President Trump Participates in Signing Time, Feb. 2, 2026

[00:00:04] very much very much. It's nice to see [00:00:06] you. And today we're announcing the [00:00:08] creation of the US Strategic Critical [00:00:11] Minerals Reserve, the first ever [00:00:12] stockpile of critical minerals that [00:00:15] you've been hearing so much about. We [00:00:17] have the greatest experts on Earth [00:00:19] behind me for civilian use in times of [00:00:22] emergency. We're pleased to be joined on [00:00:24] this occasion by General Motors CEO Mary [00:00:27] Barrow, who's setting records. Huh? I [00:00:30] hear you're doing unbelievably 24 hours [00:00:32] round the clock your factories and [00:00:34] you're building brand new factories. [00:00:36] Amazing. Great job, Mary. Of course, it [00:00:40] helped that you have a president that uh [00:00:42] knows what he's doing, but it's a great [00:00:44] it's a great job. Proud of you. As well [00:00:46] as founder and executive co-chairman of [00:00:49] Ivan Homemines, Robert Freedelland. [00:00:51] Thank you, Robert. Thanks as well to [00:00:54] secretaries Marco Rubio, Scott Bessant, [00:00:56] Doug Bergam, Howard Lenik, and export [00:00:59] import bank chairman John Yavanovich [00:01:02] along with Senator Bernie Marino and [00:01:05] Congressman French Hill and Bruce [00:01:08] Westerman. Thank you all. Thank you. [00:01:10] Thank you, French. [00:01:11] For years, American businesses have [00:01:13] risked running out of critical minerals [00:01:15] during market disruptions. Today, we're [00:01:18] launching what will be known as Project [00:01:20] Vault to ensure that American businesses [00:01:23] and workers are never harmed by any [00:01:25] shortage. We don't want to ever go [00:01:26] through what we went through a year ago. [00:01:30] Just as we although it did work out, [00:01:32] thank you. Just as we have long had a [00:01:35] strategic petroleum reserve and a [00:01:38] stockpile of critical minerals for [00:01:40] national defense, we're now creating [00:01:42] this reserve for American industry so we [00:01:44] don't have any problems. This historic [00:01:47] initiative will combine $10 billion [00:01:50] dollar dollars in export import bank [00:01:52] financing with $2 billion in private [00:01:55] sector financing. And we even expect the [00:01:58] American taxpayer to make a profit from [00:02:01] the interest on the loan used to start [00:02:03] the project vault. It's an amazing [00:02:06] thing. They've been talking about it for [00:02:07] years. Other presidents did a lot of [00:02:10] talking, but they didn't do anything. [00:02:12] Over the past year, my administration [00:02:13] has taken extraordinary steps to make [00:02:15] sure the United States has all of the [00:02:18] critical minerals and rare earths that [00:02:20] we need. We're investing in mining [00:02:22] projects. Ex really uh we're expediting [00:02:27] federal permitting. You know, the [00:02:29] federal permitting and a lot of it is [00:02:31] Lee Zeldon who's been fantastic, but [00:02:34] federal permitting is such a big deal [00:02:37] and uh we're doing that. the permitting [00:02:41] of mines and signing major critical [00:02:43] mineral deals with countries from all [00:02:45] over the world. And we're getting along [00:02:46] with all of them. Every one of them, [00:02:48] they want to be in the proper position. [00:02:50] We're working very well with countries [00:02:52] from all over the world. Today we're [00:02:54] building on these achievements with this [00:02:56] vital new reserve. And now I would like [00:02:58] to ask AXM chairman John Yvanovich to [00:03:02] say a few words followed by our friends [00:03:04] from business and Congress. We'll go [00:03:06] over that, but we have some great [00:03:08] business leaders. is the best here [00:03:10] today. And John, if you would start it [00:03:11] off, that'll be great. [00:03:12] >> Thank you. [00:03:13] >> Thank you, Mr. President. The president [00:03:15] gave us a very clear directive. By clear [00:03:18] directive, it was much more of an order [00:03:20] for us to figure out how to for the [00:03:22] first time in American history create a [00:03:24] strategic critical minerals reserve in a [00:03:27] way that would benefit the nonmilitary [00:03:30] manufacturing complex. And the challenge [00:03:32] was enormous, not simply because it had [00:03:34] never been done before, Mr. president, [00:03:36] but we knew that you expected us to [00:03:38] deliver in a big way, in a way that was [00:03:40] scalable, in a way that was designed for [00:03:42] long-term success, and in a way that [00:03:44] would help revitalize our domestic [00:03:46] mining industry. But most importantly, [00:03:48] most crucially, that it not be [00:03:50] subsidized by American taxpayers. And so [00:03:52] that's exactly what we've done. Mr. [00:03:54] President, what you've announced today [00:03:56] is a truly uniquely American solution. [00:03:59] It brings together our capital markets [00:04:01] which are the best and biggest in the [00:04:02] world with our manufacturers, our [00:04:05] innovators, our miners all pitching in [00:04:07] to make this possible. Now, these things [00:04:10] don't happen without the best and the [00:04:14] brightest within industry being at the [00:04:16] table. And Mr. President, everyone wants [00:04:19] to engage with this administration, with [00:04:20] your administration. The key ingredient [00:04:22] here was your call to action. Your call [00:04:25] to action allowed us to bring together [00:04:27] the best players in the market, [00:04:29] sometimes the fiercest competitors, [00:04:31] getting them to work together to come up [00:04:33] with a creative solution. Now, in [00:04:35] addition to our great team at the Export [00:04:38] Import Bank, who worked around the [00:04:39] clock, led by Brian Greley, Jeff Wilson, [00:04:42] Sarah Whitten, many others, we benefited [00:04:44] from having the biggest manufacturing [00:04:46] CEOs, the smartest market players at the [00:04:49] table, all looking to solve this [00:04:51] problem. So what we have with Project [00:04:54] Vault is marrying the capital solution [00:04:58] with what we need when we need it most. [00:05:01] And the best part about it is that the [00:05:04] American taxpayer will earn a return on [00:05:07] financing the first ever strategic [00:05:09] critical minerals reserve in history. [00:05:12] And we thank you, Mr. President, for [00:05:15] allowing this to happen. All of the [00:05:18] people around around us today helped [00:05:20] make it possible. our cabinet [00:05:22] secretaries, our top CEOs, their teams, [00:05:26] top market players, whether it be GM, G, [00:05:29] Vernova, Boeing, Clarios, Google, [00:05:32] Mercuria, especially Brian Phic, Carter, [00:05:34] Traxxas, our friend Robert Freedman. Um, [00:05:37] all of us work together, Mr. President, [00:05:39] to deliver this for you. So, and for the [00:05:41] American people so that manufacturers [00:05:43] and workers all across the country can [00:05:46] rest assured they'll have what they need [00:05:47] when they need it most. And you're [00:05:49] covering everything with this. We're not [00:05:51] just doing certain minerals and rares. [00:05:54] We're doing everything. [00:05:55] >> Everything on the critical. [00:05:55] >> What about magnets? [00:05:57] >> We're we're focused on the critical raw [00:05:58] materials and we anticipate that that [00:06:01] led by our great manufacturers will help [00:06:04] breed even more solutions. [00:06:06] >> Great job. Thank you very much. [00:06:08] >> Uh Doug Bergam, please. [00:06:10] >> Uh Mr. President, uh again, I want to [00:06:12] echo what John said, which is a great [00:06:14] thank you to you. uh you've set the [00:06:16] direction and when you took office [00:06:18] you've done more in the last year for [00:06:21] mining and minerals in our country [00:06:22] perhaps than any president in history uh [00:06:25] just like drill baby drill you said mine [00:06:27] baby mine and what's happened in our [00:06:29] country is uh you've led us through uh [00:06:31] deals with equity deals for the first [00:06:33] time the United States of America is [00:06:36] driving equity deals to help sustain and [00:06:39] balance this market you unlocked Alaska [00:06:42] with the Amber Road project uh in that [00:06:44] opened up over 1,700 mining claims in [00:06:47] Alaska. And of course on beautiful clean [00:06:49] coal, we've got critical minerals that [00:06:51] are co colllocated with that coal and [00:06:54] we've unlocked that. Uh we've we've [00:06:56] we've the Biden administration did zero [00:06:58] coal leases during the last four years. [00:07:00] You've done hundreds of millions of tons [00:07:02] of coal leases. Uh that's going to help [00:07:04] drive electric prices down in in [00:07:06] America. Permitting, you mentioned this [00:07:08] in your remarks. There were some permits [00:07:10] that had lingered for 29 years. They got [00:07:13] done in four months last year under your [00:07:14] administration and and under your [00:07:16] emergency authorities, some of these [00:07:18] permits got done in as short as 12 days. [00:07:20] Uh you helped create a club of nations [00:07:23] uh to help uh balance out the fact that [00:07:26] we didn't have markets that were [00:07:28] functioning around critical minerals. [00:07:30] You led off with Australia, Japan, [00:07:32] Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. This [00:07:34] week, we'll announce 11 more countries [00:07:36] that are joining that club of nations as [00:07:38] part of this global coalition. And [00:07:40] behind that in the pipeline, there's 20 [00:07:42] more nations that want to join under [00:07:44] your leadership uh to allow for trade of [00:07:47] critical minerals. Uh and then here we [00:07:49] stand today uh with the teamwork that [00:07:51] was described. This would not have been [00:07:53] possible without uh the incredible [00:07:54] cabinet that you put together. Marco [00:07:56] Rubio, Scott Bessett, Howard Lutnik, uh [00:07:59] Chris Wright, and many others uh were [00:08:02] involved in bringing this uh together [00:08:04] through the vision. Standing with us [00:08:05] today are some of our chairman of our [00:08:07] great congressional leadership who also [00:08:09] have supported this and helped us find a [00:08:11] way to do this without any [00:08:12] appropriations. This is happening [00:08:14] without tax dollars and of course uh our [00:08:16] our team on the ground here at the White [00:08:18] House including David CPPley and [00:08:20] everybody else at the at the NSC. Uh [00:08:22] David leading the global supply chain [00:08:24] work uh the folks working with the XM [00:08:27] bank team working around the clock uh to [00:08:29] make all this happen. So again, when you [00:08:31] when you lead, when you put out a [00:08:32] challenge, the teamwork happens. And [00:08:34] then here we stand today. This is the [00:08:36] largest XM bank deal in the history of [00:08:39] the XM bank by more than double. And [00:08:41] this is going to help drive uh national [00:08:44] security. It's great for American [00:08:46] manufacturers. It's a great for American [00:08:47] workers. Congratulations, President [00:08:49] Trump. [00:08:50] >> Thank you. You're doing a fantastic job, [00:08:51] Doug. Thank you. Uh, could I ask Mary [00:08:53] Barah, the chairman CEO of General [00:08:57] Motors, which is setting records every [00:08:59] single day and she's doing a fantastic [00:09:01] job, to say a few words and also discuss [00:09:03] how good the car business is now in the [00:09:06] US. Please. [00:09:07] >> Well, Mr. President, I want to thank you [00:09:09] for your commitment to strengthening US [00:09:11] manufacturing and supporting the auto [00:09:12] industry. Also, u want to uh thank your [00:09:15] cabinet and members of Congress and the [00:09:17] whole team here that made this possible [00:09:18] today. Having a resilient supply chain [00:09:20] is critical for our nation and it's [00:09:23] critical for all industry especially the [00:09:25] auto industry. We have been strengthened [00:09:28] with many of the different policies that [00:09:29] have been put in place over the last [00:09:31] year. So I want to thank everybody for [00:09:32] that. It not only supports uh US [00:09:35] manufacturing, it supports job creation, [00:09:37] it also supports the consumer. So thank [00:09:39] you. And uh business is is held very [00:09:41] strong. We still see a strong consumer. [00:09:43] So I'm excited about 2026. I think it's [00:09:45] going to be a record with all of your [00:09:48] new plants opening up and everything [00:09:49] else in our country. So, in our country. [00:09:52] >> Robert, please. [00:09:53] >> Mr. President, thank you so much for [00:09:55] what you've achieved. Everything we [00:09:58] touch, uh, we either grew it [00:10:00] agriculturally and you've helped the [00:10:01] farmers or we mind it. All these cameras [00:10:04] you see in front of you, they were [00:10:06] mined. Every time you pick up a [00:10:07] handphone, it was mined. and so [00:10:10] stimulating the ability for the miners [00:10:11] in this country to help you [00:10:13] industrialize the country. They're the [00:10:14] salt of the earth. And we're super [00:10:17] excited that America is doing something [00:10:19] for not only our national security, but [00:10:21] for the reindustrialization of the [00:10:23] country because you can't [00:10:24] re-industrialize Detroit with a lot of [00:10:26] metal. And I'm telling you on behalf of [00:10:29] every minor I know, they're elated at [00:10:31] the breakthroughs that have been [00:10:32] achieved here. They'll make a lot more [00:10:34] cameras in the future. and maybe you [00:10:36] could help us teach everybody that [00:10:37] everything you touch like that somebody [00:10:39] mind it and we need your support and [00:10:42] we'd really happy to get it. [00:10:44] >> And congratulations. You're in the Hall [00:10:46] of Fame. Is that the rare earth hall of [00:10:48] fame or minerals? [00:10:50] >> It's a bunch of pictures of debt guys [00:10:51] that go back to Herbert Hoover who was a [00:10:53] minor. [laughter] [00:10:54] You know, you know, we're mining is down [00:10:56] to 1% of the S&P 500, but really [00:11:00] everything you touch needs mining. And [00:11:02] this is the first administration with [00:11:04] your support where we've got hope. We [00:11:06] can go out and really do it. So we as [00:11:08] you you know I last met you in Saudi [00:11:10] Arabia with Muhammad bin Salman. We're [00:11:12] working in Chile. We want to bring these [00:11:14] metals back to the United States and [00:11:16] refine them and use them right here. And [00:11:18] the the vision of this administration [00:11:21] Ludnik's been helping a lot. A lot of [00:11:23] people at XM Bank have been helping a [00:11:25] lot. I'm just telling you the morale of [00:11:27] the miners is skyh high. [00:11:28] >> You doing a great job. Thank you very [00:11:30] much. Congratulations. That's a big [00:11:31] deal. Thank you. How about French Hill? [00:11:33] Say a few words, please. [00:11:34] >> Thank you, Mr. President. Well, on [00:11:36] behalf of Congress, Chairman Westerman [00:11:38] can talk about how he's helped unleash [00:11:39] the ability to mine through permanent [00:11:41] reform. And Senator Marino and I serve [00:11:43] on the House Financial Service [00:11:44] Committee, the Senate Banking Committee, [00:11:46] and we're best in this country when we [00:11:48] take the private sector and we leverage [00:11:50] it to unleash the directions that you're [00:11:52] made. And so together with our [00:11:54] reauthorization of the XM bank, we [00:11:57] leverage that recess with reset source [00:11:59] with private sector dollars to make this [00:12:01] a success. And it's going to be a huge [00:12:03] strategic change in America's industrial [00:12:05] capacity. [00:12:06] >> Big difference, right? [00:12:07] >> Big difference. [00:12:08] >> It's never been really anything like [00:12:09] what we're doing. Bernie, please. [00:12:12] >> Uh, you know, not to be hyperbolic, but [00:12:13] if you hadn't been elected, the auto [00:12:15] industry in America be would be over. [00:12:17] >> Completely completely over. You [00:12:19] >> the country would be over. Well, but the [00:12:21] auto industry would have been gone [00:12:22] first. Uh the what the Democrats had had [00:12:24] done with electric vehicles, the [00:12:26] mandates, what you were able to [00:12:27] accomplish last year, Secretary Lutnik, [00:12:30] uh what Secretary Bessett was able to do [00:12:31] with your leadership has transformed the [00:12:34] auto industry. And I tell you, it's [00:12:35] never been better for people in the auto [00:12:37] industry. I hear from all my friends, [00:12:39] they are elated. And the worst part is [00:12:41] that the people that you really saved [00:12:43] were the car dealers in California and [00:12:45] New York, New Jersey, right? [00:12:48] >> And they fought me all the way, Mary. [00:12:49] Right. They fought me all the way and [00:12:51] now they're saying thank you very much. [00:12:53] But you're doing a great job. Thank you [00:12:55] very [00:12:56] >> Scott. [00:12:57] >> Sir, as you always say, economic [00:12:59] security is national security and a [00:13:02] country does not have sovereignty if we [00:13:04] don't have control of our critical [00:13:05] minerals, don't have control of our [00:13:07] steel production and our industrial [00:13:09] base. And thanks to the work of everyone [00:13:11] here through your leadership. uh this [00:13:14] was a public private partnership that [00:13:16] only you could have assembled and we are [00:13:19] taking back our sovereignty and we are [00:13:22] going to have this vault project a [00:13:25] strategic mineral reserve and I can't [00:13:29] tell you the how innovative and exciting [00:13:32] this is and the level of security it is [00:13:34] going to give us going forward is [00:13:36] phenomenal [00:13:37] >> and how is your new and I think new and [00:13:40] approved Fed chairman doing how's that [00:13:42] all going. [00:13:43] >> So tell he's he's off to a great start. [00:13:45] I think so. [00:13:45] >> He had so much built-in credibility and [00:13:48] as the American pe [00:13:51] smart people the like representative [00:13:54] Hill the Senator Marino they already [00:13:57] knew him and as the American people get [00:13:59] to know him. The important thing is that [00:14:02] they will be able to trust the Federal [00:14:04] Reserve to steer the economy for them. [00:14:07] >> He's going to do great. Howard, please. [00:14:10] So, [00:14:12] prior presidents took America for [00:14:15] granted. They let our critical minerals [00:14:18] uh only be controlled by China. They let [00:14:21] our mining business go to hell by [00:14:24] closing all the mines, closing our coal [00:14:26] plants while China opened them. Uh they [00:14:29] let our auto industry, right? We used to [00:14:32] produce 75% of our cars in America and [00:14:34] when Biden left it was below 50%. We [00:14:37] were just letting all of these [00:14:39] industries just be shredded from [00:14:42] America. And thank goodness you are in [00:14:44] this chair changing it and taking it [00:14:46] back. We are taking back critical [00:14:48] minerals. We are taking back mining. [00:14:50] We're taking back the auto industry. [00:14:52] You're going to watch us take back [00:14:53] pharmaceuticals. We're going to take [00:14:55] back semiconductors. None of this could [00:14:57] possibly happen without your leadership. [00:14:59] And it is the most fun to stand back [00:15:02] here with your leadership because we are [00:15:04] changing America back and making it [00:15:06] great again. [00:15:07] >> That's very true. Anybody would like to [00:15:09] say anything else? [00:15:10] >> Amen. [snorts] [00:15:10] >> You guys okay? Everything all right? [00:15:14] >> Well, thank you, Mr. President. [00:15:15] >> Such a good man. Go ahead. [00:15:18] >> A great day and it couldn't have [00:15:19] happened without your leadership and I [00:15:21] think people will be talking about this [00:15:22] for a long time because we're bringing [00:15:25] back American mining and American [00:15:26] manufacturing. You know, God blessed our [00:15:28] country with abundant resources. Uh, [00:15:31] Secretary Bergam talked about the Amler [00:15:33] Road, 49 critical minerals that can be [00:15:36] mined in sufficient quantities just in [00:15:38] that one area. But from northern [00:15:39] Minnesota, Arizona, my home state of [00:15:41] Arkansas, we are blessed with all these [00:15:44] minerals. They're just in the ground. [00:15:46] But when we get them out of the ground [00:15:48] and not only mine them, but refine them [00:15:50] and process and manufacture with them, [00:15:53] it'll unleash great wealth for our [00:15:55] country. and that'll just build on all [00:15:57] the other successes. So, thank you for [00:15:58] what you've done. It's a great day. [00:16:00] >> And how does it feel to be in the Oval [00:16:02] Office? Is that crazy? Were you ever [00:16:03] here? [00:16:04] >> No, I've never been here. [00:16:05] >> Most people haven't. Mary's been here a [00:16:07] little bit, [00:16:08] >> right? But it's a special place. [00:16:11] >> Never been Never been so beautifully [00:16:13] either. Yeah. Questions, please. [00:16:14] >> Mr. President, speaking of the Fed, um [00:16:16] would you like to see Janine Piro drop [00:16:19] the investigation into Chairman Powell [00:16:21] to help Senator Tillis has basically [00:16:23] said that, you know, he's not going to [00:16:25] really be working with administration to [00:16:27] help bring war. So, would you like to [00:16:28] see the investigation [00:16:34] and they've spent almost4 billion [00:16:36] dollars doing a small renovation? Uh I'm [00:16:39] doing buildings. I built a hotel, the [00:16:41] Waldorf it's called, and uh I did it for [00:16:46] around $200 million. It's a much bigger [00:16:48] job. They're spending almost it could be [00:16:50] $4 billion. I I tell you what, I don't [00:16:52] even see an end in sight. I feel bad [00:16:54] badly for the new Fed chairman because [00:16:56] he may not have an office for four [00:16:57] years. Uh I don't know what these people [00:17:00] are doing. [cough] So, it's either gross [00:17:02] incompetence or it's theft of some kind [00:17:05] or kickbacks. I don't know what it is. [00:17:08] But Janine Piro is incredible and she'll [00:17:10] figure it out. But no, you want to take [00:17:12] it and just find out what happened [00:17:13] because we can't go around doing a [00:17:15] renovation of a small little complex, [00:17:17] very small couple of little buildings [00:17:20] and spend billions and billions of [00:17:22] dollars on it. Something went wrong. We [00:17:25] have to find out what it was. Yeah, [00:17:26] please. [00:17:27] >> Mr. President, thank you. Speaking of [00:17:28] renovations, you announced you wanted to [00:17:30] build a new and spectacular [00:17:32] entertainment complex at the Kennedy [00:17:34] Center. Do you plan on tearing it down? [00:17:37] And How much will all of the [00:17:38] rectifications cost? [00:17:40] >> Probably around $200 million. And uh you [00:17:44] know, it's funny in real estate and [00:17:46] building, I've done so much of it. I've [00:17:47] done so well with it. You want to sit [00:17:50] with something for a little while before [00:17:51] you decide on what you want to do. And [00:17:53] you know, we sat with it. We ran it. [00:17:55] It's in very bad shape. It's run down. [00:17:57] It's dilapidated. It's sort of [00:17:59] dangerous. PE things fall out uh fall [00:18:02] out of ceilings. You've seen it. And uh [00:18:04] we had some big events there. We had a [00:18:07] lot of great events here over the last [00:18:09] year, but uh you can't do any work [00:18:11] because people are coming in and out and [00:18:13] you have the workman. We have a marble [00:18:15] man over there the other day. He said, [00:18:16] you know, every time I put down a piece [00:18:18] of marble, people are stepping on the [00:18:19] marble. They don't even have time to [00:18:21] dry. And you can't do the same quality [00:18:23] job you if you close it. And you know, [00:18:26] we're fully financed. And so we're [00:18:28] [clears throat] going to close it and [00:18:29] we're going to make it unbelievable, far [00:18:31] better than it ever was, and we'll be [00:18:33] able to do it properly. I was thinking [00:18:35] maybe there's a way of doing it [00:18:37] simultaneously, but there really isn't. [00:18:39] And we're going to have something that [00:18:40] when it opens, it's going to be brand [00:18:41] new, beautiful. Uh I'm not ripping it [00:18:43] down. I'll be using the steel. So, we're [00:18:46] using the structure. We're using some of [00:18:48] the marble and some of the marble comes [00:18:50] down, but when it's open, it'll be brand [00:18:52] new and really beautiful. It'll be at [00:18:53] the highest level. we could do a much [00:18:55] better job probably in a way a faster [00:18:58] job in ter you know because when you do [00:19:00] a peace meal for instance they have a [00:19:02] play tonight and you can't do anything [00:19:04] you have to pull out everything and you [00:19:06] can't have stansions all over the place [00:19:08] and people are walking in to see a play [00:19:10] so we'll be closing it uh sometime [00:19:13] around July 4th. It's like we'll close [00:19:15] it on July 4th in order to do something [00:19:17] great for America and then we're going [00:19:19] to build it. We have great contractors. [00:19:21] We're going to build it and we'll do it [00:19:23] right. We're using uh the highest grade [00:19:25] marbles, the highest grade everything. [00:19:27] It'll be brand new. Uh tremendous [00:19:29] carriers putting in the air conditioning [00:19:32] or I guess they're a bidder, but they're [00:19:34] probably going to get it. Carrier. We're [00:19:36] going to have all brand new air [00:19:37] conditioning, heating. The steel will [00:19:39] all be checked out because it'll be [00:19:41] fully exposed. You know, it's been up [00:19:42] for a long time, but as anybody knows, [00:19:45] it was in very bad shape. Wasn't kept [00:19:47] well before I got there. So, we're going [00:19:49] to make it I I think there won't be [00:19:52] anything like it in the country. [00:19:53] >> Sir, Mr. [00:19:54] >> President, [00:19:54] >> yeah, please. [00:19:55] >> About your meeting with President Petro [00:19:57] later this week. Um, he's been quite [00:19:59] critical of you since you spoke back in [00:20:01] January after the Maduro raid. What [00:20:03] would you like to hear from him tomorrow [00:20:05] in terms of drug trafficking in [00:20:06] Venezuela? What are your [00:20:07] >> Well, we're going to see. I mean, he's [00:20:08] been very nice over the last month or [00:20:10] two. He was certainly critical before [00:20:12] that, but somehow after the Venezuelan [00:20:16] raid, he became very nice. He changed [00:20:19] his attitude very much. So, no, he I [00:20:22] look forward to seeing him. He's coming [00:20:23] in. We're going to be talking about [00:20:25] drugs because tremendous amounts of [00:20:27] drugs come out of his country and I look [00:20:29] forward to see we're going to have a [00:20:30] good meeting. Yeah, [00:20:32] >> Steve is going to meet with the Iranian [00:20:34] foreign minister on Friday. What are you [00:20:36] hoping he'll get out of that meeting? [00:20:37] >> Well, you're going to have u a lot of [00:20:39] things are happening. You have Iran and [00:20:41] you have Russia, Ukraine, and you have [00:20:44] the Middle East. We have a lot of things [00:20:46] going, a lot of problems. were here for [00:20:49] a long time before I got here. We [00:20:51] settled eight wars and I think we're [00:20:53] going to I think we're doing very well [00:20:55] with Ukraine and Russia for the first [00:20:57] time. I'm saying that, you know, we're [00:20:58] doing I think we're going to maybe have [00:21:00] some good news. We're losing 25,000 [00:21:03] people a month are being killed in that [00:21:05] war. Ridiculous war. 25,000 [00:21:08] was 31,000 last month. Think of it. [00:21:11] Young, beautiful kids. you know, the [00:21:14] kids of parents, their parents. It [00:21:16] doesn't affect us in one way, but in [00:21:18] another way, it's 25,000 souls that if I [00:21:20] can solve it, you know, we're not [00:21:22] spending money like Biden did. He he [00:21:24] gave $350 billion away. I make everyone [00:21:26] pay. And the United Nations are, you [00:21:29] know, they're a little bit involved, but [00:21:31] uh if you look uh take a look at what's [00:21:34] happening, the countries of Europe are [00:21:36] paying us for the weapons. So we have [00:21:39] NATO paying we send missiles over there [00:21:42] they pay us in full doesn't cost us 10 [00:21:44] cents and we make money I guess but I [00:21:46] don't even want to talk about that [00:21:48] because what I really want to do is save [00:21:50] those people from night they lose Mary [00:21:53] can you imagine 25,000 to 30,000 people [00:21:56] a month that's like a stadium full of [00:21:58] people [00:21:59] >> every single month and you know I mean I [00:22:02] was blessed with something where I can [00:22:03] get these things done got eight of them [00:22:05] done I thought all eight were going to [00:22:07] be more difficult than this one I But my [00:22:10] relationship with President Putin would [00:22:11] give us a uh you know much easier road. [00:22:14] But there's tremendous hatred between [00:22:17] Zalinsky and Putin. Tremendous hatred. I [00:22:19] mean it's a shame, but uh it's taken [00:22:21] longer than we thought. I did call up [00:22:23] President Putin and he's agreed. He's [00:22:25] put it out to they have the same cold [00:22:28] wave that we do. Maybe different because [00:22:29] it's pretty far away, but it's the [00:22:31] equivalent. And Ukraine's a very cold [00:22:33] country. It's much colder than us. it's [00:22:36] colder than they say on average it's [00:22:38] Canada or colder and on top of that they [00:22:41] have a tremendous cold wave and I asked [00:22:44] him if you wouldn't shoot for a period [00:22:46] of one week no missiles going into Kiev [00:22:48] or any other towns and he's agreed to do [00:22:50] it so it's something [00:22:52] >> what about Iran's nuclear program you [00:22:54] think Mr. [00:22:55] on that. [00:22:55] >> Well, we're talking about that. We have [00:22:57] ships heading to Iran right now, big [00:22:59] ones, biggest and the best. And we have [00:23:02] uh talks going on with Iran. We'll see [00:23:04] how it all works out. [00:23:05] >> Mr. Mr. President, the Pentagon released [00:23:09] national defense strategy last week. And [00:23:11] it says, [00:23:11] >> where are you from with that? [00:23:13] >> I'm from Europe, Baltic states. National [00:23:16] defense strategy says that US will [00:23:18] provide critical but only limited [00:23:19] support for European defense. What does [00:23:21] that mean limited support? Uh, can will [00:23:24] the US still provide? [00:23:24] >> Well, we get along very well with [00:23:26] Europe. I do because, you know, don't [00:23:27] forget I got the GDP lifted from 2% to [00:23:30] 5%. Nobody thought that could be [00:23:32] possible. And they're giving us a lot of [00:23:34] that money. They're we have the best [00:23:36] military equipment. We're selling it to [00:23:38] NATO. But I get along very well. But [00:23:40] Europe has to be careful because, you [00:23:42] know, there are those that say it's no [00:23:43] longer recognizable between immigration [00:23:46] and energy. [00:23:48] you know, it's uh there's so much [00:23:50] potential in UK. You know, you have the [00:23:54] North Sea oil and they basically close [00:23:57] it down and then they buy energy from [00:23:59] Norway, which is the North Sea oil. So, [00:24:01] you figure that one and Norway's got [00:24:02] trillions of dollars. They have to be [00:24:05] careful. You need energy and you can't [00:24:07] do the windmills because the windmills, [00:24:09] you're supposed to make money with [00:24:11] energy, not lose money. So, I'm very [00:24:13] disappointed. I look, I I love Europe. I [00:24:16] love the people of Europe. [00:24:18] and they have to be very careful. [00:24:20] They're at a tipping point. You have [00:24:22] tremendous immigration problems and you [00:24:24] have tremendous energy problems. It's a [00:24:26] bad combination. [00:24:27] >> Mr. President, thank you, Mr. President. [00:24:30] Christine just announced that you're [00:24:32] deploying body cameras to Minneapolis. [00:24:34] What's your thinking behind this [00:24:35] decision? And do you want to see this? [00:24:37] >> Well, it wasn't my decision. I would, [00:24:38] you know, I'd leave it to her. Uh they [00:24:41] generally tend to be good for law [00:24:42] enforcement because people can't lie [00:24:44] about what's happening. So, it's uh [00:24:46] generally speaking, I think 80% good for [00:24:48] law enforcement, but uh if she wants to [00:24:51] do that, I'm okay with it. Remember one [00:24:54] thing, we closed the border. We had a I [00:24:55] got elected on a disastrous border and [00:24:58] we have nobody coming in through our [00:25:00] border anymore. We had 25 million people [00:25:04] coming in in four years through our [00:25:05] border. Many of them were murderers and [00:25:08] drug dealers and mentally those mentally [00:25:11] insane from mental institutions and [00:25:13] insane asylums. And now we don't have [00:25:17] anybody coming in for nine months now. I [00:25:20] mean, they actually report zero. We have [00:25:22] zero people coming in, which I find hard [00:25:23] to believe, but the Democrats do that [00:25:25] report. They tend to be left-leaning [00:25:28] that do that report. So, I assume it's [00:25:30] true. If it's not, it's a very tiny [00:25:33] amount of people. But we basically have [00:25:35] a tremendously perfect strong border. [00:25:38] And also crime levels are at the lowest [00:25:41] point they've been in 125 years since [00:25:44] 1900. We have the best numbers. And [00:25:47] that's despite the fact that we had a [00:25:49] lot of criminals and murderers. 11,888 [00:25:53] murderers came in and we have the lowest [00:25:56] numbers that we've had in 125 years. So, [00:25:59] you know, so we uh we're doing a good [00:26:01] job. If she wants to do the camera [00:26:03] thing, that's okay with me. [00:26:07] during January. Do you think this is due [00:26:09] to your efforts and do you think blue [00:26:10] states should see this as a sign that [00:26:12] they should cooperate with you? [00:26:14] >> Well, if there was one, I mean, we [00:26:15] haven't had one in a long time. DC has [00:26:17] become a very safe that was a in-house [00:26:20] homicide. It was in-house. It was a It [00:26:23] was a dispute within a family. Uh we [00:26:26] have had virtually no crime in DC. DC is [00:26:29] now considered a very safe place and it [00:26:32] should be. It's our nation's capital. [00:26:34] And we sent in the soldiers. I read the [00:26:36] Washington Post this week. It was [00:26:37] incredible. They were trying to [00:26:39] determine how come how did we get so low [00:26:41] numbers, the low numbers in DC because [00:26:43] we have very little crime, if any. And [00:26:47] uh they talked about everything except [00:26:49] for the fact that we put our National [00:26:52] Guard and great soldiers inside our [00:26:54] city. They didn't want to mention that. [00:26:56] It's how dishonest because if we didn't [00:26:58] do that, you'd have tremendous crime in [00:27:00] DC. And I get thanked every single day [00:27:03] by people that work in the White House. [00:27:05] People, young ladies, men, they come up. [00:27:07] Thank you, sir, for making DC so safe. [00:27:10] They walk to work. Now, a year and a [00:27:11] half ago, they wouldn't have walked to [00:27:13] work. They would have been killed or [00:27:14] mugged or something would have happened [00:27:16] to them. So, it's, you know, it's a [00:27:18] great honor, but you got to read the [00:27:20] story in the Washington Post. They do [00:27:22] it. Crime is way down in DC. [00:27:25] Now, what's the reason for it? The [00:27:27] reason for it is we have very big, [00:27:30] strong, good-looking soldiers standing [00:27:33] around and I think they make the place [00:27:35] look better. But this is our capital and [00:27:37] we have a very safe capital. We had a [00:27:39] very dangerous capital before. Yep. Mr. [00:27:41] President, [00:27:42] >> sir, yesterday you said you were [00:27:43] speaking to people about Cuba to reach [00:27:45] an agreement. What sort of agreement are [00:27:47] you hoping to reach? Is that with the [00:27:49] Cuban government? [00:27:49] >> No, it's a failed nation now and they're [00:27:51] not getting any money from Venezuela and [00:27:53] they're not getting any money from [00:27:55] anywhere. It's a failed nation. Mexico [00:27:57] is going to cease sending them oil. So, [00:28:01] uh, I'd like to take care of the people [00:28:04] that are here from Cuba. You know, we [00:28:05] have many people that came from Cuba [00:28:07] that were thrown out of Cuba that fled [00:28:09] Cuba. They came over on rafts. They went [00:28:11] through sharkinfested waters. I don't [00:28:15] know how they did it. And it was many [00:28:17] years ago. Many would like to go back. [00:28:19] Many would like to at least visit their [00:28:21] relatives. And I think we're at a pretty [00:28:23] close. We are dealing with the Cuban [00:28:25] leaders right now. [00:28:27] >> Mr. President, Mr. President, the Wall [00:28:29] Street Journal reported uh that the [00:28:30] royal family of Abu Dhabi invested [00:28:32] hundreds of millions of dollars in your [00:28:34] world liberty financial. Uh can you [00:28:36] explain why you decided to take that [00:28:38] investment? Was that a transaction? [00:28:39] >> Well, I don't know about it. I know that [00:28:41] crypto is a big thing and they like it. [00:28:43] A lot of people like it. The people [00:28:45] behind me like it. Uh my sons are [00:28:48] handling that. My family is handling it. [00:28:51] and uh I guess they get investments from [00:28:53] different people, but I'm not I have all [00:28:55] I can handle right now with Iran and [00:28:57] with Russia and Ukraine and with all the [00:28:59] things we're doing. So, I don't know. I [00:29:01] don't know exactly other than, you know, [00:29:04] I'm a big crypto person. I'm the one [00:29:06] that probably helped crypto more than [00:29:08] anybody because I believe in it. And the [00:29:10] reason I believe in it is because if we [00:29:12] don't do it, Scott, I think we can say [00:29:14] then China's going to do it, right? [00:29:16] >> If we don't do crypto, then China's [00:29:18] going to do it. And it's just like AI. [00:29:20] We're leading AI by a lot and if we [00:29:22] weren't leading, China would have led. [00:29:24] You know, they're very capable. They're [00:29:26] very good. Uh what do you have to say [00:29:28] about that? [00:29:28] >> You you've made America the digital [00:29:31] asset capital of the world. We did the [00:29:33] Genius Act for stable coins. Many of the [00:29:36] people standing up here are working on [00:29:37] the clarity bill to uh market market [00:29:40] structure and we're bringing us best [00:29:43] practices to an exciting the new [00:29:46] industry digital assets innovation and [00:29:49] It spreads everywhere. So the US [00:29:52] >> and do you agree that if we didn't do [00:29:53] it, China and others would, but China [00:29:55] would. [00:29:55] >> Oh, China would have would have had the [00:29:57] lead and then others around the world in [00:30:00] terrible jurisdictions would have been [00:30:02] doing it. [00:30:03] >> And on Iran, sir, can you say what your [00:30:05] threshold military action is? Well, I [00:30:08] can't tell you what I'm going to do [00:30:09] because right now, you know, we have a a [00:30:12] tremendous force going there just like [00:30:14] we did in Venezuela, even bigger. And [00:30:18] they'll be there soon. And I'd like to [00:30:20] see a deal negotiated. I don't know that [00:30:22] that's going to happen. But I mean, if I [00:30:24] knew, I wouldn't be able to I wouldn't [00:30:27] tell you. I'd be very foolish if I tell [00:30:28] you. But, uh, right now, we're talking [00:30:31] to them. We're talking to Iran. And if [00:30:33] we could work something out, that'd be [00:30:34] great. that we can't [00:30:38] >> probably bad things will happen. [00:30:39] >> Mr. President, [00:30:40] >> Mr. President, shut down. [00:30:42] >> Yeah, please. [00:30:43] >> On the government shutdown, do you think [00:30:44] there could be a resolution to this [00:30:46] issue? And have you gotten from House [00:30:48] Republicans? [00:30:49] >> Well, I spoke with Speaker Johnson. I [00:30:51] spoke with Leader Thoon and uh I think [00:30:54] they're pretty close to a resolution. [00:30:56] You know, we were at 5.6% GDP and we [00:30:59] lost a point and a half because of the [00:31:01] 42-day shutdown. Think of that. We would [00:31:03] have been at seven. Nobody ever saw a [00:31:05] number like seven. And I think Howard [00:31:07] probably a point and a half was the [00:31:09] number, right? [00:31:10] >> Point and a half for the shutdown. [00:31:11] Exactly right. [00:31:12] >> And uh it's very bad for our country. [00:31:15] But despite that, we have the highest [00:31:16] numbers we've ever had. You know, we're [00:31:18] doing well. We're we're going right [00:31:20] through it. But I will say that I spoke [00:31:22] with Senator Schumer numerous times and [00:31:26] I don't think they want to see a [00:31:27] shutdown either. [00:31:28] >> Mr. President, are you going to see [00:31:29] Trevor Noah last night in a post? You [00:31:31] alluded that something could be [00:31:32] >> Yeah. Well, he said that. He said that I [00:31:35] spent time on Jeffy's Jeffrey Epstein's [00:31:38] Island. I didn't I mean he's a [00:31:40] lightweight this guy. He's a terrible I [00:31:42] thought I think he's terrible. I thought [00:31:43] he did a terrible job at the Grammys. I [00:31:45] thought the whole Grammys was terrible. [00:31:47] I watched part of it. It's not [00:31:48] watchable. But he was a lousy host. I'd [00:31:51] say not as bad as Jimmy Kimmel, but [00:31:53] pretty close. And no, he made a [00:31:55] statement about me and Jeffrey [00:31:57] Epstein's. I have nothing to do with [00:31:58] that. I have nothing to do with Jeffrey [00:32:00] Epson. In fact, if you look at the DOJ, [00:32:03] they announced uh, you know, they [00:32:04] released three million pages. It's like [00:32:07] this is all they're supposed to be [00:32:08] doing. And frankly, the DOJ, I think, [00:32:11] should just say we have other things to [00:32:13] do because that whole thing has turned [00:32:14] out, I mean, other than Bill Clinton [00:32:16] and, you know, Bill Gates and lots of [00:32:18] people that have there are a lot of [00:32:20] questions about it, but nothing on me. [00:32:22] But it was even sort of better than that [00:32:25] because they found that Jeffrey Epstein [00:32:27] and this sleag writer named Michael Wolf [00:32:29] were conspiring [00:32:31] against Donald Trump to lose the [00:32:32] election. So Epstein was conspiring with [00:32:37] a writer for me to lose the election. So [00:32:41] right there, you know that I had nothing [00:32:43] to do with this guy. But um yeah, it's a [00:32:46] terrible thing that the amount of time [00:32:48] that's being wasted. You know, when [00:32:50] Epste was alive like 10 years ago, [00:32:52] nobody cared about it, but they're only [00:32:55] doing it. But now it's it's really [00:32:56] hitting back on them because Bill [00:32:57] Clinton is such a big part of it. The [00:32:59] Democrats are pushing it. And the [00:33:02] problem is that it's turning out to be [00:33:04] the Democrats that were with and [00:33:06] conspired with Epstein. So, I think [00:33:09] you're probably going to see a little [00:33:10] pullback from them. But, but think of [00:33:12] it, they were working together to try [00:33:15] and help me lose the election. But this [00:33:19] is the Oval Office, so I guess that [00:33:21] didn't work out too well. Okay, one more [00:33:23] question. [00:33:25] >> Mr. President, do you have an update on [00:33:27] US troop level in Europe? Are you [00:33:28] planning any force reductions? [00:33:29] >> No, we have a great relationship with [00:33:31] Europe. We have a great relationship [00:33:33] with our troops. You know, the greatest [00:33:35] one of the best things that I can say is [00:33:37] that when I if you go back a year and a [00:33:40] half ago, so I'm running election, uh [00:33:43] they had the worst recruitment numbers [00:33:45] in the history of our country. Nobody [00:33:48] wanted to join the military or nobody [00:33:50] went wanted to join the police. Nobody [00:33:52] went to join the fire departments. We we [00:33:55] couldn't get anybody to be a proud [00:33:58] member of our country. And now, Doug, as [00:34:01] I told you before, now we have the best [00:34:05] recruiting numbers that we've ever had [00:34:06] in our military. Army, Navy, Air Force, [00:34:09] Marines, Space Force, we love, and Coast [00:34:11] Guard. Uh I love the Space Force. It's [00:34:14] great. But now we have waiting lists on [00:34:17] every everybody wants to join. You know [00:34:19] why? Because people are proud of our [00:34:21] country. Because our country is doing [00:34:22] great. I think Mary can say the same [00:34:25] thing. You had lots of people not [00:34:28] working so well and now you I mean you [00:34:30] just wish you could get them in faster. [00:34:32] I know that it's hard hard to get them. [00:34:34] >> Yeah. We continue to bring people in and [00:34:36] have training programs. We're investing [00:34:38] in the training of course. Yes. [00:34:40] >> But uh two years ago you didn't see [00:34:42] anything like this. It's amazing what's [00:34:44] happened. So we have the number one in [00:34:46] the history of our country. We've never [00:34:48] had more people that want to join our [00:34:51] armed forces than we do right now. And a [00:34:53] year and a half ago, nobody wanted to [00:34:55] join. They were embarrassed by our [00:34:58] country. They were embarrassed by our [00:34:59] leadership. And now they're proud of our [00:35:02] country and they're very proud of our [00:35:03] leadership. And a lot of the leadership [00:35:04] is right behind me. Thank you very much [00:35:06] everybody. [00:35:07] >> Thank you press. Thank you press. Thank [00:35:10] you press. out. Thank you. Thank you for [00:35:12] Thank you.