In an effort to deal with the problem of growing fraudulent asylum claims at the southern U.S. border, the Trump administration is modifying the asylum rules to include a requirement that asylum should be sought at the first safe country of travel.

During a video interview U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli explains the new rule requiring asylum-seekers to apply in the first country they enter instead of the U.S.

(Fox News) – The Trump administration on Monday announced a sweeping new policy tightening restrictions for asylum seekers, in a move that could drastically reduce the number of Central American migrants eligible to enter the United States in this way.

The new rule, published in the Federal Register, would require most migrants entering through America’s southern border to first seek asylum in one of the countries they traversed – whether in Mexico, in Central America, or elsewhere on their journey. In most cases, only if that application is denied would they then be able to seek asylum in the United States.

“Ultimately, today’s action will reduce the overwhelming burdens on our domestic system caused by asylum-seekers failing to seek urgent protection in the first available country, economic migrants lacking a legitimate fear of persecution, and the transnational criminal organizations, traffickers, and smugglers exploiting our system for profits,” Homeland Security Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan said in a statement, describing the “targeted changes” as critical.

[…] The latest change is meant to crack down on asylum seekers coming to the U.S. more for economic reasons than to escape persecution in their home countries. The new policy does include a couple other exceptions, mainly for certain victims of human trafficking.

Attorney General Bill Barr said in a statement that the change would curb “forum shopping by economic migrants and those who seek to exploit our asylum system to obtain entry to the United States—while ensuring that no one is removed from the United States who is more likely than not to be tortured or persecuted on account of a protected ground.” (read more)

Today President Donald Trump is hosting the 3rd Annual Made in America product showcase on the south lawn of the White House.  Anticipated start time 11:45am EST:

UPDATE: Video and Transcript Added

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[Transcript]  THE PRESIDENT: That sounds nice, doesn’t it? Beautiful. Thank you very much. And thank you very much. Terrific talent.  Please sit down. Please.

I want welcome everyone to the White House. We are very excited to be hosting our third annual Made in America Showcase. It’s all about “Made in America.” (Applause.) We just started this, and this is my third already. And I just went around and saw these incredible companies that make everything from the THAAD missiles to beautiful boats. And I said, “How would that boat do against the THAAD missile?” And it wasn’t a good answer. (Laughter.) The boat is going to have a little problem, but that’s okay.

But I just want to say the engineering — inside, as you know, we have incredible things. I’m going in right now to look. I saw some of it yesterday. Incredible things. Made in the USA.

We’re here today to celebrate and support the most incredible products in the world. And this is just a very representative sampling, because we’re making more product here than we ever have.

Joining us today are manufacturers from all 50 states. And they are terrific talents, terrific craftsmen, terrific businesspeople. We have hats from Wyoming, sandals from Florida, tabasco from Louisiana, Airstream trailers — the Airstream is a great trailer; I’ve seen it for many years, and they’re doing better than ever — from Ohio, and custom-built motorcycles from the great state of Indiana.

We also have represented, and we have a lot of folks here from Litespeed Bikes, from Chattanooga, Tennessee. As a result of moving certain of its operations back to the United States — I love to hear this, because that’s what I like: when they move back. We don’t have to make product in other countries. Its parent company has experienced a 70 percent — and that just happened. They just announced 70 percent growth over the last two years. So they moved their operations back, and they’re 70 percent up in growth. So I want to congratulate you, Litespeed. And I want to congratulate everybody. That’s fantastic. (Applause.)

And also, a very special thank-you to KC Andrews with Gameday Ironworks in Oklahoma for making this beautiful presidential seal. It is a beauty. I think we have it displayed someplace right here. And I specifically said, “How much?” Because I want to buy it. I don’t know if they gave me a good price, but we’re going to get it. We’ll get it. We’ll put it up at the White House. It’s beautiful, and so many of their other projects and products are incredible. It was forged from American pride and with America pride and American craftsmanship. And it was 100 percent American steel.

Our steel industry is doing very well. We put massive tariffs on dumped steel. They were dumping steel. Our steel industry was going out of business. If I hadn’t been elected, you would have no steel industry right now. It would be gone. And we have not only steel, energy, and so many other things. We have — we’re vibrant. We have the hottest economy anywhere on Earth right now.

Today, I also viewed boats that were proudly displayed by Cobalt Boats from Kansas and Freeman Boatworks from South Carolina, and a farm irrigation system from Nebraska’s T-L Irrigation. I want to thank those three companies. It’s not easy to get these big, beautiful products here, and you get them here. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much.

I also want to share our appreciation to Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson for showing us the incredible THAAD Missile Defense System — the best in the world, by far — and for keeping the Sikorsky helicopter plant in Pennsylvania open, saving 465 jobs.

I called Marillyn a number of weeks ago. I said, “I read a story where they’re going to be closing your helicopter plant in Pennsylvania. We couldn’t do that.” I said, “Marillyn, you got to do something. I don’t want to…” And I really appreciate it, Marillyn. They’re keeping the plant open. Everybody in Pennsylvania is happy. (Applause.) And we will continue to make Sikorsky helicopters in Pennsylvania. Thank you, Marillyn.

Some of the manufacturers represented today have been around for a long time — more than a century, in a couple of cases. Johnson Woolen Mills was founded in Vermont before the Civil War. Today, Stacy Manosh is the fourth generation of her family to run the company. And, Stacy, wherever you may be — hi, Stacy — please stand up, Stacy. Congratulations. That’s great. (Applause.)

Others are just getting started, like the Snake Bite Company in Missouri. I thought it might be a snake. It has nothing to do with snakes. I’m happy about that. (Laughter.) And I looked at your product last night and it’s incredible. Kevin Kelly raised startup funding online just a few years ago, and now he’s selling specialty bottly [sic] — bottle openers and so many other things on two continents. And the product is amazing. And, Kevin, congratulations. That’s a great job. That’s a great job. Thank you very much, Kevin. (Applause.) Where does “Snake Bite” come from? Where does that term come from?

MR. KELLY: (Off-mic.) (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: Ah, yep. I get it. Okay. Well, it’s been working, right? It’s been working.

But while those here today create many different goods, you’re also devoted to one of the greatest missions on Earth: making the best products, from the best materials, with the best workers anywhere in the world, right here in the United States of America. Right? Made in America. Made in the USA. Call it either way, but that’s what we’re doing. (Applause.)

And, you know, when I took office, I was told by the previous administration that manufacturing jobs would be disappearing. There was no way. They said you’d need a miracle. Right? You’d need a miracle. Well, we have a miracle because we up — we’re up 600,000 manufacturing jobs since the election. (Applause.) So it’s been an extraordinary resurgence of American manufacturing.

We’ve added more than 6 million jobs since I was elected, including over 1 million jobs in manufacturing, engineering and construction. As I said, 600,000 jobs in pure manufacturing, and that number is going to go substantially higher.

Japan and other countries are at my absolute request, order — call it whatever you want. They’re sending tremendous and building tremendous plants now in the United States. We hadn’t had auto plants built in many, many years. And now we’re having many in Michigan, in Ohio, in Pennsylvania, in Florida, in North Carolina, South Carolina. Many, many plants are being built and being expanded. And that was not happening. Our auto companies and many companies were leaving the United States. Now they’re staying. They have a big disincentive to leave. We’re not happy when they leave. When they leave, it’s not the same.

Last year, we saw the biggest increase in manufacturing jobs in more than 20 years. Under my administration, manufacturing’s share of total job gains is the largest it’s been by any President in over one half a century. And don’t forget, in the old days, they manufactured, so I’m competing against some pretty tough statistics, and yet it’s over 50 years. Unemployment has also reached the lowest rate in our country in over 51 years. (Applause.)

And many groups — I have to say, African American unemployment — if you look at African American, Asian American, Hispanic American unemployment, it’s the lowest it’s ever been in the history of our country. Women’s unemployment — the lowest it’s ever been in over 70 years. And soon we’re going to have the all-time record for women’s unemployment.

And today, American manufacturers are contributing $250 billion — think of that — $250 billion more to our economy than they contributed before this great election that took place in 2016.

We’re heeding the wisdom — and you people know because many of you are indeed manufacturers; in your own way, manufacturers with great talent — we’re heeding the wisdom of our Founding Fathers by restoring our economic independence and reawakening our industrial might. And that’s what’s happened. Whether it’s jobs or making something, that’s exactly what happened.

Previous administrations allowed foreign countries to steal our jobs and plunder our wealth. They stole our wealth. They stole so much, and it was allowed to go on so long. But it’s not going on any longer. You take a look at what’s happening. Look at today’s front page in the Wall Street Journal. You’ll see where China has had its worst year in 27 years. And I’m not looking for that. But we had a deal with China, and they decided not to make that deal. They said, “Let’s renegotiate.” I said, “No, thank you.” And we put tariffs on China — very big tariffs on China. (Applause.)

And we’re standing up for the American worker like our country has never stood up for the worker before — certainly not in the 100-year or 50-year era. And I think we can probably go back right to the beginning, because nobody stood up for the worker like I’m standing up for the worker.

To protect our defense industrial base — which is probably about the most important, if you think — we placed tariffs on foreign aluminum and foreign steel, which brought it not to a complete halt — we still get some and they’re paying a lot of money right into the Treasury — but it’s been amazing the difference that it’s had.

And for our farmers, we’ve taken in tens of billions of dollars in tariffs from China. But China stopped dealing with our farmers, so I asked our great Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, “What kind of number are you talking about? What have they left?” He said, “Sixteen billion dollars, sir, taken off the table.” I said, “That’s okay.” We’ve taken in much, much more — many times that — in tariffs. So I’m going to give the farmers — we’re going to help them out because they are great patriots. We’re going to give them $16 billion. And we just did. Been approved. Been everything. And I approved it. (Applause.)

So our farmers didn’t lose anything by the fact that China targeted our farmers. They targeted the farmers. They said, “You know, President Trump did great with the farmers. The farmers love him and he loves them, so we’ll hurt the farmers.” Well, the farmers are patriots. I never — I hadn’t had one farmer say, “Please make a fast deal, sir. Please make a fast deal.” The biggest beneficiary will be the farmers.

But the $16 billion that wasn’t spent, we’re putting back into the farm and ag system. And the farmers are thrilled, I must tell you that. (Applause.)

And we’re taking the toughest-ever action to confront China’s chronic trade abuse. They were doing numbers on us for many years. I watched Sleepy Joe Biden the other day talking about China. “We would fight China on trade.” Well, he didn’t do it for — he’s been there for like 45 years. And he didn’t do it in eight years because they ate our lunch during the Obama administration.

It was only recently that — well, I mean, “recently,” but lots of warnings for the last period of time. And then you have statutory constraints where you can only go here, here, here. And we did that, right at the beginning. And now they’re paying a very big price, and hopefully we’ll see what happens.

We’re going to have good relationships with China. President Xi is a friend of mine. He’s a good friend. I used to say he’s good friend of mine; we’re probably not quite as close now. But I have to be for our country. He’s for China and I’m for the USA, and that’s the way it’s got to be. And this should have never been allowed to happen.

We’ve been losing four, five — and even more than that — hundred billion. Think of it: five hundred billion dollars a year, to China. That doesn’t include intellectual property theft and loss. That doesn’t include — they say that’s $300 billion. Who knows what that is? A lot of people estimate it, but it’s a lot. But they say it’s $300 billion. So you add that to $500 billion. So we’ve been losing $800 billion a year to China.

So, essentially, we rebuilt China. They’ve done a great job. I’m not going to take it away. And I don’t blame China. I blame our past Presidents and our past leaders for allowing a situation like that — so ridiculous — to happen. And it’s that way — other than the size of the number, it’s that way also for many other countries. And we’re working on a lot of them.

We just approved — and, again, it’s going to be subject to the House passing it, and, maybe, for political reasons, they don’t — the USMCA. That’s Mexico and Canada. Great deal for the manufacturers. Great deal for Lockheed, as you know, Marillyn. You’re telling me when is it going to happen.

So we have to get the Democrats to pass it. They may or may not, depending on how they feel, politically. It’s all politics, unfortunately. It shouldn’t be. It should be love of our country; it shouldn’t be politics. There should be no politics involved. (Applause.)

So the USMCA will create up to 600,000 new American jobs, including 75,000 new auto jobs. And now we need Congress to pass it. So call up your friends. The Republicans are totally onboard. Call the Democrats; get them to pass it. It’s — believe it or not, it’s a deal loved by unions, by manufacturers, and maybe, especially, by the farmers. It’s something that’s very, very popular. So call your local Democrat congressmen. I think the Senate will be, actually, very good.

We have a lot of bipartisan support, but they may not be able to show that support because the leaders may not allow that to happen because they think that’s a victory for Trump, and we don’t want to give Trump any victories, even though it would be very bad for our country. But if it doesn’t happen, I have a better plan, okay? So don’t worry about it. You always have to have plan B, plan C — especially in politics, I can tell you.

We unleashed an American energy revolution. And it is indeed a revolution. Nobody thought it would be possible. We’re now the number-one producer of oil and natural gas on the planet Earth. Not even close. (Applause.)

And I just had ANWR approved — one of the largest sites anywhere in the world. They couldn’t do it with Ronald Reagan. They couldn’t get it done. They’ve been trying to get it done for many, many years. Many, many decades they couldn’t get it approved. I got it approved. That’s in Alaska. One of the biggest — maybe the biggest — the biggest site in the world for oil and natural gas.

We passed massive tax cuts so that American companies can beat their foreign competition. Now, you have a tremendous advantage now because you had an impossible disadvantage before and now we’ve given you, with what we’ve done, a tremendous advantage. And we did it to keep jobs where they belong, right here in the United States of America.

As a result, almost 1,400 companies have announced that they’re bringing their jobs back to the United States from overseas. And that’s just last year. Think of that — 1,400 companies bringing jobs back. Who would think that’s even possible? But now it’s the incentive. They want to be in the United States. (Applause.)

Early in my presidency, I ordered the federal government to live by two very simple but very crucial rules: Buy American and hire American. You know, it’s called “America First,” folks. It was never that way.

I mean, for many, many decades, it was everybody else first and we were the people that took care of other people’s borders. We’d protect other people’s borders, but we don’t want to protect our own border. We’d fight for the right of other countries to have a strong, powerful border so nobody could come in, but our border was like a leaking sieve. And that’s changed so rapidly and so much. A lot of things are happening.

We’re building a wall as we speak, even though we have about seven lawsuits trying to stop it, from the Democrats and others. But we’re doing very well and we’re doing well on the border.

Mexico has been of great help. I told them — I said, “Look, you’re going to help us. If they walk through your country…” — 2,000-mile walk. Horrible things happen during that walk to people, especially to women and children. Horrible things. Two thousand miles up from Guatemala. They walk through our country. So many — the percentage of rape, they say, is over 30 percent. Think of it. Remember when I mentioned that in my opening speech and everybody said, “Oh that’s such a — such a terrible thing to mention”? Well, what I said is very small compared to the actual fact: over 30 percent. The crime — human trafficking, mostly of children and women. “Human trafficking,” sounds like an ancient term. You wouldn’t think it’s possible. Human trafficking.

But the Internet has made human trafficking a much bigger business than it was ever, hundreds or even thousands of years ago. The Internet — a lot of good things happen with the Internet but a lot of bad things happen also.

So now our federal agencies are spending an additional $24 billion on buying your product. We’re buying your product. And I said specifically, “Let’s buy American.” You have the advantage. Before, you didn’t have any advantage at all. Now you have an advantage. If you make your product in America, you have a much better chance of getting the deal.

Today, I’m pleased to announce that we will begin our Buy American requirements, but even stronger. Currently, a product can be 50 percent foreign, and it still counts as American-made. Figure that one out. In just a few moments, I will sign an executive order that will — that will eventually raise these standards up to 75 percent and above so that domestic goods will have to have 75 percent American, and 95 percent for things such
as iron and steel. It’s going to be 95 percent. We have great minds. We produce great ore, great steel, great aluminum, great everything. But we weren’t using them. Most of them were closed. And in some cases, they blame the environmentalists. Most of them were closed. They’re not closed anymore, or they won’t be closed very long.

The philosophy of my administration is simple: If we can build it, grow it, or make it in the United States, we will.

When we choose American-made, something truly wonderful happens: Our communities thrive and flourish, our neighborhoods bustle with commerce, our children dream bigger and bolder, and the bonds of loyalty that unite us as citizens become closer, richer, and deeper than ever before.

That’s how we carry on the “flaming torch of Americanism,” as President Warren G. Harding called it. As Harding said, we are forever devoted “to safeguard America first, to stabilize America first, to prosper America first, to think of America first, to exalt America first, [and] to live for and revere America first.” You never heard that before. You’ve been doing this for a long time.

I was speaking to a couple of the folks that were responsible right here — Freeman, for this great boat, of which they are setting records right now. Records by a lot. Not even close. He said over the last three years — where’s Freeman? Where are you folks? Where are you? Stand up, please. Great job. (Applause.) And they were saying how well they’re doing and that they’ve never heard this kind of talk before: “Build in America.” They didn’t hear that. In fact, it was the opposite. They were trying to steal your business and build it overseas, build it in other countries, including China, many others. But that’s not what this is all about. And this is 100 percent made right here. Thank you. Congratulate everybody, too, please. (Applause.)

So thank you all for showcasing your awe-inspiring products today. And they are absolutely incredible. Thank you for pouring out your heart, your sweat, and soul to make our nation even stronger. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to this magnificent land that we love so much.

And I just want to end by saying, may God bless the United States of America. May God bless you all. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

Okay, you have any questions on how well our manufacturing business is doing, press? The press. Wow, that’s a lot of press. Look.

Q President Trump, who were you talking about in your tweet about going back to their home countries?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I don’t mention — I didn’t mention names. And I didn’t do that. But I will tell you, with our country — and I think everybody in this audience, these are great manufacturers, great workers in our audience too; they brought a lot of their workers here. If you’re not happy here, then you can leave. As far as I’m concerned, if you hate our country — (applause) — if you’re not happy here, you can leave. And that’s what I say all the time. That’s what I said in a tweet, which I guess some people think is controversial. A lot of people love it, by the way. A lot of people love it.

But if you’re not happy in the U.S., if you’re complaining all the time — very simply, you can leave. You can leave right now. Come back if you want; don’t come back. It’s okay too. But if you’re not happy, you can leave. (Applause.)

Q Speaker Pelosi (inaudible). Is that true?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, that’s just a very racist statement, somebody that would say that. So, Speaker Pelosi said, “Make America white again.” Let me tell you, that’s a very racist — that’s a very racist statement. I’m surprised she’d say that.

John, go ahead.

Q Mr. President, three of the congresswomen that you talked about were born in America. (Inaudible.) What were you talking about?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, they’re very unhappy. I’m watching them; all they do is complain. So all I’m saying is, if they want to leave, they can leave, John. They can leave.

I mean, I look at the one — I look at Omar — I don’t know, I never met her. I hear the way she talks about al Qaeda. Al Qaeda has killed many Americans. She said, “You can hold your chest out, you can — when I think of America…huh…when I think of al Qaeda, I can hold my chest out.” When she talked about the World Trade Center being knocked down, “Some people.” You remember the famous “some people.” These are people that, in my opinion, hate our country.

Now, you can say what you want, but get a list of all of the statements they’ve made. And all I’m saying: that if they’re not happy here, they can leave. They can leave. And you know what? I’m sure that there’ll be many people that won’t miss them.

Q But they’re American citizens. What do you make of the fact that they’re American citizens?

THE PRESIDENT: But they have to love — they have to love our country. They’re Congress people. And I never used any names. But these are people —

Q Are you okay with people thinking your tweets are racist, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT: Quiet. Quiet. Quiet. Quiet.

Q Mr. President, are you okay with people thinking your tweets are racist, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: Quiet.

Q I’m asking a question, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: These are people that if they don’t like it here, they can leave. And I’d be — I don’t know who’s going to miss them, but I guess some people will. One of them is polling — one of them is polling at 8 — one of them is polling at 8 percent. (Applause.) One of them is polling at 8 percent.

So when — when I hear people speaking about how wonderful al Qaeda is, when I hear people talking about “some people” — “some” people with the World Trade Center — “some people”? No, not “some people.” Much more than “some people.”

When I hear the statements that they’ve made — and in one case, you have somebody that comes from Somalia, which is a failed government, a failed state — who left Somalia, who ultimately came here, and now is a Congresswoman who’s never happy; says horrible things about Israel. Hates Israel. Hates Jews. Hates Jews. It’s very simple.

And if the Democrats want to wrap their bows around this group of four people — one of them kept Amazon out of New York, tens of thousands of jobs. It would’ve been a great thing. And she kept Amazon from going — it would’ve been a good deal. I mean, could he have made better? Maybe. But tens of thousands of jobs, and New York has not been the same since that happened. It’s really hurt New York and New York City. Amazon was going to go there. They were going to relocate a major section of their business in New York. She kept them out. That was a terrible thing she did. A terrible thing she did.

So here’s the story — here’s the story: I see them complaining. They’re complaining constantly. I watched Lindsey Graham today on Fox & Friends talking about the same subject —

Q He says you went too far, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: — and, frankly, even stronger than what I’m saying.

Q He says you went too far, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: He said they’re “communists.” I’m saying that they’re socialists definitely. As to whether to not they’re communists, I would think they might be, but this isn’t what our country is about. Nevertheless, they’re free to leave if they want. And if they want to leave, that’s fine. And if they want to stay, that’s fine. But the people have to know.

And politicians can’t be afraid to take them on. A politician that hears somebody, where we’re at war with al Qaeda, and sees somebody talking about how great al Qaeda is — pick out her statement — that was Omar. How great al Qaeda is — when you hear that — and we’re losing great soldiers to al Qaeda.

When you see the World Trade Center gets knocked down, and you see the statements made about the World Trade Center — all the death and destruction — I’ll tell you what: I’m not happy with them. And it’s very easy to be — say, “Oh, gee. Well, it’s okay.” If weak politicians want to say — and the Democrats, in this case — if they want to gear their wagons around these four people, I think they’re going to have a very tough election because I don’t think the people of United States will stand for it. (Applause.)

Q Mr. President —

THE PRESIDENT: John, go ahead. Go ahead, John.

Q Mr. President, let me see if I can sum up, sort of, what people are talking about here.

THE PRESIDENT: Go ahead.

Q Does it concern you that that tweet was seen as racist? Lindsey Graham said — he encouraged you to aim higher. And does it trouble you —

THE PRESIDENT: No, no. He didn’t say about the — he just said, “Don’t go…” See, I disagree with Lindsey.

Q Oh, okay. But can I just finish?

THE PRESIDENT: These are congresswomen. What am I supposed to do? Just wait for senators? No. These are four — so I disagree with Lindsey on that. That was the only thing. He said, “Aim higher. Shoot higher.” What am I going to do? Wait until we get somebody else in a higher position? A higher office? These are people that hate our country.

Q But — but —

THE PRESIDENT: Hey, John. They hate our country. They hate it, I think, with a passion. Now, it’s possible I’m wrong. The voter will decide. But when I hear the way they talk about our country, when I hear the anti-Semitic language they use, when I hear the hatred they have for Israel, and the love they have for enemies like al Qaeda — then you know what?
I will tell you that I do not believe this is good for the Democrat Party. Certainly, it’s not the party that I’ve known over the years.

Q But could I get — could I just finish? Does it concern you that many people saw that tweet as racist and that white nationalist groups are finding common cause with you on that point?

THE PRESIDENT: It doesn’t concern me because many people agree with me. And all I’m saying — they want to leave, they can leave. Now, it doesn’t say leave forever. It says leave, if you want.

But what it says — and what that — John, what that says is: If they’re not happy with the United States, if they’re doing nothing but criticizing us all the time — you see these people walking down, criticizing the United States.

We just hit the highest stock market in history. All of these incredible manufacturers that are in — these are great business people. They employ many people, and we have workers with us, too. They’re having the best year they’ve ever had. Can I say that? Is that a correct statement? (Applause.)

So — and they’re hiring more people than they’ve had. And more people are making a good living than they’ve ever had. We just hit 27,000-plus on the Dow. It’s the highest the stock market has ever been. And you have to go by the election because the markets started going up the day after I won. You know, they like to add all of that tremendous gain. They like to try and give it to Obama. The fact is, if I would’ve lost, the stock market would crash. And if these people that I watch in those debates ever got their hands on the United States government, 401(k)s, the values of your company, everything else that we talk about we’re so proud of, it’s down the tubes. People will lose their money. They’ll lose their wealth. You’ll have a crash like you’ve never seen before. And I’m really good at this stuff; I know what I’m talking about.

Thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.)

Q Mr. President, why didn’t your threats about the ICE raids — Mr. President, ICE raids. Why didn’t they happen? Was it (inaudible) scare people?

THE PRESIDENT: The ICE raids — the ICE raids —

Q Was that just to scare people, Mr. President? Why didn’t your threats match the action?

THE PRESIDENT: The ICE raids were very successful. People came into our country illegally. Illegally. Many were felons. Many were convicted of crimes. Many, many were taken out on Sunday. You just didn’t know about it.

Q How many?

THE PRESIDENT: In fact, I went to a — I spoke to the head of ICE. I spoke to a couple of people. We had many people — it was a very successful day. But you didn’t see a lot of it because it was done —

Q How many?

THE PRESIDENT: A lot. You’ll speak to them. And I don’t — I’m not even sure they should be telling you, but it was a lot. And it wouldn’t have to be Sunday.

We’ve been doing this — look, we have been removing MS-13. They’re monsters. We’ve been removing MS-13 by the thousands during my administration. And I tell my people — it’s much easier to go the other route — but I say, “Focus on the criminals. Focus on the people that are killing people, that are causing crime. Focus on them.” Much easier just to go to general population. That’s easy. But I don’t do it the easy way.

We’re getting tremendous numbers of criminals. And yesterday, it was just reported to me before I walked — because I said, “How did that go yesterday?” It didn’t have to start yesterday. The truth is it started a number of days before yesterday, but yesterday was very successful.

People come into our country illegally, and they go out legally. Every person taken out had papers and we had court orders. Okay, thank you.

How about getting the manufacturers up here? Come on up. Come on up.

(The executive order is signed.)

[Transcript End]

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Senator Lindsey Graham traveled to the U.S-Mexico border region on Friday with Vice-President Mike Pence.  Graham appears with Maria Bartiromo to discuss that visit and the politics of congressional inaction to stop the border crisis.

Chopper pressers are the best pressers.  As President Trump departs the White House for a trip to Wisconsin he stops for the assembled media pool. The president fielded questions on a variety of current topics leading off with the unfortunate resignation of Labor Secretary Alex Acosta.  [ Watch Video and Transcript below]

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[Full Transcript] – Q How do you think your Labor Secretary did?

THE PRESIDENT: I think he was a great Labor Secretary, not a good Labor Secretary. He’s done a fantastic job. He’s a friend of everybody in the administration. And I got a call this morning, early, from Alex. And I think he did a very good job yesterday. Under a lot of pressure, he did a fantastic job and he explained it. He made a deal that people were happy with, and then, 12 years later, they’re not happy with it. You’ll have to figure all of that out.

But the fact is, he has been a fantastic Secretary of Labor. And Alex called me this morning and he wanted to see me. And I actually said, “Well, we have the press right out here, so perhaps you just want to say it to the press.”

But I just want to let you know, this was him, not me, because I’m with him. He was a — he’s a tremendous talent. He’s a Hispanic man. He went to Harvard. A great student. And, in so many ways, I just hate what he’s saying now because we’re going to miss him.

But, please, Alex.

SECRETARY ACOSTA: Thank you, Mr. President. Over the last week, I’ve seen a lot of coverage of the Department of Labor, and what I have not seen is the incredible job creation that we’ve seen in this economy — more than 5 million jobs. I haven’t seen that workplace injuries are down, bucking a three-year trend; workplace fatalities are down, bucking a three-year trend; that we had the safest year ever in mining, the lowest number of fatalities ever in mining.

I have seen coverage of this case that is over 12 years old, that had input and vetting at multiple levels of the Department of Justice. And as I look forward, I do not think it is right and fair for this administration’s Labor Department to have Epstein as the focus, rather than the incredible economy that we have today.

And so I called the President this morning. I told him that I thought the right thing was to step aside. You know, Cabinet positions are temporary trusts. It would selfish for me to stay in this position and continue talking about a case that’s 12 years old, rather than about the amazing economy we have right now.

And so I submitted my resignation to the President –effective seven days from today, effective one week from today — earlier this morning.

Q If the Secretary explained himself, as you say he did two days ago, why the need for him to resign?

THE PRESIDENT: There’s no need at all, as far as I’m concerned. I would have — I watched Alex yesterday. I thought Alex did a great job. And, you know, you could always second guess people, and you could say it should have been tougher. They do it with me all the time. I make a great deal with anybody, and then they say — like, the Democrats — “Oh, it could have been better.”

I got $1.2 billion settlement fined from a company, from ZTE. And the next day — and everybody couldn’t believe it. The next day, the Democrats said, “Oh, he should have gotten more.” So you can always be second guessed. That’s what people do.

I just want to tell you: This is a person that I’ve gotten to know. There hasn’t been an ounce of controversy at the Department of Labor until this came up. And he’s doing this not for himself; he’s doing this for the administration.

And, Alex, I think you’ll agree. I said, “You don’t have to do this.” He doesn’t have to do this.

Q Why would you — why would you accept his resignation?

Q But you accepted the resignation. You accepted the — why did you accept the resignation if he hasn’t done anything wrong?

THE PRESIDENT: I do, and we have — we have — as everybody knows, we have Pat Pizzella, who right now is a deputy, and he’ll be Acting for a period of time. I think you know Pat. He’s a good man, highly recommended by Alex. But Pat is going to be Acting, and we’ve already informed him.

Q Why did you have a falling out with Jeffrey Epstein? Why did you have a falling out with Jeffrey Epstein? And did you ban him from Mar-a-Lago?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. And I did have a falling out a long time ago. The reason doesn’t make any difference, frankly. But I haven’t spoken to him in probably 15 years or more. I wasn’t a big fan of Jeffrey Epstein, that I can tell you. And now, if you look, the remnants hurt this man. And I hate to see it happen.

I will say this, and I say it again and I say it loud and clear: Alex Acosta was a great Secretary of Labor. What he’s done with plans and — you see the plans coming one after another. You’re just about done with the 401(k) and —

SECRETARY ACOSTA: That’s correct.

THE PRESIDENT: — and that happened. Things that nobody would even think of. So it’s very sad. But at the same time, he wants the focus to be on accomplishments, not on what you’re talking about.

Q But do you believe — do you believe, Mr. President, that Epstein has become and Mr. Acosta has become a distraction to the Labor Department?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, Alex believed that. I’m willing to live with anything, John. I think you know me. I’ve lived through things that you wouldn’t believe.

Alex felt that way. And he also felt — we’re so good; we’re doing so well. The economy — the stock market just hit the highest point yesterday in the history of our country. Our unemployment numbers are the best they’ve ever been. If you look at specifically certain groups — African American, Asian, Hispanic — the best unemployment numbers in the history of our country.

You know, there are so many good things, and he didn’t want to distract from that. And I understand that, 100 percent.

Q Did Paul Ryan prevent you from making any bad decisions?

THE PRESIDENT: For what?

Q Did Paul Ryan prevent you from making any bad decisions?

THE PRESIDENT: So Paul Ryan was not a talent. He wasn’t a leader. When the people in Freedom and great congressmen wanted to go after the Dems for things that they did very badly, he wouldn’t give subpoenas, whereas Nancy Pelosi hands them out like they’re cookies.

Paul Ryan was a lame duck for a long time as Speaker. He was unable to raise money. He lost control of the House. The only success Paul Ryan had was the time that he was with me because we got taxes cut. I got regulation cuts. I did that mostly without him.

But for Paul Ryan to be complaining is pretty amazing. I remember a day in Wisconsin — a state that I won — where I stood up and made a speech, and then I introduced him and they booed him off the stage — 10,000 people.

So for him to be going out and opening his mouth is pretty incredible. But maybe he gets paid for that. Who knows? Maybe he gets paid for that.

Q Mr. President, the raids — can you — Mr. President, are you putting law enforcement at risk by having these raids? Is the public at risk now that everyone knows that the raids are coming?

THE PRESIDENT: So people come into our country illegally. We’re taking them out legally. It’s very simple. It’s not something I like doing, but people have come into our country illegally.

We’re focused on criminals. We’re focused on — if you look at MS-13 — but when people come into our country, we take those people out and we take them out very legally. They all have papers. And it’s a process. And I have an obligation to do it. They came in illegally; they go out legally.

What the Democrats should be doing now is they should be changing the loopholes. They should be changing asylum. I’ve been talking to that — to you about this for a long time. They should be changing asylum. There’s so many things.

Now, let me — let me give you the good news: Mexico has done an outstanding job so far. If you look at the border, it’s down now 30 percent, and that’s only one week inclusive where they’ve gotten it together.

The June numbers just came out. It’s down. It looks like it’s going to end up being a little bit above 30 percent down. It’s going to be down more and more. They have 21,000 — and I say “21,000” — Mexican soldiers on the borders — both their southern border and our southern border.

And we really have it in control. The problem is — we have a big problem. The laws are so bad. The Democrats have to help us fix the immigration laws. But even with that, because of the job that Mexico is doing — and, yes, they maybe did it because of tariffs, but they’re doing a great job and I appreciate it.

Q Democrats are portraying your action yesterday on the census citizenship question as backing down. Do you believe that you backed down?

THE PRESIDENT: No, no. Who said — who said that?

Q Democrats are saying you backed down. Do you believe you backed down?

THE PRESIDENT: Look, anything you do, the Democrats will say it’s not good. In the meantime, they had a disaster. They had these laws that are so bad — catch-and-release, and you look at the different laws — visa lottery, that was a Chuck Schumer law. It’s a disaster. A lottery. You pick them out. A lottery.

The Democrats have caused tremendous problems. What they’ve let China get away with — for years and years, China has been ripping us off. They’re not ripping us off anymore. Right now, companies are fleeing China because of the tariffs. And right now, we’re taking in billions of dollars. And, by the way, our people are not paying for it. They’re paying for it — they’re paying for it by depressing their currency and they’re putting a lot of money.

Look, nobody’s ever done what I’ve done with China. And that’s fine. And we’ll get along with China. But you know, when I see a guy like Biden, who is weak and ineffective — and everybody that knows him knows it. He’s a weak man. He’s an ineffective man. President Xi laughs at guys like that.

Now, with that being said, I would say this: President Xi, Putin, all of these guys go to bed at night and they pray that Joe Biden or somebody like him becomes President so they can continue to rip off our country.

Q Two questions, please. With regard to Jeffrey Epstein, did you have any suspicions that he was molesting young women, underaged women?

THE PRESIDENT: No, I had no idea. I had no idea. I haven’t spoken to him in many, many years. But I had — I didn’t have no idea.

Q Secretary Acosta, now that you’re resigning, do you regret that plea deal that you struck with Epstein (inaudible)?

SECRETARY ACOSTA: I’ve already — I’ve already talked about the Epstein matter. I gave a press conference that, according to the media, was longer than any other Cabinet official in this administration.

You know, I will reiterate what I said previously. My point here today is we have an amazing economy. We have unemployment lower than we have seen, literally, in my lifetime. And the focus needs to be on this economy and on job creation, on the decreased fatalities in the workplace and in mining. And going forward, that’s where this administration needs to focus, not on this matter.

Q Mr. President, following up on your Social — following up on the Social Media Summit, you’re instructing agencies to look into this. How long do you think this review is going to take —

THE PRESIDENT: We are looking into it. The platforms are absolutely, in my opinion, 100 percent crooked. They discriminate against Republicans and conservatives. They’re 100 percent dishonest. That’s my opinion. And something is going to be done.

But I can tell you, from personal experience, I see it. I had something happen this morning — I won’t tell you about it yet — but these platforms are 100 percent — they’re 100 percent dishonest.

Please.

Q Mr. President, the reason for your falling out with Mr. Epstein matters. Was it related to business or the abuse of underaged girls? People want to know.

THE PRESIDENT: I was not a fan of Jeffrey Epstein. And you watched people yesterday saying that I threw him out of a club. I didn’t want anything to do with him. That was many, many years ago. It shows you one thing: that I have good taste. Okay?

Now, other people, they went all over with him. They went to his island. They went all over the place. He was very well known in Palm Beach. His island — whatever his island was, wherever it is — I was never there. Find out the people that went to the island.

But Jeffrey Epstein was not somebody that I respected. I threw him out. In fact, I think the great James Patterson, who is a member of Mar-a-Lago, made a statement yesterday that, many years ago, I threw him out.

I’m not a fan of Jeffrey Epstein.

Q Mr. President, are you planning to move ahead with deportations intensities this weekend? Are you planning to —

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. Yes.

Q You are.

Q But what about the families, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT: You know what? You know what? They came in illegally. They have to go out.

We have millions of people standing on line waiting to become citizens of this country. They’ve taken tests. They’ve studied. They’ve learned English. They’ve done so much. It’s — they’ve been waiting seven, eight, nine years. We have some waiting 10 years to come in. It’s not fair that somebody walks across the line and now they’ve become citizens of the United States.

Q (Inaudible) British ambassador resign?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I wish the British ambassador well. Some people just told me — too bad — but they said he actually said very good things about me. He was sort of referring to other people. And I guess I quoted Lindsey Graham today; he said some things that were pretty nice from the British ambassador.

But look, I wish the British ambassador well. But they’ve got to stop their leaking problems there just like they have to stop them in our country.

Q Why have you pre-announced these ICE raids? Why have you given warning, essentially —

THE PRESIDENT: We’re not giving warning.

Q — to all of these illegals?

THE PRESIDENT: No, we’re not giving warning.

Q They know about the ICE raids, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: There’s nothing to be secret about.

Q They know about the ICE raids.

THE PRESIDENT: Can I tell you what?

Q Absolutely.

THE PRESIDENT: There’s nothing to be secret about. ICE is law enforcement. They’re great patriots. They have a tough job. Nothing to be secret about. If the word gets out, it gets out. Because hundreds of people know about it. It’s a major operation.

So if the word gets out, it gets out. It starts on Sunday, and they’re going to take people out and they’re going to bring them back to their countries. Or they’re going to take criminals out, put them in prison, or put in them in prison in the countries they came from. We’re focused on criminals as much as we can, before we do anything else.

Q [Crosstalk.]

THE PRESIDENT: For instance, MS-13 — very important — we’re taking them out by the thousands. We’ve already been taking — you know, we didn’t stop this. We’ve been taking criminals out for the last year. These people have been here for many years — MS-13. We’re taking them out by the thousands. We’re getting them out.

Q Mr. President, do you believe that using data to fill in the citizenship data on the census will be as effective as a question?

THE PRESIDENT: I think we’ll have it in the end where it’ll be actually more accurate than a census. Because we have information, gotten through other means, whether you look at Social Security or other places. We have — including loan applications — we have information that’s probably more accurate than the information we could get by going in and asking somebody, “Are you a citizen?” Because a lot of people aren’t going to tell the truth.

Q Did you back down on that (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: No. No. Not only didn’t I back down, I backed up. Becau- — anybody else would’ve given this up a long time ago. The problem is we had three very unfriendly courts. They were judges that weren’t exactly in love with this whole thing. And they were wrong. But it would’ve taken a long time to get through those courts. You understand that better than anybody, John. It would’ve taken a long time back up to the Supreme Court.

So I asked, “Is there another way?” And somebody said there’s a way that might be better. It might be more accurate. They explained it. I said, “Then what are we wasting time — we’re going to be in court for the next two years. What are we wasting time for?”

In the meantime, we have to, by law, have the printing done. So the printing has starting and we’re already finding out who the citizens are and who they’re not — and, I think, more accurately.

So, when I heard this, I said, “I think that’s actually better. I think what we’re doing is actually better.” And only the fake news, which there’s plenty, would say differently.

Q Did Wilbur Ross let you down, Mr. President? Did Wilbur Ross let you down?

THE PRESIDENT: No, he didn’t let me down. No.

Q How many people are you targeting? How many people are you targeting during the raids? And, again, are you worried at all about law enforcement — putting them at risk because everybody knows about the raids? Two questions.

THE PRESIDENT: These are great professionals. These are people that have done this for a long time. We’re really looking for criminals as much as we can. We’re trying to find the criminal population, which has been coming into this country over the last 10 years. We know who they are, too. We’ve been taking them out by the thousands — specifically, gang members from MS-13 and other gangs. We’ve been taking them out by the thousands.

Q How many?

THE PRESIDENT: But we are really specifically looking for bad players, but we’re also looking for people that came into our country not through a process — they just walked over a line. They have to leave.

Q The mayors don’t want ICE raid. The mayors don’t want the ICE raids, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Some do. No. No. No. The mayors in sanctuary cities, like — a mayor like de Blasio, who is probably the worst mayor in the country — from New York. I don’t even know what his attitude is. Nobody does because he doesn’t work very hard. Nobody knows what the hell he does. But a guy like de Blasio probably wouldn’t want the raid. But many mayors do — most mayors do. You know why? They don’t want to have crimes in their cities or states.

Q What do you think about Christine Lagarde? What do you think about Christine Lagarde running?

Q On military families — what about military families? Will you’re- — is your administration going to reconsider ending the parole in — policy — place on military families and provide assurance —

THE PRESIDENT: So nobody has treated the military better than President Trump. Nobody. Nobody has even come close. And you see that with budgets, you see that with the pay increases, and you see that with medical. But you know where you see it more than any place is with the vets. Because the vets now have Choice. They never had Choice before. For forty- —

Q But can you guarantee that their loved ones won’t be deported?

THE PRESIDENT: Wait. Wait. Wait. For 44 years —

Q Can you guarantee that their loved ones won’t be deported?

THE PRESIDENT: Wait. Wait. For 44 years — we are looking at that. For 44 years, they’ve tried to get Veterans Choice. I got it. Nobody else could’ve gotten it.

Q What did you mean — what did you mean, Mr. President, when you said —

Q Turkey — Turkey is planning to take delivery of —

THE PRESIDENT: Okay. Go ahead.

Q What you would like Robert Mueller to tell Congress next week?

THE PRESIDENT: Say it.

Q What would you like Robert Mueller to tell Congress next week?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think, how many bites at the apple do you get?

Q (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: We’ve gone through 500 witnesses, 2,500 subpoenas. I’ve let them interview my lawyers. I’ve let them inter- — because I had nothing to do with Russia. Now that’s come out. There was no collusion.

Q You didn’t do an interview, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: But how many — how many people and how many times — and this has been going on for two and a half years. Rush Limbaugh said there’s nobody else in the world that he knows that could’ve taken it. And on top of taking it, I’ve been a great President. I’ve done more —

Q But, sir, you did not sit down with the Special Counsel.

THE PRESIDENT: Listen. Listen. I’ve done more in two and a half years than any other President — nobody’s even close — including, we just said, Veterans Choice and all of the other things I’ve gotten.

But for two and a half years — so now they have Mueller go make a speech. That goes. Now they wanted to have him again. They want to go it again and again and again because they want to hurt the President for the election. Because I see what I’m running against. You got Sleepy Joe Biden. He doesn’t have the energy to be President. And the people that nipping on his heels — they don’t have what it takes.

And I can tell you that China and Russia — and I’ve been rougher on Russia than any President in the last 50 years. China and Russia and try North Korea — where I have a relationship. You don’t have a man testing nuclear anymore. You have a man —

Q Is there something you want Mueller to say in this hearing?

THE PRESIDENT: Wait. Wait. You have a man that was so happy to see me. That’s a good thing, not a bad thing. You have a man that doesn’t smile a lot. But when he saw me, he smiled. He was happy. You have a man that, when I came into to office, all he was doing before under Obama was testing nuclear weapons and blowing up mountains. And now he’s not doing it.

Q But on Robert Mueller, is there anything you’d like Robert Mueller to say about you?

THE PRESIDENT: There’s nothing he can say. He’s written a report. The report said, “No collusion.” And it said, effectively, “No obstruction,” because there’s no obstruction. And the other thing, it’s very interesting —

Q But he couldn’t clear you on obstruction, sir.

Q Do you think he should (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: So they find out there’s no collusion. The whole thing is about collusion. So they find out it’s no collusion. Now, actually, it was different; it was bad crimes committed by the other side. We’ll find out about that. I’m sure that’s being looked at right now.

Q Do you regret not talking to Mueller?

Q Do you think he should show up? Should he show up show, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: So — so there’s no collusion and there’s no obstruction.

Now, we have a great Attorney General now — he’s strong and he’s smart — and he read it and he studied it — along with Rod Rosenstein, who worked it from the beginning. And Rod Rosenstein and Bill Barr said, “There’s no obstruction.”

It’s also interesting — number one, there’s no crime. And how do you obstruct when there’s no crime?

Also, take a look at one other thing. It’s a thing called Article II. Nobody ever mentions Article II. It gives me all of these rights at a level that nobody has ever seen before. We don’t even talk about Article II.

So they ruled: no collusion, no objection. Very simple.

Q [Crosstalk.]

THE PRESIDENT: And you can only — by the way, you can only get so many bites at the apple. We got to get on to running a country. You got immigration, infrastructure, drug prices. The Democrats aren’t working. All they’re doing is trying to hurt people like Alex Acosta, a man who has done —

Q Do you think Democrats hurt Mr. Acosta?

THE PRESIDENT: — a man who has done — I have no idea. Are you a Democrat?

SECRETARY ACOSTA: I am not, no.

THE PRESIDENT: I have no idea. You know what I know? You know what I know about Alex? He was a great student at Harvard. He’s Hispanic, which I — which I so admire, because maybe it was a little tougher for him, and maybe not. But he did an unbelievable job as the Secretary of Labor. That’s what I know about him. I know one thing: He did a great job.

SECRETARY ACOSTA: And — and —

THE PRESIDENT: And until this came up, there was never an ounce of problem with this very good man.

Go ahead.

SECRETARY ACOSTA: And let me — let me just add — let me — let me just add, you know, I hear a lot about how individuals got jobs and whatnot. Before our interview, we had never met, we had never talked. The President selected me as it should be done. It wasn’t that we knew each other. It’s not that we had a longstanding relationship. And I think that’s a testament to his selection process.

Q Mr. President, what do you make of the infighting going on among Democrats in Congress between Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her squad?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think Cortez — who kept Amazon out of New York, and they don’t like her for that; thousands and thousands of jobs — I think Cortez is being very disrespectful to somebody that’s been there a long time.

I deal with Nancy Pelosi a lot, and we go back and forth and it’s fine. But I think that a group of people is being very disrespectful for her — to her. And you know what? I don’t think that Nancy can let that go on.

A group of people that came from — I don’t know where they came from. I’m looking at this Omar from Minnesota, and if one half of the things they’re saying about her are true, she shouldn’t even be in office.

But Cortez should treat Nancy Pelosi with respect. She should not be doing what she’s doing.

And I’ll tell you something about Nancy Pelosi that you know better than I do: She is not a racist. Okay? She is not a racist. For them to call her a racist is a disgrace.

Q Mr. President, are you visiting an immigration detention center like the Vice President?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah — and very importantly, today, in a few hours, Vice President Pence and the head of Homeland Security are taking the press and congresspeople into detention centers. And we’re the ones that said they were crowded. They’re crowded because we have a lot of people. But they’re in good shape.

And the reason is because the fake-news New York Times wrote a phony story. What Border Patrol is doing — they’ve become nurses and janitors and doctors. And they’re not trained for that. What they’ve done is so incredible.

So they’re touring detention centers. And that was my idea because I read a phony story in the New York Times today — or the other day — about the detention centers, about the conditions. And I had people calling me up at the highest levels from Border Patrol and ICE, almost crying, about that phony story.

And they never saw anything. They have phony sources. They don’t even have sources. They write whatever they want. The New York Times is a very dishonest newspaper. They write what they want. And what they do is a tremendous disservice to this country. They are truly the enemy of the people, I’ll tell you that. They are the enemy of the people. And what they wrote about detention centers is unfair.

Now, I believe it’s going to be the center they wrote about, but we’re taking a tour. They are — I’d love to be there, but I’m going to Ohio, Wisconsin.

Q Are you going to — are you going any time?

THE PRESIDENT: I’ll be going. I’ll be going.

But I’ve seen it. I’ve seen it. And these centers are — I mean, to have Ocasio say, “They’re drinking out of toilets.” She made that up, okay? That’s a phony story. She made it up. And these people, they — I’ll tell you what, I’ve been with ICE and I’ve been with Border Patrol a lot. They love those people coming across the border. They love them. And I’ve seen it. They love them.

Q Does your administration have an estimate of how many illegals are living in the United States? Have they given you a number?

THE PRESIDENT: So one of the reasons the Democrats don’t want to have a census is because the number of people in the United States, for many years — you know, for years, you’ve heard 11 million; it’s far greater than that. But we’ll find out because I’m going to do something much more accurate than the way we — the way we did it in the census would never have been very accurate. What we’re doing will be much more accurate.

Q Anything on Iran, Mr. President? Anything on Iran?

THE PRESIDENT: The wall is being built. The wall is being built. We had a couple of very good decisions. We had one bad decision. It’s very tough.

Again, Paul Ryan let us down. Paul Ryan was a terrible Speaker. Frankly, he was a baby. He didn’t know what the hell he was doing. The wall let us down.

Now, in all fairness, the problem with — during — when we had both houses — in the Senate, you need 60 votes. Well, we don’t have 60 votes. We had 51 last time. Now we have 53 because we won during the ’18 election, which nobody wants to say, just so you understand.

So the wall is being built. We had one setback. We had one tremendous victory.

And I had a tremendous victory that was very rarely covered by the press. Two days ago, I won the emoluments case. That was the biggest case of them all. I won the emoluments case. People don’t know that, by being President, I lose billions of dollars. By my being President — and especially in money I can’t make because I don’t do deals. But I lose billions of dollars.

But, another thing, I get a salary of $400- or $450,000 a year. I don’t think any other President has ever given up — it’s a lot of money, almost a half a million dollars. I give it up. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody say, “I give up my salary.” I’m not looking for credit, but I give up my salary. I get zero. I get zero.

But you know what makes me happy? That we’re doing a great job. And I want to thank Alex Acosta. He was a great, great Secretary.

Q Anything on Iran, sir? Sir, I asked about Iran. I asked about Iran — I asked about Iran, not the wall. Could you give us an update on your thoughts on Iran?

THE PRESIDENT: Iran better be careful. They’re treading on very dangerous territory. Iran, if you’re listening, you better be careful.

Q Mr. President, on Turkey: Will you sanction Turkey?

Q Should Epstein stay behind bars?

Q Yesterday you got a win in the Ninth Circuit court over Title X funding. What’s your reaction? And are you trying to completely defund Planned Parenthood?

THE PRESIDENT: They had a big win yesterday. We have some very big cases having to do with that. We’ll see where it (inaudible).

END TRANSCRIPT – 10:04 A.M. EDT

U.S. President Donald Trump is attending an event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, today to discuss the importance of a North American trade bloc and support the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal.

Anticipated start time approximately 2:25pm EST.

UPDATE: Video Added

Fox Business Livestream – USA Today Livestream – Global News Livestream