Transcript - Remarks: Donald Trump Participates in a Christmas Videoconference with Troops - December 25, 2018 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

00:00:00 - 00:00:25 (25 sec)

Hello and Merry Christmas. Very special people. Thank you very much. There's no greater privilege for me than to serve as your commander, and you know that being commander-in-chief of what we're building -- what has been built -- but what we're building is something really very special. You're part of the greatest fighting force in the history of the world, the US military.

Donald Trump

00:00:25 - 00:00:48 (23 sec)

I'm thrilled to speak to you on behalf of our country, for this beautiful -- and representing this beautiful Christmas day in the United States. I know it's a great sacrifice for you to be away from your families, but I want you to know that every American family is eternally grateful to you, and we're holding you close in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.

Donald Trump

00:00:48 - 00:01:22 (35 sec)

We're all praying for you. We love what you do. We love your work. You're amazing people. From Anderson Air Force Base in Guam, I want to welcome the soldiers of Task Force, Talon. Lieutenant Colonel Johannes Castro, I understand that as part of the unit's asset protection responsibilities, Task Force Talon played a critical role in securing and protecting assets and personnel when Typhoon Yutu struck earlier this year.

Donald Trump

00:01:22 - 00:01:58 (35 sec)

I heard it was a big one, one of the biggest. That was one of the strongest storms ever to hit a U.S. territory, in fact, and we want to thank you for the incredible work. Everybody's talking about it. They're all very grateful. So, thank you for that incredible work. I also want to welcome the Marines from Attack Squadron 223. Known as the Great American Bulldogs, your squadron faced adversity before deploying when Hurricane Florence struck your home base at Cherry Point.

Donald Trump

00:01:58 - 00:02:26 (28 sec)

Yet the Bulldogs were ready to go and within 48 hours of arriving in Bahrain, the squadron was flying combat missions. You were back very quickly. Since then, you delivered thousands of pounds of ordnance against ISIS. Lieutenant Colonel Wineman, these achievements are a lasting credit to the unstoppable tenacity of the Bulldogs, and I just want to thank you all.

Donald Trump

00:02:26 - 00:02:52 (27 sec)

That was a great job you've done, and I know it's a great job you will be doing for a long time. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Joining us from Bahrain is Captain Benjamin Albritton, Chief of Staff of Naval Forces, Central Command. Captain, the Fifth Fleet in our combined maritime forces strike fear into the adversaries by projecting the awesome strength of American power.

Donald Trump

00:02:52 - 00:03:21 (29 sec)

Our mighty naval forces are unrivaled anywhere in the world -- not even close -- and, as you know, with our new and very, very increased military budgets, we're building you more ships. We're building a lot of different things for all of our forces. $716 billion. So, I know you're very happy. That's a lot of good equipment, and you see it coming already.

Donald Trump

00:03:21 - 00:03:56 (35 sec)

We're also pleased to welcome the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing from the United States Air Force. The 379th is the largest expeditionary air wing anywhere in the world, performing tens of thousands of daring missions every year. In fact, the 379th flies nearly 20% of all daily sorties and dispenses more fuel than any of you -- to think of it -- of the next five Air Force bases combined.

Donald Trump

00:03:56 - 00:04:21 (25 sec)

That's a big operation. Brigadier General Jason Armagost is the commanding officer, and I want to say Merry Christmas to you and the airmen of the guard, and the -- at the Grand Slam Wing, and it is, in fact, when I look at your work, it truly is a Grand Slam Wing. It's great job fellas. We really appreciate it, and folks.

Donald Trump

00:04:21 - 00:04:58 (37 sec)

Finally, joining us from Juneau, Alaska are the men and women the Coast Guard District 17. Lieutenant Matthew Spado is the senior Coast Guard officer on call. In the last year, District 17 has saved 265 lives, assisted more than 600 others in distress, conducted 275 pollution responses, 156 law enforcement boardings, and saved nearly $20 million of property.

Donald Trump

00:04:58 - 00:05:25 (26 sec)

District 17 proves that the United States Coast Guard is always ready, and I've been saying about the Coast Guard, when I was in Texas, I've never seen anything like it. They save thousands of lives. The Coast Guard is very special, and if there was ever a score on branding, I think the Coast Guard in this country would have probably increased by the highest score of any group.

Donald Trump

00:05:25 - 00:06:00 (36 sec)

I'm talking about businesses, I'm talking about anything, the branding of the Coast -- because of what you did in the Hurricanes, in Texas and in Florida and in Puerto Rico, all over. You were incredible. We want to thank you very much. It was a great job. To every service member listening, and to those standing watch all around the world, it is because of your service and your courage and your willingness to be away from the ones you love, that American families can celebrate at home in safety and in peace.

Donald Trump

00:06:00 - 00:06:21 (21 sec)

It's an incredible thing you do. You're incredible people. On behalf of the First Lady and the entire Trump family, we thank God for each and every one of you and let's have a little fun now, we'll go around and you can ask me any question you want. That doesn't mean I'll let them do it, but you, I can do it, okay?

Donald Trump

00:06:21 - 00:06:29 (8 sec)

So why don't we start with the Army? Lieutenant Colonel John Castro. John?

John Castro

00:06:29 - 00:06:52 (23 sec)

Mr. President, I'm Lieutenant Colonel John Castro, the commander of Task Force Talen. On behalf of the soldiers, family, members and contractors with Task Force Talon, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the tropical U.S. territory of Guam. As we conclude Christmas on this side of the western Pacific, morale remains high and our soldiers remain proud to serve our great nation.

John Castro

00:06:52 - 00:07:09 (16 sec)

Along with our joint partners here on Anderson Air Force Base in the Pacific, we are -- training remains high and we remain ready to defend, ready to protect our nation as the first line of defense. Sir -- Mr. President, no questions from this side.

Donald Trump

00:07:09 - 00:07:22 (14 sec)

Well, thank you very much. So John, how is it going in Guam? How are things going? I've heard it's an incredible place in terms of a military operation. The people are terrific that you work with, but how is it doing in Guam?

John Castro

00:07:22 - 00:07:45 (23 sec)

So, Mr. President, things are going really well here. You mentioned that, that the typhoon has been a very active tropical storm season here in the western Pacific. In addition to Typhoons Maria, Mangkhut, you mentioned Tropical Storm Yutu, they just -- they they were just really active, that's something we train for and maintain as part of our readiness.

Donald Trump

00:07:45 - 00:08:02 (17 sec)

I know when I first became president, the supplies on Guam were very low. One of the first things I heard about. They were really low, in terms of virtually every aspect of supply, and now I know years stocked up to the brim. Is that correct?

John Castro

00:08:02 - 00:08:07 (5 sec)

Absolutely, Mr. President, We're well -- we have good reserves and are able to do our wartime missions.

Donald Trump

00:08:07 - 00:08:13 (6 sec)

Right, but it is true, is was pretty low for a period of time, right? You had a lot of empty buildings. We filled them up fast.

John Castro

00:08:13 - 00:08:15 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:08:15 - 00:08:29 (14 sec)

Yeah, thanks a lot John. I appreciate it. Great job, Great job. Thank you. On the Air Force, Brigadier General Jason Armagost, and so Jason, how's it going?

Jason Armagost

00:08:29 - 00:08:57 (27 sec)

Great sir. I'd like to wish you Merry Christmas on behalf of the 7,000 men and women at Al Udeid Air Base here in Doha, Qatar, and the mission continues. We are working 24/7/365 on providing global strike, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, airlift and cargo and tanker operations, including a defensive space control as well, across the entirety of CENTCOM.

Jason Armagost

00:08:57 - 00:09:24 (27 sec)

It keeps us busy, but we are one of the strategic locations that goes Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria every day, and the airmen are proud to do so. We also jointly operate here with soldiers, sailors, marines and 28 coalition partners as part of the CAOC for command and control. So, it's a fascinating operation, but we have taken the time to wish a Merry Christmas back to you and the people of the United States.

Donald Trump

00:09:24 - 00:09:39 (15 sec)

So how are they doing in Qatar? How are they doing in getting together with Saudi Arabia and UAE and what's -- what's the latest word? You probably know better than anybody, but maybe I shouldn't be asking you that question. How are they doing getting together? You see anything -- any signs of hope?

Jason Armagost

00:09:39 - 00:10:06 (27 sec)

Well, sir, I will say that, from within Qatar, as a host, they are fantastic. They take good care of us. They burden share with us. They're, helping us to improve our infrastructure and really make this kind of a crown jewel of a base. I -- you know we don't track necessarily the political followings of Saudi Arabia and UAE with regards to Qatar, but I will tell you, they're fantastic hosts.

Jason Armagost

00:10:06 - 00:10:12 (6 sec)

They're great to us and it's a -- it's a -- it's a fascinating place to work and operate from.

Donald Trump

00:10:12 - 00:10:22 (10 sec)

Well, that's true and it is a great place, and it's an incredible base, as I understand it, and we'll get out to see you one day, and thank you very much. Fantastic job. Thank you.

Jason Armagost

00:10:22 - 00:10:23 (1 sec)

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Donald Trump

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

So now we have the Navy and the Marines together, and that's the way it should be right? Together, and it's fantastic, and you're in Bahrain. So, maybe I could ask Captain and Lieutenant Colonel, maybe you could say a few words, please.

Benjamin Albritton

00:10:39 - 00:11:10 (31 sec)

Yes, sir good morning, Mr. President, it's an absolute honor to speak to you today. We really appreciate this call. On behalf of the US Navy and US Marine Corps, and also the US Coast Guard team, we want to wish you a Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2019. I would say, no -- no other time in our history are we more united in our operations together here in the Central Command area.

Benjamin Albritton

00:11:10 - 00:11:35 (25 sec)

We also work with our Air Force brothers and sisters at Al Udeid to execute our strategy here in CENTCOM. It is absolutely seamless, and you mentioned your opening about airplanes and ships and everything else. But I'll tell you: the real secret factor to our success are our people. We have magnificent sailors, like IS1 Riley sitting next to me, Sergeant Major Bowers.

Benjamin Albritton

00:11:35 - 00:11:47 (12 sec)

The commitment they have on a daily basis to execute the mission is amazing, and that's the real x-factor, and that's what sets our force apart from any other force in the world.

Donald Trump

00:11:47 - 00:12:09 (22 sec)

Well, that's true, and I know you do have great equipment to being sent there, but this nothing like the personnel. You have to have people to use it. Plenty of people have good equipment only if they buy from us, because we have the best equipment. We make the best equipment, but I can tell you this, that nobody can use it like us. That's one thing we've seen, and we know it very well.

Donald Trump

00:12:09 - 00:12:17 (9 sec)

We study it, nobody uses it like us, so I just want to thank you. Please, go ahead

Nicholas Wineman

00:12:17 - 00:12:37 (20 sec)

Mr. President, good morning. From Sergeant Major Bowers, myself, just wanted to wish you and all the American people, especially our families that are back home holding down the fort, a very, very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I can tell you, sir, in your opening, you talked about Hurricane Florence and what the -- what effect that had on my unit.

Nicholas Wineman

00:12:37 - 00:13:07 (29 sec)

And I can tell you, all these Marines out here, that are doing these -- loading, these jets, getting them ready for flight every day. I work them hard, 24/7, every single day of the week, and they've done a fantastic job. We couldn't do that without the American people,, especially our families. My wife, Anna and Sergeant Major's wife, Shelly, and all the families of 223. They had our back, and they are literally repairing our homes as we speak.

Nicholas Wineman

00:13:07 - 00:13:27 (20 sec)

I've had over ten whole families complete -- completely destroyed, and it is just a -- it's really representative what the Marine Corps and what the United States military is all about. Coming together, came together as a command and really got -- got the job done. So it's just my pleasure to be here, serving.

Donald Trump

00:13:27 - 00:13:53 (26 sec)

Well, that's great and with Bahrain and with Qatar -- that's six different ways of pronouncing that from Qatar to Qatar, right? There's many many ways of pronouncing it. All of them are acceptable. I've said, well, which one? I guess, maybe they like me, they say you could say it any way you want. But, you know, I'm asking them for a lot more money than they've been paying over the years, for burden-sharing and those are examples.

Donald Trump

00:13:53 - 00:14:31 (38 sec)

Those are two countries that have the money. It's unlimited money, and we're asking them to put up a lot of money, and they're happy to do it, because we're performing a service like nobody in the world could perform. We're keeping them safe. But, we don't want to be subsidizing rich countries at the disadvantage to us. So that makes me a little bit different than any other president, because nobody used to ask these questions, and if you look at what's been happening over the years, over many, many years, over decades -- It's rather ridiculous, so that's all changing, and that's all good for us. So I just see -- I'm going to have two perfect examples.

Donald Trump

00:14:31 - 00:15:02 (31 sec)

We have Qatar and we have Bahrain. You don't get much wealthier, and they're agreeing to do a lot more than they've ever done, and we're gonna max out, and that'll be good. It'll be good. That'll be great for our services. It'll be nice, where we could ask for a lot less money for our military, because we're right now the policemen of the world, and we're paying for it. And we can be the policemen of the world, but other countries have to help us, and I think everybody up there agrees.

Donald Trump

00:15:02 - 00:15:22 (20 sec)

So thank you very much from Bahrain. That's great. I love to see you getting together like you are. You've been together for a long time. You're two groups, and you've had a lot of victories. I have flags in the Oval Office, with a lot of stripes from the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marines and the Coast Guard, and they all have ribbons.

Donald Trump

00:15:22 - 00:15:50 (27 sec)

I don't know if the cameras can show you, but they all have, some -- in some cases, hundreds of ribbons from victories. We only put up the victories, but we'll only have victories, but we only talk about the victories. So thank you all very much. That's fantastic. Now we'll go to the Coast Guard and we just ordered a Coast Guard cutter, the -- an icebreaker, the likes of which nobody's seen before.

Donald Trump

00:15:50 - 00:16:13 (23 sec)

The bad part is the price. The good part is, it's the most powerful in the world, and it can go just about anywhere. The ice in big trouble when that -- when that thing gets finished. It'll go right through it, but it's very expensive, but that's okay. We have to get the best, but you folks are going to be very proud of it, because you've seen it, I'm sure.

Donald Trump

00:16:13 - 00:16:40 (27 sec)

It's a it's a new design, highest technology, but with all of the technology, it still needs very thick steel when you get right down to it, right? It can be good technology, but you need thick steel. It's like the border wall. We still need a wall, they can have all the drones they want flying up in the air and spinning around and all the technology in the world, and --- I call it bells and whistles.

Donald Trump

00:16:40 - 00:17:02 (22 sec)

But if you don't have the wall, it doesn't work. With the ice breakers, you need a lot of steel in those hulls, and you have it. It's maxed out and it's gonna be incredible and you'll get it fairly soon. We gave out the contract and that's for the Coast Guard. So that's a little Christmas present. We'll call it a Christmas present to the Coast Guard, and thank you for the great job you did.

Donald Trump

00:17:02 - 00:17:06 (4 sec)

So Matt, would you like to say something, Matt?

Matthew Spado

00:17:06 - 00:17:49 (43 sec)

Yes, good morning President Trump, and Merry Christmas, on behalf of district 17 and all the Coast Guard. I'm surrounded here by some of our watchstanders, that stand duty at Sector Juneau, at the Coast Guard district, and also some of the station crews that operate out of a small boat station in Juneau, and we're just here, and we're ready for any unplanned events that could be occurring, whether it's search and rescue, environmental pollution, law enforcement, or any marine safety issues that might pop up. So far, we've had a calm day here in Alaska, and we hope that it stays that way and people stay safe out there on the waters.

Donald Trump

00:17:49 - 00:18:11 (22 sec)

So how did you do in Alaska with the recent problem we had with the big -- that was a big quake. They say we got lucky. Very few, people hurt, nobody died and it was big. It hit -- it hit the proper location, I guess we have to say. How did you do with it? Were you involved much?

Matthew Spado

00:18:11 - 00:18:33 (22 sec)

Well, in Juneau Alaska, we we did not get much of the experience of the earthquake, but some of our members in Anchorage they did sustained some structural damage to some of the buildings there, but luckily there was no injuries to any of the personnel and, everybody seems to be doing okay. Things are coming along quite well.

Donald Trump

00:18:33 - 00:19:01 (27 sec)

We got lucky, there was a really big one, but it hit a area that, I guess, we were lucky that day. Things get a little bit lucky. Well, I want to wish everybody a really Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year. Just remember, the people in our country were very proud of you The country is doing well. We have a little bit of a shutdown because we believe in walls, and we believe in borders and we believe in barriers -- and, you know, we have a special country.

Donald Trump

00:19:01 - 00:19:19 (18 sec)

People have to come in through the legal process, not just walk in. We have no idea who they are. And we're stopping drugs at a record rate, but we need some help and the help is the wall. We need a wall to help us, otherwise they just flow through, no matter what you do, they just flow through. You people know that better than anybody.

Donald Trump

00:19:19 - 00:19:39 (21 sec)

I know that two of your groups actually built some very effective walls, and the military built some very effective walls for me over the last four weeks, on the southern border, and we've held them. We've had caravans of people coming up. You've been seeing it, and we stopped them. We stopped them cold, and they're heading back.

Donald Trump

00:19:39 - 00:19:58 (18 sec)

For the most part, they're heading back or they're. staying in Mexico. But I will -- I will tell you, I know the work you do, and it's been amazing, and it's great. I will see you all. I know I'll meet you all, I'll, see you all. But on behalf of the country, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year. Keep doing the job.

Donald Trump

00:19:58 - 00:20:18 (20 sec)

We're all very proud of you. Nobody can do what you do. Nobody, and we're very proud of you, and it's my honor to send you all that brand-new equipment, whether you get the planes, or the ships or the rifles, or any -- any of the things you get, you're getting the best in the world. We're even doing a little change in some of the uniforms, to put it mildly, right?

Donald Trump

00:20:18 - 00:20:35 (17 sec)

Some of the uniforms -- I hope you all like them. It's going to mean you have to be in perfect shape to wear those uniforms. That's one thing, but probably that's good. But that's a big change. Hasn't been done in 50 years, and we're buying the new uniforms. They're gonna be incredible. You know what I'm talking about, right, General?

Donald Trump

00:20:35 - 00:20:50 (15 sec)

I see you. So thank you all very much. I appreciate it, and the country appreciates it. Merry Christmas. Thank you. Okay, thank you folks. Merry Christmas.

Question

00:20:50 - 00:20:53 (3 sec)

Sir, do you still have confidence in Secretary Nielsen?

Donald Trump

00:20:53 - 00:20:57 (4 sec)

Yes I do. Very talented, very smart person.

Question

00:20:57 - 00:21:00 (3 sec)

What about the Fed Chair. Is the Fed Chair..

Donald Trump

00:21:00 - 00:21:27 (27 sec)

Well, we'll see. They're raising interest rates too fast. That's my opinion, but I certainly have confidence, But I think it'll straighten. They're raising interest rates too fast because they think the economy is too good. But I think that they will get it pretty soon. I really do. I mean, the fact is that the economy is doing so well, that they raised interest rates, and this is a form of safety, in a way.

Donald Trump

00:21:27 - 00:21:42 (15 sec)

And President Obama didn't do much of that, much easier to run when you have no interest rate. He had a very low interest rate. We have a normalized interest rate. A normalized interest rate means a lot. You know, it's good for a lot of people. They have money in the bank, they get interest of their money.

Donald Trump

00:21:42 - 00:21:58 (16 sec)

For many years, nobody got interest on their money. So -- but I have great confidence in them. I have great confidence in our companies. We have companies -- the greatest in the world, and they have record kinds of numbers. So I think it's a tremendous opportunity to buy -- really a great opportunity to buy.

Question

00:21:58 - 00:22:01 (3 sec)

When will the government reopen, sir?

Donald Trump

00:22:01 - 00:22:20 (19 sec)

I can't tell you whether government's going to be open. I can tell you it's not going to be open until we have a wall, a fence, whatever they'd like to call it. I'll call it whatever they will. But it's all the same thing: it's a barrier from people pouring into our company -- into our country, from drugs.

Donald Trump

00:22:20 - 00:22:40 (20 sec)

It's a barrier from drugs. It's a barrier, you know, there's a problem in this world today. It's called human trafficking. Human trafficking is one of those hard to believe problems and we're not gonna let that take place. We're not gonna -- we are working so hard to catch these traffickers. They're bad people.

Donald Trump

00:22:40 - 00:23:03 (23 sec)

You can't do it without a barrier. We can't do it without a wall. So you have drugs. You have human trafficking. You have illegal people coming into our country. We can't do that. We don't know they are. In the caravan 618 people were -- very bad, in some cases, criminals, wanted for very [Inaudible] You saw the one man, he said he was wanted for murder.

Donald Trump

00:23:03 - 00:23:27 (24 sec)

I don't want them in the country. The only way you're gonna do it is to have a physical barrier, meaning a wall. And if you don't have that, then we're just not opening. Yesterday, I gave out 115 miles worth of wall.115 miles, in Texas and it's going to be built hopefully, rapidly. I'm going there at the end of January, for the start of construction.

Donald Trump

00:23:27 - 00:23:51 (24 sec)

That's a big stretch, because we're talking about 500 to 550 miles [Inaudible]. It's a 2,000 mile border, but much of it has mountains, and region where you can't get across. So we're. Looking at between 500 and 550. So we gave out 115 yesterday, and we gave it out at a great price. So, we're gonna have a great wall there, and we have other sections to give out.

Donald Trump

00:23:51 - 00:24:16 (25 sec)

One other thing people don't understand or know or whatever, but they might as well -- is -- because they're not really told. We've renovated massive amounts of very good wall. Wall that was good, but was in bad shape, and so, you don't have to replace it, but you have to renovate it. And we've renovated a massive amount of wall, and in addition to that -- and I think very very importantly -- we built a lot of new wall.

Donald Trump

00:24:16 - 00:24:50 (34 sec)

So it's all being built. The new piece -- the new section is very, very exciting, what's going on there, and you'll see it, because in January, I'm going there. We're almost having a groundbreaking, it's such a big section, it's probably the biggest -- biggest section we'll get out. So, while we're fighting over funding, we're also building -- and it's my hope to have this done -- completed -- all 500 to 550 miles -- to have it either renovated or brand new by election time.

Question

00:24:50 - 00:24:53 (3 sec)

The contract. Who did that go to?

Donald Trump

00:24:53 - 00:24:58 (5 sec)

Different people, different people. Highly bid.

Question

00:24:58 - 00:25:04 (7 sec)

Mr. President, is the five billion number, is that contract not open to negotiation --

Donald Trump

00:25:04 - 00:25:27 (23 sec)

[Inaudible] It's complicated, because we're getting $25 billion. It's already approved, but that's for everything. That's for Homeland Security. That includes, as we say, the bells and whistles. We have a lot of drones, a lot of everything in there. Plus we have some wall money. But we want the wall money to be increased, because I want to finish it. But what people have to understand.

Donald Trump

00:25:27 - 00:25:55 (28 sec)

It has been strongly started, a lot of areas. If you look at San Diego, it's now almost complete, and interestingly, it's California, which has been difficult to deal with because of the -- the governor. Very, very difficult to deal with. But the people of San Diego came, and they wanted the wall built. In fact, I was going to build it last, but then I determined, let's build it. They really wanted it built, because if I built it last, they'd all be screaming for a wall, and you don't hear that.

Donald Trump

00:25:55 - 00:26:19 (24 sec)

But the wall is beautiful. The job they've done is fantastic. So San Diego is largely built. It'll be completed very shortly. But they came to us, the people -- and they were asking, they needed border protection. People -- people were talking through Mexico, right into San Diego, right over people's front lawns, by the hundreds and by the thousands.

Donald Trump

00:26:19 - 00:26:38 (19 sec)

And they came to us. They asked for a wall. The only thing that's gonna stop that. A drone isn't gonna stop it. High technology is not gonna stop it. The only thing that stops it is a wall, and when the Democrats talk about a wall doesn't mean anything. Well, in Israel, they had a big problem. They put up a wall.

Donald Trump

00:26:38 - 00:26:59 (21 sec)

99.99% of the people were stopped from coming in, and we'll have the exact same thing. Now, we have a long, long border, but we'll have the exact same thing now. Now there may be the case of an Olympic champion who can get over the wall. But for the most part, it's -- you're not able to do it. Very high.

Donald Trump

00:26:59 - 00:27:25 (26 sec)

It's gonna be 30 feet. Much of it is 30 feet high, some of its lower. But in some areas we have it as high as 30 feet. That's a -- that's like a three-story building. So we're making great progress on renovation, on fixing, and we're making great progress on building new wall. And most excitingly, we gave out our largest section yesterday, and that work is starting next week, and we'll have it completed fairly quickly.

Question

00:27:25 - 00:27:32 (7 sec)

What's your message to the federal workers, sir, who have been impacted by the shutdown in some way, whether they're not getting paid, or --

Donald Trump

00:27:32 - 00:27:50 (18 sec)

Well, I think they understand what's happening. They want border security. The people of this country want border security. You know, it's not a question of me. I'd rather not be doing shutdowns. I been at the White House, and I love the White House, but I wasn't able to be with my family. I thought it would be wrong for me to be with my family.

Donald Trump

00:27:50 - 00:28:16 (26 sec)

My family's in Florida, Palm Beach, and I just didn't want to go down and be there when other people are hurting. But, it's gonna all work out. But many of those workers have said to me, and communicated: stay out until you get the funding for the wall. These federal workers want the wall. The only one that doesn't want the wall are the Democrats, because they don't mind open borders.

Donald Trump

00:28:16 - 00:28:46 (30 sec)

But open borders mean massive amounts of crime. I mean, the Democrats don't want it, because they don't want open borders, and yet every one of those Democrats approved the wall, or a fence, or very, very substantial barriers. Every single one. I don't think there's one -- but let's assume, let's use the word, almost everyone approved a wall, or a fence, or exactly what we're talking about, as little as three years ago.

Donald Trump

00:28:46 - 00:29:06 (20 sec)

But over the years, every one of them -- the only time they went against it, the only time they went against it -- there was only one time, when Donald Trump said we want to build the wall. As soon as I said I want to build the wall, they were all against it. It's like, take another example. Take Comey. Everybody hated Comey.

Donald Trump

00:29:06 - 00:29:27 (21 sec)

They thought he did a horrible job. The Democrats hated him. They were calling for his resignation. They were going for his firing, including Schumer, including Nancy Pelosi, until I fired him, and once I fired him, everybody said: oh, why did you fire him? Why did you fire him? Take a look at some of these people.

Donald Trump

00:29:27 - 00:29:48 (21 sec)

This is what we're doing now. Take a look at some of these people. Literally the day before I fire them, they were saying he should be fired. As soon as I fired him, they said, oh, what did you fire him for. That was a terrible thing to do. It's a disgrace, what's happening in our country. But other than that, I wish everybody a very Merry Christmas.

Donald Trump

00:29:48 - 00:29:49 (1 sec)

Thank you very much, thank you.

Question

00:29:49 - 00:29:51 (2 sec)

Will you take a meeting with the leaders again?

Donald Trump

00:29:51 - 00:30:01 (11 sec)

I'll meet with them, sure. I'll always meet with them. And, hopefully we're making progress on the funding of the wall, or barrier, whatever you want to call it.

Question

00:30:01 - 00:30:04 (3 sec)

Sir, what happens in January when the Democrats take the House. They say they're going to pass [Inaudible] --

Donald Trump

00:30:04 - 00:30:25 (21 sec)

Well, then probably presidential harassment, and we know how to handle that. I think I handle that better than anybody. There been no collusion. After two years, no collusion. There has been collusion, but it's been by the Democrats. but there's been no collusion, and you're talking about millions and millions and millions of dollars of wasted money.

Donald Trump

00:30:25 - 00:30:40 (14 sec)

There's been absolutely no collusion. But there has been a lot of collusion by the Democrats, with Russia and with a lot of other people, that maybe they shouldn't have been dealing with, including very dishonest people. Thank you very much. Thank you.