Transcript - Remarks: Donald Trump Joins a Briefing on the Coronavirus for Airline Executives - March 4, 2020 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

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

Well, thank you very much, everyone. We're with the great airline executives of the world, really. These are the biggest and the best, and know the business better than anybody. They've been in it for a long time, and they've emerged -- in all cases, head their companies. And we're talking about the effects of the virus on air travel and what they see.

Donald Trump

00:00:23 - 00:00:43 (20 sec)

In a certain way, you could say that the borders are automatically shut down, without having to say "shut down." I mean, they're, to a certain extent, automatically shut down. But it's affecting the airline business, as it would. And a lot of people are staying in our country, and they're shopping and using our hotels in this country.

Donald Trump

00:00:43 - 00:00:55 (13 sec)

So, from that standpoint, I think, probably, there's a positive impact. But there's also an impact on overseas travel, which will be fairly substantial. And, Mike, maybe I'll let you give a little briefing as to what we've just discussed.

Mike Pence

00:00:55 - 00:01:15 (19 sec)

Thank you, Mr. President. And I'm grateful to have the opportunity to meet with the leaders of our airline industry today. You know, Mr. President, you said from early on that we were going to have a whole-of-government approach. But the truth is, as evidenced by all these great industry leaders, it's really a whole-of-America approach.

Donald Trump

00:01:15 - 00:01:16 (2 sec)

Mike Pence

00:01:16 - 00:01:39 (23 sec)

And the American people deserve to know that, according to all of our experts, the risk to the average American of contracting the coronavirus remains low. And that's largely owing to your decision, Mr. President, to suspend all travel from China into the United States and to quarantine all Americans that are returning.

Mike Pence

00:01:39 - 00:02:14 (35 sec)

It's also owing to the tremendous cooperation of this industry, the airline industry. Because in addition to suspending travel from China, you recently made the decision to designate as "do not travel" certain areas of Italy, certain areas of South Korea. But we also, at your direction, have worked with this industry so that now, as of yesterday morning, all passengers on all direct flights from all airports in Italy or South Korea are being screened on multiple times before they board any of these airlines.

Mike Pence

00:02:14 - 00:02:34 (20 sec)

We're grateful for that, Mr. President. I know you are. And everyone here should know that we're going to continue to follow the facts and the data. Dr. Birx is working closely with all of our health officials to determine what additional screening might be required in the United States or in partners around the world.

Mike Pence

00:02:34 - 00:02:54 (21 sec)

But our airlines are going to play a key role, Mr. President, in preventing the spread of this disease. And even earlier today, at your direction, we met with leaders of our nursing home industry to talk about the measures of -- increased measures to prevent the spread of infectious disease. We sent new guidance out to nursing homes.

Mike Pence

00:02:54 - 00:03:44 (49 sec)

We'll be announcing later today new priority of inspections for infectious diseases. We're detailing that. We explained it to the industry today. And also, on the issue of testing, Mr. President, you've made that a priority. We'll have over a million tests in the field today. I spoke to several governors this morning that were grateful for the fact that the changes that you made this weekend, through the FDA, now make it possible for state health clinics, as well as universities around the country, to be able to conduct coronavirus tests, but we'll also be meeting this afternoon with leaders of our commercial laboratories to make a coronavirus test more rapidly, more widely available for doctors' offices, medical clinics, and consumers around the country.

Mike Pence

00:03:44 - 00:04:05 (22 sec)

So, Mr. President, as you said, it is a whole-of-government approach, but in a very real sense, it's a whole-of-America approach. And I've already expressed, and I know you feel a great deal of gratitude to our partners in industry and in the airline industry for acting on your priority to put the safety and health of the American people first.

Donald Trump

00:04:05 - 00:04:27 (22 sec)

Good, Mike. Thank you very much. I just want to add, if I might -- and to go a little bit further -- the Obama administration made a decision on testing that turned out to be very detrimental to what we're doing. And we undid that decision a few days ago so that the testing can take place in a much more accurate and rapid fashion.

Donald Trump

00:04:27 - 00:04:51 (24 sec)

That was a decision we disagreed with. I don't think we would have made it, but for some reason it was made. But we've undone that decision. Also, when people come in from certain areas, we're doing checks not only at the site of takeoff but at the site of landing. So when they land in our country, we'll also do it; that's if the planes are leaving from certain destinations.

Donald Trump

00:04:51 - 00:05:01 (10 sec)

I might ask, Doctor, if you could, I'd like you to say a few words. You've been doing a fantastic job in just a short time. We haven't had much time, but you've really been doing a fan- -- a really fantastic time. Please.

Deborah L. Birx

00:05:01 - 00:05:25 (24 sec)

Thank you. Well, before you came in, Mr. President, we talked about which Americans are most vulnerable and the fact that younger Americans may not be as vulnerable. So we're really focused very much in that way, and I think the airline industry can help us also in any kind of screening required, particularly to protect our older Americans.

Donald Trump

00:05:25 - 00:05:28 (3 sec)

Good. Thank you. Thank you. Doug, do you have anything to say?

Doug Parker

00:05:28 - 00:06:00 (32 sec)

No. Thank you for having us. Thanks for the work we're doing jointly to keep people safe. We're proud of our team. We're proud of the work they're doing. We appreciate the aggressive containment efforts that the United States has done to protect Americans and the role we've played in that. So we're happy to be here and continue to be interested in anything we can, and particularly as we move from maybe aggressive containment to mitigation efforts, what can be done there as well.

Donald Trump

00:06:00 - 00:06:05 (6 sec)

Right. Doug is the head of American Airlines, as you know. Maybe we'll go around the room, if you'd like to say something. Please.

Doug Kelly

00:06:05 - 00:06:07 (1 sec)

Well, thank you, Mr. President.

Donald Trump

00:06:07 - 00:06:07 (1 sec)

Doug Kelly

00:06:07 - 00:06:35 (28 sec)

And, again, we appreciate the leadership, appreciate the collaboration and coordination. And, certainly, the industry wants to do everything that we can to keep Americans safe and certainly our employees and our customers. We've stepped up our efforts to make sure the airplanes are clean and disinfected, and we work very closely with the CDC, and I think that's gone very, very well.

Doug Kelly

00:06:35 - 00:06:48 (13 sec)

So we've got the proper protocols in place whenever there is a suspected illness, and I think all that is working very well. I think everybody is doing a great job and doing all they can.

Donald Trump

00:06:48 - 00:06:52 (4 sec)

We appreciate the job you're doing. Thank you very much. Please.

Brad Tilden

00:06:52 - 00:07:16 (24 sec)

Brad Tilden with Alaska Airlines. We appreciate the efforts, Mr. President. I think, like all the folks around the table, the focus of the airline leadership teams is the safety of our employees and the safety of our customers, and that's where we're focused. I think all of us have made a lot of changes to our cleaning procedures, changes to our onboard procedures -- to gloves, sanitation, the service that our flight attendants are providing our customers.

Brad Tilden

00:07:16 - 00:07:29 (13 sec)

And we're trying to do everything we can to help -- help everyone contain the virus and contain the spread of it. And we appreciate it. And if there's more that we can do to help, we want to -- we're here to tell you that we want to do that.

Donald Trump

00:07:29 - 00:07:33 (4 sec)

Are you using different things for the cleaning, the fluids? Are you using different cleaning [Inaudible]?

Brad Tilden

00:07:33 - 00:07:41 (8 sec)

We've taken a good look at them. The stuff that we're using, I think we've concluded is effective. But we are changing the routines. There's three levels of cleaning that we do and we're intensifying the cleaning of the aircraft.

Donald Trump

00:07:41 - 00:07:45 (3 sec)

Thank you very much. Great job. Peter?

Peter Ingram

00:07:45 - 00:08:10 (26 sec)

Peter Ingram with Hawaiian Airlines. Mr. President, I echo my counterparts in the industry talking about -- the safety of our guests and our employees is paramount to everything we do. And we really appreciate the collaboration with the administration and the government to make sure that we are doing everything we can to ensure that.

Peter Ingram

00:08:10 - 00:08:35 (25 sec)

I think it is -- it is very helpful to hear Dr. Birx talk about the specific areas of risk because there is a lot of concern out there. There's concern internationally about travel and there's concern domestically. And I think the more information that we have to share with our guests about the facts is very helpful as we go forward with this challenge.

Donald Trump

00:08:35 - 00:08:38 (3 sec)

Good. Thank you very much. Thanks, Peter.

Matt Koscal

00:08:38 - 00:08:39 (1 sec)

Matt Koscal with Republic Airways.

Donald Trump

00:08:39 - 00:08:41 (2 sec)

Matt Koscal

00:08:41 - 00:09:01 (20 sec)

Thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity for us to come together as leaders in the aviation industry and to have a sharing of information, which I think is critical. We all represent the men and women that are on the frontlines and need to ensure that they have the tools, resources, and information to do their job each and every day so that these efforts are effective.

Matt Koscal

00:09:01 - 00:09:07 (6 sec)

And the one thing the aviation industry has proven it does very well is it comes together in times of challenge —

Donald Trump

00:09:07 - 00:09:08 (1 sec)

Matt Koscal

00:09:08 - 00:09:21 (13 sec)

— to provide a solution for this country. So I feel very confident that, with your leadership and all the folks in the room, that we will continue to serve, first and foremost, our employees so they can serve the customers who depend on us.

Donald Trump

00:09:21 - 00:09:23 (2 sec)

That's very good. Chad, did you have anything to say about it?

Chad Wolf

00:09:23 - 00:09:40 (17 sec)

Well, I would just say, Mr. President: Again, at your leadership, we're funneling to 11 specific airports and contract medical staff that we put in place. We've screened over 53,000 individuals and prevented a number of folks from coming into the country. And that's largely due to the cooperation and the flexibility of the individuals in this room.

Chad Wolf

00:09:40 - 00:09:43 (3 sec)

So, again, thank you for everything that you're doing to help us keep America safe.

Donald Trump

00:09:43 - 00:09:56 (13 sec)

And, Chad, anything different on the southern border, where we're doing so well? We're setting records on the southern border, in terms of allowing the people that are supposed to be here in, but not allowing others in. Anything new on the southern border?

Chad Wolf

00:09:56 - 00:10:16 (20 sec)

Well, again, from a screening standpoint, we have some of the same measures that we do at airports of entry and our land points of entry. So CBP officers and, again, contract medical staff -- some from HHS and some contract -- are, again, screening individuals and referring to CDC as necessary. So some of the same procedures at airports are taking place at land ports of entry, as well as maritime ports of entry.

Chad Wolf

00:10:16 - 00:10:24 (8 sec)

So, for DHS, we're looking at every way individuals come into the country, not just through the -- through the airports, making sure that we're securing the country as a whole.

Donald Trump

00:10:24 - 00:10:25 (1 sec)

Good job. Thank you.

Nicholas E. Calio

00:10:25 - 00:10:41 (16 sec)

Mr. President, thank you for having us. We were delighted when you had made the Vice President the head of the interagency task force. We believe in collaboration. We want to try to solve these problems, both short- and long-term. We've been sharing ideas with the Vice President's staff and your staff.

Nicholas E. Calio

00:10:41 - 00:11:04 (23 sec)

We think there are better ways to trace the passengers coming in. We've contracted to have a mobile app and a website developed that everyone would have to fill out that would go directly to CDC with that information, and we're moving forward with that. So, there's been good progress. I think what we all need is the reassurance that you and the Vice President and others have been providing: that travel is safe and that we can go forward.

Nicholas E. Calio

00:11:04 - 00:11:07 (3 sec)

Because right now, the fear is almost worse than the virus.

Donald Trump

00:11:07 - 00:11:17 (10 sec)

Yeah. No, we're doing a good job. These professionals are really amazing. They've really stepped up, like the airlines have stepped up, very much so. Thank you. Please.

Robin Hayes

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

Mr. President, Robin Hayes, JetBlue. Thank you very much for having us today, Mr. Vice President. And a lot of it has been said, but, you know, we're doing -- taking many of the same measures as everyone else to keep our customers and our crew members, our employees safe and secure. Thank you for putting the Vice President in charge of these efforts.

Robin Hayes

00:11:35 - 00:11:54 (19 sec)

The federal government has tremendous capability when it comes together and is orchestrated with a common goal. And I'd just like to spend a -- just a quick shout-out to the people in the federal government and the people that work for all of us who are really in the frontlines of this and the heroic efforts they're making every day to keep us safe and secure.

Donald Trump

00:11:54 - 00:11:56 (2 sec)

Thank you very much. Oscar?

Oscar Munoz

00:11:56 - 00:12:13 (16 sec)

I'll take a different angle, just because a lot of it has been said. I started my whole conversation here before you came in: The safety and health of our customers and our employees are the topmost. We will cooperate and collaborate with everything. I think -- as I look through this from a personal lens, I'm a heart transplant survivor.

Oscar Munoz

00:12:13 - 00:12:31 (18 sec)

I am -- if you think of the poster child for the individual that could be affected by this, I am it. I'm over the age and I have immune -- systems. And so, that's the task we take at United about making our planes safe. We're exploring all the different ideas and aspects that we can do to ensure that our planes are as safe as possible.

Oscar Munoz

00:12:31 - 00:12:56 (25 sec)

From the ask perspective, anything that continues to project stability, calm, and -- Dr. Birx, with regards to behavior, we've invented the "corona bump" at United, where you'll see us all bumping each other. It may sound silly, but it's a fun way of expressing what I think we all need to know -- is be careful for the next few weeks as we control this; that we adapt our behavior so that indeed we can continue to stay safe.

Oscar Munoz

00:12:56 - 00:12:58 (2 sec)

So thank you for everything and for having us.

Donald Trump

00:12:58 - 00:13:00 (2 sec)

And that's right: You are a heart transplant survivor.

Oscar Munoz

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

Donald Trump

00:13:00 - 00:13:09 (9 sec)

I was reading about that. He's one of the big executives, great executives of our country, of the world. And you're a heart transplant -- I tell you, you look very good to me, Oscar. [Laughter]

Oscar Munoz

00:13:09 - 00:13:10 (1 sec)

I don't recommend it.

Donald Trump

00:13:10 - 00:13:18 (9 sec)

You have that one down. Don't recommend it. [Laughter] But you -- that's a fantastic story. Wow. That's great. Thank you very much, Oscar. Mike, why don't you finish it up?

Mike Pence

00:13:18 - 00:13:42 (23 sec)

Well, thank you, Mr. President. Again, the American people deserve to know that the threat of contracting the coronavirus remains low, according to all our experts. But, at your direction, we are going to continue to bring the full resources of the federal government, and we're going to enlist the full resources of American industry to keep the American people safe.

Mike Pence

00:13:42 - 00:14:00 (18 sec)

And our airlines have been exceptional partners with us, not only the executives, but we also want to commend the crews that have been taking such good care of passengers, the people that are cleaning the planes, and keeping you all safe, and working with us on the screening process and the funneling process.

Mike Pence

00:14:00 - 00:14:26 (26 sec)

And, as you said, Mr. President, we're going to continue to lean into this effort and we will -- we'll continue to do so until we find our way through the impacts of the coronavirus. And when we accomplish that, we'll accomplish it as one American people, as one team. And I'm grateful to have the people on the team here in the room.

Donald Trump

00:14:26 - 00:14:48 (22 sec)

Great job, Mike. As certain areas get to be more of a problem, we may close them up, as we have done with numerous areas. At this moment, we think we have it very much in hand. We've closed certain areas down very strongly -- in some cases, not whole countries, but certain areas within countries, like in Italy.

Donald Trump

00:14:48 - 00:15:05 (18 sec)

We are, I think, doing a very effective job, in terms of that. It's very important. The one thing that we were discussing before is you really don't know what the percentage is. Some people will have this at a very light level and won't even go to a doctor or hospital, and they'll get better. There are many people like that.

Donald Trump

00:15:05 - 00:15:44 (38 sec)

Young people seem to be -- you can't say "immune" to it, but they're certainly -- the numbers are very small. And it does affect the older people, like the nursing home situation that we have on the West Coast -- a single nursing home, where we have a pretty big percentage of people. But as things go along -- so we were trying to adjust that number and we're trying to see what the number might be. But if you add, you know, many, many people that have it and don't know they have it or they think they have a cold and, all of the sudden, they're recovering from it, I think that number will probably be a lot different number than the two's and even the one and a half's that we're hearing.

Donald Trump

00:15:44 - 00:15:58 (15 sec)

And I think that's an important thing for people to know. I'm very proud of the people in the administration. I'm very proud of the airline business. You said it very well when you said the airline business always seem to pull together. I've seen that over the years and this is a great case of it. And I want to thank you all.

Donald Trump

00:15:58 - 00:16:05 (7 sec)

You're great executives and you love the country and you love what you do. And thank you all very much. We appreciate it. Thank you.

Question

00:16:05 - 00:16:11 (6 sec)

Mr. President, are you considering giving any sort of financial support to the airlines to deal with that loss of business from overseas travel?

Donald Trump

00:16:11 - 00:16:23 (12 sec)

Don't ask that question, please. Because they haven't asked it. [Laughter] So, I don't want you to give them any ideas or you'll end up heading an airline. He'll end up heading an airline. That's a pretty tough question. So, I don't know. Well, they haven't -- we haven't discussed that yet.

Unidentified

00:16:23 - 00:16:24 (1 sec)

All right. Thanks guys.

Question

00:16:24 - 00:16:27 (2 sec)

Mr. President, is your message that it's safe to fly?

Donald Trump

00:16:27 - 00:16:29 (2 sec)

Wait, go ahead. What?

Question

00:16:29 - 00:16:32 (3 sec)

Is your message to Americans that it's safe to fly? And can you convince the traveling public of that?

Donald Trump

00:16:32 - 00:16:52 (20 sec)

Yeah, I think where these people are flying, it's safe to fly. And large portions of the world are very safe to fly. So we don't want to say anything other than that. And we have closed down certain sections of the world, frankly, and they've sort of automatically closed them also. They'll understand that and they understand it better, perhaps, than anybody.

Donald Trump

00:16:52 - 00:16:53 (1 sec)

Yes, it's safe.

Question

00:16:53 - 00:16:59 (6 sec)

And are American businesses overreacting if they're cutting down domestic travel and they're telling people not to fly to conferences inside the United States?

Donald Trump

00:16:59 - 00:17:13 (14 sec)

Well, a lot of people are doing a lot of domestic business now, I can tell you. They're staying in this country. They feel safe because we have a -- if you look at a percentage, we have a very, very small percentage. And a big percentage of what we have is when we brought in the 40 or so people from the ship.

Donald Trump

00:17:13 - 00:17:32 (19 sec)

We brought them in, we immediately quarantined them, but you're adding that to the numbers that we had, which were very small. Now, what we're going to do is, as people get better -- because we have -- you know, most of these people are getting better. Some are already released. Some are going home, some are, you know, get a full 100 percent report.

Donald Trump

00:17:32 - 00:17:50 (18 sec)

We're going to take them off the list. But we have a very small number of people in this country. We have a big country. The biggest impact we had was when we took the 40-plus people. They're Americans. I mean, I could say, "Don't let them into the country." But these are Americans and they were literally stranded and it was very unfair.

Donald Trump

00:17:50 - 00:18:08 (18 sec)

We brought them back. We immediately quarantined them. But you add that to the numbers. But if you don't add that to the numbers, we're talking about very small numbers in the United States. We've all done a very good job -- all of us. And I think the news has been and the -- for the most part, the media has -- has really treated us very fairly, which I appreciate.

Donald Trump

00:18:08 - 00:18:09 (1 sec)

I think it's very important.

Question

00:18:09 - 00:18:14 (5 sec)

When people get on planes, Mr. President, is there anything that they should be doing differently, since you think it is safe to fly and get on an airplane?

Donald Trump

00:18:14 - 00:18:17 (3 sec)

Well, let me ask the head of American Airlines and United Airlines.

Question

00:18:17 - 00:18:22 (5 sec)

Is there anything, for the executives around the table, that if you're a passenger, you get on that plane -- we've been told "wash your hands."

Donald Trump

00:18:22 - 00:18:23 (1 sec)

Yeah. Maybe Dr. Birx.

Question

00:18:23 - 00:18:26 (3 sec)

Is there anything that you guys -- that you have a message for passengers?

Donald Trump

00:18:26 - 00:18:28 (2 sec)

Dr. Birx will be -- Ambassador. And then maybe you can say something.

Deborah L. Birx

00:18:28 - 00:18:52 (24 sec)

Well, we're always saying the common sense of washing your hands, not touching your face, ensuring that if you touched anything, you go and wash your hands again -- 20 seconds with soap. Hand sanitizers also work. But I think I was very reassured to hear the airlines talk about their cleaning procedures and their three levels of cleaning procedures because I think that will be reassuring to the American public.

Donald Trump

00:18:52 - 00:18:56 (4 sec)

And I haven't touched my face in weeks. [Laughter] Been weeks. I miss it.

Question

00:18:56 - 00:19:09 (13 sec)

Mr. President, would you do anything to address some of the concerns that maybe travelers who booked their flights and, you know, they might be, you know, coming up on a trip and they might have to make rearrangements. Is that something —

Donald Trump

00:19:09 - 00:19:10 (2 sec)

Doug, what would you say about that?

Doug Parker

00:19:10 - 00:19:26 (16 sec)

We've just issued a -- we put out a fare sale recently that allows customers the flexibility to book their travel in advance, and if they find they want to change that later, the change fees are waived. So I think all of us are working to find -- figure out ways to make sure there's flexibility for the traveling public.

Donald Trump

00:19:26 - 00:19:31 (5 sec)

I would think -- Oscar, how would you handle that? You have a lot of people, they book and now maybe —

Oscar Munoz

00:19:31 - 00:19:45 (14 sec)

This is a time unprecedented in our history that we need to be absolutely understanding of people's travel plans. And like Doug and most of the airlines, we are taking all appropriate measures to make sure that our customers get the best treatment.

Donald Trump

00:19:45 - 00:19:48 (3 sec)

I think people are going to be very impressed with what the airlines do.

Question

00:19:48 - 00:19:52 (5 sec)

Mr. President, you mentioned that Obama-era rule that you have changed —

Donald Trump

00:19:52 - 00:19:53 (0 sec)

Question

00:19:53 - 00:19:56 (3 sec)

— regarding this virus. I didn't follow that.

Donald Trump

00:19:56 - 00:19:57 (2 sec)

Okay, well, let's talk about it. Go ahead.

Mike Pence

00:19:57 - 00:20:22 (25 sec)

We could talk -- Bob Redfield, you might speak about the -- the last administration asserted FDA jurisdiction over testing and the development of tests like this. And Bob -- the President changed that on Saturday so that now, as I spoke to several governors this morning, the states now have the ability to actually conduct the coronavirus test in state labs, university laboratories.

Donald Trump

00:20:22 - 00:20:23 (1 sec)

Big difference.

Mike Pence

00:20:23 - 00:20:33 (10 sec)

And that's because of the change the President authorized. And, Bob, you just might reflect on the changing jurisdiction of that that's freed up more available testing.

Robert Redfield

00:20:33 - 00:21:17 (44 sec)

Well, thank you, Mr. Vice President. So, in the past, we used to be able to have laboratories that could develop what we call "laboratory developed tests" and then be able to apply them for clinical purposes. And in the previous administration, that became regulated so that, now, for someone to do that, they had to formally file with the FDA. And what the President's decision did was allow that regulatory relief now and that those university labs and those other labs in this country now can be fully engaged in developing laboratory diagnostics for the clinical arena so the men and women in this nation can get access to -- and the doctors -- to get to know the extent of HIV in the patients that they're caring for.

Robert Redfield

00:21:17 - 00:21:23 (5 sec)

It's, really, very important. It's what's changed the availability of testing overnight.

Donald Trump

00:21:23 - 00:21:38 (16 sec)

This was a very big move. And it was a -- it was something that we had to do and we did it very quickly. And now we have tremendous flexibility. Many, many more sites. Many, many more people. And you couldn't have had that under the Obama rule, and we ended that rule very quickly. Yes.

Question

00:21:38 - 00:21:47 (8 sec)

Mr. President, on the contact tracing, can you explain what you're hoping to get from these folks? What more information do they need to track or share with the government?

Donald Trump

00:21:47 - 00:21:48 (1 sec)

Go ahead. Chad.

Chad Wolf

00:21:48 - 00:22:09 (21 sec)

So what we're asking for is additional pieces of information so that the CDC, HHS, and others can track individuals as they come into the country and as they continue on to their final destination. And if we need to, from a health perspective, to continue to reach out, continue to track them, and to get in touch with them, looking for a few more pieces of information and data from them.

Question

00:22:09 - 00:22:12 (3 sec)

Do you think you'll get resolution in this meeting today on that?

Donald Trump

00:22:12 - 00:22:15 (3 sec)

I think we will continue to have conversations, but, yes, we'll get resolution.

Question

00:22:15 - 00:22:29 (15 sec)

Can I follow up on that question? The North Carolina case was someone who was at the nursing home in Washington State. Does the administration now have the contact information who were with that person on the flight to North Carolina?

Robert Redfield

00:22:29 - 00:22:45 (16 sec)

That public health evaluation is ongoing right now, and we're working with the airlines and obviously with the North Carolina health department. The CDC supports the local public health department to really get together to get all of that information. It's in progress.

Question

00:22:45 - 00:22:51 (5 sec)

But at this point, you do not have that -- the person -- the passenger information of people who were on that flight?

Robert Redfield

00:22:51 - 00:22:54 (3 sec)

My understanding is that we have the manifest. Now the trick is to go find them. And that's why we're having this discussion.

Donald Trump

00:22:54 - 00:23:03 (9 sec)

And much of that has been done already. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. I can't believe it -- no questions on the election? This has to be very -- I can't -- [Laughter] -- no, no. I can't believe it. [Inaudible]. That was something.

Question

00:23:03 - 00:23:15 (12 sec)

What did you think about last night? You invited us, Mr. President. What did you think about last night?

Donald Trump

00:23:15 - 00:23:36 (20 sec)

Well, I think the election was great last night. I thought it was great. I thought the results were -- it was a great comeback for Joe Biden. Incredible comeback, when you think about it. But if you would've looked -- if Elizabeth Warren would've done what she probably should've done, from their point of view, he would've won.

Donald Trump

00:23:36 - 00:24:01 (25 sec)

Right? He would've won a lot of states, including Massachusetts, probably Texas, definitely Minnesota. So Bernie would've won states that he lost, and he lost fairly easily. But, in particular, Massachusetts. I would say, Minnesota, in particular. I would also say Texas. And some others. So had she -- I put something out on it this morning.

Donald Trump

00:24:01 - 00:24:21 (21 sec)

She was really a spoiler because other people got out and those votes inured to Joe. And those people really helped Joe, you know, by getting out early -- the couple that got out and made the endorsement. In the case of Elizabeth Warren, had she gotten out, it would've been a very different situation, I think.

Donald Trump

00:24:21 - 00:24:42 (21 sec)

It would've been a very different night. Just that one simple move. Had she left, you pick up Massachusetts, Minnesota, and probably Texas. And those are the three I checked. I would imagine there are others that he would've picked up too. So, Elizabeth Warren was the single biggest factor in that election last night.

Donald Trump

00:24:42 - 00:25:04 (22 sec)

It would've been a very different thing, and not in a positive way for her -- in a very selfish way for her. She was very selfish from that point of view. Now, do I care? No, because we're just waiting to find out who we're running against. But when you look at it -- pretty incredible. If she would've -- if she would've gotten out and endorsed -- even if she didn't -- she didn't even have to endorse.

Donald Trump

00:25:04 - 00:25:11 (7 sec)

I think there's a lot of bad blood there. But had she gotten out and endorsed, he would've been a lot better off.

Question

00:25:11 - 00:25:12 (1 sec)

What do you think happens now?

Donald Trump

00:25:12 - 00:25:33 (21 sec)

Well, now, I think it's a very tough -- I think it's tough. I think Joe has an easier path right now, believe it or not. I see Mini Mike just got out, and he's going to, you know, try and save face by putting some money into Biden's campaign. And we'll see what happens. I don't think that's going to have an impact.

Donald Trump

00:25:33 - 00:25:53 (19 sec)

You know, you got to -- look, money has to be spent wisely. One thing this whole thing has shown is that you can't buy an election. It's a beautiful thing. Steyer put in 250, 300 hundred million dollars. And now who knows where he is. He's home, probably licking his wounds. And Bloomberg put in, probably, a billion dollars.

Donald Trump

00:25:53 - 00:26:18 (25 sec)

And, you know, sometimes you just don't have what it takes. And I said to him, "It's not easy doing what I did, is it?" So it's one of those things, you know. But it's going to be very interesting. To think that this would've changed so much -- because if you go before Saturday, before South Carolina, I mean, he had -- Joe had absolutely no chance, according to you people.

Donald Trump

00:26:18 - 00:26:39 (21 sec)

But they used to say that about me too. Not as much though. I think -- I always felt I had a very good chance. But I'd watch, and they'd say, "Well, can't happen." But it happened, and it happened pretty easily. I think now it's -- I think Joe actually would have the advantage now. You know, if you look at the states he's going to with Florida and others, I think he's got an advantage in those states.

Donald Trump

00:26:39 - 00:26:55 (16 sec)

But, again, had Elizabeth Warren endorsed Bernie, you're talking about a whole different subject. And that's not even a question. You're talking about a whole -- because he would've gotten 80, 90, almost -- I mean, he would've gotten most of those votes. So you're talking about a much different thing.

Question

00:26:55 - 00:26:58 (4 sec)

What do you make of the stock market's reaction today? It seems like there has been a sigh of relief that —

Donald Trump

00:26:58 - 00:26:59 (0 sec)

I think -- you know what it is? I think —

Question

00:26:59 - 00:27:00 (1 sec)

— now that Biden has the delegate lead over Sanders?

Donald Trump

00:27:00 - 00:27:19 (19 sec)

Well, I've said from the beginning: It's partially this. It's a -- you know, a big part of this, but it's also the fact that they didn't like seeing what they're seeing. But they don't like -- they don't like Joe either. Joe has become -- you know, he's -- a lot of people are with Joe. If you look at those people, they're worse than Bernie, in terms of being radical left.

Donald Trump

00:27:19 - 00:27:33 (15 sec)

I mean, some of Joe's handlers -- and that's what they are, is handlers. I want to be nice, but they are handlers. Some of Joe's handlers are further left than Bernie. That's pretty scary. So, it's going to be that way. Yeah.

Question

00:27:33 - 00:27:38 (4 sec)

Do you think Bloomberg's money will be more powerful without Bloomberg himself in the race? I mean, he said he's going to continue to spend.

Donald Trump

00:27:38 - 00:27:44 (6 sec)

Well, it couldn't be less powerful because look what a billion dollars did. He won nothing. I mean, he got so few delegates. It's incredible.

Question

00:27:44 - 00:27:47 (4 sec)

And now he says he's going to be spending it against you rather than for himself.

Donald Trump

00:27:47 - 00:28:15 (27 sec)

I would say, probably -- well, I know. Now he's doing that because, you know, he's spiteful and he's a spiteful guy. I know him well. He's a very spiteful guy. He's very upset. He made a fool out of himself, to be honest with you. And it's -- he's not too happy about that. I think the first thing he should do is fire his political consultants because I could've told -- I know him. I could've told him very easily, "You can't win. You can put $2 billion in; you can't win." Okay. Thank you, everybody.