Transcript - Press Gaggle: Donald Trump Answers Questions from Press Pool - September 26, 2018 | Factba.se

Question

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

[Inaudible - related to Maduro] meet with him? He's asking for a meeting with you?

Donald Trump

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

If I had time, I would. I mean, to be honest with you, he has to straighten it out. He's got to be -- he's got to act a lot more humanely. The people are suffering tremendously in Venezuela. There's no reason for this. So I would certainly be open to it. I'm willing to meet with anybody. Anytime I can save lives and help people -- if it's one life, I’m certainly willing to meet.

Question

00:00:18 - 00:00:48 (30 sec)

Mr. President, [Inaudible] he has said that it’s very important for them to be able to work with the United States, but they don't want to --

Donald Trump

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

Question

00:00:48 - 00:00:51 (3 sec)

Venezuela has said. But they said also that they don't want to declare it a humanitarian crisis because they believe that will lead to an intervention, and they have included examples like Chile and other countries. What's your response to that? Because you have said --

Donald Trump

00:00:51 - 00:01:07 (16 sec)

I just want to see Venezuela straightened out. I want the people to be safe. We're going to take care of Venezuela. Okay? We're going to take care of Venezuela. What's happening in Venezuela is a disgrace. If he's here, if he wants to meet -- I don't know. It was not on my mind. It is not on my plate. But if I can help people, that's what I'm here for.

Question

00:01:07 - 00:01:19 (12 sec)

Are you going to ask [Inaudible] -- are you going to ask to protect your allies in the region after Maduro sent troops to the border in Colombia?

Donald Trump

00:01:19 - 00:01:38 (19 sec)

Our allies are in no trouble. We're with our allies. Our allies -- we are with our allies 100 percent. They have no problem. We met yesterday with Colombia. We had a great meeting with Colombia. And we've met with numerous others of our allies and they are absolutely in no trouble.

Question

00:01:38 - 00:01:38 (0 sec)

[Inaudible] are you going to meet Mr. Putin?

Donald Trump

00:01:38 - 00:01:47 (9 sec)

I don't know. I look forward to meeting him again. But I -- we don't have anything set, but I look forward to meeting him again.

Question

00:01:47 - 00:01:49 (2 sec)

Mr. President, on North Korea --

Donald Trump

00:01:49 - 00:01:49 (0 sec)

Question

00:01:49 - 00:01:52 (2 sec)

On North Korea, what needs to happen? What does North Korea need to do --

Donald Trump

00:01:52 - 00:01:56 (5 sec)

A lot of good things are happening.

Question

00:01:56 - 00:02:07 (10 sec)

No -- what needs to happen -- on North Korea, what needs to happen on North Korea? What does North Korea need to do before you will meet Chairman Kim again?

Donald Trump

00:02:07 - 00:02:29 (22 sec)

We are denuclearizing North Korea. We have a wonderful relationship going between our country and them. We're being helped a lot by Japan, and very much by President Moon of South Korea. And North Korea -- it’s going along very well. We really have had a tremendous amount of progress since this time last year.

Question

00:02:29 - 00:02:35 (7 sec)

Every option is still on the table against Nicolás Maduro? Every option is still on the table? Even [Inaudible] --

Donald Trump

00:02:35 - 00:03:02 (27 sec)

All options are on the table. Every one. Strong ones and the less-than-strong ones. Every option -- and you know what I mean by “strong.” Every option is on the table, with respect to Venezuela. We're going to take care of the people of Venezuela. We have many Venezuelans living in the United States. Many of them live in the Doral area of Miami. I've gotten to know them very well. These are great, great people. We're going to take care of those people. Okay?

Question

00:03:02 - 00:03:18 (16 sec)

Secretary Pompeo said today that North Korea might be okaying the inspectors to check their nukes. Can you tell us a little bit more about that? Because that will be [Inaudible].

Donald Trump

00:03:18 - 00:03:31 (13 sec)

Chairman Kim wants good things to happen for North Korea. And good things are happening with respect to North Korea. And it's going to be great for Chairman Kim and great for the people of North Korea. And that's what we're all about.

Question

00:03:31 - 00:03:36 (6 sec)

What are you going to discuss with the Japanese Prime Minister Abe today?

Donald Trump

00:03:36 - 00:04:08 (32 sec)

A very good relationship with -- as you know, with Prime Minister Abe. He was in my apartment just the other day in Trump Tower. We had a very long, couple-of-hour discussion. He loves his country. He had a tremendous victory in the election, as you know, which I was very happy about. I don't know if you're supposed to endorse somebody or not, but I endorsed him and I will endorse him again. He's a great gentleman and a great man, and a person who is a great leader for Japan. We have other things to discuss. I think more than anything else, we'll be discussing trade.

Question

00:04:08 - 00:04:16 (8 sec)

Mr. President, where will you meet Chairman Kim in the future?

Donald Trump

00:04:16 - 00:04:32 (16 sec)

I'll be meeting with Chairman Kim in the very near future. It will be announced. We'll announce it. In fact, we're having a press conference today. We'll start talking about that. But we'll be announcing where and when in the very near future.

Question

00:04:32 - 00:04:38 (6 sec)

Thank you. Mr. President, you said yesterday that the First Lady will travel to Africa.

Donald Trump

00:04:38 - 00:04:38 (0 sec)

Question

00:04:38 - 00:04:40 (2 sec)

Which part of Africa? Has she considered going to Angola?

Donald Trump

00:04:40 - 00:04:48 (9 sec)

They're going to announce it in about an hour. You should be there. She's got a press conference in one hour. You should be there. They're announcing she's going to four countries in Africa.

Question

00:04:48 - 00:04:49 (1 sec)

It's not Angola?

Donald Trump

00:04:49 - 00:05:10 (21 sec)

They'll be announcing it in about an hour, exactly. She's going to be making the announcement, which is much more exciting when -- than when I make an announcement. So she'll be announcing she's making a big trip to Africa. We both love Africa. Africa is so beautiful. The most beautiful part of the world, in many ways.

Question

00:05:10 - 00:05:11 (1 sec)

It is. Angola is --

Donald Trump

00:05:11 - 00:05:20 (9 sec)

Just let me -- let me just say that she's having a news conference in a very short period of time. She'll be announcing exactly where she's going, and I hope you're going to be there.

Question

00:05:20 - 00:05:22 (2 sec)

It's not Angola? Not Angola?

Donald Trump

00:05:22 - 00:05:24 (2 sec)

You'll see in about an hour.

Question

00:05:24 - 00:05:30 (6 sec)

What is your thoughts on the woman questioning Kavanaugh's accuser tomorrow?

Donald Trump

00:05:30 - 00:06:35 (65 sec)

Well, I think the Senate -- the Republicans could not be nicer than the way they're handling this. They could have pushed it through two and a half weeks ago, and you wouldn't be talking about it right now -- which is, frankly, what I would have preferred. But they didn't do that. The Republicans could not be nicer, could not be more respectful to the process, certainly could not be more respectful to the woman, and I'm okay with that. I think I might have pushed it forward a lot faster. But I'll tell you what, I know -- I know this particular man -- Judge Kavanaugh. He's outstanding. You don't find people like this. He's outstanding. He's a gem. He's an absolute gem. And he's been treated very unfairly by the Democrats who are playing a con game. They know what they're doing. It's a con. They go into a backroom, and they talk with each other and they laugh at what they're getting away with. It's a con game, and that's what they play. And that's about the only thing they do well. Thank you very much.