In-town Pool #3b (some quotes from Oval bilat)

--On FSU shooting, Trump said: “I’ve been briefed on the Florida State University of Tallahassee active shooter. I guess it’s an active shooter. Fully briefed as to where we are right now. It’s a shame. Horrible thing. Horrible things like this take place. And we will have more to say about it later.”

--Asked if he can remove Jerome Powell: “I don’t think he is doing a good job&. I’m not happy with him& “ Later he said of Powell, “I think he should do the rate cuts because I think if Europe has done it, it puts us at a disadvantage here&. I think at some point he will have—he’s going to have a lot of political pressure.”

--Do you agree with the Judge Boasberg statement that “The Constitution does not tolerated willful disobedience of judicial lawyers,” he said, “Well you are going to have to talk to my lawyers. We have great lawyers. I can tell you this: We are doing a fantastic job of getting criminals out of the country.”

—On reports that he waved off an Israeli plan for a military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, “I wouldn’t say waved off. I am not in a rush to do it, because I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country. & That’s my first option. If there is a second option, I think it will be very bad for Iran. And I think Iran is wanting to talk. I hope they are wanting to talk. It is going to be very good for them if they do.”

—When asked about Zelensky being responsible for war in Ukraine. “I don’t hold Zelensky responsible but I am not exactly thrilled with the fact that that war started. That was a war that would have never started if I was president.”

—Trump announced plans to sign rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine in one week on Thursday. Bessent later said the details were still being worked out and they are aiming for April 26, which is next Saturday. Bessent said that the deal is substantially the same deal was being negotiated before, when Zelensky and Trump did not sign a memorandum of understanding, and that it is 80 pages.

--The unanswered question for Trump about ants from an Italian reporter was: “Do you ever notice when you walk if you step on ants?”

Michael Scherer

The Atlantic

XXX-XXX-XXXX