Live Blogging Trump Press Conference – Part 2
Trump’s lawyer runs through steps taken re Trump organization. That includes setting up a trust that still allows the sons to run the business. In addition, they will do no foreign deals. Reiterates that Trump is not covered by conflict of interest laws. Lawyer gives an opinion on the Emoluments Clause that is pretty suspect but says that the profits from any foreign payments for hotel rooms will be passed to the US Treasury. Of course, that leaves it up to the sons to calculate what the profit is for a particular hotel room. Lawyer ends her segment by making a stump speech supporting Trump, saying he will make America great again.
Editorial Comment) This is really no separation at all and does nothing to resolve his massive conflicts of interest. And I’m not sure we need a legal opinion also stumping for Trump
Q) concern about wealth of Trump cabinet
Trump) Praises Sessions and Tillerson. We make bad deals on trade with China, Japan, and Mexico and we need people who are smart and successful.
Q) Repeal and replace
Trump) Obamacare is a complete and total disaster. It’s imploding. repeats myth that rates are increasing over 100% in some states. Says we could wait and watch it implode but that wouldn’t be fair. Says Democrats own it and he could let it implode in 2017. He will be submitting a plan to repeal and replace simultaneously shortly after HHS Secretary is confirmed. Deductibles are too high. Obamacare is a Democrats problem and taking it off the table will be doing the Democrats a favor.
Q) capital repatriation and tax cuts
Trump) I’m saving jobs like Carrier. the word is out that moving your plant to Mexico and firing your employees just won’t work anymore. Selling through a strong border will not happen because you will be hit with very strong border tax. There will be major border tax. Repeats myth that there are 96 million people looking for jobs.
Q) Are we living in Nazi Germany, opinion on intelligence community, SCOTUS, and border fence
Trump) We are going to build a wall. Mexico will reimburse us in some form for the cost of the wall, either through a tax or a payment. Love the people of Mexico and the govt. of Mexico is terrific. Mexico has taken advantage of the US. On Supreme Court judge, he’s met with numerous candidates who passed muster with the Federalist Society and Jim DeMint. He will make a pick within two weeks of inauguration. Questioner follows up re Nazi tweet. Trump relies that it is a disgrace that information that was false and fake got released to the public. Specifically mentions Buzzfeed and CNN. Says he looked at Michael Cohn’s passport and he never left the country and media should apologize to Cohn.
Q) CNN says since Trump is attacking them, can they give me a question
Trump) “you are fake news” and refuses to take questions
Q) Did Obama go too far for Russian sanctions.
Trump) Takes a shot at Lindsey Graham.
Q) If it is determined that Buzzfeed reports have some truth, what would he do
Trump) pretty much nothing
Q) what changes in intelligence community would he make and is his feud undermining us intelligence capability
Trump) focuses on media and reporting fake news
Q) do you trust US intelligence officials
Trump) Intelligence are vital and we are going to complete a major report on hacking. Says US is worst in terms of hacking protection. Goes back to the DNC being open to hacking while RNC was protected. The US is hacked by everyone.
Q) Another question re intelligence community
Trump) Says intelligence community leaks. and the Buzzfeed report should never have been leaked
Q) can he deny that any Trump campaign had linked to Russia
Trump) Putin should not be hacking and he will respect our country more now that Trump is President. Goes back to hacking defense. Takes a shot at Hillary reset. all countries will respect us far more than past administrations.
Editorial comment) Pointedly he did not answer the first part of the question.
With that he ends the press conference.
Reports that Trump returns and denies that his campaign had any contact with Russians.