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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HOLDS A MEDIA AVAILABILITY WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired December 3, 2019 - 9:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[09:30:00]

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: The number, as of this moment, is exactly $131 billion. That's a year. And that's a tremendous amount of money, but it's not enough. And they also raised and have commitments for $400 billion.

So NATO, which was really heading in the wrong direction three years ago, was heading down -- if you look at a graph, it was to a point where I don't think they could have gone on much longer -- now it's actually very strong and getting stronger. Many people are committed to that 2 percent, and ultimately I think the 2 percent will be raised.

And the president and I, I think, feel that we need more flexibility -- and I think we both agree on that -- so that we can use it for other things, not just looking at one specific country. And a lot of people say it was meant to look at, originally, the Soviet Union, now Russia. But we also have other things to look at, whether it's radical Islamic terrorism, whether it's the tremendous growth of China. There are a lot of other things.

So NATO's becoming different than it was, much bigger than it was and much stronger than it was because people are now fulfilling their commitments. There are some countries that aren't fulfilling their commitment, and those countries are going to be dealt with. Maybe I'll deal with them from a trade standpoint. Maybe I'll deal with them in a different way. I'll work something out where (ph) they have to pay.

But, you know, we don't want to have people delinquent. We don't have -- we --I don't think it's fair for us to be involved -- including France, by the way -- to be involved and you have countries that aren't paying their way. They -- you know, less than 1 percent -- you have a couple that are less than 1 percent. Not fair.

So NATO's made a lot of progress over the last three years. And the word "flexibility" is very important. They're not just looking at one area now, they're looking at the world and that's very important. To me, it's very important.

Please.

MACRON: I -- I know that my statements created some reactions and shake (ph) a little bit a lot of people. I do stand by. And I have to say, when you look at what NATO is and should be, first of all, this is a burden we share. And President Trump, just to remind you of some figures, and the fact that it's -- this is perfectly true that the U.S. overinvested, (inaudible) and is number one by far.

And I do share this (ph) thinking. That's why I'm a strong supporter of a stronger European component in NATO, which is exactly what we have done. So in terms of cost-sharings, we are investing (inaudible) percent of our GDP, we are increasing our GDP, we will be (inaudible).

But when we speak about NATO, it's not just about money. We have to be respectful with our soldiers. The first burden we share, the first stock we pay (ph) is our soldiers' lives. And I do believe that in such circumstances, we do pay what we have to pay for quality (ph) security. When I look at the situation in Syria and Iraq, (inaudible), France is definitely present.

But my first point is that we have to (inaudible) to be -- to be done. It's impossible just to say we have to put money, we have to put soldiers without to be clear on the fundamentals of what NATO should be. And this is not the case today. What about peace in Europe? I want us (inaudible).

After the decision of the end of the INF Treaty, we have to build something new. Because now this is a risk for Germany, France and a lot of European countries to have new missiles coming from Russia (inaudible). We need such a clarification. And I want a European continent to be part of the future negotiations of such a new INF treaty.

When we speak about the enemy, as we say, of the alliance, what is the objective? To protect our partners against external threats. And France will do it. And we will have full solidarity with our (ph) eastern and northern states in Europe.

But the common enemy today are the terrorist groups, as we mentioned. And I'm sorry to say that we don't have the same definition of terrorism around the table.

When I look at Turkey, they now are fighting against those who fight with us -- who fought with us shoulder to shoulder against ISIS. And sometimes they work with ISIS proxies. This is an issue, and this is a strategic issue. If we just have this question about what we pay, and we don't have clear restrictions (ph) about such a situation, we are not serious (ph). We are not serious (ph) for our soldiers, we are not serious (ph) for our people.

MACRON: This is the very reason of my statements. I do believe we need strategic clarifications.

[09:35:00]

How to get (ph) long-term peace (ph) in Europe. Who is the enemy today? And let's be clear and work together on that.

I know that we do share exactly the same views (ph). Having less (inaudible) of the U.S. means more European investment and more (inaudible) of Europe inside (ph), I do agree.

Being strict and very efficient against terrorist groups means having a clear -- clear definition of these groups and no ambiguity. I think we do agree (ph).

(CROSSTALK)

TRUMP: One thing I will also -- I'd like to say that you've been really doing a great job in Africa and you've been very much involved there; more than most. And that's been fantastic.

I appreciate you saying the United States for decades had been paying really way, way disproportionately too much for NATO. And you'd have other countries paying far too little that are very directly benefited by it and by the United States' involvement.

And we're changing that around somewhat, and it's very important. But we're a very important player. I think without us NATO certainly is not the same thing, as we discussed, and discussed it at length. This morning we discussed it with Secretary General Stoltenberg.

But we're behind you 100 percent. And all of the money that's been raised and all of these countries that are all of a sudden putting up money -- it's a great thing to see.

But we do have a great -- we really have a different objective, I think, right now. We're looking at a much bigger picture. And that includes -- well, it includes -- you mentioned Iraq, but it really includes Iran, too, I think, that if you look at what's going on in Iran, they have massive riots; they're having protests all over the country and they're killing a lot of people. Everybody knows that. That's why they turned off their internet system so nobody can find out. But if the media would go there -- and it's, I think, very hard for the media to go there, frankly, right now. But they're killing a lot of people.

But NATO has come a long way in three years, and it's something that we're very proud of because we're with them. And NATO serves a fantastic function if everybody's involved. If they're not involved -- and I really believe that the president is very much involved and likes the idea of NATO, but he wants it also to be utilized properly. But if it's not utilized properly, we all agree, right, that's no good.

So we've had a very good discussion. A lot of people -- and we're meeting with a lot of countries later, as you know. And they're really stepping up. For the most part, they're all stepping up. We have one or two that aren't and we'll have to deal with them in a different way. Maybe we -- as I said, we'll deal with them on trade. We have a lot of power with respect to trade. They make a fortune with the United States and then they don't pay their bills. That's no good.

But NATO's come a long way in three years and it's become very powerful; I think very, very powerful. And it's become, I think, a much fairer statement in terms of the United States, because we're able to go down a little bit. We were paying 4 percent to 4.3 percent of the largest GDP ever. Nobody's ever had a GDP like we have right now and nobody's come close. And other people were paying 1 percent. Some people were paying less than 1 percent of a very small GDP. It's not fair. And if they get attacked, we protect them, but it's not fair. So a lot of changes have been made.

Phil, go ahead.

QUESTION: Mr. President, what is your message for President Macron about America's tech companies? And what will your process be in determining what additional products from France you might apply tariffs to?

TRUMP: Right. Well, we're working on that right now. We -- we have discussed it. I think we'll be able to work something out. I hope. And maybe not. Maybe we'll do it through taxing. You know, you can work it out easily through taxing.

But the techs -- you know, they're American companies, the tech companies that you're talking about. They're not my favorite people because they're not exactly for me, but that's OK. I don't care. They're American companies. And we want to tax American companies, Phil. That's important. We want to tax them. That's not for somebody else to tax them.

And as the president knows, we taxed wine and we have other taxes scheduled. But we'd rather not do that. But that's the way it would work.

So it's either going to work out or we'll work out some mutually beneficial tax. And the tax will be substantial. And I'm not sure it's going to come to that, but it might.

QUESTION: Mr. President, has France given (inaudible) when it comes to taking back foreign fighters in Syria?

TRUMP: Well, I haven't asked that to the president today. I have over the period of time.

We have a tremendous amount of captured fighters, ISIS fighters, over in Syria. And they're all under lock and key. But many are from France, many are from Germany, many are from U.K.

[09:40:00]

They're mostly from Europe. And some of the countries are agreeing. I have not spoken to the president about that.

Would you like some nice ISIS fighters?

(CROSSTALK)

TRUMP: I can give them to you. You can take every one you want.

MACRON: Let's be (ph) serious. The very large number of fighters you have on the ground are ISIS fighters coming from Syria, from Iraq and the region. It is true that you have foreign fighters coming from Europe, but this is a tiny minority of the overall problem (ph) we have in the region. And I think number one priority, because it's not finished, is to get rid of ISIS and these terrorist groups. This is our number one priority.

And it's not yet done. I'm sorry to say that. You have -- you still have fighters in this region, in Syria and now in Iraq, and more and more. And for the whole destabilization of the region, makes the situation more difficult to fix the situation against ISIS.

Second, some of these foreign fighters are being kept (ph) in Iraq because of the (inaudible) in this very region. And we would have a case-by-case approach. We have an humanitarian approach for children (inaudible), and we will have a case-by-case approach.

But for me, the very first objective in the region is to finish war against ISIS. And -- and don't make any mistake: Your number one problem are not the foreign fighters. This is the ISIS fighters in the region. And you have more and more these fighters due to the situation today.

TRUMP: This is why he's a great politician, because that was one of the greatest non-answers I've ever heard.

(LAUGHTER)

And that's OK.

MACRON: Because sometimes there are -- there -- you can have some temptation (ph) from the U.S. side -- I don't say about President Trump, but could be the press -- to say this is European responsibility. I'm sorry to say that.

We have some of our people. But if you don't look at the reality of the situation that is number one, not to be ambiguous with these groups. This is why we started to discuss about our relations with Turkey. But I think any ambiguity with Turkey vis-a-vis these groups (inaudible) to everybody of the situation on the ground.

TRUMP: France has actually taken back some fighters. But we have a lot of fighters. We've captured a lot of people.

And we have captured a hundred percent of the caliphate, but you know that that means that it still -- they keep going and going. We sent a small contingent in, and we went down another portion of ISIS. We don't want to happen to me what happened with President Obama, where it re-formed and then it became stronger than it was in the first place. So we don't want that to happen.

And as I said before, we've taken the oil. We have the oil. So we have total control of the oil so that they're not going to be able to use that. They use that oil to really -- to fuel up their wealth, to fuel up their -- their money. That was their primary source of income.

And they get (ph) contributions. So we have now lists of where these contributions come from, which is very important. You have people contributing, if you can believe it. Some of these people are wealthy people that make contributions.

And we have lists of where -- we learned a lot. You know, when we got al-Baghdadi, that was a great get. And when we killed him, we have a lot of information that I'm revealing now for the first time, but we also got a lot of good information.

So a lot of things are happening. And France has been very helpful, I have to say that. They've been very, very helpful, OK?

Go ahead. Any other questions, please?

QUESTION: (UNTRANSLATED)

MACRON: Christians the city asked this morning as you know with much pragmatism and with the desire to progress on subjects, what are the interest of France and European position? I (inaudible) with the concern on having - of having an amicable and constructive relationship with the United States.

We talked about NATO and I stated what was our position. And it assumed because we are in a state of operation clarity. It was mentioned yesterday about digital tax and things were very clear. The first is, why we reach this situation, because today we have digital companies regardless of their nationality who compete and 14 points less, so it's not fair.

[09:45:00]

We have on the basis of the proposal, the European commission, a digital tax doesn't affect American companies. It allows to correct this gap, this unfair gap. France did so with other countries, let's say, my first question is, what will happen for the UK that pays that pays the same tax? Italy, Spain who have themselves did it on the proposal of the commissions if we series (ph) all these countries better be treated in the same way when a phase that is about to start, about discussions. It would take place over the next few weeks.

And with President Trump, I think we can settle - sort out the situation. The previous situation is to have a truly unilateral tax that allows not to make any distinction. We shall see in our talks over the next few weeks but I've got the impression that France.

And so the commission expressed itself this morning to provide its support and Europe, there must be an escalation and I'm sure that a solution will be found together. So, it's not up to me to comment on such and such a proposal. But on my side I'm determined to defend the interest of our friends, and Europe's interest with the greatest friendship of the United States and on the level of freedom, also.

TRUMP: And I largely agree with that answer. I just have to say, though, you know, I came into a position where the European Union was making anywhere from $100 billion to $150 billion a year in deficits to the United States. They were making it, we were losing it. And so we had to do something that is fair. Not severe; I think fair. We're losing tremendous amounts of money. As you know, the European Union is very strong on barriers; "barriers" meaning certain of our products can't come in, including agricultural product. It just can't come in. We can't sell it. And yet the European Union sells openly to the United States, and generally untaxed or taxed at a low level. So these are problems that we're talking about. These are problems that we're working out.

And, you know, the digital tax is the least of it. I inherited a situation where the European Union -- which was formed partially for this reason. I guess, for a lot of reasons it was formed, but partially to make better or take advantage of the United States, and they've done that very brilliantly. And, frankly, it's not right.

So I've exposed it. A lot of people didn't know it. And we're doing things about it. We have no choice because the United States can't continue to lose the kind of money that they've lost over the last, literally, since the formation of the European Union.

And I think we'll work something out. They want to talk, as you know. The new head wants to talk, who's supposed to be very respected woman, very highly respected. And I look forward to meeting her. They want to meet.

But we have a very unfair trade situation where the U.S. loses a lot of money for many, many years with the European Union, billions and billions of dollars. I mean, to be specific, over $150 billion a year. So we don't want to be doing that.

And we -- we can make a deal. We could take a harsh approach. We can solve that problem instantaneously if we wanted to, but I don't want to do that. These are friends of ours. These are people that we've had very extraordinary relationships with, and I do personally. And I'm sure we can work something out.

QUESTION: You mentioned the earlier the Iran protests. Does the United States support these protesters in Iran?

TRUMP: I don't want to comment on that, but the answer's no. But I don't want to comment on that.

QUESTION: Mr. President, on Turkey, President Macron has said he wanted the United States to do more to standing up to President Erdogan to -- and clarifying the terms of that relationship. Are you supportive of those efforts by other NATO allies, or are you standing in the way of them?

TRUMP: Well, I can only say we have a very good relationship with Turkey and with President Erdogan. I do. I -- I can't speak for the president of France. I mean, I -- we have a very good relationship.

We pulled our soldiers out and we said, "You can patrol your own border now. I don't care who you do it with, but we're not going to have soldiers patrolling the border that's been fought over for 2,000 years." But we took our soldiers out. We put some of those soldiers around the oil, where we've captured the oil and taken the oil, and we have the oil. But we've -- and we've brought some home, and we will be bringing some home, and we've sent some to other areas.

OK?

[09:50:00]

QUESTION: Sir?

TRUMP: But -- but we have a very good relationship with Turkey.

QUESTION: Mr. President...

MACRON: And just to be -- to be clear, we have a lot of cooperations with Turkey, on security and trade and migration and (inaudible) agenda with the European Union and France.

I do respect all leaders, whatever they can say, even bad things about myself. I can respect (inaudible) with anybody. But now it's a question for this NATO summit, I think we need clarification from the Turkish side. This is not (inaudible) and what they are doing. But I -- I do believe at least we have two clarifications to be asked.

How is it possible to be a member of the alliance, to work with our office, to buy our (inaudible), to be integrated and to buy the S-400 from Russians? Technically, it is not possible. Some clarification is to be provided by the Turkish president, as far as he wants to be part.

Second, I understand from Turkey that they want to block all the declarations of the summit if we do not agree about their definition of terrorist organizations, qualifying YPG and the others as terrorist groups, which is not our definition.

These two points have to be clarified if they want to -- to be a serious member of the alliance, I think so.

QUESTION: Mr. President, have you...

TRUMP: This is really why we're having meetings. Those are our points. And we'll be discussing that with the president today.

Yes?

QUESTION: Mr. President, will you issue sanctions on Turkey over their purchase of the S-400 missile system?

TRUMP: We're looking at it now and we're talking about it now.

As you know, Turkey wanted to buy our Patriot system and the Obama administration wouldn't let them. And they only let them when they were ready to buy another system, which is not the same system.

But Turkey, for a long period of time, wanted very much to buy the Patriot system, which is our system, which is what NATO uses, which is a great system, which is the best system. But they wouldn't sell it to Turkey. So, you know, there are two sides to the story, I have to say this. But we will be discussing that with Turkey in a little while. We'll be meeting with Turkey in a little while, and also tomorrow.

(CROSSTALK)

MACRON: But to be clear about this point and for you to have a fuller view, they were discussing with Europe (inaudible) SAMP/T, and we accepted to sell the SAMP/T to them. So the -- the sequence is not due, and one our persons explained, by the refusal a few years ago of the Americans not to sell the Patriot. It's their own decision, even having a European option totally compliant with NATO. So they decided not to be compliant with NATO.

QUESTION: Mr. President, Prime Minister Johnson, I believe, is organizing some sort of discussion later today about the Syria conflict. Are you going to take part in that and meet with him? And if not, why?

TRUMP: Are you talking about Ambassador Johnson?

QUESTION: Boris Johnson, the prime minister.

TRUMP: Oh. I thought you were talking about Woody Johnson.

QUESTION: No.

TRUMP: I said, well, he's really risen rapidly, Woody.

(LAUGHTER)

Where is Woody? Is he here?

He's not here. This is his house. I can't believe he's not here.

Yes, we'll be meeting with Prime Minister Johnson in a little while. I'll be seeing him later on. We're going over to Number 10, which is a very exciting place to be, as you know. And we'll be discussing a lot of different things, yes.

QUESTION: And one other related question, the London Bridge attack from a few days ago: Do you have any comment here your first day?

TRUMP: No, I don't have a comment on the London Bridge attack, other than to say that I was very proud of those people that grabbed him and did such a good job, between the fire extinguishers and whatever else. It was an amazing job they did.

And he was very violent. You could see that. I mean, this was captured very much on tape.

I think the -- the way the -- I think they were British citizens. The way they stepped up was incredible. That was really great.

So a terrible thing, terrible attack. A lot of people very badly hurt. I believe three or four were killed. Is it four now today? So it's terrible. It's a terrible thing. And I know it's an act of terrorism; it's been declared an act of terrorism. Radical Islamic terrorism, by the way. And it's very bad, very bad.

But I think the way they stepped up, to me, that was something very special. OK?

QUESTION: Mr. Trump, a question on Russia. Mr. Macron says that Russia shouldn't be designated as -- as an adversary of NATO. Do you agree with that? Do you think Russia is the enemy?

And, Mr. Macron, who is the enemy today?

[09:55:00]

TRUMP: I don't think he does feel that. I think we get along with Russia. I think we can get along with Russia, I think you feel we can get along with Russia. We've discussed that before.

But certainly we have to be prepared. Whether it's Russia or somebody else, we have to be prepared.

But he and I have a pretty similar view on that. I think we feel that we can get along with Russia, and I think it's a good thing to get along with Russia. And I campaigned on it. I mean, I'd go into big stadiums, people like it. And I think the Russian people would like to see it too. A lot of -- a lot of good can come out of it.

But the purpose of NATO is that, but the purpose of NATO can be much more. And that's where we're showing the flexibility over the last period of two years.

TRUMP: OK?

MACRON: It's organized to face up to challenges today when they look at the new historical situation and also our geography. I - the cyber attacks on the - and the Ukrainian crisis is the status quo the best of options? No, I believe not.

We must commit a procedure with methods and preconditions to progress on the Ukrainian conflict which we'll do in Paris on the 9th of December on the Normandy format to make progress on Ukraine and Russia to be able to defend a schedule, an agenda where European's and the member's of the alliance define the procedures. The definitions of joint threads with Russia - and escalation it will take time.

But I think if we on the one hand want stability in Europe and reduce conflict it is important to have a strategic dialog with Russia. We must do so without naivety. And the weight of history that it's a European country and having a lot of empathy for this country with regards to the Baltic states, (inaudible), and a few others.

We know that it is to protect ourselves against potential aggression. And in that frame work we must show full visibility on the protection that the alliance and Europe in this direction must - and France will play its full part. Finally, if I think there is one joint enemy, it is terrorism.

International terrorism and Islamic terrorism inparticular, let's be clear over that, which leads us to act together in the lavant within the context of an international coalition, which is under U.S. responsibility. But NATO is committed as you know France is present and also that forces us to act in this (inaudible). 3

Mr. President, we see that you're determined - that you appear isolated on the European - because of your attitude towards Russia and you can't have a strong European defense and be a member of NATO, a lot of people can say you can have your cake and eat it, but how - with a complicated political situation with Germany and your neighbors, it's not a cake an eat it, it's a cheesecake.

It's a fact that a strong European defense that can reduce the American participation, a position which is very clear, which is legitimate that the United States as of today want to protect Europe and settle conflicts between neighboring countries. You must invest more. And so we're not in a situation as at the end of the Second World War when Europe was disarmed. And when part of European did not want re-armenment and our mentality was built over decades and it wasn't - the times have changed. It wasn't military sovereignty, there isn't a war saw pact. But a wall has fallen and also on the part of the United States - responsibility. I'm not as pessimistic as you, the last two years we've progressed strengthened operation, European defense front.

[09:59:00]