Transcript - Remarks: Donald Trump Meets With Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of Kuwait - September 5, 2018 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:28 (28 sec)

Well, thank you very much, everybody. We have a very special friend of mine, the Amir of Kuwait. And we've had a long relationship, and especially over the last year and a half. Things have worked out very well between our countries. We practice large-scale trade together, investment together, and also, I think very importantly, terrorism and the fight against terrorism. And Kuwait has been a great partner.

Donald Trump

00:00:28 - 00:00:41 (13 sec)

And we especially respect the Amir. He is something that -- really, very special. He's very special in the region. Highly respected by everybody. And we appreciate your friendship. Thank you very much.

Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

00:00:41 - 00:01:02 (21 sec)

[Via Interpreter] Thank you, Mr. President, and how much, really, I am very happy to meet with you for the third time in almost one year. This [Inaudible] proved that the bilateral relation between Kuwait and the United States of America, and between us as persons [Inaudible] very good relations -- to remain to be a good relation.

Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

00:01:02 - 00:01:52 (50 sec)

[Via Interpreter] There is a mutual trust between both of us. Therefore, thank you, Mr. President, for your warm welcome. This visit comes at the continuation of the profound and strategic relations between our two countries, and the significant progress they are witnessing, which we are always interested in consolidating it and promoting it. In this connection, I commend the unwavering commitment of the United States to the security and stability of our region as it had demonstrated in its leadership of the international coalition that liberated my country.

Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

00:01:52 - 00:02:17 (25 sec)

[Via Interpreter] In this context of pursuing and consolidating our bilateral relations, we shall concentrate our efforts to the feat of trade and increased investment, along with our cooperation in the military, energy, and education fields.

Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

00:02:17 - 00:02:42 (25 sec)

[Via Interpreter] I'm pleased to invite United States corporations to participate in the development and efforts, such are projects in the State of Kuwait, and to invest therein according to the Kuwait laws and regulations attractive to investments.

Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

00:02:42 - 00:03:41 (59 sec)

[Via Interpreter] I'm pleased to -- we will also discuss means of cooperation to resolve the crisis in the Gulf region, and look forward with hope that an end to this crisis will be reached. Our meeting with His Excellency, the President, coincides with the resumption of the discussions between the two parties in the conflict in Yemen led by the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Yemen, which we have both called for and have been embraced by Kuwait with a view to put an end to this destructive conflict and its destabilizing effects on the security and stability of the countries in our region.

Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

00:03:41 - 00:04:00 (19 sec)

[Via Interpreter] We, alongside the entire world, are looking forward to see the discussions yield their desired results. We will also review our achievements under our sole partnership with the international coalition to combat terrorism as well as issues of mutual interest.

Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

00:04:00 - 00:04:35 (34 sec)

[Via Interpreter] For most of them is the Palestinian issue and its developments. And the latest political developments in the international and regional arena, in this respect, I find it incumbent upon myself to pay a tribute to the positive role and the great and appreciated force that the United States exerts to achieve peace and stability in our region and the world. Thank you, Mr. President.

Donald Trump

00:04:35 - 00:05:27 (53 sec)

Well, thank you very much. And I have to say that Kuwait has made tremendous investments in the United States, and they're buying a lot of equipment and a lot of military equipment in particular, which we encourage. That's jobs for the United States. Nobody makes jets, fighters, and all of the different components better than the United States

Donald Trump

00:05:27 - 00:05:46 (19 sec)

We're way advanced over anybody. And that advancement has really been enhanced over the last short period of time. We've given them great incentive. But we appreciate the big purchases that you've been making. And frankly, we're working very hard to bring some stability into the Middle East.

Donald Trump

00:05:46 - 00:05:59 (13 sec)

Yemen is a tragic situation. When you look, there's so many tragic areas in the Middle East. It's a very hard -- it's a very hard thing. It's a very complex jigsaw puzzle. But we're making big strides.

Donald Trump

00:05:59 - 00:07:03 (64 sec)

Iran is a very much different place from when I first took office. Iran is in turmoil right now. They're in total turmoil. When I took office, it was just a question of how long until they took over the entire Middle East. Now they are just worrying about their own survival as a country. We'll see what happens with Iran. Whether they want to talk or not, that's up to them, not up to me. I will always be available. But it doesn't matter one way or the other. We'll see what happens.

Donald Trump

00:07:03 - 00:07:32 (29 sec)

But Iran is a much different place than when I took over the presidency. I can say that for a lot of countries around the world. The United States is stronger now than ever before. We have the highest stock market that we've ever had. If you invested in the stock market, on average we're up over 45 percent on the various markets. You have to be quite happy about that.

Donald Trump

00:07:32 - 00:08:17 (45 sec)

But I view it differently; I view it as jobs, I view it as a strong economy. I view it as record-setting unemployment. We have unemployment that are at the lowest levels that we've ever had. And in particular, with certain groups -- African American, Asian, Hispanic -- they're the lowest levels in the history of our country. So we've been doing very well, and we appreciate the big investments and the confidence that you have in the United States. Thank you very much.

Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

00:08:17 - 00:08:20 (3 sec)

[Via Interpreter] I wish you good luck.

Donald Trump

00:08:20 - 00:08:25 (4 sec)

Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

Question

00:08:25 - 00:08:31 (6 sec)

Mr. President, are you happy with the Kavanaugh hearings, sir?

Donald Trump

00:08:31 - 00:09:38 (67 sec)

I'm happy with the Kavanaugh hearings. I watched today for a little while. I saw some incredible answers to very complex questions. He's an outstanding intellect. He's an outstanding judge. He was born for the position. I heard, as long as 10 years ago, people were saying he should be a Supreme Court judge. I didn't know him at the time, but I was hearing from a lot of people, friends of mine from Washington and other places, saying that Brett Kavanaugh should be a Supreme Court judge someday. And I'm honored that I gave him the chance.

Donald Trump

00:09:38 - 00:10:10 (32 sec)

I've watched his remarks. I've watched his performance. I've watched his statements. And honestly, they've been totally brilliant. I think that the other side is grasping at straws. And really, the other side should embrace him because you're never going to find better in terms of talent or intellect than what you have in Brett Kavanaugh.

Question

00:10:10 - 00:10:18 (8 sec)

Is Bob Woodward a liar, sir? Sir, do you believe Bob Woodward is lying, sir? Is Bob Woodward lying?

Donald Trump

00:10:18 - 00:10:21 (3 sec)

Oh, yeah, sure. He's lying. Sure.

Question

00:10:21 - 00:10:23 (2 sec)

Do you believe Bob Woodward is --

Donald Trump

00:10:23 - 00:10:26 (3 sec)

The book? You mean on the book?

Question

00:10:26 - 00:10:28 (2 sec)

Donald Trump

00:10:28 - 00:11:04 (36 sec)

The book means nothing. It's a work of fiction. Already, General Mattis has come out very, very strongly. And I think you know General Mattis; he does what he wants to do. He's a very independent guy. He was insulted by the remarks that were attributed to him. And he came out with a very strong statement -- I assume you read it; I hope you read it -- last night.

Donald Trump

00:11:04 - 00:11:25 (21 sec)

General John Kelly, the same exact thing. He saw it. He was insulted by what they said. He's right here. He's insulted by -- he couldn't believe what they said. And he put out a very, very strong statement. And many others. And other statements are coming out.

Donald Trump

00:11:25 - 00:11:40 (15 sec)

The book is a work of fiction. If you look back at Woodward's past, he had the same problem with other Presidents. He likes to get publicity. He sells some books.

Donald Trump

00:11:40 - 00:11:49 (10 sec)

But we have done more as an administration than any other administration in already less than two years. It's incredible. We will soon be approaching two years.

Donald Trump

00:11:49 - 00:12:11 (22 sec)

But there's no administration, probably -- and even you folks have generally acknowledged this -- that has done more work, when you look at tax cuts, regulation cuts, Supreme Court justices, the court system generally, and so much more. Even if you look at the healthcare programs that we're passing, and all of the things we've done. We're saving Social Security.

Donald Trump

00:12:11 - 00:12:32 (21 sec)

The Democrats will destroy social security. We're saving Medicare. The Democrats want to destroy Medicare. If you look at what they're doing, they're going to destroy Medicare. And we will save it. We will keep it going. We're making it stronger. We're making Social Security stronger. We're making our whole country stronger. So all you have to do is look at the achievements.

Donald Trump

00:12:32 - 00:13:08 (35 sec)

But I was very honored when, without my even knowing about it, statements were put out by General Kelly, by General Mattis -- highly respected people by everybody, including yourselves. And the book is a work of fiction. It's a -- really, if you look at it, it was put out to interfere, in my opinion, at this time, with the Kavanaugh hearings, which I don't think it's done, because so many people have come out against it. So many who have been written about said, "I never said that." Rudy Giuliani is another one. He's very insulted by the book and what was stated in the book.

Donald Trump

00:13:08 - 00:13:34 (27 sec)

So we run -- we do run a strong White House. There's no question about it. And we are doing things that nobody else has ever been able to do. And our country is stronger now than it's ever been. And in a very short period of time, $700 billion being spent on the military. The next year, 716 -- $716 billion. We will actually be far stronger than we've ever been. And that's what we need it to be. Thank you all very much.

Question

00:13:34 - 00:13:41 (7 sec)

[Inaudible] the future of the bilateral relations between the two countries?

Donald Trump

00:13:41 - 00:14:02 (21 sec)

Oh, we have a great relationship. First of all, I have a great personal relationship with the Amir. And Kuwait is a place that I've known for a long time. I have many friends that live in Kuwait -- and they live, frankly, in Washington and New York, mostly -- that I know, and I've known them for a long time. Very, very fine people.

Donald Trump

00:14:02 - 00:14:27 (25 sec)

Our relationship and our bilateral relationship is very, very powerful. Very strong. And they view us as a place where they've done very well, and they like to invest their money in the United States, and we like that.

Question

00:14:27 - 00:14:29 (2 sec)

[Inaudible] a trade deal with Canada?

Donald Trump

00:14:29 - 00:15:00 (32 sec)

So, Canada is meeting with us right now, as we speak. We have to make a fair deal with Canada. As you know, they charge tariffs of 300 percent on dairy products, which a lot of people never understood. They have walls up against us doing business in Canada, and yet they come and do business with us, and we can't let that happen.

Donald Trump

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

Look, we have a very strong position, and we are the one that people want to come in and take advantage of. They've been taking advantage of, along with -- and I'm not blaming Canada; I love Canada. I love the people of Canada. But they and other countries have been taking advantage of the United States for many years. And this is a President that has stopped it.

Donald Trump

00:15:28 - 00:15:49 (21 sec)

We've made a deal with Mexico, and Mexico has been terrific to deal with, including their new President, who I spoke with. And I think we're going to have a very good relationship with Mexico going forward.

Donald Trump

00:15:49 - 00:16:43 (53 sec)

And the deal is a much more fair deal between the United States and Mexico because NAFTA goes down as one of the worst trade deals in the history of our country. It emptied out millions of jobs. It emptied out factories and plants all over the United States. And it was a very unfair deal and a very foolish deal, and in fact, you could say a very stupid deal for the United States to make.

Donald Trump

00:16:43 - 00:17:02 (20 sec)

We are straightening out these horrible trade deals. As you know, we had 4.1 GDP. It was just raised to 4.2. Nobody thought that was possible.

Donald Trump

00:17:02 - 00:17:31 (29 sec)

When the trade deals are fixed and made fair, GDP will go even higher, and potentially much higher than that. And if you go back to election and go back to campaigning, nobody ever would have said that was possible, except me and maybe a few others that believe in me. Thank you all very much.

Question

00:17:31 - 00:17:51 (20 sec)

Would you like to meet Rouhani at the U.N.? Would you like to meet Rouhani at the U.N.? Would you like to meet the President of Iran at the U.N.?

Donald Trump

00:17:51 - 00:17:58 (7 sec)

It's possible. Anything is possible. Anything is possible. But we'll see.

Question

00:17:58 - 00:18:06 (8 sec)

Are you going to get involved in solving the Gulf Crisis? It's been a year since you've been --

Question

00:18:06 - 00:18:08 (2 sec)

And also about Syria --

Donald Trump

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

Question

00:18:08 - 00:18:10 (2 sec)

[Inaudible] ask you about Syria.

Donald Trump

00:18:10 - 00:18:12 (2 sec)

What? North Korea?

Question

00:18:12 - 00:18:21 (8 sec)

No, no, no. Gulf crisis. Syria. When President Assad challenges you, if he --

Donald Trump

00:18:21 - 00:18:26 (5 sec)

Did you say Syria?