English subtitles for clip: File:President Trump Participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the President of Romania 2019-08-20.webm
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1 00:00:00,633 --> 00:00:02,103 President Trump: Well, thank you very much, everybody. 2 00:00:02,102 --> 00:00:05,042 It's an honor to be with the President of Romania, 3 00:00:05,038 --> 00:00:08,578 who's highly respected and done a great job. 4 00:00:08,575 --> 00:00:10,915 And I hear there's a little political season 5 00:00:10,910 --> 00:00:13,150 going on in Romania, but I would imagine you're going 6 00:00:13,146 --> 00:00:15,986 to do very well because you're very talented, 7 00:00:15,982 --> 00:00:16,882 you love the people. 8 00:00:16,883 --> 00:00:19,283 And we've had a great relationship with Romania. 9 00:00:19,285 --> 00:00:21,125 The United States and Romania have gotten along 10 00:00:21,121 --> 00:00:22,691 better than ever before. 11 00:00:22,689 --> 00:00:24,559 So, I want to thank you for that. 12 00:00:24,557 --> 00:00:27,827 And we have a big trade business going on, 13 00:00:27,827 --> 00:00:28,867 to be honest with you. 14 00:00:28,862 --> 00:00:31,862 We have - we do a lot of trade with Romania, 15 00:00:31,865 --> 00:00:33,465 and they're very talented people. 16 00:00:33,466 --> 00:00:34,906 We buy, they buy. 17 00:00:34,901 --> 00:00:36,741 And you have a lot of Romanian people 18 00:00:36,736 --> 00:00:38,376 in the United States, very importantly. 19 00:00:38,371 --> 00:00:39,871 And they're tremendous people. 20 00:00:39,873 --> 00:00:41,373 They work very hard. 21 00:00:41,374 --> 00:00:43,114 Very, very successful. 22 00:00:43,109 --> 00:00:44,009 How many do you have in the United States? 23 00:00:44,010 --> 00:00:44,840 Do you know? 24 00:00:44,844 --> 00:00:46,984 Has anyone figured that out? 25 00:00:46,980 --> 00:00:48,210 President Iohannis: We have quite a lot of 26 00:00:48,214 --> 00:00:50,554 Romanians in the States, yeah. 27 00:00:50,550 --> 00:00:53,090 President Trump: I think I know most of them, actually. 28 00:00:53,086 --> 00:00:54,926 President Iohannis: (Laughs.) Very good people. 29 00:00:54,921 --> 00:00:55,791 President Trump: Yeah, they are. 30 00:00:55,789 --> 00:00:56,889 They're a great people. 31 00:00:56,890 --> 00:00:58,190 President Iohannis: Maybe quarter of a million or so. 32 00:00:58,191 --> 00:00:58,791 President Trump: Yeah. 33 00:00:58,792 --> 00:00:59,522 It's a lot. 34 00:00:59,526 --> 00:01:00,756 It's a very large population. 35 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:02,330 But they - and they love Romania, too, 36 00:01:02,328 --> 00:01:03,668 I will tell you that. 37 00:01:03,663 --> 00:01:04,933 They never forgot Romania. 38 00:01:04,931 --> 00:01:07,231 They're very much inclined that way, and that's 39 00:01:07,233 --> 00:01:08,373 a good thing. 40 00:01:08,368 --> 00:01:09,738 Well, I want to thank you, Mr. President, 41 00:01:09,736 --> 00:01:10,406 for being here. 42 00:01:10,403 --> 00:01:11,103 It's a great honor. 43 00:01:11,104 --> 00:01:12,234 Thank you very much. 44 00:01:12,238 --> 00:01:13,938 PRESIDENT IOHANNIS: Thank you so much, 45 00:01:13,940 --> 00:01:14,610 Mr. President. 46 00:01:14,607 --> 00:01:15,947 Great pleasure to be here. 47 00:01:15,942 --> 00:01:18,212 President Trump: Would you like to say something? 48 00:01:18,211 --> 00:01:20,751 President Iohannis: Yeah, I would, just on the line 49 00:01:20,747 --> 00:01:23,347 that it's great to be back here with you, 50 00:01:23,349 --> 00:01:24,589 Mr. President. 51 00:01:24,584 --> 00:01:29,894 And now we have the opportunity to talk about 52 00:01:29,889 --> 00:01:32,929 our very good strategic partnership. 53 00:01:32,926 --> 00:01:36,896 And under your strong leadership, we progressed 54 00:01:36,896 --> 00:01:40,296 and we will continue doing so. 55 00:01:40,300 --> 00:01:45,240 This is very important for us, and I think we are 56 00:01:45,238 --> 00:01:47,538 on the right path, and I thank you for that. 57 00:01:47,540 --> 00:01:49,810 President Trump: I think we are on the right path. 58 00:01:49,809 --> 00:01:52,309 A lot of interesting things happening also 59 00:01:52,312 --> 00:01:55,312 in your country, but we appreciate the trade. 60 00:01:55,315 --> 00:01:57,255 And we're going to have a big meeting in a little 61 00:01:57,250 --> 00:01:58,120 while after this. 62 00:01:58,117 --> 00:01:59,457 We're going to have a private meeting, and we're 63 00:01:59,452 --> 00:02:01,192 going to have a meeting in the Cabinet Room with a 64 00:02:01,187 --> 00:02:02,057 lot of your officials. 65 00:02:02,055 --> 00:02:02,725 President Iohannis: Yeah. 66 00:02:02,722 --> 00:02:04,392 President Trump: And we look forward to that. 67 00:02:04,390 --> 00:02:05,360 Yes, any questions? 68 00:02:05,358 --> 00:02:06,028 John? 69 00:02:06,025 --> 00:02:07,425 The Press: Mr. President, what sort of contingency 70 00:02:07,427 --> 00:02:11,467 steps or plans is the White House thinking about 71 00:02:11,464 --> 00:02:13,334 to stave off any kind of economic slowdown? 72 00:02:13,333 --> 00:02:15,633 We've heard that there's been some talk of a 73 00:02:15,635 --> 00:02:17,505 payroll tax cut kicked around, some other 74 00:02:17,504 --> 00:02:18,204 tax cuts. 75 00:02:18,204 --> 00:02:20,144 You've been talking about a cut in the Fed rate, 76 00:02:20,139 --> 00:02:20,979 quantitative easing. 77 00:02:20,974 --> 00:02:21,644 What are you looking at? 78 00:02:21,641 --> 00:02:22,981 President Trump: Well, I'd like to see a cut in the 79 00:02:22,976 --> 00:02:24,446 Fed rate because that should've happened 80 00:02:24,444 --> 00:02:25,314 a long time ago. 81 00:02:25,311 --> 00:02:28,311 I think they're being very tardy in not doing in and 82 00:02:28,314 --> 00:02:29,384 not having done it sooner. 83 00:02:29,382 --> 00:02:30,452 They raised too quickly. 84 00:02:30,450 --> 00:02:34,120 And, you know, I've been quite vocal on that. 85 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:36,220 They also did quantitative tightening, 86 00:02:36,222 --> 00:02:38,122 which was ridiculous. 87 00:02:38,124 --> 00:02:41,724 And so - and despite that, you know, if you look - I 88 00:02:41,728 --> 00:02:44,368 guess you could call it "normalized" - but if you 89 00:02:44,364 --> 00:02:47,034 look, our economy is doing fantastically. 90 00:02:47,033 --> 00:02:48,933 And if you take a look at the previous 91 00:02:48,935 --> 00:02:51,635 administration, they weren't paying interest. 92 00:02:51,638 --> 00:02:52,808 They had no interest rates. 93 00:02:52,805 --> 00:02:55,045 They had loosening, not tightening. 94 00:02:55,041 --> 00:02:57,511 And, frankly, it's a big difference. 95 00:02:57,510 --> 00:02:59,510 And our economy is incredible. 96 00:02:59,512 --> 00:03:01,982 Our jobs - you look at the jobs market. 97 00:03:01,981 --> 00:03:04,851 But you have to be proactive, and so we 98 00:03:04,851 --> 00:03:08,351 really need a Fed cut rate, because if you look 99 00:03:08,354 --> 00:03:11,694 at what's going on with the Europe - European 100 00:03:11,691 --> 00:03:13,531 Union, as an example, they're cutting. 101 00:03:13,526 --> 00:03:15,926 You take a look at Germany and what they're doing, 102 00:03:15,929 --> 00:03:18,269 and what they're paying - I mean, they're actually 103 00:03:18,264 --> 00:03:19,804 doing something inverse. 104 00:03:19,799 --> 00:03:21,169 They've never seen - nobody has ever seen 105 00:03:21,167 --> 00:03:21,837 it before. 106 00:03:21,834 --> 00:03:24,074 And we have to at least keep up to an extent. 107 00:03:24,070 --> 00:03:26,140 So, right now, we're paying a very much higher 108 00:03:26,139 --> 00:03:28,709 rate of interest, and we didn't follow the world. 109 00:03:28,708 --> 00:03:30,248 And generally speaking, that's okay. 110 00:03:30,243 --> 00:03:32,783 But you can't have that much of a disparity. 111 00:03:32,779 --> 00:03:34,749 So we're looking for a rate cut. 112 00:03:34,747 --> 00:03:37,017 We could be really greatly helped if the Fed would 113 00:03:37,016 --> 00:03:40,886 do its job and do a substantial rate cut also. 114 00:03:40,887 --> 00:03:43,057 They were doing quantitative tightening; 115 00:03:43,056 --> 00:03:44,126 very bad to do. 116 00:03:44,123 --> 00:03:46,693 They should do easing - actual easing. 117 00:03:46,693 --> 00:03:47,363 No tightening. 118 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:49,900 Or at a minimum, they should be doing nothing 119 00:03:49,896 --> 00:03:51,566 about that. 120 00:03:51,564 --> 00:03:53,264 But they have to do a rate cut. 121 00:03:53,266 --> 00:03:54,836 The other thing is, you know, we're looking at 122 00:03:54,834 --> 00:03:56,934 various tax reductions. 123 00:03:56,936 --> 00:03:58,636 But I'm looking at that all the time anyway - 124 00:03:58,638 --> 00:03:59,468 tax reductions. 125 00:03:59,472 --> 00:04:01,242 That's one of the reasons we're in such a strong 126 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:02,310 economic position. 127 00:04:02,308 --> 00:04:04,848 We're, right now, the number one country 128 00:04:04,844 --> 00:04:07,744 anywhere in the world, by far, as an economy. 129 00:04:07,747 --> 00:04:11,517 Europe has got a lot of problems, and Asia has 130 00:04:11,517 --> 00:04:12,457 got a lot of problems. 131 00:04:12,452 --> 00:04:15,452 If you look at China, China has had the worst 132 00:04:15,455 --> 00:04:17,595 year they've had in 27 years. 133 00:04:17,590 --> 00:04:20,390 And they want to make a deal with us, but I can 134 00:04:20,393 --> 00:04:21,993 tell you I'm not ready to make a deal. 135 00:04:21,995 --> 00:04:23,395 Unless they're going to make the right kind of a 136 00:04:23,396 --> 00:04:24,736 deal, I'm not ready to make a deal. 137 00:04:24,731 --> 00:04:29,641 So I don't know, but I will say this: Something 138 00:04:29,636 --> 00:04:30,306 will happen. 139 00:04:30,303 --> 00:04:32,803 It may be soon; it may be a little bit later. 140 00:04:32,805 --> 00:04:34,675 But China very much wants to make a deal. 141 00:04:34,674 --> 00:04:36,944 The Press: What kind of tax cuts would 142 00:04:36,943 --> 00:04:38,273 you look at? 143 00:04:38,277 --> 00:04:41,517 We've heard again a potential cut in the 144 00:04:41,514 --> 00:04:44,184 payroll tax, indexing capital gains. 145 00:04:44,183 --> 00:04:45,383 What would you accept? 146 00:04:45,385 --> 00:04:48,425 President Trump: Well, you know, we've been 147 00:04:48,421 --> 00:04:49,791 talking about indexing for a long time. 148 00:04:49,789 --> 00:04:51,789 And many people like indexing, and it can 149 00:04:51,791 --> 00:04:52,661 be done very simply. 150 00:04:52,659 --> 00:04:54,629 It can be done directly by me. 151 00:04:54,627 --> 00:04:56,027 And so we've been looking at that. 152 00:04:56,029 --> 00:04:57,429 As you probably have heard, I can do 153 00:04:57,430 --> 00:04:58,800 it directly. 154 00:04:58,798 --> 00:05:00,338 So we're talking about indexing. 155 00:05:00,333 --> 00:05:03,633 And we're always looking at the capital gains tax, 156 00:05:03,636 --> 00:05:04,976 payroll tax. 157 00:05:04,971 --> 00:05:09,371 We're looking at - I would love to do something 158 00:05:09,375 --> 00:05:10,945 on capital gains. 159 00:05:10,943 --> 00:05:11,943 We're talking about that. 160 00:05:11,944 --> 00:05:13,844 That's a big deal; it goes through Congress. 161 00:05:13,846 --> 00:05:17,086 Payroll tax is something that we think about 162 00:05:17,083 --> 00:05:19,523 and a lot of people would like to see that, and that 163 00:05:19,519 --> 00:05:22,619 very much affects the working - the workers 164 00:05:22,622 --> 00:05:23,922 of our country. 165 00:05:23,923 --> 00:05:25,193 And we have a lot of workers. 166 00:05:25,191 --> 00:05:28,191 Right now, by the way, we have more people working 167 00:05:28,194 --> 00:05:30,594 today than we've ever had before in the history 168 00:05:30,596 --> 00:05:31,266 of our country. 169 00:05:31,264 --> 00:05:34,434 We have almost 160 million people working today. 170 00:05:34,434 --> 00:05:35,764 I think the word "recession" is a word 171 00:05:35,768 --> 00:05:37,108 that's inappropriate because it's just a word 172 00:05:37,103 --> 00:05:38,473 that the - certain people - I'm going to be kind - 173 00:05:38,471 --> 00:05:39,811 certain people, and the media, are trying to build 174 00:05:39,806 --> 00:05:41,136 up because they'd love to see a recession. 175 00:05:41,140 --> 00:05:42,480 We're very far from a recession. 176 00:05:42,475 --> 00:05:43,815 In fact, if the Fed would do its job, I think it 177 00:05:43,810 --> 00:05:45,140 would have a tremendous spurt of growth. 178 00:05:45,144 --> 00:05:45,844 A tremendous spurt. 179 00:05:45,845 --> 00:05:48,385 The Fed is psychologically very important. 180 00:05:48,381 --> 00:05:51,781 Less so, actually, but very psychologically important. 181 00:05:51,784 --> 00:05:54,324 And if the Fed would do its job, which it's really 182 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:55,660 done very poorly over the last year and a half, 183 00:05:55,655 --> 00:05:57,025 you would see a burst of growth like you've never 184 00:05:57,023 --> 00:05:57,693 seen before. 185 00:05:57,690 --> 00:05:59,030 And that would be lowering interest rates and maybe 186 00:05:59,025 --> 00:06:00,355 putting some - if you look at what China is doing, 187 00:06:00,359 --> 00:06:01,699 if you look at what Germany is doing, if you look at 188 00:06:01,694 --> 00:06:06,704 what so many countries are doing - putting some money 189 00:06:25,752 --> 00:06:28,222 in, because we want to compete with these 190 00:06:28,221 --> 00:06:28,891 other countries. 191 00:06:28,888 --> 00:06:32,888 So I think that we actually are set for a 192 00:06:32,892 --> 00:06:35,832 tremendous surge of growth, if the Fed 193 00:06:35,828 --> 00:06:36,768 would do its job. 194 00:06:36,763 --> 00:06:38,563 That's a big "if," frankly. 195 00:06:38,564 --> 00:06:42,774 But they should - the Fed should - the Fed should 196 00:06:42,769 --> 00:06:43,439 be cutting. 197 00:06:43,436 --> 00:06:46,036 And I would say they should say, at a minimum, 198 00:06:46,038 --> 00:06:48,638 100 basis points over a period of time, 199 00:06:48,641 --> 00:06:49,941 not at one time. 200 00:06:49,942 --> 00:06:50,982 But over a period of time. 201 00:06:50,977 --> 00:06:54,477 The Press: Mr. President, can the country afford tax 202 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:56,480 cuts when we're already running 203 00:06:56,482 --> 00:06:57,282 trillion-dollar deficits? 204 00:06:57,283 --> 00:06:59,653 President Trump: Well, I'm not talking about - I'm 205 00:06:59,652 --> 00:07:01,652 not talking about doing anything at this moment. 206 00:07:01,654 --> 00:07:04,724 But indexing is something that a lot of people have 207 00:07:04,724 --> 00:07:06,364 liked for a long time. 208 00:07:06,359 --> 00:07:08,259 And it's something that would be very easy to do. 209 00:07:08,261 --> 00:07:09,831 And a lot of people have been talking about 210 00:07:09,829 --> 00:07:13,699 indexing for many years, and it's something 211 00:07:13,699 --> 00:07:16,139 that I am certainly thinking about. 212 00:07:16,135 --> 00:07:18,435 I can say that a majority of the people in the White 213 00:07:18,437 --> 00:07:21,677 House, at the level that does this kind of thing, 214 00:07:21,674 --> 00:07:22,604 they like indexing. 215 00:07:22,608 --> 00:07:24,648 So it is something I'm thinking about. 216 00:07:24,644 --> 00:07:27,244 Payroll taxes - I've been thinking about payroll 217 00:07:27,246 --> 00:07:28,346 taxes for a long time. 218 00:07:28,347 --> 00:07:33,017 Whether or not we do it now or not is - it's not 219 00:07:33,019 --> 00:07:36,459 being done because of recession, because we are 220 00:07:36,455 --> 00:07:40,225 - legitimately, if we had a cut in interest rates by 221 00:07:40,226 --> 00:07:44,866 the Fed - if they would do their job properly, and if 222 00:07:44,864 --> 00:07:47,504 they would do a meaningful cut, because they raise 223 00:07:47,500 --> 00:07:50,670 too fast, you would see growth like you've not 224 00:07:50,670 --> 00:07:52,310 seen ever in this country. 225 00:07:52,305 --> 00:07:56,845 Now, if you go from the election - that great 226 00:07:56,843 --> 00:08:00,483 November 8th day - if you go from November 9th to 227 00:08:00,479 --> 00:08:04,889 present, you're talking about almost a 60 percent 228 00:08:04,884 --> 00:08:07,484 increase in the stock market. 229 00:08:07,486 --> 00:08:10,586 You're talking about unemployment numbers that 230 00:08:10,590 --> 00:08:14,590 are the lowest in history, in many categories, and, 231 00:08:14,594 --> 00:08:17,064 overall, almost the lowest ever, in the history 232 00:08:17,063 --> 00:08:17,733 of our country. 233 00:08:17,730 --> 00:08:19,570 I think it was 1969. 234 00:08:19,565 --> 00:08:21,505 And we are set to surpass that number. 235 00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:23,070 I mean, our country is doing very well. 236 00:08:23,069 --> 00:08:26,509 When I spoke to the President, we were just 237 00:08:26,505 --> 00:08:28,605 walking in and he said, "Congratulations on the 238 00:08:28,608 --> 00:08:30,748 great success of your economy and your country." 239 00:08:30,743 --> 00:08:31,673 And I appreciated that. 240 00:08:31,677 --> 00:08:33,417 But our country is doing very well. 241 00:08:33,412 --> 00:08:36,912 The Press: Mr. President, would you agree 242 00:08:36,916 --> 00:08:38,756 strengthening American military forces 243 00:08:38,751 --> 00:08:39,681 in Romania? 244 00:08:39,685 --> 00:08:41,785 President Trump: Well, it's one of the things 245 00:08:41,787 --> 00:08:43,457 we'll be talking about today, I assume. 246 00:08:43,456 --> 00:08:44,656 You might be bringing that up. 247 00:08:44,657 --> 00:08:46,627 But it's something we'll talk about. 248 00:08:46,626 --> 00:08:48,366 The Press: Mr. President, next year, 249 00:08:48,361 --> 00:08:49,261 you host the G7. 250 00:08:49,262 --> 00:08:51,132 Would you like to have Vladimir Putin back 251 00:08:51,130 --> 00:08:52,900 in the G7 and make it the G8 again? 252 00:08:52,899 --> 00:08:56,899 President Trump: So it was the G8 for a long time, 253 00:08:56,903 --> 00:09:00,203 and now it's the G7. 254 00:09:00,206 --> 00:09:02,706 And a lot of the time, we talk about - we talk 255 00:09:02,708 --> 00:09:03,378 about Russia. 256 00:09:03,376 --> 00:09:05,376 We're talking about Russia because I've gone to 257 00:09:05,378 --> 00:09:07,748 numerous G7 meetings. 258 00:09:07,747 --> 00:09:12,217 And I guess President Obama, because Putin 259 00:09:12,218 --> 00:09:14,658 outsmarted him - President Obama thought it wasn't 260 00:09:14,654 --> 00:09:16,024 a good thing to have Russia in, so he wanted 261 00:09:16,022 --> 00:09:16,692 Russia out. 262 00:09:16,689 --> 00:09:18,029 But I think it's much more appropriate 263 00:09:18,024 --> 00:09:18,694 to have Russia in. 264 00:09:18,691 --> 00:09:20,491 It should be the G8, because a lot of the 265 00:09:20,493 --> 00:09:24,093 things we talk about have to do with Russia. 266 00:09:24,096 --> 00:09:28,066 So I could certainly see it being the G8 again. 267 00:09:28,067 --> 00:09:31,667 And if somebody would make that motion, I would 268 00:09:31,671 --> 00:09:34,071 certainly be disposed to think about 269 00:09:34,073 --> 00:09:35,273 it very favorably. 270 00:09:35,274 --> 00:09:38,874 But, as you know, for most of the time, 271 00:09:38,878 --> 00:09:40,478 it was the G8. 272 00:09:40,479 --> 00:09:41,649 It included Russia. 273 00:09:41,647 --> 00:09:44,987 And President Obama didn't want Russia in because 274 00:09:44,984 --> 00:09:46,184 he got outsmarted. 275 00:09:46,185 --> 00:09:47,985 Well, that's not the way it really should work. 276 00:09:47,987 --> 00:09:50,457 The Press: Mr. President, two years ago, you said 277 00:09:50,456 --> 00:09:52,656 that including Romania in the Visa Waiver Program 278 00:09:52,658 --> 00:09:54,558 is a subject that should be discussed. 279 00:09:54,560 --> 00:09:55,390 President Trump: Yeah. 280 00:09:55,394 --> 00:09:57,594 The Press: In this meeting, will you discuss 281 00:09:57,596 --> 00:09:58,266 this issue? 282 00:09:58,264 --> 00:10:00,204 President Trump: We've spent a lot of time on it. 283 00:10:00,199 --> 00:10:03,399 We've spent a lot of time discussing it already. 284 00:10:03,402 --> 00:10:05,342 Our countries have been discussing it, and we're 285 00:10:05,338 --> 00:10:07,638 going to - we're taking it up today in a very 286 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:09,540 important meeting right after this one. 287 00:10:09,542 --> 00:10:10,842 Do you like the idea? 288 00:10:10,843 --> 00:10:12,843 It sounds like you like the idea, right? 289 00:10:12,845 --> 00:10:14,785 The waiver - do you like the idea? 290 00:10:14,780 --> 00:10:15,450 Okay. 291 00:10:15,448 --> 00:10:16,778 No, it's something we're thinking about. 292 00:10:16,782 --> 00:10:18,322 The Press: Mr. President, on Venezuela, is the White 293 00:10:18,317 --> 00:10:20,057 House in contact with the Maduro regime - 294 00:10:20,052 --> 00:10:20,722 President Trump: Yes. 295 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:22,390 The Press: - with his number two, Cabello? 296 00:10:22,388 --> 00:10:24,758 President Trump: Well, we're - we are in touch. 297 00:10:24,757 --> 00:10:28,027 We're talking to various representatives 298 00:10:28,027 --> 00:10:29,157 of Venezuela. 299 00:10:29,161 --> 00:10:32,701 We're helping Venezuela as much as we can. 300 00:10:32,698 --> 00:10:34,768 We're staying out of it, but we are helping it, 301 00:10:34,767 --> 00:10:36,937 and it needs a lot of help. 302 00:10:36,936 --> 00:10:41,206 It's an incredible tribute to something 303 00:10:41,207 --> 00:10:42,947 bad happening, and the something bad 304 00:10:42,942 --> 00:10:43,772 is socialism. 305 00:10:43,776 --> 00:10:47,246 And it's amazing because, 15 years ago, it was 306 00:10:47,246 --> 00:10:48,586 one of the wealthiest countries. 307 00:10:48,581 --> 00:10:50,421 Now it's one of the poorest countries. 308 00:10:50,416 --> 00:10:52,686 It has oil reserves; it has a lot of things going, 309 00:10:52,685 --> 00:10:54,785 but it's a very sad thing what's happened. 310 00:10:54,787 --> 00:10:55,517 They don't have water. 311 00:10:55,521 --> 00:10:56,421 They don't have food. 312 00:10:56,422 --> 00:10:58,022 And we are helping a lot. 313 00:10:58,024 --> 00:11:00,764 We are talking to the representatives at 314 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:02,090 different levels of Venezuela. 315 00:11:02,094 --> 00:11:02,764 Yes. 316 00:11:02,762 --> 00:11:03,432 The Press: To Cabello? 317 00:11:03,429 --> 00:11:04,829 President Trump: I don't want to say who, but we 318 00:11:04,830 --> 00:11:06,170 are talking at a very high level. 319 00:11:06,165 --> 00:11:08,335 The Press: What's the status of the trade deal 320 00:11:08,334 --> 00:11:11,104 that you want to seal with Boris Johnson at the G7? 321 00:11:11,103 --> 00:11:13,243 President Trump: So, I spoke with Boris Johnson. 322 00:11:13,239 --> 00:11:15,779 I think he's going to be a great Prime Minister. 323 00:11:15,775 --> 00:11:17,445 I think he's going to do a fantastic job. 324 00:11:17,443 --> 00:11:18,883 I've known him. 325 00:11:18,878 --> 00:11:21,248 A lot of people know that we have a very 326 00:11:21,247 --> 00:11:22,277 good relationship. 327 00:11:22,281 --> 00:11:25,451 I think he'll be far superior. 328 00:11:25,451 --> 00:11:29,091 I think he'll do something that will be a very - 329 00:11:29,088 --> 00:11:31,728 I think he's going to be very important for the UK. 330 00:11:31,724 --> 00:11:33,494 I think he's going to be very important. 331 00:11:33,492 --> 00:11:35,692 Dealing with the European Union - I hate to say this 332 00:11:35,694 --> 00:11:37,594 to you, but dealing with the European Union 333 00:11:37,596 --> 00:11:39,666 is very difficult. 334 00:11:39,665 --> 00:11:41,835 They drive a hard bargain. 335 00:11:41,834 --> 00:11:46,034 They're represented by Jean-Claude, who is a 336 00:11:46,038 --> 00:11:47,478 friend of mine, but he's a tough man. 337 00:11:47,473 --> 00:11:49,213 He's a very, very tough man, and he's 338 00:11:49,208 --> 00:11:50,178 a great negotiator. 339 00:11:50,176 --> 00:11:53,376 And we have all the cards in this country because 340 00:11:53,379 --> 00:11:57,249 all we'd have to do is tax their cars and they would 341 00:11:57,249 --> 00:11:59,749 give us anything they wanted because they send 342 00:11:59,752 --> 00:12:02,122 millions of Mercedes over. 343 00:12:02,121 --> 00:12:03,821 They send millions of BMWs over. 344 00:12:03,823 --> 00:12:06,093 But we're talking to the European Union and we're 345 00:12:06,092 --> 00:12:07,562 going to see if we can work something out. 346 00:12:07,560 --> 00:12:10,200 But I will say this: Dealing with the UK, 347 00:12:10,196 --> 00:12:16,636 they have not treated the UK very well. 348 00:12:16,635 --> 00:12:19,005 That's a very tough bargain they're driving, 349 00:12:19,004 --> 00:12:19,904 the European Union. 350 00:12:19,905 --> 00:12:22,005 That's a very tough bargain. 351 00:12:22,007 --> 00:12:25,447 And I think that UK has the right man in charge 352 00:12:25,444 --> 00:12:27,784 right now - the right person in charge, 353 00:12:27,780 --> 00:12:29,080 in the form of Boris. 354 00:12:29,081 --> 00:12:31,351 The Press: And if I can turn to Afghanistan: 355 00:12:31,350 --> 00:12:33,450 What is your current thinking on pulling out 356 00:12:33,452 --> 00:12:34,492 the United States troops? 357 00:12:34,487 --> 00:12:36,227 President Trump: Well, we're talking to the 358 00:12:36,222 --> 00:12:39,792 government of Afghanistan, we're talking to the 359 00:12:39,792 --> 00:12:42,062 Taliban, and we're talking to others. 360 00:12:42,061 --> 00:12:45,161 And we're looking at different things. 361 00:12:45,164 --> 00:12:47,634 We've been there for 18 years. 362 00:12:47,633 --> 00:12:48,633 It's ridiculous. 363 00:12:48,634 --> 00:12:50,634 We have taken it down a notch. 364 00:12:50,636 --> 00:12:55,376 We're at about 13,000 people right now - 365 00:12:55,374 --> 00:12:57,844 13,000 Americans. 366 00:12:57,843 --> 00:13:00,413 NATO has some troops there too, by the way. 367 00:13:00,412 --> 00:13:03,912 And we're having good discussions. 368 00:13:03,916 --> 00:13:05,356 We'll see what happens. 369 00:13:05,351 --> 00:13:06,421 We'll see what happens. 370 00:13:06,418 --> 00:13:07,718 Look, it's 18 years. 371 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:11,020 We're like - we're not really fighting; we're a - 372 00:13:11,023 --> 00:13:12,923 almost more of a police force over there. 373 00:13:12,925 --> 00:13:14,165 It's been so many years. 374 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:16,500 But we're like a police force. 375 00:13:16,495 --> 00:13:18,995 And we're not supposed to be a police force. 376 00:13:18,998 --> 00:13:23,198 And as I've said, and I'll say it any number of times 377 00:13:23,202 --> 00:13:26,172 - and this is not using nuclear - we could win 378 00:13:26,172 --> 00:13:29,212 that war in a week if we wanted to fight it. 379 00:13:29,208 --> 00:13:31,348 But I'm not looking to kill 10 million people. 380 00:13:31,343 --> 00:13:35,013 I'm not looking to kill 10 million Afghans, because 381 00:13:35,014 --> 00:13:37,154 that's what would have to happen, and I'm not 382 00:13:37,149 --> 00:13:38,319 looking to do that. 383 00:13:38,317 --> 00:13:41,217 But it's a war that has been going on for almost 384 00:13:41,220 --> 00:13:45,790 19 years now, and, frankly, it's ridiculous. 385 00:13:45,791 --> 00:13:49,591 But, with that being said, it's a dangerous place, 386 00:13:49,595 --> 00:13:51,265 and we have to always keep an eye on it. 387 00:13:51,263 --> 00:13:52,733 The Press: It sounds like you'd like to pull 388 00:13:52,731 --> 00:13:53,871 completely out, if you could. 389 00:13:53,866 --> 00:13:56,466 President Trump: I'd like to look at various 390 00:13:56,468 --> 00:13:57,568 alternatives. 391 00:13:57,570 --> 00:13:59,970 One of the alternatives is going on right now. 392 00:13:59,972 --> 00:14:02,012 We're talking about a plan - I don't know whether 393 00:14:02,007 --> 00:14:04,977 or not the plan is going to be acceptable to me. 394 00:14:04,977 --> 00:14:07,717 And maybe it's not going to be acceptable to them. 395 00:14:07,713 --> 00:14:09,183 But we are talking. 396 00:14:09,181 --> 00:14:10,621 We have good talks going, and we'll see 397 00:14:10,616 --> 00:14:11,286 what happens. 398 00:14:11,283 --> 00:14:13,583 This is more than other Presidents have done. 399 00:14:13,586 --> 00:14:14,856 But we have brought it down. 400 00:14:14,853 --> 00:14:17,323 We are bringing some of our troops back. 401 00:14:17,323 --> 00:14:18,923 But we have to have a presence. 402 00:14:18,924 --> 00:14:19,594 Yes. 403 00:14:19,592 --> 00:14:21,022 The Press: Mr. President, could you clarify your 404 00:14:21,026 --> 00:14:23,996 position on enhanced background checks? 405 00:14:23,996 --> 00:14:26,636 After El Paso and Dayton, you seemed to be fully 406 00:14:26,632 --> 00:14:28,202 in support - President Trump: Right. 407 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:29,540 The Press: - of enhanced measures. 408 00:14:29,535 --> 00:14:31,105 When you were leaving Bedminster, you seemed 409 00:14:31,103 --> 00:14:33,273 to suggest that we already do have strong background 410 00:14:33,272 --> 00:14:35,442 laws, which a lot of people read as you dialing 411 00:14:35,441 --> 00:14:36,111 back (inaudible). 412 00:14:36,108 --> 00:14:37,448 President Trump: Well, we do have. 413 00:14:37,443 --> 00:14:39,113 I mean, I'm not doing that to be cute. 414 00:14:39,111 --> 00:14:41,311 We have very, very strong background checks 415 00:14:41,313 --> 00:14:41,983 right now. 416 00:14:41,981 --> 00:14:47,321 But we have, sort of, missing areas and areas 417 00:14:47,319 --> 00:14:50,319 that don't complete the whole circle. 418 00:14:50,322 --> 00:14:51,922 And we're looking at different things. 419 00:14:51,924 --> 00:14:53,364 And I have to tell you that 420 00:14:53,359 --> 00:14:54,729 it is a mental problem. 421 00:14:54,727 --> 00:14:56,827 And I've said it a hundred times: It's not the gun 422 00:14:56,829 --> 00:14:59,329 that pulls the trigger; it's the person that 423 00:14:59,331 --> 00:15:00,131 pulls the trigger. 424 00:15:00,132 --> 00:15:02,832 These are sick people, and it is also that kind 425 00:15:02,835 --> 00:15:04,605 of a problem. 426 00:15:04,603 --> 00:15:06,843 And we're looking at mental institutions, which 427 00:15:06,839 --> 00:15:07,569 we used to have. 428 00:15:07,573 --> 00:15:09,943 Like, as an example, where I come from in New York, 429 00:15:09,942 --> 00:15:12,582 they closed up almost all of their mental 430 00:15:12,578 --> 00:15:15,448 institutions - or many of them - and those people 431 00:15:15,447 --> 00:15:16,647 just went onto the streets. 432 00:15:16,649 --> 00:15:18,219 And they did it for budgetary reasons. 433 00:15:18,217 --> 00:15:20,887 Well, New York is not unique; they've done that 434 00:15:20,886 --> 00:15:21,786 in many places. 435 00:15:21,787 --> 00:15:23,127 The Press: Would you support either of the 436 00:15:23,122 --> 00:15:24,452 House bills that were passed earlier this year? 437 00:15:24,456 --> 00:15:25,826 President Trump: Well, I'm not going to get 438 00:15:25,824 --> 00:15:26,494 into that. 439 00:15:26,492 --> 00:15:28,432 But we are in very meaningful discussions 440 00:15:28,427 --> 00:15:30,067 with the Democrats. 441 00:15:30,062 --> 00:15:33,162 And I think the Republicans are very unified. 442 00:15:33,165 --> 00:15:35,235 We are very strong on our Second Amendment. 443 00:15:35,234 --> 00:15:37,104 The Democrats are not strong at all on the 444 00:15:37,102 --> 00:15:38,272 Second Amendment. 445 00:15:38,270 --> 00:15:40,910 I would say they're weak on the Second Amendment, 446 00:15:40,906 --> 00:15:42,346 and we have to be careful of that. 447 00:15:42,341 --> 00:15:44,611 The Democrats would, I believe - I think 448 00:15:44,610 --> 00:15:46,680 they'd give up the Second Amendment. 449 00:15:46,679 --> 00:15:50,719 And the people that - a lot of the people that 450 00:15:50,716 --> 00:15:53,156 put me where I am are strong believers 451 00:15:53,152 --> 00:15:55,722 in the Second Amendment - and I am, also. 452 00:15:55,721 --> 00:15:57,821 And we have to be very careful about that. 453 00:15:57,823 --> 00:16:00,423 You know, they call it the "slippery slope," and all 454 00:16:00,426 --> 00:16:02,126 of the sudden, everything gets taken away. 455 00:16:02,127 --> 00:16:03,497 We're not going to let that happen. 456 00:16:03,495 --> 00:16:06,295 The Press: President Iohannis - President 457 00:16:06,298 --> 00:16:07,468 Trump: Yeah, go ahead, please. 458 00:16:07,466 --> 00:16:09,166 The Press: For Mr. President Iohannis, 459 00:16:09,168 --> 00:16:11,438 will you discuss the issue of the fight against 460 00:16:11,437 --> 00:16:12,907 corruption in Romania with President Trump? 461 00:16:12,905 --> 00:16:14,105 Will you discuss this issue? 462 00:16:14,106 --> 00:16:15,476 President Trump: Please, go ahead. 463 00:16:15,474 --> 00:16:17,514 President Iohannis: Well, I hope so, because we have 464 00:16:17,509 --> 00:16:18,209 good results. 465 00:16:18,210 --> 00:16:20,410 And I want to share those with President Trump. 466 00:16:20,412 --> 00:16:22,282 President Trump: And what is your question? 467 00:16:22,281 --> 00:16:24,681 The Press: I was asking about the fight against 468 00:16:24,683 --> 00:16:25,483 corruption in Romania. 469 00:16:25,484 --> 00:16:27,084 President Trump: So nice to have a question 470 00:16:27,086 --> 00:16:27,856 about Romania. 471 00:16:27,853 --> 00:16:30,793 The Press: So I ask - I ask you, will you discuss 472 00:16:30,789 --> 00:16:32,529 this issue, the fight against corruption, with 473 00:16:32,524 --> 00:16:33,254 your Romanian counterpart? 474 00:16:33,258 --> 00:16:34,458 President Trump: Sure, I will. 475 00:16:34,460 --> 00:16:35,160 Sure. 476 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:36,700 The Press: Last time you praised President - 477 00:16:36,695 --> 00:16:37,935 President Trump: Sure, I will. 478 00:16:37,930 --> 00:16:38,900 Of course, I will. 479 00:16:38,897 --> 00:16:41,137 The Press: Last time you praised - President Trump: 480 00:16:41,133 --> 00:16:43,033 But I think that this is a man that can solve 481 00:16:43,035 --> 00:16:45,375 the corruption problem in Romania. 482 00:16:45,371 --> 00:16:47,371 And he's made big strides, from what I hear. 483 00:16:47,373 --> 00:16:50,373 I haven't been there recently. 484 00:16:50,376 --> 00:16:51,876 But he's made very big strides. 485 00:16:51,877 --> 00:16:53,547 And I think he's the man that can solve 486 00:16:53,545 --> 00:16:55,215 the corruption problem. 487 00:16:55,214 --> 00:16:58,614 There are a number of really terrific countries 488 00:16:58,617 --> 00:17:01,157 like Romania, but they have a tremendous 489 00:17:01,153 --> 00:17:02,083 corruption problem. 490 00:17:02,087 --> 00:17:04,327 And I've heard you've made tremendous progress. 491 00:17:04,323 --> 00:17:05,323 President Iohannis: W did, sir. 492 00:17:05,324 --> 00:17:07,164 The Press: Mr. President, what's the status of your 493 00:17:07,159 --> 00:17:08,289 foreign aid cut package? 494 00:17:08,293 --> 00:17:10,563 Do you still support cutting (inaudible)? 495 00:17:10,562 --> 00:17:12,162 President Trump: Well, we're looking at it. 496 00:17:12,164 --> 00:17:13,734 And we're looking at it in different ways. 497 00:17:13,732 --> 00:17:15,632 And we're talking to Republicans and Democrats 498 00:17:15,634 --> 00:17:16,334 about it. 499 00:17:16,335 --> 00:17:18,505 And certain things we can save and certain things - 500 00:17:18,504 --> 00:17:22,674 it probably could be, you know, a pennywise. 501 00:17:22,674 --> 00:17:23,774 Maybe it's a pennywise. 502 00:17:23,776 --> 00:17:24,506 We'll see. 503 00:17:24,510 --> 00:17:25,640 But we are looking at it. 504 00:17:25,644 --> 00:17:27,844 And we have some things that are on the 505 00:17:27,846 --> 00:17:28,646 table very much. 506 00:17:28,647 --> 00:17:31,187 And we'll let you know over the next, probably, 507 00:17:31,183 --> 00:17:32,153 sooner than a week. 508 00:17:32,151 --> 00:17:34,351 The Press: Mr. President, your administration has 509 00:17:34,353 --> 00:17:37,193 been taking steps to make it easier to discriminate 510 00:17:37,189 --> 00:17:39,059 against LGBT people in the workforce. 511 00:17:39,057 --> 00:17:40,957 Are you okay with those actions? 512 00:17:40,959 --> 00:17:43,099 President Trump: Well, you know, I just got an award 513 00:17:43,095 --> 00:17:46,465 and an endorsement yesterday from a - the 514 00:17:46,465 --> 00:17:48,205 exact group, a group. 515 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,200 They gave - you saw that. 516 00:17:50,202 --> 00:17:52,002 They gave me the endorsement yesterday. 517 00:17:52,004 --> 00:17:55,104 And I was very honored to - is it Log Cabin? 518 00:17:55,107 --> 00:17:56,007 The Log Cabin group. 519 00:17:56,008 --> 00:17:57,848 And I was very honored to receive it. 520 00:17:57,843 --> 00:18:00,913 No, I've done very well with that community. 521 00:18:00,913 --> 00:18:03,283 Some of my biggest supporters are 522 00:18:03,282 --> 00:18:04,352 of that community. 523 00:18:04,349 --> 00:18:06,089 And I think they - and I talk to them 524 00:18:06,084 --> 00:18:07,424 a lot about it. 525 00:18:07,419 --> 00:18:09,659 I think I've done really very well with that 526 00:18:09,655 --> 00:18:10,325 community. 527 00:18:10,322 --> 00:18:12,922 As you know, Peter Thiel and so many others, 528 00:18:12,925 --> 00:18:14,895 they're - they're with me all the way. 529 00:18:14,893 --> 00:18:16,663 And they like the job I'm doing. 530 00:18:16,662 --> 00:18:19,602 And I just got a big endorsement from 531 00:18:19,598 --> 00:18:21,838 the Log Cabin group. 532 00:18:21,834 --> 00:18:22,604 Yeah. 533 00:18:22,601 --> 00:18:24,641 The Press: Mr. President, you keep insisting that 534 00:18:24,636 --> 00:18:26,836 your trade war with China - the trade war with China 535 00:18:26,839 --> 00:18:28,479 is not affecting the U.S. economy. 536 00:18:28,474 --> 00:18:30,144 But a lot of economists disagree with that. 537 00:18:30,142 --> 00:18:31,842 And they worry that if China goes into 538 00:18:31,844 --> 00:18:33,514 a recession, they'll pull us down with it. 539 00:18:33,512 --> 00:18:34,852 President Trump: Well - well, okay. 540 00:18:34,847 --> 00:18:36,447 Let me - let me tell you something. 541 00:18:36,448 --> 00:18:38,448 Number one, we're doing very well as an economy. 542 00:18:38,450 --> 00:18:41,090 But somebody had to take China on. 543 00:18:41,086 --> 00:18:43,986 You know, I read and I see so much and I read 544 00:18:43,989 --> 00:18:46,359 so much, and I'll see these economists saying, 545 00:18:46,358 --> 00:18:47,728 "Oh, give up. 546 00:18:47,726 --> 00:18:48,656 Give up on China. 547 00:18:48,660 --> 00:18:49,390 Give up." 548 00:18:49,394 --> 00:18:51,464 China has been ripping this country off for 549 00:18:51,463 --> 00:18:53,303 25 years - for longer than that. 550 00:18:53,298 --> 00:18:56,138 And it's about time, whether it's good for our 551 00:18:56,134 --> 00:18:58,574 country or bad for our country short term. 552 00:18:58,570 --> 00:19:01,140 Long term, it's imperative that somebody does this 553 00:19:01,139 --> 00:19:04,109 because our country cannot continue to pay China 554 00:19:04,109 --> 00:19:07,509 $500 billion a year because stupid people 555 00:19:07,513 --> 00:19:08,513 are running it. 556 00:19:08,514 --> 00:19:10,144 So I don't mind this question. 557 00:19:10,148 --> 00:19:14,288 Whether it's good or bad, short term, is irrelevant. 558 00:19:14,286 --> 00:19:16,986 We have to solve the problem with China because 559 00:19:16,989 --> 00:19:20,659 they're taking out $500 billion a year-plus. 560 00:19:20,659 --> 00:19:23,099 And that doesn't include intellectual property 561 00:19:23,095 --> 00:19:25,665 theft and other things. 562 00:19:25,664 --> 00:19:28,604 And also, national security. 563 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:31,870 So, I am doing this whether it's good or bad 564 00:19:31,870 --> 00:19:34,810 for your - your statement about, "Oh, will we fall 565 00:19:34,806 --> 00:19:36,376 into a recession for two months?" 566 00:19:36,375 --> 00:19:37,275 Okay? 567 00:19:37,276 --> 00:19:39,076 The fact is, somebody had to take China on. 568 00:19:39,077 --> 00:19:40,847 My life would be a lot easier if I didn't take 569 00:19:40,846 --> 00:19:41,516 China on. 570 00:19:41,513 --> 00:19:43,783 But I like doing it because I have to do it. 571 00:19:43,782 --> 00:19:45,352 And we're getting great results. 572 00:19:45,350 --> 00:19:46,890 China has had the worst year they've had 573 00:19:46,885 --> 00:19:48,425 in 27 years. 574 00:19:48,420 --> 00:19:49,990 And a lot of people are saying the worst year 575 00:19:49,988 --> 00:19:52,258 they've had in 54 years. 576 00:19:52,257 --> 00:19:52,927 Okay? 577 00:19:52,925 --> 00:19:56,225 And frankly, I don't want that to happen, but it 578 00:19:56,228 --> 00:19:58,428 does put us in a good negotiating position, 579 00:19:58,430 --> 00:19:59,360 doesn't it? 580 00:19:59,364 --> 00:20:02,634 And China wants to make a deal, and that's good. 581 00:20:02,634 --> 00:20:04,904 But they have to make a deal that's fair to us. 582 00:20:04,903 --> 00:20:07,473 It can't be a deal that's not fair to us. 583 00:20:07,472 --> 00:20:09,842 And you should be happy that I'm fighting this 584 00:20:09,841 --> 00:20:12,111 and I'm fighting this battle, because somebody had 585 00:20:12,110 --> 00:20:12,880 to do it. 586 00:20:12,878 --> 00:20:14,948 We couldn't let this go - I don't even think it's 587 00:20:14,947 --> 00:20:17,417 sustainable to let go on what was happening. 588 00:20:17,416 --> 00:20:19,416 They were stealing all of our intellectual 589 00:20:19,418 --> 00:20:21,258 property ideas. 590 00:20:21,253 --> 00:20:23,223 The theft was incredible. 591 00:20:23,221 --> 00:20:26,121 They call it "intellectual property theft." 592 00:20:26,124 --> 00:20:29,594 And they value it at $300 billion a year. 593 00:20:29,595 --> 00:20:31,065 Who knows how they value it? 594 00:20:31,063 --> 00:20:32,763 I know how to value dollars; I don't know how 595 00:20:32,764 --> 00:20:34,904 to value intellectual property theft. 596 00:20:34,900 --> 00:20:37,240 But they have experts that say it's at least 597 00:20:37,235 --> 00:20:40,005 $300 billion a year, where they steal it. 598 00:20:40,005 --> 00:20:42,575 Somebody had to do something with China. 599 00:20:42,574 --> 00:20:43,944 Obama should have done it. 600 00:20:43,942 --> 00:20:45,382 Bush should have done it. 601 00:20:45,377 --> 00:20:46,617 Clinton should have done it. 602 00:20:46,612 --> 00:20:48,112 They all should have done it. 603 00:20:48,113 --> 00:20:50,253 Nobody did it; I'm doing it. 604 00:20:50,248 --> 00:20:51,048 So what do you say? 605 00:20:51,049 --> 00:20:53,789 "Oh, my trade deals are causing them." 606 00:20:53,785 --> 00:20:56,425 My trade deals aren't causing a problem. 607 00:20:56,421 --> 00:20:58,361 This is something that had to be done. 608 00:20:58,357 --> 00:21:00,497 The only difference is I'm doing it. 609 00:21:00,492 --> 00:21:02,732 I could be sitting here right now with a stock 610 00:21:02,728 --> 00:21:05,668 market that would be up 10,000 points higher if 611 00:21:05,664 --> 00:21:07,304 I didn't want to do it. 612 00:21:07,299 --> 00:21:09,539 But I think we have no choice but to do it. 613 00:21:09,534 --> 00:21:11,804 And a lot of people that really know, people that 614 00:21:11,803 --> 00:21:14,373 love our country, they're saying, "Thank you very 615 00:21:14,373 --> 00:21:15,503 much for taking it on." 616 00:21:15,507 --> 00:21:17,777 And we're winning because they're having the worst 617 00:21:17,776 --> 00:21:20,146 year they've had in decades. 618 00:21:20,145 --> 00:21:21,485 And it's only going to get worse. 619 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:23,750 China has lost 2 million jobs in the last month 620 00:21:23,749 --> 00:21:27,249 and a half because they're moving - the people, 621 00:21:27,252 --> 00:21:31,522 the companies are moving to non-tariffed countries. 622 00:21:31,523 --> 00:21:34,923 They've lost over 2 million jobs in a very 623 00:21:34,926 --> 00:21:36,496 short period of time. 624 00:21:36,495 --> 00:21:39,295 They're going to lose a lot more jobs. 625 00:21:39,297 --> 00:21:41,667 And if I didn't help certain companies - there 626 00:21:41,667 --> 00:21:44,007 are American companies like Apple - for a very 627 00:21:44,002 --> 00:21:46,772 short period of time, I may help them, only until 628 00:21:46,772 --> 00:21:49,572 they do what they have to do, which is probably move 629 00:21:49,574 --> 00:21:50,244 from China. 630 00:21:50,242 --> 00:21:52,782 Because this would be a very short term. 631 00:21:52,778 --> 00:21:56,478 If I didn't help them, they would - I mean, they 632 00:21:56,481 --> 00:21:59,521 would be - they would have a big problem. 633 00:21:59,518 --> 00:22:04,088 Here's the thing: Somebody had to take on what China 634 00:22:04,089 --> 00:22:06,689 was doing to the United States economically. 635 00:22:06,692 --> 00:22:09,292 We're winning big. 636 00:22:09,294 --> 00:22:10,024 I took it on. 637 00:22:10,028 --> 00:22:11,968 And it should have been done by previous 638 00:22:11,963 --> 00:22:13,903 Presidents, but I took it on. 639 00:22:13,899 --> 00:22:16,969 And I'm happy to do it because it had to be done. 640 00:22:16,968 --> 00:22:19,708 And the smart people say, "Thank you very much." 641 00:22:19,705 --> 00:22:21,945 And the dumb people have no idea. 642 00:22:21,940 --> 00:22:24,240 And then you have the political people, 643 00:22:24,242 --> 00:22:26,242 and they go with the wind. 644 00:22:26,244 --> 00:22:28,384 But they all know - even Senator Schumer said, 645 00:22:28,380 --> 00:22:30,780 "Wow, Trump is doing a great job with China." 646 00:22:30,782 --> 00:22:32,422 I couldn't believe that. 647 00:22:32,417 --> 00:22:34,357 But Schumer thinks I'm doing the right thing. 648 00:22:34,352 --> 00:22:37,192 And he's doing the right thing by saying it because 649 00:22:37,189 --> 00:22:40,329 he knows that China was a big economic threat. 650 00:22:40,325 --> 00:22:42,265 And they were taking all of that money that they 651 00:22:42,260 --> 00:22:45,160 were making from us, and they were building planes 652 00:22:45,163 --> 00:22:47,933 and ships and lots of other things. 653 00:22:47,933 --> 00:22:50,233 And we can't let that happen. 654 00:22:50,235 --> 00:22:51,975 The Press: Mr. President, on China, there is a new 655 00:22:51,970 --> 00:22:53,340 study out of Australia that suggests with the 656 00:22:53,338 --> 00:22:57,278 current Chinese military posture in the South China 657 00:22:57,275 --> 00:23:00,715 Sea, Indo-Pacific region, it could wipe out most U.S. 658 00:23:00,712 --> 00:23:03,612 bases within a number of hours. 659 00:23:03,615 --> 00:23:05,385 Is that something that keeps you up at night? 660 00:23:05,383 --> 00:23:07,053 President Trump: Well, nothing keeps me 661 00:23:07,052 --> 00:23:07,722 up at night. 662 00:23:07,719 --> 00:23:10,919 I'll tell you, we could wipe out anything we - 663 00:23:10,922 --> 00:23:12,862 we have the most powerful in the world. 664 00:23:12,858 --> 00:23:16,028 And when I came in two and a half years ago, we were 665 00:23:16,027 --> 00:23:17,297 in a very bad position. 666 00:23:17,295 --> 00:23:18,765 Now we're in a very strong position. 667 00:23:18,764 --> 00:23:23,834 We got $700 billion and $716 billion and then 668 00:23:23,835 --> 00:23:25,835 $738 billion. 669 00:23:25,837 --> 00:23:27,937 We have the strongest military in the world 670 00:23:27,939 --> 00:23:28,609 right now. 671 00:23:28,607 --> 00:23:30,847 And we're getting very close to finishing that 672 00:23:30,842 --> 00:23:32,012 whole rebuilding. 673 00:23:32,010 --> 00:23:33,950 We've rebuilt the military. 674 00:23:33,945 --> 00:23:35,785 Right now, there's nobody that's even close 675 00:23:35,781 --> 00:23:37,051 to us, militarily. 676 00:23:37,048 --> 00:23:37,788 Not even close. 677 00:23:37,783 --> 00:23:39,483 The Press: So it doesn't concern you at all that 678 00:23:39,484 --> 00:23:40,854 the Chinese military - President Trump: No, 679 00:23:40,852 --> 00:23:42,192 because they'd pay a price that they wouldn't 680 00:23:42,187 --> 00:23:42,857 want to pay. 681 00:23:42,854 --> 00:23:44,794 The Press: Is John Sullivan your choice for U.S. 682 00:23:44,790 --> 00:23:45,460 ambassador (inaudible)? 683 00:23:45,457 --> 00:23:46,797 President Trump: He's somebody that's being 684 00:23:46,792 --> 00:23:49,192 put up and respected very much. 685 00:23:49,194 --> 00:23:49,864 To Russia? 686 00:23:49,861 --> 00:23:50,561 The Press: Yes, sir. 687 00:23:50,562 --> 00:23:51,662 President Trump: Yeah. 688 00:23:51,663 --> 00:23:52,433 Very respected. 689 00:23:52,430 --> 00:23:53,870 The Press: So, he's your pick? 690 00:23:53,865 --> 00:23:55,305 Or you're still - President Trump: Well, 691 00:23:55,300 --> 00:23:56,640 I know that Mike Pompeo likes him very much. 692 00:23:56,635 --> 00:23:57,305 And he's very respected. 693 00:23:57,302 --> 00:23:58,072 He could very well be. 694 00:23:58,069 --> 00:23:58,739 Yeah. 695 00:23:58,737 --> 00:23:59,537 The Press: Okay. 696 00:23:59,538 --> 00:24:00,208 Thanks. 697 00:24:00,205 --> 00:24:01,545 The Press: What about Huawei, Mr. President? 698 00:24:01,540 --> 00:24:03,680 Do you think partners, like Romania here, should 699 00:24:03,675 --> 00:24:06,475 look into the business of Huawei in order to make 700 00:24:06,478 --> 00:24:07,878 a good decision whether - 701 00:24:07,879 --> 00:24:09,749 President Trump: They're doing that. 702 00:24:09,748 --> 00:24:10,718 Romania is doing that. 703 00:24:10,715 --> 00:24:13,215 The Press: Mr. President, Afghanistan again. 704 00:24:13,218 --> 00:24:14,588 The Taliban are talking to the U.S. 705 00:24:14,586 --> 00:24:16,656 but they're not talking to the Afghan government. 706 00:24:16,655 --> 00:24:20,225 If the U.S. were to draw down and the Taliban went 707 00:24:20,225 --> 00:24:22,395 on the offensive, would the U.S. come 708 00:24:22,394 --> 00:24:24,364 and rescue, say, the Afghan government? 709 00:24:24,362 --> 00:24:28,772 President Trump: Well, the Taliban does not respect 710 00:24:28,767 --> 00:24:30,097 the government, the Afghan government. 711 00:24:30,101 --> 00:24:31,441 They have no respect for the Afghan government. 712 00:24:31,436 --> 00:24:33,336 And I understand that and I know that. 713 00:24:33,338 --> 00:24:35,938 And they haven't been exactly getting along 714 00:24:35,941 --> 00:24:37,071 for a long period of time. 715 00:24:37,075 --> 00:24:39,915 But we've been a peacekeeper there, 716 00:24:39,911 --> 00:24:42,481 in a way, for 19 years. 717 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:44,480 And at a certain point, you have to say, 718 00:24:44,482 --> 00:24:46,552 "That's long enough." 719 00:24:46,551 --> 00:24:50,091 I go to Walter Reed and I see young men that step on 720 00:24:50,088 --> 00:24:52,528 a bomb and they lose their legs, they lose their 721 00:24:52,524 --> 00:24:54,494 arms, and in some case, they lose both and their 722 00:24:54,492 --> 00:24:56,432 face on top of it. 723 00:24:56,428 --> 00:24:57,098 And they're living. 724 00:24:57,095 --> 00:25:01,905 And again, we could win that, but I don't want 725 00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:06,040 to do what we would have to do to win it. 726 00:25:06,037 --> 00:25:07,807 And I think most people agree with me on that. 727 00:25:07,806 --> 00:25:09,176 The Press: Would you commit to protecting 728 00:25:09,174 --> 00:25:10,504 the Afghan government, should they? 729 00:25:10,508 --> 00:25:11,848 President Trump: Right now, what we're doing is 730 00:25:11,843 --> 00:25:13,383 we're negotiating with the government and we're 731 00:25:13,378 --> 00:25:15,278 negotiating with the Taliban, and we'll see 732 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:17,320 what happens from it, what's coming from it. 733 00:25:17,315 --> 00:25:19,615 I will say this: The Taliban would like 734 00:25:19,618 --> 00:25:21,818 to stop fighting us. 735 00:25:21,820 --> 00:25:23,290 They would like to stop fighting us. 736 00:25:23,288 --> 00:25:24,928 They've lost a lot. 737 00:25:24,923 --> 00:25:26,963 But we'll see what happens. 738 00:25:26,958 --> 00:25:29,098 And, remember, it's a tough place. 739 00:25:29,094 --> 00:25:33,464 The Soviet Union became Russia because 740 00:25:33,465 --> 00:25:34,535 of Afghanistan. 741 00:25:34,532 --> 00:25:35,372 That's what happened. 742 00:25:35,367 --> 00:25:36,907 Very simple. 743 00:25:36,902 --> 00:25:38,942 They became Russia because of Afghanistan. 744 00:25:38,937 --> 00:25:42,807 Somebody would say, "Oh, well, would Russia go in?" 745 00:25:42,807 --> 00:25:44,147 I said, "If they want, let them. 746 00:25:44,142 --> 00:25:46,142 I think they tried that before, however. 747 00:25:46,144 --> 00:25:46,974 Didn't work out too well." 748 00:25:46,978 --> 00:25:48,318 The Press: Can the Taliban be trusted? 749 00:25:48,313 --> 00:25:50,553 Or could we be right back to where to 750 00:25:50,548 --> 00:25:51,218 we were pre-9/11? 751 00:25:51,216 --> 00:25:52,586 President Trump: Nobody can be trusted. 752 00:25:52,584 --> 00:25:53,984 Nobody can be trusted. 753 00:25:53,985 --> 00:25:55,725 The Press: Are you worried that we couldn't be back 754 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:56,390 to where we were pre-9/11? 755 00:25:56,388 --> 00:25:57,718 President Trump: In my world - in this world, 756 00:25:57,722 --> 00:25:58,392 I think nobody can be trusted. 757 00:25:58,390 --> 00:25:59,720 The Press: But could we be back to where we were 758 00:25:59,724 --> 00:26:01,094 pre-9/11 with the Taliban in complete and total 759 00:26:01,092 --> 00:26:01,762 control of Afghanistan? 760 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:03,090 President Trump: Well, that's what we have to watch. 761 00:26:03,094 --> 00:26:04,434 And we'll always have intelligence, 762 00:26:04,429 --> 00:26:05,769 and we'll always have somebody there. 763 00:26:05,764 --> 00:26:07,264 But you can say that about a lot of places, Jon. 764 00:26:07,265 --> 00:26:08,835 You know, doesn't have to be that sector. 765 00:26:08,833 --> 00:26:12,103 But that does seem to be the Harvard University 766 00:26:12,103 --> 00:26:13,273 of terrorism. 767 00:26:13,271 --> 00:26:14,311 Okay? 768 00:26:14,306 --> 00:26:15,336 It seems to be. 769 00:26:15,340 --> 00:26:19,440 And we'll always have somebody there. 770 00:26:19,444 --> 00:26:24,354 And if the Taliban were - were really right in what 771 00:26:24,349 --> 00:26:26,989 they're saying, they would stop that from happening. 772 00:26:26,985 --> 00:26:28,655 Because they could stop that from happening 773 00:26:28,653 --> 00:26:29,323 very easily. 774 00:26:29,321 --> 00:26:29,991 Okay? 775 00:26:29,988 --> 00:26:30,658 So, we'll see. 776 00:26:30,655 --> 00:26:32,525 The Press: The crisis between India and Pakistan 777 00:26:32,524 --> 00:26:33,964 - President Trump: It's a big deal. 778 00:26:33,959 --> 00:26:36,329 The Press: - and I know you've had some number 779 00:26:36,328 --> 00:26:37,758 of discussions - is that solvable? 780 00:26:37,762 --> 00:26:39,662 President Trump: Well, they've been having this - 781 00:26:39,664 --> 00:26:41,534 these talks for hundreds of years, even under 782 00:26:41,533 --> 00:26:42,233 different names. 783 00:26:42,233 --> 00:26:44,173 But this is - but it's Kashmir. 784 00:26:44,169 --> 00:26:47,709 And Kashmir is a very complicated place. 785 00:26:47,706 --> 00:26:49,876 You have the Hindus and you have the Muslims, 786 00:26:49,874 --> 00:26:53,374 and I wouldn't say they get along so great. 787 00:26:53,378 --> 00:26:55,518 And that's what you have right now. 788 00:26:55,513 --> 00:27:00,223 And you have millions of people that want to be 789 00:27:00,218 --> 00:27:03,158 ruled by others, and maybe on both sides. 790 00:27:03,154 --> 00:27:05,324 And you have two countries that haven't gotten along 791 00:27:05,323 --> 00:27:06,363 well for a long time. 792 00:27:06,358 --> 00:27:09,298 And, frankly, it's a very explosive situation. 793 00:27:09,294 --> 00:27:11,964 I spoke to Prime Minister Khan. 794 00:27:11,963 --> 00:27:15,403 I spoke with, yesterday, also, Prime Minster Modi. 795 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:16,330 They're both friends of mine. 796 00:27:16,334 --> 00:27:17,834 They're great people. 797 00:27:17,836 --> 00:27:18,836 They're great people. 798 00:27:18,837 --> 00:27:20,167 And they love their countries. 799 00:27:20,171 --> 00:27:23,111 And they're in a very tough situation. 800 00:27:23,108 --> 00:27:25,248 Kashmir is a very tough situation. 801 00:27:25,243 --> 00:27:27,183 And, you know, we're talking about - this has 802 00:27:27,178 --> 00:27:29,748 been going on for decades and decades. 803 00:27:29,748 --> 00:27:30,418 Shooting. 804 00:27:30,415 --> 00:27:34,515 I don't mean shooting like shooting a rifle, I mean 805 00:27:34,519 --> 00:27:38,419 like major shooting of howitzers, of - you know, 806 00:27:38,423 --> 00:27:39,823 of heavy arms. 807 00:27:39,824 --> 00:27:42,594 And it's been going on for a long period of time. 808 00:27:42,594 --> 00:27:45,534 But I get along really well with both of them. 809 00:27:45,530 --> 00:27:48,830 As you know, Prime Minister Khan was here 810 00:27:48,833 --> 00:27:49,563 just recently. 811 00:27:49,567 --> 00:27:52,107 And I was with - I'm going to be with 812 00:27:52,103 --> 00:27:54,403 Prime Minister Modi. 813 00:27:54,406 --> 00:27:57,976 I'll be with him over the weekend in France. 814 00:27:57,976 --> 00:28:00,116 So, you know, I think we're helping 815 00:28:00,111 --> 00:28:01,611 the situation. 816 00:28:01,613 --> 00:28:05,583 But there's tremendous problems between those two 817 00:28:05,583 --> 00:28:06,723 countries, as you know. 818 00:28:06,718 --> 00:28:09,718 And I will do the best I can to mediate 819 00:28:09,721 --> 00:28:11,291 or do something. 820 00:28:11,289 --> 00:28:13,559 Great relationship with both of them, but they 821 00:28:13,558 --> 00:28:16,558 are not exactly friends at this moment. 822 00:28:16,561 --> 00:28:17,801 Complicated situation. 823 00:28:17,796 --> 00:28:19,966 A lot has to do with religion. 824 00:28:19,964 --> 00:28:21,734 Religion is a complicated subject. 825 00:28:21,733 --> 00:28:24,373 The Press: On Israel, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, 826 00:28:24,369 --> 00:28:26,839 yesterday, said that the United States should 827 00:28:26,838 --> 00:28:29,938 rethink its policy of aid toward Israel after she 828 00:28:29,941 --> 00:28:32,681 and Congresswomen Tlaib were denied entry. 829 00:28:32,677 --> 00:28:35,647 Congresswomen Tlaib was later allowed to come in, 830 00:28:35,647 --> 00:28:36,917 but she decided not to. 831 00:28:36,915 --> 00:28:38,685 Should there be any change in U.S. 832 00:28:38,683 --> 00:28:39,483 aid to Israel? 833 00:28:39,484 --> 00:28:40,154 President Trump: No. 834 00:28:40,151 --> 00:28:43,151 And you should see the horrible things that Tlaib 835 00:28:43,154 --> 00:28:47,024 has said about Israel, and "AOC plus three." 836 00:28:47,025 --> 00:28:47,995 That's what I call it. 837 00:28:47,992 --> 00:28:50,892 "AOC" - just take "AOC plus three." 838 00:28:50,895 --> 00:28:54,765 And you should see the things that the four 839 00:28:54,766 --> 00:28:58,936 of them have said about Israel over the last 840 00:28:58,937 --> 00:29:00,537 couple of years. 841 00:29:00,538 --> 00:29:02,608 I mean, Omar is a disaster for Jewish people. 842 00:29:02,607 --> 00:29:03,947 I can't imagine, if she has any Jewish people in 843 00:29:03,942 --> 00:29:05,272 her district, that they could possibly vote 844 00:29:05,276 --> 00:29:05,946 for her. 845 00:29:05,944 --> 00:29:07,314 But what Omar has said, what Tlaib has said. 846 00:29:07,312 --> 00:29:08,642 And then, yesterday, I noticed for the first 847 00:29:08,646 --> 00:29:09,316 time, Tlaib with the tears. 848 00:29:09,314 --> 00:29:10,644 All of a sudden, she starts with tears. 849 00:29:10,648 --> 00:29:11,318 Tears. 850 00:29:11,316 --> 00:29:11,986 And I don't buy it. 851 00:29:11,983 --> 00:29:12,653 I don't buy it. 852 00:29:12,650 --> 00:29:16,120 I don't buy it for a second because I've seen 853 00:29:16,121 --> 00:29:21,131 her in a very vicious mood at campaign rallies - my 854 00:29:32,003 --> 00:29:35,843 campaign rallies - before she was a congresswoman. 855 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:38,440 I said, "Who is that?" 856 00:29:38,443 --> 00:29:42,683 And I saw a woman that was violent and vicious and 857 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:43,520 out of control. 858 00:29:43,515 --> 00:29:48,285 And all of a sudden, I see this person who's crying 859 00:29:48,286 --> 00:29:49,626 because she can't see her grandmother. 860 00:29:49,621 --> 00:29:50,651 She can see her grandmother. 861 00:29:50,655 --> 00:29:52,295 They have her permission to see her grandmother, 862 00:29:52,290 --> 00:29:54,930 but she grandstanded and she didn't want to do it. 863 00:29:54,926 --> 00:29:56,366 So, that's a decision of Israel. 864 00:29:56,361 --> 00:29:57,931 That's not - a lot of people are saying that 865 00:29:57,929 --> 00:29:59,199 was my decision. 866 00:29:59,197 --> 00:30:02,867 That's a decision of - of Israel. 867 00:30:02,867 --> 00:30:06,437 They can let them in if they want, but I don't 868 00:30:06,437 --> 00:30:07,507 think they want to. 869 00:30:07,505 --> 00:30:09,575 When you read the things that they've said about 870 00:30:09,574 --> 00:30:10,604 Israel - how bad. 871 00:30:10,608 --> 00:30:12,448 And if you look at their itinerary before they 872 00:30:12,443 --> 00:30:14,913 found out - you take a look at their itinerary, 873 00:30:14,913 --> 00:30:16,753 that was all going to be a propaganda tour 874 00:30:16,748 --> 00:30:17,818 against Israel. 875 00:30:17,815 --> 00:30:20,385 So, I don't blame Israel for doing what they did. 876 00:30:20,385 --> 00:30:21,555 I have nothing to do with it. 877 00:30:21,553 --> 00:30:24,323 But I don't blame them for doing what they did. 878 00:30:24,322 --> 00:30:26,462 I think it would've been very bad to let them in, 879 00:30:26,457 --> 00:30:28,927 including the four - I'm talking about all four - 880 00:30:28,927 --> 00:30:33,697 but these two that wanted to get in: Omar and Tlaib. 881 00:30:33,698 --> 00:30:35,568 And I think it would be a very bad thing for Israel, 882 00:30:35,567 --> 00:30:37,637 but Israel has to do what they want to do. 883 00:30:37,635 --> 00:30:39,905 But I would not cut off aid to Israel. 884 00:30:39,904 --> 00:30:41,444 And I can't even believe that we're having 885 00:30:41,439 --> 00:30:43,209 this conversation. 886 00:30:43,208 --> 00:30:45,778 Five years ago, the concept of even talking 887 00:30:45,777 --> 00:30:49,677 about this - even three years ago - of cutting off 888 00:30:49,681 --> 00:30:51,881 aid to Israel because of two people that hate 889 00:30:51,883 --> 00:30:55,923 Israel and hate Jewish people - I can't believe 890 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:58,590 we're even having this conversation. 891 00:30:58,590 --> 00:31:00,790 Where has the Democratic Party gone? 892 00:31:00,792 --> 00:31:03,862 Where have they gone where they're defending these 893 00:31:03,861 --> 00:31:07,461 two people over the State of Israel? 894 00:31:07,465 --> 00:31:10,335 And I think any Jewish people that vote for a 895 00:31:10,335 --> 00:31:14,875 Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack 896 00:31:14,872 --> 00:31:17,512 of knowledge or great disloyalty. 897 00:31:17,508 --> 00:31:18,108 All right? 898 00:31:18,109 --> 00:31:19,009 Thank you very much everybody.