In-town pool report #4 - quotes

The pool entered the Oval Office at 11:01 and departed at 12:17.

The first 34 minutes were devoted to maternal health. At 11:35, he began taking questions from the pool after announcing earlier that he would have to make the event short because he was “being waited on by a large group of generals” to discuss Iran.

In the Q&A: He said Iran’s response “was unacceptable.” He said that Iran “was defeated,” and objected to those who question if he has a plan. “I have a plan: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.” He said the U.S. blockade “was a part of military genius.” And he said with the war, “We’re doing a service to the world… We’re going to have a complete victory.” Contending that iran has “no Navy, no air force, no anti-aircraft… no radar” and that “their leaders died,” he said their response was “a stupid proposal.” He again blasted what he called “the Obama deal.”

He separated the Iranian leadership into two parts: “You have the moderates and you have the lunatics.” He likened that to American leadership, saying his domestic opponents are “stupid people.” Returning to Iran, he said the moderates are “dying to make a deal.” He then talked about the Kurds, saying, “The Kurds disappointed us” and said he was right in the beginning to doubt that they would play a role in the war. “I like to be right.”

On the Iranian response, he said it was “the weakest piece of garbage.” And he said “the ceasefire is on massive life support.”

Asked what he expects to get out of his China summit, he talked about his close relationship with Xi, saying “I respect him a lot.” He then veered back onto Iran, talking about he had been willing to see the stock market dip because of the war. “I was willing to take a bullet,” he said, then laughing about using the phrase since he has been shot at.

He promised to bring Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong businessman and newspaper owner, and another political prisoner “both home.” He said he will raise their plight to Xi. “Somebody has to ask them. Biden never asked.” He then mused about how it is tough for a leader to go to bat to free someone who has criticized them. “If Comey ever went to jail, would I let him out? Hmmm. That would be a tough one for me.”

He said Taiwan “always comes up” in his talks with Xi, noting that Xi brings it up, not him. He said the issue is more relevant for Xi because Taiwan is 9,500 miles from the United States and “67 miles” from Xi. “A little bit different.” He marveled that Xi runs such a big country with “a pretty iron fist,” adding, “I look forward to being there.”

Both he and Robert Kennedy Jr. denied that staffing cuts in any way slowed the CDC response to the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship. Kennedy said CDC had teams on the case “on Day One.”

To a last question about health care, the president, only a month away from turning 80, described himself, saying, “I’m one of the young ones…I feel the same way I did 50 years ago.’ He added, “It’s not because I eat the best foods… Maybe junk food is the best food.” He then mused about how he has friends who assiduously watch their diets and exercise and find themselves feeling less well than he does.

Before he took questions, he sat at his desk and read an announcement about what he called a fertility benefit option. “It’s a big deal,” he said, likening the new program to vision or dental benefits. He joked, “I became the father of fertility” by paying attention to the issue in the campaign. Alabama Sen. Katie Britt interjected, “You stepped in and saved the day.” The president said the new program will be “a major help to millions of American moms.”

He complained that “the fake news” does not talk enough about this or about the help his administration is providing mothers or about his TrumpRX website. He then asked Dr. Oz to confirm that it was not the president who named the site. Still, he said, “The fake news doesn’t write about it.”

Oz – who talked about a new moms.gov website— Britt and Kennedy were among the 12 people arrayed behind the president.

The president also spoke about winning 80 percent in rural areas and complained about his critics suffering from Trump derangement syndrome. He said he will start asking for the opposite of what he wants to trick those with TDS into supporting him. “I’m going to propose something the opposite of what I want.. I do not want to build a wall.” He added that “TDS is actually a disease.”

Initially when those behind him spoke, the president frequently shut his eyes but then would react to what was said and often engaged vigorously with the others.

At one point, talking about his first term, he said “I was the hunted then… by some very bad people. Now, I am the hunter.” He then said he refers to Democrats as “Dumbocrats.” “They are dumb. They are dumb people.” He also expressed his concern about a growth in cases of autism. Without some changes, he said, “every person around is going to have autism… it has spiked so much over the last ten years.”