Transcript - Interview: Jon Taffer Interviews Donald Trump on the Jon Taffer Podcast - October 28, 2020 | Factba.se

Jon Taffer

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

Mr. President, thank you so much for spending some time with me today.

Donald Trump

00:00:02 - 00:00:04 (2 sec)

Thank you very much, Jon.

Jon Taffer

00:00:04 - 00:00:07 (3 sec)

You know, over the years, sir, I've gotten to stay in some of your hotels.

Donald Trump

00:00:07 - 00:00:07 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:00:07 - 00:00:12 (5 sec)

I've eaten in your restaurants, I've been in your casinos, and I've always thought of you as a hospitality guy.

Donald Trump

00:00:12 - 00:00:13 (1 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:00:13 - 00:00:14 (2 sec)

One of us, like I am.

Donald Trump

00:00:14 - 00:00:32 (17 sec)

Well, it's, uh, it's sort of natural for me, and it's natural for you, certainly. You've done great. Uh, and I've loved it. I love the business. I love business generally. But now I'm in a different kind of a business. I'm in a business of making America great again. And we're really doing it. We got hit with the plague from China.

Donald Trump

00:00:32 - 00:00:41 (10 sec)

It was terrible and they should have stopped it. They should have never let that happen. But, uh, before that, and now after that, you see the kind of numbers we're doing. It's been amazing, actually.

Jon Taffer

00:00:41 - 00:00:46 (5 sec)

So post-COVID, sir, there are so many discussions on stimulus programs-

Donald Trump

00:00:46 - 00:00:46 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:00:46 - 00:00:51 (5 sec)

-- and of course the, uh, and none of it is happened quickly. I wanted to look forward, 'cause COVID is winding down-

Donald Trump

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

Jon Taffer

00:00:52 - 00:00:58 (6 sec)

-- and we need some stimulus to get our industry going. As you know, the restaurant industry has lost more jobs than any other industry-

Donald Trump

00:00:58 - 00:00:58 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:00:58 - 00:01:06 (8 sec)

-- and were decimated by this. So sitting here in Nevada, one of the hubs of the hospitality industry, are you looking at another round of PPP?

Donald Trump

00:01:06 - 00:01:07 (1 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:01:07 - 00:01:12 (4 sec)

And, and, uh, uh, what type of provisions? What type of time period are you looking for in that?

Donald Trump

00:01:12 - 00:01:34 (22 sec)

So we did two rounds plus, and they were very powerful, very strong. It worked out very good. But Nancy Pelosi is just tapping everyone along. She wants to bail out states that have been badly run, that have massive debt, that have a lot of problems, that are always run by Democrats in all cases, and she's not interested in helping the worker.

Donald Trump

00:01:34 - 00:01:53 (19 sec)

We're going to have a very big stimulus package, because I'm the one pushing it. I want the package bigger than hers. I'm a little different than a lot of other people, frankly, when I do that, but I understand what happened. It is not the workers' fault that that happened, that it came out of China. And Nancy Pelosi doesn't want to do it until after the election.

Donald Trump

00:01:53 - 00:02:13 (20 sec)

I think they're going to lose the House and I think we're going to win, and I have a feeling we're going to do fine in the Senate. Senate's not going to be easy, but I think we're going to do fine in the Senate. And we're going to do a very big package as soon as the election's over. I would rather do it now, but Nancy Pelosi does not want to do it, so I hope everybody remembers that.

Jon Taffer

00:02:13 - 00:02:16 (3 sec)

Last time the PPP plan covered about eight weeks worth of payroll.

Donald Trump

00:02:16 - 00:02:17 (1 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:02:17 - 00:02:19 (1 sec)

Would you like to see it longer this time?

Donald Trump

00:02:19 - 00:02:22 (3 sec)

I could see it longer, or we'd just do an extension when the time comes.

Jon Taffer

00:02:22 - 00:02:22 (0 sec)

Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Donald Trump

00:02:22 - 00:02:29 (7 sec)

Either way would be okay with me, but we definitely want to do it. And we definitely will do it, and we want to get deductibility for the restaurants again.

Jon Taffer

00:02:29 - 00:02:30 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:02:30 - 00:02:34 (4 sec)

Do you remember, you're an old time restaurateur, do you remember the old days when you had deductibility?

Jon Taffer

00:02:34 - 00:02:34 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:02:34 - 00:02:47 (13 sec)

When they took that away, it actually really hurt the restaurant business. It actually became a smaller business. You know, people say, "Oh, this restaurant's successful," but it was never successful like it was before. So we're going to get deductibility back.

Jon Taffer

00:02:47 - 00:02:49 (1 sec)

For business meals?

Donald Trump

00:02:49 - 00:02:49 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:02:49 - 00:02:54 (5 sec)

So when we look at a destination like Las Vegas or Miami, and these tourist destinations-

Donald Trump

00:02:54 - 00:02:54 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:02:54 - 00:03:02 (8 sec)

-- of course you know we're not going to come back until the planes are full again. And, and I've heard you mention, just in passing, that you've looked at some domestic travel incentives.

Donald Trump

00:03:02 - 00:03:03 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:03:03 - 00:03:04 (1 sec)

Is that something you're still committed to?

Donald Trump

00:03:04 - 00:03:12 (9 sec)

So we're doing, we're doing a lot -- We're working very hard with the airlines. I agree with you, you have to feel comfortable getting on a plane to make Nevada, really, the whole state-

Jon Taffer

00:03:12 - 00:03:13 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:03:13 - 00:03:35 (23 sec)

-- whether it's Las Vegas or not, but Nevada, really where it was seven months ago. You know, we had, we created something. It was the most successful, economically, that we've ever been. That includes this state, it includes Las Vegas itself, which I know very well. Here we are in a Trump building. So we are doing a lot of things having to do with tourism, and it's all coming due.

Donald Trump

00:03:35 - 00:03:47 (12 sec)

The vaccines are coming out very quickly. You know, we beat this with or without the w -- vaccines, but the vaccines will make it go faster. Uh, therapeutically, it's incredible what's happened. I mean, I'm here, right?

Jon Taffer

00:03:47 - 00:03:48 (1 sec)

You're feeling good?

Donald Trump

00:03:48 - 00:04:07 (19 sec)

But re -- I feel great. Uh, therapeutics are incredible, what they can do. And when you look at mortality rates and everything, they're down to a level that nobody could ever believe. And that's all taken place over the last six months. So we have a lot of things going, but this is a business, really you have to be able to get people into an aeroplane.

Donald Trump

00:04:07 - 00:04:18 (10 sec)

We're also helping the airlines. We've helped them, and we will continue. It's always been a tough business, little bit like the restaurant business. Always been a tough business to start off with, but we're helping the airlines.

Jon Taffer

00:04:18 - 00:04:23 (6 sec)

Are you concerned after COVID, uh, th -- that the resistance to stimulus is going to continue?

Donald Trump

00:04:23 - 00:04:38 (14 sec)

No. I think once we get past the election, we're going to get it, uh, uh. It may be bipartisan or it may not have to be, depending. If we win the House it won't have to be. But, uh, I think after, right after the election we're going to get it one way or the other. It'll happen.

Jon Taffer

00:04:38 - 00:04:41 (4 sec)

You know, the employee retention tax credit has been very, very helpful for restaurants-

Donald Trump

00:04:41 - 00:04:41 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:04:41 - 00:04:43 (2 sec)

-- keeping employees going during this.

Donald Trump

00:04:43 - 00:04:43 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:04:43 - 00:04:47 (3 sec)

Is that something that you'd consider expanding into more restaurant types?

Donald Trump

00:04:47 - 00:05:06 (20 sec)

We're going to do that. We're going to do that for the worker and the employer. Uh, the tax credit is something that I want to do I think more than anybody else in Washington, frankly. Some people don't like it as much as I do. But after the election we're going to get the tax credit. Uh, it will take place very soon, definitely before the end of the year.

Jon Taffer

00:05:06 - 00:05:11 (4 sec)

So when we look at a market like Las Vegas and Miami, because of what's going on in the airlines-

Donald Trump

00:05:11 - 00:05:11 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:05:11 - 00:05:13 (2 sec)

-- they've become sort of drive-in markets now-

Donald Trump

00:05:13 - 00:05:13 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:05:13 - 00:05:14 (1 sec)

-- rather than fly-in markets.

Donald Trump

00:05:14 - 00:05:15 (1 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:05:15 - 00:05:19 (4 sec)

Do you see any incentive for hotels as a sector?

Donald Trump

00:05:19 - 00:05:26 (8 sec)

So, it depends. Uh, the thing with Las Vegas, you have so many rooms. I think you probably have more rooms than any place in the world.

Jon Taffer

00:05:26 - 00:05:27 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:05:27 - 00:05:43 (16 sec)

And you can't just re-live on, you know, re -- rely on drive in. Plus it's not going to pay the kind of money that people that fly over from various parts of the world, that are loaded and they want to come over and they want to spend a lot of money. Great for jobs, great for your employers, everything else.

Donald Trump

00:05:43 - 00:06:02 (20 sec)

So it's a temporary fix, that's all it is. It's a temporary fix. You have too many hotel -- When you have the kind of rooms, numbers, that you have, you got to have more than the drive in. But the drive in is a stopgap. It'll help. You're having a lot of people drive in. I noticed it. You have a lot of people drive in, but ultimately the airplanes is going to bring a lot more.

Jon Taffer

00:06:02 - 00:06:13 (10 sec)

Sir, as a hospitality guy, and I think of you as a hospitality guy, what would you say to the restaurant operators who are struggling now and, and were counting on you-

Donald Trump

00:06:13 - 00:06:13 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:06:13 - 00:06:14 (1 sec)

-- to come through for us-

Donald Trump

00:06:14 - 00:06:14 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:06:14 - 00:06:20 (6 sec)

-- and we do think of you as one of us. What would you say to us to have us hang in there and get past these next few months?

Donald Trump

00:06:20 - 00:06:39 (19 sec)

I love that you said that they're counting on me, because they can. I'm the one that got this whole thing started, that kept them going in the first place. I'm the one that's fighting for deductibility, which will be such a big thing. That will be bigger -- you'll make everything up very quickly, cause there was never a business -- that was a great business when you had deductibility.

Jon Taffer

00:06:39 - 00:06:40 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:06:40 - 00:06:51 (11 sec)

It was never the same after they ended that, probably close to 20 years ago, but I remember it well, and there was a reason for doing it. You know what the reason was? Everybody did so well. That's why they ended it.

Jon Taffer

00:06:51 - 00:06:52 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:06:52 - 00:07:11 (19 sec)

Somebody should have fought it. The restaurants should have fought it, but we're bringing that back. Uh, all I say to them is, "Hang on, hang in. It's coming back and it'll be better than before, because if we can do a couple of the things like deductibility -- you understand, as a real restaurateur, you understand exactly what I mean.

Donald Trump

00:07:11 - 00:07:25 (14 sec)

If we get deductibility and some other things back, the restaurant business will be better than it was before, and this is the time to get things. I mean, normally you could never think about deductibility, but because of the fact that things aren't so good in that business-

Jon Taffer

00:07:25 - 00:07:25 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:07:25 - 00:07:27 (1 sec)

-- this is the time we can actually get it.

Jon Taffer

00:07:27 - 00:07:27 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:07:27 - 00:07:31 (4 sec)

If you would have told me two years ago, "Let's go for deductibility," they would have laughed at me, but now we can get it-

Jon Taffer

00:07:31 - 00:07:32 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:07:32 - 00:07:35 (3 sec)

-- and if we get that, it'll be better than ever.

Jon Taffer

00:07:35 - 00:07:36 (1 sec)

That's exciting.

Donald Trump

00:07:36 - 00:07:43 (7 sec)

Yeah, to me it's exciting. To me, ultimate -- a little longer term, but ultimately that's the most exciting thing for your business.

Jon Taffer

00:07:43 - 00:07:48 (5 sec)

Sir, some restaurateurs, of course, and, and hoteliers, are in debt four, five, six months-

Donald Trump

00:07:48 - 00:07:48 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:07:48 - 00:07:53 (4 sec)

-- because of revenue loss. Do you see any kind of debt relief program in the PPP-

Donald Trump

00:07:53 - 00:07:53 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:07:53 - 00:07:54 (1 sec)

-- or through another vehicle?

Donald Trump

00:07:54 - 00:08:14 (20 sec)

Well, we did a lot of it, and now what we're doing is replenishing, and we have a bill in, that we want the Democrats to approve. It's all going to happen, right after the election. You watch. Because no matter who you are. No matter how cold, how mean, how nasty, and you have some beauties in Washington, it makes sense.

Donald Trump

00:08:14 - 00:08:29 (15 sec)

It wasn't the owner of a restaurant's fault, and certainly wasn't the employees that -- people that work in the restaurant -- no matter who you are, it makes sense, and I've had very little problem getting people to like it. Right after the election, that'll all happen.

Jon Taffer

00:08:29 - 00:08:29 (1 sec)

Yeah, I believe that too.

Donald Trump

00:08:29 - 00:08:31 (2 sec)

I think it's important, actually.

Jon Taffer

00:08:31 - 00:08:33 (2 sec)

So we can look forward to another round of PPP?

Donald Trump

00:08:33 - 00:08:35 (1 sec)

Yes, absolutely, and -- [Crosstalk]

Jon Taffer

00:08:35 - 00:08:38 (3 sec)

And we can look forward to your commitment to, to Business Meal deductions-

Donald Trump

00:08:38 - 00:08:41 (3 sec)

Yep, it was actually my idea. I'm the one that brought it up.

Jon Taffer

00:08:41 - 00:08:42 (1 sec)

I know, I heard you say it.

Donald Trump

00:08:42 - 00:08:44 (3 sec)

They said, "What does it mean?" You heard it from me first, right?

Jon Taffer

00:08:44 - 00:08:45 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:08:45 - 00:08:55 (10 sec)

They all said, "What does it mean?" I said, it was very easy to explain, but what it is, is the best single thing -- best part of our conversation is talking about it. We're going to get it.

Jon Taffer

00:08:55 - 00:08:59 (4 sec)

It'll mean a lot of money to us. And then you're going to look at some domestic travel incentives-

Donald Trump

00:08:59 - 00:08:59 (0 sec)

Jon Taffer

00:08:59 - 00:08:59 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:08:59 - 00:09:09 (10 sec)

We're going to do that, indeed, and that'll happen. And you're right about the automobile, the car, a lot of, a lot of business is coming in by car, but ultimately, the plane is very important.

Jon Taffer

00:09:09 - 00:09:12 (3 sec)

So, Mr. President, how are you feeling?

Donald Trump

00:09:12 - 00:09:35 (23 sec)

I feel really good. I'm excited. I'm excited about the election coming up. Um, our voters go out on Tuesday. They don't even like voting on Monday. They don't even like .. they want to vote -- and we're going to have a red wave, I think you understand this better than most, we're going to have a red wave, the likes of which has never been seen, including four years ago -- that was a tremendous red wave, but I think you have people out.

Donald Trump

00:09:35 - 00:09:57 (21 sec)

There's -- I leave places -- last night we were in Omaha, Michigan, Wisconsin -- tens of thousands of people at every place, so we give very short notice, and nobody's ever seen anything like it. Jon, I think we're going to have a tremendous election. I tell the people, "Wait til Tuesday if you want, or go and vote early," but they really like to wait.

Donald Trump

00:09:57 - 00:10:05 (9 sec)

You'll explain that to me, but they really like to wait til Tuesday. They want to go out and vote on Tuesday. Lot of traditional people, but they feel safer.

Jon Taffer

00:10:05 - 00:10:06 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:10:06 - 00:10:16 (10 sec)

They don't like ballots. They don't like sending 'em. They don't trust it. They want their vote to count. I think we're going to have a Tuesday -- but you can have an early vote -- but a Tuesday, the likes of which we've never seen before.

Jon Taffer

00:10:16 - 00:10:17 (2 sec)

It's going to be an exciting day, Sir.

Donald Trump

00:10:17 - 00:10:20 (3 sec)

Jon, it's an honor to be with you, and keep up the good work.

Jon Taffer

00:10:20 - 00:10:21 (1 sec)

Thank you, Mr. President, it's, it's-

Donald Trump

00:10:21 - 00:10:24 (3 sec)

-- and some day you'll run for office, I think, you know?

Jon Taffer

00:10:24 - 00:10:26 (2 sec)

I'm looking at it very seriously.

Donald Trump

00:10:26 - 00:10:29 (4 sec)

I have a feeling -- I have a feeling. I've heard it, and, uh, you would do very well.