Transcript - Press Gaggle: Donald Trump Speaks to the Press Before Marine One Departure - October 25, 2019 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:24 (24 sec)

Hi, everybody. Hi. How are you? So, the stock market is doing very well. The economy is booming. We have a new record in sight. It could happen even today. But we have a new stock market record. I think it'll be about 118 times that we've broken the record. Jobs look phenomenal. We're doing very well in Syria, with Turkey and everybody else that we're dealing with.

Donald Trump

00:00:24 - 00:00:45 (21 sec)

We have secured the oil. We have a lot of oil. We've secured the oil. We have a couple of people that came knocking. We said, "Don't knock." And I think I would say that things are going very well. I know people are still in a basement, in a secure room in the basement, trying to make us look as bad as possible.

Donald Trump

00:00:45 - 00:01:04 (19 sec)

But that's not working too well. A lot of things are happening very good. And I appreciate Republicans are just outraged, and the American public is outraged, that the Do-Nothing Democrats, they're doing nothing. They are doing nothing. There's such an opportunity to get things done. We need USMCA passed.

Donald Trump

00:01:04 - 00:01:13 (9 sec)

It's a great deal for our country, for our farmers, manufacturers, unions. It's a great deal for our country. So we need USMCA passed.

Question

00:01:13 - 00:01:25 (12 sec)

Mr. President, some Democrats say comparing the impeachment inquiry to a lynching was painful and offensive. You're going to an HBCU today. Will you apologize?

Donald Trump

00:01:25 - 00:01:46 (22 sec)

Well, it's a word that many Democrats have used. It's a word that many people have used over the years. But that's a word that has been used many times. And let me tell you something: The level of unfairness for a perfect conversation with the President of Ukraine -- this was a perfect conversation. And, frankly, had they known what the conversation was, they wouldn't have even wasted everybody's time.

Donald Trump

00:01:46 - 00:02:13 (27 sec)

But this was a perfect conversation with the President of Ukraine. The President of Ukraine and his Foreign Minister, separately, came out and said there was absolutely nothing wrong with the conversation. The President of Ukraine and the Foreign Minister came out and said there was no anything. There was no -- he used the word "no blackmail." They said there was no pressure; there was nothing done wrong.

Donald Trump

00:02:13 - 00:02:26 (12 sec)

This is a hoax -- just like there was no collusion. After two years, they found out and wasted $45 million. This is a disgrace that this could happen in our country. But remember --

Question

00:02:26 - 00:02:28 (2 sec)

Will you apologize for using the word "lynching"?

Donald Trump

00:02:28 - 00:02:54 (26 sec)

Wait. Wait. The President of Ukraine, right now -- the President of Ukraine said "no pressure." The President of Ukraine and his Foreign Minister said, again, "no pressure, no blackmail." They don't even know what you people are talking about. It's a ph- -- it's a hoax. It's a hoax. It's just a continuation of the Russian witch hunt, which turned out to be phony.

Donald Trump

00:02:54 - 00:03:13 (19 sec)

The Mueller deal was phony. And now they have this. And all it is, is very simple: It's one conversation that I had with the President of Ukraine that was perfect. That Adam Schiff defrauded everybody and he made up the conversation in the halls of Congress.

Question

00:03:13 - 00:03:18 (5 sec)

Are you at all concerned about the growing criminal investigation into Rudy Giuliani?

Donald Trump

00:03:18 - 00:03:35 (18 sec)

I don't think so, because I think Rudy is a great gentleman. He's been a great crime fighter. He looks for corruption wherever he goes. Everybody understands Ukraine has big problems in that regard. Rudy Giuliani is a fine man. He was the greatest mayor in the history of New York, and he's been one of the greatest crime fighters and corruption fighters.

Donald Trump

00:03:35 - 00:03:36 (0 sec)

Rudy Giuliani is a good man.

Question

00:03:36 - 00:03:41 (6 sec)

Would you like to see your Justice Department still investigate Biden? Should the Justice Department still be investigating Biden?

Donald Trump

00:03:41 - 00:04:25 (44 sec)

Well, I think what Biden did, and his son -- and now, I guess, they're finding also Romania; that just came out today. Or some other country. And I'm sure there are more than that. When a man walks away -- who has no talent, no skill, no experience -- with $1.5 billion out of China; when he walks away with $168,000 a month for him and his friend, from Ukraine, when Ukraine supposedly gave him $3 million -- whatever the numbers are -- and he's got no experience in oil and no experience anywhere, and now other nations are coming out.

Donald Trump

00:04:25 - 00:04:51 (26 sec)

I heard one today; I won't embarrass the nation. All he's doing -- and in my opinion, that's a payoff, because you don't pay that kind of money for any other reason. And then you look at what the father did with oil, and "let's get oil." And then, all of a sudden, "let's not get oil." And now he's a great environmentalist, because the Ukraine benefits by that, and other places benefit by that.

Donald Trump

00:04:51 - 00:04:56 (5 sec)

No, I consider what they did to be an outrage to our country. I consider that to be an outrage to our country.

Question

00:04:56 - 00:05:12 (16 sec)

Mr. President, what do you think about Lindsey Graham's resolution? Some of your supporters think he's not doing enough. And also, what do you think about the nine GOP senators who didn't sign on to that resolution against impeachment?

Donald Trump

00:05:12 - 00:05:32 (20 sec)

Well, some of them weren't even spoken to yet. They got 40 very quickly. I think they're at 47. And some of them haven't even -- don't even know about it yet. It only took place yesterday afternoon. So they had a great response. No, you have -- we have great -- great support. We had 185 out of 185 the other night -- the Republican congressmen.

Donald Trump

00:05:32 - 00:05:42 (10 sec)

I think we had 185 present and we had 185 positive votes. And with the senators we're doing great too.

Question

00:05:42 - 00:05:45 (3 sec)

Where are we on the China and U.S. deal -- trade deal?

Donald Trump

00:05:45 - 00:05:58 (12 sec)

We're doing very well with China. We're moving along nicely. We're dealing with them right now. And a lot of good things are happening with China. They want to make a deal very badly.

Question

00:05:58 - 00:06:00 (2 sec)

What is in your new plan for Afghanistan?

Donald Trump

00:06:00 - 00:06:01 (1 sec)

Question

00:06:01 - 00:06:04 (3 sec)

What is in your new plan for Afghanistan? Are you able to --

Donald Trump

00:06:04 - 00:06:13 (9 sec)

We've moving with Afghanistan. We're doing well in Afghanistan. We're slowly bringing things down to a certain level. But we're doing very well with Afghanistan. Things are moving along.

Question

00:06:13 - 00:06:26 (13 sec)

Your top diplomat in Ukraine said that you held up military funds because you wanted Ukraine to investigate the 2016 election and Burisma, the company on which Hunter Biden sat. Are you saying that he's making that up?

Donald Trump

00:06:26 - 00:06:27 (1 sec)

Well, the problem is -- here's the problem --

Question

00:06:27 - 00:06:28 (1 sec)

Do you think -- are you calling him a liar?

Donald Trump

00:06:28 - 00:06:33 (5 sec)

Here's the problem: He's a Never Trumper, and his lawyer is a Never Trumper. And the other problem is you --

Question

00:06:33 - 00:06:35 (2 sec)

Mike Pompeo hired him.

Question

00:06:35 - 00:06:36 (1 sec)

Why did Mike Pompeo hire him?

Donald Trump

00:06:36 - 00:06:40 (4 sec)

Hey, everybody makes mistakes. I -- Mike Pompeo, everybody makes mistakes.

Question

00:06:40 - 00:06:42 (2 sec)

Do you want him out now as the top diplomat?

Donald Trump

00:06:42 - 00:06:48 (6 sec)

He's a Never Trumper. His lawyer is the head of the Never Trumpers. They're a dying breed, but they're still there.

Question

00:06:48 - 00:06:49 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:06:49 - 00:06:49 (0 sec)

And here's the other problem --

Question

00:06:49 - 00:06:50 (1 sec)

Based on what, Mr. President?

Donald Trump

00:06:50 - 00:06:51 (1 sec)

-- you're with CNN and you're fake news.

Question

00:06:51 - 00:06:55 (4 sec)

Mr. President, on guns: This month is nearly a year since the shooting in Pennsylvania.

Donald Trump

00:06:55 - 00:07:09 (15 sec)

Well, the Democrats don't have any time to work on anything. They have to do US -- USMCA. They have to do guns. They have to do -- they have many things. We want to reduce drug prices even more. You know, we can go so far, but we could get drug prices substantially reduced. The Democrats -- the Do-Nothing Democrats have no time to do it.

Question

00:07:09 - 00:07:21 (11 sec)

Do you -- will you support the Republican plan that came out this week? It expands access to healthcare.

Donald Trump

00:07:21 - 00:07:21 (1 sec)

Question

00:07:21 - 00:07:35 (13 sec)

The Republican plan that came out this week. Do you support that?

Donald Trump

00:07:35 - 00:07:48 (13 sec)

We have a great Republican plan. And if we take over the House, which we should -- especially because of what they're doing with impeachment -- I think we'll take over the House by big numbers. You'll have healthcare the likes of which you've never seen. Much less expensive. Deductibles will be much lower.

Donald Trump

00:07:48 - 00:07:50 (2 sec)

You'll have great healthcare. We have to take over the --

Question

00:07:50 - 00:07:51 (1 sec)

But will we see gun legislation?

Donald Trump

00:07:51 - 00:07:54 (3 sec)

Because the Democrats don't have any time to do anything.

Question

00:07:54 - 00:08:30 (36 sec)

Sir, Vice President Pence said, yesterday, that America stands with the protestors in Hong Kong who are protesting against the Beijing government. Do you agree with that, sir?

Donald Trump

00:08:30 - 00:08:35 (5 sec)

Well, I know he made the speech yesterday. I went over the speech. The speech was fine. It was fine.

Question

00:08:35 - 00:08:36 (1 sec)

Does America --

Donald Trump

00:08:36 - 00:08:43 (7 sec)

No, his speech was fine.

Question

00:08:43 - 00:08:45 (2 sec)

-- stand with the protestors?

Donald Trump

00:08:45 - 00:08:51 (5 sec)

But I'm also working very closely with China on a deal. But his speech was fine.

Question

00:08:51 - 00:08:53 (2 sec)

Mr. President, are you trying to intimidate the whistleblower?

Question

00:08:53 - 00:09:17 (24 sec)

On the deal -- on the deal with China, Lighthizer says you are -- Lighthizer says you are close to finalizing some sections on the deal with China.

Donald Trump

00:09:17 - 00:09:19 (2 sec)

Question

00:09:19 - 00:09:46 (28 sec)

What sections? Is it intellectual property?

Donald Trump

00:09:46 - 00:10:09 (22 sec)

We're doing very well with China. We're very good with the farmers. The farmers are going to do better, maybe, than anybody. But everybody is doing well. China wants to make a deal. They'd like to see some reductions in tariffs. They'd like to see some tariffs that are scheduled to go on very soon -- they'd like to see them not go on. But China -- they really -- look, you know it: They really want to make a deal.

Donald Trump

00:10:09 - 00:10:13 (4 sec)

They're going to be buying much more farm product than anybody ever thought possible.

Question

00:10:13 - 00:10:18 (5 sec)

Are you confident that you have the votes in the Senate, if an impeachment goes there?

Donald Trump

00:10:18 - 00:10:34 (16 sec)

Only for one reason: I did nothing wrong. The only reason. I had a perfect conversation with the President of Ukraine. Perfect. Had they seen that conversation before they made up the story -- they made up the story about that conve- -- had they seen it, we wouldn't even be talking about it right now. The conversation has been perfect.

Donald Trump

00:10:34 - 00:10:36 (2 sec)

And for that reason, I have tremendous support.

Question

00:10:36 - 00:10:38 (2 sec)

Thank you, Mr. President. With the opening of the investigations that your Attorney General, William Barr --

Donald Trump

00:10:38 - 00:10:38 (0 sec)

Question

00:10:38 - 00:10:41 (3 sec)

-- is [Inaudible], is this because people who are investigating you are, in fact, engaging in criminal conduct?

Donald Trump

00:10:41 - 00:10:53 (12 sec)

So they've started, and it's been going on a long time. And I sort of semi-read the papers. And I read them probably in greater detail than you, actually. And I try and sift out the fake news from the real news. But, as you know, there's been a long-term look at -- look-see -- and it looks like it's becoming very serious, from what I'm hearing.

Donald Trump

00:10:53 - 00:11:05 (12 sec)

Investigate the investigator -- whether it's Strzok and Page, whether it's Clapper, and whether it's Comey, and all of these people -- because terrible things went on for our country. And we have a great Attorney General -- a highly prestigious man, a very honorable man. And they've been looking at it for a long time.

Donald Trump

00:11:05 - 00:11:17 (12 sec)

I can't tell you what's happening. I will tell you this: I think you're going to see a lot of really bad things. And a lot of people think that -- and they know they have problems because they were very dishonest. And, again, I leave it all up the Attorney General and I leave it all up to the people that are working with the Attorney General who I don't know.

Donald Trump

00:11:17 - 00:11:35 (18 sec)

But I will say this: I think you'll see things that nobody would've believed. This was the worst hoax in the history of our country. And a lot of people say that the phony deal on impeachment, where I have a perfect conversation -- perfect -- with the President of Ukraine -- and they're using that to impeach one of the most successful Presidents.

Donald Trump

00:11:35 - 00:11:52 (17 sec)

We're going to hit another stock market high. We have the best jobs report. We have the best unemployment numbers. We have the best employment. More people working today in the United States than ever before. I've rebuilt the military. We're strong. We just did a great thing in Syria where we're getting our troops out.

Donald Trump

00:11:52 - 00:12:15 (23 sec)

We took over oil. A lot of great things are happening in this country. I will say this: If anything ever happened with this phony witch hunt that the Democrats are doing -- the Do-Nothing Democrats -- I really believe that you'd have a recession- depression the likes of which this country hasn't seen. Now, a strong statement was made by a very highly respected man this morning on Wall Street -- a man who is very respected -- about that, that if anything happened to Trump -- President Trump -- you would see repercussions in the market like you haven't seen before.

Donald Trump

00:12:15 - 00:12:36 (21 sec)

But here's the thing: I don't have teams. Everyone is talking about teams. I'm the team. I did nothing wrong. This has been going on for -- before I got elected. This was going on from the insurance policy -- Strzok and his lover, Page. This was the insurance policy. It was Strzok and Page. We did nothing wrong.

Donald Trump

00:12:36 - 00:13:16 (40 sec)

But Strzok said, "Oh, she's going to win. She's going to win. But if she doesn't, we have an insurance policy." So -- so, let me just tell you something. So, this has been going on since before I got elected. And people are angry about it. And do you know who's angry about it? The Republican Party is angry about it because this isn't a takedown of the President, this is a takedown of the Republican Party.

Donald Trump

00:13:16 - 00:13:19 (3 sec)

And, frankly, the Democrats should be ashamed of themselves.

Question

00:13:19 - 00:13:20 (2 sec)

[Inaudible] cost of South Korean defense sharing [Inaudible]?

Question

00:13:20 - 00:13:28 (8 sec)

Mr. President, you tweeted about Never Trumpers the other day. You have a few in your administration. Are you making personnel changes?

Donald Trump

00:13:28 - 00:13:33 (5 sec)

Well, if you let me who know who they are -- who are they? Tell me. Tell me. Tell me.

Question

00:13:33 - 00:13:33 (0 sec)

I hear you have a list.

Donald Trump

00:13:33 - 00:13:58 (24 sec)

No, no. Tell me who the Never Trumpers are because I'm not a fan of the Never Trumpers. We do have Never Trumpers. I'm not a fan. I think they're bad people. Some have recovered. Okay? They went through, I guess, a recovery program. It's called, "They learned how to win through me." But others haven't. I'm not a fan of Never Trumpers, and I never will be. But a Never Trumper sometimes is more vicious than a failed Obama candidate or a failed Clinton candidate who I beat both in the same election with very little experience.

Donald Trump

00:13:58 - 00:14:11 (13 sec)

Don't forget, I beat the Obama people. I beat the Bush people. And I beat the Clinton people. And I had no experience. That's not a bad job. But there's a lot of angry people out there. And that's the way it goes. Thank you.