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Trump and Macron Clash on NATO and ISIS; Macron Says ISIS is Not Yet Eliminated; Protests in London as Trump Attends NATO Leaders' Meeting; Democrats to Release Probe Finding Publicly Today; Prince Andrew's Accuser Speaks Out in Explosive Interview; Trump and Trudeau Holding Bilateral Meeting; Trump: I've had Best Poll Numbers I've Ever Had. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired December 03, 2019 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): Response, please. I'm not as pessimistic this year. The last two years we progress,
strengthened cooperation, European Defense Front, European initiative for intervention. People said it was impossible but now every time there are
new members on the 14th of July. Italy has joined us and it continues and it will be done when, I would say, in a fully integrated with NATO with
regards to -- it's not a question to dip into external threats and be disarmed. Europe takes up its responsibility, take up the position of the
United States which has played its part.
To have talks which strategic, will start to have it with Mr. Stoltenberg and we've started to talk about it with President Trump but it's clear that
we must assume together the European countries. I think those that are less than 500 kilometers from the Russian border and not to be exposed to a
Russian disarmament. And so, the joint position that we wish to have and with a new treaty, a bilateral treaty and it is that Europe takes up its
responsibility and will do so. And that we can then, once we have coordination to have a new debate, discussion with the Russians, to talk
about disarmament and security on our own territory.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The situation in Ukraine is very important. I think that the meetings coming up with Russia and
Ukraine are very important. And there's a possibility that some very big progress can be made. It's very important for Ukraine. And I think it's
very important from the standpoint of Russia also that they work out a treaty. They work out peace because they've been fighting a long time.
Too long. And I think there's a really good chance that that will happen.
Also with respect to nuclear weapons, I've spoken to President Putin and I've communicated with him. And we are -- he very much wants to and so do
we, want to work out a treaty of some kind on nuclear weapon that will probably then -- that includes China at some point and yourself by the way.
But it will include China and some other countries. But we intend to see if we can work something out to stop the proliferation, to stop what's
happening. Because we are making a lot and we are renovating a lot. And, frankly, the whole situation with nuclear is not a good situation.
We ended the treaty because it wasn't being adhered to by the other side. But they want to make a treaty and so do we. I think it would be a great
thing. I think it's one of the most important things we can do, frankly. So we're going to be dealing with Russia on a treaty where we really -- and
we're focused on nuclear and nuclear weapons, missiles of nuclear weapons. And we think something could be worked out. We think they want to do it.
We know they want to do it, and we want to do it also.
I spoke to China about it. They -- during one of our trade negotiations, they were extremely excited about getting involved in that. So some very
good things can happen with respect to that. I think it's very important. The whole nuclear situation, very, very important. OK. Thank you all very
much. Thank you, thank you.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Well, we have just watched what turned out to be a very public row between the U.S. and French Presidents at the NATO
leaders' 70th anniversary meeting in London. Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron sat down not long after President Trump criticized Mr. Macron for
his earlier comment in which he said, NATO is experiencing brain death.
President Trump called it, quote, insulting and nasty setting the backdrop for what turned out to be a tense news conference. Mr. Macron not backing
down on his NATO criticism and standing by that comment.
[10:05:00]
Well that led to finger-pointing and testy exchanges during their news conference. Listen to President Trump after Mr. Macron answered a question
about the status of European ISIS fighters in Europe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(INAUDIBLE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right, well, we don't seem to have that sound at the moment. This hour at Downing Street, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will host his
counterparts from France, Germany and Turkey. Later today the 29 NATO allies will meet up at Buckingham Palace for a reception hosted by the
Queen.
Well let's bring in the team connecting all angles of the story for us across the globe. Max Foster, Phil Black and Kaitlan Collins are
positioned across London for you. Melissa Bell is in Paris. Cristina Alesci is in New York with news on the latest U.S. tariff threat. Suzanne
Malveaux is on Capitol Hill where there will be a new impeachment hearing tomorrow. And actually I've got Sam Kiley with me here in Abu Dhabi.
We heard an awful lot about some of the issues roiling in the Middle East. I want to do that with Sam just shortly. But let me start off with you,
Melissa. If you will. Because this was a Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron sort of sound-off, if you will. What do you make of what we have just
heard?
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: It was really quite extraordinary, Becky. They were going to go on to continue their talks but ended up -- as
you said quite rightly -- having this very public row on a number of issues that we knew divided them. NATO, of course, tariffs as well, Turkey,
another one, the positioning of NATO towards Russia. All things that divide the two men. We knew that because we'd heard from one and then the
other on a number of these different issues. But we hadn't expected them to go at it so forcefully and so publicly as they did.
And I think as expected really, Emmanuel Macron really hit back and specifically on that question of NATO. Donald Trump coming back to the
question of the contributions, what proportion of defense spending people are paying towards NATO. The contributions of each country and Macron kept
reminding him, it is not just about money. It's about strategic positioning. And this goes to the heart of the debate between the two men.
Emmanuel Macron saying what counted was that NATO could decide how they should position themselves. He can't, he told Donald Trump, you can't have
your cake and eat it, and at least he can't be positioning himself towards Russian interests and say that he supports NATO wholeheartedly without
deciding what that defense spending should be going towards. What this strategic objectives of the alliance should be.
Then of course, on the question of tariffs. Donald Trump really hitting back on that tax that the French have introduced on the big tech companies.
And saying that, look, and this is an old gripe of his. The European Union he says costs the United States more than a billion every year in trade.
So a very frosty debate. Very tense and yet getting to the heart of so many of the issues that divide them, Becky. So extremely interesting to
watch.
ANDERSON: Yes, this is absolutely fascinating. Sam Kiley is here with me here in Abu Dhabi. Because as Melissa sets up what we heard and some of
the comments about the European Union, Donald Trump saying that the European Union was partially formed to take advantage of the United States.
He says I've exposed it, and a lot of people didn't know it. Which of course, isn't true. The U.S. also -- always a major advocate of the
European integration process.
Anyway, being that as it may, we also heard Emmanuel Macron speaking to some of the issues around the EU's relationship with Turkey. Not least
this line. Turkey sometimes works with ISIS proxies. If the idea was to infuriate or antagonize the visiting Turkish President who is in London at
this NATO meeting, he will have succeeded in doing it with that comment.
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He certainly would. And of course, he's got troops on the ground. He's literally got flesh in
the game. French special forces working alongside particularly the Brits and the Americans in the very intense battle against the so-called Islamic
state. And they are painfully, literally painfully aware there are elements and they just are. There is a fact of people associated formally
with ISIS to some extent -- certainly al Qaeda groups that are among the militias that have been sponsored by Turkey as part of their incursion
coming south. That's something that has been glossed over by the United States as part of their withdrawal process.
But it's been a very interesting dynamic that between Macron. It does seem to be the only one not stroking the American man-child effectively of
diplomacy. Everybody else tiptoes around him. Macron is not doing that.
[10:10:01]
ANDERSON: Let's have a listen to what Emmanuel Macron said with regard to ISIS.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MACRON: I think number one priority, because it's not yet finished, is to get rid of ISIS and the terrorist groups. This is our number one priority.
And it's not yet done. I'm sorry to say that. Yes, we still have fighters in the region in Syria and now in Iraq and more and more. And the whole
destabilization of the region makes the situation more difficult to fix the situation against ISIS.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The Turkish President has been much criticized about his actions with regard to Syria and whether he is still a, as it were, functioning
member of the alliance. I mean, what do you expect, if anything, to be achieved at this meeting in London?
KILEY: Well President Erdogan has made it absolutely clear he wants the YPG, which is the Kurdish element within the Syrian Democratic Forces that
have fought alongside so many other NATO allies against the so-called Islamic state to be designated an international terrorist organization, as
the Turks would say its sister organization, the PKK. Kurdish Workers Party has been, for many decades.
The problem is that they are still involved in the fight against the so- called Islamic state. They are guarding, as Donald Trump pointed out, the Syrian oil facilities. They are an integral part of that battle. So
Erdogan is not going to get that, but he has stuff that he can continue to kind of brandish in the faces of NATO suggesting that he may start drifting
even further towards the Russians. He's got the S-400 surface to air missiles. He may, if he can't get the F-35 deal, that the Americans have
withdrawn from him. He can return to other suppliers. Among them, Russians potentially. It's a lot more complicated in fact in reality.
But it is this fractious moment in Middle Eastern and NATO politics because of the Americans are withdrawing so much from engagement and leaving a lot
of the world very confused about quite how to react.
ANDERSON: In some remarkable comments from this press conference. President Trump asking the French President Macron, would you like some
nice ISIS fighters? I could give them to you. It is true you have foreign fighters coming from Europe, but this is a tiny minority of the overall
problem.
The French President, Mr. Macron responds. I do want to -- stay with me. I want to get to London and Max Foster who is available for us now. I
mean, Max, what do you make of this, at times, testy news conference? You know, we've got it all still to come. There are a whole load more events
today in the offing, not least the NATO leader's meeting with the Queen a little later on. But this is certainly a somewhat enlightening day.
MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I think that was always going to be the big moment actually. Because they got such different views, as
Sam was saying. Macron isn't afraid of confronting Donald Trump and saying those things. They talked about the way he talked about ISIS and how the
fight isn't over. That, obviously, contradicts what Donald Trump has said in the past and his narrative that they bit off the caliphate and ISIS has
been defeated to some extent at least. So I think that was important.
And then when they come here to the reception later on, they'll have more opportunities to speak with each other. And both will be speaking to other
leaders trying to get a sense of where they're going. It's really interesting thing happened yesterday which is where NATO effectively said
this is not a summit. This is a meeting. We'll not have a communique at the end of it. Basically because they know they'll not be able to agree.
And that wasn't the point of this when this meeting was set up. London was the first office for NATO all those years ago. This is meant to be the
70th anniversary of NATO celebrating what many of them see as the world's greatest alliance. But clearly, all the fractures are showing and I think
it really came to light in that bilateral you had there in the press conference.
ANDERSON: Phil Black also standing by in London. President Trump it was interesting. It was sort of day of two halves to a certain extent.
Because President Trump pretty -- in terms of Trump, sort of organized in his thoughts. Let me put it that way. Not sure how to say this. He
didn't weigh in on U.K. elections earlier on today. He was quite disciplined is the word I was looking for. Many had feared he might. And
given that there's an election back end of next week, there was, of course, a sense he might be a bit of a wild card for Boris Johnson. But it doesn't
seem yet at least to have turned out that way.
[10:15:00]
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky, people thought he might because that's what he's done before. In his previous visits as President, he
hasn't hesitated to give his views on British politics and he's left the domestic political situation a little messier, I think, than he found it.
So there has been a feeling, if you like. Some anticipation that perhaps now with the U.K. in the middle of a hotly contested, very emotive election
campaign that President Trump could once again get involved, and in particular, give some sort of endorsement or backing to a man he describes
as a friend. That is the Conservative Party leader. The existing Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. He had the chance to do so today. This is what
he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why are you staying out of the British elections, sir?
TRUMP: Because I don't want to complicate it. I can -- look, I've won a lot of elections for a lot of people. I'll stay out of the election. You
know that I was a fan of Brexit. I called it the day before. I was opening up Turnberry the day before Brexit. You were there. Many of you
were there. I recognize that many of you were there. And they asked me whether or not Brexit would happen. I said, yes, and everybody smiled and
they laughed. And I said, yes, it's going to happen in my opinion. It's just my opinion. The next day they had the election. And I was right.
But I stay out of it. I think Boris is very capable, and I think he'll do a good job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: So much of the analysis here so far, Becky, suggests that if Trump and Boris Johnson were to get together too closely or if Trump were to even
endorse Boris Johnson, that would not be good for Boris Johnson politically here. And as you saw so far, President Trump is being very careful. But
as we're talking about, this is very early on in his visit and there's still a lot to go.
I'm here in Trafalgar Square at the moment. Again, because of U.K. political feeling. You'll remember that on his previous visits there were
big crowds that mobilized to let Donald Trump know that not everyone here likes him very much. Last year on his visit, organizers thought they got
more than 200,000 people to attend a rally in central London. There were big crowds again earlier this year.
They're hoping for something similar here tonight. A crowd of people that will then march toward and around Buckingham Palace while President Trump
and the other NATO leaders are in their meeting with the Queen. The goal is to let President Trump know that these people are out here and, again,
they do not approve of much of what he has to say and don't approve of his presence here in the country.
The core focus of that protest is also very domestic and political. It regards the future of the National Health Service. Which, as you know, has
been a very divisive issue in this election campaign with the Labour Party insisting that under a Conservative government, it would effectively be
sold off to American pharmaceutical companies. So that's the language they use. What they're talking about is the possibility of those companies
having greater market access to the nationally run health system here. Which is something that many people feel very strongly against. And even
though the government has argued that's not going to happen. While the Conservative Party leadership has argued that's not going to happen. It
hasn't put that issue to bed. So we'll see how many people come here over the next hour or so. Then they'll be setting up for Buckingham Palace. At
the moment though more tourists than protesters -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Phil Black is in Trafalgar Square for you. Back to Sam with me here in Abu Dhabi. So President Trump has spoken a couple of times today.
A more restrained, sort of a disciplined Donald Trump at the beginning of the day. Perhaps a bit more, let's call it fractious with the bilateral
that has just been broadcast there on CNN with the French President.
And earlier today, President Trump urging the world to pay attention to Iran. Where he says perhaps thousands have been killed for protesting.
Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Iran is killing perhaps thousands and thousands of people right now as we speak. That's why they cut off the internet. So they cut off the
internet so people can't see what's going on. But thousands of people are being killed in Iran right now. And, frankly, I don't know how you get in
there. I don't know how you do your business, but the press ought to get in there and see what's going on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: If you were to fact-check him we would say, look, you know, we really don't know how many people have been killed on the ground. Amnesty
International saying over 200. But it is, as he rightly pointed out, very difficult to get in at the moment. We've been letting viewers know that
you're here with me where you might otherwise be in Iran at present because it is now impossible for the media to get in, even though Donald Trump
encouraging us and organizations like ours to do so. So what he says that thousands have been killed for protesting.
[10:20:00]
We can't stand that number up, but he is right to point out there is an awful lot going on the ground.
KILEY: Yes, I think with Donald Trump in terms of international diplomacy and it's incumbent on us to give a reality check to this. He doesn't
really necessarily know or even mean thousands. What he means is large numbers of people are dying and that is unacceptable, and nobody is going
to disagree with that. At least of all the Iranians.
He's also right in signaling that the blackout there is intended and we've worked very, very hard indeed, as other media organizations have, to eke
out what information we can. What video can be supplied by sources there. Very covert process. Very complex kind of spyware we have to use in order
to communicate any kind of information coming out of Iran. So he is right that they are trying to shut it down.
I think what's interesting there though in what he didn't say, it wasn't claiming credit that the United States had provoked this pro-democracy
campaign there as a consequence of sanctions. I was on this show yesterday saying that was likely that he would. So I stand corrected. Interesting
that they haven't claimed credit for it. Now that may yet come.
ANDERSON: He wants it to be seen as an organic movement. Doesn't he?
KILEY: Well I think that's absolutely true. And I think there is a truth to, and talking to people there, people -- it's working class people who
are rebelling there. They're rebelling right across the country and then burning symbols they're frustrated with -- banks, petrol stations and gas
stations.
ANDERSON: But what you're not hearing is death to America and death to Israel this time.
KILEY: No, no, no, no. And that's the top-down protests that we're used to. This is coming up from below. And maybe he doesn't want to jinx it
with too much of an American endorsement. I mean, every now and again he can be quite a subtle player in spite of some of his rhetoric in these
cases. So I think that was really rather telling. But he did repeat that figure of thousands both in the Macron press conference and in the one he
had, the 52-minute one that went off this morning. So in both cases he's very keen to project that out there.
But I think it's also very interesting indeed that Emmanuel Macron is wrestling, you know, is serving as the kind of break, the NATO break
perhaps on behalf of others in NATO. And I think that they may find that you'll see going forward a bit of agreement is that when Macron said that
NATO was brain dead, Donald Trump says what's the point of NATO? What they are agreeing and they both agree it's the Europeans who have got to step
up.
And where we've seen that most vividly exposed is in northern Syria where the American withdrawal was telegraphed last December. It happened
recently. And everybody threw up their arms in surprise. Well the Europeans could have planned for that. They knew it was coming. And
Macron has been consistent in drawing attention to that. What he's not getting is he's not putting any stickiness from his colleagues in the other
27 member states.
ANDERSON: Well he's getting you some tariffs on champagne and cheese at this point. It's fascinating, isn't it? It's fascinating times.
Broadcast live on TV.
And while the American President takes on Mr. Macron abroad, he has got the Democrats limbering up for impeachment back home. Much more on all of that
up next.
[10:25:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: They have no case for impeachment so they want to go to censure. I don't want them to go to censure. I don't mind being censured if you did
something wrong. I did nothing wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The U.S. President standing strong against impeachment on a day when he could learn just what sort of charges he could face. After weeks
of testimony and investigation, Democratic lawmakers are now set to release their report on the inquiry to the world today. Now that document is
expected to lay out the case in detail against President Trump, providing a basis for the Judiciary Committee to then draw up articles of impeachment.
It is coming from the House Intelligence Committee. Which of course has been running the investigation so far.
And before that information even goes public, House Republicans have issued their rebuttal. That is a 123-page defense saying essentially the
Democrats have not proven any wrongdoing by the President. The House Intelligence Chief Adam Schiff says they are just ignoring the evidence.
Let's bring in Suzanne Malveaux on Capitol Hill. And, Suzanne, he would say that, wouldn't he? I mean, what sort of -- before we see this
document, which as I understand it will be released in about six- or seven- hours' time, back end of play today. What sort of substance, if any, is there in this rebuttal from the Republicans?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN U.S. CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, it's very interesting to see that they have already prepared that preemptive
statement that we saw yesterday when they were talking about there's no evidence of bribery or high crimes and misdemeanors. They say that it was
completely prudent of the President. President Trump to delay aid to Ukraine.
We are also hearing, as well, Becky, Senators -- Republican Senators who very likely will be involved with the trial of the President. Also laying
out a defense strategy themselves. We have learned that White House counsel will be here for their policy luncheon and will be putting their
heads together to discuss what that defense strategy will be. But we've already got a pretty good sense of it, Becky. I had a chance to talk to
Senator John Kennedy. He's a Republican from Louisiana. And he is one of the folks who keeps pushing for the debunked theory that it was Ukraine
that was part of the effort to interfere in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. Take a listen to our exchange earlier this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. JOHN KENNEDY (R-LA): There's no question in my mind that Ukraine did try to influence the election. I know that -- I've read that the
intelligence committee made some kind of finding. I don't know what it was. I am aware of Dr. Hill's testimony. And she's entitled to her
opinion.
MALVEAUX: This is simply Russian propaganda that you are perpetuating.
KENNEDY: Well I have no way of knowing what Vladimir Putin says or thinks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And then, Becky, also he talks about the fact that there are reports that he is referring to from basically back in 2016. These are old
news reports that he talks about Ukrainian officials in op-eds who are criticizing then candidate Trump. But really does not deal with the
reality here that you have 17 intelligence agencies that have debunked what he is talking about. You had Dr. Fiona Hill who testified, the Russian
expert, in the impeachment inquiry saying this is simply Russian propaganda and talking points that he is parroting, if you will. And that there are
just a few Republicans who are willing to go out there and to do so.
But he was very much set that he believes in his own opinion that this is what he is going to be putting forward. Obviously, a distraction, many
Democrats feel, to what they feel is the real case against the President and also the real threat from Russia when it comes to the 2020 election
that there's already evidence that they have moved forward to try to interrupt and interfere with that election as well -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. All right, Suzanne, always a pleasure. Thank you for that. Another busy day on The Hill.
I want to take you back, viewers, to 1998. That is the last time the U.S. went through the impeachment process. Bill Clinton was out of the country
with just days to an impeachment vote in the House, and he was asked about it during a news conference with Benjamin Netanyahu. Have a listen to back
to what he said then.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:30:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, what is your reaction to the decision of the judiciary committee of the House yesterday. Do you intend to resign as
did President Nixon?
BILL CLINTON, THEN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I have no intention of resigning. It's never crossed my mind.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you planning any particular kind of outreach additional to lawmakers or the public?
CLINTON: I don't think it's appropriate for me to be personally calling people, unless they send word to me that there's some question they want to
ask or something they want to say. I don't think it's appropriate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I think you'd agree a marked difference there in Bill Clinton's tone. He chose to stay out of it while President Trump seems to jump to
his own defense whenever cameras are around. And today those cameras have been around. Two very long sessions on camera with Mr. Trump. He's at the
NATO meeting in London, of course.
And as he arrives there, an explosive new interview with the American woman who says she was forced to have sex with Britain's Prince Andrew. You'll
hear her story and reaction to it up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I don't know Prince Andrew, but that's a tough story. It's a very tough story. I don't know him, no.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Mr. Trump weighing in on the latest scandal to engulf the royal family as he is in NATO for -- sorry, he's in London for NATO's 70s
anniversary. In the coming hours he's scheduled to have tea with Prince Charles at his current house, residence, just down the road from Buckingham
Palace.
Royal officials say the two have developed a good working relationship. It is sure to come as a welcome distraction for Buckingham Palace following
allegations against Charles' younger brother Andrew. And we are now hearing explosive new details from the American woman who says she was
forced to have sex with the Duke of York as a teenager. CNN's Max Foster is live for you near Buckingham Palace with the latest details -- Max.
FOSTER: Yes, so it's interesting. He's got this great working relationship with Prince Charles but he doesn't know Prince Andrew.
Despite the fact that, you remember, earlier this year, Becky, Prince Andrew spent quite a lot of time showing Donald Trump around Westminster
Abbey. They also a meeting down the road as well at St. James' palace with business leaders from the American and British communities here in
London.
Also, I have to say, lots of photos online showing Donald Trump with Prince Andrew and Epstein in the background. We've heard about Prince Andrew's
story. We heard that in the explosive interview with the BBC. Now another explosive interview with his accuser who says one of their stories has to
be true. And she believes it has to be her.
JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
TRUMP: That sounded very good. Any questions today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, Mr. President, climate change is the top priority for the Prime Minister here as well as for President Macron earlier. We
caught him talking on his trip. And suddenly appear that we are under (INAUDIBLE). Are you thinking about that too?
TRUMP: I think about it all the time. So, I want to say, climate is very important to me. And you know, I've done may environmental impact
statements over my life. And I believe in -- I believe very strongly, very, very crystal-clear clean water and clean air. That's a big part of
climate change. I also see what's happening with our oceans. Where certain countries are dumping unlimited loads of things in it. They float.
They tend to float toward the United States. I've seen that happening and nobody has ever seen anything like it. And it's gotten worse.
But, no, it's very important to me also, but I want clean air and clean water would be number one and number two. Very important.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you concerned about rising sea levels at all, Mr. President?
TRUMP: You know, I'm concerned about everything, but I'm also concerned about nuclear proliferation. Which I think is a very important topic and
it's a topic that we're going to discuss today. You know, the whole situation with nuclear for me is very, very important as we've been
discussing today at the various meetings that we've had. I think that's something that has to be taken care of and it has to be dealt with very
strongly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, are you happy with Canadian defense spending as it is right now?
TRUMP: Say it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you happy with Canadian defense spending as it is right now?
TRUMP: Well they're moving up and their moving up substantially and their starting to do very well economically. And that has something to do with
it. And, yes, they're getting up to a level that's getting to be very acceptable. They have been under the 2 percent, obviously, but they are
moving up. We've discussed it. I'm satisfied.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE), Mr. President.
TRUMP: Excuse me,
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you plan to discuss Huawei?
TRUMP: We'll be discussing that, yes. We'll discuss that. Will be discussing that, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's your message to the timing of Huawei using it in the next generation software networks in Canada?
TRUMP: We find a security problem with it and you know, and Canada is going to make a decision at some point, but we find -- I just speak for the
United States and we have the ability to do a lot of things. We've actually advanced very far in 5G. Much further than anyone really knows.
AG5 headed it up and was very good. And we have a lot of action going on with respect to 5G. We're not using Huawei. And we're really some of our
great companies are getting much involved with 5G right now. But, no, we find a tremendous security problem with respect to Huawei.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, top nuclear issue that you talked earlier about Russia and regards to Russia and China trying to (INAUDIBLE).
Your description of those conversations that you've had with both leaders doesn't match with what they've said publicly. I'm talking about the
(INAUDIBLE) the last time you talked.
TRUMP: It's not what they said publicly?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's --
TRUMP: Well, look, we've had discussions and we've also had communications. And I can tell you on behalf of both, they'd like to see
something done with it. Now does that mean they'll agree to do something. I'm the one that terminated the agreement. And I terminated it because
they were not living up to it, and we don't want to be living up to an agreement and they don't. And so, it wasn't fair but it was also a very
obsolete agreement. You know, it covered things that, frankly, didn't matter anymore. We are looking at doing a new agreement with Russia, and
we're looking to doing a new agreement with China and maybe the three of us will do it together. And they do want to do it. I can tell you with
China, we were in a trade meeting and the subject -- I broached the subject and they were very excited about it. No, they'd like to do it.
We may do it with Russia first and then go to China or we may do it altogether or it may not happen. To be honest, maybe it won't happen. But
we are spending a lot of money on nuclear, and we have new nuclear and have tremendous renovations of our older capability. And I have to tell you, I
see the kind of damage that we're talking about and the kind of power that we have. And it would be a very sad day if we ever had to use it. It's a
very good thing if we can do something to stop making that, fixing that. We'll see what happens.
Now there are other countries -- but in terms of the world, we're number one by far. Russia is number two and China would be number three. China
is not -- China will be pretty even over a period of four or five years.
[10:40:00]
But it's a tremendous expense for them and for us, for everybody. The destructive capability is really unacceptable. So we'll see if we can do
something. I think Russia and I think China would like to do it very much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- called member countries and allied countries in the past delinquent for not meeting the 2 percent standard. Where would you
put Canada in that?
TRUMP: Slightly down from perfect, I say Canada but they'll be OK. I have confidence. Just slightly delinquent. Some are major delinquent and some
are way below 1 percent and that's unacceptable. And if something happens, we're supposed to protect them and it's not really fair and it never has
been fair. And they're paying up and we are talking to Germany tomorrow. And they're starting to come along. They have to. They have to.
Otherwise if they don't want to all have to do something with respect to trade.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So Canada's OK now?
TRUMP: And with trade I have all the cards. We have built something in the last three years that's then incredible. You've seen it. We are up
$21 trillion and China's down about $32 trillion. As you know for years, I've been hearing that it was 2019, in 2019, China is going to become the
largest economy. Well that didn't happen. We're much larger than China now because we've gone up and they've gone down. And they had their worst
year in 56 or 57 years now. By far, they've had the worst year that they've had, that they know of. And we don't want that, frankly. But what
they're doing is wrong. And I think they're going to stop it, and they want to make a deal very badly. Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had a question, would you commit -- if there's a country that's delinquent, as you put it in paying for their defense
spending, would you commit as President of the United States to defend them if they were attacked?
TRUMP: I'm going to be discussing that today. And it's a very interesting question, isn't it? And you know, it also depends on what your definition
of delinquent is. For instance, if you have a country that's paying only 1 percent -- and you have some paying less than 1 percent, and they shouldn't
be. You have some that are paying less than 1 percent and they're wealthy countries on top of everything. Now we go to a new year and they don't pay
and now we go to yet another year and they don't pay. Well, now I ask you, do they have to pay for the back years? OK.
Now so why is it that they owe us for this year but every time a new year comes up, they don't have to pay? It's wrong. It's not right. So, I
mean, I could say that you can go back 25 years. I won't do that with Canada, of course. But you can go back, you know, right from the beginning
where they were short of whatever goal it was at the time. It's 2 percent now. Two percent is very low. It should be 4 percent. Two percent is
very low. You have some that are well short of that. But they were short of it last year, the year before, the year before, right. So they are
short all these years. You know, in theory, you don't just say, that's OK. You don't have to ever pay. I mean, they really owe all that money from
the past. That's the way I look at it.
If Germany, as an example, is paying 1 percent and they're supposed to be paying 2 percent, you're talking about billions of dollars, well, that
means that last year, the year before, the year before, all of those years, they would owe us money. Really, you're talking about trillions of
dollars. Nobody has ever brought that up. They just keep talking about the present. So if they are short one year and then you go into the new
year, they never talk about the years they didn't pay. But they actually, in theory, owe us that money. It's not fair. It's not fair.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, with regard to China, when you met the Prime Minister in June, you talked about being -- or trying to help with
the two prisoners that are Canadians that are in China.
TRUMP: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you made any --
TRUMP: Well, I have. And I think we've made progress. And I had mentioned that to President Xi, as you know, because it was a big subject
at the time. And I just hoped they were being treated well. But I put in a very, very strong word for those two prisoners. Well I haven't said to
him recently to be honest with you. I don't think he likes me so much anymore, but that's OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, Canada does not meet the 2 percent standard. Should it have a plan to meet the 2 percent standard?
TRUMP: Well we'll put them on a payment plan, you know. We'll put Canada on a payment plan. I'm sure the Prime Minister would love that.
TRUDEAU: What are you asking?
TRUMP: What is your number?
TRUDEAU: The number we talked about is 70 percent increase over these past years, including and for the coming years. Including significant
investments in our fighter jets, significant investments in our naval fleets.
[10:45:04]
We are increasing significantly our defense spending from previous governments that cut it.
TRUMP: OK. Where are you now in terms of your number?
TRUDEAU: We're at 1.45? 1.3.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 1.4.
TRUDEAU: 1.4.
And --
TRUMP: They are getting there. They know it's important to do. And their economy is doing well. They'll get there quickly, I think.
TRUDEAU: A look, is to their benefit. And the President knows us as well that Canada has been there for every NATO deployment. We have consistently
stepped up, sent our troops into harm's way. We're leading in Iraq. We're leading in NATO -- in Latvia. We continue to step up, like most of our
allies. There are some countries that, even though they might reach the 2 percent, don't step up nearly as much, and I think it's important to look
at what is actually being done. And the United States and all NATO allies know that Canada is a solid, reliable partner. We'll continue to defend
NATO and defend our interests.
TRUMP: And we do have tremendous coordination with radar, with all of the different things that technologically, we have tremendous coordination
between Canada and the United States. That's good. Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President, coming back to impeachment. You met with Clinton adviser, Mark Penn, last week and what did you learn from that
meeting? And what advice are you getting on impeachment?
TRUMP: We are winning so big. We had our biggest fundraising month ever. We've had last quarter was unbelievable. I had my best poll numbers that
I've ever had. The impeachment hoax is going nowhere. The Republican Party has never been so unified as it is right now. I have never seen
anything like it. You know, I used to tell you. I said, the one thing that Republicans are better politicians. They have microphone off with
that all the cooking now thought to tell you this man just is ready better policies but the Democrats do stick together.
Democrats like open borders. They like sanctuary cities. They like a lot of things that are not good, but they do stick together. Well, the
Republican Party over this whole impeachment hoax has been like glue because they know it's a hoax. It's a way of hurting the Republican Party,
beyond me. It's a way of trying to hurt the Republican party and a lot of great people. And the people aren't standing for it.
And a lot of these Democrats went back over the weekend and over the last week and a half -- you know, they talk about how much of an emergency
everything is. And then they go away for two weeks. They went back to their districts and they are getting hammered in their districts. And I
see what's going on. Especially the Trump districts where I won by a lot. I have districts where I won by a lot. You people know it better than
anybody.
And we had a lot of great elections recently. We had the two big victories in North Carolina. I told you before. We had in Kentucky, we won
everything, other than the governorship, and the governor I brought up almost 19 points. He won by just -- lost by just a few votes. And
Louisiana was a long shot and was less than 1 percent. He came up to 12 or 14 points. A lot. And we won everything else. We won everything else.
And, by the way, in Mississippi, we won the governorship. Very close race. It was tied going in two days before. Went up and made a speech. We had a
rally and he won by a lot. And we have a wonderful governor in Mississippi and everybody else won. So then the two races, they both -- both
candidates went up a lot. We have never had the spirit that we've had. I really believe -- I think I can honestly say, I don't think we've ever had
the spirit we have right now in the Republican Party. And the impeachment hoax is what's done it. So that's the way this --
(CROSS TALK)
TRUMP: You know, honestly, I think you people know that better than I do. Please.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, the Dow is down more than 400 points right now in part of the big -- you commented earlier in this that the
China trade deal --
TRUMP: That's OK. Well it's up. Let me tell you, we took it up -- it was about at 16,000 or 15,000 and now it's almost at 30,000. It's going to be
at 30,000. No, I have to tell you, it's not going to be a good deal, I'm not signing a deal. Its peanuts compared to what -- we have picked up
record numbers in our stock markets so that's OK. That's the way I feel. I have to make the right deal. I'm not going to make a deal that's not
going to be great for our country. And it can't be an even deal. If it's an even deal, it's no good.
Because China -- other presidents and leaders of our country have really let us down because they let China get away with something that should have
never been allowed to happen. Billions and billions of dollars a year were lost in dealing with China by foolish people or people that didn't care or
by people that didn't know how -- we rebuilt China. And I give China great credit. And I don't even blame China because our people should have done
what they did.
[10:50:00]
But what they've done is we've lost $150 billion and then $200 billion and then $400 billion to China. They rebuilt China with the money they took
out of the United States. And that's where they were, and that's where it is. Now we're taking in billions of dollars in tariffs. And by the way,
they're eating it. Remember you used to tell me how it will cost us? They're eating that money because they don't want to lose their supply
chains. And I don't want them to lose their supply chains, but if it happens, it happens. And that's where it is. They want to make a deal.
But I like the deal that we have, and the deal that we have could get even better and I could do it all by myself. So we'll see what happens. We're
at a critical stage. They've called us today, and they've called us yesterday. We're having ongoing discussions. And we'll see what happens.
But if the stock market goes up or down, I don't watch the stock market. I watch jobs. Jobs are what I watch. I watch making the proper deal. We've
been taken advantage of, the United States by China, for so many years. At numbers that if you were doing this, you wouldn't have believed it. I came
in. I looked at numbers for -- I mean, ever since the founding of the China's entrance into the World Trade Organization, the WTO -- (INAUDIBLE)
--
ANDERSON: We do appear to have lost the audio from that meeting. This is a meeting in London. A bilateral meeting between Justin Trudeau of Canada
with the man in the frame as we speak, Mr. Donald Trump. This is -- I would sort of sum up what we've been listening to. Not just over the past
sort of 15, 20 minutes or so, but through the day today. It's sort of lights, camera, action. It's show time for Donald Trump on his foreign
policy file today as he talks about a smorgasbord of issues. Let's listen in once again.
TRUMP: -- discussing today. I have to look at it as a group. You can't see, gee, this country sitting right in the middle is delinquent. They're
not paying and something happens to that country. I think it's an unlikely circumstance, but I would do something having to do with trade, much more
so than what you're suggesting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Back to impeachment. Is it your belief that there will be a Senate trial, sir?
TRUMP: I have no idea. I think they are making a mistake if they do that, but that's OK. They do, they do it. I think it's a disgrace. I think the
Democrats should be ashamed of themselves. If you look at impeachment -- the word impeachment. Here there was nothing wrong. Nothing done wrong.
It was a perfect conversation with a very nice gentleman, the President of Ukraine. The conversation was perfect. It was two conversations. They
were both perfect. They were transcribed. They were both perfect. And this is what you're going to impeach the President of the United States on?
The Republicans have never been stronger, never been more unified. The Democrats have gone crazy. And you know what? They have to be careful
because when the shoe is on the other foot, and some day, hopefully, you know, in a very long distant future you'll have a Democrat President,
you'll have a Republican House and they'll do the same thing because somebody picked an orange out of a refrigerator and you don't like it. So
let's go and impeach him. It's no good. That's not the way our country is supposed to be run.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, have you selected a new site for the G7 summit next year?
TRUMP: We really have and I think it's been more or less announced. We're going to do it at Camp David, and we'll be doing some very special things
at Camp David. It's nearby. It's close. We're going to get very good access to the press. You'll have great access. And we'll have a little
bit of a Washington, I think, deliverance. We'll have -- but it will be at Camp David, which is --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- your decision to leave Syria and leave the Kurds will reflect --
TRUMP: No, no, not only have we -- what they lived off of. And that was going to be taken away from them. But now our great soldiers are right
around the oil. We've got the oil. But if we didn't have it, they wouldn't be able to survive. The Kurds wouldn't be able to survive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- you've maintained the number of these sessions today that you've done nothing wrong in your comments with Ukraine. Why won't
you permit the Secretary of State or the acting White House chief of staff to testify?
TRUMP: Well, I would. I'd like them to testify but these are very unfair hearings. And these unfair witch hunt hearings. As an example, I just
heard today, they get three constitutional lawyers. It's all nonsense. They're just wasting their time. And we get one. OK. Now nobody has to
know anything about constitutional law, but they get three and we get one - -
[11:00:00]
END
