REMARKS

Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Republican Members of Congress

HEALTHCARE

Issued on: May 8, 2020

State Dining Room

1:12 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hi, everybody. Please, sit down. Get things done. Nobody gets it done like we do.

Now, I don’t know — are we letting the media in? Is the media here? I guess we have a limited media because of distancing. And some people think I did that on purpose. But we’ve been getting along with them reasonably well lately.

I just want to thank you all for coming back because you came back. This is a Republican group, largely, if not in all cases. You know, they look pretty Republican. I’m not sure about Devin. Let’s just — you’re a Republican, aren’t you? (Laughter.) No, this is a very, very Republican group. And we appreciate you coming back. Hi, Debbie.

And I just want to say a few words, and maybe we’ll say a couple of words in front of the media. We just left the most beautiful ceremony, celebrating 75 years — the V- — 75 years. And it was magnificent. It was beautiful. It was windy and beautiful. And we have a great country.

And we’re rebuilding our country. We had the greatest economy in the history of the world. No country had anywhere near us. And we had the best we’ve ever had, but we’ve had the best ever in the world. China is a very good competitor, but we were doing much better than China. And that’s before COVID, before this plague came in. We were doing much, much better than anybody. Best we’ve ever done.

And we had to close it down. It was an artificial closing. We had to just close it down. Never happened — a thing like that never happened before. We did the right thing. It’s horrible what’s happened. It should have been stopped. It should have been stopped where it came from, which was China. It could have been stopped easily and quickly. And for some reason, they were unable to do it. I think they tried, but I — it got away from them, I guess. But it’s a shame. And so many hundreds of thousands of people around the world have been killed — 184 countries.

But we’re going to build our country back, and we’re going to build it back fast. This group of people, we all did it before and we’ll do it again. We created something that has never been seen before.

And if you are somebody that likes history — and I think everyone in this room likes history; you wouldn’t be doing what you’re doing — you would see that and you would remember that this was the year that China was going to overtake us in the economy. If you go back two months, you would say that they weren’t anywhere close; that we were going to be there many years of a very — if the right person sits in this seat, it’ll never happen. If the wrong person sits in this seat, it’ll happen in a period of a few years or less. It can happen almost immediately.

So we are in a position where we have to start all over again. And we will start all over again, and we’ll build something that was even better than we had before, recognizing that so many people have died. So many people have died. That’s the one thing we can’t do anything about, unfortunately. What I can say is if we did it the different way — if we went herd, if we just said, “Let’s wing it,” we would have been talking about numbers that would have been unsustainable and unacceptable.

You look on the screens, you look on television today, and you see body bags and you see mass graves. And we may be talking about 95,000 people ultimately. We may be talking about something more than that. But if you take a low number, one and a half million — so you multiply whatever number we’re talking about times 15, it would not — it would not be acceptable. It would not. It’s not acceptable now. One person isn’t acceptable, let alone perhaps 100,000.

So, we’re going to rebuild it. We’re going to rebuild it back as fast as we can. I think we’re going to have an incredible transition. But transition leads to fourth quarter — third quarter, I call it, transition. We’ll start to see it; it’s already happening. People want to come back. I think everybody in this room realizes we have to come back; otherwise, you have a broken country. You’ll never be able to do it again; you’ll never be able to build this miracle. It’s a miracle, what we did — what all of us did and what many people before us did. You’ll never be able to build it again. The people want to come back.

You see what’s going on at statehouses all over the country; they want to come back. I think some people don’t want it really to come back for political reasons, which is sick. But the people — the real people, the people that want this country to be great and great again, we can say they want to get back. And we’re going to have embers. We’re going to have fires. We’re going to have things to put out, and we’ll put them out. We learned a lot — you know, things that we had no idea two months ago. We’ve learned a lot over the last couple of months. And we’re going to do a job like — like nobody has seen before.

{snip}

Kevin?

LEADER MCCARTHY: Well, Mr. President, I do want to say one thing. As you and the First Lady were out there honoring what transpired 75 years ago — that we had to end the tyranny of what Hitler was doing throughout Europe — we now battle something that is like a war. That — this is a virus. It came from a distant land that we did not invite.

But just as we had to transform our country then and unite, that leadership you’re providing is doing just that, as you talk about ventilators, gearing up testing more than 1.7 million in one week. The ingenuity of this country will solve this problem. And we will not just solve and get a vaccine for us, but for the rest of the world.

{snip}

THE PRESIDENT:

{snip}

Jared, you should say something because you headed up our whole ventilator problem that this country had. We — the cupboard was bare when we took it over. People don’t realize it. They don’t want to say it. But the cupboard was bare. We had nothing. And I could say that for the military, too. Dan would know that almost better than anybody. And the folks that are so much — and so well-versed on military.

But our military cupboard was bare also. We had obsolete equipment. We had old equipment. And now we have — we’ve never been in a position like this. We have the best equipment in the world, all made in the United States.

But, Jared, why don’t you give them a little — a little talk on what we did with the ventilators and how that just became such an incredible story? And we’re doing the same thing with testing, and we’re pretty close to a point where we’re equally as good.

Go ahead.

MR. KUSHNER: Yes, sir. On ventilators now, the good news is that, every day, the balance that we have in the stockpile that the country has continues to grow. Initially, it was very scary in that we had a lot of states requesting numbers that could not be supplied. And a lot of you were very helpful at getting the local hospitals in your districts to give the actual data to the federal government, because the President wanted to make sure that anybody in this country who needed a ventilator would get a ventilator.

He saw what was happening in Italy, where people were dying in hospitals and not able to get the care they needed. And the President said, “I don’t want that to happen in America. Deploy every resource that we have, get all the intel we have, and let’s do our best to try to make it work.” And we were able to make it work thanks to your leadership.

{snip}

REPRESENTATIVE GREEN: This — thanks for your leadership. This COVID-19 thing has been unprecedented.

{snip}

We’re opened up for business. We’re going to the restaurants, and business is running again. We’re ready to lead, and we appreciate your phased plan. We’re implementing it in Tennessee. Just thank you for your leadership, sir.

{snip}

REPRESENTATIVE GAETZ: Thank you, Mr. President. Your team is here. We’re ready to work. And we are inspired by our President. I have observed your willingness to work with anyone. I saw the Democrat Governor of New Jersey categorize the administration’s response as “extremely responsive.”

I’ve noted on our calls that our Democrat colleagues in the House, like Tom Suozzi and Jimmy Panetta, have made contributions reflected in the great work that Jared has done on testing, and that Secretary Mnuchin has done, and that the Chief has done as well.

But I have to say, Mr. President, I’m deeply concerned about what we’re seeing from the Democratic leadership, because, in the last several days, they have been caught in a terrible lie. Not only was there no collusion, we not — now know that the leaders of the Democratic Party knew that there was no collusion at the beginning and willingly lied to the American people anyway.

Now we see that they’re reverting to their old playbook. As we want to work together to provide provision to our people and take good ideas no matter where they come from, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer just want to set up new committees to investigate, rather than working together.

I know that, even before being President, you talked about the importance of the President being a great cheerleader for our country and for our economy. I know it, and I know, in the jobs report today, we can see that even the people who have been furloughed or who are on unemployment now, they’re optimistic that this is the team that will bring America back.

What advice would you give us to try to have our Democratic leadership behave more like the governors you’ve worked with and some of the rank-and-file colleagues who’ve made helpful suggestions, rather than just reverting to their hatred and their lies to cover their tracks for their last set of lies?

THE PRESIDENT: I think they’ve been doing it so long and gotten away with it for so long, long prior to us. And they had that eight years — the Obama eight years — that have been absolutely terrible, if you look at the Justice Department and what’s taken place; you look at the FBI and what’s taken place. And, frankly, prior to that, a lot of bad things went on.

All we can do is keep winning. And if we keep winning, eventually they’re going to come around one way or the other. It may not be in that form. It may not be them. Because I’m not sure that you can do that with them. Tremendous dishonesty from Schiff and from others, and they know what’s been going on. They know. These are not stupid people. They know it was a hoax. They know better than anybody in this room it was a hoax; they set it up. They’re not aggrieved.

I watched Schiff — Shifty Schiff, nine inches around the neck. And I watched this guy — uses the world’s smallest collar, right? But I watched him to- — I guess, this morning, talking about it. He acts so aggrieved, so aggrieved. He knows it was a — he got caught. And not only caught; if he weren’t in the halls of Congress, he’d be in jail because he made up phony stories and phony speeches and phony every- — everything was phony. He’s a sick man. He’s really a sick man, and he’s a corrupt politician. So I wouldn’t count on somebody like him.

But I think, overall, we have some really good support. I’ve had great support from Democrat governors. I would say almost all. Almost all. And in some cases — oh, look, Andrew Cuomo, the other day, said that I, we, have done a phenomenal job. That’s a nice statement. “Phenomenal” — that’s a good word. It’s true. But we’ve had great support.

And Gavin Newsom, the same thing. He said something — the equivalent of that. So we can work with them, but I think this group is perhaps beyond repair. They’re sick. There’s something wrong with them.

Mark, please.

REPRESENTATIVE MEADOWS: Well, Mr. President, I know I speak for you, but I just want to thank all of you for setting the example and coming back to Washington, D.C. It’s time that we send a message to the American people that we’re open for business, we’re ready to get back, and we’re ready to support a President who has been willing to take the bold moves, each and every day, to make sure that America is first.

So thank you for allowing me to serve and thank all of you.

{snip}

THE PRESIDENT:

{snip}

So Jim Jordan — and he is — he’s a champ. He’s a winner. He knows how to win.

REPRESENTATIVE JORDAN

Thank you, Mr. President. The exact same time that we learned what we did about General Flynn, the exact same time we learned that there was absolutely no basis for the entire Mueller Russia investigation that the FBI did — that very time, Nancy Pelosi sets up a select committee to come after you again.

And so we just need to understand, guys, that they’re never going to stop. But in spite of that relentless attack we have seen from them, Mr. President, we appreciate your leadership, we appreciate your entire team’s leadership, getting things done for the American people.

{snip}

REPRESENTATIVE ZELDIN: {snip}

And I thank you for your leadership on all accounts and delivering for New York in what truly was a phenomenal way.

{snip}

REPRESENTATIVE DAVIDSON:

{snip}

So thanks for the things you’re doing and the leadership you’re doing leading by example, and it’s an honor to be part of it.

{snip}

REPRESENTATIVE BIGGS: — on a regular basis. And there’s going to be 10 more out of their Rhode Island plant. Thanks for being there. We had Sammy’s Restaurant from Tucson up, but we also had several Latina business owners — owners there that are strong supporters. And why are they supporters? Because of the economy that you built and you put in place. I

And Arizona is ready to open up. They’re energetic. They want to open up. They have faith and confidence in you and your leadership because they know what happened before. You built a — you built a marvelous economy: lower taxes, reduced regulations. That really did a great number for our economy and that’s fantastic.

{snip}

Thanks for your leadership, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Andy.

REPRESENTATIVE BIGGS: It’s an honor to be with you.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

REPRESENTATIVE BARR: Mr. President, Andy Barr from Central Kentucky. Thanks for your leadership and for inviting us here today. I want to share with you three quick stories from my district that illustrate how effective your administration has been in responding to this public health emergency. These stories have not been reported by the press, so I want to direct these stories to the press because they need to know how effective you all have been in responding to us and the American people.

{snip}

REPRESENTATIVE PERRY: Good afternoon, Mr. President. Scott Perry from Pennsylvania. I want to first thank you for acknowledging those NCAA championship wrestlers from Penn State. Jim Jordan, of course, as you know, is a big fan of those Penn State wrestlers. (Laughter.)

Mr. President, thank you so much for your — your bold, visionary, decisive leadership. It has made a huge difference in Pennsylvania in the district I represent and across the — the Keystone State. The PPP, in particular, saved countless — countless jobs. It has been a lifeline for — for the small businesses across the country, across our state. And of course, running it through the local banks, getting government out of it, letting the banks — our local community banks — handle that, has been just — it’s — because that’s who people know. They have a relationship, and the bankers, of course, know them.

And so, that’s worked — that’s worked really well. But I will tell you, in the transition to greatness, what I don’t think we did envision is the same bold vision and leadership that you’ve had in our — some of our state governors. And right now, just last night, our governor announced that we in Pennsylvania are going to stay locked down until June 4th.

{snip}

REPRESENTATIVE PERRY: They need them to come back. And so, take — maybe take a look at that.

And finally, in this transition to greatness, Mr. President, China — once we get through this, there must be an accountability. There must be an accountability. And we all want to get back. We’re here. We’re ready to be at work. Speaker Pelosi apparently is not. But if she is going to do phase four, she’s working on her own. She doesn’t involve our leadership. She doesn’t involve Kevin. She doesn’t involve anybody here.

{snip}

So I thank you for your strength. I thank you for your persistence and your leadership.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you.

REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON: Mr. President, Mike Johnson. Thanks for having us today. We’re — we’ve been anxious to get back to the Hill, and we wish we could be in the House doing our regular work and hopefully we’ll get back to that.

I represent two important groups today: One is the — the resilient, hardworking people of Louisiana. We’ve taken a — we’ve had a tough run here. I mean, the pandemic hit us pretty hard. And then, of course, we’ve got the crisis in the oil and gas market and we’re going to recover from that. But the people there are soundly behind you. And so many of them always tell me when they know I’m coming back here to give you their regards and their encouragement and their thanks for what you doing, your principled leadership.

{snip}

Q But do you think we can dug out by the third or fourth quarter of this year, economically?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, the third quarter, we’re moving in that direction. Right? I would say it’s starting right about now. We’re going to start moving in that direction. But the third quarter will be — I think it’s going to be very good. It’s going to be a very good indicator, but it’s going to be very good.

But it is a transition quarter. The fourth quarter is going to be good. It could be maybe more than good, Kevin. And next year is going to be — I think it’s going to be a really powerful year, economically.

Q Mr. President, Larry said this morning that he expects the May unemployment numbers to also be, you know, problematic and to be very high. What are you and your administration and these lawmakers, what are you all —

THE PRESIDENT: Well, the May numbers — we haven’t started coming out of it.

Q But what are you all doing to provide relief to workers over the next (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, we’re doing a lot. Look at all of the money — we took $2 trillion and we’re spending it all over because we want to have a — we’re throwing money at it. And over the years, they’ve learned that’s much better than not doing it.

Q So are you —

THE PRESIDENT: Look at 1928.

Q Are you (inaudible) direct payments (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: In 1928, they raised interest rates and they raised taxes. How did that work out? Not too good. Not too good. But if you look at 1928, 1929, the first thing they did was raise taxes. And then they raised interest rates and they choked everybody to death. And it took 15 years to recover — more than that. So, we — we do it — we’re doing it the right way. We have a lot of great students of finance. I’m one of them. And we’re throwing money at it.

And I’ll tell you what: I’ve watched some people that — and read some people that I would say would not have agreed with that. And I haven’t seen anybody disagree with what we’re doing. And in fact, they say what we’re doing with the PPP, with, you know, all of the things that we’re doing, is — is great.

One thing we could do is a payroll tax cut. That seems to bother the Democrats. One thing with a payroll tax cut though, it’s over a little bit longer period of time. But a payroll tax cut is something that some people that are very smart — I’m one of those people that like it, because I think it’s really sustainable. I think it’s — it will sustain it. But that’s one thing that a lot of people would like to see.

Q Mr. President, you were with some —

THE PRESIDENT: Another thing they’d like to see is a capital gains tax cut, meaning no capital gains — some Republicans — or it’s true, true hardline Republicans around the table, not all of them. Some people might say — Louie, might say, “Forget it.” But some people would say that a capital gains stoppage — cutting capital gains, getting rid of capital gains tax — they’ve said that for many years — would be a great thing.

The true conservative Republicans around this table, of which there are about seven — seven solid — but I still like the other ones, too. (Laughter.) But they would say that — they would say that’s music to their ears, right?

So, we’ll see. I would — I would be in favor of that. Yeah.

Q Mr. President, you were with seven American heroes earlier today — these World War Two veterans.

THE PRESIDENT: I was.

Q All in their 90s. Did you consider wearing a mask when you were with them, given they’re in a vulnerable —

THE PRESIDENT: No, because I was very far away. I appreciate the question. I was very far away from them, as you know. I would’ve loved to have gone up and hugged them, because they’re great. I had a conversation with everyone, but we were very far away. You saw.

Plus, the wind was blowing so hard in such a direction that if — if the plague ever reached them, I’d be very surprised. It could’ve reached me too. You didn’t worry about me; you’re only worried about them. And that’s okay because I think they’re so pure, it will never happen. All right? They’ve lived a great life.

But, no, the wind was howling. And I didn’t see anybody with a mask. I don’t know, maybe there were. But they were — they were great. I had conversations with them, but I was standing, as you noticed — would you say I was quite far away?

Q (Inaudible.)

{snip}

Q Well, one more, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, go ahead. What kind of a mask is that?

Q It’s a — it’s a mask. It’s a blue mask.

THE PRESIDENT: Looks like a catcher’s helmet.

Q What?

THE PRESIDENT: That looks like a catcher’s helmet. Go ahead. The mask.

Q I used to play catcher, so that makes sense.

A federal watchdog found that Rick Bright’s removal from HHS was improper and they’re blocking that move right now. Do you — have you seen that report? And do you have any response to it?

THE PRESIDENT: I don’t know. He — to me, he looks like a disgruntled employee. I don’t know who he is. But to me, he’s a disgruntled employee. And if people were that unhappy, they shouldn’t work. If you’re unhappy with a company, you shouldn’t work there. Go out, get something else. But, to me, he’s a disgruntled guy, and I hadn’t heard great things about him either.

Q Mr. President, about to Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, he pleaded guilty twice and admitted, before God, that he had lied. How does that comport with your present position?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I’ll — I’ll just go — and these guys can give you a better answer than I could, most of them in this room. But I’ll tell you what: Number one, they played the son game: “We’re going to go after your son.” And — number one. And number two, the FBI guys, as I know it, and I found out, Devin, they didn’t think he lied at all. They said, “He didn’t lie. He didn’t…” They didn’t know what they were talking about.

And Mueller’s group — Mueller’s gang that didn’t find that I did much, did they? After wasting three years. But Mueller’s gang of culprits, they said, “He lied.” But the FBI, in this case, said he didn’t lie. What’s the story in that, Devin?

REPRESENTATIVE NUNES: Well, you have to remember that this is a 30-some-year veteran of our military, who headed the Defense Intelligence Agency. It would be preposterous to think that he was a Russian agent. And everybody in the press knew this. They had early versions of the dossier. They knew the Democrats were pushing the dossier.

And the fact that someone would even ask this question about General Flynn, who was clearly — he was exonerated on January 4th, before you were even sworn in to office — we know that from the FBI agents who were view- — reviewing the case. I’m not even sure it was properly predicated to review General Flynn in the first place.

You know, there’s a lot of people in this town, in the swamp, that all of these people in the media know, that work on behalf of foreign agents and aren’t registered. And General Flynn, who’s a 30-year war veteran, the way that he’s been treated, the way his family has been treated, the way that he’s lost his — his livelihood. He lost his house. And I think the American people owe him a debt of gratitude, and this government owes him and his family an apology.

Q But do you have anything on Flynn? (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT: And the FBI found — by the way, the FBI found he didn’t lie.

Okay, thank you, very much. Thank you very much.

END

2:49 P.M. EDT