REAL News for REAL People
Remarks by President Trump in Cabinet Meeting
But just to answer your question: Over a period of time. I never said I'm getting out tomorrow. I said we're pulling our soldiers out, and they will be pulled back in Syria, and we're getting out of Syria. Yeah. Absolutely. But we're getting out very powerfully.
Yes, ma'am.
Q Mr. President, would you accept anything less than that $2.5 billion for border security?
THE PRESIDENT: No, not 2.5. No. We're asking for 5.6. And, you know, somebody said 2.5.
No. Look, this is national security we're talking about. You know, just like we talk about the military, just like we're talking about Syria or Afghanistan, or all these different places. I mean, we spend in Afghanistan more in one month than what we're talking about for the wall. Think of that. Okay? That's another way. We spend in Afghanistan more money than most countries spend, except a few. Okay? It's ridiculous.
What I'm talking about is the $5.6 billion that the House approved. And I have to tell you, the House was very aggressive. They stepped up and they went in, and they approved and - I'm not holding Nancy to this, but she said, "You'll never get the Republicans to vote for it." I never saw anything so beautiful in my life. That spurred them on. The spirit they had - and I'd like Mitt Romney to join in that spirit because, you know, we're doing some great things. We don't need another Democrat. And you know what? I want the Democrats to join in it, too.
The $5.6 billion is such a small number. Literally, it's a month - it's one month in Afghanistan. And we're talking about national security. This isn't just a border; this is national security. This is health and wellness. This is everything.
Q So does that mean nothing below $5.6 billion?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we're going to see. Look, let's see. Maybe they have an idea. And I talk also DACA, but I just think that we're better off waiting for the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court rules that President Obama was wrong, which they should - because, by the way, if he was right, then I've been given tremendous power. Can you imagine me having that power? Wouldn't that be scary? Right?
No, if President Obama is allowed to do what he did on DACA, then I'm allowed to do whatever I want to do on things that, you know, probably a President, as he said - probably a President doesn't have the right to do.
Q So how long do you think the government is going to stay partially shut down?
THE PRESIDENT: It could be a long time, or it could be quickly. Could be a long time.
It's too important a subject to walk away from. I was here on Christmas evening. I was all by myself in the White House. It's a big, big house. Except for all the guys out on the lawn with machine guns. Nicest machine guns I've ever seen. (Laughter.) I was waving to them. I never saw so many guys with machine guns in my life.
Secret Service and military - these are great people. And they don't play games. They don't, like, wave. They don't even smile. (Laughter.) But I was there all alone with the machine gunners, and I felt very safe. And I have to tell you, they're great people, and there are a lot of them.
But I was hoping that maybe somebody would come back and negotiate, but they didn't do that. And that's okay. Look, look, this is really something that should be bipartisan, and we'll see if it is. I hope it is. I hope it is.
Okay?
Q Mr. President, are you willing to keep the government shutdown until the Supreme Court rules on DACA?
THE PRESIDENT: No, because I think Supreme Court - no, I think this should be settled. By the way, if the Supreme Court would do a great favor to this country, if they would say "the President should not have done that," we will settle this whole thing, including, really, a big immigration policy, not just border security, which is very important because we would do something with DACA. A lot of the Republicans - most Republicans are fine with some deal on DACA. DACA is okay. These are people that have been in the country a long time. In many cases, they don't even speak the language of the country from which their parents came.
Q So how are you viewing this meeting later this afternoon? Is this - you mentioned Border Patrol coming in, ICE. Is this an education campaign? Is this a negotiation? Are you issuing demands to Democrats?
THE PRESIDENT: All this is, is to tell Chuck and Nancy, and some others - from ICE and from Border Patrol, and also from some local law enforcement - how bad it is, how dangerous it is, and why we need a wall. But they know that. Look, look - when they say the wall is immoral, well then you better - got to do something about the Vatican, because the Vatican has the biggest wall of them all.
"The wall is immoral." Look at all of the countries that have walls. And they work 100 percent. It's never going to change. A wall is a wall. The other is just - I mean, we can have all the drones flying over the people last night as they tried to rush the border. The only thing that stopped them was the wall. If we have drones up there, it's wonderful. We'll get nice pictures.
Q The 5.6 is a small amount compared to the problem. How long are you willing to keep the government shut down -
THE PRESIDENT: It was never 25. You know, a lot of people just - a lot of people thought it was $25 billion. And that wasn't - that was for overall homeland security. That was for much more than the wall. The wall was a piece of that. So, you know, a lot people said, "He should've taken the $25 billion." Well, that covered a lot more territory than the wall.
Q How long are you willing to keep the government shut down, then, in order to get that $5.6 billion?
THE PRESIDENT: As long as it takes. I mean, look, I'm prepared. I think the people of the country think I'm right. I think the people of this country think I'm right. Again, I could've done nothing. I could've had a lot easier presidency by doing nothing. But I'm here. I want to do it right.
And I'm not only talking here, I'm talking about Middle East problems and other problems, and North Korea problems.
Q Can I just ask on Mr. Romney too, why do think he'll eventually become a team player? And do you expect -
THE PRESIDENT: I don't know that he will. I hope he does.
Q Do you expect to get challenged from within the Republican Party in 2020?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't see it. I think I have the highest rating in the history of - I was just looking at that poll. Yeah, I think - I mean, I don't know why, but they like me.
They say I'm the most popular President in the history of the Republican Party. You see the same polls as I do. A number that is hard to believe considering I never get fair press or good press. How do I have these numbers and I get bad press?
Because people see the job we're doing. People see that gasoline is way down. And the reason it's way down is because I called up some of the OPEC people. I say, "Don't do it." You know, if you look back a few months, gasoline was at $83 a barrel. That was going to be bad. And it was going to $100, and some people were saying $125, Rick.
And I make calls. I said, "You better let that oil and that gasoline flow." And they did. And now it's down to $44. And I put out a social media statement yesterday; I said, "Do you think it's luck that that happens?" It's not luck. It's not luck. I called up certain people, and I said, "Let that damn oil and gasoline - you let it flow - the oil." It was going up to $125. If that would've happened, then you would've had a recession, depression, like we've had in the past when that happened.
Q These are all numbers that Senator Romney is aware of. Why do you think he is going to come around and become a team player?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't know if he's going to become a team player. I hope he does. If he does, I think it's going to be better for him. I think people are very upset with what he did. He hasn't even gotten to office yet. He hasn't even gotten to office. And he was very happy when I endorsed him.
So, you know, I don't know what changed - other than we've succeed in many of the things that I said we were going to do. And let me tell you, we're succeeding in others. We're really succeeding in things that people thought were impossible to do.
So I think that Mitt Romney hopefully will be a team player. And if he's not, that's okay too. Look, I handle it. I mean, I just got rid of - I wouldn't say - they say they retired. They say that Bob Corker retired. They say that Jeff Flake, wonderful guy - I never even met him and he's hitting me. He was going to tell people how to win in 2020 because 2016 can't - he wrote a book about it. Didn't work out too well that book, because we won in 2016 because we didn't want until 2020.
So Jeff Flake is now selling real estate, or whatever he's doing. He'll probably go to work for CNN. That's my prediction. Bob Corker, unfortunately - you know, I had a good relationship, and then he thought he was going to get some publicity for himself, And his ratings tubed, where he couldn't have come in fourth in the primary.
He was going to be a senator. Bob Corker was going to be a senator for another 20 years. And then, for some reason, he hit me because he thought it was going to be good publicity. It didn't work out too well.
So, with Mitt, I hope he's a team player. But if he's not, that okay, too. I will tell you, we have some great Republicans. And if you look at the way they're standing up for border security, you'd be very proud of them - if you're a Republican or if you're a person that loves our nation.
Thank you very much everybody. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Q What are you going to do about those markets?
THE PRESIDENT: I think it will be good.
Q They'll bounce back?
THE PRESIDENT: We want to - look, we need a little help from the Fed. Fed. I hope the Fed is going to be -
But we - they're going to be good. The trade deals are kicking in - when they kick in, when we (inaudible).
Thank you very much everybody.
Go Back
Yes, ma'am.
Q Mr. President, would you accept anything less than that $2.5 billion for border security?
THE PRESIDENT: No, not 2.5. No. We're asking for 5.6. And, you know, somebody said 2.5.
No. Look, this is national security we're talking about. You know, just like we talk about the military, just like we're talking about Syria or Afghanistan, or all these different places. I mean, we spend in Afghanistan more in one month than what we're talking about for the wall. Think of that. Okay? That's another way. We spend in Afghanistan more money than most countries spend, except a few. Okay? It's ridiculous.
What I'm talking about is the $5.6 billion that the House approved. And I have to tell you, the House was very aggressive. They stepped up and they went in, and they approved and - I'm not holding Nancy to this, but she said, "You'll never get the Republicans to vote for it." I never saw anything so beautiful in my life. That spurred them on. The spirit they had - and I'd like Mitt Romney to join in that spirit because, you know, we're doing some great things. We don't need another Democrat. And you know what? I want the Democrats to join in it, too.
The $5.6 billion is such a small number. Literally, it's a month - it's one month in Afghanistan. And we're talking about national security. This isn't just a border; this is national security. This is health and wellness. This is everything.
Q So does that mean nothing below $5.6 billion?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we're going to see. Look, let's see. Maybe they have an idea. And I talk also DACA, but I just think that we're better off waiting for the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court rules that President Obama was wrong, which they should - because, by the way, if he was right, then I've been given tremendous power. Can you imagine me having that power? Wouldn't that be scary? Right?
No, if President Obama is allowed to do what he did on DACA, then I'm allowed to do whatever I want to do on things that, you know, probably a President, as he said - probably a President doesn't have the right to do.
Q So how long do you think the government is going to stay partially shut down?
THE PRESIDENT: It could be a long time, or it could be quickly. Could be a long time.
It's too important a subject to walk away from. I was here on Christmas evening. I was all by myself in the White House. It's a big, big house. Except for all the guys out on the lawn with machine guns. Nicest machine guns I've ever seen. (Laughter.) I was waving to them. I never saw so many guys with machine guns in my life.
Secret Service and military - these are great people. And they don't play games. They don't, like, wave. They don't even smile. (Laughter.) But I was there all alone with the machine gunners, and I felt very safe. And I have to tell you, they're great people, and there are a lot of them.
But I was hoping that maybe somebody would come back and negotiate, but they didn't do that. And that's okay. Look, look, this is really something that should be bipartisan, and we'll see if it is. I hope it is. I hope it is.
Okay?
Q Mr. President, are you willing to keep the government shutdown until the Supreme Court rules on DACA?
THE PRESIDENT: No, because I think Supreme Court - no, I think this should be settled. By the way, if the Supreme Court would do a great favor to this country, if they would say "the President should not have done that," we will settle this whole thing, including, really, a big immigration policy, not just border security, which is very important because we would do something with DACA. A lot of the Republicans - most Republicans are fine with some deal on DACA. DACA is okay. These are people that have been in the country a long time. In many cases, they don't even speak the language of the country from which their parents came.
Q So how are you viewing this meeting later this afternoon? Is this - you mentioned Border Patrol coming in, ICE. Is this an education campaign? Is this a negotiation? Are you issuing demands to Democrats?
THE PRESIDENT: All this is, is to tell Chuck and Nancy, and some others - from ICE and from Border Patrol, and also from some local law enforcement - how bad it is, how dangerous it is, and why we need a wall. But they know that. Look, look - when they say the wall is immoral, well then you better - got to do something about the Vatican, because the Vatican has the biggest wall of them all.
"The wall is immoral." Look at all of the countries that have walls. And they work 100 percent. It's never going to change. A wall is a wall. The other is just - I mean, we can have all the drones flying over the people last night as they tried to rush the border. The only thing that stopped them was the wall. If we have drones up there, it's wonderful. We'll get nice pictures.
Q The 5.6 is a small amount compared to the problem. How long are you willing to keep the government shut down -
THE PRESIDENT: It was never 25. You know, a lot of people just - a lot of people thought it was $25 billion. And that wasn't - that was for overall homeland security. That was for much more than the wall. The wall was a piece of that. So, you know, a lot people said, "He should've taken the $25 billion." Well, that covered a lot more territory than the wall.
Q How long are you willing to keep the government shut down, then, in order to get that $5.6 billion?
THE PRESIDENT: As long as it takes. I mean, look, I'm prepared. I think the people of the country think I'm right. I think the people of this country think I'm right. Again, I could've done nothing. I could've had a lot easier presidency by doing nothing. But I'm here. I want to do it right.
And I'm not only talking here, I'm talking about Middle East problems and other problems, and North Korea problems.
Q Can I just ask on Mr. Romney too, why do think he'll eventually become a team player? And do you expect -
THE PRESIDENT: I don't know that he will. I hope he does.
Q Do you expect to get challenged from within the Republican Party in 2020?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't see it. I think I have the highest rating in the history of - I was just looking at that poll. Yeah, I think - I mean, I don't know why, but they like me.
They say I'm the most popular President in the history of the Republican Party. You see the same polls as I do. A number that is hard to believe considering I never get fair press or good press. How do I have these numbers and I get bad press?
Because people see the job we're doing. People see that gasoline is way down. And the reason it's way down is because I called up some of the OPEC people. I say, "Don't do it." You know, if you look back a few months, gasoline was at $83 a barrel. That was going to be bad. And it was going to $100, and some people were saying $125, Rick.
And I make calls. I said, "You better let that oil and that gasoline flow." And they did. And now it's down to $44. And I put out a social media statement yesterday; I said, "Do you think it's luck that that happens?" It's not luck. It's not luck. I called up certain people, and I said, "Let that damn oil and gasoline - you let it flow - the oil." It was going up to $125. If that would've happened, then you would've had a recession, depression, like we've had in the past when that happened.
Q These are all numbers that Senator Romney is aware of. Why do you think he is going to come around and become a team player?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't know if he's going to become a team player. I hope he does. If he does, I think it's going to be better for him. I think people are very upset with what he did. He hasn't even gotten to office yet. He hasn't even gotten to office. And he was very happy when I endorsed him.
So, you know, I don't know what changed - other than we've succeed in many of the things that I said we were going to do. And let me tell you, we're succeeding in others. We're really succeeding in things that people thought were impossible to do.
So I think that Mitt Romney hopefully will be a team player. And if he's not, that's okay too. Look, I handle it. I mean, I just got rid of - I wouldn't say - they say they retired. They say that Bob Corker retired. They say that Jeff Flake, wonderful guy - I never even met him and he's hitting me. He was going to tell people how to win in 2020 because 2016 can't - he wrote a book about it. Didn't work out too well that book, because we won in 2016 because we didn't want until 2020.
So Jeff Flake is now selling real estate, or whatever he's doing. He'll probably go to work for CNN. That's my prediction. Bob Corker, unfortunately - you know, I had a good relationship, and then he thought he was going to get some publicity for himself, And his ratings tubed, where he couldn't have come in fourth in the primary.
He was going to be a senator. Bob Corker was going to be a senator for another 20 years. And then, for some reason, he hit me because he thought it was going to be good publicity. It didn't work out too well.
So, with Mitt, I hope he's a team player. But if he's not, that okay, too. I will tell you, we have some great Republicans. And if you look at the way they're standing up for border security, you'd be very proud of them - if you're a Republican or if you're a person that loves our nation.
Thank you very much everybody. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Q What are you going to do about those markets?
THE PRESIDENT: I think it will be good.
Q They'll bounce back?
THE PRESIDENT: We want to - look, we need a little help from the Fed. Fed. I hope the Fed is going to be -
But we - they're going to be good. The trade deals are kicking in - when they kick in, when we (inaudible).
Thank you very much everybody.
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