WH Pool Report 5 - POTUS on ACA subsidies, Ukraine, Venezuela, Kennedy Center, EO, Etc

HHS Sec. Kennedy said the use of marijuana, “is a question, a scientific question, that has divided our country for many, many years, and there are valid claims on both sides.” He went on to say they haven't been able to study evidence “because we have not been able to do scientific studies.”

Trump signed the EO at 2:05p. The president said he liked his signature. “That’s a good one,” he remarked.

Some quotes, please check before using:

Asked if he will intervene with ACA subsidies going up, or they will skyrocket: “They will skyrocket because it was never any good…It is virtually unaffordable for people. It's a bad thing. We can have a great thing. Let the money go directly to the people and let them buy their own health care….”

Asked if he wants congress to extend subsidies:

“I’d like to get right into this and ask Oz this question in particular. But I'd like to see us get right into this. I don't know why we have to extend this. Could be done rapidly, if the Democrats would come along. We have a problem. The insurance companies own the Democrat Party. They own it, and the Democrats having a hard time. They give a lot of money to the Democrats….”

Asked about the Fed chair interviews, what he thinks of Waller: “He’s fantastic.” Trump said he he’s talking to 3 or 4. He met with Waller yesterday. He later said he will announce his decision in the next few weeks but he wasn’t sure if by the end of the year.

The renaming of the Kennedy Center to Trump Kennedy Center today: “Well, I was honored by the board. Is a very distinguished board, most distinguished people in the country. And I was surprised by it. I was honored by it. You know, we're saving the building. We saved the building. The building was in such bad shape, both physically, financially and every other way. And now it's very solid, very strong….”

On if he will ask for authorization from Congress for any land attacks on drug cartels in Venezuela:

“I wouldn't mind telling them, but it's not a big — I don't have to tell them. It's been proven, but I wouldn't, I wouldn't mind at all. I just hope they wouldn't leak it. You know, people leak it. They are politicians, and they leak like a sieve, but I have no problem.”

On critiques Marijuana EO may lead to normalization of drug use: “Well, I think I'd let one of the doctors respond to it, because they can do it a lot better than me. But I can only tell you that when you see polls 82% of the people want this….”

Dr. Oz: “My answer is, we have had cannabis scheduled for how long, and it hasn't protected neither the adolescents nor the adults. We have 20 million people in the United States with a cannabis use disorder. This is not legalizing...”

On meeting on Ukraine this weekend in FL: “Well, they're getting close to something, but I hope Ukraine moves quickly. I hope Ukraine moves quickly because Russia is there…”

On a Netanyahu visit to MAL: “We haven't set it up formally, but I’d like to see him…”

Message for NC rally: “We've had tremendous success. We're bringing prices down. We inherited a mess, and part of what we inherited was the worst inflation in 48 years. I say history, but we had the worst inflation to draw prices up, and now we're bringing those prices down. I'll be talking about that. I'll be talking about the fact that we secured the border where literally nobody can come into our country illegally anymore...”

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Meridith McGraw

WHITE HOUSE REPORTER

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