{"id":84899,"date":"2019-08-11T08:51:07","date_gmt":"2019-08-11T15:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.46.6.243\/?p=84899"},"modified":"2019-08-11T08:53:22","modified_gmt":"2019-08-11T15:53:22","slug":"president-trump-before-marine-one-departure-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=84899","title":{"rendered":"President Trump on China, Borders, Trade &#038; More"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;So, we\u2019re doing very well with China.  We\u2019re talking to China.  We\u2019re not ready to make a deal, but we\u2019ll see what happens.  But, you know, we\u2019ve been hurt by China for 25, 30 years.  Nobody has done anything about it.  And we have no choice but to do what we\u2019re doing.  It\u2019s working out very well, as you know.  We called them on manipulation and they brought their numbers back, and they brought them back rapidly.  And they were able to do that because they manipulate.  But that\u2019s \u2014 so it\u2019s called \u201cmonetary manipulation.\u201d  Not good.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AcbxD4ynLIU\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>But what happened and what\u2019s happening with China now \u2014 we have an open dialogue.  We\u2019ll see whether or not we keep our meeting in September.  If we do, that\u2019s fine.  If we don\u2019t, that\u2019s fine.  But it\u2019s time that somebody does what we\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n<p>And I said, the American taxpayer is not paying for it.  We had a big day in stock market yesterday, but the American taxpayer is not paying for it.<\/p>\n<p>What China is doing is, by depressing their currency and by pouring tremendous amounts of money into their system, they\u2019re paying for it.  The prices have not gone up.  So when the Amer- \u2014 in fact, in some cases, they\u2019ve gone down because the devaluation, plus the money supply \u2014 the amount of money that they pour in, which is a form of manipulation \u2014 has more than compensated for an increase in price.<\/p>\n<p>So, as I said \u2014 and everybody questioned it \u2014 in the case of China, the tariffs have been amazing.  We\u2019re taking in billions and billions of dollars.  Now, China has had their worst year in 35 years now.  It was in 26 years, but now it\u2019s in 35 years.  I want them to do well.  But as of this moment, they\u2019re having the worst year that they\u2019ve had in many, many years \u2014 in decades.  And really, we\u2019re just bringing the system back into order.<\/p>\n<p>We have all the cards.  We\u2019re doing well.  Our country is doing fantastically well.  You look at Europe; they\u2019ve got problems.  In fact, the biggest problem we have is the fact that a lot of other \u2014 continents, frankly \u2014 but a lot of other countries are not doing well.  But we\u2019re doing great, and we continue to do great.  Our companies are poised.  They have a lot of cash.  Our system is beautiful.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, the NRA has been a strong supporter and ally of yours, going all the way back to the campaign.  Can you take a position at odds with the NRA on background checks?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I think I could, but I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll be there.  I have a great relationship with the NRA.  They supported me very early, and that\u2019s been a great decision they made.  We have Justice Kavanaugh.  We have Justice Gorsuch.  And they feel very strongly about the Second Amendment.<\/p>\n<p>The NRA has made a great decision in supporting me, and nobody else would have won, aside from everything else.  I have a very good relationship.  I\u2019ll change it: I have a great relationship with the NRA.  I have a lot of respect for the people at the NRA.  And I have already spoken to them on numerous occasions.  Numerous occasions.<\/p>\n<p>And, frankly, we need intelligent background checks, okay?  This isn\u2019t a question of NRA, Republican, or Democrat.  I will tell you, I spoke to Mitch McConnell yesterday.  He\u2019s totally onboard.  He said, \u201cI\u2019ve been waiting for your call.\u201d  He is totally onboard.  I spoke to senators that, in some cases, people \u2014 friends of mine \u2014 but pretty hardline senators.  Hardline.  And when I say that, I say that in a positive way.  Hardline on the Second Amendment.  And they understand.<\/p>\n<p>We don\u2019t want insane people, mentally ill people, bad people, dangerous people \u2014 we don\u2019t want guns in the hands of the wrong people.  I think that the Republicans are going to be great and lead the charge along with the Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>I spoke yesterday to Nancy Pelosi.  We had a great talk.  I spoke to Chuck Schumer.  We had a great talk.  And Chuck Schumer, in particular, loves my China policy, as you probably know.  I said, \u201cI can\u2019t believe it.  You actually like something that I\u2019m doing.\u201d  He said, \u201cNot \u2018like.\u2019  Love.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So Chuck Schumer is \u2014 he\u2019s great on the China situation, which we are winning and winning big.  And China wants to do something, but I\u2019m not ready to do anything yet.  Twenty-five years of abuse.  I\u2019m not ready so fast.  So we\u2019ll see how that works out.<\/p>\n<p>But on the background checks \u2014 on background checks, we have tremendous support for really commonsense, sensible, important background checks.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, you expressed support for background checks after Parkland.  Why is now different?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Time goes by.  I don\u2019t think I\u2019m different, but I think the Senate is different.  I think other people in the House are different.  I think that people that maybe had their arm up a couple of years ago, maybe they feel differently.  I don\u2019t think I feel any differently.<\/p>\n<p>I think with a lot of success that we have, I think I have a greater influence now over the Senate and over the House.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Can it get done now?  Can it get done now?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I think we can get something really good done.  I think we can have some really meaningful background checks.  We don\u2019t want people that are mentally ill, people that are sick \u2014 we don\u2019t want them having guns.  Who does?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, but if the NRA does not support that effort, will you fight them on it?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Well, we\u2019ll see where the NRA will be.  But we have to have meaningful background checks.  You know, in the case of \u2014 in both cases, it\u2019s possible they wouldn\u2019t have been caught.<\/p>\n<p>But in the one case, we also have to talk about age, because he did things that were very, very bad in Ohio, in Dayton.  He did some things that were really bad.  His school knew about it.  When he turned 18, everything was expunged.  We\u2019re going to have to get rid of that because you can\u2019t have that barrier.  If they would have had that barrier, they would have been able to see.  But because he was a minor, it was expunged.  We\u2019re going to have to get rid of that barrier.<\/p>\n<p>I think this: I think a lot of really meaningful things on background checks will take place, including red flags, including a lot of other very, very important items.  And the Republicans are looking at it very seriously.  And I really believe that the NRA \u2014 I\u2019ve spoken to them numerous times \u2014 they\u2019re really good people.  They\u2019re great patriots.  They love our country.  They love our country so much.  And, frankly, I really think they\u2019re going to get there also.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, when you talked to Wayne LaPierre \u2014 you talked to him several times \u2014 did he warn you that background checks could cost you, politically?  And did you say to him, \u201cForget politics, we have to do something now\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  No.  No.  I had a good talk with Wayne.  And I like Wayne.  And, you know \u2014 as you know, they supported me very early \u2014 far earlier than anybody thought possible, especially me not being a politician.  And that support has paid off.  We now have two Supreme Court justices that are phenomenal \u2014 Kavanaugh and Gorsuch.  And, I mean, they\u2019re phenomenal people, and they\u2019re big believers in the Second Amendment, which Wayne is also and which I am.<\/p>\n<p>I mean, there\u2019s been \u2014 there\u2019s been no President that feels more strongly about the Second Amendment than I do.  However, we need meaningful background checks so that sick people don\u2019t get guns.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Will he support you?  Will Wayne support you?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I think, in the end \u2014 I think, in the end, Wayne and the NRA will either be there or maybe will be a little bit more neutral, and that would be okay, too.<\/p>\n<p>Look \u2014 look, the NRA has, over the years, taken a very, very tough stance on everything, and I understand it.  You know, it\u2019s a slippery slope.  They think you\u2019ll prove one thing, and that leads to a lot of bad things.  I don\u2019t agree with that.<\/p>\n<p>I think we can do meaningful \u2014 very meaningful background checks.  I want to see it happen.<\/p>\n<p>So I\u2019ve got a lot of support.  And I also have the support of other people on the other side.  And I think the Democrats and Republicans have a chance to really come together.<\/p>\n<p>Q    On Mississippi, why wasn\u2019t there a better plan in place to deal with the migrant children in Mississippi?  Why was there family separation?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  The reason is because you have to go in; you can\u2019t let anybody know.  Otherwise, when you get there, nobody will be there.  But a big factor is to let people outside of the country that want to come in legally \u2014 illegally into our country, where they come in in caravans where they surge the border \u2014 which, by the way, we have the numbers way down right now, if you see, because Mexico has done a fantastic job.<\/p>\n<p>Mexico has 26,000 soldiers, right now, on the border.  They have been fantastic \u2014 because of tariffs.  But I don\u2019t care what it is, because Mexico \u2014 in fact, I\u2019ll be calling the President at a certain point.  I just hope they keep it up.  Because if the Democrats will change the laws \u2014 which I was thinking about putting together, as you know, with the gun situation.  So we have immigration and we have, let\u2019s say, some of the things we\u2019re talking about right now \u2014 you have them together.<\/p>\n<p>But I want people to know that if they come into the United States illegally, they\u2019re getting out; they\u2019re going to be brought out.  And this serves as a very good deterrent.  If people come into our country illegally, they\u2019re going out.  They\u2019re not coming in illegally and staying.  We have bad laws.  They may get in \u2014 although we\u2019re being very tough \u2014 but they may get in, but it doesn\u2019t matter because they\u2019re going out.  And when people see what they saw yesterday, and like they will see for a long time, they know that they\u2019re not staying here.<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible) black Americans give you another chance in 2020?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, I think they really like \u2014 you know, it\u2019s really amazing because African American unemployment just came out very recently \u2014 the lowest in history.  It\u2019s the best \u2014 the best numbers in history.  African American employment \u2014 and Hispanic and Asian, too \u2014 have more people working today than ever worked in the history of our country.<br \/>\nPlus, I did criminal justice reform, which President Obama could not get approved \u2014 which the media never talks about.  If President Obama got criminal justice reform done, it would be front-page stories all over the place.  I got it done.  I think that African Americans appreciate it.<\/p>\n<p>So I got that.  I have the best unemployment numbers.  I have the best employment numbers for a lot of people.  But for African Americans: number one that we\u2019ve ever had.<\/p>\n<p>One other thing we did, aside from criminal justice reform: Opportunity Zones.  And they are doing unbelievably well.  And you\u2019ll see that, and you\u2019ve already seen it.  But Opportunity Zones.  And the biggest beneficiary there is African Americans.<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible.)<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I think so.  Yeah.  I do.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, do you plan invite your Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House?  And what would be your advice for him \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Who are you talking about?<\/p>\n<p>Q    The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Do you plan to invite him to the White House?  And what would be your advice for him on how to communicate with Vladimir Putin to stop the conflict in Eastern Ukraine?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I think he\u2019s going to make a deal with President Putin, and he will be invited to the White House.  And we look forward to seeing him.  He\u2019s already been invited to the White House, and he wants to come.  And I think he will.  He\u2019s a very reasonable guy.  He wants to see peace in Ukraine.  And I think he will be coming very soon, actually.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Did you watch Mr. Biden\u2019s comments overnight?  And does it make you want to change your own rhetoric?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, he comments \u2014 look.  Look, Joe is not playing with a full deck.  He made that comment.  I said, \u201cWhoa.\u201d  I saw it because I was on \u2014 something; I had a television.  I saw his comment.  Joe Biden is not playing with a full deck.  This is not somebody you can have as your President.  But if he got the nomination, I\u2019d be thrilled.<\/p>\n<p>Q    What are you going to do, Mr. President, to keep conservatives from being banned on Twitter?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  We\u2019re looking at that right now.  We have a lot of these companies coming in a little while, as you know.<\/p>\n<p>Q    What are you going to say to them?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  We\u2019re going to be very tough with them.  They\u2019re treating conservatives very unfairly.<\/p>\n<p>Hollywood \u2014 I don\u2019t call them the \u201celites\u201d; I think the elites are people they go after, in many cases.  But Hollywood is really terrible.  You talk about racist \u2014 Hollywood is racist.  What they\u2019re doing, with the kind of movies they\u2019re putting out \u2014 it\u2019s actually very dangerous for our country.  What Hollywood is doing is a tremendous disturbance to our country.<\/p>\n<p>We have now, in a little while, all of the heads of the biggest companies coming in, and we\u2019re going to talk to them.  They treat conservatives and Republicans totally different than they treat others.  And they can\u2019t do that.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Will the Trump administration devalue the U.S. dollar?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  No.  We don\u2019t have to.  We have such a strong dollar.  The problem is, our dollar is at a level that it makes it hard.  But the advantage to doing what we have is money is pouring in because we have the safest currency in the world.  We have the standard of the world.<\/p>\n<p>But because it\u2019s so strong \u2014 it\u2019s gotten so strong because other countries have problems \u2014 it makes it harder for our manufacturers.<\/p>\n<p>So if we lowered the interest rate by the Federal Reserve, that would automatically bring down the dollar a little bit, and it would make it easier for Caterpillar and these companies.<\/p>\n<p>But we have the greatest currency in the world.  No, I wouldn\u2019t do that.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Are you thinking of cancelling the trade talk next month with China?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  So, China wants to settle this deal.  They\u2019ve had the worst year that they\u2019ve had in many, many decades.  And it\u2019s getting only worse.  Thousands of companies are leaving China.  They would like to make a deal.  I\u2019m not ready to make a deal.<\/p>\n<p>Q    But are you willing to cancel the talks next month?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Maybe.  We\u2019ll see what happens.  Right now \u2014 right now the talks are scheduled in September.  Whether or not we\u2019re talking about China, whether or not they\u2019re cancelled, we\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n<p>Look, as I said, our people are not paying for these billions and billions of dollars that came in, $16 billion of which I gave to the farmers because they were targeted by China.  And that\u2019s just a small fraction of what we\u2019ve taken in.<\/p>\n<p>So they are not \u2014 because what China has been doing \u2014 they\u2019re a currency manipulator \u2014 they\u2019ve manipulated the value of their currency, and that\u2019s where the money comes.  And also, they put tremendous money into the system.<\/p>\n<p>So if you look, prices have not risen.  Our people have not paid.  So all of these guys that say, \u201cOh, Trump, Trump, Trump\u2026\u201d \u2014 they don\u2019t know what they\u2019re talking about.<\/p>\n<p>Now, China is unique.  That doesn\u2019t mean it happens with other countries.  It probably doesn\u2019t.  But the prices have not gone up.  In fact, we have virtually no inflation in our country.  If the Federal Reserve would bring down interest rates over a period of time \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    How much?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I would love to see a point or even a little bit more than that.  If they would stop quantitative tightening, we have a rocket ship.<\/p>\n<p>I mean, we\u2019re doing well without it, but we\u2019re being handcuffed by the Federal Reserve.  If they would stop that, it would be incredible.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, do you want to expand South Korea and Japan Military Information Agreement?  Will you support them?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I hope that South Korea and I hope that Japan start getting along with each other.  You know, they\u2019re supposed to be allies.  And it puts us in a very difficult position.  South Korea and Japan are fighting all the time.  They\u2019ve got to get along because it puts us in a very bad position.<\/p>\n<p>With that being said, I got a very beautiful letter from Kim Jong Un yesterday.  It was delivered \u2014 hand-delivered from \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    What did it say?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  It was a very positive letter.<\/p>\n<p>Q    What did it say?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I\u2019d love to give it to you.  I really would.  Maybe \u2014 maybe sometime I will.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Kim Jong Un mention of a next meeting and a summit talk?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I think we\u2019ll have another meeting.  He really wrote a beautiful, three-page \u2014 I mean, right from top to bottom \u2014 a really beautiful letter.  And maybe I\u2019ll release the results of the letter, but it was a very positive letter.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Any decision on Huawei?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  We\u2019re not going to do business with Huawei.  We\u2019re not doing business with them.  And I really made the decision.  It\u2019s much simpler not to do any business with Huawei.  So we\u2019re not doing business with Huawei.  That doesn\u2019t mean we won\u2019t agree to something if and when we make a trade deal, but we\u2019re not going to be doing business with Huawei.<\/p>\n<p>Q    When will you nominate someone to replace Coats?  Are you looking at Maguire, Hoekstra?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Maguire is excellent.  Admiral.  Highly respected.  A great leader.  He\u2019s Acting right now.  Sue did a great job.  I like Sue Gordon very much.<\/p>\n<p>I think that, over a period of time \u2014 I\u2019m in no rush because we have a great Acting.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Have you interviewed Hoekstra?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I like Hoekstra a lot.  I spoke to Senator Burr about different people.  He\u2019s head of intelligence.  And we\u2019re \u2014 I\u2019m working together with Senator Burr and the whole committee.  I want to get somebody that everybody can really come together with.  I like Pete Hoekstra a lot.  He\u2019s great.  He\u2019s doing a fantastic job in the Netherlands right now.<\/p>\n<p>Q    You had mentioned it was down to three.  Is it more than two?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  No, I will tell you: That\u2019s a job that everybody wants.  DNI.  Everybody.  But I\u2019m dealing \u2014 I\u2019m dealing with the committee.  I\u2019m dealing with, really, Senator Burr a lot.  And we\u2019ll come up with somebody that\u2019s great.  We have a lot of choice.  A lot of people want the job.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Tension between Japan and South Korea, are you concerned?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, I\u2019m concerned that they\u2019re not getting along with each other.  They have to get along with each other.  If they don\u2019t get along, what are we doing?  They have to get along with each other.  It\u2019s very important.<\/p>\n<p>South Korea and Japan have to sit down and get along with each other.  Otherwise, what are we all doing?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Are you considering moving troops from Germany to Poland?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  So, Poland has been a great, great friend of ours.  They\u2019ve offered to build a military base at the cost of many billions of dollars.  No money put up by the United States whatsoever.  They\u2019ve offered to fund our troops and lots of other things \u2014 the way it should be.  Not the stupid deals that we made with all these other countries that take advantage of us.<\/p>\n<p>So, Poland has been terrific.  And we\u2019re going to be going to Poland very soon.  I\u2019m sure you\u2019re going to be going with us.  I had a great experience in Poland the last time I went.  In fact, some of you actually said the speech was one of the best ever made in Europe by an American President.  Hard to believe that you actually said that.  When you said that, I was, like, in a state of shock.<\/p>\n<p>Q    On the fundraiser tonight, did Stephen Ross say anything about potentially cancelling, given the controversy?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  No.  Stephen Ross is a great friend of mine.  He\u2019s a very successful guy.  We were competitors but friends in real estate, in New York, in the old days.  He\u2019s a great guy.  He is \u2014 by the way, I think he\u2019s probably more inclined to be a liberal, if you want to know the truth.  But he likes me, he respects me.  We\u2019re doing a fundraiser there.  We\u2019re doing another fundraiser with another friend of mine.  And I understand the fundraiser was totally sold out, and it\u2019s very successful.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Your reaction to the controversy, people boycotting?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I don\u2019t think \u2014 I think it makes Steve much hotter.  I explained \u2014 I didn\u2019t speak to him yet; I\u2019ll see him in a little while.  The controversy makes Steve Ross hotter.  He\u2019ll figure that out in about a week.  But he\u2019s very happy.  He\u2019s got a very successful \u2014 a lot of people are going.<\/p>\n<p>We have two fundraisers.  One is Steve; one is another gentleman.  And I guess they\u2019re going to raise 11 or 12 billion \u2014 million dollars.  Not billion.  Million.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m getting used to saying \u201cbillion.\u201d  We\u2019re talking about a lot of money.<\/p>\n<p>Q    When you talked about age restrictions to buy guns, 18 months ago you supported buying long guns at the age of 25, raising the age.  Are you considering bringing that back now?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  We\u2019re not talking about anything specific.  I can tell you there\u2019s tremendous goodwill for meaningful \u2014 I\u2019m talking about \u201cmeaningful\u201d; add that word \u2014 meaningful background checks so that sick and demented people don\u2019t carry around guns.<\/p>\n<p>You have to remember \u2014 and I\u2019ve said it \u2014 it\u2019s a big mental illness problem.  And the gun doesn\u2019t pull a trigger.  A mind \u2014 a sick mind pulls a trigger.  So we want to take that out of the equation.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Do you support the Toomey-Manchin bill or the House bill?  Will you lift your veto threat?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  We\u2019re looking at Toomey-Manchin.  Actually, if you look, there are many bills that have been put in over a period of four, five years.  They went nowhere.  But there\u2019s never been a President like President Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, will you call Congress back into session to pass (inaudible)?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I don\u2019t think we\u2019ll need to.  I may.  Leadership is dealing along with me right now.  By the time you call them back, they\u2019re going to be back anyway.  I don\u2019t think we\u2019ll need to call them back.  I think we\u2019ll have a very good package by the time they come back and they can start debating and voting on it then.  So I really don\u2019t think, for the extra little time, it matters.<\/p>\n<p>Leadership is doing a really good job \u2014 Mitch McConnell, Kevin, Nancy.  I spoke with Nancy Pelosi yesterday.  I spoke with Chuck Schumer yesterday.  There\u2019s a lot of goodwill about this issue.<\/p>\n<p>Q    And do you think that \u2014 I mean, do you need to give a speech to do something to marshal support for this?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I don\u2019t think so.  No.  No.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Will you lead the charge?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I think we have a lot of support.  I mean, I\u2019m very fortunate.  In the Republican Party, I\u2019m at 94 percent approval rating, so that helps.  But I have a great relationship with the Republican senators.  And I really think they\u2019re looking for me to make \u2014 give them a signal.  And we\u2019re going to have great support, and I think we\u2019ll have the support from the Democrats also.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, you also said this after Parkland.  Why should Americans believe you now?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  No, no.  I never said what I\u2019m saying now.<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible) background checks after Parkland.<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  What I\u2019m saying \u2014 what I said, though: You have tremendous opposition from many people on both sides.  I see a better feeling right now towards getting something meaningful done.  Meaningful.  And we did do things after Parkland, but it wasn\u2019t to the same level that I\u2019m talking about now.<\/p>\n<p>You know, we did do the Fix NICS and various other things.  So we did do a lot of work after Parkland.  But I think we have now a chance to do something, really, much more meaningful \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    Support among Republicans or \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  \u2014 having to do \u2014 having to do, as you know, with background checks.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, it\u2019s almost back-to-school season.  What is your message to young children and teenagers who are anxious or nervous about going back to school after these mass shootings?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Well, my message to young children going back to school is: Go and really study hard, and someday you\u2019ll grow up and maybe be President of the United States or do something else that\u2019s fantastic.<\/p>\n<p>They have nothing to fear.  They have nothing to worry about.  In addition, we\u2019re in constant contact with states, with state governments.  And they are really doing a great job.  We have this so much better than it was two and a half years ago.  Two and a half years ago, when I came in, it was really not a good situation.  I think we have a very, very good system right now.  That doesn\u2019t mean that there\u2019s not going to be some crazy person, but that\u2019s what we want to do.  We want to take the guns out of the hands of crazy, demented, sick people.<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible) assault weapons ban \u2014 will you be telling the NRA to stand down?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, we\u2019re not looking at that right now.  We\u2019re really looking at very meaningful background checks.  I think it\u2019s going to happen.  There\u2019s great, great support.  But we\u2019re looking at very, very meaningful background checks.<\/p>\n<p>Q    What is the advantage to having Maguire as the head of DNI versus Gordon?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Well, Admiral \u2014 as you know, Maguire \u2014 Admiral Maguire is a very talented man.  He\u2019s a great leader.  As an Admiral, was always a great leader.  He is a man who is respected by everybody, and he\u2019s going to be there for a period of time.  Who knows?  Maybe he gets the job.  But he\u2019ll be there for a period of time \u2014 maybe a longer period of time than we think.  We\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re dealing with Senator Burr.  We\u2019re dealing with the committee.  We\u2019re dealing with probably 9 or 10 people that want the job very much.  You know the name of almost every one of them.  They\u2019re truly outstanding.  Everybody wants DNI.  Everybody wants it.<\/p>\n<p>And I will say that the Admiral is such a great choice from the standpoint of now.  And maybe he goes further.  We\u2019ll see what happens.  But we\u2019re dealing with the committee and Senator Burr.  We have people, all of whom you know \u2014 highly respected people.  We\u2019ll be making a decision in the not-too-distant future.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Are you still committed to naming Eugene Scalia Secretary of Labor?  And when will you send a nomination to the Senate?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  So, Eugene Scalia is a highly respected lawyer in Washington.  His father, as you know, was the great, great, great Supreme Court Justice.  Even the people with not his views would say he was a great gentleman, a great man.<\/p>\n<p>Eugene Scalia \u2014 Gene Scalia \u2014 has had a fantastic career.  As you know, he\u2019s our appointment for Labor Secretary.  I think \u2014 so far, it\u2019s been received very well.  He is a very \u2014 he\u2019s one of the finest minds and lawyers in Washington.  And I will say, so far, that\u2019s been received very well.<\/p>\n<p>Q    On North Korea, this letter to you, did Kim Jong Un make any promises about stopping the ballistic missile testing that he\u2019s been carrying out?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, he gave me a great letter.  I would love to give you, but, I don\u2019t know, I don\u2019t think it would be appropriate.  But it was a very personal letter.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Talked about missile testing?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  It was a great letter.  He talked about what he\u2019s doing.  He\u2019s not happy with the testing.  It\u2019s a very small testing that we did.  But he wasn\u2019t happy with the testing; he put that in the letter.  But he also sees a great future for North Korea.  And so we\u2019ll see how it all works out.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, I say it again: There have been no nuclear tests.  The missile tests have all been short-range.  No ballistic missile tests.  No long-range missiles.  We got back, and we\u2019re getting back \u2014 as we speak, we\u2019re getting back a lot of our fallen heroes.  You know that.  They\u2019re coming back into and through Hawaii.  And we got back our hostages.<\/p>\n<p>So I thought the letter \u2014 I just got it yesterday.  It was hand-delivered and it wasn\u2019t touched by anybody.  They literally take it from North Korea to my office.  We have a system.  It\u2019s the old-fashioned system.  You don\u2019t have to worry about leaks.  Something nice about that system.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, what do you mean that he wasn\u2019t happy with the missile tests?  He carried them out.  He ordered them.<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  No, he wasn\u2019t.  He wasn\u2019t happy with the tests \u2014 the war games.  The war games on the other side, with the United States.  And as you know, I\u2019ve never liked it either.  I\u2019ve never liked it.  I\u2019ve never been a fan.  You know why?  I don\u2019t like paying for it.  We should be reimbursed for it, and I\u2019ve told that to South Korea.  But I don\u2019t like it either.  But I said, \u201cDo this,\u201d because this was a big test.  This was a turnover of various areas to South Korea.  I like that because that\u2019s what should happen.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Several countries issued travel warnings to United States.  And Japan specifically said gunfire is potentially everywhere in the U.S.  What is your reaction to that?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I can\u2019t imagine that.  But if they did that, we\u2019d just reciprocate.  We are a very reciprocal nation, with me as the head.  When somebody does something negative to us in terms of a country, we do it to them.<\/p>\n<p>Look, our country has been taken advantage of by foreign countries, even allies \u2014 including allies, and in many cases, more than anybody else.  We\u2019ve been taken advantage of for many, many years, and it stops.  It stopped.<\/p>\n<p>Q    In your view, Mr. President, should Colin Kaepernick get an opportunity to play in the NFL?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Only if he\u2019s good enough.  Yeah, if he\u2019s good enough.  Why would he play?  If he\u2019s good enough.  And I think if he was good enough \u2014 I know the owners.  I know Bob Kraft.  I know so many of the owners.  If he\u2019s good enough, they\u2019d sign him.  So, if he\u2019s good enough \u2014 I know these people \u2014 they would sign him in a heartbeat.  They will do anything they can to win games.<\/p>\n<p>So I\u2019d like to see it.  Frankly, I\u2019d love to see Kaepernick come in if he\u2019s good enough.  But I don\u2019t want to see him come in because somebody thinks it\u2019s a good PR move.  If he\u2019s good enough, he will be in.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Are you worried about global markets pulling back at all?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Well, the global markets are not as good as our market.  Our market has been really good.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Are you worried about the effect \u2014 the (inaudible) effect to the U.S.?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Well, it always \u2014 it\u2019s never positive.  Although, you could say it puts us in an even better position.  I view it differently.  I mean, most people would say that\u2019s a bad thing.  I would say the fact that other countries aren\u2019t doing really well \u2014 China, in particular.  China is doing horribly.  Horribly.  First time that anyone can remember.  They are having a year like they never had.  Almost \u2014 you know, go back, 30, 40 years.  They\u2019re having one of the worst years ever. The numbers are phony.  They\u2019re not doing 6.2; they\u2019re doing a totally different number.<\/p>\n<p>Q    What do you think they\u2019re doing?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Maybe neutral.  Maybe even \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    Does Democrats calling you and your supporters a white nationalist, a white supremacist, help you?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I don\u2019t think it helps.  First of all, I don\u2019t like it when they do it because I am not any of those things.  I think it\u2019s a disgrace.  And I think it shows how desperate the Democrats are.  Look, right now, I\u2019m working with the Democrats on meaningful background checks.  That\u2019s a big thing.  Hopefully, we can do something.  But \u2014 so I don\u2019t want to focus too much on that.<\/p>\n<p>I will say this: For them to throw out the race word again \u2014 \u201cracist, racist, racist.\u201d  That\u2019s all they use \u2014 to anybody.  They called Nancy Pelosi a racist.  She\u2019s not a racist.  They call anybody a \u201cracist\u201d when they run out of cards.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m winning in the polls.  They\u2019re desperate.  They\u2019ve got lousy candidates.  They\u2019ve got bad candidates.  I mean, I watched the debates.  I mean, I look \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible.)<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I look \u2014 well, I mean, Joe Biden can\u2019t answer a simple question.  Something is going wrong with him.  I mean, the only \u2014 the only thing is \u2014 I mean, a lot of people think that he was the one that wanted Bob Mueller to testify because it made Joe look intelligent.  Okay?<\/p>\n<p>Q     Is your base supporting background checks?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I think my base relies very much on common sense and they rely on me, in terms of telling them what\u2019s happening.  I think meaningful background checks \u2014 I don\u2019t just say \u201cbackground checks.\u201d  Because we passed background checks a number of times, meaning the Democr- \u2014 but everybody knew they weren\u2019t that strong.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Do you want to expand the law?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I think meaningful background checks are a real positive.  Politically, I can\u2019t tell you.  You know, I don\u2019t know \u2014 good, bad, or indifferent.  I don\u2019t care, politically.  I don\u2019t want to have crazy people having guns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;So, we\u2019re doing very well with China. We\u2019re talking to China. We\u2019re not ready to make a deal, but we\u2019ll see what happens. But, you know, we\u2019ve been hurt by China for 25, 30 years. Nobody has done anything about it. And we have no choice but to do what we\u2019re doing. It\u2019s working [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":84901,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-government","category-news","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Fullscreen-capture-8112019-84924-AM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=84899"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84899\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/84901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=84899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=84899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=84899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}