KRISTEN WELKER:
This Sunday: my exclusive interview with President Trump as he marks 100 days in office.
KRISTEN WELKER:
When does it become the Trump economy?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
It partially is right now. I think the good parts are the Trump economy and the bad parts are the Biden economy.
KRISTEN WELKER:
On his handling of the economy and what his tariffs will mean for consumers.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I'm just saying they don't need to have 30 dolls. They can have three. They don't need to have 250 pencils. They can have five.
KRISTEN WELKER:
How his immigration policy plans are clashing with the courts.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Don't you need to uphold the constitution of the United States as president?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I don't know.
KRISTEN WELKER:
And his vision to expand U.S. territory.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Would you rule out military force to take Canada?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, I - I think we're not going to ever get to that point. It could happen. Something could happen with Greenland. I'll be honest.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Plus, a behind the scenes look inside Mar-a-Lago and how he wants to bring the feel of his private club to the White House.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
It'll be a world-class, beautiful ballroom.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Joining me for insight and analysis are: NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Peter Alexander; NBC News Chief International Correspondent Keir Simmons; Symone Sanders Townsend, former Chief Spokeswoman for Vice President Kamala Harris; and Marc Short, former Director of Legislative Affairs for President Trump. Welcome to Sunday and a special edition of Meet the Press.
ANNOUNCER:
From NBC News in Washington, the longest-running show in television history, this is a special edition of Meet the Press with Kristen Welker.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Good Sunday morning. In his first 100 days in office, President Trump has signed more than 140 executive orders, and has focused on everything from the border to tariffs to foreign policy. He has pushed the limits of his executive power, clashed with courts and disrupted the global world order. I sat down with President Trump on Friday at his private club in Florida, Mar-A-Lago, for a wide-ranging interview. We started our conversation on one of the top issues on the minds of Americans.
[BEGIN TAPE]
KRISTEN WELKER:
I want to start on the economy, sir, which obviously – obviously the biggest issue for voters. We got new numbers today, better than expected job numbers.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Much better.
KRISTEN WELKER:
At the same time, the economy shrank in the first quarter. You've been arguing all week that this is President Biden's economy. Is this now your economy, sir?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, I think certain aspects of it are. Costs are. I was able to get down the costs. But even that, it takes a while to get them down, but we got them down good. We lost 5 to 6 billion dollars a day with Biden. Five to 6 billion. And I've got that down to a great number right now in a very – in a record time. You know, we're talking about 100 days. But just think of what that is. Five billion dollars a day we're losing on trade. And we were very tough with China, as you know. We put 145% tariff on. Nobody's ever heard of such a thing. And we've essentially cut off trade relationships by putting that much of a tariff on. And that's okay. We've gone cold turkey. That means that we're not losing. You know, we lost a trillion dollars to China. A trillion dollars. That means we're not losing a trillion dollars when we go cold turkey because we're not doing business with them right now. And they want to make a deal. They want to make a deal very badly. We'll see how that all turns out, but it's got to be a fair deal.
KRISTEN WELKER:
When does it become the Trump economy?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
It partially is right now. And I really mean this. I think the good parts are the Trump economy and the bad parts are the Biden economy because he’s done a terrible job. He did a terrible job on everything, from his autopen – which I'm sure he knew nothing about, some of the things he was supposedly signing.
KRISTEN WELKER:
But, sir, you acknowledge when you announced your tariffs, for example, the stock market dropped. It's been volatile. It has –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well –
KRISTEN WELKER:
– since gone up.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
– it is, but now it's –
KRISTEN WELKER:
Do you take responsibility –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Look at today. I take responsibility.
KRISTEN WELKER:
– for that? Yeah. Do you take responsibility when it drops?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Ultimately, I take responsibility for everything. But I've only just been here for a little more than three months. But the stock market, look at what's happened in the last short period of time. Didn't it have nine or ten days in a row, or 11 days, where it's gone up? And the tariffs have just started kicking in. And we're doing really well. Psychologically, I mean, the fake news was giving me such press on the tariffs. The tariffs are going to make us rich. We're going to be a very rich country.
KRISTEN WELKER:
So let's talk about the tariffs. And I want to ask you about something you said this week. Got a lot of attention. You were at your Cabinet meeting. You said, quote – I'm going to quote what you said – "Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls. And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally." Are you saying that your tariffs will cause some prices to go up?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
No. I think tariffs are going to be great for us because it’s going to make us rich.
KRISTEN WELKER:
But you said some dolls are going to cost more.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Sure.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Isn't that an acknowledgment –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I don't think –
KRISTEN WELKER:
– that some prices –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
– children –
KRISTEN WELKER:
– will go up?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I don't think that a beautiful baby girl needs – that's 11 years old – needs to have 30 dolls. I think they can have three dolls or four dolls because what we were doing with China was just unbelievable. We had a trade deficit of hundreds of billions of dollars with China.
KRISTEN WELKER:
When you say, "They could have three dolls instead of 30 dolls," are you saying you're –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I'm saying they don't need to have 30 dolls –
KRISTEN WELKER:
– that Americans could see empty store shelves?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
No. No, I'm not saying that. I'm just saying they don't need to have 30 dolls. They can have three. They don't need to have 250 pencils. They can have five.
KRISTEN WELKER:
But you're basically saying there could be some supply shortages –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I'm basically saying –
KRISTEN WELKER:
– because of the tariffs.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
– we don't have to waste money on a trade deficit with China for things we don't need, for junk that we don't need.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Well, prices are already going up on some popular items –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa.
KRISTEN WELKER:
– from tires to strollers –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Whoa, whoa. This is such a dishonest interview already.
KRISTEN WELKER:
No, no.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Prices are down on groceries. Prices are down for oil. Prices are down for all energy. Prices are down at tremendous numbers for gasoline. And let me tell you, when you have – the big thing, what he did, he spent like a stupid person, which he was. But he spent like a very stupid person. And that was bad for inflation. But what really killed us with inflation was the price of energy. It went up to $3.90, even $4. And in California, $5 and $6. Right? Okay. I have it down to $1.98 in many states right now. When you go that much lower on energy – which is ahead of my prediction because I really thought I could get it down into the $2.50s – we have it down at $1.98 in numerous places. But when you say costs are going up, even mortgage rates are going down. You know, we have mortgage rates –
KRISTEN WELKER:
But let me give you some examples. These are – I mean, these are actual examples. So you're saying the prices that are going down. Some prices are going up. Tires, strollers, some clothing in the wake of your tariffs –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Excuse me. That's peanuts compared to –
KRISTEN WELKER:
Well –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
– energy. Energy is 60% of the cost.
KRISTEN WELKER:
But, sir, you campaigned –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Energy is a big –
KRISTEN WELKER:
– on a promise to bring prices down on day one.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, I don't know, when you say strollers are going up, what kind of a thing? I'm saying that gasoline is going down. Gasoline is thousands of times more important than a stroller or some place?
KRISTEN WELKER:
But what do you say to Americans who say they voted for you because they want and they need relief right now?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
And they're getting it.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Right now? What about those –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Even mortgage rates. It was just announced –
KRISTEN WELKER:
– different items I just mentioned?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
– mortgage rates are going down, despite the fact that we have a stubborn Fed.
KRISTEN WELKER:
But you said dolls – even dolls could cost a couple bucks more.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Maybe they might. But you don't need to have, as I said, 35 dolls. You can have two, three, four, and save a lot of money. We don't need to feed the beast.
KRISTEN WELKER:
I guess – you're talking about this transition cost. How long should people expect that transition to last, Mr. President?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I can't tell you that. I can tell you that we're making a lot of money. We're doing great. Again, we were losing more than $5 billion a day. $5 billion a day. You don't talk about that. And right now, we're going to be at a point very soon where we're making money every day. Look –
KRISTEN WELKER:
How soon?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
– we were losing hundreds of billions of dollars with China. Now we're essentially not doing business with China. Therefore, we're saving hundreds of billions of dollars. Very simple.
KRISTEN WELKER:
You take me to my next question, which is about China. They've been making a number of public statements.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Very positive statements in the last 24 hours.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Well, and most recently, they said before talks could happen, the U.S. would need to remove unilateral tariffs. Would you consider dropping the tariffs to get China to the negotiating table?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
No. They – first of all, you're giving me a statement that was said a week ago. You're not giving the statement that was said today.
KRISTEN WELKER:
I have May 2nd, Chinese Commerce Ministry.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Do you know what they say today?
KRISTEN WELKER:
"If the U.S. wants to negotiate, it should show sincerity –"
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
"We're looking forward – "
KRISTEN WELKER:
" – by preparing to take actions in correcting its mistakes and canceling the unilateral tariffs."
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
No, no, no. They made – first of all, they made numerous statements.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Yes. They've made numerous statements.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
You know how many people speak for China?
KRISTEN WELKER:
Yes.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
It's like, you have 15 different –
KRISTEN WELKER:
They've made numerous statements –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I can give you a statement for any occasion.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Yes. Yes, yes.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
But they said today they want to talk. Look, China – and I don't like this. I'm not happy about this. China's getting killed right now. They're getting absolutely destroyed. Their factories are closing. Their unemployment is going through the roof. I'm not looking to do that to China. Now, at the same time, I'm not looking to have China make hundreds of billions of dollars and build more ships and more army tanks and more airplanes.
KRISTEN WELKER:
So you're not prepared – just to be very clear, you're not dropping the tariffs against China to get them to the negotiating table?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Why would I –
KRISTEN WELKER:
Those tariffs are staying on?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Why would I do that?
KRISTEN WELKER:
Would you lower them?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
At some point, I'm going to lower them because otherwise, you could never do business with them. And they want to do business very much. Look, their economy is really doing badly. Their economy is collapsing.
KRISTEN WELKER:
So small businesses say they are being hurt by the Chinese tariffs. And some could be forced to shut down.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
And many businesses are being helped.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Are you considering –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Look at the automobile –
KRISTEN WELKER:
– tariff relief for small businesses?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Why do you always mention that. You know, you pick up a couple of little businesses. What about the car business? They're going to make a fortune because of the tariffs. Do you know that the union, the head of the union, who was no fan of mine, Fain, Shawn Fain I guess his name is, right? He didn't endorse me. The Teamsters did. A lot of people did. A lot of unions did. But he didn't. He couldn't stand me. Now he's saying, "Wow. What Trump's done for the automobile, I can't believe it." I assume he's going to probably now say – the next thing he can say is, "I endorse this guy. He's the greatest I've ever seen." He can't believe it's happened. He said, "We've been waiting 40 years for somebody to do what Trump is doing." So why don't you mention the big car industry instead of mentioning somebody that's doing strollers?
KRISTEN WELKER:
Well, I'm just asking you about small businesses. Are there any discussions about giving any relief to small businesses?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
They're not going to need it.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Okay. Are these –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
They're going to make so much money –
KRISTEN WELKER:
Are these tariffs –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
– if you build your product here. Remember, there are no tariffs if you build your product here. It's very easy. It's very simple.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Are these tariffs permanent, Mr. President?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Depends on what you're talking about. One of the things that is going to bring, and has brought – so I think we probably have close to $9 trillion of investments coming into this country. If you look at other presidents, there's never been anything like that. This is over a period of two months. You've got to give me a little break on the one month because we're three months. But, you know, let's say we had to get started. We had a lot of fake news at the beginning, so we had to beat that down. But so let's say in two months. So in just a short period of time – a matter of a couple of months – we have the largest number ever in history invested in the United States and committed. We have between, guaranteed, spoken for and people that are going to make a decision and announce it pretty soon, close to $9 trillion. We've never had anything close. Now, that's Apple building $500 billion worth of plants. They always built their plants in China. Now they're building their plants over here. That's the biggest computer company, the biggest chip company in the world. You know, the chip company from Taiwan, which is the biggest in the world, is committed for $500 billion. Another one's committed for $300 billion. We have companies, nobody's ever seen anything like it. Let me tell you the other thing, very importantly – automobile companies. Plant, after plant, after plant: Toyota, Honda, Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, I mean, nobody's ever seen anything like it. And I don't like this, but it happens to be. They're stopping work in Mexico, and they're stopping work in Canada, and they're all moving here.
KRISTEN WELKER:
This is important though. You're not taking the possibility that these tariffs could be permanent off the table – some of them?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
No, I wouldn't do that because if somebody thought they were going to come off the table, why would they build in the United States?
KRISTEN WELKER:
Let me ask you about some of what Wall Street has said. Some people on Wall Street have expressed concerns that the possibility of a recession is increasing. And I want to know what you think about that. Are you comfortable with the country potentially dipping into a recession for a period of time if you are able to achieve your long term goals?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, you know, you say some people on Wall Street say, well, I'll tell you something else. Some people on Wall Street say that we're going to have the greatest economy in history. Why don't you talk about them? Because some people on Wall Street say this is the greatest –
KRISTEN WELKER:
Well, that's what I'm getting at –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
– thing that ever happened.
KRISTEN WELKER:
That's what I'm getting at though. It's –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
There are many people –
KRISTEN WELKER:
– the same question.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Yeah. There are many people on Wall Street that say, "This is going to be the greatest windfall ever happen."
KRISTEN WELKER:
And that's my question –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Remember this –
KRISTEN WELKER:
– the long term.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Yeah.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Is it okay in the short term to have a recession?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Remember this. Look, yeah. Everything's okay. What we are – I said, this is a transition period. I think we're going to do fantastically.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Are you worried about a recession?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
No.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Okay.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
No. No. I think we're going to have the greatest economic –
KRISTEN WELKER:
I mean, are you worried it could happen? Do you think it could happen?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Anything can happen. But I think we're going to have the greatest economy in the history of our country. I think we're going to have the greatest economic boom in history.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Today's strong jobs report likely means – not clear, but likely means – the Fed is less likely to lower interest rates soon.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, he should lower them. And at some point, he will. He'd rather not because he's not a fan of mine. You know, he just doesn't like me because I think he's a total stiff. And, you know, it's just one of those things. He should lower them. And I wish the people that are on that board would get him to lower because we are at a perfect time. It's already late. But he should lower interest rates.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Do you rule out removing Fed Chair Jerome Powell?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I'm not – you know, I get to change him very quickly anyway. You know, it's in a very short period of time.
KRISTEN WELKER:
In 2026. You’re not going to remove – you don't have plans to remove him before 2026 when his time’s up?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
No, no, no. That was a total – why would I do that? I get to replace the person in another short period of time.
[END TAPE]
KRISTEN WELKER:
And when we come back, President Trump’s deportation plans have him clashing with the courts.
[BEGIN TAPE]
KRISTEN WELKER:
Don’t you need to uphold the Constitution as president of the United States?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I don’t know.
[END TAPE]
KRISTEN WELKER:
Welcome back. President Trump vowed during the campaign to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in his first few months in office, President Trump is clashing with the courts as he executes his plans.
[BEGIN TAPE]
KRISTEN WELKER:
Let's talk about the border. Let's talk about deportations. Border crossings are at their lowest level ever recorded. Is the border –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Is that good?
KRISTEN WELKER:
Is the border now secure?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Yeah, it's really secure.
KRISTEN WELKER:
It's absolutely secure?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Isn't that good, though? When you say that, doesn't that just sound good? After being abused for years by an incompetent president that allowed people to pour through an open border, criminals from all over the world, murderers and insane people from mental institutions and insane asylums, isn't it – isn’t it a beautiful thing when you say, "It's the most secure it's ever been in the history of our country.” Isn't that a nice statement?
KRISTEN WELKER:
Well, I'm curious to know what it means. You declared a national emergency on the southern border.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Yeah.
KRISTEN WELKER:
The order is still in place. Even though –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
By the way, it means exactly what you said, you know –
KRISTEN WELKER:
– you're saying the border is secure. Yes.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Means we have the most secure border we've ever had.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Well, and I guess the question becomes –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
It’s not complicated.
KRISTEN WELKER:
– when will you know that the emergency is over? Are you planning to lift it at some point? Is it necessary? Because obviously, the military's involved. Will you lift that – that emergency order, sir?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, the biggest emergency is the courts aren't allowing us to take really –
KRISTEN WELKER:
We're going to talk about that, but talk to me first about this –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, that's to me the emergency because –
KRISTEN WELKER:
Talk to me first about this, the emergency –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
The border now is not the emergency. The border is – it’s all part of the same thing though. The big emergency right now is that we have thousands of people that we want to take out, and we have some judges that want everybody to go to court –
KRISTEN WELKER:
Some of them you appointed, sir, including three on the Supreme Court.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
That's all right. I mean, you know, they change. I mean, it's unbelievable. It's unbelievable how that happens, but they do change.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Just to button this up, though, are you planning to lift that emergency order any time soon now that the border’s secure? You say the border’s secure.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
No, no, no. We have an emergency. We have a massive emergency overall. It's an overall emergency on immigration. And the – if the courts don't allow us to take people out, if we had to have a court case every single – think of it. Every single person, we have millions of people. If you have millions of court cases, figure two weeks a court case, it would be 300 years.
KRISTEN WELKER:
So let's talk about this, because obviously, you've had a back and forth with the Supreme Court. In a 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court directed your administration to facilitate the return, you've talked about this in the past, of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, from a prison in El Salvador, whose deportation your administration called an "administrative error." You said in a recent interview you could bring him back but you won't. Are you defying the Supreme Court, sir?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
No. I'm relying on the attorney general of the United States, Pam Bondi, who's very capable, doing a great job. Because I'm not involved in the legality or the illegality. I have lawyers to do that and that's why I have a great DOJ. We have a great one. We had a very corrupt one before. Now we have a great one. And they're not viewing the decision the way you said it. They don't view it that way at all. They think it's a totally different decision.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Well, you say you have the power to bring him back, though. Your attorney general says, quote, "That's up to El Salvador." Just to put a fine point on this, do you have the power to bring Abrego Garcia back as the Supreme Court has ordered?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, I have the power to ask for him to come back if I'm instructed by the attorney general that it's legal to do so. But the decision as to whether or not he should come back will be the head of El Salvador. He's a very capable man.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Well, you know, and your attorney general has said the issue is with that word "facilitate." Will you seek clarification from the Supreme Court? Do you need to go back to the Supreme Court?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
We may do that. I was asking about that. We may do that.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Your secretary of state says everyone who's here, citizens and non-citizens, deserve due process. Do you agree, Mr. President?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I don't know. I'm not, I’m not a lawyer. I don't know.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Well, the Fifth Amendment says as much.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I don't know. It seems – it might say that, but if you're talking about that, then we'd have to have a million or 2 million or 3 million trials. We have thousands of people that are some murderers and some drug dealers and some of the worst people on Earth.
KRISTEN WELKER:
But is –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Some of the worst, most dangerous people on Earth. And I was elected to get them the hell out of here and the courts are holding me from doing it.
KRISTEN WELKER:
But even given those numbers that you're talking about, don't you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States as president?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I don't know. I have to respond by saying, again, I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said. What you said is not what I heard the Supreme Court said. They have a different interpretation.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Is anyone in your administration right now in contact with El Salvador about returning Abrego Garcia to the United States?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I don't know. You'd have to ask the attorney general that question.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Let's talk about some of the other actions you've taken over the past 100 days. Last month, you directed your attorney general, Pam Bondi, to review two people who you perceive to be your political adversaries. And yet, you told me in December that you would not direct the Justice Department to investigate your political foes. What changed?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, no. I just look at people – and I'm not directing anybody. They looked at these two people. They might have known it or they might have heard it from two years ago. One person said, "He knew me so well," he was I think on CNN or MSDNC, but they're both failing networks, you're happy to know. Even though one of them I guess is related to you in one form or another, although, they're trying to cut them loose as fast as possible. But the – it was well-known that this one person, it was almost like he was my brother. I don't even know who he is. Maybe he was there. Maybe he was in the Oval Office a few times as a surrogate for somebody in some form of government, along with 25 other people that sat in the back of the room or stood in the back of the room. I have no idea who this guy is. And he's out there and then he did a book called “Anonymous.” Did a book called “Anonymous.” I think that's really subversion. I think it's spying, it's something. It's something really bad.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Well, you passed an executive order calling for your attorney general to investigate that.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
And I think he's been looked at for a long time. And the other one said that the election was so wonderful. Well, it turned out it wasn't a wonderful election. It was a corrupt election.
KRISTEN WELKER:
You said you wanted to unify the country. Does going after political foes undercut that goal?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
No, not at all. No, we want honest people.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Okay.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I think you have to do that. And we want honest people in this country.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Let me ask you big picture. People who have lived in countries like the Philippines, Hungary, Russia, they look at some of your actions – going after civil service, going after universities, law firms, the media – they say it's out of an authoritarian playbook. What do you say to those who believe you are taking the country down an authoritarian path?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, there you go again. Why don't you ask it a different way? Many people want to come into our country. Many people love Trump. I won the election. They didn't win the election. I got a lot more votes than they did. I won the popular vote. I won all seven swing states by a lot. A lot of people were surprised. They said, "I think he could win four, maybe five." No, I won all seven, and I won by a lot. And I won. Actually, I think there was a lot of hanky panky going on but it was too big to rig. That's the good news. It's too big to rig. But let me just say, so when you make these statements about, "People say this –," well, they had their chance at the election and they lost big. So you should ask the question differently –
KRISTEN WELKER:
What do you say to –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
You should say, "What about the people that want to be in this country? What about the people that love this country?"
KRISTEN WELKER:
Okay. But what do you say to – I'm asking it on behalf of those people to give you a chance to respond to them. What do you say to those people, sir?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Those people are going to be very happy. They're going to have to see some results. And I think we had a great 100 days. There are a lot of people that say it was unprecedented. It was an absolutely unprecedented 100 days. And I hope that they're going to be right.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Do you see dissent as an essential part of democracy?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
It's a part of democracy. It is. You're always going to have dissent –
KRISTEN WELKER:
Is it an important part of democracy?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
You’re always going to have – Kristen, you're always going to have dissent. There's nothing you're going to do about that. Am I going to get 100% unified? It would be a strange place. I can't even imagine it where 100%. Look. You have people that are good people. They're very smart people. And they honestly believe we should have open borders and the entire world should be allowed to pour into our country. I think it's a 95/5 issue, but they believe it. They're not even bad people. Some of them are bad. You have people that honestly believe that men should be allowed to play in women's sports. Some of these people I really, actually I don't know any. I haven't been able to find any, but they exist. They say it's an 80/20 issue. I don't believe that. I think it's a 97 to three issue.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Do you think people should have the right to criticize you without fear of reprisal?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Absolutely. Yeah, I do. That I do.
KRISTEN WELKER:
And how do you square that –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
And I think that happens.
KRISTEN WELKER:
How do you square that with the fact that you have passed these executive orders asking the attorney general to look into some of the people who've criticized you, who've been harshest against you?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I have been investigated more than any person in the history of the United States of America. I've been investigated more than the late great, as they say at my rallies, Alphonse Capone. Alphonse Capone was a nasty man. He was a – the highest level gangster. And I have been investigated more than Al Capone, more than anybody. These people are evil people. And I won. And I'll tell you what. All I want to happen is for the Department of Justice and the FBI. Pam is great and Kash is great. I think they're two great people. But they're their own people. They want to do a fantastic job. And all I want to do and all I want to ask for is that they be allowed to do their job. I'm not telling them to do anything. And I believe I have the right to do it. I'm, in theory, the top law enforcement officer as the president. We went over this once before, and it turned out I was right. But I'm not looking to use that. We have two great people, and we have many, many incredible people under them. And I just want them to do their job and do it well.
[END TAPE]
KRISTEN WELKER:
When we come back, will President Trump step down at the end of his time in office?
[BEGIN TAPE]
KRISTEN WELKER:
The Trump organization is selling hats that say, "Trump 2028." Are you seriously considering a third term?
[END TAPE]
KRISTEN WELKER:
Welcome back. On the world stage, President Trump is still working to achieve his promise to end the war in Ukraine, while also doubling down on his plans to expand U.S. influence across the globe.
[BEGIN TAPE]
KRISTEN WELKER:
Let's talk about foreign policy, sir. You just signed a minerals deal with Ukraine. It's a sign, it seems, that the United States is invested in Ukraine's future. The secretary of state told me this is a very critical week. Are you any closer to reaching a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I hope so.
KRISTEN WELKER:
How would you characterize it?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I do believe we're closer with one party, and maybe not as close with the other. But we'll have to see. I'd like to not say which one we're closer to. But we did do a deal for the American people that was good. We were able to get rare earth, you know? The Europeans are getting paid back. They have a loan. We didn’t — Biden just gave them $350 billion. He has no idea where the money is, what happened. And at least we'll, in one form or another, get our – yeah, I don't feel so foolish. And remember this, this is Biden's war. This was a war that was never going to happen if I were president. This is a horrible, horrible war. And I get to see shots of soldiers through, you know, satellite that are so, just so, terrible. 5,000 soldiers are being, look 5,000 soldiers a week on average are dying. They're not American soldiers. But I want to solve the problem. They're Russian soldiers, and they're Ukrainian soldiers. And if I can save 5,000 souls, I just love doing it.
KRISTEN WELKER:
How long do you give both countries before you're going to walk away?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, there will be a time when I will say, "Okay, keep going. Keep being stupid and keep fighting."
KRISTEN WELKER:
When does that come? Are you close to it?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Sometimes I get close to it, and then positive things happen, okay? So I hope it gets done.
KRISTEN WELKER:
What’s the red line for you? At what point do you say, "That's it, we're walking away?"
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, you'll know. I mean, there will be a time when I may say that. And if I do –
KRISTEN WELKER:
But you're not there?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
– there may be something. I can’t – maybe it's not possible to do. There's tremendous hatred, just so you understand. Kristen, we're talking tremendous hatred between these two men and between, you know, some of the soldiers, frankly. Between the generals. They've been fighting hard for three years. I think we have a very good chance of doing it.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Very quickly, if you do walk away, would that mean that you would pull military and intelligence sharing?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I don't want to say that now. It's too early to say that. I don't want to get into that argument.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Okay, let's move onto Canada. You have long talked about making Canada the 51st state. There's obviously a new prime minister of Canada, Mark Carney, who you spoke to –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Correct.
KRISTEN WELKER:
– after his victory. He says that you didn't talk to him in that call about making Canada a 51st state.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
No. He called me, he was very nice, and I congratulated him. He had a victory. It's a very close victory. You know, there's no majority or anything, so that's going to make things a little bit difficult, I think, for him to run. But he'd nevertheless had a victory. And he's a very nice man, I think.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Do you plan to talk to him about making Canada a 51st state?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
He wants to come and see me. He's going to come this week or next week.
KRISTEN WELKER:
So will you talk to him about making Canada a 51st state, annexing Canada?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I'll always talk about that. You know why? We subsidize Canada to the tune of $200 billion a year. We don't need their cars. In fact, we don't want their cars. We don't need their energy. We don't even want their energy. We have more than they do. We don't want their lumber. We have great lumber. All I have to do is free it up from the environmental lunatics. We don't need anything that they have. We’re giving them – I asked, I asked Mr. Trudeau – who I call Governor Trudeau, not Prime Minister, Governor – I said, "Governor Trudeau, could I ask you one question? Why are we giving you $200 billion? Why are we subsidizing Canada?" If Canada was a state it wouldn't cost us. It would be great. It would be such a great – it would be a cherished state. And, if you look at our map, if you look at the geography – I'm a real estate guy at heart. When I look down at that without that artificial line that was drawn with a ruler many years ago – was just an artificial line, goes straight across. You don't even realize. What a beautiful country it would be. It would be great. But, I don't think the American public wants me to pay $200 billion a year to subsidize Canada. Again, remember this, we don't need their cars, we don't need their lumber, we don't need their energy. We don't need anything. We do very little business with Canada. They do all of their business practically with us. They need us. We don't need them.
KRISTEN WELKER:
You and I talked, and I asked you if you would rule out military force to take Greenland. And you said, no, you don't rule out anything. Would you rule out military force to take Canada?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, I think we're not going to ever get to that point. It could happen. Something could happen with Greenland. I'll be honest, we need that for national and international security. But I think –
KRISTEN WELKER:
But not with Canada?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
– it's highly unlikely. I don't see it with Canada. I just don't see it, I have to be honest with you.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Okay, but you don't rule it out for Greenland?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
And by the way, Canada, they spend less money on military than practically any nation in the world. They pay NATO less than any nation. They think we are subsidizing, they think we are going to protect them, and really, we are. But the truth is, they don't carry their full share, and it's unfair to the United States and our taxpayers.
KRISTEN WELKER:
But you are not ruling out military force to take Greenland one day?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything. No, not there. We need Greenland very badly. Greenland is a very small amount of people, which we'll take care of, and we'll cherish them, and all of that. But we need that for international security.
KRISTEN WELKER:
The Trump organization is selling hats that say, "Trump 2028."
PRES. DONALD TRUMP
Yeah.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Are you seriously considering a third term, Mr. President, even though it's prohibited by the Constitution? Or is this about staying politically viable?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I will say this. So many people want me to do it. I have never had requests so strong as that. But it's something that, to the best of my knowledge, you're not allowed to do. I don't know if that's Constitutional that they're not allowing you to do it or anything else. But, there are many people selling the 2028 hat. But this is not something I'm looking to do. I'm looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican to carry it forward. But I think we're going to have four years, and I think four years is plenty of time to do something really spectacular.
KRISTEN WELKER:
The Constitution does prohibit it. Have you – some of your allies are pretty serious about this, though, Mr. President. And I've spoken to them. They say they are coming up with potential ways, obviously the biggest one would be a constitutional amendment.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
That's because they like the job I'm doing, and it's a compliment.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Has anyone in an official capacity presented you with, "Sir, here are some ideas by which you could actually get a constitutional amendment?"
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, in a capacity of being a big supporter, many people have said different things –
KRISTEN WELKER:
Okay.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
But, I'm not looking at that.
KRISTEN WELKER:
You have built a political movement that has transformed the Republican Party –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Greatest in history.
KRISTEN WELKER:
It's transformed the country –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
The greatest –
KRISTEN WELKER:
– quite frankly.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
– political movement in history, MAGA.
KRISTEN WELKER:
When you –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Make America Great Again.
KRISTEN WELKER:
When you look to the future, Mr. President, do you think the MAGA movement can survive without you as its leader?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Yes, I do.
KRISTEN WELKER:
What gives you confidence?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I think it's so strong. And I think we have tremendous people. I think we have a tremendous group of people. We talked about a number of them. You look at Marco, you look at JD Vance, who's fantastic. You look at – I could name 10, 15, 20 people right now just sitting here. No, I think we have a tremendous party. And you know what I can't name? I can't name one Democrat. I mean, I look at the Democrats, they're in total disarray. They have a new person named Crockett. I watched her speak the other day. She's definitely a low IQ person. And they said she's the future of the party. I said, "You have to be kidding." I don't know what they're going to do. And I really believe in a two-party system. I really – because it's good to be challenged. It’s really good to have a two-party – you know, it's good. Being challenged is okay. It keeps you sharp. I don't know what they're going to do. They have nobody. Bernie's 87 years old or something. And you know, Biden is the worst thing that ever happened to old people because he was grossly incompetent. And I think maybe for artificial reasons. You know, he had operations and things. So maybe that’s an artificial – but I know people that are unbelievably sharp and they're older than 87. But I watch Bernie Sanders. He's a nut job, but he's still sharp. He's sharp as – he’s the same guy he was. He hasn't gone down. But Biden is really – he’s the worst thing to happen to old people.
KRISTEN WELKER:
I know that you are only 100 days in, but as we sit here today, who do you see as your successor, Mr. President?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, I – it's far too early to say that. But you know, I do have a vice president, and typically – and JD's doing a fantastic job. It –
KRISTEN WELKER:
He would be at the top of the list?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
It – it could very well be – I – I don't want to get involved in that. I think he's a fantastic, brilliant guy. Marco is great. There's a lot of them that are great. I – I also see tremendous unity. But certainly you would say that somebody's the VP, if that person is outstanding, I guess that person would have an advantage. But I think the other people would all stay in unbelievably high positions. But you know, it could be that he'd be challenged by somebody. We have a lot of good people in this party.
[END TAPE]
KRISTEN WELKER:
And when we come back, President Trump talks about his legislative agenda, plans for a military parade and reveals how he wants to build a ballroom at the White House.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Welcome back. After our interview, President Trump gave us a rare inside look into his ornate Florida home and private club Mar-A-Lago. He shared new details with us about his grand plans for the White House, his legislative agenda and his vision for a military parade next month.
[BEGIN TAPE]
FEMALE VOICE:
Fight, fight, fight.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP:
We will. We will.
KRISTEN WELKER:
President Trump greeting supporters at an RNC fundraiser at Mar-A-Lago, showing us the main ballroom at his private club and sharing new details about the one he plans to build at the White House.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
But we are going to make and build a ballroom, which they’ve wanted for probably a hundred years at the White House. And it’ll be a world-class, beautiful ballroom.
KRISTEN WELKER:
A ballroom that could cost millions of dollars he says he will pay for himself. You will fund it?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Yeah. Yeah, I'm not going to ask the government for money. I'll fund it, and I'm sure we'll have some donations to it. But it's not an inexpensive thing. It'll cost a lot of money.
KRISTEN WELKER:
The president also told me that next month he’s planning a military parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, that also falls on his 79th birthday.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
We're going to have a big, beautiful parade.
KRISTEN WELKER:
A military parade?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Yeah, sure.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Okay.
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
We're going to celebrate our military. We have the greatest military in the world –
KRISTEN WELKER:
What's the price tag? Do you know?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Peanuts compared to the value of doing it. We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it.
KRISTEN WELKER:
As supporters snapped photos, we spoke about the future of TikTok, the president telling me he’s willing to extend the deadline for the Chinese-owned app that was banned in the U.S. Would you extend that deadline if there's still no deal? You already –
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I would.
KRISTEN WELKER:
– put one extension – you would?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Yeah, I would.
KRISTEN WELKER:
So, you’re going to – you want to see a deal?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I'd like to see it done. I have a little sweet spot in my heart because, as you know, I won young people by 36 points. That's a lot. No Republican ever won young people, and I won it by 36 points, and I focused on TikTok. So perhaps I shouldn't say this, but I have a little warm spot in my heart for TikTak (SIC). TikTok is – it's very interesting, but it'll be protected.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Finally, as we toured the club, I pressed the president on his tax cut package making its way through Congress. What happens if it comes to your desk, has the tax cuts, but also cuts to Medicaid? Would you veto that?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
Well, we're not doing that. No, we’re not –
KRISTEN WELKER:
Would you veto that?
PRES. DONALD TRUMP:
I would if they were cutting it, but they're not cutting it. They're looking at fraud, waste and abuse. And nobody minds that. If illegal immigrants are in the mix, if people that aren't supposed to be there, people that are non-citizens are in the mix, nobody minds that. Waste, fraud and abuse. But we're not cutting Medicaid, we're not cutting Medicare, and we're not cutting Social Security.
KRISTEN WELKER:
And you can watch my full interview with President Trump at MeetthePress.com. When we come back, the panel is next.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Welcome back. The panel is here: NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Peter Alexander; NBC News Chief International Correspondent Keir Simmons; Symone Sanders Townsend, former Chief Spokesperson for Vice President Harris, and co-host of The Weeknight on MSNBC; and Marc Short, former Director of Legislative Affairs for President Trump. Thanks to all of you for being here. Symone, congratulations on the new show.
SYMONE SANDERS TOWNSEND:
Thank you.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Let's start with the chiefs. Peter, let me start with you.
PETER ALEXANDER:
Hi, Chief.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Peter, you are at the White House, you're always questioning President Trump about the economy. He yet again doubled down on this message: "It's okay if there's short-term pain if there's long-term gain." Going further, though, by saying, "Yeah, there might be a short recession." What do you make of what we heard from him?
PETER ALEXANDER:
Just think about the fundamental promise of the Trump campaign. “I’m going to bring down - “ As you asked him, "I'm going to bring down prices on day one." And now consider the evolution since day one, where he said during his joint address, "There's going to be a little disturbance." He then said, "Hang tough. It may not be easy." This week he said, "There's going to be a transition period." He claims that he told Americans there would be a transition period. We looked back. He never referred to a transition period during the course of his campaign. In fact, he said, "There is not going to be a cost to you." And now he's saying, "You may not be able to get all the dolls you want, and if you do want some, they're going to cost you a little bit more." So to be clear - here he was talking about pencils today. He says he's even okay with a recession. At the bottom of the line, it's going to be hard to sell to Americans what he promised and what they're seeing right now. And I heard it from Americans. I was in Michigan this week from him, where he spent his 100 days. A first-time voter, voted for Donald Trump said, "I have some regrets about my vote. He promised prices would come down. And already I'm seeing them come up." And even a Trump voter - lifelong Democrat, came around for Donald Trump, an auto worker, union auto worker said, "You know what? For me, I'm worried about the short-term impact. I know we need to do it in the end, but in the short-term I am concerned about what its impact would be on car prices here."
KRISTEN WELKER:
Consumers saying they need relief right now, Keir, as Peter is saying. And one of the biggest flash points in this is this trade standoff with China.
KEIR SIMMONS:
Yeah, absolutely. Right.
KRISTEN WELKER:
He did not seem like he was significantly backing down –
KEIR SIMMONS:
No.
KRISTEN WELKER:
– or at least that he'd made any type of decision. And China's saying, "You got to lower - lower, at least, these tariffs if you want us to come to the negotiating table."
KEIR SIMMONS:
It's crunch time. It's crunch time in capitals around the world, not least in the battle with Beijing. And I think to Peter's point, what the president is saying when he talks about dolls and pencils is that this fight is America's fight. Now, Beijing is betting that America will not be able to significantly reduce its dependence on cheap goods from China. And you know, it's crunch time on that question of whether America has wasted its wealth on war, because it's crunch time with President Putin. President Trump, Susie Wiles have a term sheet on their desk from the Europeans and the Ukrainians, a 30-day ceasefire. The question is whether Steve Witkoff is going to be able to deliver President Putin with all of his inexperience. Here's the point, you know, the President talks about doing deals; everybody else wants a deal, too. They want their deal.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Yeah. It's such a great point, Keir. And Marc, it is crunch time for all of these deals right now. What was your takeaway from what we heard from President Trump on a range of different topics, whether it's the economy, or saying he's not sure that he has to follow the Constitution?
MARC SHORT:
Well look, Kristen, I think that there are – Symone and I were talking backstage. There was this sister interview at CNBC this week with the Director of Los Angeles Port. And he walks through the fact that this week was really the first time you have 35% reduction in the amount of goods coming to the United States. It's a matter of this week probably when you'll begin to see port workers laid off. Truckers will be having about half a delivery load. And in another couple weeks they'll have no delivery load. So you'll have truckers laid off. And it's probably about four to five weeks before shelves will begin to get empty as retailers have gone through their inventory. That is a whole different sight. And I think when you're beginning to tell Americans how many dolls they can have. I don't know if there is a restriction on what, you know, Ivanka or Tiffany could have. But I think that is sort of a, "let them eat cake" moment. And I think as well, that as far as showing how, I think, misguided this trade policy is, there's a part of your interview when you talked about Amazon and Jeff Bezos, and the president called him, and he was angry about that. Wasn't that the point of the tariffs? Wasn't the point to show that we want you to buy American? And the fact is there would be an extra amount if you're actually buying foreign goods? And so they want it both ways. They want you to buy American, but at the same time they don't want you to think there's actually an increase in costs, which of course there is.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Yeah. Symone, how are Democrats going to hear this interview? What are they going to take from it?
SYMONE SANDERS TOWNSEND:
You know, first of all, I encourage Democrats to read your entire transcript.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Thank you.
SYMONE SANDERS TOWNSEND:
I know you’re going to post it online, and see the whole interview. Because what Marc just talked about, the Amazon piece, that's not in what folks saw today. But the whole transcript will be posted online. My biggest takeaway from this is that the president did not box himself in, as he often doesn't do. He didn't give a lot of yes or no questions. I mean, even on the Fifth Amendment, honey, he's like, "Well, you know, if you give everybody due process that's a lot of trials." Well, sir, that's how it works. But the fact that he’s not - he wouldn't even say he wouldn't seek a third term. He was definitive about this economy. It's like, "Well, some goods are - the good parts are mine, the bad parts are Biden's." He is giving himself a lot of wiggle room so he can say, "Well, I never said that. I never did this." So he can be very effervescent, if you will, with what he does believe. I will note this, though. You cannot out-message what people are actually feeling and seeing in their everyday lives. When people talk about the economy, they're talking about affordability. That's what folks were going to the polls about. Affordability is housing, affordability is gas. And nowhere in this country is gas $1.98. I would like to see it. The lowest gas is $2.63 in Mississippi. Mortgage rates are going down from 6.9% to maybe 6.5%. That affordability, though, when the tariffs are still in place, you can't build housing.
KRISTEN WELKER:
That $1.98, that wholesale price that he's referencing, let's talk very quickly, rapid-fire, the politics of this. I thought it was fascinating, Peter. At the end he talked about his legacy. He talked about the future of the Republican Party. He talked about J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio.
PETER ALEXANDER:
Yeah, I was going to say, it's The Apprentice: White House edition. J.D. Vance versus Marco Rubio. He bought up Marco Rubio's name at every opportunity. That was striking to me.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Yeah, what do you make of hearing Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, who's been so involved in those negotiations you talked about?
KEIR SIMMONS:
Well, when you talk to diplomats around the world they recognize that the Secretary of State, the National Security Advisor is President Trump. In the end, they recognize that is the person you have to persuade. He can change his mind at any moment.
MARC SHORT:
I don't think there's anybody in modern American politics who can replicate the coalition that Donald Trump's put together. I think he's uniquely gifted in that, and I'm not sure that there's a successor for it. But I think he's going to test this coalition with his trade agenda.
SYMONE SANDERS TOWNSEND:
I agree with that –
KRISTEN WELKER:
Ten seconds, Symone.
SYMONE SANDERS TOWNSEND:
I think it's very clear. But also, I want people to really take a look at what he is saying about the laws. The laws are the things that hold our country together. And when you have the president that doesn’t necessarily think the Constitution - that thinks the Constitution is up for debate, I think that that is something to take a look at.
KRISTEN WELKER:
All right, guys. Great panel. Thank you so much for being here. That is all for today. Thank you for watching this very special edition of Meet the Press. We'll be back next week, because if it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
