Subject: Travel pool report #3: more quotes + wheels up for LA
Says he hasn’t considered pardons for Flynn, Stone, or Manafort.
Does Stone deserve any prison time? “you’re going to see what happens. I think he’s treated unfairly.”
Also says Flynn is being treated very unfairly.
On West Coast swing - Why did he want to stay in Las Vegas every night? “Largely that the schedule is by the Secret Service we do what they want us to. I don’t set the schedule I have nothing to do with it.”
Advice for Bloomberg in debate: “he doesn’t need advice ... it just seems unfair what’s happening to Bernie sanders, to be honest with you.”
On President Xi and coronavirus: “He’s working really hard. It’s a tough problem. Look, I’ve seen them build hospitals in a short period of time ... we are also working with him and helping him for the past few days, as you know.”
Says he’s wanting to go to South Carolina before their primary. (Senator Graham is traveling with him.)
Says he won’t tell us who Anonymous is but says he knows a lot.
Says “some of the leakers are made up by the press.” Says when he wants to get news out he talks to certain members of the press.
Says he’s going to be at “the largest stadium in the world” in India and he is excited for 7 million people.
After speaking to pool for 15 minutes, POTUS boarded AF1 at 1:56pm. We are wheels up shortly for an approximately 5.5 hour flight.
Aides spotted include Judd Deere, Stephanie Grisham and Eric Ueland.
Thanks to Ashley Parker of Wapo for catching some of these quotes.