Transcript - Press Gaggle: Donald Trump Speaks to the Press Before Marine One Departure - September 29, 2018

Question

00:00:00 - 00:00:08 (9 sec)

Mr. President, do you still have confidence in Brett Kavanaugh, sir?

Donald Trump

00:00:08 - 00:00:31 (23 sec)

I think it's going very well. The FBI, as you know, is all over talking to everybody, and I would expect -- he's a very high quality person -- I would expect it's going to turn out very well for the judge. There's never been anybody that's been looked at like Judge Kavanaugh. I think that it's going to work out very well, but the FBI, I believe, is doing a really great job. They have been all over, already.

Question

00:00:31 - 00:00:35 (3 sec)

Did you give the FBI free reign to investigate [Inaudible]

Donald Trump

00:00:35 - 00:00:46 (11 sec)

Yeah, they have free reign. They're going to do whatever they have to do, whatever it is they do. They'll be doing things that we never even thought of, and hopefully at the conclusion, everything will be fine.

Question

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

[Inaudible]

Donald Trump

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

What?

Question

00:00:46 - 00:00:49 (2 sec)

Do you still believe Kavanuagh did nothing wrong, sir?

Donald Trump

00:00:49 - 00:01:11 (22 sec)

Yeah, I think he's great. I don't think there's ever been any person that's been under scrutiny like he has been. I think it's been a very tough process, but he's a good man who's a great judge. This is a great judge, highly respected for many, many years at the top of the list, and I hope everything works out great.

Donald Trump

00:01:11 - 00:01:23 (12 sec)

But I will say there are a lot of people going out right now, working very hard, I'm going to West Virginia. We have a big crowd. Many of you are going, and we're gonna have a lot of fun. We're gonna have a rally, and it's gonna be a lot of fun.

Question

00:01:23 - 00:01:26 (4 sec)

Why do you go there all the time? You've been there seven times now, sir.

Donald Trump

00:01:26 - 00:01:40 (13 sec)

Well, I think we have a close race. That's going to be a race. We have a lot of close races. We have races, as an example, in the Senate, we're having races that nobody thought were possible, and now they're tied, and actually Republicans are winning.

Donald Trump

00:01:40 - 00:02:11 (31 sec)

And I really believe when the public looks at the situation that's taken place over the last three or four days, and what the Democrats are doing and, more importantly, how they're acting, so terribly, so dishonestly, keeping papers and documents, not releasing them until after hearings are over. I really think the Republicans are picking up a lot. I really believe that. I'll see you... I'll see you in West Virginia.

Question

00:02:11 - 00:02:11 (0 sec)

[Inaudible, about Jeff Flake]

Donald Trump

00:02:11 - 00:02:36 (26 sec)

Well, I think it's fine, I think actually this could be a blessing in disguise, because having the FBI go out to a thorough investigation, whether it's three days or seven days, I think it's going to be less than a week. But having them do a thorough investigation, I actually think will be a blessing in disguise. It'll be a good thing. I'll see you in...

Question

00:02:36 - 00:02:41 (5 sec)

Do you have a backup plan for Mr. Kavanaugh? Do you have a backup plan sir?

Donald Trump

00:02:41 - 00:02:56 (15 sec)

I don't have any... I don't need a backup plan. We'll have to see what happens. I think he's going to be fine. Again., one of the most respected men, and certainly one of the most respected, jurist or judges in the United States

Question

00:02:56 - 00:02:56 (0 sec)

[Inaudible, about Christine Blasey Ford]

Donald Trump

00:02:56 - 00:03:27 (31 sec)

Oh, I think she was, but we're going to have to find out. I think, frankly, the FBI has a chance to reveal a lot of different things. I'd like to find out who leaked that the papers. Was it Senator Feinstein? Because certainly her body language was not exactly very good when they asked her that question. So I would like to find out as part of it, who leaked the papers. Which Democrat leaked the papers. Thank you very much.