Out of town travel pool report #8 — POTUS chats with military members

POTUS says he has yet to eat his turkey dinner but tells the military members, “You can ask me any damn question you want.”

Now the service members on the screens are speaking to him, praising him, telling stories, and asking a few questions.

One military leader tells POTUS that illegal border crossings are at historic lows. POTUS was pleased that the man used his preferred term, “Gulf of America.”

A Marine speaking from Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico, spoke about some recent strikes and how the marines and sailors can support the president’s operation against narcoterrorists.

Another talked about reinforcing the embassy in Haiti and providing humanitarian support in Jamaica.

One woman asked what was the most memorable obstacle or hardship POTUS encountered in his life and how it shaped him into the leader he is today. He answered that it would probably be the “weaponization” of government against him “by my opponent” (meaning the previous president). He called it “a disgrace to our nation” and said “it’s being looked at very strongly.”

He said: “I was fighting for you, not just for myself.”

At the mention of Space Force, POTUS perked up, referring to it as “my baby.” He then claimed Biden wanted to “terminate” his baby because he somehow thought Space Force was “funny” but not it in a good way.

Trump said that the future of Space Force is “unlimited” and that Space Force members are just at the beginning of their powers.

Earlier, POTUS mused that Tom Cruise may be the last true movie star — unless you count Sylvester Stallone.

POTUS wrapped up his conversation with the military members at 7:14.

Shawn McCreesh

White House correspondent

The New York Times

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