Transcript - Interview: Donald Trump Jr. Interviews Donald Trump on the Campaign YouTube Channel - June 18, 2020 | Factba.se

Donald Trump Jr.

00:00:00 - 00:01:26 (87 sec)

OK. So I've been doing the Triggered Podcast down for a few weeks, and I figured with Father's Day coming up, we have a great opportunity to sit with the most powerful father in the world. Um, so I have some interesting questions for you now. We've had some good fun in the podcasts because it gets a little political obviously.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:01:26 - 00:01:43 (16 sec)

Uh, but we want to show a little bit of humor. So I have a couple of questions that I think are on all of the minds of our viewers. So the first one, which is the big one also on my mind is which is your favorite Trump child and why is it Ivanka?

Donald Trump

00:01:43 - 00:01:47 (4 sec)

Yeah. Wise guy over here. All the same, hundred percent.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:01:47 - 00:01:48 (1 sec)

A hundred percent?

Donald Trump

00:01:48 - 00:01:58 (11 sec)

Hundred percent. And I'll even say, you, only for purposes of this interview, but other than that, all the same.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:01:58 - 00:02:10 (12 sec)

OK. We don't remember that. Yeah. We got to talk Twitter because I have had a couple of calls from you from the White House saying, you know, Don, maybe you're getting a little hot on social media.

Donald Trump

00:02:10 - 00:02:12 (1 sec)

Donald Trump Jr.

00:02:12 - 00:02:14 (2 sec)

Do you understand irony and how that works?

Donald Trump

00:02:14 - 00:02:35 (21 sec)

I do. And I think that you're getting a little hot on Twitter sometimes. You know, uh, it's really, I don't call it Twitter, I call it social media and it's a way of getting out to the world and you get out to the world too on my behalf and on the country's behalf because you want to see good things happen.

Donald Trump

00:02:35 - 00:02:40 (5 sec)

And sometimes you'll say things that you probably regret. How often does that happen to you?

Donald Trump Jr.

00:02:40 - 00:03:01 (21 sec)

Well, it's an interesting question. There are probably times I regret it, but I've -- I've sort of learned, I think we've probably seen in the last week sometimes sort of taking it back rather than just owning it is actually worse. Uh, you know, sort of the apology for something that doesn't necessarily need an apology.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:03:01 - 00:03:13 (12 sec)

Maybe it's a hot take, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong. I mean, I think the one we saw last week was Drew Brees. Uh, you know, what do you think about him sort of cowering to the mob, uh, and that whole controversy?

Donald Trump

00:03:13 - 00:03:43 (30 sec)

So I watched his first statement, which was a beautiful statement, proud of the flag, proud of the country, proud of everything. Talked about his father and his grandfather serving. And then the following day, it was almost like I take it back. I was shocked because I consider him a great football player, but I consider him a champion and a star, and I didn't understand what was going on. And he took it back and I've never seen anything like it. And I think he hurt himself very badly.

Donald Trump

00:03:43 - 00:04:02 (18 sec)

And I was going to put out that he'll regret that in the future years because you stand for the flag. You have to stand for the flag and the anthem, our national anthem, you have to stand. And I think the NFL is going to have a lot of problems if they don't. And I think the same thing with the U.S. Soccer, they said, they're not going to have to stand.

Donald Trump

00:04:02 - 00:04:19 (17 sec)

Well, if they don't stand, nobody's going to want to watch it. And I think they'll have a lot of problems, but I think the NFL will -- that'll be a tremendous PR. I was very surprised. I like Roger Goodell. Uh, I was very shocked that he made that statement. It didn't even look like there was any pressure on him.

Donald Trump

00:04:19 - 00:04:31 (12 sec)

We made it out of nowhere in summertime. What's he doing? Why is he doing that? So I was disappointed with Roger Goodell. I was very disappointed with Drew Brees, cause he's a warrior.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:04:31 - 00:04:31 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:04:31 - 00:04:36 (5 sec)

And he just caved under the pressure. You know, a lot of warriors, they cave under PR pressure.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:04:36 - 00:04:37 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:04:37 - 00:04:51 (14 sec)

Because there's manners, you said, Oh, this isn't right. And his teammates said this isn't right. And everybody said, and all of a sudden he's out there disclaiming about the flag and the country. And he doesn't -- I don't believe he believes his second statement as much --

Donald Trump Jr.

00:04:51 - 00:04:52 (1 sec)

Well, it's interesting --

Donald Trump

00:04:52 - 00:04:57 (6 sec)

By the way, he may believe it. But what he should be doing is not talking about the second he should have stuck with his first.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:04:57 - 00:05:05 (8 sec)

Well, what was interesting is he actually put that disclaimer language the first time. He actually said, listen, I understand America's not perfect, but I respect it and my grandparents fought for it.

Donald Trump

00:05:05 - 00:05:06 (2 sec)

He should have fought through it.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:05:06 - 00:05:28 (22 sec)

So about three weeks ago, I found this sort of ironic documents that were taken in the Osama bin Laden raid. And the raid of that killed Osama bin Laden with our friend, Rob O'Neill. They finally declassified them. And in there, there were paperwork from Osama bin Laden saying that he wanted to assassinate President Obama because it would put Joe Biden in charge.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:05:28 - 00:05:44 (16 sec)

And essentially he so grossly incompetent, it would lead to the destruction of America. What does it say to you that basically the Democrat nominee for president the United States got the posthumous Osama bin Ladin endorsement that this guy is the guy that they put forth?

Donald Trump

00:05:44 - 00:05:51 (7 sec)

It says to me -- I didn't know that. And it says to me we're going to immediately make a commercial out of that if that's true. Is that true?

Donald Trump Jr.

00:05:51 - 00:05:56 (5 sec)

It's true. I saw this. I was watching. I had Rob O'Neill on this very podcast because he's the guy --

Donald Trump

00:05:56 - 00:06:00 (4 sec)

How do I -- say no more. It's a great commercial.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:06:00 - 00:06:00 (1 sec)

Well, you're welcome.

Donald Trump

00:06:00 - 00:06:03 (3 sec)

Because it happens to be true. OK? We speak the truth.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:06:03 - 00:06:10 (7 sec)

Well, then that's your Father's Day present. Congratulations.

Unidentified

00:06:10 - 00:06:30 (20 sec)

Under President Trump, America has become safer and stronger. With endorsements from countless veterans and first responders, Joe Biden received endorsement by Osama bin Laden. After our brave warriors took him out, which Joe Biden was against doing --

Joe Biden

00:06:30 - 00:06:30 (0 sec)

What they were reporting was accurate when I said, "I didn't say go." And I didn't.

00:06:30 - 00:06:30 (0 sec)

Unidentified

00:06:30 - 00:06:58 (28 sec)

Bin Laden wrote his plan to attack Obama to make Joe Biden president, thinking that would be enough of a U.S. disaster in and of itself, expressing Biden is totally unprepared for that post, which will lead the U.S. into crisis. Joe Biden, China's candidate, Iran's candidate, and Osama's candidate. We need a president who terrorists and tyrants fear.

Donald Trump

00:06:58 - 00:07:16 (19 sec)

I'm fighting for you. And I love doing it with everything that I have, and you know that. I'm Donald Trump, and I approve this message. I was a good president.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:07:16 - 00:07:28 (11 sec)

So we've all been depicted on Saturday Night Live, you, me, Eric. Which one do you think is the most accurate depiction? And which one do you think is the least accurate depiction?

Donald Trump

00:07:28 - 00:07:30 (2 sec)

So as you know, I hosted Saturday Night Live.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:07:30 - 00:07:34 (5 sec)

It was amazing, by the way. If you haven't watched that, you must go check it out.

Donald Trump

00:07:34 - 00:07:59 (25 sec)

And it was the topic for many years before I ever did the political thing. Many years, it was a topic on Saturday Night Live. But I really don't watch it anymore. I don't find it funny. Rarely do I find it funny. But I don't find it funny. I find it very mean-spirited. I find it a DNC affiliate, the DNC, right?

Donald Trump

00:07:59 - 00:08:12 (12 sec)

And I think it's -- I just don't think it's a good show. I really don't. I don't see a lot of talent. I think that the person that portrays me is terribly untalented.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:08:12 - 00:08:12 (1 sec)

He's no Darrell Hammond.

Donald Trump

00:08:12 - 00:08:14 (1 sec)

They used to have --

Donald Trump Jr.

00:08:14 - 00:08:15 (1 sec)

Darrell Hammond was good.

Donald Trump

00:08:15 - 00:08:19 (4 sec)

Darrell Hammond was great. They used to have Darrell Hammond, and he was great.

Darrell Hammond

00:08:19 - 00:08:21 (2 sec)

Do that thing. Go ahead.

Unidentified

00:08:21 - 00:08:22 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:08:22 - 00:08:45 (23 sec)

And then others, too, but Darrell Hammond was great. But no, it's not -- it's not a good depiction in my opinion. But there's nothing funny. It used to be a funny kind of a thing. And it's just -- there's just nothing going. They do it on PR. They do it on something. Maybe they do it on the fact that it's been there a long time.

Donald Trump

00:08:45 - 00:08:56 (11 sec)

At one point, it was going to be taken off. I think if I didn't win or if I didn't run, I don't think it would be on the air anymore. And I don't say that in a braggadocious way. I don't think it would be on the air anymore. Go ahead.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:08:56 - 00:08:58 (2 sec)

If you don't run for a third term --

Donald Trump

00:08:58 - 00:08:59 (1 sec)

He's doing a good interview.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:08:59 - 00:09:03 (4 sec)

When you're done in five years, what do you want to do afterwards? What do you do after this?

Donald Trump

00:09:03 - 00:09:20 (16 sec)

I think what I'll do is just sit back, relax, and enjoy watching a great country. And hopefully, we'll have somebody in that's going to keep it great. But this country is going to do so well. We did it once, and we're going to do it again, and we're doing it in very good style. We're doing it at a level that nobody thought possible.

Donald Trump

00:09:20 - 00:09:22 (3 sec)

The job numbers came out last week, and they went through the roof.

Unidentified

00:09:22 - 00:09:30 (8 sec)

Had to double check those numbers because that was absolutely not what we were expecting just now, and the markets are reacting. Incredible.

Unidentified

00:09:30 - 00:09:41 (11 sec)

It's a remarkable morning for the economy and for markets as the jobs number, of course, comes in much better than expected, a gain of 2.5 million, a gain 2.5 million.

Unidentified

00:09:41 - 00:09:43 (2 sec)

The fact is that we're back.

Donald Trump

00:09:43 - 00:10:03 (20 sec)

It's going to continue. And hopefully, we're going to have a tremendous victory. We're going to have a safe country. We're going to have a country based on lots of good things, fairness, equality, and also law and order. And we're doing really very well. I hope you sit back, and you're going to be proud of what's happened because you've really helped me a lot.

Donald Trump

00:10:03 - 00:10:19 (16 sec)

And I say that truthfully. The family has been great. Kimberly's been great. We've had so much support from the family. But we're going to have a tremendous success. I did it once. We had the greatest numbers we've ever had.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:10:19 - 00:10:20 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:10:20 - 00:10:38 (18 sec)

African American employment. If you look at that -- employment and unemployment. But if you look at Asian, if you look at Hispanic, if you look at women, if you look at any group, young people without a diploma, people with diplomas, everything, every single group, they were doing better than they've ever done.

Donald Trump

00:10:38 - 00:11:04 (26 sec)

And then one day, the Chinese plague came over. And I had to close the country, and we saved millions of lives by doing that. Don't let anyone ever tell you different. We saved millions of lives. Potentially -- I didn't even want to tell you the numbers that I've heard, but at a minimum, it would be 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 as opposed to 150,000, 175,000 when it dies out.

Donald Trump

00:11:04 - 00:11:28 (24 sec)

And it is dying out. The numbers are starting to get very good. But I think that we will do it very rapidly a second time, much more rapidly. One of the reasons that we're doing so well is we've built a tremendous base. We had a great foundation. So when we said, let's go, open -- and we're having a lot of resistance from Democrats that are keeping their states closed.

Donald Trump

00:11:28 - 00:11:51 (23 sec)

They're keeping their states closed. They let Seattle be taken over. Think of it. Seattle, a great city, a big chunk of Seattle taken over. And the news doesn't want to write about it. You rarely see -- or you certainly see very little about it in the lamestream media. So I will tell you that we are going to have a country that's going to be back so fast, and it's already happened.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:11:51 - 00:11:58 (6 sec)

Well, I've always said that. If Joe Biden had the answers to these problems, why didn't he do it in the first 50 years of his career?

Donald Trump

00:11:58 - 00:12:15 (18 sec)

Well, he had a long time to do a lot of things, and he didn't. And he's certainly not in condition to do it now. He is not equipped to do it. He's not equipped. I want to -- I don't want to go further than that. When you say, give me a definition of equipped, I'm not going to give you that definition. But I think everybody else knows what I'm talking about.

Donald Trump

00:12:15 - 00:12:24 (9 sec)

You know what I'm talking about very well. He's in no condition to do it, and everybody knows it. And he's China's dream.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:12:24 - 00:12:24 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:12:24 - 00:12:42 (18 sec)

What you told me about Osama bin Laden, I'd like to see that because that's an incredible statement. But that's true with China. That's true with everybody. Iran. That's true with North Korea. Look what I've done. North Korea -- we would be in a war -- we would have been in a war if Hillary got in.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:12:42 - 00:12:43 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:12:43 - 00:12:48 (5 sec)

And now we're talking. We talk, talk, talk, and that's fine.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:12:48 - 00:13:12 (24 sec)

Talking back about the economy, 9 out of 10 of the largest cities in this country are run by Democrats, who are appointing their leaders who are making decisions, and yet the media still wants to try to blame you for their failures. How is that possible? How do they get away with it? And what would your message be to those people who live in those cities who have been ruled by Democrats, in some cases, for over a hundred years, who are trying to throw the blame elsewhere?

Donald Trump

00:13:12 - 00:13:17 (5 sec)

So the cities that are having trouble are Democratic-run cities, meaning Democrats.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:13:17 - 00:13:18 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:13:18 - 00:13:35 (17 sec)

And, you know, the word is the Democrat Party. It doesn't sound as pretty, but that's the -- but the Democrat-run cities are the ones that are having the trouble. It's a very simple thing. You look at Seattle, you look at -- when you go to Minnesota and you take a look at what's taken place there, it's incredible.

Donald Trump

00:13:35 - 00:14:02 (27 sec)

They tried to take over a great city, Minneapolis, and they have taken it and took it over until I said, "You have to bring in the National Guard." When the National Guard went in, it was, like, so beautiful. One evening, all of a sudden, you saw them lining up, and it was all over. So it's a very sad thing, but I happen to think it's explaining to people that are getting ready to vote on November 3rd that there's only one answer.

Donald Trump

00:14:02 - 00:14:21 (19 sec)

And you cannot go back to the bedlam that would -- because you would have this whole country -- the country, I don't believe would ever recover from it. You'll have a situation like Seattle times a thousand. The country would never -- it will never survive it. It will never survive it.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:14:21 - 00:14:50 (29 sec)

Well, it sort of feels like this election really is -- you know, it's the last hurrah of the swamp of the establishment. How do you combat that? How do you get people to understand that message? Because when I look at your accomplishments, they're incredible. You've delivered for America, for the first time in modern political history, done the things you said you were going to do. At the same time, what people I don't think give you credit for is that you did that under unprecedented circumstances, under unprecedented resistance.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:14:50 - 00:15:04 (14 sec)

You had nonsense impeachments. You had three years of Russia hoaxes. You had everything working against you, and you were still able to do it. Do you think that this election sets a different tone that would actually maybe get, I don't know, say, the Democrats to actually work with you on things?

Donald Trump

00:15:04 - 00:15:31 (26 sec)

So I think if we win, the answer is yes. But I think regardless, we're going to have a tremendously successful country. I think that our country is going to be stronger than ever before. I think that next year is going to be a tremendous success. I feel that if the Democrats get in, we are literally going to end up in a recession/depression, the likes of which you've never seen.

Donald Trump

00:15:31 - 00:15:55 (25 sec)

There will be tremendous negative growth. There will be tremendous bedlam all over the place. There won't be law and order. You'll have a Seattle, you'll have a Minneapolis like you've never seen before. The whole country will be Minneapolis. And we saved it by me enforcing and sending the troops in, the National Guard.

Donald Trump

00:15:55 - 00:16:16 (21 sec)

I insisted on it. But that was after four days. I should have done it on night number one instead of having the police run down the street, run away, give up the precinct. Nobody's ever seen a thing like that. So I think that -- I think we're going to have a tremendous success. I think we'll actually --I think by that time, the Democrats are just going to say, let's work with the president.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:16:16 - 00:16:32 (16 sec)

That's interesting. So if we're talking about Democrats, what would you say to the Bernie Sanders supporter, the guy that feels that Bernie got gypped in his race? I mean, you haven't -- we haven't outreached to them to bring them over to our side. 'Cause it seems like on certain things, whether it be trade, that there's actually some similarity in those policies.

Donald Trump

00:16:32 - 00:16:51 (18 sec)

So last time, I got a lot of Bernie Sanders' voters, as you know, a very good percentage. People were shocked mostly because of trade, because one thing Bernie was right-on was trade. He said that everybody in this country is being hurt badly by our trade deals that are so bad. And I got a lot of support from Bernie Sanders.

Donald Trump

00:16:51 - 00:17:11 (20 sec)

I think I'm going to have it again this time. If you look at what's happened and they talk about the popular vote, which would be much easier for me, I'd campaign a whole different way. But they talk about -- they took Jill Stein. Hillary lost some votes to Jill Stein, let's assume, but I lost far more votes to Gary Johnson running on the Libertarian Party.

Donald Trump

00:17:11 - 00:17:36 (25 sec)

They got 4% or 5%. Had I gotten those votes, I win the popular vote, but I never went for the popular vote. I only went for the Electoral College. We have tremendous support in this country for what we're doing, and it'll go on, and it'll be more and more successful. I'm telling you, next year will be one of the most successful years in the history of our country.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:17:36 - 00:17:56 (21 sec)

I think it's great, and I agree 'cause those policies have worked. So to finish up, a couple -- two last questions I have for you. I've heard from some of our mutual friends that you don't love my beard. But given the quarantine, I'd like to know between myself, Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, who all have grown sort of quarantine beard, whose is best and why?

Donald Trump

00:17:56 - 00:18:00 (4 sec)

Well, I don't like it on you, as I've told you.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:18:00 - 00:18:01 (1 sec)

Oh, yeah, you have.

Donald Trump

00:18:01 - 00:18:06 (5 sec)

And I think that's fine if you want to do it. I'm a libertarian in that way.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:18:06 - 00:18:07 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:18:07 - 00:18:32 (25 sec)

You can do whatever you want. But I don't like it on you. I think that Rand and Ted looked better without it, both friends of mine. They're both doing a fantastic job, and they're both defending me all over the place. Good-looking guys. I think they both look better personally without it. But I also think that they should do what they want to do, and that's what they'll do. And in some cases, I think it's good.

Donald Trump

00:18:32 - 00:18:36 (4 sec)

But in your case, just get rid of it. Oh, my God.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:18:36 - 00:18:51 (15 sec)

Don't worry, guys. I'm going to get the follow-up call on this one later on. But -- so last question. Before you leave office, will you let us know if there's aliens? 'Cause this is the only thing I really want to know. I want to know what's going on. Would you ever open up Roswell and let us know what's really going on there?

Donald Trump

00:18:51 - 00:18:53 (2 sec)

So many people ask me that question.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:18:53 - 00:18:56 (2 sec)

I know it sounds almost ridiculous, but it's actually the real question I want to know.

Donald Trump

00:18:56 - 00:19:12 (17 sec)

It sounds like a kid question, but it's actually -- there are millions and millions of people that want to go there, that want to see it. I won't talk to you about what I know about it, but it's very interesting. But Roswell's a very interesting place with a lot of people that would like to know what's going on.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:19:12 - 00:19:15 (3 sec)

So you're saying you may declassify, you'll take it?

Donald Trump

00:19:15 - 00:19:17 (2 sec)

Well, I'll have to think about that one. Right?

Donald Trump Jr.

00:19:17 - 00:19:18 (1 sec)

Alright. Well --

Donald Trump

00:19:18 - 00:19:19 (1 sec)

I'll have to think --

Donald Trump Jr.

00:19:19 - 00:19:35 (17 sec)

Alright. So a couple of weeks ago, I found myself to be the subject of a pretty big meme that went around because I asked and made a joke on a radio show about you possibly pardoning the Tiger King. Have you familiarized yourself with the situation? And is there a possibility for a pardon?

Donald Trump

00:19:35 - 00:19:41 (5 sec)

Well, based on my relationship with you, I have. He is quite a character.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:19:41 - 00:19:41 (1 sec)

He certainly is.

Donald Trump

00:19:41 - 00:19:57 (15 sec)

He is quite a character, but you wouldn't want me to say that. But that's a whole strange deal going on, I'll tell you. That's a strange guy and a lot of strange people surrounding him. And it was interesting. I got to see a couple of those episodes. It's interesting.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:19:57 - 00:20:08 (11 sec)

Yeah. Well, it was funny 'cause I was watching -- obviously, sort of binge-watched it because of the quarantine. And then when they asked you that thing and you're just on there at the press briefing, at the COVID thing -- and, of course, you know, they don't ask you real questions. They ask you the nonsense.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:20:08 - 00:20:11 (3 sec)

But it was pretty funny when it was -- that sounds like done.

Donald Trump

00:20:11 - 00:20:15 (4 sec)

It must be done. I had a feeling it was not. Is that what he said?

Donald Trump Jr.

00:20:15 - 00:20:20 (4 sec)

Had to be done. And I was like, yeah, I think he understands me well. So --

Donald Trump

00:20:20 - 00:20:23 (3 sec)

I think I do understand you well. And you're doing a great job.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:20:23 - 00:20:28 (5 sec)

Thank you, dad. And you are, too. Thank you for doing this. And I really hope you have a great Father's Day as well.

Donald Trump

00:20:28 - 00:20:33 (5 sec)

Good. Thank you very much. OK.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:20:33 - 00:20:34 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:20:34 - 00:20:36 (1 sec)

Unidentified

00:20:36 - 00:20:37 (1 sec)

Can we take -- have a picture, sir?

Donald Trump

00:20:37 - 00:20:51 (13 sec)

You could stay behind and just ask a couple of the questions without me here if you wanted to just -- I see that's, you know, that's something a lot of the big anchors do. They'll say, "Thank you very much." And then they'll sit in the chair, and they'll re-ask a couple of questions. But I think he did a good job.

Donald Trump Jr.

00:20:51 - 00:21:50 (59 sec)

Alright. Hey, good to see you.