Transcript - Remarks: Donald Trump Greets Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil in the Oval Office - March 19, 2019 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:26 (26 sec)

Thank you very much. It's a great honor to have President Bolsonaro with us from Brazil. He has done a very outstanding job; ran one of the incredible campaigns. Somebody said it, a little bit, reminded people of our campaign, which I'm honored by. But it was a tough, well-fought-out campaign. And we are going to be discussing, today, Venezuela.

Donald Trump

00:00:26 - 00:00:42 (16 sec)

We'll be discussing trade. We'll be discussing many subjects. And Brazil is a great friend. I think probably because of the relationship that we have, Brazil and the United States have never been closer than they are right now.

Jair Bolsonaro

00:00:42 - 00:00:43 (1 sec)

[Speaks in Portuguese]

Question

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

Mr. President --

Interpreter

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

Excuse me. Translation now.

Jair Bolsonaro

00:00:47 - 00:01:50 (62 sec)

[Via Interpreter] It gives me great pleasure to be here in United States to take part in this visit after decades on end of anti-U.S. Presidents in Brazil. Brazil has indeed made a major shift in 2017. Obviously enough, we do have a great deal to talk about. We do share a lot in common. And we will certainly work to the benefit of our two peoples.

Jair Bolsonaro

00:01:50 - 00:02:51 (61 sec)

[Via Interpreter] We do have a great deal of shared values. I admire President Donald Trump. And we will certainly work towards the benefit of our two nations. Because, just as President Donald Trump wants to have a great America, I, on my side, also want to have and ensure we have great Brazil. So yes, increasingly, from now onwards, Brazil will become increasingly engaged with the U.S., and I'm very proud and pleased that that is so.

Donald Trump

00:02:51 - 00:03:20 (29 sec)

Thank you very much. That's very nice. Thank you. And I think -- before we begin, I think we would like to -- you know, Brazil is a great, great soccer power and a great country. And we're going to present that, and I believe they have one also. But you know all about Brazil being the great soccer power.

Donald Trump

00:03:20 - 00:03:46 (26 sec)

They have great, great players. I can still remember Pelé and so many others. You've had a fantastic history. So we're going to exchange jerseys. I see that we got one, and this is the U.S. National Team. And so that's an honor to give that to you. Thank you very much.

Jair Bolsonaro

00:03:46 - 00:03:51 (5 sec)

[Via Interpreter] I'm a little younger, but I also do remember Pelé.

Donald Trump

00:03:51 - 00:03:55 (4 sec)

Yeah, right. Right.

Jair Bolsonaro

00:03:55 - 00:04:20 (25 sec)

[Via Interpreter] Let me use the opportunity, Mr. President, to hand you a gift, a jersey, as a token of -- as an emblematic token of the world's best-ever soccer player, Edson Arantes do Nascimento --

Donald Trump

00:04:20 - 00:04:20 (1 sec)

Jair Bolsonaro

00:04:20 - 00:04:31 (11 sec)

[Via Interpreter] -- also known as "Pelé," who gave us so much joy by playing football and for his talent at football.

Question

00:04:31 - 00:04:43 (11 sec)

Mr. President, will you grant Brazil NATO privileges? Will you grant Brazil NATO privileges? Are you --

Donald Trump

00:04:43 - 00:05:26 (43 sec)

Well, we're looking at it very strongly. We're very inclined to do that. The relationship that we have right now with Brazil has never been better. I think there was a lot of hostility with other Presidents. There is zero hostility with me. And we were going -- we're going to look at that very, very strongly, in terms of whether it's NATO or it's something having to do with alliance.

Donald Trump

00:05:26 - 00:05:35 (9 sec)

But we have a great alliance with Brazil -- better than we've ever had before.

Question

00:05:35 - 00:05:53 (17 sec)

Mr. President, Brazil is working to offer the United States access to a rocket launch site in Brazil. Americans will be able to go to Brazil without a visa. What would you like President Bolsonaro to get to Brazil -- to take to Brazil as a result of this visit?

Donald Trump

00:05:53 - 00:06:17 (24 sec)

Well, we have. We're working on different military sites and military options. We're working on visas and going in a much easier fashion. All of that is good. And we have many things that Brazil would like, and I think we're working on those things. One of the big elements of the relationship is trade. Brazil makes great product and we make great product.

Donald Trump

00:06:17 - 00:06:44 (28 sec)

And our trade has been never as good as it should be in the past. And in some cases, it should be far, far more. So I think our trade with Brazil will go substantially up in both directions, and we look forward to that. And that's one of the things that Brazil would like to see. Steve. Steve.

Question

00:06:44 - 00:06:57 (12 sec)

Mr. President, you're going to talk about Venezuela. What do you want to see happen in Venezuela?

Donald Trump

00:06:57 - 00:07:38 (41 sec)

Well, we don't want to say exactly. I know exactly what I want to happen in Venezuela, but we're going to be talking about different things. All options are on the table. And it's a shame what's happening in Venezuela -- the death, and the destruction, and the hunger. Hard to believe one of the wealthiest countries is now one of the poorest and most impoverished countries.

Donald Trump

00:07:38 - 00:07:40 (2 sec)

So we'll be talking about that in great length.

Question

00:07:40 - 00:07:52 (12 sec)

[Inaudible] Mr. President, Brazil involved on a military action in Venezuela? And also, are you offering Brazil -- are you supporting Brazil's efforts to join the OECD?

Donald Trump

00:07:52 - 00:08:10 (18 sec)

I am supporting their efforts to join, and we are just going to decide -- I think I can speak for both countries: All options are on the table. Every option is on the table with respect to Venezuela.

Question

00:08:10 - 00:08:14 (4 sec)

And you would like to see Brazil involved on any sort of military option?

Donald Trump

00:08:14 - 00:08:18 (4 sec)

We haven't even discussed it. We're going to discuss it today.

Question

00:08:18 - 00:08:26 (8 sec)

Mr. President, why are you attacking Senator John McCain seven months after his death?

Donald Trump

00:08:26 - 00:08:50 (25 sec)

I'm very unhappy that he didn't repeal and replace Obamacare, as you know. He campaigned on repealing and replacing Obamacare for years. And then he got to a vote and he said, "Thumbs down." And our country would have saved a trillion dollars and we would have had great healthcare. So he campaigned.

Donald Trump

00:08:50 - 00:09:16 (25 sec)

He told us, hours before, that he was going to repeal and replace. And then for some reason -- I think I understand the reason -- he ended up going thumbs up. And, frankly, had we even known that, I think we would have gotten a vote because we could have gotten somebody else. So I think that's disgraceful.

Donald Trump

00:09:16 - 00:09:25 (9 sec)

Plus, there are other things. I was never a fan of John McCain and I never will be. Thank you very much everybody. Thank you.

Question

00:09:25 - 00:09:35 (10 sec)

What do you say to critics who call you authoritarian? What do you say to people who call you both authoritarian?

Donald Trump

00:09:35 - 00:09:36 (1 sec)

Thank you very much.

Question

00:09:36 - 00:09:41 (5 sec)

Mr. President, does Secretary Alex Acosta still have your full support?

Donald Trump

00:09:41 - 00:09:42 (2 sec)

Question

00:09:42 - 00:09:49 (7 sec)

Was that a yes, Mr. President?

Donald Trump

00:09:49 - 00:09:50 (1 sec)

He does. He has my full support.