Trump Says US Wouldn’t Use Nuclear Weapon Against Iran: Q&A

[0:00] He's a wonderful guy. [0:02] I just put out a statement about him. [0:04] He's a very good man. [0:05] I really liked him, but he had some conflict with, [0:08] not necessarily Pete, with some other, he's a hard charger, [0:12] and he had some conflicts with some other people, [0:14] mostly as to building and buying new ships. [0:19] I'm very aggressive in the new ship building, [0:22] and somehow he just didn't get along with them. [0:25] He's an excellent guy. [0:26] I think he would have gotten along great with me. [0:28] I didn't really deal with him too much, [0:30] but he's a, you know, I consider him to have done a very good job. [0:35] I put out a nice statement about him. [0:37] You've got to get along, especially in the military. [0:40] You've got to get along, you know, [0:41] and some people liked him, some people didn't, [0:45] and that's usually the truth about everything, [0:48] but I found him to be a very good man, [0:49] and I liked him a lot. [0:53] On the war with Iran, [0:55] how long are you willing to wait until you get a unified response? [0:58] Don't rush me. Don't rush me, Jeff. [0:59] You know, guys like you, you want to say, [1:02] oh, so we were in Vietnam like for 18 years. [1:05] We were in Iraq for many, many years. [1:07] We were in for all the, I don't like to say World War II, [1:11] because that was a biggie, [1:12] but we were four and a half, almost five years in World War II. [1:16] We were in the Korean War for seven years. [1:18] I've been doing this for six weeks, [1:22] and their military is totally defeated. [1:25] They're outside of the little Wiseguy ships. [1:30] I call them the Wiseguy ships, [1:31] the little boats that they have running around with guns in them. [1:34] We'll take them out, too, when we see them. [1:38] But their Navy is gone. [1:40] Their Air Force is gone. [1:41] Their anti-aircraft is gone. [1:44] All of their anti-aircraft machinery is gone. [1:47] Maybe they loaded up a little bit during the two-week hiatus, [1:50] but we'll knock that out in about one day if they did. [1:53] We've done an amazing job. [1:55] Their leaders are gone. [1:56] Their leaders are all gone. [1:58] Part of the problem is that, [2:00] that's why I can't really answer your question, [2:03] they have all new leadership, [2:04] and they're fighting like cats and dogs for who's going to control. [2:08] Because we've created a real mess for them, [2:12] but they've created a mess for the world over the last 47 years. [2:16] They've killed a lot of our people. [2:18] When you see a soldier, a young person, [2:20] or now an older person, [2:22] but a person without legs or without arms [2:24] or with a face that got blown to pieces, [2:27] most likely it was from Iran. [2:29] It was Soleimani who I killed. [2:32] Soleimani loved the roadside bomb. [2:34] He was an evil genius. [2:35] He was a brilliant general. [2:36] Probably we wouldn't be as far advanced [2:38] had I not taken him out. [2:39] That was the beginning of it all. [2:42] And then I ended the Obama horror show. [2:46] The nuclear transaction that he made was horror. [2:50] It gave him a road to the, you call it, [2:53] I mean, the deal that he did, [2:55] the Iran nuclear deal, was so bad. [2:57] It gave him a road to a nuclear weapon. [2:59] And I will tell you, I deal with him. [3:01] You cannot give Iran a nuclear weapon. [3:03] This is all about a nuclear weapon. [3:04] They cannot have the nuclear bomb, [3:05] and they're not going to have the nuclear bomb. [3:07] So we've taken out their military. [3:10] We've hit about 75% of our targets. [3:13] We stopped a little early [3:14] because they wanted to have some peace. [3:17] And we have a blockade that's 100% effective. [3:24] And they're getting no business. [3:27] And as you know, they're not doing well economically, financially. [3:31] They're not doing any business because of the blockade. [3:34] They want to make a deal. [3:35] Well, we have been speaking to them, [3:37] but they don't even know who's leading the country. [3:40] They're in turmoil. [3:41] They're in turmoil. [3:42] So we thought we'd give them a little chance [3:44] to get some of their turmoil resolved. [3:47] But, you know, and I hope the fake news, [3:50] people like you, [3:50] I hope the fake news are going to be able [3:52] to write about it accurately. [3:53] Because when you say, [3:54] oh, they're fighting very well, [3:55] they're not fighting well. [3:56] They would, they've been obliterated, Jeff, obliterated. [3:59] And 159 ships are in the Navy. [4:03] You know how many ships are at the bottom of the sea, Jeff? [4:08] 159. [4:09] So, you know, and if you read the New York Times, [4:13] the failing New York Times, [4:14] subscriptions are way down, as you know. [4:17] That's because people don't believe this stuff anymore. [4:20] If you watch CNN, [4:21] you'd think that they're doing well in the war. [4:23] They're not doing well. [4:24] They're getting absolutely decimated. [4:27] Now, with all of that being said, [4:29] we'll see what happens. [4:30] They have a lot of, we have no pressure. [4:32] It's only guys like you with a question like that, [4:34] about what's your time. [4:36] We've been doing it for five and a half weeks. [4:38] But, sir, it's actually been eight weeks [4:41] that the U.S. now has been involved with Iran. [4:43] You had initially said it would be four to six weeks. [4:45] Well, I hope that, but I also took a little break. [4:48] I gave them a break. [4:49] And remember this, I want to make the best deal. [4:54] I could make a deal right now. [4:55] Do you know that if I left right now, [4:57] we had a tremendous success. [4:59] It would take them 20 years to rebuild. [5:00] But I don't want to do that. [5:02] I want to have it everlasting. [5:04] I want to have it where they never get, [5:06] they never have a chance to get it. [5:07] I mean, the way you asked that question, [5:09] yeah, I did say it. [5:10] I thought it would take four to six weeks. [5:13] And I was right. [5:14] Because at the end of six weeks, [5:16] at the end of four weeks, [5:17] the military was decimated. [5:19] But now what I'm doing, [5:21] I can't tell you that. [5:22] I don't want to put that kind of a timetable on it, [5:24] but it'll go pretty quickly. [5:26] And we'll have the strait opened up. [5:30] Now, right now, we have it closed. [5:31] We have total control of the strait. [5:33] And the fact that it slows, [5:35] you know, they would have opened it up three days ago. [5:36] They came to us and they said, [5:38] we will agree to open the strait. [5:41] And all my people were happy. [5:42] Everybody was happy except me. [5:43] I said, wait a minute, [5:44] if we open the strait, [5:44] that means they're going to make $500 million a day. [5:48] I don't want them to make $500 million a day [5:50] until they settle this thing. [5:52] So I'm the one that kept it closed. [5:54] We have total control of it. [5:56] And it'll open when they make a deal [5:59] or something else happens that's very positive. [6:01] What do you say to the American people [6:04] who question how much longer this will take? [6:07] Obviously, you know that they are having a higher... [6:09] You're such a disgrace. [6:10] Did you hear what I just said? [6:12] Vietnam. [6:12] How many years was Vietnam? [6:14] I understand, sir. [6:14] How many years was Vietnam? [6:16] Well, I did my... [6:17] I took... [6:18] I took... [6:19] I took the country out militarily [6:22] in the first four weeks. [6:25] I took it out militarily. [6:29] Now what we're doing is sitting back [6:30] and seeing what deal. [6:32] And if they don't want to make a deal, [6:33] then I'll finish it up militarily [6:35] with the other 25% of the targets. [6:37] We've hit 78% of the targets [6:40] that we've wanted to hit. [6:41] We've knocked out their manufacturing. [6:43] We've knocked out their missile production. [6:45] We've knocked out their drone production. [6:47] We've knocked out everything. [6:48] In some cases, when I say knocked it out, [6:50] 70, 80, 90%. [6:51] It's amazing what we've done. [6:56] So I've done that within that period of time [6:58] that I mentioned. [6:58] But I don't want to rush myself. [7:01] You know, because every story says, [7:02] oh, Trump is under time pressure. [7:03] I'm not. [7:03] No, no. [7:04] You know who's under time pressure? [7:05] They are. [7:06] Because if they don't get their oil moving, [7:08] their whole oil infrastructure [7:10] is going to explode. [7:11] You know what that means. [7:13] Because they have no place to store it. [7:15] And because they have no place to store it, [7:17] if they have to stop it, [7:19] something happens that only Len can explain. [7:22] Something happens underground [7:23] that essentially renders it in very poor shape. [7:27] And you never recover fully. [7:30] You can recover 50, 60%, [7:31] but you can never have it like it is right now. [7:34] And they have a matter of days [7:36] before that event takes place. [7:38] So I'm not under any pressure whatsoever. [7:41] We've never had so much ammunition. [7:42] Our ships are loaded. [7:44] I call them locked and loaded. [7:46] They're locked and loaded. [7:47] They're ready to go. [7:48] We have much higher quality equipment [7:51] than we did when we first started the war [7:53] or the military operation, [7:56] whatever you want to call it. [7:58] And they're coming to us. [8:00] The problem they have [8:01] is they are very disorganized right now. [8:04] Well, now yesterday, [8:05] and I was very pleased with this, [8:07] eight young women were going to be executed [8:10] yesterday afternoon at 6 o'clock. [8:13] And I asked them, [8:16] call it a favor, [8:17] I call it just a moral request [8:19] that they not be executed. [8:21] And they came back with an answer [8:22] that they won't be executed. [8:24] They're going to release. [8:24] It was protesting. [8:26] Eight beautiful young women, [8:28] very young women. [8:29] And they were, [8:30] the picture's in the paper. [8:32] And it's been a story for a little while. [8:34] And I saw that. [8:34] And I said, [8:36] let's see if we can save them. [8:37] And they were, [8:39] it was very nice what happened. [8:40] So they're not going to be, [8:42] what they're doing is, [8:43] as you know, [8:43] they're releasing four of them [8:45] very shortly. [8:45] And they're going to keep four of them [8:47] in jail for a period of one month [8:49] and release them. [8:50] So they won't be executed. [8:51] Yeah, please. [8:51] So if you're asking for more time [8:53] to sort out negotiations with the Russians. [8:54] I'm not asking you for more time. [8:56] I'm not asking for them. [8:57] No. [8:57] It's not what I'm just, [8:58] I'm not asking anybody for more time. [9:00] If you need more time, [9:01] does that mean Americans [9:03] should anticipate spending more [9:04] on gasoline [9:05] for the foreseeable future? [9:07] For a little while. [9:08] And you know what they get for that? [9:09] You know what they get for that? [9:10] Iran without a nuclear weapon [9:12] that's going to try and blow up [9:13] one of our cities [9:14] or blow up the entire Middle East. [9:16] You want to see what shock would be? [9:19] And I have to be honest, [9:20] the stock market is at [9:22] an all-time high right now. [9:24] I thought it would have been down [9:25] 20, 25 percent. [9:27] Wait a minute. [9:28] Can I finish my question? [9:29] Wise guy. [9:31] The stock market's at [9:32] an all-time high right now. [9:35] I projected, [9:36] and I'm pretty good at this, [9:37] that the stock market, [9:38] Howard, would drop [9:38] maybe 20 percent, 25 percent. [9:42] And I understood that. [9:43] And I said, [9:44] hey, it's a bad thing, [9:45] but I have to do what's right [9:46] for the country, [9:46] even the world. [9:48] Because you can't have them, [9:49] you cannot let them [9:50] have a nuclear weapon. [9:51] So the stock market, [9:54] unlike what a lot of people [9:56] were predicting, [9:57] I thought they weren't [9:58] necessarily wrong. [9:59] The stock market today [10:00] hit an all-time high. [10:02] Hit an all-time high yesterday, [10:03] the day before, [10:05] and it's staying there. [10:06] I thought oil would go up [10:07] to maybe $200 a barrel. [10:10] And oil is a very different number [10:13] than anyone thought. [10:14] In fact, this country is much lower [10:16] because we have all the oil [10:17] we can use. [10:18] We're actually, [10:20] ships are coming from [10:21] all over the world [10:22] to Texas, Louisiana, [10:23] and Alaska. [10:24] They're coming from [10:25] all over the world [10:26] to get oil from the United States [10:27] while this is closed [10:29] and the Hormones Strait. [10:30] So if you look at what I said, [10:35] I guess it was right [10:36] because I said I'd have it [10:37] four to six weeks. [10:38] And in four weeks, [10:39] we have totally defeated [10:40] that military. [10:41] So right now, [10:42] I don't want to rush it [10:43] because you guys are trying [10:44] to make us look [10:45] as bad as possible. [10:46] I don't want to rush it. [10:47] I want to take my time. [10:48] We have plenty of time. [10:49] And I want to get a great deal. [10:51] I want to get a deal [10:52] where our nation [10:53] and the world is safe [10:54] from lunatics [10:56] with nuclear weapons. [10:57] Yes, sir. [10:58] And if it does go to 200, [11:00] are you okay with that, sir? [11:02] If oil goes to 200? [11:03] I think that there's [11:04] nothing worse [11:04] than a nuclear weapon [11:05] that takes out [11:06] one of your cities [11:07] or two of your cities [11:08] or three. [11:09] I think there's nothing worse [11:10] than a nuclear weapon [11:11] that's going to destroy [11:12] the Middle East, [11:12] including Israel. [11:13] I think there's nothing worse [11:15] than Europe being underattacked [11:18] by people that have missiles [11:20] now that reach Europe. [11:21] As you know, [11:21] they don't reach us, [11:22] but they reach Europe. [11:23] But they will reach us [11:24] at some time. [11:25] Probably the not-too-distant future, [11:27] unless we stop them now. [11:29] I think there would be [11:29] nothing worse [11:30] than having nuclear holocaust [11:33] in Europe, London, Paris, [11:37] various places in Germany, [11:39] all targeted. [11:41] No, what I say is [11:44] you can't let them have. [11:45] I don't think it will happen, [11:47] by the way. [11:47] I really think we actually, [11:49] it turns out that [11:50] we are drill baby drill, [11:52] and it turns out [11:53] we're producing a lot of oil, [11:54] and they're buying the oil. [11:55] They're going to Alaska. [11:56] They're going to Texas, Louisiana. [11:59] And our guys have done [12:01] a fantastic job. [12:01] We're putting out right now [12:03] more oil and gas [12:04] than we ever have [12:05] in the history of our country. [12:06] And one other thing, [12:08] there are more people employed today [12:10] in the United States [12:11] than ever [12:11] in the history of our country. [12:13] Okay. [12:13] I have a question, sir. [12:15] Is it true [12:15] that your administration [12:16] is considering sending [12:17] 1,100 Afghans [12:18] to the Democratic Republic of Congo? [12:21] And if so, [12:21] do you have a response? [12:22] I don't know. [12:23] I'd have to check that. [12:23] Thank you, Mr. President. [12:27] Breitbart News' [12:28] Matt Boyle [12:28] just published an interview [12:30] with Greek Prime Minister [12:31] Mitsotakis, [12:32] in which the Prime Minister [12:33] said that he's rooting [12:34] for you to succeed [12:36] in getting a deal with Iran. [12:37] And he also said [12:38] he looks forward [12:39] to hosting you [12:39] in Greece later this year. [12:40] Do you have any response? [12:41] No, it's just really nice. [12:43] I mean, [12:44] Greece has been very supportive, [12:45] actually. [12:46] Greece has been terrific. [12:47] He's a terrific guy [12:48] because he understands [12:49] the importance of it. [12:50] You know, [12:51] oil goes up a little bit. [12:52] I hate it. [12:53] You know, [12:53] I was the one that had it. [12:54] I had it down [12:55] to $60 a barrel. [12:57] And I looked at guys [12:58] like Howard Lutnick. [12:59] Howard, [13:00] you remember it well. [13:01] I said, [13:01] well, [13:01] we just hit an all-time high [13:03] in the history of the market. [13:05] Think of this. [13:06] When we hit 50,000, [13:08] I was told, [13:09] everybody was told [13:10] when I won the election, [13:11] November 5th, [13:12] they said, [13:13] well, [13:14] during the four-year period, [13:15] it'll be impossible [13:15] for the Dow to ever reach [13:17] 50,000. [13:18] It'll be impossible [13:19] for the S&P [13:20] to ever hit 7,000. [13:22] Impossible. [13:23] And you remember that, [13:24] right? [13:25] It was going to hit [13:26] maybe six, [13:26] seven years, [13:27] eight years. [13:28] But I did it [13:29] in my first year. [13:30] Hit 50,000. [13:31] Now it's just about [13:32] at 50,000. [13:33] And S&P is higher [13:34] than it was [13:35] when we started. [13:37] And S&P hit over 7,000. [13:39] And that was before [13:40] the year ended up, [13:40] one year. [13:41] So I can only tell you this, [13:44] it'll end. [13:44] I don't think it'll be [13:45] very long, [13:46] by the way. [13:47] They're delaying it [13:48] because we don't know [13:49] who to deal with. [13:50] They are in, [13:51] you know, [13:52] they know who the leader [13:53] is in this country. [13:54] We don't know [13:55] who the leader is in Iran. [13:58] Because remember, [13:58] regime change. [14:00] Khomeini is gone. [14:01] He's gone to [14:02] greener pastures. [14:04] He's gone, [14:04] and all of his team [14:05] is gone. [14:06] Then a second group [14:07] came in. [14:07] They're all gone. [14:09] And now you have [14:09] the third group. [14:10] And they're a little [14:11] concerned about being [14:12] gone, too. [14:12] Sir, would you use [14:13] a nuclear weapon [14:14] against Iran? [14:15] You posted on [14:15] Truth Social [14:16] a few weeks ago. [14:17] We don't need it. [14:18] Why do I need it? [14:19] Why would a stupid [14:20] question like that [14:20] be asked? [14:21] Why would I use [14:23] a nuclear weapon [14:24] when we've totally, [14:25] in a very conventional [14:26] way, decimated them [14:28] without it? [14:29] No, I wouldn't use it. [14:30] A nuclear weapon [14:31] should never be allowed [14:32] to be used by anybody. [14:33] So, on to the state visit, [14:34] on to the state visit, [14:36] which we're all very [14:38] much looking forward to, [14:38] Prince Harry today [14:39] has said that he would [14:40] like to see you do more [14:41] to end the war in Ukraine. [14:43] Do you think it's [14:43] appropriate for a royal [14:44] to make those comments [14:45] ahead of the visit on Monday? [14:47] Prince Harry? [14:47] Yes, sir. [14:48] How's he doing? [14:50] How's his wife? [14:50] Please give him my regards, [14:52] okay? [14:52] No? [14:53] No, I don't know. [14:54] I know one thing. [14:55] Prince Harry is not [14:56] speaking for the UK. [14:59] That's for sure. [15:01] I think I'm speaking [15:01] for the UK [15:02] more than Prince Harry. [15:04] But I appreciate his advice [15:06] very much. [15:07] Great advice. [15:08] To the dinner [15:09] in the state visit? [15:09] Well, I look forward [15:10] to the dinner. [15:11] We're having King Charles [15:12] come. [15:12] He's a friend of mine. [15:13] We're really looking [15:14] forward to it. [15:15] We've spoken. [15:16] And we're going to [15:16] have a great time. [15:17] I tell you, [15:18] if I had that ballroom built, [15:20] it would be full. [15:20] I wish we had more seats. [15:22] You know, [15:23] they've wanted a new ballroom [15:24] for 150 years. [15:25] Now they're getting [15:26] the best in the world. [15:27] We're going to have [15:27] the best in the world. [15:28] But, you know, [15:29] we have a little room [15:30] that's not big enough [15:32] to handle what would [15:33] be a big crowd. [15:34] But we're going to have [15:35] very great people [15:36] that love the UK. [15:38] I love the UK. [15:39] I think they made [15:40] a big mistake on energy. [15:42] You should open up [15:43] the North Sea [15:44] in Aberdeen. [15:46] You should open it up. [15:47] And the other thing [15:48] is they've made [15:49] a big mistake [15:49] on immigration. [15:51] Sir, on Trump's Rx. [15:52] On Trump's Rx. [15:53] What do you hope [15:54] to learn from [15:54] Janine Pirro's investigation [15:56] into the Fed's renovation [15:57] that you did not? [15:58] What do you hope [15:59] to learn from [15:59] Janine Pirro's [16:01] investigation [16:02] into the Federal Reserve's [16:03] reservation [16:04] that you did not learn [16:05] when you visited [16:05] the site yourself last week? [16:06] Well, look, [16:07] you know, [16:09] the Federal Reserve Building [16:10] is a small building. [16:12] They're going to be in there [16:13] by the time it opens, [16:14] in my opinion, [16:15] for $4 billion. [16:17] I built a hotel [16:18] down the road [16:19] for $201 million [16:20] that I believe [16:21] is bigger [16:21] than the Federal Reserve Building. [16:23] $201 million. [16:25] The ballroom, [16:26] I'm going to have [16:26] the ballroom [16:27] from $300 to $400 million, [16:29] depending on finishes, [16:30] like marbles [16:31] to quality finishes. [16:34] We'll go top of the line. [16:35] But that's a much [16:37] bigger project. [16:39] When you look at [16:40] the fact that [16:41] they've taken [16:42] this beautiful building [16:43] and destroyed it, [16:45] they've taken down [16:45] the beautiful ceilings [16:47] with eagles, [16:47] they've taken down [16:48] the walls [16:48] that are a foot and a half [16:49] thick, [16:51] masonry. [16:52] You couldn't hear [16:52] from office to office. [16:54] They ripped it all down. [16:56] They ripped down, [16:58] because Kevin Warsh, [16:59] who's terrific, [17:00] said to you, [17:00] the saddest thing [17:01] is they ripped down [17:02] the nicest building [17:02] in Washington [17:03] for boardrooms [17:04] and all. [17:04] Did you know [17:05] about that building? [17:06] They ripped it down. [17:07] It was beautiful. [17:07] The boardroom building, [17:08] it was beautiful, [17:09] and they ripped it down, [17:11] and probably [17:11] because it cost [17:12] so much to fix it. [17:14] So I would have [17:14] done that job [17:15] for $25 million, [17:16] had money left over. [17:18] It's going to cost [17:18] more than, [17:19] in my opinion, [17:21] it's not going to open [17:21] for a long time. [17:22] You know, [17:22] Kevin may not be able [17:23] to have an office. [17:24] I'm going to have [17:24] to get him an office. [17:25] Can you give him [17:26] an office? [17:26] Yes, we have space. [17:27] Bobby, [17:27] do you have some space [17:28] over there, please? [17:29] Yeah, we have a lot of space. [17:30] But here's more [17:32] than you think. [17:34] But we're going to have [17:34] Kevin sitting [17:35] right next to you, Bobby. [17:37] But it may not open [17:39] for a long time. [17:39] I looked at it [17:40] the other day. [17:40] It's a see-through. [17:41] See-through, you know, [17:42] that means the walls [17:42] haven't already been up yet. [17:43] This is after years [17:45] and years of construction. [17:47] And somehow, [17:49] you have to find out [17:49] what went wrong. [17:51] That a small building, [17:52] I could have done it [17:53] for $25 million [17:53] and had money left out. [17:55] It would have been beautiful. [17:56] That a small building [17:57] can cost $4 billion. [18:00] It may never open. [18:03] It may never open. [18:03] And we have to get to that. [18:05] On top of that, [18:06] he's been terrible [18:06] in interest rates [18:07] because he should have [18:08] lowered interest rates. [18:09] That's why I call him [18:10] Jerome Too Late. [18:11] Too Late is his nickname. [18:13] Jerome Too Late, pal. [18:14] He likes me a lot. [18:15] Thank you very much. [18:16] Thank you.