Out of town pool report #8 – gaggle and wheels down

AF1 was wheels up from PBI at 7:00pm and is wheels down at Joint Base Andrews at 8:48pm.

The president came back to the press cabin at 7:41 and stayed until 8:18. He was wearing a dark suit and a gold tie. Secretary Howard Lutnick and Senator Lindsey Graham were with him. The president also mentioned that Stephen Miller was on the plane.

The gaggle was streamed, so check exact quotes there. Here’s a partial transcript:

FIRST HALF OF GAGGLE:

• Can you detail the operation?

“It was a very dangerous operation”

“It was amazing that we had a few injured”

“Amazing talent and tremendous patriotism, bravery”

“They got off the helicopter and the bullets were flying”

• Have you spoken to Delcy Rodríguez?

“We’re dealing with the people who just got sworn in”

“Don’t ask me who’s in charge because I’ll give you an answer….” What does that mean? “It means we’re in charge”

“No, I haven’t” spoken to Rodriguez. He says “She’s cooperating,” and the administration didn’t offer her anything in return.

[Venezuela] “It’s a dead country right now”

“If I had lost the election we would’ve been a dead country. We would’ve been Venezuela on steroids.”

“We’re going to have to have big investments by the oil companies to bring back the infrastructure”

• How soon an election could take place?

“I think we’re looking more at getting it ready for us because it’s a mess.”

“Even if it was badly run it should have more income, more oil than what they produce”

“We’re not going to invest anything. We’re gonna just take care of the country. We’re going to cherish the people”

Says he’s spoken with “all of them” [oil companies] “before and after” the operation took place.

“They want to go in, and they’re going to do a great job for the people of Venezuela”

“We’ll have elections at the right time”

• Question on his past statements against nation building?

“This isn’t a country that’s on the other side of the world.”

• US plan for Cuba?

“Now they won’t have that money coming in” from Venezuela

• What’s the line on Iran?

“We’re watching it very closely. If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard”

Sen. Graham referred to last January as “the biggest comeback ever” and the president interjected: “you think so? I didn’t feel it was a comeback.”

The president said “we did three over the last few days,” referring to “knocking out a boat” in the Caribbean.

• On Mexico:

“We had to do the sea before we did the land”

“Mexico has to get their act together, because they’re pouring through Mexico” (drugs)

• On Claudia Sheinbaum:

“I think she’s a terrific person. I would say every single time I talk to her I offer to send troops.”

Second half of gaggle and Otter link to come. Thanks to co poolers for the help with audio and transcribing.

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Sophie Hills, staff writer

The Christian Science Monitor

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