Posted on 01/07/2020 6:40:35 PM PST by ransomnote
Oval Office
2:20 P.M. EST
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, thank you very much. On behalf of the First Lady and myself, its an honor to have the Prime Minister of Greece and First Lady of Greece with us. We really appreciate it. We have many things to discuss.
The relationship is extr- really extraordinary, I would say. Right? Its as good as it can get. Were doing a lot of things together military. Were also doing big trade. A lot of trade. And Greece has made a tremendous comeback. Weve worked with them very closely. And, really, the Prime Minister will have some interesting things to say. So you have to tell them one statistic, because its a great statistic. Were very proud of Greece and the comeback that theyre making. And we will continue it forward. Theres no doubt about it. Thank you very much for being here.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Its a real privilege to be here at a very important time. You were right to point out that this relationship is the best it ever was. But it can become even better.
Both on the geopolitical side, were looking for your constant support, strengthening the strategic relationship.
On the defense side, weve made lots of progress in terms of making sure that you have a reliable and predictable ally in a complicated part of the world. But I also wants to stress the economic aspect of our relationship. The Greek economy has done extremely well over the past months. We have lowered taxes. We are deregulating. Were following a recipe that has also worked here in the
PRESIDENT TRUMP: (Laughs.) Yeah. Thats right.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: in the United States. And the economy is reacting very positively. So well also be looking to your support to convince American companies to invest more in Greece and help us grow the economy at a pace where people are really going to feel the difference.
So its a privilege to be here. You can always count on the United States can always count on Greece as a reliable and predictable ally in our part of the world.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, we appreciate it. And again, congratulations. Really, one of the percentage-wise, one of the biggest increases in the world. And thats a big statement. And thats a tremendous comeback. And youve done a fantastic job. Youve really united the country.
So again, congratulations.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
Q Mr. President?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah.
Q A lot of questions are being asked in Washington and across America about what evidence you had that Qasem Soleimani was planning attacks against American targets. What can you tell us about what you knew prior to ordering the attack?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, number one, I knew the past. His past was horrible. He was a terrorist. He was a so designated by President Obama, as you know. And he wasnt even supposed to be outside of his own country; he was. So, right there.
But thats, in a way, the least of it. We had an attack very recently that he was in charge of, where we had people horribly wounded, one dead. In fact, the number now, as of this morning, I believe is two dead. And that was his. He was traveling with the head of Hezbollah. They werent there to discuss a vacation. They werent there to go to a nice resort someplace in Baghdad. They were there to discuss bad business.
And we saved a lot of lives by terminating his life. A lot of lives were saved. They were planning something, and youre going to be hearing about it, or at least various people in Congress are going to be hearing about it tomorrow.
Our Secretary of State covered it very well a little while ago. I saw him. I saw his new conference Mike. And if you want to mention a couple of things in addition to what Ive just said. But we had tremendous information. Weve been following him for a long time. And we followed his path for those three days. And they were not good stops. We didnt like where he was stopping. They were not good stops. We saved a lot of lives. Mike?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Mr. President, Id only add we had deep intelligence indicating there was active plotting to put American lives at risk. And Im confident, and I think the President is confident too, that the actions that the President took saved American lives, saved lives of Iraqi Muslims as well. It was the right thing to do. And our Department of Defense did an excellent job executing the mission.
Q And, Mr. President, can
PRESIDENT TRUMP: And, as you know, he killed at least 608 Americans, but the number is much higher than that. Hes also very much roadside bombs and all of the horrible explosives that you see, he was a big believer and sent them everywhere. He was somebody that we did ourselves and we did a lot of countries a big favor. And Ive been Ive been hearing from countries. They were extremely happy with what we did. And if you look inside Iran itself, there were plenty of those leaders that were happy because they feared him and didnt like him, in many cases.
Q Could you also clear up, Mr. President, whether Iranian cultural sites would be on any future target list?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, as I said yesterday, it was very interesting, theyre allowed to kill our people, theyre allowed to maim our people, theyre allowed to blow up everything that we have and theres nothing that stops them, and we are according to various laws supposed to be very careful with their cultural heritage. And you know what? If thats what the law is, I will I like to obey the law.
But think of it: They kill our people, they blow up our people, and then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions. But Im okay with it. Its okay with me.
I will say this: If Iran does anything that they shouldnt be doing, theyre going to be suffering the consequences, and very strongly.
All right. Steve?
Q Are there any signs of imminent retaliation from the Iranians? Any indications of imminent
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, dont forget: In our case, it was retaliation because they were there first. They killed look, I dont have to talk about him. For 18 to 20 years, he was a monster. But just in the very short period of time, two people dead, people badly injured, and then, before that, there were other attacks. And look at what he was planning.
So thatll be discussed tomorrow morning. Right now, its classified. Thatll be discussed tomorrow with Mike Pompeo and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Q And is the U.S. prepared for an Iranian attack?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Were prepared. Were totally prepared. And likewise, were prepared to attack if we have to, as retribution.
Q Mr. President, Irans leaders say that any response to the Soleimani killing would be, quote, proportionate. What would the United States do in the event of any Iranian (inaudible)?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: So, again, John, if you look at whats going on, ours was a an attack based on what they did. We werent the first one out. He killed an American. Now two people are dead from the same attack, and some people very badly wounded. And that was one of his smaller endeavors.
If you look over his past, his past hes been called a monster, and he was a monster. And hes no longer a monster; hes dead. And thats a good thing for a lot of countries. And he was planning a very big attack and a very bad attack for us and other people. And we stopped him.
And I dont think anybody can complain about it. I dont hear too many people other than politicians who are trying to win the presidency. Those are the ones that are complaining. But I dont hear anybody else complaining.
Go ahead.
Q Mr. President, you called him a monster, but your friend, Erdoğan, called him a martyr. What is your reaction?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I guess everybody to each his own. I mean, I disagree 100 percent, and Im sure he does too. But he has a public to take care of, and I guess thats for his own reason. But Im actually surprised to hear that, but thats okay.
Q Are you willing to make a deal with Greece regarding F-35s, sir?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Say it?
Q Are you willing to make a deal with Greece regarding F-35?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: So Greece and I, and my people and we have a whole group of people. And as you see, they brought a lot of great representatives from Greece that weve been dealing with. We have a tremendous Greek population over 3 million people, as I understand it. Thats fantastic. I think I know I really feel I know most of them. I think I know all of them, come to think of it. But its a great population in the United States.
Were going to be meeting, were going to be talking, were going to be negotiating, and were going to be making a lot of deals.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: Let me add something to that.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: We have a really great relationship with Greece.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: Let me add something to that: Greece is interested, Mr. President, in participating in the F-35 program. As you know, we are already upgrading our F-16s.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: And that program will be completed in 2023, 2024. So were very much interested in participating in the F-35 program after that. And Im sure that the U.S. will take into consideration the fact that this country is coming out of an economic crisis, in terms of structuring the program in the best possible way for my country.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thats true. And, you know, they just signed a very big renovation of existing aircraft. They have great aircraft, but its gotten a little bit tired. And theyve done a renovation thats going to bring it up to brand new, and we look forward to doing that. A couple of our great companies are doing it. Okay?
Q Sir, in Iraq in Iraq, how do you feel about the idea of the supposed withdrawal from Iraq being a possibility? Isnt that something Soleimani actually wanted all these years?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, its something that I want, too. I mean, eventually, they have to be able to defend themselves and take care of themselves. And its something, ultimately, that I want to see. We dont want to be there forever; we want to be able to get out.
I didnt want to be there in first place, to be honest, and everybody knows that. That was when I was a civilian, I said it. But we were there, and they made a decision, and I disagreed with that decision very strongly. But were there now.
Weve done a great job. Weve gotten rid of the caliphate. A hundred percent of the caliphate is gone, and which is ISIS. We have thousands of ISIS prisoners that were keeping, right now, under lock and key. And we want Europe to take many of these prisoners because they came from Germany, France, and other places probably a few from Greece, in all fairness. Well have to talk to you about that.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: No, none. None none from Greece
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Good.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: so far.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Youre lucky. Youre lucky.
But we have a lot of we have a lot of people right now in prison ISIS fighters that are tough fighters and they are where they should be.
So I think weve done a fantastic job, but eventually we want to be able to let Iraq run its own affairs. And thats very important. So, at some point, we want to get out. But this isnt the right point.
The other thing is, if we do get out, you know, weve spent a tremendous amount of money on building airports and building its one of the largest embassies we have in the world, Mike, and we want to be reimbursed for the various costs that we have had. And theyre very significant. But well work something out.
And I talk sanctions, but Im only talking sanctions if were not treated with respect. We have to be treated with respect. We deserve Ill tell you what. Ill tell you, with what we did
(Cross-talk.)
Excuse me. Wait, wait, wait. One sec. With what we did with ISIS and this was done during by my administration, because it was a mess before we got here with what we did with ISIS, weve done the Middle East and weve done a lot of other countries a tremendous favor.
Yeah, go ahead.
Q Do you agree with do you agree with Turkeys provocations in Libya, in eastern Mediterranean, against Greece? And are you willing to talk to your friend, Erdoğan, to stop
PRESIDENT TRUMP: We are talking to him and were talking to
Q to stop these provocations?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah. Were talking to when youre talking about Libya, were discussing with President Erdoğan, were discussing many other countries. I just spoke with the Chancellor of Germany, with Angela, and we talked about that subject specifically Libya and whats going on. Well be talking to Russia; theyre involved. A lot of countries are involved with respect to Libya. And its, right now, a mess.
But there are a lot of countries, and they all want to know where we stand, and they do know where we stand. We have a very distinctive stand. And we have meetings set up, and were going to see if we can work out some kind of a plan for peace.
(Cross-talk.)
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: I think its important just one Mr. President, can I just make one point?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yes. Please, go ahead.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: One point. One second. One point on this issue. I think it is important to point out that the agreement signed between Turkey and Libya infringe upon Greeces sovereign rights and essentially cause great concern and instability in a region which is already highly problematic.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: So well be very much looking to your support to make sure that these types of provocative agreements are not being put into place. And I think we should refrain, in general, in the eastern Mediterranean, for any sort of activity that inflames passions and that doesnt, you know, promote regional peace and security. So well be very much looking forward to your support on this issue because it is a very important issue for my country.
Q Mr. President, the Iraqi government says it expects U.S. forces to leave the country after the letter that it received, General Mark Milley said, by mistake yesterday. What do you say to the Iraqi government about the possibility of U.S. forces leaving based on that letter?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I dont know anything about that letter. That letter was sent, and I understand it was an unsigned letter. So I can maybe let Mike speak to it. I dont know if that letter was a hoax or was it unsigned, or what?
SECRETARY POMPEO: That letter itself was a mistake. I think the Department of Defense has spoken that it was a mistake; it wasnt intended.
Q But the Iraqi government is saying theyre taking you at your word and expect U.S. forces to leave.
SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I think its the worst thing that could happen to Iraq. If we leave, that would mean that Iran would have a much bigger foothold, and the people of Iraq do not want to see Iran running the country that, I can tell you.
So well see how it all works out. I know its going to work out well for us because, at some point, we want to be able to get out. We want to bring our soldiers back home.
I will say that we have had tremendous support from the people of Iraq appreciating what weve done. And they dont want to see Iran go into Iraq. But theyre neighbors, and over a period of years, something will happen; well see what that is.
But the what was said yesterday, I didnt know about. I really dont know about it. What is that, Mike? What exactly was that?
SECRETARY POMPEO: I just know that there was a draft letter that was sent out by mistake.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: A draft, unsigned.
SECRETARY POMPEO: Unsigned letter that
PRESIDENT TRUMP: The media knew that was (inaudible), but they dont like to say that. Yeah.
SECRETARY POMPEO: They knew it. And the Iraqi people understand that were there to help them stand up their sovereignty.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: The Iraqi people were not happy when the suggestion was made yesterday that we were thinking about leaving at some point. They were not happy. But, at some point, we will want to leave.
Q Mr. President, you didnt answer the question.
Q Mr. President
PRESIDENT TRUMP: No Steve, go ahead. Steve?
Q Are you ready for the Senate impeachment trial?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: What?
Q Are you ready for the Senate trial?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah, whatever it is. Its a hoax. The impeachment is a big hoax. Its a its become a laughing stock all over the world. There was nothing done wrong. The two articles that were sent are not even serious. And, by the way, theyre not a crime.
The Republicans voted approximately 196 to nothing. This was not supposed to be partisan. It was never meant that way by, as they would say, the Founders. So it was its turned out to be a totally partisan hoax, witch hunt. And, frankly, its been going on from before I came down the escalator with our great First Lady. I mean, it this has gone on for three years, and probably longer than that.
And it will be very interesting when the final tabulation is set and when the facts are released, because a lot of people are working on those facts right now. Its a big deal. Its, in many ways, the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on our country. Its one of the great hoaxes ever. It started with a with an illegal document that turned out to be false. The fake document that you know so well, the dossier, as they call it. And it went on from there. It was set up by a bunch of dirty cops and others, working with the DNC, working with the Democrats.
And from the day I ran from the day I was elected, and probably before that, substantially not probably. If you look at the insurance policy, the insurance policy was long before that. So that means before I ever got elected, they were working on something thats so illegal. So I assume that will be announced at some point into the future and hopefully not too far into the future.
And the impeachment story is its just a continuation of the same shame it really is a shame that we cant focus on all of the things. You know, we talked today about Iran. We talk about Iraq. We talk about economic development. We have the greatest stock market weve ever had in the history of our country. We have the greatest economy that weve ever had in the history of our country. Were setting records. Unemployment records. Employment records also; were going to have almost 160 million people working.
And that we have to work on this partisan scam is really a shame. That we have to take time is a shame.
All right, thats about it, I think.
Q Mr. President, one more on a different topic?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah, go ahead.
Q Will you be okay if John Bolton testifies? He indicated yesterday that he would if he is subpoenaed.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, thats going to be up to the lawyers. It will be up the Senate. And well see how they feel. He would know nothing about what were talking about, because if you know, the Ukrainian government came out with a very strong statement no pressure, no anything. And thats from the boss. Thats from the President of Ukraine. The Foreign Mistier came out with a statement that was equally as strong.
And, frankly, if you look at it and you look at everything, all they have to do is read the transcripts. You take a look not just at one you take a look at two transcripts. They were absolutely perfect. There was absolutely nothing done wrong. There was no false statement. And its crazy that its gotten to a point where you look, Ukraine the President of Ukraine said there was no pressure whatsoever. There was no pressure on his country whatsoever.
And, by the way, in terms of the money, it got there two or three weeks ahead of schedule long before it was supposed to be there. There was absolutely nothing done wrong.
The one thing I look at is corruption, and the other thing I look at is, why isnt France and why isnt Germany and maybe, I could say, why isnt Greece but why arent all of these countries why arent they paying? Why is it always the United States that has to pay?
And I said that very strongly. In fact, its in the transcript, but the press doesnt cover it. Why is it that the United States pays? And it affects Europe far more than it affects the United States. So why isnt it that France, Germany, and all of those countries in Europe that are so strongly affected, why arent they paying? Why is it always us? Thats one question.
And the other question is always about corruption. Were sending all of this money. Where is it going? Where is it going?
And the President, by the way, got elected on anti-corruption, and I think hes going to do a great job. But I appreciated his statement; hes made it many times: no pressure whatsoever.
Thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: Greece is actually paying more than 2 percent in NATO.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Good. Thats true.
Q Do you agree with the DOJ recommending jail time for Michael Flynn?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: I dont know. I dont know. I didnt look at it. I youre just telling me for the first time. I dont know. Ill take a look at it.
END
2:40 P.M. EST
Just saw that Greece’s government supports the President’s drone attack.Good to hear!
Trump is 10 steps beyond the fools in the media.
You Iranian tards still need to get through the med
Tell people on Twitter that Trump means me Swarthy Greek Immigrant and that this is proof Trump knows me from Queens.
https://twitter.com/LeninSidious/status/1214715347405697024?s=20
Themistocles and the Greek army defeated the armies of the Persian King/"god" Xeres.
This all happened 500 years (or so) before Christ's birth.
The Persians renamed their country and called it Iran...and they still live with a bug up their butt thinking that they can do whatever they want with no consequences.
Like Sadaam Hussein's "mother of all retreats" the Iranians will FALL to U.S. troops.
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Stepping off my soapbox. THANKEW.
Welcome to FR, Swarthy Greek Immigrant! Usually I don’t like really long screennames, because I ping a lot and the long ones take a lot of keystrokes; but in your case, I make an exception!
Us Greeks tend to have long names!
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