Q - for Saudi Arabia, if the U.S. determines that they killed Jamal Khashoggi. What do have in mind? What sort of -
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we'll be sitting together with all of the folks here, and a lot more. And we'll have to make a determination. I do think this: That I worked very hard to get the order for the military. It's $110 billion. I believe it's the largest order ever made. It's 450,000 jobs. It's the best equipment in the world. But if they don't buy it from us, they're going to buy it from Russia or they're going to buy it from China, or they're going to buy it from other countries.
But Russia and China wanted it very badly. I got 100 percent - almost 100 percent of their order. And I would - from the standpoint of jobs, economic development, a lot of other reasons, I would like to do something where we could maybe look at other things - I will tell the senators - because that's a tremendous order for our companies. It's a tremendous order for - really, from an economic development standpoint. You look at - Texas has a big chunk of it. Almost all of our states are involved in that order.
So I actually think we'd be punishing ourselves if we did that. There are other things we can do that are very, very powerful, very strong. And we'll do that.
Now, as of this moment, nobody knows what happened. As of this moment. We're looking into it very seriously. Turkey is looking into it at a very high level - at the highest level. And so is Saudi Arabia. I mean, they're going to get back, and they have been getting back. And I know Mike has been dealing with them. John has been dealing with them.
But in terms of the order of $110 billion - think of that - $110 billion - all they're going to do is give it to other countries. And I think that would be very foolish for our country. But there are other things we can do that will be very severe.
Q What's an example of something you could do?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, there are many things we can do. Would you like to speak up about that? James, do you have any suggestions? There are many, many things. I don't know if you want to - you know, I don't want to put you on the spot, but if you guys would like to tell them some of the many things we can do. There's a big list.
SENATOR LANKFORD: Yeah, there's a big list. Obviously, we have a longstanding partnership with Saudi Arabia in a lot of areas. My first preference though is not talk about what we would do. Let's find out what did happen first.
THE PRESIDENT: That's a very good idea.
SENATOR LANKFORD: And I think the key thing is, he's still - his fiancée is still waiting to be able to find out what happens. And there's a lot of speculation. But until we know, I hate to take the next step on it, and just to be able to see.
Q Mr. President, would you meet with the family in the Oval Office?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I would. In fact, we've invited his fiancée. We've invited her. So - she actually wrote a letter to myself and the First Lady. And - beautiful letter. And we have invited her, and I believe they're working it out, where she'll be coming. I mean, I'd love to have her. Great news, where it wouldn't even be necessary. But at this point, it's looking like - it's looking like he perhaps won't be or isn't around. And that's very sad. I think we would have known by now. That was our first hope; our first hope was that he was not killed. But maybe that's not looking - it's not looking too good, right? From what we're hearing.
SENATOR LANKFORD: A lot still to learn, I think, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: But there's a lot to learn. There really is. Okay?
Q Mr. President, what about the others imprisoned in Turkey? The other U.S. citizens - three employees of U.S. consulates in Turkey. What efforts are being made to -
THE PRESIDENT: We're working - as you speak, we are working on that. And, by the way, other people that are in prisons in other countries, other than Turkey - we have other people that have been there for many years. We've done very well. We actually have at least 18. And the 18 were people that they said would never, ever be freed. And, by the way, Pastor Brunson was one of them. We were talking before. How many years was it? You can say the number you told me. It's a very scary number.
PASTOR BRUNSON: Well, they wanted 35 years.
THE PRESIDENT: They wanted him in jail for 35 years.
So, you know, we have many people throughout the world, in other countries, and we are working very hard. This group - all of this group - we're working very hard to take care of that situation.
Q Mr. President, is there a red line in terms of Saudi behavior that would cause you to reconsider that proposed arms sales?
THE PRESIDENT: We're going to just see what happened. We have to see what happened. As James said, it's really best to - let's determine what happened first. There's plenty of things we can do that are very tough. Let's see what happened first.
Q Have you seen the video or audio recordings?
THE PRESIDENT: I have not. Have you seen the video?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Mr. President, I have not seen it.
THE PRESIDENT: I mean, I've heard - we've all heard a lot about the audio. Nobody has seen it yet. So we do want to see it. I guess it's a combination of seeing it and hearing it. And maybe a lot can be -
Q And have you asked (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, we're going to be seeing it very soon.
Q Have you spoken (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I haven't. I haven't spoken.
Q Do you plan on it?
THE PRESIDENT: I mean, I've spoken to him many times about this, but I haven't called him yet. I will be. I will be. And I will be also calling King Salman of Saudi Arabia, because I think it's appropriate for me to ask him what is going on.
Q Do you have any idea when that call might take place, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: Probably tonight or tomorrow.
Go ahead.
Q Pastor Brunson, do you plan to stay in the U.S. now?
PASTOR BRUNSON: For a time. We don't know what's ahead of us.
I would like to say something. Someone asked before about other American prisoners in Turkey. And I know that from dealing with the consulate there - and they've been very involved with us, excellent consulate staff there; and Martin Thomen is here - that they weren't only engaging for me; that they're engaging for everyone there.
So, as - I know this just from talking with the consulate staff when they would come to visit me in prison that they were involved very much in advocating for the other prisoners there.
THE PRESIDENT: And I have to say, with respect to Turkey or Saudi Arabia, when you look at what's going on in Iran and other places, it's really bad. It is really bad. There are a lot of bad things going on in that part of the world. And frankly, in other parts of the world also.
Any other questions?
Q Mr. President, what did you do different than other administrations? You talked about the 19 people that you've seen - Americans held abroad that you've seen released. What did you do differently than previous administrations?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, they're tending not to take them -
Q And you said you made no deals, so -
THE PRESIDENT: They are tending not to take them out of our administration. And that's good. I like that. And I think I could tell you why, but I won't.
But they tend not to take them out of our administration. And you know what? It's going to stay that way, okay?
Q Mr. President, did you (inaudible) last night?
THE PRESIDENT: What?
Q Did you watch the interview with the First Lady on ABC last night?
THE PRESIDENT: I did.
Q What did you think?
THE PRESIDENT: I thought she was fantastic. I thought the First Lady was fantastic last night. I hope I do as well on "60 Minutes" tomorrow night. (Laughter.) I doubt I will, but that's okay.
Q Mr. President, will you still be sending Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to the conference in Riyadh later this month?
THE PRESIDENT: What do you think about that?
SECRETARY POMPEO: I think we need to continue to evaluate the facts and we'll make that decision. As I talked with Secretary Mnuchin about it last night, we'll be taking a look at it through the rest of the week.
Q Mr. President, now that the Pastor has been released, what is the future for U.S. sanctions on Turkey?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we were very tough on Turkey, and we'll take a look. There was absolutely no deal made. Frankly, the only deal, if you can call it a deal, is a psychological one. We feel much different about Turkey today than we did yesterday. And I think we have a chance of really becoming much closer to Turkey, and maybe even having a very, very good relationship. We know the people. And as the Pastor said, these are incredible people. The people of Turkey are incredible people. And I think we have a chance now to really have a great relationship with Turkey. I hope that happens. Okay?
Thank you. Richard, do you have anything to say? I'd like to maybe - you and Thom, you worked so hard. Richard Burr?
SENATOR BURR: Well, we welcome the Pastor back to North Carolina. He's been missed. But his work in Turkey, like everywhere else in the world, to spread the word of Jesus Christ is absolutely crucial and it's a foundational thing about this country, the United States. And I think that's why we love it so much. Welcome home.
PASTOR BRUNSON: Carolina Blue. (Laughter.)
SENATOR BURR: That's right.
THE PRESIDENT: That's right. Thom?
SENATOR TILLIS: Pastor Brunson, you mentioned the State team. I just want to echo that the folks on the ground in Turkey, the two times that I was there, were amazing to work with. And they deserve a lot of credit. You know how many times they've met with you in the prison, and ow much time they've spent with Norine. And we're very proud of them. They've done an extraordinary job. (Applause.)
PASTOR BRUNSON: Martin visited many times.
THE PRESIDENT: In fact, doesn't speak good English anymore. (Laughter.) He forgot English. You spent a lot of time over there. Fantastic.
THOMEN: Thank you, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Great job. Patrick?
REPRESENATIVE MCHENRY: What a special guy. What a special man of Christ. When he comes to the Oval Office and instead of saying "thank you" just for your prayers, he says, "Let me pray for you, Mr. President." What a special statement. And what a special statement about what you've done personally.
As a delegation in North Carolina, we've worked on this release for a very long time. But things changed when this administration came in. And the direct involvement of the Secretary of State, and the direct involvement of you, Mr. President, and the Vice President, has made all the difference. We're so grateful to see the happy family all back together once again.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Patrick. That's very nice. Mark?
