Transcript - Remarks: Donald Trump - Meeting With Supreme Court Team - February 1, 2017 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

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

Getting those taxes down. Getting them down, Grover. One person that likes me at this table. [Crosstalk] I can tell you that. I have a lot of them. We had a lot.

Donald Trump

00:00:27 - 00:01:03 (36 sec)

[Inaudible] great friends and supporters. [Inaudible] appreciated for, number one, the election. And I appreciate all of the help in deciding who to put for the United States Supreme Court, and Leonard, you were fantastic. All of you were. And Jim DeMint. I don't know if Jim's here or not, but they were great [Inaudible] really helped. And the rollout's been fantastic. I don't know how anybody can oppose him frankly. I don't know how anybody can oppose him at all, but it really has been a beautiful thing to see.

Donald Trump

00:01:03 - 00:01:29 (26 sec)

So we had a very successful event. He's a terrific person, by the way. Got to know him reasonably well before the -- before we did the announcement and he is just a spectacular man. I think he'll be a spectacular -- you know, you tell me how would they go about -- Leonard, how would they go about opposing him? He's perfect in almost every way. They'll look for the [Inaudible], right? They'll say what's the [Inaudible]? But that's...

Unidentified Male

00:01:29 - 00:01:32 (3 sec)

He's -- he's got an impeccable record.

Donald Trump

00:01:32 - 00:01:44 (12 sec)

Yeah. Well, Federalist really -- they really did a great job. So we're gonna be talking about working with the judge and maybe making this a fast process.

Unidentified Male

00:01:44 - 00:01:46 (2 sec)

Donald Trump

00:01:46 - 00:02:26 (40 sec)

And nominating a justice of the Supreme Court is one of the most important things that I can do as president. I've always said this. As I watch presidents, I say the most important thing -- and I think I want to refine that a little bit. I think probably defense of our country might be now -- you know, it's -- otherwise we don't need the Supreme Court so badly, right? And we're doing well in that regard, very well.TRUMP: I think we have problems that are a lot of bigger than people understood. I think I was left something that is in -- got a lot of problems, but I think we'll straighten out those problems. I think we'll straighten them out very strongly.

Donald Trump

00:02:26 - 00:02:49 (23 sec)

Judge Gorsuch is an exceptionally qualified person from the standpoint of experience and education -- Columbia with honors; Harvard Law School with honors; Oxford at the highest level; great, great student; great intellect. Supreme Court Justice White and Kennedy, he clerked.

Donald Trump

00:02:49 - 00:03:06 (17 sec)

And so I just think it's really great that we're having this meeting because we want to -- we want to have him go through an elegant process, as opposed to a demeaning process, because they're very demeaning on the other side. And they want to make you look as bad as possible.

Donald Trump

00:03:06 - 00:03:24 (18 sec)

And of course, the press can be very demeaning, too. So -- but I'm sure the press will be very dignified in this case. But I really want -- and that's the word -- I really think he's a very dignified man. I'd like to see him go through a dignified process. I think he deserves that. And hopefully, it will go quickly and we'll see what happens.

Donald Trump

00:03:24 - 00:03:33 (9 sec)

So, what we might do is just [Inaudible], we might ask for the folks in the room just to give yourself a quick, your name and a little introduction.

Donald Trump

00:03:33 - 00:03:37 (4 sec)

And Wayne, I would say they know you. Perhaps they know you better than they know me. [Laughter]

Wayne LaPierre

00:03:37 - 00:03:39 (2 sec)

Penny Nance

00:03:39 - 00:03:45 (6 sec)

I'm Penny Nance. I'm the CEO and president of Concerned Women for America.

Charmaine Yoest

00:03:45 - 00:03:51 (6 sec)

I'm Charmaine Yoest. I'm with American Values. And thank you, Mr. President, for this nomination.

Donald Trump

00:03:51 - 00:03:53 (2 sec)

Thank you very much.

Juanita Duggan

00:03:53 - 00:03:56 (3 sec)

I'm Juanita Duggan with the National Federation of Independent Business, NFIB.

Donald Trump

00:03:56 - 00:03:58 (2 sec)

Thank you. Thank you. [Crosstalk]

Tom Collamore

00:03:58 - 00:04:05 (7 sec)

I'm Tom Collamore with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Mr. President, congratulations on a fantastic nomination.

Donald Trump

00:04:05 - 00:04:06 (1 sec)

Grover Norquist

00:04:06 - 00:04:12 (6 sec)

Grover Norquist, Americans For Tax Reform. And thank you for winning the election.

Donald Trump

00:04:12 - 00:04:14 (2 sec)

Thank you. [Inaudible] [Crosstalk]

Leonard Leo

00:04:14 - 00:04:16 (2 sec)

Leonard Leo, Federalist Society.

Margie Bennett

00:04:16 - 00:04:17 (1 sec)

Margie Bennett , [Inaudible].

Morton Blackwell

00:04:17 - 00:04:22 (5 sec)

Morton Blackwell, the Leadership Institute.

David O'Steen

00:04:22 - 00:04:32 (10 sec)

David O'Steen, National Right to Life. Thank you for such a quick, excellent nomination.

Donald Trump

00:04:32 - 00:04:35 (3 sec)

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Paula White

00:04:35 - 00:04:39 (4 sec)

Paula White, chairman of the Evangelical Advisory Council.

Donald Trump

00:04:39 - 00:04:44 (5 sec)

Thank you, Paula. Thank you for the help... [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump

00:04:44 - 00:04:45 (1 sec)

... during the campaign.

Donald Trump

00:04:45 - 00:04:52 (7 sec)

So, with that, I'll ask you to all hit the road and [Inaudible]. [Crosstalk]

Unidentified Male

00:04:52 - 00:05:08 (16 sec)

As you pointed out last night, [Inaudible] was confirmed by unanimous voice vote in 2006. Now a number of Democrats say they're going to oppose you. What would you say to those Democrats? And would you encourage Senator McConnell to invoke the nuclear option if he feels he can't get 60 votes?

Donald Trump

00:05:08 - 00:05:52 (44 sec)

Well, I think there's a certain dishonesty if they go against their vote from not very long ago. And he did get a unanimous endorsement. And he's somebody that should get [Inaudible]. You can't do better from an educational, from an experience, from any standpoint. A great judge. He'll be a great justice. So no, I feel that it's very dishonest if they go about doing that. And yes, if we end up with the same gridlock that they've had in Washington for the last longer than eight years, in all fairness to President Obama, a lot longer than eight years. But if we end up with that gridlock, I would say if you can, Mitch, go nuclear, because that would be an absolute shame if a man of this quality was caught up in the web.

Donald Trump

00:05:52 - 00:05:58 (6 sec)

So I would say it's up to Mitch, but I would say go for it. OK?

Donald Trump

00:05:58 - 00:06:02 (4 sec)

Thank you. Thank you.