian money.
367
00:12:37,890 --> 00:12:39,360
And I think it was
Democrat money, too.
368
00:12:39,358 --> 00:12:41,298
You could say that
was collusion.
369
00:12:41,293 --> 00:12:45,033
Plus the Democrats
colluded on the Ukraine.
370
00:12:45,030 --> 00:12:46,530
So they colluded.
371
00:12:46,532 --> 00:12:49,132
And then when you get down
to it, why isn't the FBI
372
00:12:49,135 --> 00:12:52,675
looking at the DNC server.
373
00:12:52,671 --> 00:12:57,211
You have a server that
they refuse, the Democrats
374
00:12:57,209 --> 00:12:58,679
refused to give
to the FBI.
375
00:12:58,677 --> 00:13:01,547
Now I don't know how
the FBI can investigate
376
00:13:01,547 --> 00:13:04,587
something if the DNC, the
Democrats refuse
377
00:13:04,583 --> 00:13:06,153
to give the server.
378
00:13:06,152 --> 00:13:08,192
So we have an
investigation of something
379
00:13:08,187 --> 00:13:10,227
that never took place.
380
00:13:10,222 --> 00:13:11,892
And all I say is
work with them.
381
00:13:11,891 --> 00:13:13,791
Because this is an event
that never took place.
382
00:13:13,792 --> 00:13:17,332
Now as far as somebody
else where, did they file
383
00:13:17,329 --> 00:13:19,529
the right papers, or did
they forget to file a
384
00:13:19,532 --> 00:13:22,572
paper, you know, I
guarantee if you went
385
00:13:22,568 --> 00:13:24,368
around to look at
everybody that made a
386
00:13:24,370 --> 00:13:27,670
speech or whatever these
people did, that's up to them.
387
00:13:27,673 --> 00:13:29,213
Did they do something
wrong because they didn't
388
00:13:29,208 --> 00:13:31,578
file the right
document or whatever?
389
00:13:31,577 --> 00:13:33,047
Perhaps you'll have to
look at them, but I
390
00:13:33,045 --> 00:13:34,915
guarantee you this
probably a lot of people
391
00:13:34,914 --> 00:13:36,854
in Washington did
the same thing.
392
00:13:36,849 --> 00:13:38,189
Male Reporter: Mr.
President, given your
393
00:13:38,184 --> 00:13:40,254
harsh criticism of
Democrats which is now,
394
00:13:40,252 --> 00:13:42,022
how are you going to bring
them in on things like
395
00:13:42,021 --> 00:13:43,521
infrastructure or --
396
00:13:43,522 --> 00:13:45,292
The President: Well
we'll have to see.
397
00:13:45,291 --> 00:13:46,621
I'm not sure that we
will bring them in.
398
00:13:46,625 --> 00:13:47,965
I mean maybe we'll bring
them in, maybe not.
399
00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:49,300
I think the infrastructure
bill will be bipartisan.
400
00:13:49,295 --> 00:13:50,725
In fact, frankly, I may
have more support
401
00:13:50,729 --> 00:13:51,429
from the Democrats.
402
00:13:51,430 --> 00:13:54,070
I want a very strong
infrastructure bill.
403
00:13:54,066 --> 00:13:56,706
We've, as of this moment,
spent over six trillion
404
00:13:56,702 --> 00:13:58,702
dollars in the
Middle East.
405
00:13:58,704 --> 00:14:00,604
Far as -- I've been
saying, when I say spent,
406
00:14:00,606 --> 00:14:03,976
we've wasted six trillion
dollars in the Middle East.
407
00:14:03,976 --> 00:14:06,146
And yet we can't fix our
roads and our bridges and
408
00:14:06,145 --> 00:14:08,285
our schools and
our airports.
409
00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:10,680
And I think that's a
very sad situation.
410
00:14:10,683 --> 00:14:13,053
So I'm very strong on
infrastructure, and a lot
411
00:14:13,052 --> 00:14:13,922
of Republicans are.
412
00:14:13,919 --> 00:14:15,719
But I know a lot of
Democrats are also.
413
00:14:15,721 --> 00:14:17,261
I think that'll work out.
414
00:14:17,256 --> 00:14:18,626
I think it's going to
work out very well.
415
00:14:18,624 --> 00:14:20,064
Male Reporter: Mr.
President have you sought
416
00:14:20,059 --> 00:14:22,929
or thought about or
considered leading the
417
00:14:22,928 --> 00:14:24,328
dismissal of the
special counsel?
418
00:14:24,330 --> 00:14:25,970
Is there anything that Bob
Mueller could do that you
419
00:14:25,965 --> 00:14:27,295
would -- send you
in that direction?
420
00:14:27,299 --> 00:14:28,839
The President: I haven't
given it any thought.
421
00:14:28,834 --> 00:14:30,574
I mean I've been reading
about it from you people.
422
00:14:30,569 --> 00:14:31,909
You say, oh, I'm
going to dismiss them.
423
00:14:31,904 --> 00:14:33,804
No, I'm not
dismissing anybody.
424
00:14:33,806 --> 00:14:36,206
I mean, I want them to
get on with the task.
425
00:14:36,208 --> 00:14:39,248
But I also want the Senate
and the house to come out
426
00:14:39,245 --> 00:14:40,745
with their findings.
427
00:14:40,746 --> 00:14:42,746
Now judging from the
people leaving the
428
00:14:42,748 --> 00:14:45,918
meetings, leaks, but they
leave the meetings all the
429
00:14:45,918 --> 00:14:48,388
time and they say, no,
we haven't found any
430
00:14:48,387 --> 00:14:50,057
collusion, there's no --
there is no collusion,
431
00:14:50,055 --> 00:14:50,825
you know why?
432
00:14:50,823 --> 00:14:52,223
Because I don't
speak to Russians.
433
00:14:52,224 --> 00:14:55,494
Look, I won because I
suppose I was a much
434
00:14:55,494 --> 00:14:57,134
better candidate than her.
435
00:14:57,129 --> 00:14:59,069
I won because I
went to Wisconsin.
436
00:14:59,064 --> 00:15:00,164
I went to Michigan.
437
00:15:00,165 --> 00:15:01,965
I won Pennsylvania.
438
00:15:01,967 --> 00:15:03,067
I fought a smart battle.
439
00:15:03,068 --> 00:15:03,738
That's why I win.
440
00:15:03,736 --> 00:15:05,206
I didn't win
because of Russia.
441
00:15:05,204 --> 00:15:07,474
Russia had nothing to
do with me winning.
442
00:15:07,473 --> 00:15:11,443
The thing that we had a
great team and I guess I
443
00:15:11,443 --> 00:15:12,683
did a good job.
444
00:15:12,678 --> 00:15:14,678
And you know what,
honestly, they spent much
445
00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:18,980
more money than I did by
a lot you know that, they
446
00:15:18,984 --> 00:15:21,454
spent a lot more money and
honestly they did not do
447
00:15:21,453 --> 00:15:22,853
a very good job
of campaigning.
448
00:15:22,855 --> 00:15:24,525
Male Reporter: And one
more question about
449
00:15:24,523 --> 00:15:26,123
Senator, Senate
leader McConnell.
450
00:15:26,125 --> 00:15:27,995
We talked about -- you
talked about him outside a
451
00:15:27,993 --> 00:15:29,133
little bit earlier.
452
00:15:29,128 --> 00:15:30,768
But have you reached out
to him since your
453
00:15:30,763 --> 00:15:31,793
phone call yesterday?
454
00:15:31,797 --> 00:15:32,467
The President: No.
455
00:15:32,464 --> 00:15:33,804
Male Reporter: And
have you given any
456
00:15:33,799 --> 00:15:35,299
consideration to
asking his wife, your
457
00:15:35,301 --> 00:15:38,241
transportation secretary,
to help bridge whatever --
458
00:15:38,237 --> 00:15:40,077
The President: Elaine is
doing a very good job.
459
00:15:40,072 --> 00:15:42,312
We're very proud of
Elaine as Secretary
460
00:15:42,308 --> 00:15:44,508
of Transportation.
461
00:15:44,510 --> 00:15:46,380
As you know, as you said,
Mitch's wife, she's doing
462
00:15:46,378 --> 00:15:47,518
a very very good job.
463
00:15:47,513 --> 00:15:48,983
I'm very disappointed
in Mitch.
464
00:15:48,981 --> 00:15:52,181
But if he gets these bills
passed, I'll be very happy
465
00:15:52,184 --> 00:15:53,784
with him, I'll be the
first to admit it.
466
00:15:53,786 --> 00:15:56,826
But honestly repeal and
replace of Obamacare
467
00:15:56,822 --> 00:15:58,562
should have taken place.
468
00:15:58,557 --> 00:16:00,757
And it should have been
on my desk virtually the
469
00:16:00,759 --> 00:16:02,459
first week that I was
there or the first day
470
00:16:02,461 --> 00:16:03,131
that I was there.
471
00:16:03,128 --> 00:16:05,798
I've been hearing about
it for seven years.
472
00:16:05,798 --> 00:16:08,798
So repeal and replace
should have taken place.
473
00:16:08,801 --> 00:16:13,711
The tax bill, tax cuts,
tax reform, hopefully
474
00:16:13,706 --> 00:16:15,306
they get that done.
475
00:16:15,307 --> 00:16:16,847
I hope they get it done.
476
00:16:16,842 --> 00:16:19,082
And the other thing would
be the infrastructure bill.
477
00:16:19,078 --> 00:16:20,608
In addition to that, you
know, we've passed
478
00:16:20,612 --> 00:16:21,312
a lot of things.
479
00:16:21,313 --> 00:16:23,713
We've passed
accountability with the VA.
480
00:16:23,716 --> 00:16:24,416
We've passed a lot.
481
00:16:24,416 --> 00:16:27,516
We're doing a lot of
great work at the VA.
482
00:16:27,519 --> 00:16:29,259
And we're doing a lot
of great work all over.
483
00:16:29,254 --> 00:16:32,094
You look at what's
happening with the coal
484
00:16:32,091 --> 00:16:33,761
industry, what
they're putting on.
485
00:16:33,759 --> 00:16:35,429
I mean I looked at West
Virginia the other day, I
486
00:16:35,427 --> 00:16:38,127
was in West Virginia
making a speech, and they
487
00:16:38,130 --> 00:16:40,400
are doing great
as a state.
488
00:16:40,399 --> 00:16:42,999
The great governor of West
Virginia, Jim, who you
489
00:16:43,001 --> 00:16:45,571
saw, he just became
a Republican.
490
00:16:45,571 --> 00:16:46,241
He left.
491
00:16:46,238 --> 00:16:47,878
His first time in many
many years I think like
492
00:16:47,873 --> 00:16:49,113
that's happened.
493
00:16:49,108 --> 00:16:51,678
He just left the
Democratic Party and he
494
00:16:51,677 --> 00:16:55,017
became a Republican which
was a great moment.
495
00:16:55,013 --> 00:16:56,413
Hasn't happened
in many years.
496
00:16:56,415 --> 00:16:59,355
So we're very very happy
with what's happened.
497
00:16:59,351 --> 00:17:01,121
We think it's been an
incredible six months.
498
00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:05,290
We've done, you know, a
lot of record-setting business.
499
00:17:05,290 --> 00:17:06,190
It's incredible.
500
00:17:06,191 --> 00:17:07,991
You look at what's going
on with the economy.
501
00:17:07,993 --> 00:17:10,433
And you know to me very
important, you look at the
502
00:17:10,429 --> 00:17:12,329
enthusiasm of businesses.
503
00:17:12,331 --> 00:17:14,001
You look at companies
moving back in.
504
00:17:13,999 --> 00:17:16,139
You just saw on Friday the
two big car companies that
505
00:17:16,135 --> 00:17:16,965
are coming in.
506
00:17:16,969 --> 00:17:18,369
You saw last
week, Foxconn.
507
00:17:18,370 --> 00:17:20,070
They make the
Apple iPhones.
508
00:17:20,072 --> 00:17:21,712
They make all
of the desktop.
509
00:17:21,707 --> 00:17:24,047
They make -- they're the
biggest in the world.
510
00:17:24,042 --> 00:17:26,042
They're coming into
Wisconsin with an
511
00:17:26,044 --> 00:17:30,584
unbelievable plant like
we've never seen before.
512
00:17:30,582 --> 00:17:34,122
And I actually said to Tim
Cook of Apple, I said you
513
00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:37,459
know Tim, I won't consider
myself successful as
514
00:17:37,456 --> 00:17:40,056
President, unless I see
you start building those
515
00:17:40,058 --> 00:17:43,698
big beautiful plants that
you have all over China,
516
00:17:43,695 --> 00:17:45,565
you start building them
in the United States.
517
00:17:45,564 --> 00:17:46,464
And he's going to do that.
518
00:17:46,465 --> 00:17:47,805
Male Reporter: Mr.
President, you were
519
00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,440
critical of the
intelligence in the run of
520
00:17:50,436 --> 00:17:51,306
the Iraq war.
521
00:17:51,303 --> 00:17:53,343
Should we press the
intelligence now we're
522
00:17:53,338 --> 00:17:54,478
giving about North Korea?
523
00:17:54,473 --> 00:17:56,143
The President: Well you
know, it's
524
00:17:56,141 --> 00:17:57,141
different intelligence.
525
00:17:57,142 --> 00:17:59,912
I have Mike Pompeo I have
great confidence in him.
526
00:17:59,912 --> 00:18:01,382
That doesn't mean I
had confidence
527
00:18:01,380 --> 00:18:02,580
in his predecessor.
528
00:18:02,581 --> 00:18:03,981
Okay?
529
00:18:03,982 --> 00:18:05,252
Which I didn't actually.
530
00:18:05,250 --> 00:18:07,920
Although he did say
good things about me.
531
00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:10,890
He did say he had no
information, or know
532
00:18:10,889 --> 00:18:11,959
anything on collusion.
533
00:18:11,957 --> 00:18:14,257
So I shouldn't maybe say
that but I will say.
534
00:18:14,259 --> 00:18:16,859
But I have tremendous
confidence in Mike Pompeo.
535
00:18:16,862 --> 00:18:18,962
Dan Coates, fantastic.
536
00:18:18,964 --> 00:18:20,264
I mean we have people.
537
00:18:20,265 --> 00:18:22,965
I think your new head of
the FBI is going to be, I
538
00:18:22,968 --> 00:18:25,438
think I've done a great
service for this country.
539
00:18:25,437 --> 00:18:30,507
I think that Christopher
will do a fantastic job as
540
00:18:30,509 --> 00:18:32,209
the head of the FBI.
541
00:18:32,211 --> 00:18:36,151
So look, I have -- nobody
has greater respect for
542
00:18:36,148 --> 00:18:38,118
intelligence than
Donald Trump.
543
00:18:38,116 --> 00:18:40,016
But you have to have
the right leaders.
544
00:18:40,018 --> 00:18:41,488
I think we have great
leaders right now.
545
00:18:41,487 --> 00:18:44,557
And you know, you can look
at the intelligence over
546
00:18:44,556 --> 00:18:45,226
the years.
547
00:18:45,224 --> 00:18:48,264
It was intelligence that
got people to make one of
548
00:18:48,260 --> 00:18:50,360
the worst decisions ever
made in the history of our
549
00:18:50,362 --> 00:18:52,502
country, going into Iraq.
550
00:18:52,498 --> 00:18:56,138
Because they said there
were no weapons, you know,
551
00:18:56,134 --> 00:18:57,004
you look at it.
552
00:18:57,002 --> 00:18:58,542
It ended up being there
were no weapons
553
00:18:58,537 --> 00:18:59,567
of mass destruction.
554
00:18:59,571 --> 00:19:02,771
They said, I mean listen
to them, weapons of mass
555
00:19:02,774 --> 00:19:04,214
destruction were
all over the place.
556
00:19:04,209 --> 00:19:05,549
But they were not there.
557
00:19:05,544 --> 00:19:07,014
That was intelligence.
558
00:19:07,012 --> 00:19:12,182
I have great respect for
intelligence as led by the
559
00:19:12,184 --> 00:19:13,954
people that I have
in charge now.
560
00:19:13,952 --> 00:19:15,052
We have great people.
561
00:19:15,053 --> 00:19:17,853
And I think it's going
to lead us to tremendous
562
00:19:17,856 --> 00:19:19,496
victories and
that's what we need.
563
00:19:19,491 --> 00:19:21,661
Male Reporter: What is
that intelligence telling
564
00:19:21,660 --> 00:19:22,330
you about North
Korea and --
565
00:19:22,327 --> 00:19:23,667
The President: It's
telling me a lot of things.
566
00:19:23,662 --> 00:19:26,362
But well you'll probably
find out about it before
567
00:19:26,365 --> 00:19:28,835
anybody else, right?
568
00:19:28,834 --> 00:19:29,634
With your leaks.
569
00:19:29,635 --> 00:19:30,705
We got to stop the leaks.
570
00:19:30,702 --> 00:19:32,442
The leaks are very
dangerous for our country.
571
00:19:32,437 --> 00:19:35,577
But no, I have great
respect for the
572
00:19:35,574 --> 00:19:36,404
intelligence community.
573
00:19:36,408 --> 00:19:40,178
And I think with the
leadership we have right
574
00:19:40,178 --> 00:19:43,578
now, hopefully it'll be a
very very successful eight
575
00:19:43,582 --> 00:19:44,582
years for this country.
576
00:19:44,583 --> 00:19:46,683
And then after that
we'll continue onward.
577
00:19:46,685 --> 00:19:48,285
But we have a lot of
things we have
578
00:19:48,287 --> 00:19:49,017
to straighten out.
579
00:19:49,021 --> 00:19:50,591
You have the Middle East.
580
00:19:50,589 --> 00:19:51,619
You have North Korea.
581
00:19:51,623 --> 00:19:54,893
We have a lot of places of
tremendous conflict and
582
00:19:54,893 --> 00:19:56,893
tremendous danger
for this country.
583
00:19:56,895 --> 00:19:59,435
I will say getting the 15
to nothing vote at the
584
00:19:59,431 --> 00:20:01,771
United Nations from the
Security Council the other
585
00:20:01,767 --> 00:20:05,337
day, that's something that
very few Presidents would
586
00:20:05,337 --> 00:20:07,007
have been able to get.
587
00:20:07,005 --> 00:20:09,405
And I have great respect
for the fact that China
588
00:20:09,408 --> 00:20:11,648
and Russia went
along with it.
589
00:20:11,643 --> 00:20:14,013
That was a tremendous day
for the United States.
590
00:20:14,012 --> 00:20:16,582
I think it will have a
strong impact on North Korea.
591
00:20:16,582 --> 00:20:17,912
I don't know that
it'll be the end-all.
592
00:20:17,916 --> 00:20:20,256
But I think it'll be a
very very -- I think it'll
593
00:20:20,252 --> 00:20:22,852
have a big impact on North
Korea and
594
00:20:22,854 --> 00:20:23,524
what they're doing.
595
00:20:23,522 --> 00:20:24,752
Thank you all very much.
596
00:20:24,756 --> 00:20:29,866
Thank you.
597
00:20:29,861 --> 00:20:36,001
Thank you very much.
598
00:20:36,001 --> 00:20:39,101
Appreciate it.