Posted on 01/01/2020 3:05:46 PM PST by ransomnote
Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach, Florida
December 31, 2019
9:24 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. Happy New Year. Happy New Year. Were going to have a great year, I predict. I think its going to be a fantastic year. We had the best economic year, I think, in our countrys history. And I think were really set for additional growth and jobs and everything else. Itll be great.
Kevin?
Q What do you want the American people to know, Mr. President, about how youre handling the situation in Iraq, as it relates to Iran?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think its been handled very well. The Marines came in. We had some great warriors come in and do a fantastic job. And they were there instantaneously, as soon as we heard. I used the word immediately; they came immediately. And its in great shape, as you know. This will not be a Benghazi. Benghazi should never have happened. This will never, ever be a Benghazi.
But we have some of our greatest warriors there. They got in there very quickly. As soon as we saw there was a potential for problem, they got in, and there was no problem whatsoever.
I also want to thank the Iraqi government. They really stepped up. I spoke to the Prime Minister today. I thanked him. But they stepped up very nicely.
Q Mr. President, do you foresee going to war with Iran?
THE PRESIDENT: I dont think that would be a good idea for Iran. It wouldnt last very long. Do I want to? No. I want to have peace. I like peace. And Iran should want peace more than anybody. So I dont see that happening. No, I dont think Iran would want that to happen. It would go very quickly.
Q Mr. President, can you what is your message tonight for what is your message tonight for North Korea?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, well see. I have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un. I know hes sending out certain messages about Christmas presents, and I hope his Christmas present is a beautiful vase. Thats what Id like a vase
Q Do you think it will be, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: as opposed to something else. I dont know. I look, he likes me; I like him. We get along. Hes representing his country. Im representing my country. We have to do what we have to do.
But he did sign a contract. He did sign an agreement, talking about denuclearization. And that was signed. Number-one sentence: denuclearization. That was done in Singapore. And I think hes a man of his word. So were going to find out, but I think hes a man of his word.
Q I know its a night of celebration, Mr. President, but are you spoiling for a political fight in January, with the impeachment?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, the impeachment thing is a hoax. Its a big, fat hoax. We had, I guess, 196 to nothing, with the Republicans. We had three Democrats come over. One actually joined our party, as you know which is, I think, a record. I dont think thats been done before, in terms of somebody coming in like that on a vote like that. But he joined our party from New Jersey. Hes going to be fantastic.
And, no, I think I look forward to it. I mean, well see. We have absolutely we did nothing wrong. All you have to do is read the transcripts. If you read the transcripts or you could also do something else. You could go see or speak to the President of Ukraine. And the President of Ukraine said, loudly and boldly and I appreciate his statement he said it many times: There was no pressure. The foreign minister of Ukraine said there was absolutely no pressure, and thats the whole case right there. There was no pressure whatsoever.
I do say two things: We have to check corruption, and we also have to find out why is it that the United States is always giving foreign countries money. And Germany and France and all of Europe theyre not doing much. In fact, theyre not doing anything, relative to this. Why is it always the United States? Ive been asking you those questions and making those statements for a long time to everybody standing here. Nobody ever mentions that.
That was part of it. In fact, thats in the transcript also. I talk about a very good woman, to be honest with you Chancellor Merkel. But I said, Where is Chancellor Merkel? Where is President Macron of France? Why arent they putting up money? Why is it always the United States? Nobody ever covers that, but thats a big factor. So I think thats going to go very quick. I think its going to go very easy.
We have tremendous and, you know, I have to say this we have tremendous Republican support. What the Democrats did in the House was a disgrace. What they did how unfair it was. We didnt get lawyers. We didnt have witnesses. We didnt do anything. And still, we got 100 percent of the Republican votes. And it was bipartisan, because we got three Democrats.
So I think the impeachment thing I call it impeachment light. Its a disgrace. And Nancy Pelosi should be ashamed of herself. Shes a highly overrated person. I know her well; shes highly overrated.
Q (Inaudible) about vaping?
THE PRESIDENT: Vaping is coming out. Were just going to be announcing it very shortly. Some people already know about what were doing. We have to protect our families. At the same time, its a big industry. We want to protect the industry.
And, as you know, well be taking it off the flavors for a period of time certain flavors. Were going to protect our families. Were going to protect our children. And were going to protect the industry. Hopefully, if everything is safe, theyre going to be going very quickly back onto the market.
So the flavors will come off. Theyre going to be checked. We want to make it people have died from this. Theyve died from vaping. We think we understand why. But were doing a very exhaustive examination, and hopefully everything will be back on the market very, very shortly.
Look, vaping can be good from the standpoint you look at the e-cigarettes you stop smoking. If you can stop smoking, thats a big advantage.
So we think were going to get it back onto the market very, very quickly, but we have to protect the children. We have to protect the families. At the same time, we have a very big industry. Its become a very big industry. Were going to take care of the industry.
Q Do you want there to be a trial in the Senate? Or do you want there not to be a trial in the Senate? THE PRESIDENT: I dont really care. It doesnt matter. As far as Im concerned, Id be very happy with the trial because we did nothing wrong. We didnt even have a witness, and we won 196 to nothing. Okay? We didnt have a witness. That was all the Democrats witness.
Look, Adam Schiff is a corrupt politician. Hes corrupt. He got up he made a speech, said something I never said. And when I released the transcript which is absolutely a perfect, totally appropriate conversation with a very good man, a very good President I hear hes doing a great job. But a big reason he got elected was corruption. Theres tremendous corruption.
But the other thing and, again, I ask: Why arent other countries Germany, France, and others why arent they putting up money like we put up? And Ive asked that question for a long time not only about Ukraine, about a lot of other places.
I was able to get, recently, at NATO and you have to speak to Secretary General Stoltenberg $530 billion additionally, over a very short period of time; $130 billion immediately. He has never seen anything like that. Thats NATO. This is something different. Those countries should be putting up money. They should also be giving to Ukraine.
All right, one more question. Go ahead.
Q (Inaudible) China trade.
THE PRESIDENT: On trade? Were very excited about trade. The China deal will be signed probably on January 15th. We put out a notice today. And Ill be going, at some point, to Beijing, to be with President Xi. We have a great relationship. And well be doing something reciprocal.
But I think, more importantly, well be starting negotiations very soon on phase two. And I think phase two can be complete. A lot of people said, Well, are you going to have phase two, or phase two and phase three? I think well have phase two. I think that should complete it. But well be starting those negotiations very soon.
I want to thank everybody. I want you to have a great year. Look, youre honorable people. You have to stay honorable. If youre honorable, Im going to win the election by a lot. If youre not honorable, Im just going to win the election by a little. So Id rather have you be honorable, okay?
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Jeff. Good luck. Thank you, Kevin.
Q How about Mrs. Trumps New Years resolution? Melania?
Q What is your resolution?
MRS. TRUMP: Happy New Year.
Q Happy New Year. How about your New Years resolution?
Q What is your resolution?
Q Whats your goal for the New Year?
MRS. TRUMP: Peace on the world.
THE PRESIDENT: Peace is right. But Im Im not sure youre supposed to say resolutions out loud, okay? So we dont want to I dont want to say what my resolution is because I think we jinx it, all right?
But I can tell you, we have a good re- we really have a good resolution, and its a resolution for our country. We love our country. Our country has never done better than its doing right now.
We have the best unemployment numbers. We have the best employment numbers. Almost 160 million people are working. African American, Asian American, Hispanic American they have the best numbers in the history of our country. Were very happy. And we rebuilt our military. We cut taxes down the lowest in history, biggest tax cut ever. Were doing great. Our country is really the talk of the world. Everybody is talking about it.
Thank you very much.
END
9:33 P.M. EST
I’ll bet he gets a vase.
Trump: I used the word immediately; they came immediately. And its in great shape, as you know. This will not be a Benghazi. Benghazi should never have happened. This will never, ever be a Benghazi.
When will a ‘reporter’ from say cbs, nbc, abc etc ask obama about Trump’s comment?
HA!
Trump: I spoke to the Prime Minister today. I thanked him.
Will the democrats impeach him for this too?
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