Transcript - Remarks: Donald Trump Holds a Bilateral Meeting with Justin Trudeau at The White House - June 20, 2019 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

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

Well, thank you very much. We had some good news. The market hit a all-time high today. The S&P just broke its record, so we're very happy about that. The stock market continues to do well. Jobs have been literally through the roof. And, speaking of jobs, we have the USMCA with Canada, with Mexico. And we've come a long way.

Donald Trump

00:00:23 - 00:00:27 (4 sec)

It's a great agreement. As you know, Mexico, yesterday, approved it --

Justin Trudeau

00:00:27 - 00:00:27 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:00:27 - 00:00:32 (5 sec)

-- through the very positive vote. And you're doing very well, I understand, also.

Justin Trudeau

00:00:32 - 00:00:32 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:00:32 - 00:00:49 (16 sec)

But it's an honor to have the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. He's been a friend of mine. We've worked hard together. We worked, in particular, on the USMCA. And we hope to have bipartisan support. I think, Justin, you're going to be making the rounds at Congress later on?

Justin Trudeau

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

Meeting a few people.

Donald Trump

00:00:50 - 00:01:08 (19 sec)

That's a terrific thing. But it's great to have you. So, we're going to be talking about that. And, generally, we'll be talking trade and other things. And we're then going to have lunch and some meetings. And it's an interesting day, but it will be, like, a positive day, I think, like usual. That's the way we want to have it. We want to have very positive days.

Donald Trump

00:01:08 - 00:01:14 (6 sec)

We only have positive days. So I want to thank you very much, Justin, for coming to the White House.

Justin Trudeau

00:01:14 - 00:01:15 (1 sec)

Thank you, Donald.

Donald Trump

00:01:15 - 00:01:16 (1 sec)

Thank you. Please.

Justin Trudeau

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

Thank you, Donald, for this meeting. It's an opportunity for us, as you say, to keep talking about how we've worked hard to build a great trade deal that's good for Canadian workers, good for American workers, good for Mexican workers as well. We're moving forward on the ratification process aligned with you.

Justin Trudeau

00:01:35 - 00:02:00 (25 sec)

Obviously, today, as well, on top of the great news on the Canadian and American economies, we're continuing to work on a broad range of global issues. Obviously, there's news today we're going to be talking about as well. But this is just a really great opportunity for us to continue to work and to develop and to build on the closest alliance in the world, between Canada and the United States.

Donald Trump

00:02:00 - 00:02:21 (21 sec)

Well, this will be the largest trade deal ever made, and it won't even be close. If you take a look at the numbers, second is so far away, you don't even call it second. So it's very exciting. And very exciting for Mexico; very exciting for Canada. And I have to also thank the President of Mexico because he's really been doing a job on the border and a job in Mexico.

Donald Trump

00:02:21 - 00:02:40 (19 sec)

A lot of very positive things have happened. And the flow has very substantially slowed down. They have 6,000 Mexican troops on their southern border. And it's been -- it's really been a tremendous difference. So I want to thank Mexico and the people of Mexico. Now, this has only been for a short period of time.

Donald Trump

00:02:40 - 00:02:56 (16 sec)

Our country has been asking for this for 45 years, approximately. And they're doing it now. And we very much appreciate that Mexico is doing that. It's going to have a big impact. It's already had a big impact. So, with that, I thank you very much. And we're going to get on with our discussions. Thank you.

Donald Trump

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

This is the new -- [A model plane is presented on the table]

Question

00:02:56 - 00:03:04 (8 sec)

Mr. President, how will you respond?

Question

00:03:04 - 00:03:05 (1 sec)

On Iran, sir --

Donald Trump

00:03:05 - 00:03:21 (16 sec)

I was going to say this is the new Air Force One, which we ordered, which they've been trying to order for a lot of years. We were able to shave $1.5 billion off the price. When I got here, they were going to spend a lot more money than we spent. And I would say the plane basically is an upgrade over that model.

Donald Trump

00:03:21 - 00:03:31 (10 sec)

We actually are getting things that they didn't get. We're saving about $1.5 billion. So it's going to be terrific. It's under construction, right now, by Boeing. Go ahead. Question?

Question

00:03:31 - 00:03:35 (4 sec)

Mr. President, how will you respond to Iran?

Donald Trump

00:03:35 - 00:03:48 (14 sec)

Iran made a big mistake. This drone was in international waters, clearly. We have it all documented. It's documented scientifically, not just words. And they made a very bad mistake. Okay?

Question

00:03:48 - 00:03:51 (3 sec)

How will you respond, Mr. President? How will you respond?

Donald Trump

00:03:51 - 00:03:52 (1 sec)

You'll find out.

Question

00:03:52 - 00:03:54 (2 sec)

Does that mean you're planning to do something?

Donald Trump

00:03:54 - 00:04:05 (11 sec)

You'll find out. You'll find out. I mean, obviously -- obviously -- obviously, you know, we're not going to be talking too much about it. You're going to find out. They made a very big mistake.

Question

00:04:05 - 00:04:10 (5 sec)

Mr. President, what are your concerns about China and the Canadians who are detained, sir?

Donald Trump

00:04:10 - 00:04:15 (5 sec)

No concerns. We'll be discussing that. It'll be one of the issues that I think we'll be discussing right now with Justin.

Question

00:04:15 - 00:04:18 (3 sec)

Mr. President, the Fed made no change to the interest rate.

Donald Trump

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

Question

00:04:19 - 00:04:20 (2 sec)

The Fed made no change to the interest rate yesterday.

Donald Trump

00:04:20 - 00:04:39 (18 sec)

Well, I guess they indicated they're going to be lower. He should've done sooner, but what are you going do? Can't win them all. He should've have done it sooner, but you can't win it all. And, eventually, he'll do what's right, perhaps. Let's see what he does.

Question

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

Do you intend to bring [Inaudible]?

Justin Trudeau

00:04:40 - 00:04:58 (18 sec)

Obviously, we're very concerned about the escalation by Iran recently. We have significant presence in the area, including leading on the NATO mission in Baghdad, in Iraq. We look forward to discussing with our closest ally -- their perspectives on this -- and how we can move forward as an international community.

Question

00:04:58 - 00:05:04 (5 sec)

Will you help Justin Trudeau get a meeting with Xi Jinping at the G20 next week to talk about the detained Canadians?

Donald Trump

00:05:04 - 00:05:07 (4 sec)

Well, I don't know that he's trying to meet. Are you trying to get a meeting?

Justin Trudeau

00:05:07 - 00:05:09 (2 sec)

We've got a lot of things to discuss.

Question

00:05:09 - 00:05:10 (1 sec)

He wants one, but Xi won't meet with him.

Donald Trump

00:05:10 - 00:05:26 (16 sec)

Well, otherwise, I'll represent him well, I will tell you. We have a meeting set up with President Xi, and it's obviously on the big transaction that we're talking about and negotiating. Our people are actually speaking now, and we'll see what happens with that. But anything I can do to help Canada, I will be doing.

Question

00:05:26 - 00:05:29 (3 sec)

Are you planning to bring it up with President Xi when you meet with him?

Donald Trump

00:05:29 - 00:05:29 (0 sec)

Question

00:05:29 - 00:05:32 (3 sec)

Are you planning to bring it up with President Xi when you meet with him?

Donald Trump

00:05:32 - 00:05:36 (3 sec)

I would. At Justin's request, I will absolutely bring that up.

Question

00:05:36 - 00:05:38 (3 sec)

When the USMCA is ratified, sir, will that be the end of tariffs?

Donald Trump

00:05:38 - 00:05:39 (1 sec)

Don't say "when."

Question

00:05:39 - 00:05:42 (2 sec)

When it is ratified. "If" it is ratified.

Donald Trump

00:05:42 - 00:05:58 (16 sec)

Don't say "when," because, so far, I have to get the Democrats to approve it. So, I like your positive thinking. But if -- and the "if" is really subject to the Democrats. Let's see what happens. But I really believe that Nancy Pelosi and the House will approve it. I think the Senate will approve it rapidly.

Donald Trump

00:05:58 - 00:06:19 (21 sec)

It's going to be very bipartisan. It's great for the farmers, manufacturers. It's really great for everybody. And unions. It's great for unions. I mean, we have tremendous union support too. It's a tremendous -- it really is; it shows a partnership between three countries. And it's sort of three countries -- in a trade sense, we're competing with the European Union.

Donald Trump

00:06:19 - 00:06:39 (20 sec)

We're competing with China. It gives us a bigger dialogue. It gives us a much bigger platform. It's really good for all three. It's something that's very popular. I hope, politically, they can do what they have to do. Now, a day after the election, it would win with tremendous support. But we have an election coming up. But I think Nancy Pelosi is going to do the right thing.

Question

00:06:39 - 00:06:42 (3 sec)

And will that be the end of tariffs on Canada and Mexico?

Donald Trump

00:06:42 - 00:06:54 (12 sec)

Well, we'll see. I mean, you know, they have to do what they have to do. We understand that. We can't have big, tremendous shipments of certain products. So we understand that very well.

Justin Trudeau

00:06:54 - 00:06:57 (3 sec)

We were very pleased with the lifting of the tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Donald Trump

00:06:57 - 00:07:10 (14 sec)

They've been lifted, as you know, and there won't be, hopefully, transshipping. If there's transshipping, I'll call Justin and I'm sure he'll take care of it. And if he doesn't take -- I'll probably call him a second time. And if he doesn't, then we'll have to talk, right?

Justin Trudeau

00:07:10 - 00:07:12 (1 sec)

We're going to be fine.

Donald Trump

00:07:12 - 00:07:32 (20 sec)

But I think that that situation is very well taken care of. Very important for both countries and for all three countries: the farmers. Very, very important. More so in that case, from us and Canada. But the farmers are really happy with it. The manufacturers are very happy. Mexico is thrilled. You saw the vote.

Donald Trump

00:07:32 - 00:07:48 (15 sec)

It was a very lopsided -- in a positive way -- vote. A great vote. And I think it's going to be something very special. Again, it's the largest trade deal, by far, ever entered into. And we're very close to having it finalized. This means a lot of jobs for our country; a lot of wealth for all three countries.

Donald Trump

00:07:48 - 00:08:05 (17 sec)

And we're really competing against the world. You know, we're not competing with each other so much. This brings us into a position where we're not competing with each other; we're competing against the world. And that's what we're doing. We're competing against big sections of the world, including Asia and including other areas.

Donald Trump

00:08:05 - 00:08:09 (5 sec)

And I think it's going to be very special. I think it's going to end up being a very important deal, but the biggest ever made.

Question

00:08:09 - 00:08:12 (3 sec)

Will you invite the Toronto Raptors to the White House, sir?

Donald Trump

00:08:12 - 00:08:13 (1 sec)

Question

00:08:13 - 00:08:18 (5 sec)

Will you invite the Toronto Raptors to the White House? I'm from the Toronto Star. I have to ask.

Donald Trump

00:08:18 - 00:08:35 (18 sec)

Well, we thought about that. That's an interesting question. They played phenomenal basketball. I watched a little bit of it. They were really terrific. Congratulations, by the way. That was a great job by a great team. So we'll think about that. If they'd like to do it, we'll think about that. We have a lot of other folks coming.

Donald Trump

00:08:35 - 00:08:58 (22 sec)

And the presidential medal -- I just spoke to him -- we're going to be presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Roger Penske. Roger Penske is a great gentleman who has won 18 Indianapolis 500s. He's won -- just won Daytona. He won Daytona. He won Indianapolis. He won probably more than anybody in the history of racing.

Donald Trump

00:08:58 - 00:09:13 (15 sec)

I can't imagine anybody even being close. But Roger Penske is going to be getting the Medal of Freedom, and he's very thrilled to be getting it. And that'll be announced over the next little while, but, I guess, actually, I'm announcing it pretty much now. But they'll be -- [Laughter] -- they'll be putting something out.

Donald Trump

00:09:13 - 00:09:39 (26 sec)

They'll be putting something out in a little while. He's very deserving. He's a great gentleman. I've known him a long time. And a very brilliant guy. When you think of all the countries that want to win Indianapolis and Daytona, and they fight and they spend -- even Canada; they spend a lot of money and they -- And, you know, when a man wins Indianapolis, when he wins it 18 times -- and he just won the Daytona.

Donald Trump

00:09:39 - 00:09:55 (17 sec)

And he won many things over the course of years, and he's become a very successful man. We talked about electric cars today. I think nobody knows more about that subject, in terms of common sense, than Roger Penske. So Roger Penske will be getting and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Question

00:09:55 - 00:10:00 (5 sec)

Mr. President, you said Iran is a "different country." Do you still hold that opinion?

Donald Trump

00:10:00 - 00:10:23 (23 sec)

Oh, absolutely. When I came here, Iran was in 14 to 18 different sites of confliction. They were extremely hostile. They were hostile when they signed the deal. They were screaming, "Death to America." And I think, probably, Iran made a mistake. I would imagine it was a general or somebody that made a mistake in shooting that drone down.

Donald Trump

00:10:23 - 00:10:39 (16 sec)

And, fortunately, that drone was unarmed. It was not -- there was no man in it, and there was no -- it was just -- it was over international waters; clearly over international waters. But we didn't have a man or woman in the drone. We had nobody in the drone. It would have made a big difference, let me tell you.

Donald Trump

00:10:39 - 00:10:57 (18 sec)

It would have made a big, big difference. But I have a feeling -- I may be wrong and I may right, but I'm right a lot. I have a feeling that it was a mistake made by somebody that shouldn't have been doing what they did. I think they made a mistake. And I'm not just talking the country made a mistake.

Donald Trump

00:10:57 - 00:11:01 (4 sec)

I think that somebody under the command of that country made a big mistake.

Question

00:11:01 - 00:11:04 (3 sec)

Are you still open to talking to Iran's leadership?

Donald Trump

00:11:04 - 00:11:08 (3 sec)

Let's just see what happens. You just -- let's see what happens. It's all going to work out.

Question

00:11:08 - 00:11:10 (2 sec)

[Inaudible] to strike the drone?

Donald Trump

00:11:10 - 00:11:10 (1 sec)

Question

00:11:10 - 00:11:14 (4 sec)

Are you saying you think it wasn't intentional to strike the drone?

Donald Trump

00:11:14 - 00:11:30 (16 sec)

I don't know. I find it hard to believe it was intentional, if you want to know the truth. I think that it could have been somebody who was loose and stupid that did it. But we'll be able to report back, and you'll understand exactly what happened. But it was a very foolish move, that I can tell you.

Question

00:11:30 - 00:11:34 (3 sec)

Do you feel like there are members of your administration who are trying to push you into conflict with Iran?

Donald Trump

00:11:34 - 00:11:51 (18 sec)

No, not at all. Not at all. In fact, in many cases, it's the opposite. But I will say -- look, I said I want to get out of these endless wars. I campaigned on that: I want to get out. We've been in Afghanistan for 19 years. As you know, we've reduced very substantially in Afghanistan. We beat the caliphate.

Donald Trump

00:11:51 - 00:12:05 (14 sec)

We took back 100 percent of the caliphate. When it was 99 percent, Justin, I said, "We're going to get out. We're going to start peeling back." And everybody went crazy because it was 99. So I said, "All right. So we'll finish it up." So we got 100 percent, and we're pulling that back, out of Syria.

Donald Trump

00:12:05 - 00:12:21 (16 sec)

We're pulling a lot of people back. But this is something -- this is a new wrinkle. This is a new fly in the ointment, what happened shooting down the drone. And this country will not stand for it, that I can tell you. Thank you very much.

Question

00:12:21 - 00:12:21 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:12:21 - 00:12:25 (4 sec)

I can't hear you.

Question

00:12:25 - 00:12:29 (5 sec)

[Inaudible] Hicks testifying yesterday?

Donald Trump

00:12:29 - 00:12:48 (18 sec)

No, she was terrific. I heard she was terrific. Really great. She's a great -- she's a great person, and I heard she was terrific yesterday. Thank you very much.