Trump touts first-year accomplishments in prolonged White Home briefing earlier than heading to Davos

A “minor electrical situation” compelled Air Drive One to show round and return to Maryland lower than an hour after takeoff Tuesday night time because it was headed for Davos, Switzerland, with President Trump aboard, White Home officers mentioned.

White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters aboard the airplane that, after takeoff from Joint Base Andrews, the crew recognized a “minor electrical situation” and, out of an abundance of warning, selected to show round and return to the bottom.  

The president then boarded a special plane sure for Davos shortly after midnight.

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President Trump spoke very briefly to reporters Tuesday night time on the White Home garden as he departed for Joint Base Andrews, the place he boarded Air Drive One headed to Switzerland for the World Financial Discussion board in Davos. 

“We will Davos, I imagine it is going to be very profitable,” Trump informed reporters.

The president is anticipated to ship an tackle to the discussion board round 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning Japanese Time.

“This shall be an attention-grabbing journey,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “I don’t know what will occur. However you might be properly represented.”

In a remaining query, the president was requested to checklist what he sees as the highest accomplishments of his first 12 months. 

The president listed rebuilding the navy, together with the Venezuela operation; sealing enterprise offers and investments within the U.S.; and attaining most-favored-nation pricing for pharmaceuticals. 

The president was within the briefing room for almost two hours. 

Given his insistence on buying Greenland, the president was requested if reclaiming the Panama Canal continues to be on the desk. It is one thing he spoke about doing through the first months of his administration. 

“I do not wish to inform you that,” the president responded, earlier than including, “Form of.”

When requested why profitable the Nobel Peace Prize is so necessary to him and the way it might enhance the lives of on a regular basis Individuals, Mr. Trump mentioned “it would not enhance” their lives. However, he asserted, he improved the lives of the folks dwelling in war-torn nations.  

“I saved most likely tens of thousands and thousands of lives within the wars,” Mr. Trump mentioned, once more repeating his declare that he has resolved eight wars all over the world. “I saved thousands and thousands of individuals. In order that to me is the large factor.” 

Mr. Trump questioned how for much longer he ought to proceed to subject questions, saying he has a name with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan quickly. 

One reporter requested the president if he’ll attempt to converse with Nicolás Maduro in jail in New York. Mr. Trump mentioned he won’t. 

“No, I do not assume I might be doing that,” he mentioned. “I believe my attorneys could be very sad if I did that. They’ve discovered some issues.” 

Mr. Trump was requested if he agrees together with his high financial adviser, Kevin Hassett, that he would want to undergo Congress to approve the $2,000 checks he desires to ship to Individuals from tariff income. 

“I do not assume we must go the Congress route however, you understand, we’ll discover out,” he mentioned. 

Mr. Trump mentioned the U.S. ought to be capable to situation at the least $2,000 to Individuals, with an revenue restrict, and pay down debt. 

“I imagine we will do this with out Congress,” he added. 

Mr. Trump was evasive when requested how far he’s keen to go to amass Greenland.  

“You will discover out,” he mentioned. The president has repeatedly declined to rule out the specter of navy power to amass the semi-autonomous area.

Nicely over an hour into his remarks, the president opened the room as much as questions. He was first requested if he desires his “Board of Peace” for Gaza to switch the United Nations. 

“Nicely, it’d,” he mentioned. “I imply, the U.N. simply hasn’t been very useful. I am a giant fan of the U.N. potential. But it surely has by no means lived as much as its potential.” 

“I imagine you have to let the U.N. proceed as a result of the potential is so nice,” he added.

The president questioned whether or not different NATO members would come to assistance from the U.S. 

“The massive concern I’ve with NATO is we spend super quantities of cash with NATO,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “And I do know we’ll come to their rescue, however I simply actually do query whether or not or not they will come to ours.”

Article 5 of the NATO constitution says that an assault on one member of the alliance is handled as an assault on all. It has solely been invoked as soon as: in response to the 9/11 assaults, when European nations joined the U.S. within the conflict in Afghanistan.

Mr. Trump claimed that he has executed “extra for NATO than some other individual alive or useless.”

The president added, “NATO has to deal with us pretty, too.”

Mr. Trump lamented that he did not obtain the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to finish conflicts across the globe. He blamed Norway’s authorities for the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s choices.

“I ought to have gotten the Nobel Prize for every conflict, however I do not say that,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “I saved thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of individuals. And do not let anybody inform you that Norway does not management the pictures, OK? It is in Norway.”

Mr. Trump cited the Peace Prize in a textual content message to Norway’s prime minister over the weekend, linking his failure to obtain it to his pursuit of Greenland. 

An hour into the president’s look within the briefing room, he has but to take questions. He is addressed the scenario in Venezuela, his frustrations with Minnesota, the financial system, immigration, rising up in Queens, his efforts at peace across the globe, how a lot he thinks he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize and different matters. 

The president railed in opposition to Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat who was born in Somalia and got here to the U.S. as a youngster, whereas questioning whether or not Somalia is a rustic. 

“I all the time hate to see this Ilhan Omar — she comes from Somalia, a backward nation, most likely the worst nation on this planet,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “She’ll come right here, comes, after which she desires to inform us the right way to run our nation… I am unable to stand her.”

Mr. Trump has directed his ire at Omar in latest weeks over a string of Minnesota fraud schemes. 

The president additionally claimed that Somalia is “not a rustic.”

“They are saying it is the worst nation on this planet, if it is a nation — I do not even assume it is a nation — there is no group, no something,” he mentioned. “They do not have police, they do not have navy, they do not have something.”

The president mentioned ICE will “make errors typically” and may be “too tough” with folks, however justified that by saying they’re coping with “tough” folks. 

“They will make errors typically,” Mr. Trump mentioned of immigration officers. “ICE goes to be too tough with any person. Or, you understand, they’re coping with tough folks. Are they going to make a mistake? Generally it might occur.”

“You are feeling terribly,” he continued. 

“I felt horribly once I was informed that the younger lady who was, had the tragedy — it is a tragedy, it is a horrible factor,” Mr. Trump mentioned, seemingly speaking about Renee Good. “All people would say it, ICE would say the identical factor.” 

Mr. Trump mentioned Good’s mother and father had been “super” followers of his. 

“He was all for Trump,” Mr. Trump mentioned of her father. “Liked Trump. And, you understand, it is horrible. … I hope he nonetheless feels that means.” 

Mr. Trump claimed the U.S. has “taken out virtually 100% of the medication coming in by water” after dozens of navy strikes on boats within the Caribbean Sea and jap Pacific Ocean since September.  

“Now, we’ll be, very shortly, beginning medication coming in by land,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “We all know precisely the place they’re coming from.” 

Members of Congress, largely Democrats, have expressed rising concern concerning the strikes and have launched a number of conflict powers resolutions to restrict additional motion round Venezuela with out congressional approval. The makes an attempt have to this point been unsuccessful. One other vote on a conflict powers decision is anticipated later this week within the Home. 

Mr. Trump mentioned he informed administration officers, “You bought to loosen up,” amid a broad crackdown on immigration. 

“We now have a variety of coronary heart for folks,” the president mentioned. “They got here in illegally, however they’re good folks, they usually’re working now on farms they usually’re working in luncheonettes and accommodations.” 

Mr. Trump mentioned the main target must be on folks with prison data, however acknowledged that immigrants with out such a historical past have been detained. 

“So in principle, they need to be [deported], however we’re targeted on the murderers, the drug sellers, the mentally insane,” he mentioned. 

Inside knowledge from the Division of Homeland Safety signifies about 47% of ICE’s detainees had prison costs or convictions within the U.S.

Addressing reporters with much less enthusiasm and vitality than he usually does, Mr. Trump mentioned he does not like doing press conferences like this.

“The pretend information does not wish to write about this,” Mr. Trump mentioned after mentioning his administration’s profitable efforts to barter with pharmaceutical firms to convey some drug costs down. “That is why I do that. I do not like to do that, to be sincere with you. However I do it as a result of, obtained to get the phrase out.” 

Mr. Trump briefly remarked on the difficulty of transgender athletes competing on women’ and ladies’s sports activities groups. The Supreme Court docket final week weighed the legality of state legal guidelines in Idaho and West Virginia that bar transgender ladies and women from becoming a member of the sports activities groups that correspond to their gender identification.

“Males enjoying in ladies’s sports activities — does not work,” he mentioned.

Mr. Trump additionally famous that a number of the liberal justices appeared sympathetic to arguments defending transgender athletes who wish to compete on women’ and ladies’s sports activities groups.

Mr. Trump appeared to acknowledge the affordability situation that has taken entrance and heart in latest months, suggesting his financial message is not getting by way of to Individuals.

The president lauded plenty of financial accomplishments, saying his administration ended “Biden stagflation,” created “tremendous excessive financial progress,” the “finest inventory market in historical past” and the “finest 401(okay)s in historical past.”

“We inherited a multitude,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “The numbers that we inherited had been means up and now we introduced them — virtually all of them — means down.”

Nonetheless, Mr. Trump mentioned “possibly I’ve unhealthy public relations folks, however we’re not getting it throughout.”

As he touted the work of Border Patrol and ICE brokers, the president mentioned he loves “the Hispanic,” and famous what number of voted for him.

“Border Patrol is unimaginable,” Mr. Trump mentioned, including they’re “largely Hispanic, by the best way.”

“They’re like 60% Hispanic,” Mr. Trump  mentioned. “You already know, they discuss Hispanic, they’re largely Hispanic, proper? They usually’re unbelievable folks. After which they are saying, ‘Oh, we discriminate in opposition to —’ I like Hispanic. They’re unbelievable. Entrepreneurial, they’ve every little thing. I did nice, I did the best, no person ever obtained numbers like I obtained from the standpoint of being a Republican.” 

Mr. Trump additionally mentioned ICE brokers are “largely Hispanic.” 

Mr. Trump mentioned he “felt terribly” concerning the killing of Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minnesota. 

“I perceive either side of it,” Mr. Trump informed reporters, earlier than alleging that a number of the individuals who have protested ICE’s conduct are “skilled agitators.” 

In an interview with CBS Information final week, Mr. Trump mentioned Good was doubtless a “very, stable great individual,” however that her actions earlier than she was killed had been “fairly powerful.”

The president briefly mentioned his place on Venezuela following the operation earlier this month to take away its former president, Nicolas Maduro.

“I am loving Venezuela,” he mentioned.

Mr. Trump additionally provided fast reward for Venezuelan opposition chief Maria Corina Machado, who met with the president on the White Home final week. Machado offered the president with the Nobel Peace Prize medallion she was awarded in October.

The medallion and a certificates, signed by Machado, had been positioned inside a body and given to the president. The certificates learn, “Offered as a Private Image of Gratitude on behalf of the Venezuelan Folks in Recognition of President Trump’s Principled and Decisive Motion to Safe a Free Venezuela. The Braveness of America, and its President Donald J. Trump, will By no means be Forgotten by the Venezuelan folks.”

Talking of Machado, the president mentioned, “Perhaps we will get her concerned ultimately. I might love to have the ability to do this.”

The remark from the president seems to be a shift from earlier remarks made when asserting Maduro’s ouster. Mr. Trump mentioned then that it might be “very powerful” for Machado to take over as a result of she “does not have the assist inside or the respect throughout the nation.”

Delcy Rodriguez, who served as Maduro’s vp, is serving as Venezuela’s interim president.

The president shortly pivoted to focus on how his administration has apprehended, as he put it, “murderers and drug sellers” and “a variety of unhealthy folks” in Minnesota. He held up printed photographs of people, underneath the heading “Minnesota: Worst of Worst”

“Biden would not do that as a result of he let all of them in,” Mr. Trump mentioned, arguing that the apprehensions would not have been mandatory with out the Biden administration’s immigration insurance policies. 

Mr. Trump claimed that the people had been all “prison unlawful aliens that, in lots of instances, they’re murderers, they’re drug lords, drug sellers.”

“In Minnesota, the crime is unimaginable. The monetary crimes are unimaginable, and the issue is due to the agitators and insurrectionists,” he mentioned.

Taking to the lectern, the president held up a e-book of 365 speaking factors the White Home handed out to reporters itemizing its accomplishments within the first three hundred and sixty five days. 

Even because the White Home retains navy choices on the desk for Greenland, the president highlighted his efforts to finish wars abroad. 

“No one’s actually seen very very similar to it,” he mentioned.

Mr. Trump is anticipated to depart for Davos tonight to attend the World Financial Discussion board. Earlier than his arrival, European leaders have been expressing robust opposition to Mr. Trump’s makes an attempt to acquire Greenland, and the president has been berating and mocking a number of the European leaders he’ll see there earlier than he departs. 

He known as the U.Okay.’s choice handy over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius — a deal his administration beforehand supported — an act of “nice stupidity” and mentioned it was one more reason that the U.S. should management Greenland. He additionally posted a notice from French President Emmanuel Macron had despatched to him saying, “I don’t perceive what you might be doing on Greenland.”

Talking at Davos, California Gov. Gavin Newsom mentioned Tuesday “it is vital” that European Union leaders “develop a spine” and push again extra forcefully on President Trump’s threats to take over Greenland. 

“Trump thrives on discovering vulnerabilities and weak point, and he exploits them,” Newsom informed CBS Information’ Ed O’Keefe in an interview earlier Tuesday. “What he does not reply properly to, and what’s efficient, is power. And he responds to that in a really totally different means.” 

Newsom known as the Greenland matter a “manufactured disaster” and mentioned Mr. Trump has pinned himself in a nook on the difficulty as a result of “it is fairly rattling apparent he isn’t going to invade.” 

“He now does not have many playing cards to play,” Newsom mentioned. 

Newsom associated the diplomatic row to Mr. Trump’s crackdown on larger training, media firms and legislation companies. 

“I am sick of the CEOs with their knee pads, universities promoting out, legislation companies promoting out, media promoting out to this man. Our allies are promoting out alliances over 80 years as a result of they don’t seem to be standing with extra conviction,” he mentioned.  

Greater than 10 nations have signed on to affix Mr. Trump’s “Board of Peace” for Gaza, sources conversant in the discussions informed CBS Information, although solely 5 — United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Morocco, Hungary and Canada — have publicly accepted his invitation to affix. 

Because the president envisions it, the group would comprise world leaders, with him as its chairman. Nations can contribute $1 billion to change into everlasting members, reasonably than holding a typical three-year membership, the White Home mentioned, though Canada has mentioned it will not pay to affix. 

Some nations will contribute far much less, probably round $20 million, one of many sources mentioned. 

The group’s formation is going through severe headwinds from U.S. allies, notably because the president renews his push to amass Greenland and has not dominated out using navy power to take action. Low assist for the board could possibly be embarrassing for the administration in Davos. 

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The president’s push for Greenland is barely intensifying, with Mr. Trump saying he’ll impose heavy tariffs on nations that oppose his growth plans. 

The president hasn’t dominated out using navy power to amass the semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, and NATO allies are on edge, with some deploying navy forces to Greenland for workouts that they are saying are supposed to present their dedication to strengthening collective safety. 

On Tuesday, European Union Fee President known as Mr. Trump’s menace to levy tariffs on eight NATO allies over their stance on Greenland a “mistake” that dangers sending U.S. and European relations right into a “downward spiral.” 

Forward of Davos, the president posted an AI-generated picture displaying him planting an American flag on Greenland, alongside Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

Within the 12 months since his return to energy, the president has shifted America’s method to international coverage and allies, focused his political enemies, prioritized mass deportations and put his mark on Washington’s structure. 

Learn extra right here concerning the themes which have formed his first three hundred and sixty five days in workplace.