Transcript - Press Conference: Donald Trump Speaks To Reporters Before Marine One Departure - October 13, 2017 | Factba.se

Question

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

What do you say to critics who say that you ending the CSRs, the subsidies under Obamacare, will throw the markets into chaos?

Donald Trump

00:00:04 - 00:00:17 (13 sec)

What it's going to do is it's going to be time to negotiate healthcare that's going to be good for everybody. That money is a subsidy for insurance companies. Take a look at their stocks. Look where they are. They're going through the roof, from past -- I donÕt know about today.

Donald Trump

00:00:17 - 00:00:25 (8 sec)

But the insurance companies that made a fortune, that money was a subsidy and almost, you could say, a payoff for insurance companies.

Donald Trump

00:00:25 - 00:00:40 (15 sec)

And what we have to do is come up with great healthcare. Now, that's what I did partially yesterday; that's going to cover a big segment. But now, for the rest, we have to come up with great -- whether it's going to be block grants or something else. And we just about have the votes.

Donald Trump

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

Now, if the Democrats were smart, what they'd do is come and negotiate something where people could really get the kind of healthcare that they deserve, being citizens of our great country.

Question

00:00:51 - 00:00:58 (7 sec)

Mr. President, on the Iranian nuclear deal, why not just scrap it altogether now? You threatened to do so. Why not just end it now, withdraw?

Donald Trump

00:00:58 - 00:01:08 (10 sec)

Because we'll see what happens over the next short period of time. And I can do that instantaneously. I like a two-step process much better.

Question

00:01:08 - 00:01:11 (3 sec)

[Inaudible] healthcare?

Donald Trump

00:01:11 - 00:01:29 (18 sec)

Because I think what we'll do is we'll be able to renegotiate so that everybody gets to. We just took care of a big chunk, and now we'll take care of the other chunk. What would be nice -- if the Democratic leaders could come over to the White House, we'll negotiate some deal that's good for everybody. That's what I'd like.

Donald Trump

00:01:29 - 00:01:45 (16 sec)

But they're always a block vote against everything. They're like obstructionists. If they came over, maybe we could make a deal. But the subsidy is really a subsidy to the insurance company. That's not going to people; that's making the insurance companies rich.

Question

00:01:45 - 00:01:52 (7 sec)

Mr. President, you had said you were going to rip the Iran deal up, and you called it the worst ever.

Donald Trump

00:01:52 - 00:02:03 (11 sec)

Well, I may do that. I may do that. The deal is terrible. So what we've done is, through the certification process, we'll have Congress take a look at it, and I may very well do that. But I like a two-step process much better. John?

Question

00:02:03 - 00:02:09 (6 sec)

The moves that you've made on Obamacare here, with the executive order yesterday and then removing the subsidies --

Donald Trump

00:02:09 - 00:02:12 (3 sec)

We have great support.

Question

00:02:12 - 00:02:19 (7 sec)

-- is that a way for you to put pressure on Democrats and say, look, you're going to lose it -- come to the table and negotiate with them?

Donald Trump

00:02:19 - 00:02:38 (19 sec)

Well, they've already lost a big chunk, because as you know that's a big chunk and it's very popular. And you will have millions and millions of people sign up under that. You could say -- I mean, I'm not doing that consciously. I will say this, John -- I will say that the Democrats should come to me; I would even go to them.

Donald Trump

00:02:38 - 00:02:50 (12 sec)

Because I'm only interested in one thing: getting great healthcare for this country. That was a big chunk. And as far as the subsidy is concerned, I donÕt want to make the insurance companies rich.

Donald Trump

00:02:50 - 00:02:58 (9 sec)

If you look at their stock price over the last number of years, take a look at what's happened with those insurance companies. They're making a fortune by getting that kind of money.

Question

00:02:58 - 00:03:11 (12 sec)

How long will you give Rex Tillerson to get this new deal? And are strikes on Iran still a possibility if you donÕt get what you want?

Donald Trump

00:03:11 - 00:03:21 (10 sec)

We will see what happens with Iran. We're very unhappy with Iran. They have not treated us with the kind of respect that they should be treating. They should have thanked Barack Obama for making that deal. They were gone. They were economically gone.

Donald Trump

00:03:21 - 00:03:28 (7 sec)

He infused $100 [billion] to $150 billion into their economy. He gave them $1.7 billion in cash. And they should be, "Thank you

Question

00:03:28 - 00:03:37 (9 sec)

On opioids, your wife is with you. She's been talking about the opioid crisis. You said you would declare a national emergency more than two months ago. What's taking so long?

Donald Trump

00:03:37 - 00:03:52 (15 sec)

We are studying national emergency right now. Believe it or not, doing national emergency, as you understand, is a very big statement.

Donald Trump

00:03:52 - 00:04:06 (15 sec)

We will be doing that. My wife, Melania, who happens to be right here, finds that subject to be of such vital importance, and she's very much involved. And as you know, she's on the committee and really wants to be involved in that process.

Question

00:04:06 - 00:04:10 (4 sec)

Have you spoken with Theresa May or Emmanuel Macron about the Iranian Deal?

Donald Trump

00:04:10 - 00:04:11 (1 sec)

Question

00:04:11 - 00:04:13 (1 sec)

What did they say to you? What did you say to them?

Donald Trump

00:04:13 - 00:04:21 (9 sec)

They would love me to stay in, only for one reason: Look at the kind of money that's being sent. You know, Iran is spending money in various countries.

Donald Trump

00:04:21 - 00:04:29 (8 sec)

And I've always said it, and I say to them: Don't do anything. Don't worry about it. Take all the money you can get. They're all friends of mine.

Donald Trump

00:04:29 - 00:04:42 (13 sec)

Actually, Emmanuel called up, and he talked to me. And I said, look, Emmanuel, they just gave Renault a lot of money. Take their money; enjoy yourselves. But we'll see what happens.

Donald Trump

00:04:42 - 00:04:44 (2 sec)

Iran has to behave much differently.

Question

00:04:44 - 00:04:51 (7 sec)

You promised that you would help people who are struggling. The CSR payment looks like it will hurt low-income people.

Donald Trump

00:04:51 - 00:04:58 (7 sec)

The CSR payments, if you take a look at CSR payments, that money is going to insurance companies to prop up insurance companies.

Question

00:04:58 - 00:04:59 (1 sec)

To help lower-income people.

Donald Trump

00:04:59 - 00:05:05 (5 sec)

That money is going to insurance companies to lift up their stock price, and that's not what I'm about.

Donald Trump

00:05:05 - 00:05:08 (4 sec)

Take a look at who those insurance companies support, and I guarantee you one thing: It's not Donald Trump.

Question

00:05:08 - 00:05:11 (2 sec)

So you donÕt think it will raise premiums at all?

Question

00:05:11 - 00:05:27 (16 sec)

Mr. President, the JCPOA fix that's being floated by Senators Cotton, Corker, and Rubio that would remove the sunset provisions, strengthen IAEA inspections, do some other things. Does that meet the bar for you, or do you need more?

Donald Trump

00:05:27 - 00:05:40 (13 sec)

Well, I think we're going to take a look, John, at what happens. We're going to see what happens. We're going to see what they come back with. They may come back with something that's very satisfactory to me, and if they don't, within a very short period of time, I'll terminate the deal.

Donald Trump

00:05:40 - 00:05:42 (3 sec)

And as far as Puerto Rico is concerned, I love Puerto Rico.

Question

00:05:42 - 00:05:50 (7 sec)

[Inaudible] going down to Puerto Rico, and saying you won't stay there forever. You didn't say that about Texas or Louisiana. You said it about Puerto Rico. Why?

Donald Trump

00:05:50 - 00:05:57 (7 sec)

We've done a great job. We've done a great job in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has to get the infrastructure going. We're helping them with their infrastructure.

Donald Trump

00:05:57 - 00:06:16 (19 sec)

But most important on Puerto Rico is their electric plants are essentially gone. Now, they were gone before the hurricane; they were in bankruptcy, they owed $9 billion -- I think it was $9 billion. But the plants, as you know, were -- the electric was a disaster. After the storm, even more so.

Donald Trump

00:06:16 - 00:06:23 (6 sec)

We have to help them get the plants rebuilt. That's a long-term project, unfortunately. But we have to help them.

Donald Trump

00:06:23 - 00:06:25 (2 sec)

But I love the people of Puerto Rico, and we're going to help them.

Question

00:06:25 - 00:06:33 (9 sec)

On Puerto Rico, Mr. President, do you want to make sure that there remains a very bright line between hurricane relief and debt relief so that the two donÕt become so mingled?

Donald Trump

00:06:33 - 00:06:44 (11 sec)

Well, you have to watch -- you can't say there was a hurricane, and now we're going to spend X dollars. And we also have to do something with all the money that's been invested, mostly private.

Donald Trump

00:06:44 - 00:06:53 (9 sec)

The government is going to have to become before that money, because the government is going to want security. They're going to have to become before that money. And I'm sure we'll be able to work that out.

Donald Trump

00:06:53 - 00:07:03 (10 sec)

But the Puerto Rican people have tremendous spirit. When I was there and I looked at the way that -- what they have to go through. They have a lot of problems. We're going to help them straighten it out.

Question

00:07:03 - 00:07:13 (10 sec)

Could you clarify where you are on North Korea? You raised some eyebrows when you said this is "the calm before the storm."" What's next on North Korea?"

Donald Trump

00:07:13 - 00:07:23 (10 sec)

We're going to see what happens with North Korea. That's all I can say. We're going to see what happens. We're totally prepared for numerous things. We are going to see what happens with North Korea.

Donald Trump

00:07:23 - 00:07:35 (13 sec)

I will say, look, if something can happen where we negotiate, I'm always open to that. But if it's going to be something other than negotiation, believe me, we are ready, more so than we have ever been.

Donald Trump

00:07:35 - 00:07:38 (2 sec)

Thank you very much. Thank you.