Posted on 09/19/2019 2:24:15 PM PDT by ransomnote
Aboard Air Force One En Route Joint Base Andrews
September 18, 2019
THE PRESIDENT: (In progress.) Im glad you got to see it.
Q Was there anything that surprised you about seeing it firsthand?
THE PRESIDENT: No. I mean, Ive seen it. I mean, I saw it tiny sections of it when we were devising it. This was you know, this is a lot a lot of work coming out. We have two concepts. We have that concept and we have a point at the top its a little complicated; nobody cares but without the structural beam because they structural beam is in a different location. Both have advantages. This is probably the strongest (inaudible). You dont get much stronger than that. (Inaudible.)
Q Is that what youre putting up around the White House?
THE PRESIDENT: No, but thats what the Democrats are putting up around their convention. Theyre building a big wall. Were doing it, too. (Inaudible.) Theyre building a big wall around their convention, which they should do.
Q What did you sign on the wall? What did you write on the wall.
THE PRESIDENT: Just my name. They just said, Sir, could you sign? The Border Patrol said, Could you sign your name? And I did. I autographed one of the bollards. There are a lot of bollards. Thats a lot of bollards. So, thats pretty good.
So, I and I think its moving along really well.
Q Can you talk about can you talk about your decision to appoint a different FEMA Administrator?
THE PRESIDENT: No, Im happy with Kevin. I think Kevin are you talking about which one? Oh, FEMA?
Q To switch out the nomination (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: Were happy with the job theyre doing. We looked at a lot of different things. We think he would have been very good. But were also very happy with the man whos acting, who has been acting. Youre talking you said FEMA? Because I didnt hear you.
Q Yeah. Youre going to nominate Gaynor instead of Byard?
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, were very happy yeah, were very happy with whats been going in FEMA. They did a fantastic job. Puerto Rico is 100 percent ready and every place was ready. Were not involved in the Bahamas. But after the fact, weve really been a big help to the Bahamas, as you probably have heard.
No, FEMA is running very well. Were very happy (inaudible). Yeah.
Q Sir, theres a document that was circulating on Capitol Hill today that had some proposals for gun reforms that would expand background checks. And that was being given to Republican senators. Is that something you would support: expanding background checks (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: No, no. Were looking at many different things. That was a news conference that was given. And were throwing out many different ideas to Republicans and Democrats see where they all come out. And that was a document that you were talking I havent seen that document. But were throwing a lot of ideas out, but were always going to be watching extremely closely the Second Amendment.
Q That was put out by your leg affairs by your legislative affairs?
THE PRESIDENT: That was put out by, I think wasnt that Bill Barr, the Attorney General?
Q The Department of Justice drafted it and then (inaudible) was involved in it.
THE PRESIDENT: We got Bill Barr involved. Hes a very hes an expert on guns and gun control. And about a week ago, we asked Bill to get involved. And those are ideas that were talking to Republicans, Democrats, everybody about. Some some they like, some they dont like. Just a series of concepts and ideas.
Q Its been about a month since those back-to-back mass shootings that re-sparked the debate.
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.
Q (Inaudible) or do you think that this is just going to kind of peter out, lose momentum, and there wont be (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, it depends on whether or not the goalposts are moved. I mean, I think well come to some kind of a conclusion you know, conclusion. We will come to a conclusion, I believe, with the Democrats. The question is whether or not, if we do, theyll say, Well, we cant do it. Were going to move the goalposts a little bit.
Q You said they want
THE PRESIDENT: Its not an easy I think they do want. I think there are certain Democrats that really want to do it. And I would like to do it, and Republicans would like to do it. We have to get something that we all agree on.
And, you know, Ive been very strong from the day you first met me on the Second Amendment. Were going to be watching that very closely. So, we have a whole series of ideas and concepts that were going to be talking about. And some are liked, and some arent liked. In that report, there are some ideas that were liked and some ideas that werent liked at all, actually.
Q Is Robert OBrien on the plane with you?
THE PRESIDENT: Hes here.
Q Did you meet with him last night or this morning?
THE PRESIDENT: We met last night. We met last night. Ive been talking he was highly recommended by many people. Many, many people. Many senators recommended him. And some Democrats recommended him, actually.
Q Which Democrats recommended him?
Q So you sat down with him?
THE PRESIDENT: We sat down. Well, specifically, I you know, without going into detail, but I actually sat down with him, also, before this trip.
We had a very successful fundraiser. We raised a lot of money. A lot of people showed up. But we could have had many more show up had we had the room. We went to some very large and beautiful houses, and we had some beautiful fundraisers.
The one thing that everybody was consistent on is we could have quadrupled the attendance if we wanted to. They were big, but they could of had many more, if they had the physical room.
Q Is Robert OBrien now the official National Security Advisor? Is he sworn-in?
THE PRESIDENT: Well do whatever the process is. I told them about it today, and, as you know, we did we had a pretty full day. A pretty full three days, actually.
Q Is he on the job?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, he is right now. I said, Start as soon as you can. Start now. I said, If you can start now I would imagine there is a concept of swearing in. He doesnt have to be approved, as you know, through the normal the normal confirmation process.
Q Will he be in any meetings tomorrow on Iran or anything?
THE PRESIDENT: If he can. Were going to look at the exact approval process. Now, you have to understand, hes already at a high level and hes already passed Senate confirmation, et cetera, et cetera, on other things. And hes highly thought of, and many senators really liked him a lot. Hes got a good way.
Q Mr. President, did you want to in revoking the California authority on emissions, did you want to do that while you were here in California? Were you trying to send a message?
THE PRESIDENT: No, it was really a coincidence, to be honest. It was a coincidence. Weve been talking not talking about it, weve been perfecting it for a long period of time. And it might end up in the courts probably will.
But youll be able to produce a car I wish you were there today, because I gave a whole talk on it. Well be able to produce an automobile for substantially less money, which is substantially safer, which will also be extremely good for the environment.
In addition, youll have a lot of cars come off the market that are 10, 12, 15 years old that are very bad for the environment and that, you know, chug a lot of fuel, because those people driving those cars dont want to switch to one of the cars that theyre producing right now. Number one, theyre too expensive. Number two, theyre not nearly as safe. Theyre lighter, much thinner, much more flimsy. And were able to produce a sturdier car, which is safer, and were were able to do something that will cost substantially less money for the consumer.
Q One more question related to your trip here: Ben Carson is following you to San Francisco
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.
Q and LA. Is he here on kind of like a fact-finding mission? Are you expecting
THE PRESIDENT: No, but I have asked him
Q a report from him soon?
THE PRESIDENT: I have asked him. Well start with those two cities. And were looking at San Francisco. Were looking at Los Angeles. And were looking at all of the things that are happening. The you know, theres tremendous pollution being put into the ocean, because theyre going through a storm whats called a storm sewer. Thats for rainwater.
And we have tremendous things that we dont have to discuss pouring into the ocean. You know, there are needles. There are other things. A lot of bad a lot of a lot of its a terrible situation. Thats in Los Angeles and in San Francisco.
And were going to be giving San Francisco theyre in total violation were going to be giving them the notice very soon.
Q Will you put out
Q A notice of what?
THE PRESIDENT: Were putting out a notice on San Francisco.
Q What kind of notice, Mr. President?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, youre going to see in over the next I would say, less than a week.
EPA is going to be putting out a notice. And, you know, theyre in serious violation. And this is environmental very environmental. And they have to clean it up. We cant have our cities going to hell. These are great cities. And we cant have we cant lose our great cities like this.
Q What do you think a congressional investigation into President Obamas Netflix deal would find?
THE PRESIDENT: Into his ethics? Q No, his Netflix deal.
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, into his Netflix? Well, it was a very substantial deal. I mean, if you were if he was Cecil B. DeMille, he would have gotten I mean, Cecil B. DeMille should be, if he ever came back from the dead, one of the greats of all time. He would have loved to have made that deal. Plus, the book was the highest book ever sold, and there were many other things that he did.
So I think somebody should if theyre going to be looking at me over nonsense, they should certainly be looking at that also.
Q Would your memoir command as much of an advance?
THE PRESIDENT: I dont know, but Ive had a lot of bestsellers. Ive written many bestsellers, that I can tell you.
Q And seriously, though: Did you see the remarks that President Carter made, saying that there should be an age limit for seeking the presidency?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think it has to be limited by the public. You know, I met with a man the other day who was 85 years old the sharpest guy youll ever meet. Ive dealt with people that were 92, 93, 94, and they were totally sharp. I dont you know, I dont I cant speak for Biden. I cant speak I know nothing about it. But hes given some very strange answers, that I can tell you.
Q It was Jimmy Carter. The President was Jimmy Carter who said that.
THE PRESIDENT: No, I know that. No, Jimmy Carter said it, but he was referring to Biden. And he said that he was because Bidens having a hard time; theres no question about it. But Im not speaking for Biden. Jimmy Carter made the statement, as I understand it, referring to Biden.
But Im just telling you, I met with somebody three days ago 85 years old and sharp as there is in existence. You know, Im sure you people have also. But not everybody is going to be that way.
Q Sir, did you see the report that the Guantanamo had cost $13 million a year for each detainee. Is that something that you think is a good idea?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we have a big situation where weve defeated ISISs caliphate. We have thousands of ISIS fighters, and we want those fighters to be taken I dont know if youve been really talking about this. I think its a big thing, Peter. We have thousands of ISIS fighters that weve taken in Syria. Weve defeated we have 100 percent of the caliphate.
Were holding in various forms of prison, were holding thousands of people. Many come from Germany. Many come from France. Many come from Poland. You know, really, most of them come from various European countries, and we want them to take them back.
And Ive given them a deadline. I said, Take them back. Because were not going to you know, theyd like to have us put them in Guantanamo Bay and leave them in Guantanamo Bay for the next 50 years, and cost us a fortune. I said, Nope. You got to take them back. If they come from Germany, take them back. We did you a big favor. If they come from France, take them back, Emmanuel. Take them back.
And theyre going to have to do that. And if they dont do that, we may very well release them at the borders because we have no choice. Were not going to be taking people from other countries and having them you know, paying the cost of them in prison for 40 years.
Q We have 40 people there. Were paying $13 million each a year now. Is that the best way to handle it?
THE PRESIDENT: No, its not. And were looking into that. Thats been a long-term President Obama said they were going to be totally completed and emptied out by the time he left office. And very much like judges, where, as you know, I ended up with 138 slots, you had a situation where that wasnt cleaned out. He was going to have everybody removed and Guantanamo Bay closed up by the time he left office. And he didnt do that. He didnt do that either. So were stuck with it.
Q Do you think it should be?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I dont know. But this was President Obama. You know that. He did say that. He said Guantanamo Bay
Q Yeah, but Congress blocked him.
THE PRESIDENT: will be totally closed.
Q Right.
THE PRESIDENT: I dont know. I mean, I just know he was very strong on the fact that Guantanamo Bay. So were taking what he left, and thats where we are right now. Were going to make some decisions on it.
But with respect to the ISIS fighters by the way, I hope youre having a good time over here, Mark. I brought him down to talk about if you had any more questions on the wall.
Q We have questions on the wall.
THE PRESIDENT: I hope you like the wall, by the way. Do you like the wall?
Q It was interesting for all of us to go.
THE PRESIDENT: Let me ask you one question. I know youre not supposed to as a reporter. That is a serious wall. Do you agree with that? Thats serious steel.
Q There was a lot of steel, yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, and concrete. Its got steel and concrete and very hard concrete, very strong concrete. You know, its very, very 5,000-pound concrete is a very substantial concrete.
Hello, are you okay down there?
AIDE: Im wonderful, sir. Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay. I couldnt do that. Thats a very thats what you get with youth.
Q When you just said youre looking at making decisions on Guantanamo, do you mean youre looking at potentially closing it?
THE PRESIDENT: Were looking at a lot of things. But President Obama said that Guantanamo Bay would be closed, and he never got it done.
Q But what would what would you like to do?
THE PRESIDENT: Its just like President Obama knew about the Russians and he never got that done either, with respect to the 2016 election. So there are a lot of things he didnt get done, but thats okay.
Go ahead.
Q But what would you like to do? Are you suggesting youd like to do something on that?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, were looking at a lot of things. I know about that. I think its crazy. Its been it costs a fortune to operate it and I think its crazy.
But the big decision we have now is we have thousands of people they came from other countries. We want those countries to take them back. We did them a big favor by stopping them. And if they came from France, we want France to take them, and to try them, and to do whatever they have to do with them. But thats a very expensive situation.
Q Can we put this one on the record that you want to look at Guantanamo?
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, I think you can have this on the record.
Q Youre going to Houston this weekend
THE PRESIDENT: Treat it fairly if it wasnt good. But just treat it fairly.
Q with Prime Minister Modi.
THE PRESIDENT: Im going to yeah, I have a great relationship with
Q What are you going to announce with him? Or is there any sort of announcement youre going to make?
THE PRESIDENT: Could be. But I have a very good relationship with Prime Minister Modi. By the way, great relationship with Pakistan and with India. But hes got a big crowd coming, and I guess the crowd just got a lot bigger because they just announced he asked would I go, and I will go.
Then were stopping in Ohio on the way back, and then I guess we do the United Nations the following week.
Q What are you going to say in your speech to the U.N. on Tuesday?
THE PRESIDENT: Im going to say, The United States is the greatest country in the world. Its never been stronger and its never been better, and they certainly have one of the great Presidents in our history.
We love you guys. Have a good time. Go eat that chocolate cake, okay? Eat that chocolate cake. They didnt give me cake like that, Phil.
Q You can have ours.
THE PRESIDENT: Ill grab Ill grab that sucker right off your plate.
Q When you go to the U.N., do you ever think back to all the comments that you made as a private citizen about the green marble, about the sort of setting there? The U.N. did you pitch yourself to try to rebuild it? If I remember
THE PRESIDENT: I offered I offered to rebuild it, as a real estate developer. I was a very good real estate developer. I offered to rebuild it at a tiny fraction of what they were going to build it for. And I said, It will end up being much more than that. They didnt even know what New York steam was versus a boiler. They knew nothing.
So it was a big deal. I made an offer. And I think it was the ambassador to Sweden one of the ambassadors because I built the building across the street. And that building fully built, brand new a tremendous building Trump you know the building, right? Right across the street. And that building cost much less than a renovation to the United Nations.
So the ambassador to Sweden, I believe, said, Id like to call this man. I wasnt the President. So, I was the president of the Trump Organization. Id like to call him. And he did. And he spoke to me. He said, Is it true that you built that building for I think it was I think he said, $360 million. I said, Yes. He said, How could you do that for $360 [million] and they want to spend $2 billion on renovating this smaller building the United Nations. I said, Because I know how the game is played. It could be much less.
I said, I could do the whole thing for $500 million. And he said, What would the difference be? I said, The only difference would be that it would be much better. Id use marble instead of terrazzo, which is more much expensive. I wouldnt move people out. Id do it by floors. You know, you take three floors at a time. You move them around. They moved everybody out, then moved everybody back. And you dont even notice any difference. I mean, I dont even notice.
They spent a fortune. And I went and I made the presentation to the to the general. We made the presentation. Its a big deal. And I said, Ill save you billions of dollars, because when it comes in, your people dont know what theyre doing. I spoke to the people. They didnt know anything about building, although they did know about other things, which are not good. You dont want to know about that. But they knew nothing about building.
And it came out it came out costing billions of dollars. And I offered to do it for $500 million and it would have been a much better job. And they wouldnt have had to empty the building, as I said. We could have done it with people in place. It would have been a great job.
And Ive done jobs like that, like the Grand Hyatt New York. I did that. That was the old Commodore. Ive done a lot of renovation work.
Q Speaking of money, one of our photographer colleagues saw some $20 bills coming out of your back pocket yesterday as you boarded Air Force One. What was that about?
THE PRESIDENT: Where were they coming? They were
Q It was in the back packet of your pants.
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, they were coming out?
Q All the bills coming out of your pocket.
THE PRESIDENT: Out of my
Q Your jacket was up in the wind, so they were
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, it could oh I see, the jacket well, it could have been
Q Do you carry cash?
THE PRESIDENT: Hey, they have good cameras.
Q Do you carry cash in your back pocket?
THE PRESIDENT: I do. I do.
Q When do you
THE PRESIDENT: He must
Q When do you use that cash?
THE PRESIDENT: I havent used it in a long time. (Laughter.) I do.
Q What about a wallet?
THE PRESIDENT: I do leave I will say this, I dont carry a wallet
Q Okay.
THE PRESIDENT: because I havent had to use a credit card in a long time. I do like leaving tips at the hotel. You know, I like to carry a little something. I like to give tips to the hotel. Im telling you maybe a President is not supposed to do it, but I like to leave a tip at the hotel, et cetera, et cetera.
Oh, thats funny. So the jacket was blowing up and they saw it. Who is the man?
Q Tom here got the picture.
THE PRESIDENT: Boy, thats a good picture. (Laughter.) Hey, Id like a piece of that picture.
Anyways, have a good time, fellas. Dont eat that cake, okay? Have a good time.
Q Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: We have a good trip a really good trip. I hope I hope you see the wall as what it is: Its a great structure and it will really do the trick.
One thing I think you wanted to say about the catch-and release-program, probably?
ACTING COMMISSIONER MORGAN: Yes, sir. So hopefully, within the next couple of weeks, because of the network of initiatives and policies by this administration thats really been supported by several different entities within DHS USCIS, ICE, as well as CBP were confident that in a couple of weeks, were going to be able to end catch and release at the southwest border.
THE PRESIDENT: There will be no more catch and release. Nobody coming into the country.
ACTING COMMISSIONER MORGAN: Thats right.
THE PRESIDENT: It would be a big a big step. And thats without the Democrats. It would have been easier you know, if we could have done it the other way. But because of what weve done through regulation and what were doing with Mexico, we wont have catch within two weeks, well be free of catch-and-release releasing people into the country.
ACTING COMMISSIONER MORGAN: Yes, sir. And, you know, not only because of what weve done I think everybody understands the new IFR thats going to be coming out thats now because of the Supreme Court decision, were going to be able to utilize that across the southwest border, as well as MPP, the Migrant Protection Protocol. So those are two significant things that are thats able to drive us to be able to end catch and release.
The government of Mexico again, weve talked about it for a little while unprecedented support. The President mentioned that today: 25,000 troops. What theyre doing is absolutely I know we use this word a lot, but its true
THE PRESIDENT: (Inaudible.)
ACTING COMMISSIONER MORGAN: its unprecedented. Mexico has never stepped up and really seen this issue as a true regional crisis like they have now.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay?
Q Can we place this all on the record, then?
Q Everything is on the record. All right?
Q Can we use it on the record?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Treat me fairly.
END
President Trump says he has Ben Carson looking at LA and San Francisco regarding EPA violations. I' so glad someone is investigation the health hazards that those two cities are piling up (e.g., how does a city forget how to keep sidewalks clean of human feces?)
With POTUS, you never know if he actually misheard the question asked by the press or not:
Q What do you think a congressional investigation into President Obama’s Netflix deal would find?
THE PRESIDENT: Into his ethics?
Q No, his Netflix deal.
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, into his Netflix? Well, it was a very substantial deal. I mean, if you were — if he was Cecil B. DeMille, he would have gotten — I mean, Cecil B. DeMille should be, if he ever came back from the dead, one of the greats of all time. He would have loved to have made that deal. Plus, the book was the highest book ever sold, and there were many other things that he did.
So I think somebody should — if they’re going to be looking at me over nonsense, they should certainly be looking at that also
Good read!
*TRUMP BUMP*
He mercilessly trolls.
I love this man.
“were confident that in a couple of weeks, were going to be able to end catch and release at the southwest border.”
A bit later than the “one week” stated yesterday, but still a huge development.
Did you say, his ethics?
(snort!)
THE PRESIDENT: Its not an easy I think they do want. I think there are certain Democrats that really want to do it. And I would like to do it, and Republicans would like to do it. We have to get something that we all agree on.
I couldn't read another word after seeing that.
>> couldnt read another word
Hes going to make them an offer they cant accept and then paint them as completely unreasonable when they lose their minds...
“I’ll grab that sucker right off your plate!”
Uh-Oh!
I can see it now—
CNN Headline: President Trump boasts he can grab it again!
RELAX, my FRiend! By now we should be aware he has our backs and is not going to do what we fear.
He’s as much as one of us as any of us here are.
This is a man that truly likes people - the “little” guy, giants of industry, plumbers, even reporters sometimes ...
Quick - there are about 20 Democrats still seeking the Presidency.
What is the over/under that ANY of them leave a tip:
1) Out of their own personal cash;
2) Not from their campaign funds;
3) Actually shakes the hands of random staff at any hotel/restaurant/military base, when they give the tip to them;
4) leaves a tip when there are no cameras running?
Maybe ONE?
OVERTURN THE PROSECUTION OF GENERAL MICHAEL FLYNN
https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/petition-throw-out-general-michael-flynns-prose
Some people just thrive on being concern trolls - take a breath, Eeyore....
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