Rubio URGES China to act on Iran war, warns of global economic fallout

[0:00] CHINA, MARCO RUBIO. [0:03] SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO. [0:04] HERE WE ARE ON BOARD OF AIR [0:06] FORCE ONE, WE'RE HEADED TO CHINA. [0:09] THESE MEETINGS ARE VERY [0:10] CRITICAL. [0:11] I MEAN, MY FIRST QUESTION, DO [0:13] YOU VIEW CHINA AS OUR TOP [0:15] GEOPOLITICAL FONE? [0:16] YEAH, IT'S BOTH OUR TOP [0:17] POLITICAL CHALLENGE GEOPOLITICALLY [0:19] AND IT'S ALSO THE MOST IMPORTANT [0:21] RELATIONSHIP FOR US TO MANAGE. [0:23] I MEAN, IT'S A BIG, POWERFUL [0:24] COUNTRY. [0:24] IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW. [0:27] BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE [0:27] INTERESTS OF OURS THAT ARE GOING [0:29] TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH INTERESTS [0:32] OF THEIRS AND TO AVOID WARS AND [0:34] MAINTAIN PEACE AND STABILITY IN [0:35] THE WORLD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO [0:36] MANAGE THOSE. [0:37] THERE ARE CLEARLY AREAS WHERE [0:38] THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT FOR THE [0:39] UNITED STATES THAT WE'RE GOING [0:41] TO HAVE TO RAISE THOSE ISSUES [0:43] AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO. [0:44] THE PRESIDENT'S GOING TO [0:45] CONTINUE TO DO SO. [0:46] THERE MIGHT BE SOME AREAS OF [0:47] COOPERATION, TOO, AND WE WANT [0:48] TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T WALK AWAY [0:49] FROM THOSE. [0:50] YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING. [0:51] THE ONE THING THE PRESIDENT [0:52] ALWAYS SAYS, HE'S AMERICA FIRST. [0:56] HE UNDERSTANDS PRESIDENT CHI IS [1:00] GOING TO BE CHINA FIRST, PUTIN [1:02] WILL BE RUSSIA FIRST. [1:03] I THINK HAVING THAT UNDERSTANDING [1:05] IS A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE, [1:06] HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, AS IF WE [1:08] SHOULD BE SURPRISED THAT THEY [1:10] PUT THEIR COUNTRY ABOVE OURS. [1:11] ACTUALLY FOREIGN POLICY AND [1:13] NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS WORK [1:14] BEST WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT [1:15] POINT. [1:16] EVERY COUNTRY SHOULD DO WHAT'S IN [1:17] THE BEST INTEREST OF THEIR [1:18] COUNTRY. [1:19] AND THEN WHERE THERE ARE AREAS [1:21] OF ALIGNMENT, WHERE WHAT'S IN [1:22] OUR BEST INTEREST AND THEIR [1:23] BEST INTEREST ARE ALIGNED, THAT'S [1:24] WHERE YOU HAVE COOPERATION, THAT'S [1:26] WHERE YOU HAVE ALLIANCES, THAT'S [1:27] WHERE YOU HAVE STRONG BONDS OF [1:29] FRIENDSHIP. [1:30] WHEN THERE'S CONFLICT, THAT'S [1:32] BETWEEN WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT [1:33] WE WANT. [1:34] THAT'S WHERE THE WORK OF [1:35] DIPLOMACY AND THESE PERSONAL [1:36] RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE [1:37] LEADERS ARE SO CRITICAL. [1:40] AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN SOME OF [1:42] THOSE ISSUES OF CONFLICT ARE [1:43] IRRECONCILABLE. [1:44] I THINK IRAN IS AN EXAMPLE OF [1:46] THAT. [1:47] THE CLEARICAL REGIME WANTS TO [1:48] HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON AND THE [1:50] WORLD LED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP [1:51] SAYS THAT'S COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE, [1:53] CANNOT HAPPEN. [1:54] SO UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S SOME [1:55] AREAS LIKE THAT WHERE IT COMES [1:56] UP. [1:57] BUT THERE ARE AREAS WHERE IF WE [1:58] CAN FIND AREAS OF COMMONALITY [2:00] THAT'S VERY POWERFUL AND [2:01] IMPORTANT. [2:02] BUT WE WILL HAVE TO MANAGE THESE [2:04] BILATERAL DIFFERENCES BECAUSE [2:05] THEY'RE VERY SIGNIFICANT. [2:06] AND WHEN IT'S TWO BIG POWERFUL [2:07] COUNTRIES, YOU KNOW, THAT [2:08] FALLING APART COULD HAVE [2:09] TREMENDOUS SIGNIFICANCE ON THE [2:10] GLOBAL ECONOMY AND ON GLOBAL [2:11] PEACE. [2:12] I WANT TO GET BACK TO IRAN IN [2:14] A SECOND. [2:15] LET ME STAY ON CHINA. [2:16] TRADE, TARIFFS, INTELLECTUAL [2:17] PROPERTY THEFT, TAIWAN, THEIR [2:19] HELP OF IRAN, I THINK, IS PART [2:21] OF IT ALSO. [2:22] YEAH, ALL THOSE TOPICS WILL [2:23] COME UP. [2:24] THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. [2:25] IN THE CASE OF THE INDO-PACIFIC, [2:26] TAIWAN AND SO FORTH, IT'S NOT IN [2:27] CHINA'S INTEREST OR ANYONE'S [2:28] INTEREST FOR THERE TO BE ANY [2:29] SORT OF FORCE CHANGE IN THE [2:30] STATUS QUO. [2:31] I THINK STABILITY THERE IS VERY [2:32] IMPORTANT. [2:33] WE'VE MADE CLEAR TO THEM THAT [2:35] ANY SUPPORT FOR IRAN WOULD [2:36] OBVIOUSLY BE DETRIMENTAL FOR [2:37] OUR RELATIONSHIP. [2:38] THAT OBVIOUSLY IS GOING TO [2:39] COME UP IN THIS CONVERSATION. [2:40] ON TRADE, LOOK, THE UNITED [2:41] STATES IS VERY CLEAR. [2:42] WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR [2:43] OWN STUFF. [2:44] WE CANNOT DEPEND ON CHINA OR [2:45] ANY COUNTRY FOR THAT MATTER, [2:46] FOR 100% OF ANYTHING THAT WE [2:47] NEED. [2:48] WHEN YOU DEPEND ON ANY OTHER [2:49] COUNTRY FOR 100% OF WHAT YOU [2:50] NEED, YOU'RE VERY VULNERABLE. [2:51] LIKEWISE, CHINA WANTS TO [2:52] CHINA WANTS TO BE DEPENDENT ON [2:54] THE WORLD TO BE DEPENDENT ON [2:55] THEM FOR 100% OF ANYTHING THAT [2:56] WE NEED. [2:58] WHEN YOU DEPEND ON ANY OTHER [2:59] COUNTRY FOR 100% OF WHAT YOU [3:00] NEED, YOU'RE VERY VULNERABLE. [3:01] LIKEWISE, YOU KNOW, CHINA WANTS [3:04] THE WORLD TO BE DEPENDENT ON [3:05] THEM FOR 100% BECAUSE IT GIVES [3:07] THEM STRENGTH AND LEVERAGE. [3:08] SO THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF [3:09] AN AREA IN WHICH OUR INTERESTS [3:11] ARE NOT ALIGNED. [3:12] BUT THE PRESIDENT IS VERY [3:13] COMMITTED TO BRINGING BACK [3:15] FACTORIES, BRINGING BACK [3:16] INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY OF THE [3:17] UNITED STATES, AND [3:18] DIVERSIFYING WHERE WE GET OUR [3:19] RARE EARTH, OUR CRITICAL [3:21] MINERALS, OUR SUPPLY CHAINS. [3:23] YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS [3:25] DESCRIBED PRESIDENT CHI TO ME IN [3:28] INTERVIEWS AS STOIC, ALL [3:30] BUSINESS. [3:31] NO NICETIES IN THAT SENSE. [3:33] ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE A STATE [3:35] DINNER. [3:36] NOW, I KNOW THIS IS YOUR FIRST [3:38] TRIP TO CHINA BUT NOT YOUR FIRST [3:40] GO AROUND WITH CHINA. [3:41] YEAH. [3:42] WELL, LOOK, THEIR SYSTEM IS VERY [3:43] DISCIPLINED. [3:44] IT'S VERY FOCUSED. [3:45] WHEN YOU SPEAK TO THEM, THEY [3:46] HAVE AN AGENDA. [3:47] THE PRESIDENT'S STYLE IS QUITE [3:49] DIFFERENT. [3:50] BUT THEY SEEM TO HAVE A VERY [3:51] GOOD, AT LEAST INTERPERSONAL [3:52] RELATIONSHIP, AND THAT'S [3:53] IMPORTANT. [3:54] LOOK, THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN [3:55] THE COUNTRIES REMAIN, BUT THE [3:57] ABILITY TO MANAGE IT BECOMES [3:59] NOT EASY, BUT EASIER WHEN THE [4:01] HEADS OF STATE HAVE A GOOD [4:02] WORKING RELATIONSHIP, AND THEY [4:03] SEEM TO. [4:04] YEAH. [4:06] WELL, I THINK SO, TOO. [4:07] WHAT WOULD YOU SAY, WHAT IS [4:09] YOUR READ ON PRESIDENT CHI? [4:11] I MEAN, YOU READ THAT THEIR [4:13] ECONOMY IS STRUGGLING. [4:14] YOU READ THAT HE'S IS [4:15] ISOLATED. [4:18] BOTH PUTIN AND PRESIDENT CHI [4:20] HAVE A PRETTY HIGH DEGREE OF [4:22] PARANOIA. [4:23] WHAT IS YOUR READ AS YOU LOOK AT [4:25] PRESIDENT CHI FROM A DISTANCE [4:26] GOING INTO THE MEETING? [4:28] YEAH, I THINK MY READ HAS BEEN [4:30] WHAT I THINK HAS BEEN FOR A [4:31] WHILE, AND THAT IS CHINA HAS A [4:32] PLAN. [4:33] I MEAN, THEY CLEARLY VIEW [4:34] THEMSELVES, THEY BELIEVE THEY [4:35] WILL BE THE WORLD'S MOST [4:36] POWERFUL COUNTRY, THEY'LL [4:37] SURPASS THE UNITED STATES, AND [4:38] THEY HAVE A PLAN TO DO IT. [4:39] AND THEY'RE EXECUTING ON THAT [4:40] PLAN. [4:41] AND I DON'T BLAME THEM. [4:42] IF I WERE THE CHINESE [4:43] GOVERNMENT, I WOULD HAVE THE [4:44] SAME PLAN. [4:45] WE, ON THE OTHER HAND, DON'T [4:46] VIEW IT THAT WAY, AND WE DON'T [4:48] WANT TO SEE ANYTHING. [4:49] WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CONSTRAIN [4:51] CHINA, BUT THEIR RISE CANNOT [4:53] COME AT OUR EXPENSE. [4:54] THEIR RISE CANNOT COME AT OUR [4:55] FALL. [4:56] SO THERE'S AN AREA WHERE WE'RE [4:57] JUST GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENCE [4:58] OF OPINION. [4:59] BUT MY VIEW OF THEM AND OF THE [5:00] GOVERNMENT IN CHINA IS [5:01] THEY'RE VERY CONFIDENT. [5:02] THEY HAVE A PLAN, AND THEY'RE [5:04] TRYING TO EXECUTE ON THAT [5:05] PLAN, WHICH IS FINE. [5:06] I UNDERSTAND THAT FROM A [5:07] NATION STATE PERSPECTIVE, BUT [5:08] WHEN THAT PLAN IS IN CONFLICT [5:10] WITH THE NATIONAL INTEREST OF [5:11] THE UNITED STATES, WE NEED TO DO [5:12] WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE UNITED [5:13] STATES. [5:14] AND THAT WILL COME UP ON THIS [5:15] TRIP, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY [5:16] THAT WILL BE A FEATURE OF THIS [5:17] RELATIONSHIP FOR A LONG TIME. [5:19] IF YOU HAD, IT'S KIND OF [5:23] HARD, IT'S NOT A FAIR QUESTION [5:24] TO ASK, BUT IF YOU HAD A GOAL [5:26] COMING OUT OF THIS SUMMIT, [5:28] BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG DEAL, [5:30] THAT YOU'RE GOING, THAT THE [5:31] PRESIDENT IS GOING, THE [5:32] SECRETARY OF DEFENSE IS ON [5:33] THIS PLAN AND SO MANY OTHERS, [5:35] AND EVERY TOP BUSINESS LEADER [5:38] IN AMERICA IS GOING ON THIS [5:39] TRIP. [5:40] IT'S KIND OF CRAZY. [5:41] IF YOU HAD A GOAL, WHAT YOU [5:42] WOULD LIKE, YOU WOULD SAY [5:43] IT WOULD BE, HOW WOULD YOU [5:44] DEFINE A SUCCESSFUL TRIP? [5:46] WELL, I THINK IT'S ALREADY A [5:47] SUCCESS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING, [5:48] AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO [5:49] TALK TO THEM AS OPPOSED TO AT [5:50] THEM. [5:51] YOU KNOW, ONE THING IS TO [5:52] EXCHANGE PHONE CALLS, AND [5:53] ANOTHER THING IS TO PUT OUT [5:54] MESSAGES AND PRESS RELEASES [5:56] AND STATEMENTS, BUT WHEN THE [5:57] LEADERS ARE ACTUALLY [5:58] ENGAGING PERSONALLY, NOT JUST [6:00] THE PRESIDENT TO PRESIDENT, BUT [6:01] ME WITH THEIR FOREIGN MINISTER [6:02] AND PETE HEGSETH WITH THEIR [6:04] DEFENSE MINISTER AND SO FORTH, [6:06] IT CREATES CHANNELS OF [6:07] COMMUNICATION THAT CAN PROVE [6:09] VALUABLE IN A TIME OF [6:11] POTENTIAL CONFLICT OR WHERE [6:12] THERE MIGHT BE HEIGHTENED [6:13] TENSION. [6:14] SO THAT'S IMPORTANT. [6:15] I ALSO THINK, AND WE'RE NOT [6:16] PREPARED TO ANNOUNCE THIS [6:17] YET, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF [6:18] UNIQUE AREAS OF COOPERATION [6:19] THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON. [6:21] THE OBVIOUS ONES ARE [6:22] OBVIOUSLY FENTANYL [6:23] PRECURSOR PRODUCTION, WHICH [6:25] CHINA, BECAUSE THEIR SYSTEM [6:26] CAN DO THIS, CAN REALLY [6:27] CRACK DOWN ON THAT. [6:28] AND THAT WOULD HELP LOWER [6:29] FENTANYL DEATHS IN THE [6:30] UNITED STATES. [6:31] AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER [6:32] AREAS OF INTERNATIONAL [6:33] RELATIONS WHERE PERHAPS WE [6:35] INTEND TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT [6:36] DISCRETELY. [6:37] WE'RE NOT GOING TO ANNOUNCE [6:38] IT IN THE MEDIA, BUT AREAS [6:39] THAT WE BOTH SHARE [6:40] SOME CONCERN OVER. [6:41] I HAVE A FRIEND OF MINE. [6:42] HE'S A GREAT INVENTOR. [6:44] AND THE LEVEL OF [6:47] INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFT [6:48] NOT JUST IMPACTED HIS [6:50] ENTIRE BUSINESS, BUT IT'S [6:52] IMPACTING MANY AMERICAN [6:53] COMPANIES. [6:54] BIG ISSUE? [6:55] THAT'S RIGHT. [6:56] AN ENORMOUS ISSUE, AND ONE [6:57] THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE [6:58] TO RAISE, EVEN AS WE TRY TO [6:59] PROTECT OUR COMPANIES AND [7:00] OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE, [7:01] WE'RE GOING TO RAISE THAT [7:02] WITH THEM. [7:03] I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY [7:04] POINT IN DENYING THAT THE [7:06] FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT A [7:07] LOT OF THE ADVANCEMENTS, NOT [7:08] ALL, BUT A LOT OF THE [7:09] ADVANCEMENTS YOU'VE SEEN IN [7:10] THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR, IN [7:11] THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR, IN [7:12] THE TECHNOLOGICAL SECTOR IN [7:14] CHINA IS A PRODUCT OF [7:17] INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFT [7:18] AND OR REVERSE ENGINEERING, [7:19] WHICH IS THE SAME THING, OF [7:21] OUR OWN TECHNOLOGY. [7:22] SO THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED. [7:23] BUT I ALSO THINK WE CAN'T [7:24] ONLY RELY ON THAT. [7:26] WE HAVE TO STAY AHEAD OF THE [7:27] CURVE ON INNOVATION. [7:28] YOU KNOW, ONE THING IS IF [7:29] YOU'RE STEALING OR TAKING [7:31] THE STUFF THAT WAS CUTTING [7:33] EDGE FIVE YEARS AGO, BUT [7:35] THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO [7:36] BE CUTTING EDGE FIVE YEARS [7:37] FROM NOW, WE'VE GOT TO [7:38] CONTINUE TO INVEST AND PUSH [7:39] OUR COMPANIES TO CONTINUE TO [7:43] STAY AHEAD OF THAT PACE OF [7:44] DEATH AND CONTINUE TO LEAD THE [7:45] WORLD IN INNOVATION. [7:46] MAYBE THE BEST WAY TO [7:48] TRANSITION TO THE ISSUE OF [7:49] IRAN, WHICH I WANT TO ASK YOU [7:51] ABOUT, IS THAT CHINA'S BOTH [7:55] PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND THEIR [7:56] ACTIONS, ALTHOUGH IT WAS [7:57] INTERESTING THAT A CHINESE [7:59] TANKER GOT HIT IN THE [8:01] STRAIGHT OF Hormuz, BUT [8:03] OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE BEEN TAKING [8:04] A VERY DIFFERENT POSITION. [8:05] YOU KEEP READING THE [8:07] INTELLIGENCE IS SHOWING [8:08] THEY'VE BEEN HELPING THE [8:09] CERTAIN SHIPS THROUGH, BUT [8:11] OTHERS NOT. [8:12] THEY'VE BEEN HELPING THE [8:13] CERTAIN SHIPS THROUGH AND [8:14] OTHERS NOT. [8:15] OBVIOUSLY IT'S MORE [8:16] IMPORTANT TO THEM. [8:17] YEAH, WE'VE MADE THE [8:18] ARGUMENT TO THE CHINESE, AND [8:19] I HOPE IT'S COMPELLING, AND [8:20] THEY'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO DO [8:21] SOMETHING ABOUT IT AT THE [8:22] UNITED NATIONS LATER THIS [8:23] WEEK WHEN THERE'S A [8:24] RESOLUTION JUST CONDEMNING [8:25] IRAN ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING [8:26] WITH THE STRAIGHTS. [8:27] LOOK, THERE'S THREE THINGS. [8:29] THE CHINESE HAVE SHIPS [8:30] STUCK IN THE PERSIAN GULF, [8:32] BUT OTHERS NOT. [8:33] IT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE. [8:34] AND YOU SAW A CHINESE, NOT [8:36] CHINESE FLAG VESSEL, BUT [8:37] IT WAS A CHINESE CARGO, GOT [8:38] HIT OVER THE WEEKEND. [8:40] I'M SURE IRAN DIDN'T DO IT [8:41] DELIBERATELY, BUT THEY DID [8:42] IT. [8:43] IT HAPPENED. [8:44] AND SO THAT'S WHY THESE [8:45] CHINESE SHIPS ARE STUCK IN [8:46] THERE. [8:47] THE SECOND IS, I DON'T THINK [8:48] THAT CHINA, IT'S A HUGE [8:49] SOURCE OF INSTABILITY. [8:50] IT THREATENS TO [8:51] DESTABILIZE ASIA MORE THAN [8:52] ANY OTHER PART OF THE [8:53] WORLD, BECAUSE IT'S [8:54] HEAVILY RELIANT ON THE [8:55] STRAITS FOR ENERGY. [8:56] AND THE THIRD REASON IS [8:57] BECAUSE CHINA'S ECONOMY IS [8:58] EXPORT-DRIVEN, MEANING [9:00] THEIR ECONOMY IS FUELED NOT [9:01] BY WHAT THEY CONSUME [9:02] DOMESTICALLY, BUT BY WHAT [9:04] THEY MAKE AND SELL TO OTHER [9:05] COUNTRIES. [9:06] OF ALL THE COUNTRIES OF THE [9:07] WORLD, ECONOMIES ARE MELTING [9:09] DOWN BECAUSE OF THIS CRISIS [9:10] IN THE STRAITS, THEY'RE [9:11] GOING TO BE BUYING LESS [9:12] CHINESE PRODUCTS, AND THE [9:13] CHINESE EXPORTS ARE GOING [9:14] TO DROP PRECIPITOUSLY. [9:16] SO IT'S IN THEIR INTEREST TO [9:17] RESOLVE THIS. [9:18] WE HOPE TO CONVINCE THEM TO [9:20] PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN [9:21] GETTING IRAN TO WALK AWAY FROM [9:23] WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW AND [9:24] TRYING TO DO NOW IN THE [9:25] PERSIAN GULF. [9:26] YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT YOU [9:27] HAD A LOT OF JOBS BY BEING [9:28] THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE [9:29] NSA, YOU KNOW, HEAD OF THE [9:32] NSA. [9:33] THEN YOU HAD TO GO IN AND BECOME [9:35] WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY [9:36] THE OTHER DAY. [9:37] NO, NO. [9:38] CAROLINE IS IRREPLACEABLE. [9:40] I WAS JUST A PITCHING. [9:42] IT SEEMED THAT YOU LIKE IT. [9:43] IT SEEMED LIKE YOU HAVING [9:44] FUN. [9:45] WELL, YEAH, I DON'T [9:46] HAVE FUN IF I HAD TO DO IT [9:48] EVERY WEEK. [9:49] BUT ONE TIME AIN'T TOO BAD. [9:51] AND I ENJOYED IT, YOU KNOW, AND [9:53] IT WAS ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY [9:54] MOSTLY. [9:55] SO I WAS HONORED TO BE ABLE TO [9:56] DO IT. [9:57] BUT WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL [9:58] CAROLINE GETS BACK. [9:59] SHE HAD A BEAUTIFUL BABY AND [10:00] WE WISH HER THE BEST. [10:01] BUT WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HER [10:02] BACK. [10:03] SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL. [10:04] BUT NOW THAT WE ARE ON THE [10:06] ISSUE OF IRAN, LET ME [10:07] SPECIFICALLY ASK YOU, BECAUSE [10:09] IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE TWO [10:11] MAJOR ISSUES THAT JUST [10:14] CONTINUE TO PERCOLATE. [10:17] AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH [10:19] THE PRESIDENT, A PRIVATE [10:20] CONVERSATION, AND I DID ASK HIM [10:21] IF I COULD TALK ABOUT IT. [10:22] AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I ASKED [10:24] HIM MAYBE A WEEK AGO, I SAID, [10:26] YOU KNOW, ARE YOU GOING TO GO [10:28] BACK TO MOMMY? [10:29] HE SAID, I SAID, YOU COULD [10:30] PROBABLY WIPE OUT THEIR ECONOMY [10:32] IN 15 MINUTES. [10:33] HE GOES, NO, SEAN, I COULD [10:35] KNOCK IT OUT IN FIVE. [10:36] HE GOES, BUT THEN HE SAID [10:38] SOMETHING, AND YOU REFERENCED [10:39] THIS IN YOUR PRESS, WHEN YOU [10:40] WERE FILLING IN FOR [10:41] CAROLINE. [10:42] HE SAID, IMAGINE THE WORLD WITH [10:46] A NUCLEAR-ARMED DURAN AND FORGET [10:48] ABOUT THE STRAIGHT. [10:49] THEY WOULD HOLD THE ENTIRE WORLD [10:51] HOUSE. [10:52] THAT'S RIGHT. [10:53] THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO COME OUT [10:55] OF NOWHERE THESE BIZARRE [10:56] CONSPIRACY THEORIES. [10:57] OH, THE PRESIDENT IS DOING THIS [10:59] FOR ISRAEL OR FOR FOX NEWS [11:01] HOST OR B.B. NETANYAHU. [11:03] I ASK EVERYBODY, DID HE HAVE ANY [11:05] CHOICE BASED ON WHAT STEVE [11:06] WITKOFF TOLD US? [11:07] NO, LOOK, EVERY PRESIDENT IN [11:09] THE LAST 20 YEARS HAS BEEN [11:11] WORRIED ABOUT THE IRAN NUCLEAR [11:12] PROGRAM. [11:13] OBAMA DID A NUCLEAR DEAL WITH [11:14] HIM BECAUSE HE WAS WORRIED [11:15] ABOUT IT. [11:16] NOT A GOOD NUCLEAR DEAL, BUT [11:17] HE MADE ONE. [11:18] THE PRESIDENT REVERSED IT AND [11:20] IMPOSED CRIPPLING SANCTIONS [11:21] AND TOOK OUT SOUL AMANI, WHO [11:23] WAS A THREAT TO THE UNITED [11:24] STATES. [11:25] JOE BIDEN WAS BEGGING TO GET [11:26] BACK AND DO A NUCLEAR DEAL [11:27] WITH HIM. [11:28] THE WHOLE WORLD, YOU KNOW, THE [11:29] FRENCH, THE GERMANS, THE [11:30] U.K., THEY IMPOSED NEW SANCTIONS [11:34] ON IRAN LAST YEAR, SNAPBACK [11:36] SANCTIONS BECAUSE OF THE [11:37] NUCLEAR THREAT. [11:38] THE WHOLE WORLD HAS SEEN IRAN [11:40] WAS BUILDING UP A CONVENTIONAL [11:41] CAPABILITY WHERE THEY WOULD [11:42] HAVE SO MANY MISSILES AND SO [11:44] MANY DRONES THAT THEY COULD [11:45] OVERWHELM ANYBODY'S DEFENSES. [11:47] ONCE THEY HAD THAT, NOBODY [11:50] COULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR [11:51] NUCLEAR PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY [11:52] WOULD SAY IF YOU ATTACK OUR [11:53] NUCLEAR PROGRAM, WE WILL WIPE [11:55] OUT SIX COUNTRIES IN THE GULF [11:56] REGION AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE [11:57] TO DEFEND AGAINST IT. [11:58] YOU WON'T HAVE ENOUGH [11:59] PATRIOTS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE [12:00] YOU GET THESE SWARMS OF [12:01] DRONES, THESE SWARMS OF [12:02] ROCKETS. [12:03] THEY WERE ON THE VERGE IN A [12:04] YEAR FROM NOW THEY WOULD HAVE [12:05] BEEN AT THAT POINT. [12:06] THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT'S AN [12:07] INTOLERABLE RISK. [12:08] PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE [12:09] THAT CONNECTION, BUT THE [12:10] CONNECTION IS VERY REAL. [12:11] THEY WERE BUILDING A SUCH A [12:13] HIGH NUMBER. [12:14] THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE SO [12:15] MANY DRONES AND MISSILES THAT [12:17] NO ONE COULD ATTACK IRAN [12:19] BECAUSE THE RESULT WOULD BE [12:21] CATASTROPHIC FOR THE REGION. [12:22] AND ONCE THEY HAD THAT [12:24] IMMUNITY, THEN THEY WOULD BREAK [12:25] OUT TOWARDS A WEAPON. [12:26] WE KNEW THAT. [12:27] THE PRESIDENT IS NOT GOING TO [12:28] ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN UNDER [12:29] HIS WATCH. [12:30] YEAH. [12:31] LET'S GO TO THE WESTERN [12:32] HEMISPHERE. [12:33] AND WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP [12:34] WITH VENEZUELA? [12:35] AND I KNOW IT'S GOT TO BE AN [12:36] ISSUE NEAR AND DEAR TO YOUR [12:37] HEART. [12:38] YEAH. [12:39] I KNOW YOUR FAMILY [12:40] BACKGROUND, AND THAT'S CUBA. [12:41] WELL, ON VENEZUELA, IT'S [12:43] BEEN FOUR MONTHS. [12:44] SO I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME [12:45] STEADY PROGRESS ON IMPROVING [12:46] VENEZUELA. [12:47] LOOK, WE'RE TRYING TO [12:48] NORMALIZE THAT PLACE. [12:49] THIS WAS A PLACE WHERE A [12:50] COUNTRY OF INCREDIBLE WEALTH, [12:51] BUT ALL THE WEALTH WAS BEING [12:52] STOLEN. [12:53] IT WASN'T GOING TO BENEFIT [12:54] THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE. [12:55] SO WE'VE CREATED MECHANISMS. [12:56] YOU KNOW, ALL THE MONEY THEY [12:57] MAKE ON OIL NOW GOES INTO A [12:59] BANK ACCOUNT IN NEW YORK. [13:00] AND IT'S AUDITED BY KPMG. [13:02] AND IT'S BEING USED TO PAY THE [13:03] SALARIES OF TEACHERS AND [13:04] FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE [13:05] OFFICERS AND UNIVERSITY [13:07] PROFESSORS. [13:08] SO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER [13:09] A DECADE, THE WEALTH OF THE [13:10] COUNTRY IS ACTUALLY BENEFITING [13:12] THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA. [13:13] BUT THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE [13:14] DONE. [13:15] ULTIMATELY, AS WE WORK THROUGH [13:16] THIS PROCESS, WE WILL HAVE TO [13:17] REACH A STAGE OF TRANSITION [13:19] WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO [13:20] NORMALIZE YOUR GOVERNMENT. [13:21] THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE, [13:22] YOU KNOW, A PROCESS THAT'S [13:24] LEGITIMATE THAT PEOPLE LOOK [13:25] AT AND SAY THIS IS A [13:26] LEGITIMATE PERMANENT [13:27] GOVERNMENT, PRESIDENCY, [13:28] ELECTIONS, THINGS OF THAT [13:29] NATURE. [13:30] THAT MOMENT HAS TO ARRIVE. [13:31] BUT IT HAS TO BE, WE DON'T [13:33] WANT TO WAIT TOO LONG. [13:34] WE WANT TO SEE IT HAPPEN, BUT [13:35] YOU DON'T WANT TO MOVE TOO [13:36] FAST EITHER BECAUSE THE WHOLE [13:37] THING CAN BREAK. [13:38] SO IT'S A DIFFICULT THING TO [13:40] MANAGE. [13:41] BUT IT'S ONLY FOUR MONTHS IN, [13:42] AND I'M VERY, I THINK WE [13:43] SHOULD BE PLEASED, THEN AS [13:44] WELL AS A BETTER PLACE TODAY [13:45] THAN IT WAS FOUR MONTHS AGO. [13:47] BUT IT NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO [13:48] STAY ON THAT PATH. [13:49] IN THE CASE OF CUBA IS A [13:50] VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION. [13:51] THERE IS NO ECONOMY IN [13:53] CUBA. [13:54] TO THE EXTENT THERE'S ANY [13:56] WEALTH IN CUBA, IT DOESN'T [13:57] GO, IT DOESN'T, FORGET ABOUT [13:58] IT, IT DOESN'T GO TO THE [13:59] PEOPLE, IT DOESN'T EVEN GO TO [14:00] THE GOVERNMENT. [14:01] THE WEALTH IS CONTROLLED BY [14:02] A PRIVATE, BY A COMPANY OWNED [14:04] BY MILITARY GENERALS. [14:05] THEY TAKE ALL THE MONEY, [14:06] THEY'RE SITTING ON BILLIONS [14:07] OF DOLLARS. [14:08] THIS IS A COUNTRY WHERE [14:09] PEOPLE ARE LITERALLY NOW [14:10] EATING GARBAGE FROM THE [14:11] STREETS, BUT THEY HAVE A [14:13] COMPANY THAT CONTROLS ALL [14:14] OF THE MONEYMAKING THERE [14:15] THAT'S SITTING ON 15, 16 [14:17] BILLION DOLLARS. [14:18] SO IT'S A BROKEN, [14:19] NONFUNCTIONAL ECONOMY, [14:20] AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE [14:22] IT. [14:23] I WISH IT WERE DIFFERENT, [14:24] BUT I BELIEVE, IT'S MY [14:25] PERSONAL OPINION, YOU CANNOT [14:26] CHANGE THE ECONOMIC [14:28] TRAJECTORY OF CUBA AS LONG [14:30] AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN [14:31] CHARGE OF IT NOW ARE IN [14:32] CHARGE OF IT. [14:33] THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAVE [14:34] TO CHANGE, BECAUSE THESE [14:35] PEOPLE ARE PROVEN [14:36] INCAPABLE. [14:37] I HOPE I'M WRONG. [14:38] WE'LL GIVE THEM A CHANCE, [14:39] BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S [14:40] ABLE TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY [14:42] OF CUBA AS LONG AS THESE [14:43] PEOPLE ARE IN CHARGE IN [14:44] THAT REGIME. [14:45] IF THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT IN [14:46] CHARGE, I MEAN, I CAN [14:47] ENVISION AMERICAN WEALTH AND [14:50] COMPANIES, IT COULD BECOME [14:52] THE DESTINATION. [14:54] THE ONE THING CUBA WOULD [14:55] ENJOY IS AN ENORMOUS [14:56] EXPATRIATE COMMUNITY, [14:57] YOU KNOW, CUBAN AMERICANS [14:58] THAT WOULD GO BACK AND [14:59] INVEST. [15:00] BUT I THINK THERE WOULD BE [15:01] INTEREST GLOBALLY. [15:02] LOOK, THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT [15:03] MINERAL DEPOSITS IN CUBA, [15:04] ONE OF THE, AND SOME OF THE [15:06] RARE EARTH MINERALS, [15:10] CUBAN AMERICANS. [15:11] THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT [15:12] COMPANIES, THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT [15:13] OPPORTUNITY WITH TOURISM, [15:14] WITH AGRICULTURE, VERY RICH [15:15] FARMLAND. [15:16] SO CUBA SHOULD NOT BE A POOR [15:17] COUNTRY. [15:18] ITS PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE [15:19] STARVING, ITS PEOPLE SHOULD [15:20] BE PROSPEROUS. [15:21] AND WHAT'S MOST INTERESTING IS [15:22] YOU SEE CUBANS EVERYWHERE IN [15:23] THE WORLD, IN THE UNITED [15:24] STATES, BUT YOU SEE THEM IN [15:25] EUROPE, YOU SEE THEM IN [15:26] PANAMA, CUBANS LEAVE CUBA, [15:27] THEY GO TO OTHER COUNTRIES [15:28] AND THEY BECOME SUCCESSFUL. [15:29] THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD [15:30] TO PROSPER AND SUCCEED IS IN [15:31] CUBA. [15:32] ALL RIGHT, THANKS FOR [15:34] WATCHING, CHECK OUT MY NEW [15:35] PODCAST HANGING OUT WITH ME, [15:36] SEAN HANNITY. [15:37] THE BIG INTERVIEWS, THE [15:38] DEBATES YOU WON'T GET ANYWHERE [15:39] ELSE. [15:40] LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES [15:42] EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY.