Transcript - Press Gaggle: Donald Trump Speaks to the Press Before Marine One Departure - March 3, 2020 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

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

Hello, folks. So I'm going to the National Institute of Health. We're having a roundtable. Things are going very well, as you see. It's been very strong. Mike Pence and the entire group are doing an excellent job. And do you have any questions?

Question

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

Mr. President, do you believe it's inevitable that the coronavirus will spread across the country? And is it possible that we may need to take more stringent measures to contain it?

Donald Trump

00:00:31 - 00:00:47 (15 sec)

Well, it's -- anything can happen, but I wouldn't say inevitable at all. No. I wouldn't say -- we've really -- we've done a good job by doing it and combatting it so early. We have the best people in the world. And I think we're getting a lot of credit for having made that early move. So, no, I don't think that's inevitable at all.

Question

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

What do you need to see from Congress right now?

Donald Trump

00:00:47 - 00:01:08 (20 sec)

Well, I think Congress -- we're working along well with Congress to get the various fundings that we're looking for. That's important in terms of stopping what we're doing. Some countries have some very big problems. We're working with them to help them. They're really unaware of -- they've never done this before.

Donald Trump

00:01:08 - 00:01:11 (4 sec)

We do it very well. And we're working with other countries, and that's very important.

Question

00:01:11 - 00:01:19 (8 sec)

On the Olympics, do you believe the Olympics should still be held in Japan? Are you comfortable with U.S. Olympic athletes going to Japan?

Donald Trump

00:01:19 - 00:01:35 (16 sec)

Well, I think I'm going to leave that to Prime Minister Abe. He's a friend of mine. He's built a beautiful venue. It's a very sad thing if that would happen, because the venue is incredible. They've spent billions of dollars. But I'll leave that up to Japan. That's up to them.

Question

00:01:35 - 00:01:37 (2 sec)

What should the Fed's funds rate be?

Donald Trump

00:01:37 - 00:01:58 (21 sec)

I would say that the Fed funds rate -- the rate, as you would call it, is too high. It should be eased down so that we're competitive. Look, we have the greatest country in the world. We have the strongest country in the world. It's our dollar that the world relies on. We should have the low rate, but we have a Fed that doesn't agree with that.

Donald Trump

00:01:58 - 00:01:59 (1 sec)

I disagree with them.

Question

00:01:59 - 00:02:02 (3 sec)

Did you speak with the leader of the Taliban today?

Donald Trump

00:02:02 - 00:02:03 (1 sec)

Question

00:02:03 - 00:02:07 (4 sec)

Did you speak with the leader of the Taliban today?

Donald Trump

00:02:07 - 00:02:26 (19 sec)

I did. I spoke to the leader of the Taliban today. We had a good conversation. We've agreed there's no violence. We don't want violence. We'll see what happens. They're dealing with Afghanistan, but we'll see what happens. Okay? We had, actually, a very good talk with the leader of the Taliban.

Question

00:02:26 - 00:02:34 (8 sec)

Do you believe that the Democratic establishment is trying to take it away from Bernie Sanders?

Donald Trump

00:02:34 - 00:02:51 (18 sec)

Well, I think there's no question the establishment -- the Democrat establishment -- is trying to take it away from Bernie Sanders. There's no question about that in my mind. Now, look, a lot is going to be learned tonight. We'll see how well Biden does. We'll see how well Sanders does. I would've said, two, three days ago, Biden was not looking too good.

Donald Trump

00:02:51 - 00:03:05 (14 sec)

Now he's looking better. But a lot is going to be known by a certain time tonight -- you tell me the time -- by, you know, California, we're a little bit -- we're a little delayed. So probably by 9 or 10 o'clock tonight, we're going to have some big answers.

Question

00:03:05 - 00:03:18 (13 sec)

What should happen, sir, for patients without insurance? For patients who don't have insurance, Mr. President, what should happen? Will you -- will your administration help those people?

Donald Trump

00:03:18 - 00:03:20 (2 sec)

We're looking at that whole situation.

Question

00:03:20 - 00:03:21 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:03:21 - 00:03:28 (8 sec)

There are many people without insurance. So we're looking at that situation for those people.

Question

00:03:28 - 00:03:31 (2 sec)

Who would make an easier opponent for you? Biden or Sanders?

Donald Trump

00:03:31 - 00:03:40 (9 sec)

Whoever it is, I don't care. I really don't care. Whoever it is, we will take them on. Hey, the job we've done -- we've rebuilt the military, we have the strongest economy we've ever had. All of the things we've done. I will take on anybody. Go ahead.

Question

00:03:40 - 00:03:41 (1 sec)

You'll debate any of them?

Donald Trump

00:03:41 - 00:03:47 (6 sec)

Any of them. Very gladly. Very gladly. Go ahead, Jim.

Question

00:03:47 - 00:03:57 (10 sec)

Do we need to have more stringent containment measures to stop the virus from spreading in this country?

Donald Trump

00:03:57 - 00:04:12 (15 sec)

Well, we're being very stringent. But we're now looking at other countries that have been badly affected, and we're thinking about doing something. We may have to do. We don't want to do that, but we're looking at other countries and we're being very stringent. Now, I'm going but I'll be back, and I'll see you over there.

Donald Trump

00:04:12 - 00:04:13 (1 sec)

Question

00:04:13 - 00:04:18 (5 sec)

Mr. President, are you considering restricting domestic travel?

Donald Trump

00:04:18 - 00:04:19 (1 sec)

Question

00:04:19 - 00:04:21 (3 sec)

Are you going to restrict domestic travel?

Donald Trump

00:04:21 - 00:04:28 (7 sec)

We're not looking at that at all. No. There's only one hotspot, and that's also pretty much in a very -- in a home, as you know -- in a nursing home.

Question

00:04:28 - 00:04:31 (3 sec)

Do you regret downplaying the coronavirus initially?

Donald Trump

00:04:31 - 00:04:45 (14 sec)

No, not at all. No, not at all. But we're doing a fantastic job. The professionals are doing a great job. We're really happy with the job they're doing. They have -- they have been just ahead of it. And we're ahead of it by having stopped so much earlier than -- nobody wanted us to cut off access to our country, and I did it early.

Donald Trump

00:04:45 - 00:04:49 (4 sec)

By doing that, that was a big step. Otherwise, many more people would be infected.

Question

00:04:49 - 00:04:59 (10 sec)

Mr. President, the NCAA now preparing to say "no fans in the stands." Do you think that's the right move? And would you consider doing that --

Donald Trump

00:04:59 - 00:05:01 (2 sec)

That's a tough move.

Question

00:05:01 - 00:05:03 (2 sec)

-- from your rallies to the conventions?

Donald Trump

00:05:03 - 00:05:04 (2 sec)

When did they announce that? A little while ago?

Question

00:05:04 - 00:05:05 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

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

That's a tough move. No, I'm not prepared for that. But let them do what they want to do. I'm hearing more and more about that. I don't think it would be necessary, no. That's too bad. Jeff, go ahead. Question?

Question

00:05:16 - 00:05:33 (17 sec)

Mr. President, are you considering tighten- -- or cutting off travel to and from Italy and South Korea? You already put some restrictions in place. Are you going to make them tighter?

Donald Trump

00:05:33 - 00:05:38 (6 sec)

We're watching Italy very closely, South Korea very closely, even Japan very closely. And we'll make the right determination at the right time. We've cut it off, as you know, with numerous other countries, okay?

Question

00:05:38 - 00:05:40 (2 sec)

What other countries are you considering?

Donald Trump

00:05:40 - 00:05:41 (1 sec)

Question

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

Any other countries you're considering cutting off travel to?

Donald Trump

00:05:43 - 00:05:44 (1 sec)

They are the hotspots right now.

Question

00:05:44 - 00:05:46 (2 sec)

On the markets, sir -- are you concerned about what markets are doing today?

Donald Trump

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

Question

00:05:46 - 00:05:49 (3 sec)

Mr. President, what did you think of the Fed press conference, sir?

Donald Trump

00:05:49 - 00:05:50 (1 sec)

Question

00:05:50 - 00:05:54 (4 sec)

What did you think of the Fed press conference, sir? Did you watch that? Do you have a reaction to it?

Donald Trump

00:05:54 - 00:06:05 (11 sec)

I didn't watch it. No, I didn't watch it, but the Fed is very disappointing to me. They have to lead, not follow. They are following, not leading. They're very disappointing.