Transcript - Interview: Maria Bartiromo Interviews Donald Trump on Fox News - July 1, 2018 | Factba.se

Maria Bartiromo

00:00:00 - 00:00:02 (2 sec)

Mr. President, thanks so much for sitting down with me today.

Donald Trump

00:00:02 - 00:00:03 (1 sec)

Well, thank you very much.

Maria Bartiromo

00:00:03 - 00:00:09 (6 sec)

I want to start right with the breaking news of the week, and that is Justice Anthony Kennedy announcing his retirement.

Maria Bartiromo

00:00:09 - 00:00:14 (5 sec)

Is Justice Kennedy the model of the person you would put on the Supreme Court now?

Donald Trump

00:00:14 - 00:00:30 (16 sec)

Maybe so. He's a great gentleman. He's a very-high-quality person. You know, I got a call, Maria, that somebody would like to see me. And they were sort of, like, acting anonymous. I said, wait a minute. I'm the president of the United States. How can I see somebody I don't know who it is?

Donald Trump

00:00:30 - 00:00:52 (22 sec)

Anyway, I figured it out. And it was a very elegant moment. It was a beautiful moment. He presented me with a letter. And it really is a retirement of a great gentleman. He's a fine, fine gentleman, and really did a -- I think he did a very -- he was -- ended up being a little more neutral than a lot of people would have preferred, but a lot of people preferred that he was.

Donald Trump

00:00:52 - 00:00:58 (6 sec)

And we're going to pick somebody who is outstanding. And I said I will do it in your honor, but we're going to pick somebody who is outstanding.

Donald Trump

00:00:58 - 00:01:07 (9 sec)

And I was very honored that he did this during my term, which means he had confidence in me to do the right thing.

Maria Bartiromo

00:01:07 - 00:01:13 (5 sec)

Are you going to ask your nominees beforehand how they might vote on Roe vs. Wade?

Donald Trump

00:01:13 - 00:01:22 (9 sec)

Well, that's a big one, and probably not. They're all saying, don't do that, you don't do that, you shouldn't do that. But I'm putting conservative people on.

Donald Trump

00:01:22 - 00:01:40 (18 sec)

And I'm very proud of Neil Gorsuch. He's been outstanding. His opinions are so well-written, so brilliant. And I'm going to try and do something like that, but I don't think I'm going to be so specific in the questions I will be answering.

Donald Trump

00:01:40 - 00:01:42 (2 sec)

And I'm actually told that I shouldn't be.

Maria Bartiromo

00:01:42 - 00:01:46 (3 sec)

Because, on the campaign trail, you said you would leave it to the states?

Donald Trump

00:01:46 - 00:01:53 (7 sec)

Well, maybe some day it will be to the states. You never know how that's going to turn out. That's a very complex question.

Donald Trump

00:01:53 - 00:02:04 (12 sec)

The Roe v. Wade is probably the one that people are talking about in terms of having an effect. But we will see what happens. But it could very well end up with states at some point.

Maria Bartiromo

00:02:04 - 00:02:09 (4 sec)

And do you think you will be able to get your nominee in place before the midterm elections?

Donald Trump

00:02:09 - 00:02:18 (9 sec)

I think it is going to go very quickly. I think we're going to have a lot of support. I think we are going to have support from Democrats, frankly, I think, if it's the right person. I'm going to pick the right person.

Donald Trump

00:02:18 - 00:02:26 (8 sec)

I'm going to pick somebody that's outstanding. And everybody on that list is outstanding, but I'm going to pick somebody who is outstanding. And I think -- yes, I think we will go very quickly.

Donald Trump

00:02:26 - 00:02:38 (12 sec)

I actually believe that. A lot of people think it is going to be a very long -- it is probably going to be vicious, because the other side, all they can do is obstruct and resist. You know, their whole thing is resist.

Donald Trump

00:02:38 - 00:02:47 (9 sec)

But -- and maybe some day we will be able to get along with the other side. I don't know. But, right now, it is only resist. That's all they want to do, is stop things from happening. So they are going to try very hard.

Donald Trump

00:02:47 - 00:02:50 (3 sec)

But I think it is going to go actually very quickly, if I pick the right person.

Maria Bartiromo

00:02:50 - 00:02:56 (6 sec)

Mr. President, here we are six months after you signed into law a historic tax reform package.

Donald Trump

00:02:56 - 00:02:56 (0 sec)

Maria Bartiromo

00:02:56 - 00:02:58 (2 sec)

First time in 30 years.

Maria Bartiromo

00:02:58 - 00:03:01 (3 sec)

Has the effect been what you expected?

Donald Trump

00:03:01 - 00:03:08 (7 sec)

Well, I think there's a double effect. The tax cuts have been incredible, and reform, don't forget, but tax cuts have been incredible.

Maria Bartiromo

00:03:08 - 00:03:10 (2 sec)

And the rollback in regulations. Huge.

Donald Trump

00:03:10 - 00:03:20 (11 sec)

But I think the big thing -- I actually think, maybe at least initially speaking, because it's been earlier, took place quicker, the regulation rollback has been the biggest ever in the history of our country.

Donald Trump

00:03:20 - 00:03:33 (12 sec)

No -- no president, even during full terms, has cut back anywhere near what I have done. And we have more to do. Now, we're going to have regulation. We're going to have clean water. We're going to have, you know, clean air. We're going to have the cleanest water, cleanest air.

Donald Trump

00:03:33 - 00:03:36 (4 sec)

But we are -- we have more regulation-cutting to do.

Maria Bartiromo

00:03:36 - 00:03:37 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:03:37 - 00:03:53 (17 sec)

But I think that may have had a bigger impact to this point. I think, ultimately, the tax cuts, as they kick in -- and they are kicking in very -- you see the kind of hundreds of billions of dollars brought back into the country already. I think, ultimately, that's going to be something really special. And you're seeing the result right now.

Maria Bartiromo

00:03:53 - 00:03:58 (5 sec)

I agree you, because, under President Obama, the federal registry pages were up to 97,000 pages...

Donald Trump

00:03:58 - 00:03:59 (0 sec)

Maria Bartiromo

00:03:59 - 00:04:00 (1 sec)

... or something like that.

Donald Trump

00:04:00 - 00:04:08 (9 sec)

Honestly, if the Democrats would have won the election, first of all, you would have a lot of different -- if you look at the last four decisions on the Supreme Court, at 5-4, they would have all been reversed.

Donald Trump

00:04:08 - 00:04:18 (10 sec)

The union decision was a massive decision. The -- you know, you can look at any one of those four, they were all so big, so important. And they would have been exactly reversed.

Donald Trump

00:04:18 - 00:04:35 (17 sec)

So many -- that's why I have always heard that, as president, I mean, obviously, outside of war and peace, the biggest decision you can make is the selection of a Supreme Court justice. And I see it. And you see it so vividly over the last two days, because, I mean, those decisions would have all gone the other way.

Maria Bartiromo

00:04:35 - 00:04:43 (9 sec)

And your legacy on the conservative party, on the GOP, is going to be massive, obviously, with this very consequential decision-making that you need to do.

Donald Trump

00:04:43 - 00:04:44 (0 sec)

Maria Bartiromo

00:04:44 - 00:04:48 (4 sec)

Let me ask you about what's next, because we have seen the impact to the economy.

Maria Bartiromo

00:04:48 - 00:04:55 (7 sec)

What do you want to see happen now? Does the economy need even more stimulus? Are you looking for a phase two tax cut?

Donald Trump

00:04:55 - 00:05:04 (9 sec)

We're doing a phase two. We will be doing it probably in October, maybe a little sooner than that. And it will be more of a middle class. We did a lot for the middle class, but this will be even more aimed at the middle class.

Donald Trump

00:05:04 - 00:05:13 (10 sec)

One of the things we're thinking about is bringing the 21 percent down to 20. And then, for the most part, the rest of it would go right to the middle class. It's a great stimulus.

Donald Trump

00:05:13 - 00:05:23 (10 sec)

And one of the things I'm doing that you have been reporting on -- although I'm not sure that you're a believer, but I think you are getting there -- look what's happening with the steel companies. They are doing -- they are expanding. They are going wild.

Donald Trump

00:05:23 - 00:05:39 (16 sec)

And we need steel. And we need aluminum. And we need solar panels. And, you know, the same thing with solar panels -- it was like a dead business, and we did a 30 percent tariff, because they were dumping all over the place. And washing machines, doesn't sound very glamorous. It is actually a very big business.

Donald Trump

00:05:39 - 00:05:48 (9 sec)

But if you look at what's happened to steel and aluminum, we practically built a new industry in a period of four, five months. It is incredible, what's happening.

Donald Trump

00:05:48 - 00:05:58 (10 sec)

But the big thing that I'm focused on now is trade. I have to straighten out trade deals. Maria, we have trade deals -- as an example, with China, we don't even have a trade deal with China. We don't have a deal. Nobody bothered to make a deal.

Donald Trump

00:05:58 - 00:06:05 (7 sec)

And they will charge 25 percent for a car, and we charge 2.5 percent. And you have used those numbers on your show, so I don't want to bore people.

Donald Trump

00:06:05 - 00:06:16 (11 sec)

But we have a -- some of the -- we have the worst trade deals in the world. We lose money with everybody. You know, when somebody walks in, I say, how much do we lose with this country? We lose with everybody.

Donald Trump

00:06:16 - 00:06:26 (10 sec)

We are going to make it reciprocal. We are going to make them fair. And I will tell you that you don't know about this, but every country is calling every day, saying, let's make a deal, let's make a deal.

Donald Trump

00:06:26 - 00:06:27 (1 sec)

It is all going to work out.

Maria Bartiromo

00:06:27 - 00:06:30 (2 sec)

And the markets feel like they're trusting you at this point, saying...

Donald Trump

00:06:30 - 00:06:31 (2 sec)

I think they trust me. And the farmers trust me.

Maria Bartiromo

00:06:31 - 00:06:31 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:06:31 - 00:06:39 (8 sec)

Don't forget, the farmers -- and I won all the farmers. I won that whole -- you look at a map, it's a got a little blue on the outside, everything else is red

Donald Trump

00:06:39 - 00:06:50 (10 sec)

And it's beautiful color red. But I have to say that, if you look at what's happened with farms, over 15 years, it's just the steady decline.

Donald Trump

00:06:50 - 00:06:56 (7 sec)

Over the last five -- I've been here a year-and-a-half. Over the last five years, they have been very bad years for farms and farmers.

Donald Trump

00:06:56 - 00:07:09 (12 sec)

I said, we have to change that. And one of the reasons is because they have barriers. These aren't even economic barriers, although, in Canada's case, 275 percent tariff for dairy. That's not fair.

Maria Bartiromo

00:07:09 - 00:07:11 (2 sec)

So, when would you expect your most significant deal?

Donald Trump

00:07:11 - 00:07:25 (14 sec)

Well, I already pretty much finished the deal with South Korea. It was terrible deal. Remember, it was going to produce 200,000 jobs? And they were right -- for South Korea, not for us. That was a Hillary Clinton special. That's done.

Donald Trump

00:07:25 - 00:07:30 (5 sec)

NAFTA, I could sign it tomorrow, but I'm not happy with it. I want to make it more fair, OK? I want to make...

Maria Bartiromo

00:07:30 - 00:07:31 (2 sec)

You can't do NAFTA before the midterms.

Donald Trump

00:07:31 - 00:07:37 (6 sec)

I want to wait until after the election. You're going to have an election. It's going to be very interesting. I have a feeling he's going to be fine.

Donald Trump

00:07:37 - 00:07:48 (11 sec)

And the reason is because, if they're not fine, I'm going to tax their cars coming into America, and that's the big one. You know, the cars are the big one. We can talk steel. We can talk everything. The big thing is the cars.

Maria Bartiromo

00:07:48 - 00:08:05 (17 sec)

A -- a major lobbying group for the auto industry says that your administration's threatened 25 percent tariff on all imported vehicles will amount to $45 billion in taxes on consumers and wipe out any benefits of the tax cut plans for low- and middle-income American.

Donald Trump

00:08:05 - 00:08:16 (11 sec)

Well, actually, it's 20 percent. Tell them to get their numbers right. Look, Maria, what's going to really happen is, there's going to be no tax. You know why? They're going to build their cars in America. They're going to make them here.

Donald Trump

00:08:16 - 00:08:31 (15 sec)

We bring in millions and millions of cars a year. We charge 2.5 percent. Some of these countries don't even take our cars. If we want to send General Motors or any of our companies to some of these countries, they won't take our cars. They have a barrier.

Donald Trump

00:08:31 - 00:08:45 (14 sec)

They put up a barrier, non-monetary barrier. They call it non-monetary tariff. And the barrier is so strong, you can't sell a car. If you do sell a car, it's 10 percent, 15 percent, 25 percent. And we get 2.5 percent, and nobody pays it.

Maria Bartiromo

00:08:45 - 00:08:45 (0 sec)

Maria Bartiromo

00:08:45 - 00:08:57 (12 sec)

Would you agree, though, that a tariff is a sales tax? I mean, even Steve Forbes was on my show last week. He said, look, for every job you're creating in the aluminum and steel industry, you're losing 15 in the industries that import aluminum and steel.

Donald Trump

00:08:57 - 00:08:59 (1 sec)

OK. You have to remember...

Maria Bartiromo

00:08:59 - 00:09:00 (1 sec)

Is it a sales tax?

Donald Trump

00:09:00 - 00:09:13 (13 sec)

First of all, I love free trade. Do you know, when I was at the G7, I said, I have an idea, everybody. I'll guarantee you we'll do it immediately. Nobody pay anymore tax, everybody take down your barriers. No barriers, no tax. Everybody, are you all set? No more tax.

Donald Trump

00:09:13 - 00:09:20 (7 sec)

Canada, you're not going to get 275 percent for your dairy, and you're going to take down all your barriers. We're going to take all our barriers. We're going to down all our taxes, right?

Donald Trump

00:09:20 - 00:09:41 (21 sec)

You know what happened? Everybody said, "Uh, can we get onto another subject?" Because America, our country, lost last year $817 billion in terms of deficit. We had a trade deficit, Maria, of 817 billion -- with a B -- dollars last year. Before that, it was $800 billion.

Donald Trump

00:09:41 - 00:09:49 (9 sec)

This has been going on for years. We have rebuilt China. I have a great relationship with China, great relationship with President Xi. I have tremendous respect for him.

Donald Trump

00:09:49 - 00:09:53 (3 sec)

But I said, We have to straighten this out. We can't continue to do this.

Maria Bartiromo

00:09:53 - 00:09:57 (4 sec)

Well, you decided to not go forward with the investment restrictions on China.

Donald Trump

00:09:57 - 00:09:58 (1 sec)

No, no, we're going forward.

Maria Bartiromo

00:09:58 - 00:10:00 (2 sec)

Are you going to back down on the tariffs against China?

Donald Trump

00:10:00 - 00:10:12 (12 sec)

No, no, no, no. No. Look, we're in for -- you know, we've put in $250 billion worth of product. The tariffs are -- in fact, it could go up to 500, frankly, if we don't make a deal. And they want to make a deal.

Donald Trump

00:10:12 - 00:10:16 (5 sec)

I will tell you, China wants to make a deal. And so do I, but it's got to be a fair deal for this country.

Donald Trump

00:10:16 - 00:10:32 (16 sec)

One of the hard things is, our presidents and our business leaders, they were missing in action -- not so much the business leaders. You know, some business leaders benefit by allowing this stuff to go on. That's the problem. They benefit. They're more for their business than they are for the United States.

Donald Trump

00:10:32 - 00:10:37 (5 sec)

I had a great company, the head of a great company come up to me. He's very seriously affected by the tariffs.

Donald Trump

00:10:37 - 00:10:41 (4 sec)

He said: "Mr. President, it's not for me right now. Ultimately, it is, but you're doing the right thing on tariffs."

Donald Trump

00:10:41 - 00:10:42 (1 sec)

One of the -- one of the greatest...

Maria Bartiromo

00:10:42 - 00:10:45 (2 sec)

Well, you're doing the right thing on pushing back on China as well.

Donald Trump

00:10:45 - 00:10:46 (1 sec)

Maria Bartiromo

00:10:46 - 00:10:49 (4 sec)

Most people understand that they've been stealing from us for decades.

Donald Trump

00:10:49 - 00:10:50 (1 sec)

Maria Bartiromo

00:10:50 - 00:10:57 (7 sec)

But you didn't go forward with this ban on Chinese nationals acquiring a 25 percent stake in American companies that are in this China 2025.

Maria Bartiromo

00:10:57 - 00:11:02 (5 sec)

But now people want to know, how are you going to protect American innovation, technology, the crown jewel?

Donald Trump

00:11:02 - 00:11:13 (11 sec)

So, we're doing it through CFIUS. We're doing it through different things. But -- but what I didn't like was pinpointing China, because it's not fair. I get along with China. I like the president.

Donald Trump

00:11:13 - 00:11:28 (15 sec)

He's president for life. We can call him the king, right? But I like the president. I didn't like pinpointing China. I don't think it's fair, because they're not the only ones. Now, they're bigger and stronger. And, frankly, they do it more. And they're probably a bigger violator.

Donald Trump

00:11:28 - 00:11:38 (11 sec)

But it's other countries too. And I wanted to go worldwide. And we are doing that. So, actually, what I'm doing is a very similar thing. But I want it to pertain to everybody.

Donald Trump

00:11:38 - 00:11:49 (10 sec)

So, you mean China can't -- China can't do it, but other countries can? Now, I know China, and I know how smart they are. They'll send their people into other counties and do it through other counties. And they'll just go through an extra process.

Maria Bartiromo

00:11:49 - 00:11:51 (3 sec)

That's why you had to do it on everybody, even our friends.

Donald Trump

00:11:51 - 00:12:05 (13 sec)

I want -- I want everybody to do it. Same thing with the tariffs on the steel. If we don't have it on everybody, then what happens is, they -- you know, they put it through these other countries that don't have it, and you're wasting a lot of time. [Commercial Break]

Maria Bartiromo

00:12:05 - 00:12:10 (6 sec)

If we're trying to stop China from stealing from us, which we know is happening, and that business knows it across the board...

Donald Trump

00:12:10 - 00:12:14 (3 sec)

Yes. Yes. It's true. It's happening. [Crosstalk] By the way, $300 billion a year, they say. That's a lot of money.

Maria Bartiromo

00:12:14 - 00:12:15 (1 sec)

Maria Bartiromo

00:12:15 - 00:12:20 (5 sec)

Would it be better to actually have our allies together to go against China, instead of...

Donald Trump

00:12:20 - 00:12:20 (0 sec)

Maria Bartiromo

00:12:20 - 00:12:22 (2 sec)

... pushing back on our allies, like European nations?

Donald Trump

00:12:22 - 00:12:37 (15 sec)

Because -- because the allies -- excuse me. The European Union is possibly as bad as China, just smaller, OK? It's terrible, what they do to us. European Union, take a look at the car situation. They send a Mercedes in. We can't send our cars in.

Donald Trump

00:12:37 - 00:12:45 (9 sec)

Look what they do to our farmers. They don't want our farm products. Now, in all fairness, they have their farmers. So, they want to protect their farmers. But we don't protect ours, and they protect theirs.

Donald Trump

00:12:45 - 00:13:05 (20 sec)

The European Union last year made, if you look at a trade surplus, which I think is a very important thing, $151 billion. Now, we all sort of love the European Union. You know, I was there many, many years ago, meaning, my parents were born in the European Union, but before there was a...

Maria Bartiromo

00:13:05 - 00:13:06 (1 sec)

Right. They love you... [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump

00:13:06 - 00:13:08 (2 sec)

No. And I -- I love those counties.

Maria Bartiromo

00:13:08 - 00:13:08 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:13:08 - 00:13:14 (6 sec)

Germany, and all of the countries, Scotland -- you know, you have Scotland. They're still in there. They're still hanging in there, right?

Donald Trump

00:13:14 - 00:13:16 (2 sec)

We will see what happens with Brexit.

Maria Bartiromo

00:13:16 - 00:13:17 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:13:17 - 00:13:20 (3 sec)

But -- but they treat us very badly. They treat us very unfairly.

Maria Bartiromo

00:13:20 - 00:13:22 (2 sec)

I know. No, you've said that. And it has resonated.

Donald Trump

00:13:22 - 00:13:31 (9 sec)

Maria, they don't take our product. [Crosstalk] Excuse me. I can say it better, in a different way. They made last year $151 billion in trade surplus.

Maria Bartiromo

00:13:31 - 00:13:32 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:13:32 - 00:13:37 (6 sec)

In other words, we had a deficit with the European Union. On top of that, we spend a fortune on NATO to protect them. [Commercial Break]

Maria Bartiromo

00:13:37 - 00:13:46 (8 sec)

I saw you in Wisconsin yesterday, and you called out Harley- Davidson. And you've been calling out Harley -- Harley-Davidson.

Donald Trump

00:13:46 - 00:13:46 (1 sec)

It's true. I don't like that they're leaving. They're not leaving, but...

Maria Bartiromo

00:13:46 - 00:13:49 (3 sec)

But, look, Harley-Davidson is saying, we're going to send some production overseas...

Donald Trump

00:13:49 - 00:13:50 (1 sec)

I don't like it.

Maria Bartiromo

00:13:50 - 00:13:54 (4 sec)

... because we can't deal with the retaliatory tariffs out of Europe. And that's because of our tariffs.

Donald Trump

00:13:54 - 00:13:55 (0 sec)

Maria Bartiromo

00:13:55 - 00:13:58 (3 sec)

Should you be calling out specific companies? You're the president.

Donald Trump

00:13:58 - 00:14:10 (13 sec)

Yes. Yes, I should. Look, I devoted a lot of time to Harley-Davidson. I treated them good. I guarantee you, everybody that ever bought a Harley-Davidson voted for Trump. I don't know if you know that. I would have to -- they call them bikers for Trump. There's -- there's hundreds.

Maria Bartiromo

00:14:10 - 00:14:12 (2 sec)

And there's pride that it's built in America. I know that.

Donald Trump

00:14:12 - 00:14:25 (13 sec)

And they're -- and they're very unhappy about it. They are very unhappy. Now, we just proposed this a few days ago. They made this deal at the beginning of the year, long before they ever heard of the word tariff. They made this deal at the beginning of the year. And I don't think they should do it.

Donald Trump

00:14:25 - 00:14:35 (9 sec)

I think that Harley is an American bike. It's an American motorcycle. And they should build them in this country. They shouldn't play cute. And I had them for lunch six months ago.

Maria Bartiromo

00:14:35 - 00:14:35 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:14:35 - 00:14:37 (2 sec)

And they were telling me, in India, they charge 100 per...

Maria Bartiromo

00:14:37 - 00:14:38 (1 sec)

A hundred percent. You said that.

Donald Trump

00:14:38 - 00:14:39 (1 sec)

Do you want to know... [Crosstalk]

Maria Bartiromo

00:14:39 - 00:14:40 (1 sec)

And I was talking about... [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump

00:14:40 - 00:14:50 (10 sec)

I think I taught them more about tariffs than I could ever learn. I was saying, let me ask you a question. How much do you pay in India? One hundred percent. Oh, really? Do you do much business? No. Why? Because the tariff's too high.

Donald Trump

00:14:50 - 00:14:59 (10 sec)

I'm the one telling them. I said, that's a shame. I got them to reduce the tariffs in India, because I used that as an example. All of the sudden, Harley leaves. Everyone else is coming in.

Maria Bartiromo

00:14:59 - 00:14:59 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:14:59 - 00:15:18 (19 sec)

You know, they are one of the few that's -- everyone else is coming in. I have feeling that maybe Harley, I think they're going to take a big hit. I just think it's a great American product. And our people have more pride then they used to have. I really believe that Harley's going to take a -- the people that are buying Harley-Davidson, you know, they don't want -- they don't want it built in another country.

Maria Bartiromo

00:15:18 - 00:15:18 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:15:18 - 00:15:19 (1 sec)

And -- no, they don't want it.

Maria Bartiromo

00:15:19 - 00:15:20 (1 sec)

I know that. I know that.

Donald Trump

00:15:20 - 00:15:21 (1 sec)

I know those people.

Maria Bartiromo

00:15:21 - 00:15:22 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:15:22 - 00:15:22 (1 sec)

Those are my voters.

Maria Bartiromo

00:15:22 - 00:15:26 (4 sec)

No, no, they have pride that their bike is built in America. There's no doubt about it.

Donald Trump

00:15:26 - 00:15:30 (4 sec)

Those are my voters. They don't want Harley-Davidson getting cute to make $2 more.

Maria Bartiromo

00:15:30 - 00:15:34 (4 sec)

All of these issue are going to be issues in the midterms, including immigration.

Maria Bartiromo

00:15:34 - 00:15:39 (5 sec)

Is immigration and these pictures of separated families going to hurt the Republicans come November?

Donald Trump

00:15:39 - 00:15:44 (5 sec)

No. First of all, I signed an executive order last week saying, I don't want families broken up. Nobody else did that.

Maria Bartiromo

00:15:44 - 00:15:46 (2 sec)

Did our first lady, Melania, encourage you to do that?

Donald Trump

00:15:46 - 00:15:48 (2 sec)

She's been there, and she's been out to the border twice. And she...

Maria Bartiromo

00:15:48 - 00:15:49 (1 sec)

What has she told you about that?

Donald Trump

00:15:49 - 00:15:55 (6 sec)

I'll tell you, she came home and told me a couple of things very -- she said, it's a very sad situation, very, very sad.

Donald Trump

00:15:55 - 00:16:05 (10 sec)

She was really impressed with Border Patrol, how professional they were. She came and said that. And she was really saddened by the plight of people.

Donald Trump

00:16:05 - 00:16:18 (13 sec)

I mean, you know, she has a very big heart. She went down -- this is her second time in a week-and-a-half. She feels it. But she was so strong on how professional the Border Patrol, the agents, the law enforcement is along the border.

Donald Trump

00:16:18 - 00:16:19 (2 sec)

She couldn't believe it.

Maria Bartiromo

00:16:19 - 00:16:20 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:16:20 - 00:16:34 (14 sec)

And she saw the danger. She saw the danger -- you look at -- it just looks like danger. In the meantime, we have to have strong border protection. We have to have strong borders. We don't want crime. The Democrats want to have no borders. They want to get rid of ICE. You know, ICE is the one...

Maria Bartiromo

00:16:34 - 00:16:35 (2 sec)

Well, this is exactly -- I was just going to say that.

Donald Trump

00:16:35 - 00:16:35 (0 sec)

Maria Bartiromo

00:16:35 - 00:16:38 (3 sec)

The 28-year-old socialist that just beat out Joe Crowley...

Donald Trump

00:16:38 - 00:16:39 (1 sec)

Maria Bartiromo

00:16:39 - 00:16:41 (1 sec)

... says abolish ICE.

Maria Bartiromo

00:16:41 - 00:16:46 (5 sec)

And get this. More Democrats are getting in line with that, Kirsten Gillibrand today saying, we need to abolish ICE.

Donald Trump

00:16:46 - 00:16:59 (13 sec)

Well, I hope they keep thinking about it, because they're going to get beaten so badly. Do you know ICE, these are the guys that go in and take MS-13, and they take them out, because they're much tougher than MS-13, like, by a factor of 10.

Donald Trump

00:16:59 - 00:17:10 (11 sec)

And these are the ones. You get rid of ICE, you're going to have a country that you're going to be afraid to walk out of your house. I love that issue, if they're going to actually do that. They're seriously talking about that?

Donald Trump

00:17:10 - 00:17:25 (15 sec)

Because they -- you are going to have a county that's crime-ridden. The Border Patrol, the Border Patrol agents, ICE, these people are incredible. They were the ones -- actually, when Melania went down, she -- she was talking about the Border Patrol agents, not the ICE, because she doesn't see.

Donald Trump

00:17:25 - 00:17:30 (5 sec)

But ICE, Border Patrol, these are incredible patriots. The job they have is so dangerous.

Maria Bartiromo

00:17:30 - 00:17:30 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:17:30 - 00:17:32 (2 sec)

You know Long Island very well, right?

Maria Bartiromo

00:17:32 - 00:17:33 (1 sec)

Well, catch and release, I mean...

Donald Trump

00:17:33 - 00:17:34 (1 sec)

Well, how about Long Island?

Maria Bartiromo

00:17:34 - 00:17:34 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:17:34 - 00:17:40 (6 sec)

They go into Long Island, they -- they actually liberate towns. They liberate towns. These are incredible people.

Donald Trump

00:17:40 - 00:17:48 (8 sec)

If the Democrats go left, OK, if they do that, like I always say, Maxine Waters is -- you know, Maxine Waters is their new leader.

Donald Trump

00:17:48 - 00:18:04 (16 sec)

Between Maxine Waters and Nancy Pelosi, and getting rid of ICE, and having open borders -- and the biggest thing, you have open borders. All it's going to do is lead to massive, massive crime. That's going to be their platform, open borders, which equals crime.

Donald Trump

00:18:04 - 00:18:09 (5 sec)

I think they'll never win another election. So, I'm actually quite happy about it. [Commercial Break]

Maria Bartiromo

00:18:09 - 00:18:15 (6 sec)

Let me ask you real quick on North Korea and Iran, because -- how was the summit? Can you give us any anecdotes?

Donald Trump

00:18:15 - 00:18:15 (1 sec)

Maria Bartiromo

00:18:15 - 00:18:26 (10 sec)

I mean, now we're -- we're supposed to find out -- I've spoken to some -- with some military men of my own. And they told us that -- told me that North Korea needs to tell us exactly where their facilities are so that we can inspect them -- [Crosstalk]

Maria Bartiromo

00:18:26 - 00:18:29 (3 sec)

-- within the next couple of weeks. If we don't find out in the next couple of weeks -- [Crosstalk]

Maria Bartiromo

00:18:29 - 00:18:31 (2 sec)

-- we know they're not serious about this. What are you going to do?

Donald Trump

00:18:31 - 00:18:48 (17 sec)

Oh, I think they're very serious about it. I think they want to do -- we had a very good chemistry. You know, we had a lot points -- we want a lot of different points. Not to go over them, but denuclearization, getting our -- getting the remains back from great heroes, great people. So many different things.

Maria Bartiromo

00:18:48 - 00:18:49 (1 sec)

But are we to legitimizing killers? [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump

00:18:49 - 00:18:51 (2 sec)

By the way, excuse me, getting the hostages back before I even went -- [Crosstalk]

Maria Bartiromo

00:18:51 - 00:18:54 (3 sec)

That was incredible. Thank you for doing that, Mr. President.

Donald Trump

00:18:54 - 00:19:14 (20 sec)

I know. But think of -- think of this. What did I do, really, when you think about it? I went there. So the papers say he went. Oh. Meaning I went to Singapore. So we had a meeting. We didn't do anything. Now, we're saving a lot of money by not doing -- I asked -- I said let's not do the -- I call them the war games, OK? They're dropping bombs all over the place every six months.

Donald Trump

00:19:14 - 00:19:37 (23 sec)

It's unbelievably expensive to do that. The planes fly in from Guam, these massive, you know, bombers. And all of our -- they're flying in from bomb, going back -- from Guam. It's crazy. So -- we gave nothing. What we are going to give is good things in the future. And -- and by the way, I really believe North Korea has a tremendous future. I got along really well with Chairman Kim.

Donald Trump

00:19:37 - 00:19:40 (3 sec)

We had a great chemistry. We really had -- Chairman Kim --

Maria Bartiromo

00:19:40 - 00:19:42 (2 sec)

But do we believe him, Mr. President?

Donald Trump

00:19:42 - 00:19:47 (4 sec)

I made a deal with him. I shook hands with him. I really believe he means it.

Maria Bartiromo

00:19:47 - 00:19:48 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:19:48 - 00:19:56 (8 sec)

Now, is it possible? Have I been in deals -- have you been in things where people didn't work out? It's possible. But --

Maria Bartiromo

00:19:56 - 00:20:00 (4 sec)

Well you made a -- well you made a bold decision on Iran. I mean, this was incredible.

Donald Trump

00:20:00 - 00:20:01 (1 sec)

And Iran -- look what's happening in Iran.

Maria Bartiromo

00:20:01 - 00:20:04 (3 sec)

And look what's happening now. The strikes and the protests. The people want economic freedom.

Donald Trump

00:20:04 - 00:20:06 (2 sec)

Iran's a different place. Iran's a different place.

Maria Bartiromo

00:20:06 - 00:20:07 (1 sec)

So is it true that --

Donald Trump

00:20:07 - 00:20:13 (6 sec)

Iran's no longer thinking about the Mediterranean and going through -- they're thinking about themselves. They're having riots all over --

Maria Bartiromo

00:20:13 - 00:20:15 (2 sec)

Are they enriching their uranium like the reports say?

Donald Trump

00:20:15 - 00:20:17 (2 sec)

If they do, they're going to have a very big problem.

Maria Bartiromo

00:20:17 - 00:20:24 (6 sec)

Let me ask you about the secondary sanctions. Will you sanction European companies if they do business with Iran?

Donald Trump

00:20:24 - 00:20:26 (2 sec)

Yes. Of course. That's what we're doing. Absolutely.

Maria Bartiromo

00:20:26 - 00:20:32 (6 sec)

And -- and -- and in terms of oil prices -- you've talked about oil prices a lot. Do you think somebody's manipulating this market?

Donald Trump

00:20:32 - 00:20:34 (2 sec)

100 percent. 100 percent.

Maria Bartiromo

00:20:34 - 00:20:34 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:20:34 - 00:20:35 (1 sec)

OPEC is and they're going to stop it.

Maria Bartiromo

00:20:35 - 00:20:35 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:20:35 - 00:20:55 (20 sec)

Because we're protecting those countries -- many of those countries. OPEC is manipulating. And you know, they allowed less than we thought last week. They have to put out another $2 million barrels in my opinion. Because we don't want that happening. Don't forget, the one negative to the Iran deal is you're going to lose a lot of oil and they got to make up for it. And who's their big enemy?

Donald Trump

00:20:55 - 00:21:07 (12 sec)

Iran. OK? You think of it. Iran's their big -- so they're going to have to do it. And I have a very good relationship with the king and with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia and the others around. And they're going to have to put out more oil.

Maria Bartiromo

00:21:07 - 00:21:19 (12 sec)

Any -- any comments on Peter Strzok and these testimonies that we're seeing? Rod Rosenstein, Christopher Wray. Why don't you just direct your subordinates to get those documents over to Congress? Are you going to do it?

Donald Trump

00:21:19 - 00:21:30 (11 sec)

So I have this country running like a top. Mike Pompeo is doing great. We really have a great group of people. The one thing I want to stay uninvolved in -- at least for now. I may get involved.

Maria Bartiromo

00:21:30 - 00:21:30 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:21:30 - 00:21:32 (2 sec)

But I've been told by so many people don't get involved.

Maria Bartiromo

00:21:32 - 00:21:33 (2 sec)

Congress wants those documents.

Donald Trump

00:21:33 - 00:21:55 (22 sec)

You know, all those people got involved and it's not good. And they'll get the documents and it's getting -- and they're getting them and they're great people. I didn't like the scene the other day where everybody's screaming at each other. You know, I don't like that because it's bad for the country. You know, if Russia is in fact looking to sew discord, or chaos, they've got to be saying this is the greatest thing we've ever done. OK?

Donald Trump

00:21:55 - 00:21:59 (4 sec)

Now, there's no collusion with me, there's no Russia with me, there's no nothing.

Maria Bartiromo

00:21:59 - 00:21:59 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:21:59 - 00:22:10 (10 sec)

It's a -- it's -- honestly, it's a disgrace. But I purposely said I'm not getting involved, let it just go. You know, they found nothing. Nobody has found anything.

Maria Bartiromo

00:22:10 - 00:22:11 (1 sec)

I know. Are you going to --

Donald Trump

00:22:11 - 00:22:24 (13 sec)

And by the way, this is the most transparent thing ever done with the White House. I think I gave them a million four hundred thousand documents. I told them -- I -- look, don't even read them. There's no Russia mention or anything like that.

Maria Bartiromo

00:22:24 - 00:22:24 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:22:24 - 00:22:27 (3 sec)

They have nothing. I don't like to see that kind of fighting. It's terrible.

Maria Bartiromo

00:22:27 - 00:22:27 (0 sec)

Are you going to mention --

Donald Trump

00:22:27 - 00:22:28 (1 sec)

It's bad for both sides.

Maria Bartiromo

00:22:28 - 00:22:33 (4 sec)

Are you going to mention the meddling when you meet with Russian president Vladimir Putting July 16?

Donald Trump

00:22:33 - 00:22:40 (8 sec)

I'll mention it. I'm going to mention it. I'd like to see some handshakes [Inaudible] as to why we didn't take the server -- why the FBI didn't take the server from the DNC -- [Crosstalk]

Maria Bartiromo

00:22:40 - 00:22:42 (2 sec)

Well the DNC wanted to give it to a private company.

Donald Trump

00:22:42 - 00:22:43 (1 sec)

No. Can you believe it?

Maria Bartiromo

00:22:43 - 00:22:44 (1 sec)

They didn't want to give it to the FBI?

Donald Trump

00:22:44 - 00:22:54 (10 sec)

No, no. Can you believe it? Now, why didn't the FBI take it? Look what they did to other people. Why didn't they take it? How can the DNC say, "get out of here." They threw them out of the office.

Maria Bartiromo

00:22:54 - 00:22:59 (5 sec)

Yes. Well, the same people running both investigations. I mean, that's why -

Donald Trump

00:22:59 - 00:23:02 (3 sec)

Did you ever see a difference in two investigations? And the difference is -

Maria Bartiromo

00:23:02 - 00:23:03 (1 sec)

There was a huge difference -

Donald Trump

00:23:03 - 00:23:14 (11 sec)

- this one here did nothing wrong. There was no collusion, no nothing. The other one - and I'm not saying one way or the other, but you go back one. How about the e-mails, the leading 33,000 e-mails.

Maria Bartiromo

00:23:14 - 00:23:15 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:23:15 - 00:23:29 (15 sec)

Just didn't finish it. We don't even have to talk about the uranium and all the different things. Just tell me, you get a subpoena, and after getting the subpoena from the United States Congress, right, people go to jail for doing it under a civil case. They delete 33,000 e- mails.

Maria Bartiromo

00:23:29 - 00:23:32 (3 sec)

And some of them got immunity.

Donald Trump

00:23:32 - 00:23:44 (12 sec)

Got immunity before the FBI even walked in. They walk in say you have a - and by the way, keep your laptops, and did they even say, "destroy your laptops," or something? "In a week you can destroy your laptops?"

Maria Bartiromo

00:23:44 - 00:24:04 (21 sec)

[Inaudible] Final question, Mr. President. Here, we see your lovely Press Secretary, Sarah Sanders, getting asked to leave a restaurant. We see Peter Fonda, Robert De Niro having Trump syndrome, they're going crazy, all of this betrayal in this country. As the Commander in Chief, as the president of this great country, what can you do to bring us together?

Donald Trump

00:24:04 - 00:24:17 (13 sec)

Well, some of them do it for publicity. I hate to say it. Some of them do it for publicity. Now, the Hen Restaurant was - I thought was terrible with Sarah. I thought it was terrible. I think -

Maria Bartiromo

00:24:17 - 00:24:18 (1 sec)

It's all terrible.

Donald Trump

00:24:18 - 00:24:45 (27 sec)

I think some of the things that are said are terrible. And, you know, it's our people are so incredible - you know, there's probably never been a base in the history of politics in this country like my base. I hope the other side realizes that they better just take it easy. They better just take it easy because some of the languages, some of the words you - even some of the radical ideas, I really think they're very bad for the country. I think they're actually very dangerous for the country. [Inaudible] -

Maria Bartiromo

00:24:45 - 00:24:50 (5 sec)

All the while, you're creating economic growth and you're creating job opportunities.

Donald Trump

00:24:50 - 00:25:23 (34 sec)

So if you look at black unemployment, the best in history. Hispanic unemployment, the best in history, lowest in the history of our country. Women, 64, 65 years - the best in 65 years. Within two weeks, it should be the best in history. Women unemployment, meaning it's low, so low, so beautiful. Our unemployment picture overall generally is almost the best in history. Our numbers are among - it's going to be interesting to see what happens in the next quarter, but, you know, the - I don't know if you saw, but the Atlanta Fed predicted 4.8. I don't know if it's going to be -

Maria Bartiromo

00:25:23 - 00:25:25 (1 sec)

Of course I saw.

Donald Trump

00:25:25 - 00:25:27 (2 sec)

4.8, I actually saw it on your show, so I guess you [Inaudible] -

Maria Bartiromo

00:25:27 - 00:25:28 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:25:28 - 00:25:29 (1 sec)

- weren't watching. Maybe somebody else was -

Maria Bartiromo

00:25:29 - 00:25:30 (1 sec)

[Inaudible] on the show.

Donald Trump

00:25:30 - 00:25:35 (5 sec)

But the Atlanta Fed predicted 4.6, and then they upped it to 4.8.

Maria Bartiromo

00:25:35 - 00:25:35 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:25:35 - 00:25:52 (16 sec)

I don't know if that's true, but each point is $3 trillion and 10 million jobs, and you know that when I originally took over, it was 1.2, and it was heading down because they would have put more restrain - we talked about the regulations and restrictions. They would have put more regulations on.

Donald Trump

00:25:52 - 00:26:07 (15 sec)

There wouldn't have been any tax cuts. For the tax cuts, we didn't get one Democrat vote. Now add this to it. Part of their platform, one other thing they want to do, they want to raise the taxes. They want to end the tax cuts, take the money back, and they want to raise the taxes.

Donald Trump

00:26:07 - 00:26:12 (5 sec)

I don't think that's a very good formula for the country, number one, most importantly, it's also not a good formula to get elected.

Maria Bartiromo

00:26:12 - 00:26:21 (10 sec)

And you think this is going to be the key that will drive voters in the November election. Well, I think the tax cuts are going to be important. I think the regulations are going to be important. I think the success -

Maria Bartiromo

00:26:21 - 00:26:22 (1 sec)

You feeling good about the midterm?

Donald Trump

00:26:22 - 00:26:32 (9 sec)

Honestly, I feel actually good. The only thing I feel bad about is that I guess 93 percent of the time, whoever wins the presidency tends to do not so good in the midterms.

Donald Trump

00:26:32 - 00:26:48 (16 sec)

Other than that, we have - this may be -hey, look. You do this for a living and nobody does it better. This may be the greatest economy we've ever had. So if it's all about the economy, I think we should do phenomenally. I think we're going to do great. I think we're going to do great in the Senate.

Donald Trump

00:26:48 - 00:26:59 (11 sec)

You know, I visited three states in the last six days. I think every one of those people have an awfully good chance of winning. I think we're going to do great in the Senate, and I think we're going to do absolutely fine in the House.

Maria Bartiromo

00:26:59 - 00:27:01 (2 sec)

I think you love going back to the campaign rally.

Donald Trump

00:27:01 - 00:27:03 (2 sec)

I do like it. I mean, I -

Maria Bartiromo

00:27:03 - 00:27:05 (2 sec)

You like, you know, energizing the crowd.

Donald Trump

00:27:05 - 00:27:06 (1 sec)

I love those people.

Maria Bartiromo

00:27:06 - 00:27:06 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:27:06 - 00:27:08 (2 sec)

I just love the people of this country. They are great.

Maria Bartiromo

00:27:08 - 00:27:08 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:27:08 - 00:27:08 (0 sec)

They are great.

Maria Bartiromo

00:27:08 - 00:27:10 (1 sec)

Mr. President, it's great to see you.

Donald Trump

00:27:10 - 00:27:10 (0 sec)

Maria Bartiromo

00:27:10 - 00:27:11 (1 sec)

Thanks very much for joining us.

Donald Trump

00:27:11 - 00:27:12 (1 sec)

Thank you very much. Thank you, Maria.

Maria Bartiromo

00:27:12 - 00:27:14 (1 sec)