JD Vance says Putin ‘not at all’ misleading Trump in Ukraine
WELCOME BACK TO MEET THE PRESS.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE HERE AND WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THE TIME WITH YOU.
WE HAVE A LOT OF TOPICS TO GET TO,
BUT I DO WANT TO START WITH SOME BREAKING NEWS.
WE'VE LEARNED THAT THE FBI IS SEARCHING THE HOME OF FORMER AMBASSADOR
CAN YOU TELL ME WHY IS THE FBI RAIDING AMBASSADOR BOLTON'S
HOME AND OFFICE AND DID THE GET A HEADS UP.
SO WE'RE IN THE VERY EARLY STAGES OF AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO JOHN BOLTON.
I WILL SAY WE'RE GONNA LET THAT INVESTIGATION PROCEED.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT UNLIKE THE BIDEN DOJ AND THE BIDEN FBI,
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE GOING TO BE DRIVEN BY
AND SO IF WE THINK THAT AMBASSADOR BOLTON HAS COMMITTED A CRIME,
EVENTUALLY PROSECUTIONS WILL COME.
THIS IS ALL PART OF GATHERING EVIDENCE TRYING
TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT.
AND OF COURSE I'LL LET THE FBI COMMENT ON THE NEXT STAGE OF THE INVESTIGATION.
WHAT'S AT THE ROOT OF THIS?
IS THIS ABOUT CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS?
I'LL LET THE FBI SPEAK TO THAT.
CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS ARE CERTAINLY PART OF IT,
BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S A BROAD CONCERN
ABOUT ABOUT AMBASSADOR BOLTON.
THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK INTO IT.
IF THERE'S NO CRIME HERE,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE IT.
IF THERE IS A CRIME HERE,
OF COURSE AMBASSADOR BOLTON WILL GET HIS DAY IN COURT.
OUR FOCUS HERE IS ON DID HE BREAK THE LAW?
DID COMMIT CRIMES AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THEN HE DESERVES TO BE PROSECUTED AS WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
HAS AMBASSADOR BOLTON BEEN
SO THIS NEWS JUST BROKE THIS MORNING AND THE FBI,
I HAVEN'T TALKED TO THE FBI THIS MORNING.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
I ASSUME THAT HE HASN'T BEEN DETAINED AND WON'T BE DETAINED
UNTIL THERE'S ACTUAL PROSECUTION IF THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.
AMBASSADOR BOLTON IS A FREQUENT CRITIC OF PRESIDENT.
CASH PATEL'S ENEMIES LIST.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS ALREADY REVOKED HIS SECURITY CLEARANCE,
SECRET SERVICE PROTECTION.
IS AMBASSADOR BOLTON BEING TARGETED BECAUSE HE'S A CRITIC OF PRESIDENT TRUMP?
IF WE WERE TRYING TO DO THAT,
WE WOULD JUST THROW OUT PROSECUTIONS WILLY-NILLY
LIKE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DOJ DID,
PROSECUTIONS THAT LATER GOT THROWN OUT IN COURT.
AND OF COURSE WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS NOT DONE THAT.
YET WE'RE INVESTIGATING AMBASSADOR BOLTON,
BUT IF THEY ULTIMATELY BRING A CASE,
BECAUSE THEY DETERMINED THAT HE HAS BROKEN THE LAW.
WE'RE GOING TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE DELIBERATE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK THAT
WE SHOULD THROW PEOPLE EVEN IF THEY DISAGREE WITH US POLITICALLY,
MAYBE ESPECIALLY IF THEY DISAGREE WITH US POLITICALLY.
YOU SHOULDN'T THROW PEOPLE WILLY-NILLY IN PRISON.
DRIVE THESE DETERMINATIONS,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY LOOKED AT THIS AND SAID THIS
LOOKS A LOT LIKE RETRIBUTION IS.
WHO HAS SAID IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE RETRIBUTION,
A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO THROW DONALD TRUMP IN PRISON FOR
COMPLETELY FAKE CHARGES THAT WERE LATER THROWN OUT BY MULTIPLE DIFFERENT COURTS.
I SUSPECT THAT IF THE MEDIA AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE LET THIS CASE ACTUALLY UNFOLD,
IF THEY LET THE INVESTIGATION UNFOLD AS IT'S CURRENTLY DOING,
THEY'RE GOING TO FIND OUT THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS BEING VERY DELIBERATE
AND BEING VERY DRIVEN BY THE NATIONAL INTEREST AND BY THE LAW HERE,
AND THAT'S AS IT SHOULD BE.
LET'S TURN TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER.
HE SAYS AS OF RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO
MEETING PLANNED BETWEEN PRESIDENT PUTIN AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKY,
AND HE ADDED THERE NEEDS TO BE AN AGENDA FIRST,
THIS AGENDA IS NOT READY AT ALL.
ARE THE RUSSIANS STRINGING PRESIDENT TRUMP ALONG?
AND I THINK THE RUSSIANS HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONCESSIONS TO PRESIDENT
TRUMP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3.5 YEARS OF THIS CONFLICT.
THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN WILLING TO BE FLEXIBLE ON SOME OF THEIR CORE DEMANDS.
THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO END THE WAR.
OF COURSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN COMPLETELY
THERE YET OR THE WAR WOULD BE OVER,
BUT WE'RE ENGAGING IN THIS DIPLOMATIC PROCESS IN GOOD FAITH.
WE ARE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE AS MUCH AS WE CAN
WITH BOTH THE RUSSIANS AND THE UKRAINIANS TO
FIND A MIDDLE GROUND TO STOP THE KILLING.
I THINK WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS TRIED TO DO HERE IS TRY TO ENGAGE IN VERY AGGRESSIVE,
VERY ENERGETIC DIPLOMACY BECAUSE THIS WAR IS NOT IN ANYONE'S INTEREST.
IT'S NOT IN EUROPE OR THE UNITED STATES' INTERESTS.
WE DON'T THINK IT'S IN RUSSIA OR UKRAINE'S INTEREST TO KEEP GOING,
SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON PUSHING FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION.
AND ONE FINAL POINT ABOUT THIS,
IF YOU LOOK HISTORICALLY,
WHENEVER YOU HAVE A COMPLICATED WAR WITH A LOT OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION,
IT KIND OF GOES IN FITS AND STARTS.
THERE ARE HILLS AND VALLEYS.
WE SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE WE'VE MADE GREAT PROGRESS WITH THE RUSSIANS,
AS THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID,
HE'S BEEN VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE RUSSIANS,
AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO BRING THIS THING TO A CLOSE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS,
BUT ULTIMATELY WHETHER THE KILLING STOPS,
THAT DETERMINATION IS GOING TO BELONG TO WHETHER THE RUSSIANS
AND THE UKRAINIANS CAN ACTUALLY FIND SOME MIDDLE GROUND HERE.
YOU TALK ABOUT CONCESSIONS AND YET THE RUSSIANS REJECTED
THE CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP PUT FORWARD.
THERE'S NO MEETING PLANNED BETWEEN PRESIDENT PUTIN AND PRESIDENT ZELENSKY,
AND THIS WEEK RUSSIA TARGETED
THERE WERE 600 PEOPLE INSIDE AT THE TIME.
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK PRESIDENT PUTIN IS SERIOUS ABOUT PEACE?
I DIDN'T SAY THEY CONCEDED ON EVERYTHING,
BUT WHAT THEY HAVE CONCEDED IS THE RECOGNITION
THAT UKRAINE WILL HAVE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AFTER.
THE WAR THEY'VE RECOGNIZED THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO
BE ABLE TO INSTALL A PUPPET REGIME IN KIEV.
THAT WAS OF COURSE A MAJOR DEMAND AT THE BEGINNING.
AND IMPORTANTLY THEY'VE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE
IS GOING TO BE SOME SECURITY GUARANTEE
TO THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF UKRAINE.
HAVE THEY MADE EVERY CONCESSION?
SHOULD THEY HAVE STARTED THE WAR?
BUT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS,
AND WHAT I ADMIRE ABOUT THE PRESIDENT IN THIS MOMENT IS HE'S NOT ASKING.
TRYING TO FOCUS ON EVERY NITPICKY DETAIL OF HOW THIS THING STARTED 3.5 YEARS AGO.
HE'S TRYING TO FOCUS ON THE NITPICKY DETAILS OF NOW,
OF WHAT DO THE PARTIES DISAGREE ON,
AND HOW DO YOU BUILD A FOUNDATION FROM ONE SIDE OF THAT
LEDGER TO THE OTHER SO THAT YOU CAN STOP THE KILLING.
WHAT WAS PRESIDENT TRUMP?
WERE YOU ENRAGED WHEN YOU LEARNED THAT RUSSIA TARGETED?
COMPANY BASED IN UKRAINE.
I DON'T A SLAP IN MY FACE,
AND THIS IS WHY WE WANT TO STOP THE KILLING.
THE RUSSIANS HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DON'T LIKE.
A LOT OF CIVILIANS HAVE DIED.
WE'VE CONDEMNED THAT STUFF FROM THE GET-GO,
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DONE MORE TO APPLY PRESSURE
AND TO APPLY ECONOMIC LEVERAGE TO THE RUSSIANS,
CERTAINLY THAN JOE BIDEN DID FOR 3.5 YEARS WHEN HE DID NOTHING BUT TALK,
BUT DO NOTHING TO BRING THE KILLING TO A STOP.
SO YOU ASK ME WHAT I'M ENRAGED BY.
WHAT I'M ENRAGED BY IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE WAR.
IS A PRESIDENCY AND JOE BIDEN,
WHO FOR 3 YEARS DID NOTHING TO END THE KILLING.
WHAT I'M ACTUALLY EXCITED ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS THAT
WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO'S ENGAGING IN ENERGETIC DIPLOMACY
TO TRY TO STOP THE KILLING.
I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD BE PROUD OF IT.
AND WHATEVER THE OUTCOME OF THIS,
WHETHER THE WAR ENDS IN 3 MONTHS OR 6 MONTHS OR HOPEFULLY NOT BEYOND,
WE SHOULD BE PROUD THAT WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO'S TRYING TO STOP THE KILLING.
6 WARS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS BROUGHT TO A CLOSE ALL OVER THE WORLD.
IT'S THE MOST COMPLICATED,
BUT WE'RE TRYING DESPITE THAT.
TO INTERVIEW SECRETARY RUBIO LAST WEEK AND HE SAID
HE ACTUALLY DOESN'T THINK THAT NEW SANCTIONS WOULD FORCE PUTIN INTO A CEASEFIRE.
ARE SANCTIONS NOW OFF THE TABLE,
THE SANCTIONS AREN'T OFF THE TABLE,
BUT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THESE DETERMINATIONS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
WHAT DO WE THINK IS ACTUALLY GOING TO EXERT THE RIGHT
KIND OF LEVERAGE TO BRING THE RUSSIANS TO THE TABLE?
NOW YOU SAID SANCTIONS WERE NOT GOING TO LEAD TO A CEASEFIRE.
I THINK THAT'S OBVIOUSLY CORRECT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THE RUSSIANS.
HAVE CONDUCTED THEMSELVES.
THEY DON'T WANT TO CEASEFIRE.
THEY DON'T WANT TO CEASEFIRE FOR COMPLICATED REASONS.
WE OF COURSE HAVE PUSHED FOR A CEASEFIRE,
WE DON'T CONTROL WHAT RUSSIA DOES.
THE WAR WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER 7 MONTHS AGO.
WHAT WE DO BELIEVE THOUGH IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A LOT OF CARDS.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS A LOT OF CARDS LEFT TO
PLAY TO APPLY PRESSURE TO TRY TO BRING THIS CONFLICT TO A CLOSE,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
YOU TAKE ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION.
WHERE EXACTLY IS THE PRESSURE ON RUSSIA TO
DO ANYTHING IF YOU'RE NOT RIGHT NOW IMPOSING?
HOW DO YOU GET THEM TO A PLACE OF GETTING
TO THE TABLE WITH ZELENSKY AND STOPPING TO DROP BOMBS?
I THINK THAT QUESTION BETRAYS A FUNDAMENTAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE.
THE PRESIDENT HAS APPLIED AGGRESSIVE ECONOMIC LEVERAGE,
THE SECONDARY TARIFFS ON INDIA TO TRY TO MAKE IT HARDER
FOR THE RUSSIANS TO GET RICH FROM THEIR OIL ECONOMY.
HE'S TRIED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT RUSSIA CAN BE
REINVITED INTO THE WORLD ECONOMY IF THEY STOP THE KILLING,
BUT THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE ISOLATED IF THEY DON'T STOP THE KILLING.
HAS APPLIED MORE ECONOMIC PRESSURE
TO THE RUSSIANS TO STOP THIS WAR
THAN BIDEN DID IN 3 YEARS.
SO THE IDEA THAT WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING,
WE'RE ALREADY DOING THINGS RIGHT NOW,
AND THIS IS HOW NEGOTIATION WORKS.
YOU TRY TO SEE IF THERE'S A MEETING OF MINDS.
WE BELIEVE WE'VE ALREADY SEEN SOME SIGNIFICANT CONCESSIONS FROM
BOTH SIDES JUST IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
WE'RE GOING TO EVENTUALLY
BE SUCCESSFUL OR WE'LL HIT A BRICK WALL.
AND IF WE HIT A BRICK WALL,
THEN IT TO CONTINUE THIS PROCESS OF NEGOTIATION OF APPLYING LEVERAGE.
THIS IS THE ENERGETIC DIPLOMACY THAT'S GOING TO BRING THIS WAR TO A CLOSE.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT INDIA.
CHINA IS ACTUALLY THE LARGEST BUYER OF RUSSIAN OIL.
THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE ABOUT EQUAL.
WHY NO SANCTIONS ON CHINA.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A 54% TARIFF ON
SO WE'VE ALREADY APPLIED PRETTY HEFTY SANCTIONS ON THE CHINESE,
AND WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS AT ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE THE CHINESE TO BE BETTER PARTNERS
IN BRINGING THIS WAR TO A CLOSE.
RAISES A MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE ARE APPLYING AGGRESSIVE ECONOMIC PRESSURE TO BRING THIS WAR TO A CLOSE.
MAYBE WE'LL APPLY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE.
MAYBE IF WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS,
WE'LL DIAL THAT PRESSURE BACK.
THAT GIVE AND TAKE IS PART OF THE NEGOTIATION THAT WE THINK IS WORKING.
IT HASN'T REACHED ITS FINAL OUTCOME YET,
BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON WORKING ON THIS PROCESS FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN.
JUST TO BOIL DOWN WHAT THE RUSSIAN CONCESSIONS MIGHT LOOK LIKE,
IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ASKING RUSSIA TO GIVE UP.
IS NOT TO INVADE ALL OF UKRAINE.
IT'S PROVIDING THE UKRAINIANS THE KIND OF SECURITY GUARANTEES THAT ENSURES
THAT THE COUNTRY IS NOT GOING TO BE INVADED AGAIN.
THIS IS WHY I THINK WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS,
EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT YET THERE,
WHY WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IS FUNDAMENTALLY
THE DISAGREEMENT HERE IS OVER SECURITY GUARANTEES.
VERSUS WHERE YOU DRAW THE BATTLE LINES IN UKRAINE.
WHETHER WE SOLVE THOSE ISSUES,
WE'VE ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED THE TWO CRITICAL ISSUES ONE TO THE UKRAINIANS,
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS WHERE THE FRUIT,
IF WE ULTIMATELY SOLVE THIS THING,
THAT'S WHERE THE FRUIT OF AN AGREEMENT WILL COME.
I WANT TO GET TO SECURITY GUARANTEES,
BUT VERY QUICKLY IF RUSSIA IS ALLOWED TO KEEP
ANY OF THE TERRITORY THAT IT ILLEGALLY SEIZED,
WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND TO CHINA?
DOES IT GIVE CHINA A GREEN LIGHT TO INVADE TAIWAN?
DOES IT GIVE RUSSIA A GREEN LIGHT TO
INVADE OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES,
WHICH IS WHAT YOUR EUROPEAN ALLIES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT?
THE UKRAINIANS ARE GOING TO ULTIMATELY MAKE THE DETERMINATION ABOUT
WHERE YOU DRAW THE TERRITORIAL LINES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY.
THIS IS HOW WARS ULTIMATELY GET SETTLED.
IF YOU GO BACK TO WORLD WAR II,
IF YOU GO BACK TO WORLD WAR I,
IF YOU GO BACK TO EVERY MAJOR CONFLICT IN HUMAN HISTORY,
WITH SOME KIND OF NEGOTIATION WE'RE ACTUALLY
NOT ACTIVE PARTIES IN THE NEGOTIATION.
WE'RE EFFECTIVELY MEDIATING.
WE'RE TRYING TO MEDIATE THE UKRAINIANS AND THE RUSSIANS TO COME TO SOME AGREEMENT.
IF THE UKRAINIANS ARE WILLING
TO SAY SOMETHING ON TERRITORY THAT BRINGS THE CONFLICT TO THE CLOSE,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP THEM.
WE'RE ALSO NOT GOING TO FORCE THEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT OUR COUNTRY.
WE'RE TRYING TO PLAY A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE.
THE PRESIDENT IS TRYING TO PLAY A CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE TO BRING PEACE TO THE REGION,
BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO FORCE THESE PARTIES TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.
ALL HE CAN DO IS OPEN THE DOOR.
AND ASK THEM TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH.
YOU TALK ABOUT SECURITY GUARANTEES.
DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF RUSSIA
BEING A PART OF SECURITY GUARANTEES.
UKRAINE SAYS THAT'S A NONSTARTER.
IS THAT A NONSTARTER FOR THE UNITED STATES AS WELL?
HOW CAN RUSSIA SECURE UKRAINE WHEN IT'S DROPPING BOMBS ON YOU?
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A TALKING PAST EACH OTHER HERE.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SECURITY GUARANTEES UNTIL AFTER THE WAR HAS COME TO A CLOSE,
AND OF COURSE THE RUSSIANS ARE GOING TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT.
BRINGING THAT WAR TO A CLOSE.
SO OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE
THEY'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TROOPS IN UKRAINIAN TERRITORY,
BUT HOW CAN YOU REASONABLY PROVIDE
SECURITY GUARANTEES WITHOUT TALKING TO THE RUSSIANS
ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO BRING THE WAR TO A CLOSE?
SO I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF PEOPLE TALKING PAST EACH OTHER.
A SECURITY GUARANTEE PROVIDED BY A HOST OF NATIONS.
I THINK THE EUROPEANS ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO PLAY A BIG ROLE.
ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT MIGHT PLAY A BIG ROLE.
THE RUSSIANS ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED BECAUSE THEY'RE
THE CRITICAL PARTY THAT'S NECESSARY TO STOP THE KILLING.
THIS IS HOW NEGOTIATIONS HAPPEN.
IT'S A CONVERSATION BETWEEN BOTH SIDES.
VERY QUICKLY BEFORE I MOVE TO DOMESTIC ISSUES FOR AMERICANS WHO ARE WATCHING,
NO US BOOTS ON THE GROUND AS A PART OF THE SECURITY AR?
THE PRESIDENT IS VERY CLEAR.
THERE ARE NOT GOING TO BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN UKRAINE,
BUT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PLAY AN
ACTIVE ROLE IN TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THE UKRAINIANS
THE CONFIDENCE THEY NEED TO STOP THE WAR ON THEIR END,
AND THE RUSSIANS FEEL LIKE THEY CAN BRING THE WAR TO A CONCLUSION ON THEIR END.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON TRYING TO PLAY THESE PARTIES,
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON TRYING TO CONVINCE THESE PARTIES TO TALK TO EACH OTHER
AND CONTINUE TO PLAY THE GAME OF DIPLOMACY BECAUSE THAT'S
THE ONLY WAY TO GET THIS THING WRAPPED UP.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME DOMESTIC ISSUES NOW.
THIS WEEK YOU WERE IN GEORGIA.
YOU WERE THERE TO TALK ABOUT AND PROMOTE THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL,
AND IT ALSO IN THE SAME WEEK THAT TEXAS REPUBLICANS APPROVED 5 NEW REPUBLICAN
IF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AGENDA IS SO POPULAR,
WHY DO REPUBLICANS NEED TO ADD ADDITIONAL SEATS TO THE MAP?
YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHY HAVE DEMOCRATS GERRYMANDERED THEIR
STATES AGGRESSIVELY OVER THE PAST 10 TO 20 YEARS?
AND MASSACHUSETTS WHERE 32%.
OF THE RESIDENTS OF MASSACHUSETTS VOTED FOR REPUBLICANS.
0 REPUBLICAN FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES.
SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SORT OF
IS TRYING TO MAKE THE SITUATION A LITTLE BIT MORE FAIR ON A NATIONAL SCALE.
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GERRYMANDERED THEIR STATES REALLY AGGRESSIVELY.
WE THINK THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO PUSH BACK AGAINST THAT,
AND THAT'S REALLY ALL WE'RE DOING.
YOU WERE ABLE TO WIN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE IN 2024.
WHY CAN'T YOU DO IT AGAIN WITHOUT ADDING ADDITIONAL WE
HAD WAY BUT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION,
WE HAD WAY FEWER HOUSE SEATS THAN WE SHOULD HAVE.
IF THE DEMOCRATS HADN'T AGGRESSIVELY GERRYMANDERED,
IF ILLEGAL ALIENS WEREN'T COUNTED IN THE
CENSUS FOR PURPOSES OF APPORTIONING CONGRESSIONAL SEATS.
THE BEST ESTIMATES I'VE SEEN IS THAT IN CALIFORNIA,
HAS 5 ADDITIONAL CONGRESSIONAL SEATS
BECAUSE THEY COUNT ILLEGAL ALIENS FOR
THE PURPOSE OF APPORTIONING REPRESENTATIVES.
WE'RE LITERALLY LOSING REPRESENTATIVES FOR AMERICANS.
CITIZENS IN ORDER TO GIVE CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION TO ILLEGAL ALIENS,
REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO BALANCE OUT THE SCALES A LITTLE BIT
FOR BASIC FAIRNESS AND FOR THE INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY,
WHICH THE PRESIDENT CARES ABOUT AS MUCH AS ANYBODY IN THE COUNTRY.
BUT OF COURSE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE AND WHO ARE NOT DOCUMENTED ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.
BUT LET ME NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE,
BUT THEY DO GO IN THE CONGRESSIONAL APPORTIONMENT.
THAT'S WHY CALIFORNIA HAS SO MANY MORE SEATS IS BECAUSE THEY COUNT ILLEGAL ALIENS.
SO EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T VOTE,
SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY DO VOTE,
THEY END UP GETTING CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION THAT
OUGHT BY RIGHT GO TO AMERICAN.
I KNOW WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME,
THE ADMINISTRATION DEPLOYED THE NATIONAL GUARD
TO DC TO CRACK DOWN ON CRIME.
YOU VISITED WITH THEM THIS WEEK.
AT LEAST 6 REPUBLICAN STATES ARE SENDING IN
THEIR OWN NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS AS REINFORCEMENT,
HAVE CITIES THAT ACTUALLY HAVE CRIME RATES THAT ARE WORSE
SO WHY AREN'T THESE STATES SENDING NATIONAL GUARD?
IN THEIR OWN STATES TO DEAL WITH THE CRIME,
AND IS THAT A POSSIBILITY?
IF THE LOCAL GOVERNORS WANT TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION,
WE'LL LEAVE IT UP TO THE LOCAL GOVERNORS,
BUT WHAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER IS THE NATION'S CAPITAL.
AND IF YOU LOOK FOR EXAMPLE AT THE MURDER RATE IN DC,
IT RIVALS SOME OF THE WORST CITIES,
THE MOST VIOLENT CITIES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
THAT'S A DISGRACE FOR OUR NATION.
THAT'S A DISGRACE FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN DC WHO JUST WANT TO TAKE THEIR KIDS TO
A PARK OR WALK DOWN UNION STATION OR TAKE THEIR FAMILY OUT FOR A BITE TO EAT.
WITHOUT BEING ACCOSTED BY A VAGRANT OR A VIOLENT CRIMINAL,
THEY SHOULD HAVE THAT RIGHT IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL.
CRIME HAS DROPPED OVER 35% OF THE NATION'S CAPITAL
IN 10 DAYS BECAUSE OF WHAT DONALD J.
TRUMP HAS DONE ACCOMPLISHED.
I THINK THAT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT WE COULD DO.
IT'S NOT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
WHEN YOU MAKE SUCH BIG PROGRESS IN A MATTER OF A WEEK AND A HALF,
I THINK THAT YOU STEP ON THE GAS AND TRY TO MAKE DC EVEN MORE SAFE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS.
MY MESSAGE TO MY FELLOW CITIZENS.
HERE IN DC OR ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WOULD BE THAT
ALLOWING VAGRANTS AND ARMED ROBBERIES TO TAKE OVER YOUR CITY,
WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS SHOWING IS THAT IF YOU JUST EMPOWER
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ARREST AND PROSECUTE THE BAD GUYS,
WE CAN TAKE BACK AMERICAN STREETS.
WHATEVER THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN,
YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CROSS THE STREET BECAUSE THERE'S A
CRAZY PERSON YELLING AT YOUR CHILDREN ON THE OTHER SIDE.
YOU SHOULD NOT BE WORRIED THAT IF YOU TAKE YOUR SON
OUT FOR A MEAL AT 8 O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING.
AN ARMED ROBBER IS GOING TO ASSAULT YOUR FAMILY.
THIS IS A POLICY CHOICE TO ALLOW LAWLESSNESS TO OVERRUN OUR CITIES.
THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE A DIFFERENT POLICY CHOICE,
AND I THINK WHAT HE'S SHOWING THE ENTIRE AMERICAN COMMUNITY
IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS,
AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING THAT WILL COME OUT OF DC.
BUT I THINK IT MATTERS MORE FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY
TO SEE THAT IF WE JUST MAKE BETTER CHOICES,
WE CAN TAKE BACK OUR CITIES.
SO FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU,
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL IS REPORTING THAT ELON.
IS HALTING HIS PLANS TO CREATE A NEW POLITICAL PARTY
IN PART BECAUSE HE WANTS TO SUPPORT YOU FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN ASKED ABOUT THIS.
YOU SAID YOU HAVE NOT DISCUSSED THIS WITH HIM.
AS THE APPARENT FUTURE OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT?
I SEE MYSELF AS A VICE PRESIDENT WHO'S TRYING TO DO A GOOD JOB FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
IF I DO A GOOD JOB AND IF THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO BE SUCCESSFUL,
AS I KNOW THAT HE WILL BE,
THE POLITICS WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.
WE CAN CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE.
BUT WE JUST HAD AN ELECTION SEVEN MONTHS AGO.
I THINK I'M PROBABLY LIKE MOST AMERICANS,
AND I'M ALREADY SICK OF TALKING ABOUT POLITICS
AFTER A BIG GENERAL ELECTION.
THE NEXT ELECTION THAT MATTERS IS NOT THE ELECTION OF 2028.
SO BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT ANYTHING 3.5 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD,
LET'S TAKE A BREAK FROM POLITICS,
FOCUS ON GOVERNING THE COUNTRY,
AND WHEN WE RETURN TO POLITICS,
IT'S GOING TO BE TO FOCUS ON THOSE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP
ABOUT HIM PASSING THE TORCH ON TO YOU?
THE PRESIDENT TALKS ABOUT EVERYTHING,
THE PRESIDENT AND I HAVE CERTAINLY DISCUSSED IT,
BUT I THINK THE PRESIDENT IS JUST FOCUSED ON DOING A GOOD JOB FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
HE WANTS ME TO BE FOCUSED ON DOING A GOOD JOB FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHAT I'LL KEEP ON DOING.
IF WE TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS,
IF YOUNG PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO BUY A HOME,
IF WE ACTUALLY BRING PEACE TO ALL THESE REGIONS OF
THE WORLD WHICH WE'VE MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN DOING,
THE POLITICS WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.
I WANT TO RESPECT YOUR TIME,
GREAT TO SEE YOU AS WELL.
