Subject: Out of town pool report #4: Trump and O’Brien comments
The press osprey touched down at LAX at 10:24.
The president came to talk to press with his newly named national security adviser, Robert O’brien. Partial quotes below, please watch for playback as Air Force One is about to take off.
“He’s worked with me for quite awhile now on hostages and we have a tremendous track record on hostages.”
Trump called O’Brien “highly respected” and “very talented.”
“Robert has been fantastic. We know each other well.”
He said the national security adviser role is very important if it’s someone the president respects.
O’Brien called it a “privilege” to take the adviser role.
“We’ve got a number of challenges.”
Said focus will be on keeping Americans safe and rebuilding the military.
Said he would advise Trump privately on the situation in Saudi Arabia.
Trump on Saudi Arabia:
“We know very much what happened.”
“I’ve always felt the United Nations is very important.”
Trump said he thinks it’s “a sign of strength” how he’s held back against Iran.
“How did going into Iraq work out?”
“If we have to do something, we’ll do it without hesitation.”
“There are many options. There’s the ultimate option,” he said, referring to war.
He said the US is “in a very powerful position” and said he would announce more details on sanctions over the next 48 hours.
POTUS boarded the plane at 10:42 after speaking for about seven minutes. About to be wheels up for San Diego at 10:44.
Subject: Out of town pool report #6: Greeters
Trump stepped off the plane at 11:32 a.m.
White House passes along the following list of greeters who met Trump on the tarmac in San Diego:
COL Charles Dockery
Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (NKX)
SMMC Michael Walton
Sergeant Major, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (NKX)
Mayor Steven Vaus
Mayor of Poway, California
COL Simon Doran
Assistant Wing Commander, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
SMMC Peter Siaw
Sergeant Major, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
CMDCM Donald Davis, Jr.
Command Master Chief, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein
Rabbi of the Chabad of Poway