Transcript - Press Gaggle: Donald Trump Speaks to the Press Before Air Force One Departure - September 18, 2019 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:23 (23 sec)

Thank you very much. We're with Robert O'Brien, who, as you know, is the new National Security Advisor. He's worked with me for quite a while now on hostages, and we've had a tremendous track record with respect to hostages. Robert can tell you about it. But we brought a lot of people back home and we haven't spent any money.

Donald Trump

00:00:23 - 00:00:39 (16 sec)

So, that's good, because you can't do the money thing. If you do the money thing, all of a sudden it will double and triple and quadruple. You'll say, "What's going on?" So, Robert has been fantastic. We know each other well. And maybe, Robert, say a few words. Please. AMBASSADOR O'BRIEN: Great.

Donald Trump

00:00:39 - 00:01:00 (22 sec)

Thank you. Look, it's a privilege to serve with the President and to -- and we look forward to another year and a half of peace through strength. We've had tremendous foreign policy successes under President Trump's leadership. I expect those to continue. We've got a number of challenges, but there's a great team in place with Secretary Pompeo and Secretary Esper, Secretary Mnuchin, and others.

Donald Trump

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

And I look forward to working with them and working with the President to keep America safe and continue to rebuild our military and really get us back to a peace-through-strength posture that will keep the American people safe from the many challenges around the world today.

Question

00:01:16 - 00:01:24 (8 sec)

Mr. O'Brien, what advice do you have for the President about the situation in Saudi Arabia and any possible military strike on Iran?

Robert O'Brien

00:01:24 - 00:01:38 (14 sec)

Yeah, so we're looking at those issues now and getting briefed up. And I think Secretary Pompeo is in Saudi Arabia now or is just coming home. And any advice that I give the President will be something I give him confidentially. But we're monitoring that situation closely.

Question

00:01:38 - 00:01:41 (3 sec)

And, Mr. President, any update on your thinking?

Donald Trump

00:01:41 - 00:02:04 (22 sec)

Yeah, I have nothing to report yet. We'll probably be speaking to you tomorrow, maybe the next day. But nothing to report. But it hasn't changed very much. I think my thinking pretty much remains the same. And we haven't learned much that we didn't know. But there is -- there is a certain -- a guarantee factor.

Donald Trump

00:02:04 - 00:02:08 (4 sec)

We're really at a point now where we know very much what happened. Yes.

Question

00:02:08 - 00:02:13 (5 sec)

Lindsey Graham said sanctions aren't enough. Will you do more on Iran?

Donald Trump

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

We'll see what happens. We'll see. You'll watch. Peter.

Question

00:02:16 - 00:02:19 (3 sec)

Mr. President, should Rouhani come to New York next week?

Donald Trump

00:02:19 - 00:02:20 (1 sec)

Question

00:02:20 - 00:02:22 (2 sec)

Should President Rouhani come to New York next week for [Inaudible]?

Donald Trump

00:02:22 - 00:02:28 (6 sec)

I really don't know. I really don't know. That's up to him. I mean, I'm -- it's not up to me. It's up to him. We'll see what happens.

Question

00:02:28 - 00:02:29 (1 sec)

[Inaudible] visas from Iranians to come?

Donald Trump

00:02:29 - 00:02:45 (16 sec)

Well, we're going to see what happens. I would let them come. If it was up to me, I would let them come. I've always felt the United Nations is very important. I think it's got tremendous potential. I don't think it's ever lived up to the potential it has, but I would certainly not want to keep people out if they want to come.

Donald Trump

00:02:45 - 00:02:47 (2 sec)

So, that would be up to them.

Question

00:02:47 - 00:02:55 (7 sec)

[Inaudible] Senator Graham, who said that the failure to strike Iran this summer was a sign of -- taken by Iran as a sign of weakness?

Donald Trump

00:02:55 - 00:03:16 (22 sec)

No, I actually think it's a sign of strength. We have the strongest military in the world now. And I think it's a great sign of strength. It's very easy to attack. But if you ask Lindsey, ask him: How did going into the Middle East -- how did that work out? And how did going in Iraq work out? So, we have a disagreement on that.

Donald Trump

00:03:16 - 00:03:32 (16 sec)

And, you know, there's plenty of time to do some dastardly things. It's very easy to start. And we'll see what happens. We'll see what happens. I think we have a lot of good capital. If we have to do something, we'll do it without hesitation.

Question

00:03:32 - 00:03:44 (12 sec)

Mr. President, do you agree with the Secretary -- Mr. Pompeo -- that the attacks in Saudi were an "act of war"? And if so, what's the response on the U.S. end?

Donald Trump

00:03:44 - 00:03:50 (6 sec)

He just came out with a statement. He spoke to me a little while ago. And we'll have an announcement. Okay?

Question

00:03:50 - 00:03:56 (6 sec)

What does Mr. O'Brien bring to the table that you were looking for that maybe you didn't get through Mr. Bolton?

Donald Trump

00:03:56 - 00:04:16 (21 sec)

It's very interesting. Mr. O'Brien is highly respected. He was highly respected by so many people that I didn't even know really knew him. He did a tremendous job on hostage negotiation -- really tremendous, like unparalleled. We've had tremendous success in that regard. Brought home many people.

Donald Trump

00:04:16 - 00:04:36 (19 sec)

And through hostage negotiation, I got to know him very well myself. But also, a lot of people that I respect rated him as their absolute, number-one choice. So, you know, I think we have a very good chemistry together, and I think we're going to have a great relationship. He is a very talented man.

Question

00:04:36 - 00:04:39 (4 sec)

Mr. President, would you raise more sanctions on Iran today?

Donald Trump

00:04:39 - 00:04:40 (1 sec)

Question

00:04:40 - 00:04:43 (3 sec)

Would you announce more sanctions on Iran? What will they include?

Donald Trump

00:04:43 - 00:04:46 (3 sec)

We'll be adding some very significant sanctions onto Iran.

Question

00:04:46 - 00:04:48 (2 sec)

And what will they include, sir?

Donald Trump

00:04:48 - 00:04:51 (3 sec)

We'll be announcing it over the next 48 hours.

Question

00:04:51 - 00:04:55 (4 sec)

And you said that there will be a further announcement on Iran. Are you looking at a military strike?

Donald Trump

00:04:55 - 00:04:56 (1 sec)

We'll see what happens.

Question

00:04:56 - 00:05:01 (5 sec)

What are the options, Mr. President, that you're considering? You just said that there were some very bad things you're thinking about.

Donald Trump

00:05:01 - 00:05:14 (13 sec)

Well, there are many options, as you know, Phil. There are many options. And there's the ultimate option, and there are options that are a lot less than that. And we'll see. We're in a very powerful position. Right now, we're in a very, very powerful position.

Question

00:05:14 - 00:05:16 (2 sec)

When you say "the ultimate option," are you talking about a nuclear strike?

Donald Trump

00:05:16 - 00:05:23 (7 sec)

No, I'm saying "the ultimate option," meaning go in -- war. No, I'm not talking about -- I'm not talking about that ultimate option. No.

Question

00:05:23 - 00:05:23 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:05:23 - 00:05:24 (1 sec)

Question

00:05:24 - 00:05:28 (4 sec)

How do you see the role of National Security Advisor changing with Mr. O'Brien?

Donald Trump

00:05:28 - 00:05:41 (13 sec)

I think it's a very important role. It's really a role that, if the President respects the person that's the advisor, I think it really plays a very, very important role. Okay? Thank you. Peter, thank you.

Question

00:05:41 - 00:05:43 (2 sec)

You're heading to the border today?

Donald Trump

00:05:43 - 00:05:46 (3 sec)

We're going to the border later. Are you all with me?

Question

00:05:46 - 00:05:46 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:05:46 - 00:05:57 (11 sec)

We're going to show you a lot of wall. We're building a lot of wall. We won the big case and a couple of other cases, as you know. We're building a lot of wall. So, we'll be talking. We'll be talking to you later on. Okay?

Question

00:05:57 - 00:06:00 (2 sec)

Have you spoken to Netanyahu?

Donald Trump

00:06:00 - 00:06:12 (12 sec)

I have not. Those results are coming in, and it's very close. Do you have any updates? Any updates? Because you people usually should know before the President, right?

Question

00:06:12 - 00:06:14 (2 sec)

Are you suspicious at all about the results?

Donald Trump

00:06:14 - 00:06:25 (11 sec)

No, I'm not. No, I'm not. Everybody knew it was going to be very close, and we'll see what happens. And, look, our relationship is with Israel. We'll see what happens. Thank you. Thank you everybody.