ARMY, 244 YEARS AND IT'S FLAG DAY, AND IT IS THE PRESIDENT'S BIRTHDAY. >> THE PRESIDENT IS TURNING 73 TODAY AND HE IS JOINING US BY PHONE RIGHT NOW, GOOD MORNING TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >> GOOD MORNING. AINSLEY: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO CELEBRATE? >> WELL, I THINK I WILL JUST WORK. WE HAVE PIECE OF CAKE TONIGHT BUT IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE DOING A LOT OF THINGS, GOOD THINGS, A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE TURNING OUT TO BE GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY. I ENJOY DOING THAT MORE. BRIAN: ON THE NOTE, ESQUIRE MAGAZINE DID THE STORY, WELL, THE PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE TRUTH IS HE LIKES RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT BUT HATES THE JOB. >> NO, I LOVE THE JOB, THE FAKE MEDIA, THEY'RE SO FAKE. YOU DON'T EVEN RESPOND TO THEM. I LOVE IT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH IN 2 YEARS. I WATCHED NATALIE HARP, YOUNG BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, MADE MEDICAL MISTAKE A LONG TIME AGO AND SHE'S LIVED A LONG TIME. SHE'S ONE OF THE BEST GUEST YOU'VE EVER HAD. RIGHT TO TRY. THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET IT FOR 44 YEARS APPROVED AND I GOT IT DONE WHERE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A REAL PROBLEM, PEOPLE ARE TERMINALLY-ILL IN MANY CASES, CERTAIN LEVEL, THEY COULDN'T USE GREAT MEDICINES, GENIUS THAT WE HAVE, IN OTHER WAYS TOO. SHE WAS ONE OF YOUR GREAT GUESTS. BRIAN: JUST TO CONFIRM, MR. PRESIDENT, NATALIE HARP HAS RARE BONE CANCER AND READY TO DIE AND GIVE HER OPIOID TO MAKE PAIN LESS TO. SHE DIDN'T WANT TO, SHE TRIED EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS. SHE HAS A SHOT AT GREAT LIFE. AINSLEY: SHE SAID SHE'S ALIVE BECAUSE OF YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >> SHE HAS A GREAT SHOT AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE LIKE THAT. RIGHT TO TRY HAS HELPED THEM. THEY USED TO GO TO ASIA AND ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE HAVE TO WAIT, IT HAS TO BE APPROVED, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GIVE IT TO ANYBODY AND NOW WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT, IT WAS A COMPLEX PROCESS, FOR 44 YEARS WE GOT IT. SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE NATALIE, BUT I THOUGHT SHE WAS INCREDIBLE PERSON. STEVE: LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING IN THE NEWS TODAY, WE SEE IMAGES OF OIL TANKERS ON FIRE OUT IN THE GULF AND IRAN SAYS, DON'T BLAME US, WE THINK IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, MIKE POMPEO HAS BLAMED IRAN, WHAT SORT OF EVIDENCE DO WE HAVE THAT THEY'VE DONE IT AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? >> IRAN DID DO IT. YOU SAW THE BOAT, ONE TO HAVE MINES DIDN'T EXPLODE AND IT HAS IRAN WRITTEN ALL OVER IT. SUCCESSFULLY TOOK THE MINE OFF THE BOAT AND THAT WAS EXPOSED. THEY DIDN'T WANT THE EVIDENCE LEFT BEHIND. THEY DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THINGS THAT WE CAN DETECT IN THE DARK THAT WORK VERY WELL. WE HAVE THAT. IT WAS THEM THAT DID IT AND, LOOK, PRESIDENT OBAMA MADE A DEAL -- PRESIDENT OBAMA MADE A DEAL THAT WAS AN OUTRAGE, THE IRAN DEAL, WHICH FRANKLY IN 5 OR 6 YEARS IN SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO MAKE NUCLEAR WEAPONS, THEY UNDERSTAND THEY WILL NOT HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS, WE HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS WHICH IS ONE OF THE GREAT DIFFICULTIES FRANKLY IF YOU LOOK FORWARD, UP- ONE OF THE GREAT DIFFICULTIES OF THE WORLD. NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THEM. WE ARE BEING VERY TOUGH. WE ARE BEING VERY TOUGH ON SANCTIONS. WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE, THEY WERE AN ABSOLUTE TERROR. THEY WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE. THEY WERE IN YEMEN, SYRIA. WE HAVE 14 DIFFERENT SITES OF CONFLICT, THEY WERE IN CHARGE OF EVERY SINGLE PLACE AND THEY REALLY ARE, THEY ARE A NATION OF TERROR AND THEY'VE CHANGED A LOT SINCE I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT, I CAN TELL YOU. THEY WERE UNSTOPPABLE AND NOW THEY ARE IN DEEP, DEEP TROUBLE. YOU CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T -- BRIAN: HOW DO YOU STOP THE OUTRAGEOUS ACT? >> WE ARE GOING TO SEE HOW TO STOP. I DON'T THINK THEY'VE TALKED THE SAME WAY WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNED AGREEMENT, THEY WERE SAYING DEATH TO AMERICA, THEY WERE HAVING GOOD TIME AT HIS EXPENSE AND GIVEN HIM 150 BILLION AND 1.8 BILLION IN CASH, CASH, NOBODY EVER HEARD OF A THING LIKE THAT AND ALL OF THAT MONEY AND SCREAMING DEATH TO AMERICA, THEY HAVEN'T SCREAMED DEATH TO AMERICA LATELY. WE DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY. AINSLEY: STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS CRITICAL SHIPPING LANE, IF THEY TRY TO CLOSE THAT, IS THE UNITED STATES OBLIGATED TO KEEP IT OPEN? >> IT'S NOT GOING TO BE CLOSED FOR LONG AND THEY KNOW IT. THEY'VE BEEN TOLD IN STRONG TERMS, WE WANT TO GET THEM BACK TO THE TABLE IF THEY WANT TO GO BACK. I'M READY WHEN THEY ARE. I'M IN NO RUSH. BRIAN: THEY SAID, IRAN'S PRESIDENT, GOOD FRIEND OF YOURS, JAPAN IS FRIENDS WITH IRAN, IRANIAN PRESIDENT SAID YOU'RE NOT WORTHY OF EVEN A RETURN MESSAGE THAT HE BROUGHT OVER ABOUT POSSIBLE TALKS, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? >> I'M GLAD HE LIKES ME SO MUCH. THEY HAD ALL THE MONEY, THEY HAD EVERYTHING. THEY WERE DOING JUST FANTASTICALLY THREATENING EVERYBODY, BOMBING THE HELL OUT OF COUNTRIES, THEY WERE KILLING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE MIDDLE EAST AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY ARE PULLING BACK, THEY ARE PULLING BACK OUT OF SYRIA, PULLING BACK OUT OF YEMEN, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING, I'M NOT LOOKING TO HURT THE COUNTRY BUT THEY CAN'T HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. IF YOU LOOK AT IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL, WE GAVE THEM ALL THAT MONEY IN 6 TO 7 YEARS FOR A NATION IS NO TIME, THAT'S LIKE ONE SECOND. IN 6 TO 7 YEARS THEY WOULD LEGALLY START MAKING NUCLEAR WEAPONS. WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE IT. >> YOU GRANTED GEORGE GREAT ACCESS, ONE OF THE SOUND BITES THAT THEY RAN THERE'S NOTHING WRONG IN YOUR ESTIMATION WITH ACCEPTING DIRT FROM RUSSIA OR ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY, YOU'VE TAKEN A LOT OF HEAT FROM THE DEMOCRATS REGARDING THAT. >> I THINK IT WAS ACCURATELY STATED AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT. YEAH, I'VE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD PRESENT ME WITH ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE THE COUNTRY. NOBODY WILL PRESENT ME WITH ANYTHING. NUMBER 2, IF I WAS AND, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T LOOK AT IT YOU WON'T KNOW IT'S BAD, BUT, OF COURSE, YOU GIVE IT TO THE FBI OR REPORT TO ATTORNEY GENERAL OR SOMEBODY LIKE THAT. BUT, OF COURSE, YOU DO THAT. YOU COULDN'T HAVE THAT HAPPEN WITH OUR COUNTRY, EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT AND I THOUGHT IT WAS MADE CLEAR, I ACTUALLY SAID AT THE BEGINNING, I THINK I SAID I'D DO BOTH, BUT HOW -- IF YOU DON'T HEAR WHAT IT IS, YOU WON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. HOW CAN YOU REPORT -- NO, HE WOULD ACCEPT IT. IF I DON'T LISTEN, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW. IF I THOUGHT ANYBODY WAS INCORRECT OR BADLY STATED I'D REPORT IT TO ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE FBI, I'D REPORT IT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ABSOLUTELY. ONE THING THAT'S DIFFERENT WITH THE PRESIDENT IS I HAD DINNER WITH THE QUEEN, I MET WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE UK, I WAS WITH THE HEAD OF FRANCE, I WAS WITH THE HEAD OF ALL THE NATIONS AND I CONSTANTLY AM, CONSTANTLY TALKING TO THEM AND THAT PUTS US -- WE HAVE MANY CONVERSATIONS AND I'M JUST THINKING, GEE, WE DON'T LIKE YOUR OPPONENT, AM I SUPPOSE TO PUT THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE, AM I SUPPOSE TO REPORT HIM TO THE FBI? >> WHAT IF A LEADER LEANED OVER X CANDIDATE THAT YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST HE DID DICEY THINGS IN COUNTRY, I HAVE PROOF OF IT, WHAT DO YOU DO, I DON'T NEED IT, SHOW IT ME? >> THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES NO MATTER WHO IT IS WHETHER IT'S ME OR ANYBODY ELSE IS IN A MUCH DIFFERENT POSITION BECAUSE I HEAR THINGS THAT FRANKLY, GOOD, BAD OR INDIFFERENT THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T HEAR, JUST A NORMAL CONVERSATION. BUT NOBODY IS GOING TO SAY BAD THINGS TO ME, THEY KNOW I'M A STRAIGHT PLAYER, THEY KNOW ONE THING ABOUT ME I LOVE THE COUNTRY MORE THAN ANYTHING. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY. THAT'S WHY I'M DOING THIS. I DO, BY THE WAY, I LOVE DOING IT, THE REASON I LOVE DOING IT BECAUSE WE ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. YOU LOOK AT CHINA, YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THAT'S WORKING OUT, YOU WATCH WHAT HAPPENS. LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE BORDER OF ME BORDER OF MÉXICO, LOT OF GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING, THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET APPROVED, BRIAN, FOR 25 YEARS. I GOT THEM DONE IN ONE DAY, I PUT THE TARIFFS ON AND WE GOT THEM APPROVE AND ME THEM APPROVE AND MÉXICO HAS BEEN TERRIFIC. YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY SLOWING DOWN BUT I WATCHED LINDSEY GRAHAM AND HE'S RIGHT, WE HAVE TO GET HELP FROM CONGRESS, THE DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS. WE NEED THE HELP FROM CONGRESS. STEVE: GOING BACK TO THE TOPIC ABOUT THE DIRT, IF YOU DID CALL THE FBI WITH DIRT ON A POLITICAL OPPONENT, THOUGH, MR. PRESIDENT, WOULDN'T THE DEMOCRATS ACCUSE YOU OF USING FBI TO INVESTIGATE POLITICAL OPPONENTS? >> THEY SPIED IN MY CAMPAIGN AND THEY GOT CAUGHT, WHETHER IT'S THE INSURANCE POLICY THAT JUST IN CASE HILLARY CLINTON, WE HAVE INSURANCE POLICY ESSENTIALLY SAYING TO TAKE HIM OUT, THIS IS PROBABLY THE WORST OR CERTAINLY ONE OF THE WORST POLITICAL SCANDALS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. AINSLEY: SUCH A DOUBLE STANDARD BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY DID IT, IF YOU TRACE THE DIRTY DOSSIER GOES BACK TO DNC. NANCY PELOSI IS SAYING YOU PARTICIPATED IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, WHAT YOU SAID WAS CRIMINAL, LISTEN TO THIS. STEVE: AND ACTION. AINSLEY: HERE IS NANCY PELOSI. >> HONORING OATH OF OFFICE TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. YESTERDAY THE PRESIDENT GAVE US ONCE AGAIN EVIDENCE THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG. IT'S A VERY SAD THING, VERY SAD THING HE DOESN'T KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG. I BELIEVE HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL COVER-UP. AINSLEY: MR. PRESIDENT, WAS THERE A CRIMINAL COVER-UP? >> I WILL GO WITH WHAT MARK LEVIN SAID, DISGRACEFUL STATEMENT. I CALL HER NERVOUS NANCY, SHE'S A NERVOUS WRECK, FOR HER TO MAKE A STATEMENT LIKE THAT, IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. HER PARTY GOT CAUGHT SPYING, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED HILLARY CLINTON WITH THE MONEY THAT ULTIMATELY WENT TO RUSSIA FOR FAKE DOSSIER, TOTAL FAKE PILE OF STUFF THAT MONEY GETS PAID -- BY THE WAY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS PAID AND PAID BY HILLARY CLINTON AND THE DNC AND WENT TO RUSSIA, THAT'S THE CRIMINAL, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN TERMS OF THE CAMPAIGN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN TERMS OF THE SPYING, SHE NEVER MENTIONED THAT. ISN'T IT AMAZING THAT CONSTANTLY EVERY DAY SOMEBODY GETS A LETTER, COME INTO CONGRESS, COME INTO CONGRESS, DEATH TO A THOUSAND WOUNDS AND I WILL TELL YOU, IT'S SO UNFAIR WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND I REALLY THINK PEOPLE ARE WISE TO IT, BUT WHEN NANCY PELOSI MAKES STATEMENT LIKE THAT, SHE OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF HERSELF, IT'S A DISGRACE. BRIAN: SPENT MOST OF HER TIME CONDEMNING YOU. >> THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT CRIMINAL ACTS OF ALL TIME. BRIAN: ANDY MCCABE WHO WAS ALL OVER THIS WAS ASKED THE QUESTION, DIDN'T YOU GET CHRISTOPHER STEELE TO GET SOURCES IN RUSSIA TO FIND OUT INFORMATION ON THAT, THIS IS WHAT HE SAID IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO EVENTS, LISTEN. >> THERE'S NO EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN TWO EXAMPLES TO SAY -- OPENLY INVITE FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM HOSTILE FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO STEAL INFORMATION, TO ACQUIRE OPPOSITION RESEARCH IN ANY WAY AND ILLEGAL WAY THEY MIGHT DO THAT AND TO PRESENT IT TO YOU IS ONE THING, FOR A CAMPAIGN TO HIRE A LAW FIRM, AMERICAN LAW FIRM WHO THEN TURNS AROUND AND TURNS AROUND HIRES RESEARCH COMPANY WHO CONTRACTS OUT WITH FOREIGN INDIVIDUAL, THAT IS NOT ILLEGAL. >> SOUNDS TERRIBLE, EVEN THE WAY HE TRIED TO MINIMIZE IT. WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT MORAL EQUIVALENCY? >> BRIAN, ANDY MCCABE IS A DISASTER, WITH WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT HE SAID AND WITH THE LIES AND THE COVER-UPS AND ALL OF THE LEAKING AND ALL OF THE THINGS AND THE STRZOK AND PAGE WHO REPORT, YOU KNOW, STRZOK AND HIS LOVER PAGE, FBI PEOPLE THAT REPORTED TO ANDY MCCABE, BY THE WAY, ANDY MCCABE REPORTED TO COMEY, WITH WHAT THEY'VE DONE AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE, OF COURSE, I CAN'T GO MUCH FURTHER BECAUSE I GUESS IT'S BEING LOOKED AT VERY SERIOUSLY, WE WILL SEE. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THEY SPIED ON A CAMPAIGN OF ANOTHER CANDIDATE AND ANOTHER PARTY AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS THINGS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THEY USED THE INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES TO DO IT. THIS IS BIG STUFF, WHEN NANCY PELOSI MAKES STATEMENT LIKE THAT, SHE SHOULD BE ASHAMED. STEVE: MR. PRESIDENT, THAT'S WHY OVER A YEAR AGO YOU TWEETED OUT THAT THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAD WIRE-TAPPED YOU IN TRUMP TOWER, RIGHT? >> WELL, NOW IT'S TURNING OUT THAT THAT'S MINIMUM. LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH PAGE AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE FISA, WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE WHOLE FISA. I ASSUME THAT'S BEING LOOKED AT, I HOPE IT'S BEING LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, YOU WILL HAVE A VERY INTERESTING PERIOD OF TIME, BUT WHY ISN'T CONGRESS, OVERSIGHT, WHY AREN'T THEY LOOKING AT EMAILS THAT WERE DELETED FROM HILLARY CLINTON? NOBODY CAN UNDERSTAND 33,000 EMAILS REQUEST FROM CONGRESS AFTER THEY GET THE REQUEST -- BECAUSE, YOU KNOW TO ME THERE'S BEEN CRIMINALITY IN MY OPINION. I HAVE TO SAY SUBJECT CHECKING IT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT -- HERE IS SOMETHING THAT TO ME IS SO SIMPLE, CONGRESS REQUEST EMAILS, SHE DELETES ALL OF THEM, EVERYTHING DELETED AND THIS IS AFTER THEY GET THE REQUEST FROM THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. SHE DELETES 33,000. NOW, THAT'S ONLY 33,000, WHAT ABOUT THE ONE WITH HER FRIENDS ALMOST MAYOR OF NEW YORK AND THANK GOD THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. THANK GOD THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, YOU HAVE ANTHONY WEINER WHO HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS BUT THEY USED HIS LAPTOP AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WENT THROUGH HIS LAPTOP, I MEAN, THEY PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL FOR DOING ONE SLIGHTLY LITTLE CONFIDENTIAL WHICH IS A MUCH LOWER LEVEL OF CONFIDENTIAL. SO IT'S -- THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH CORRUPTION AND NOBODY EVER LOOKS AT IT. BRIAN: YOU HAVE A U.S. ATTORNEY. >> AGAIN, I SAY UNINVOLVED, SOMEBODY WOULD SAY HE'S INVOLVED, WE HAVE A GREAT ATTORNEY GENERAL, HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB, THEY ARE PUTTING HIM UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE, THEY ARE DOING THINGS THAT THEY HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE, THEY ARE PLAYING A VERY ROUGH GAME BUT THEY NEVER LOOK AT HILLARY CLINTON'S E-MAIL DELETIONS, IT'S A REALLY -- IT'S DISGRACEFUL THING THAT'S GOING ON BUT IN THE END IT'LL ALL WORK OUT. I WILL JUST LEAVE IT AT THIS, IT MAY BE THE SINGLE BIGGEST POLITICAL CRIME IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. THEY SPIED ON OPPOSING PARTY'S CAMPAIGN USING THE INTELLIGENCE APPARATUS OF THE UNITED STATES. NEVER HAPPENED. STEVE: MR. PRESIDENT, FOR YOU TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT IF THAT IS TRUE, YOU WOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A BIGGER STORY ON ALL THE CHANNELS. >> THE FAKE NEWS DOESN'T WANT IT. AT SOME POINT THE FAKE NEWS WILL BE FORCED TO DO IT. THINGS HAPPEN THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE MCCABES OF THE WORLD, THEY ACT LIKE INNOCENT PEOPLE, THEY ARE NOT INNOCENT. BRIAN: I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE'S DOING. YOU HAD BIG ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY NOT ONLY WITH THE SECOND -- WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, BUT BEFORE THAT YOU INTRODUCED SARAH SANDERS. AINSLEY: SARAH SANDERS MADE ANNOUNCEMENT SHE WOULD BE STEPPING DOWN AT THE END OF THE MONTH. >> WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE SO MANY THAT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT, BUT WE HAVE SOME GREAT -- SARAH WAS FANTASTIC AND SHE IS FANTASTIC AND SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS FUTURE. SHE'S BEEN WITH ME 3 AND A HALF YEARS, CLOSE TO 4 YEARS AND SHE HAS BEEN A WARRIOR IN A SENSE. NO, THE NEWS HAS BEEN VERY -- I SAW THAT YOU HAD A GUEST ON BEFORE WHO TALKED ABOUT UNFAIRNESS OF THE MEDIA, IF I WERE A DEMOCRAT LIBERAL, I THINK GREATEST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY. JUST ONE OF THOSE WITH ALL THAT I'VE DONE, LIKE AS AN EXAMPLE RIGHT TO TRIAL, TAX DEDUCTIONS, BIGGEST EVER, LIKE REGULATION REDUCTION, LIKE STRAIGHTENING OUT THE VA AND GETTING VETERANS CHOICE, ACCOUNTABILITY, YOU COULDN'T FIRE ANYBODY IN THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION IF THEY WERE TERRIBLE. FOR 50 YEARS THEY'VE BEEN TRIED TO GET IT PASSED. I GOT IT PASSED. THE VETERANS DON'T HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE 6 WEEKS, THEY CAN GET A PRIVATE DOCTOR. ALL OF THE THINGS WE GOT DONE. IF I WERE THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT, THEY WOULD SAY I WAS THE GREATEST EVER. BRIEN: WHAT ABOUT ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI, HE WOULDN'T TURN IT DOWN IF YOU WOULD GIVE HIM A 12TH DAY. >> I LIKE ANTHONY, I THINK HE SHOULD STAY WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW. ANTHONY IS DOING A GOOD JOB AND LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT ANTHONY REALLY IS A GOOD GUY, STEPHANIE IS TERRIFIC. BRIAN: OKAY. >> WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE TO CHOOSE FROM. STEVE: YESTERDAY THE OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL COUNSEL, THIS IS NOT THE MUELLER SPECIAL COUNSEL RECOMMENDED THAT YOU FIRE KELLYANNE CONWAY BECAUSE SHE'S REPEATEDLY VIOLATED THE HATCH ACT WHERE SHE HAS ESSENTIALLY -- THE HATCH ACT, LET ME EXPLAIN, PROHIBITS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES IN ENGAGING POLITICAL ACTIVITIES WHILE ON THE JOB, THEY SAY, SPECIAL COUNSEL'S OFFICE SHE DISPARAGED PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN TV AND MEDIA AND REPEAT OFFENDER AND CALLING ON YOU TO FIRE HER, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? >> LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY HER RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH. IT'S NOT FAIR. THEY ASKED A QUESTION, I THINK ONE OF THEM WAS INVOLVED WITH YOUR SHOW. YOU ASK THEM A QUESTION, YOU ASK A PERSON A QUESTION AND EVERY TIME YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SAY I CAN'T ANSWER, I CAN'T ANSWER, SHE HAS TO HAVE THE RIGHT OF RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS. IT REALLY SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A FREE-SPEECH THING. STEVE: YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIRE HER? >> NO, I'M NOT GOING TO FIRE HER, I THINK SHE'S A TREMENDOUS PERSON, TREMENDOUS SPOKESPERSON, SHE'S LOYAL, SHE'S A GREAT PERSON. BASED ON WHAT I SAW YESTERDAY HOW COULD YOU DO THAT? THEY HAVE TRIED TO TAKE AWAY HER SPEECH AND I THINK YOU'RE ENTITLED TO FREE SPEECH IN THE COUNTRY. BRIAN: IF YOU'RE WORKING FOR THE WHITE HOUSE YOU SHOULDN'T BE INVOLVED IN CRITICIZING OTHER CANDIDATES OR OTHER POLITICIANS AND SHE HAS, WILL YOU ENCOURAGE HER NOT TO DO THAT GOING FORWARD? >> IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY BECAUSE LET'S SAY I THINK BIDEN WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT SHE WAS ACCUSED OF CRITICIZING BUT HE CRITICIZED ME AND WE THEN CRITICIZED HIM OR SHE CRITICIZED HIM AND IT'S NOT -- SHE'S MAKING A POINT. SHE'S TRYING TO MAKE A POINT AND HOW COULD YOU DO THIS? BASICALLY TAKE A PERSON -- A PERSON WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND I JUST DON'T SEE IT. NOW, I'M GOING TO GET A VERY STRONG BRIEFING ON IT AND I WILL SEE BUT IT SEEMS TO ME VERY UNFAIR, IT'S CALLED FREEDOM OF SPEECH. AINSLEY: LET'S TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION, THERE'S A CRISIS OBVIOUSLY AT THE BORDER, WHAT DEALS ARE ON THE TABLE, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE WALL? >> SO THE WALL IS GOING UP, IT'S GOING UP RAPIDLY. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OVER 400 MILES OF WALL BUILT BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR, THE WALL IS VERY IMPORTANT, IT'S HARD TO BREACH IT, IT'S HIGH, STRONG, POWERFUL AND GOING UP AT MUCH LOWER COST THAN THE WALL THAT WAS PLANNED PRIOR TO ME GETTING THERE, MUCH BETTER WALL, YOU HAVE TO SEE WHAT THEY BUILD, IT'S A DISGRACE, WE ARE FIXING IT AND IN SOME CASES WE HAVE TO TAKE DOWN FAIRLY NEW WALL BECAUSE IT WAS SO BAD. WE WILL HAVE OVER 400 MILES OF WALL BUILT AND THAT WOULD BE IN MOST IMPORTANT AREAS AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ALL OF IT BUILT BEFORE YOU KNOW IT THIS IS DESPITE TREMENDOUS ON -- OBSTACLES BY THE DEMOCRATS. WE WON THE LAWSUIT ON THE WALL, BROUGHT BY NANCY PELOSI, THE ORDER BROUGHT BY NANCY PELOSI, AND MAYBE THAT'S CRIMINAL THAT SHE'S ALLOWING DRUG DEALERS AND GANG MEMBERS INTO OUR COUNTRY, MAYBE THAT'S CRIMINAL WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE BORDER IS -- WE ARE GETTING STRAIGHTENED OUT. YOU KNOW HOW EASY IT WOULD BE TO SOLVE IT IF WE MET 15 MINUTES WITH DEMOCRATS, YOU CAN SOLVE THE ASYLUM AND LOOPHOLES. BRIAN: HE HAD A CONFERENCE YESTERDAY. YOU KNOW HIS PLAN, YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD BACK THE PLAN TO MAKE CHANGES. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FLORES AMENDMENT, STOPPING KIDS WITH MINORS ONLY BEING HELD FOR 20 DAYS, IT'S VERY SIMPLE. TURNS OUT AFTERWARDS DICK DURBIN SHOWED INDICATIONS THAT SHE WANTS A DEAL, YOU CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT DEMOCRATS, IF HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE BORDER PATROL IS DROWNING LIKE THEY ARE AND NOT EVEN DEBATE FOR CRISIS, WOULD YOU BRING THEM BACK AND GET SOMETHING DONE? >> OF COURSE, I WOULD. I WANT TO GET SOMETHING DONE, THEY KNOW I WANT TO GET SOMETHING DONE BUT THEY THINK IT'S GOOD POLITICS NOT TO DO ANYTHING AND I THINK IT'S BAD POLITICS. I THINK IT'S GOOD POLITICS FROM OUR SIDE, I THINK BY THEM NOT DOING IT, IT'S GOOD FOR US, I DON'T WANT GOOD FOR US, I WANT GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY. BRIAN: RIGHT, WOULD YOU BRING THEM BACK AND NEGOTIATING -- THAT'S ONE OF YOUR GREAT STRENGTHS? >> SURE I WOULD, I WOULD NEGOTIATE WITH THEM GLADLY. THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS WE HAVE ELECTION COMING UP AND THEY THINK OPEN BORDERS, AND CRIME AND EVERYTHING ELSE ARE GOOD, I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, OPEN BORDERS MEAN CRIME. JUST MEANS CRIME. ANYBODY CAN POUR INTO THE COUNTRY. NOW I HAVE TO SAY WITH ALL OF THIS BEING DONE, THE DEAL THAT I MADE WITH ME MADE WITH MÉXICO, THEY PUT 6,000 SOLDIERS, PAID FOR BY THEM, THEY PUT 6,000 SOLDIERS AT THEIR SOUTHERN BORDER, THE STOPPAGE IS UNBELIEVABLE AND I GET REPORTS YESTERDAY, IT'S LIKE DAY AND NIGHT. NOW WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, WE STILL WANT TO GET, IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE WHAT'S HAPPENED AND ALL BECAUSE OF THE TARIFFS AND BECAUSE OF RELATIONSHIPS BUT, AGAIN, FOR 25 YEARS THEY'VE BEEN TRIED TO MAKE DEAL WITH ME DEAL WITH MÉXICO. THEY NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A DEAL, I WAS SERIOUS, MAJOR TARIFFS ON ME TARIFFS ON MÉXICO FOLLOWING MONDAY AND WE DID IT ON SUNDAY, IT WAS FINISHED AND WE HAVE EVERYTHING. WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, WE STILL NEED TO FIX ASYLUM AND WE HAVE TO FIX THINGS -- I SAID THE OTHER DAY ME OTHER DAY MÉXICO IS DOING FOR US IN THE BORDER THAN THE DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS. STEVE: IT WOULD BE NICE TO CHANGE THE LAWS TO MAKE JOBS EASIER FOR MEN AND WOMEN ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER. MR. PRESIDENT, ISN'T THE INCENTIVE FOR ME INCENTIVE FOR MÉXICO TO CRACK-DOWN -- >> THEY ARE CRACKING DOWN. STEVE: PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT TOOK PLACE AND WERE AGREED TO A WEEK AGO WERE THAT IF IT DOESN'T -- IF ME DOESN'T -- IF MÉXICO CANNOT STOP THE FLOW OF MIGRANTS TOWARD THE UNITED STATES, THEN, YOU KNOW, YOUR PLAN B IS GOING TO KICK IN AND THAT WOULD INVOLVE A SAFE-THIRD COUNTRY SITUATION AND ME MÉXICO DOESN'T WANT THAT. SO THEY WILL PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THAT. >> IT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. I MEAN, IT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND THEY'VE GOT 45 DAYS, THEY ARE DOING REALLY WELL, THEY ARE DOING FRANKLY BETTER THAN PROJECTED, THEY HAVE 6,000 SOLDIERS, I KNOW THE TIMES WROTE A PHONEY STORY, YOU LOOK AT NEW YORK TIMES AND DISGRACE TO THE NATION. THE TIMES WROTE PHONEY STORY THAT I HAD DEAL MADE 2 MONTHS AGO, THERE WAS NO WAY TO GET A DEAL. AINSLEY: MR. PRESIDENT -- >> THEY WOULDN'T DO A DEAL, IT WAS ONLY RECENTLY THAT I SAID, LOOK, ON MONDAY WE'VE HAD IT AND ON MONDAY EITHER WE DO IT OR OUR COUNTRY IS GOING TO COLLECT HUNDREDS OF, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, ALL OF THE CAR COMPANIES, YOU KNOW, LONG BEFORE I GOT HERE WE LOST 32% OF CAR INDUSTRY, AUTOMOBILE AND TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY MADE BY ME BY MÉXICO AND CARS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AT THE BORDER. I SAID, LOOK, WE WILL TAX ALL OF YOUR PRODUCT COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES OR YOU'RE GOING TO HELP US WITH THIS HORRIBLE SITUATION. THE REASON THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING, BY THE WAY, BECAUSE OUR COUNTRY IS DOING SO WELL, OUR UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS ARE THE LOWEST THEY'VE EVER BEEN IN MANY CATEGORIES, EVER BEEN HISTORICALLY, IF YOU TAKE THE WORST NUMBER, THE LOWEST IN 51 YEARS. SO OUR NUMBERS ARE SO GOOD, OUR ECONOMY IS SO STRONG AND DOING SO GOOD THAT PEOPLE ARE POURING UP TO OUR COUNTRY, BUT YOU HAVE TO COME IN LEGALLY AND YOU HAVE TO COME IN THROUGH MERIT, THAT'S THE WAY WE HAVE. AINSLEY: DEFINITELY BIG ISSUE, DEBATE STAGE, 2020 DEBATE STAGE ALL SET, 24 CANDIDATES THAT WANT YOUR JOB, ONE WILL BE RUNNING AGAINST YOU, THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THE NOMINATION. THERE WERE 20 THAT WERE SELECTED, THEY WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN FIRST DEBATE. TWO DIFFERENT DEBATES AND DRAWING NAMES TO SEE WHO HAS BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. JOE BIDEN WAS OUT AND MENTIONED YOUR NAME 75 TIMES, IF POLLS ARE CORRECT AND IF HE'S GOING TO GET THE NOMINATION. >> LOOK, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT JOE BIDEN DOES NOT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES, OKAY, HE DOESN'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. STEVE: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? >> IT MEANS THAT MENTAL CAPACITY, IT MEANS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. NEVER DID HAVE WHAT IT TAKES -- HE RAN 2 OR 3 TIMES, I USED TO CALL HIM 1% JOE BECAUSE HE NEVER GOT MORE THAN 1%, THEN OBAMA CAME ALONG AND SURPRISINGLY HE TOOK HIM OFF AND RAN, BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS JOE IS -- DOESN'T HAVE IT. NOW I SEE THAT POCAHONTAS IS DOING BETTER, I WOULD LOVE TO RUN AGAINST HER, I SEE THAT BERNIE SANDERS IS NOT DOING WELL AT ALL, I WOULD HAVE FRANKLY WOULD HAVE RUN AGAINST, I DON'T SEE THE OTHER ONES, THEY TALK ABOUT KAMALA, I DON'T SEE KAMALA, I DON'T -- PROBABLY BETWEEN THE THREE OF THEM. MAYOR PETE I DON'T SEE AT ALL, I THINK THAT'S A JOKE. BRIAN: THEY SAY LIKE RONALD REAGAN, BUSH 43 AT THIS POINT YOU'RE TRAILING IN A LOT OF BATTLEGROUND STATES. IT WOULDN'T BE UNPRECEDENTED FOR A SITTING PRESIDENT RUNNING FOR REELECTION TO BE TRAILING, HAVING SAID THAT, IF AT THE VERY LEAST IT'S CLOSE, WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE DIFFERENCE AS YOU FORMALLY ANNOUNCE ON THE 20TH? >> WELL THE POLLS I SEE WE ARE DOING GREAT IN PENNSYLVANIA, DOING REALLY GOOD IN NORTH CAROLINA, FLORIDA I'M WINNING BY A LOT. OHIO I'M WINNING BY A LOT. I JUST LEFT IOWA, WE ARE WINNING THAT BY A LOT AND EVERY POLL THAT I SEE AND EVERY POLL THAT WE HAVE I'M WINNING BY -- WE ARE DOING WELL. I THINK WE WILL DO VERY WELL IN MICHIGAN, TRADITIONALLY IT'S DEMOCRAT BUT I WON IT LAST TIME BECAUSE TEN CAR COMPANIES BUILDING PLANTS IN MICHIGAN AND BRINGING BACK TO AUTOMOBILE. I WAS UP IN WISCONSIN, I THINK WE WILL DO VERY WELL THERE. I THINK WE WILL DO GREAT. NOW, LOOK WE WILL HAVE A COMPETITIVE RACE. IT'S ALWAYS TOUGHER FOR THE REPUBLICAN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW PEOPLE -- PEOPLE NEVER COVER THIS BUT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS VERY MUCH STEERED TO THE DEMOCRATS, BIG ADVANTAGE FOR DEMOCRATS. IT'S VERY MUCH HARDER FOR THE REPUBLICANS TO WIN AND I THINK WE WILL DO VERY WELL. I THINK WE WILL HAVE A GREAT ELECTION BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE DONE AND WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED. STEVE: YOU HAVE DETAILED ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING 32 MINUTES WITH YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA SAID HE WILL NOT ENDORSE JOE BIDEN AT THIS POINT, IF MIKE PENCE RUNS FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024, DOES HE HAVE YOUR AUTOMATIC ENDORSEMENT? >> WELL, IT'S -- I LOVE MIKE, WE ARE RUNNING AGAIN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A LONG TIME, SO YOU CAN'T PUT ME IN THAT POSITION, BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD GIVE IT VERY STRONG CONSIDERATION, HE'S A VERY, VERY OUTSTANDING PERSON. WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING ON TUESDAY, WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS -- WE ARE ANNOUNCING IN ORLANDO ON TUESDAY AND WE HAVE OVER 100,000 PEOPLE TRYING TO GET SEATS. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT BIDEN HAS HE CAN'T GET CROWDS, NOBODY GOES, HE CAN'T GET 100 PEOPLE. WE HAVE 106,000 PEOPLE APPLYING FOR 22,000 SEATS IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA, I DON'T KNOW. AINSLEY: WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF HIM FLIP-FLOPPING? YOU HEARD WHAT HE SAID ABOUT AMAZON. >> HE FLIP-FLOPPED, NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. HE'S GOT WHETHER IT'S THE HEIGHT AMENDMENT, SO MANY THINGS HE'S FLIP-FLOPPING, I'M NOT SURE IT'S A GOOD THING FOR HIM TO BE DOING. THE DEMOCRATS HAVE BECOME A RADICAL LEFT PARTY AND HE PROBABLY FIGURES HE CAN'T WIN BUT I'M NOT SURE HE'S EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT. I THINK HE HAS OTHER PEOPLE DOING HIS THINKING BECAUSE HE'S HAVING A HARD TIME THINKING LATELY. BRIAN: MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SO MANY OPEN POSITIONS, AND WAITING FOR CONFIRMATION, YOU HAVE 131 POSITIONS WITH NO NOMINEE AT ALL, SO THAT'S ON YOU GUYS TO PUT SOMEBODY FORWARD AND OVERALL WE ARE STILL WONDERING ABOUT THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF SECRETARY, THE ACTING SECRETARY OF SHANIHAN, DO YOU LIKE THOSE TWO AND WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER POSITIONS? >> LET ME SAY ABOUT THE POSITIONS, FIRST OF ALL, YOU DON'T NEED ALL OF THE POSITIONS, IT'S GOVERNMENT, MANY YOU DON'T NEED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY SCHUMER AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE HOLDING PEOPLE UP FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND 2 YEARS, WE HAVE AMBASSADORS THAT ARE PHENOMENAL PEOPLE AND YOU CAN'T GET THEM THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEM, BECAUSE SCHUMER WON'T APPROVE PEOPLE, SO IT'S TAKING US -- WE HAVE 200 PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE TO BE APPROVED AND YOU CAN'T GET THEM AND WE HAVE FOCUSED, MITCH MCCONNELL, MYSELF AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE FOCUSED ON JUDGES BECAUSE JUDGES ARE A PRIMARY FOCUS, WE ARE RUNNING GOVERNMENT GREAT. WE DON'T NEED ALL THE PEOPLE THEY WANT TO GIVE US. DON'T EVEN PUT THEM IN, YOU DON'T NEED THEM. SAVE THE MONEY FOR THE TAXPAYER BUT WE DO HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AMBASSADORS IN PARTICULAR WAITING FOR PERIOD OF OVER 2 YEARS BECAUSE SCHUMER -- WHAT WE HAVE FOCUSED ON FRANKLY IS JUDGES. WE HAVE THE 107TH FEDERAL JUDGE, TWO SUPREME COURT JUDGES AND I'M GOING TO HAVE 145 FEDERAL JUDGES, IT'S GOING TO BE SOON BE SETTING RECORDS BECAUSE WHEN I TOOK OVER FOR SOME REASON AND HASN'T BEEN COVERED BUT PRESIDENT OBAMA, I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT HE GAVE ME 138 JUDGES EMPTY WHEN I TOOK OVER, IT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, NO PRESIDENT HAS EVER TAKEN OVER, OBAMA DIDN'T GET THE JOB DONE. BRIAN: IS HE GOING TO GET THE NOMINATION -- >> NO, NO, HE'S BEEN RECOMMENDED, NOW HE HAS TO BE APPROVED BY CONGRESS. WE ARE GOING TO SEE. WE ARE GOING TO SEE, PAT SHANIHAN HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR THE JOB, MCALEENAN IS DOING A VERY NICE JOB, I HAVE TO GET USED TO ME BECAUSE IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO ME AT THE BORDER, WE NEED STRONG PEOPLE AT THE BORDER AND IF PEOPLE AREN'T STRONG -- BRIAN: NOT YET ON MCALEENAN, HE'S ACTING, I PUT HIM AS ACTING AND HE'S WORKING VERY HARD AND WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FANTASTIC PEOPLE THAT WENT IN, MARK MORGAN, TOM HOMAN, HE'S BEEN ON YOUR SHOW MANY TIMES. BRIAN: WHAT IS HE DOING? >> HE'S FANTASTIC, TOUGH AS YOU GET AND SMART AND HE'S DOING MUCH OF THE LEGAL WORK AND WE ARE PUTTING IN SOME GREAT, STRONG BUT FAIR AND GOOD PEOPLE. STEVE: YOU'RE BRINGING TOM HOMAN BACK? >> I WOULD SAY THAT WOULD BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK BUT EXCEPT I WOULD RATHER ANNOUNCE IT NOW. HE'S GOING TO BE VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE BORDER, THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS TO BE INVOLVED WITH, AGAIN, BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE BORDER BETWEEN NOW AND THIS TIME LAST WEEK. ME MÉXICO HAS BEEN DOING A TERRIFIC JOB. HEY, 6,000 SOLDIERS, AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, THEN WE GO BACK TO VERY STRONG MEASURES. STEVE: YOU GO TO PLAN B, WE HAVE TO GO TO PLAN B BECAUSE TOM HO HOMAN IS FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR. BRIAN: WHAT'S THE JOB GOING TO BE? >> VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE BORDER AND DIRECTLY REPORT TO GO ME, HE WOULD BE PROBABLY WORKING OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE BUT SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AT THE BORDER AND HE'S A GOOD MAN, HE'S A GOOD MAN, GOOD JOB. STEVE LEAVE SOMEBODY WHO DID A GOOD JOB FOR YOU FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WAS ADMIRAL JOHNSON -- JACKSON, RATHER, FORMER DOCTOR. YOU NOMINATED HIM FOR PROMOTION TO ADMIRAL IN JANUARY BECAUSE LAST CONGRESS DID NOT ACT AND LOOKS LIKE HE'S BEING HELD UP IN CONGRESS AS WELL, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO HIM? >> I NOMINATED HIM FOR VA AND IT WAS VERY SAD ACTUALLY, GREAT REPUTATION, HE WAS PRESIDENT OBAMA AND PRESIDENT BUSH'S DOCTOR, HE WAS MY DOCTOR, AN EXCELLENT GUY, ADMIRAL AND A DOCTOR AND I SAID TO HIM, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO RUN THE VA AND HE SAID, SIR, HE DIDN'T WANT TO JOB, SIR, I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU LIKE ME TO DO, I THREW HIS NAME OUT AND DEMOCRATS ABSOLUTELY WENT AFTER HIM AND WERE SO UNFAIR WHAT THEY DID TO HIM, I SAID WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF POLITICS, WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF LIVING IN WASHINGTON AND THEY WENT AFTER HIM SO VICIOUSLY, NOW, ULTIMATELY WE PUT A MAN THERE WHO HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB, BEEN APPROVED, HE'S BEEN GREAT, WE HAVE VA CHOICE, WE HAVE VA ACCOUNTABILITY APPROVED. IT WAS QUITE A WHILE AGO WITH RONNIE, RONNIE IS DOING VERY WELL RIGHT NOW, RONNIE JACKSON IS DOING VERY WELL RIGHT NOW BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO VA. STEVE: YOU RENOMINATED HIM TO BECOME A TWO-STAR ADMIRAL IN JANUARY AND CONGRESS HAS NOT PICKED THAT UP, WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. >> WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK, IT WAS VERY SAD, HIS SON JUST GRADUATED VERY HIGH IN HIS CLASS, OUTSTANDING PERSON, I FEEL VERY GUILTY HAVING THROWN HIS NAME INTO A RING, IF I THREW YOU GUYS -- IF I ASKED ONE OF YOU -- MAYBE AINSLEY WOULD DO IT. AINSLEY, SHE WOULD GO BY SWIMMINGLY, OKAY, I THINK WE WILL TAKE AINSLEY. LET'S TAKE BRIAN AND ASK TO SERVE IN ANY CAPACITY, BRIAN, YOU WOULDN'T BE HAPPY FOR A LITTLE WHILE. BRIAN: I DON'T LIKE GOOGLING MY NAME NOW. AINSLEY: MR. PRESIDENT, WE GOT A CHANCE TO SIT WITH ALEX JOHNSON WHEN YOU RELEASED HER FROM PRISON, NONVIOLENT CRIME, KIM KARDASHIAN WAS INVOLVED WITH THAT, I KNOW IVANKA IS INVOLVED IN PRISON REFORM. IT'S A BIPARTISAN ISSUE, SOMETHING THAT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE PRAISING YOU FOR, YESTERDAY KIM KARDASHIAN WAS BACK AT THE WHITE HOUSE, WHAT WERE THE TALKS WITH HER AND WHAT DOES CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD? >> THE WHOLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM HAS BEEN AMAZING BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE AND VERY, VERY LIBERAL, EVERYBODY GOT TOGETHER. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLY BIPARTISAN, NOBODY COULD GET IT DONE AND THEY ALL SAID IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. PEOPLE LIKE SENATOR GRASSLEY AND MIKE LEE, VERY CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE, VERY LIBERAL PEOPLE, EVERYBODY WANTED TO SEE IF THEY COULD GET SOMETHING DONE AND NOBODY GOT IT DONE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS THEY DIDN'T GET IT DONE. THEY HAD A CRIME PILL PUT IN BY PRESIDENT CLINTON WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE A DISASTER ESPECIALLY FOR CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AND THEY WERE VERY ANGRY ABOUT IT, VERY, VERY ANGRY. SHE HAD PROBLEMS LAST TIME WITH IT WHEN SHE RAN FRANKLY. IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND YOU'RE RIGHT, KIM HAS BEEN WONDERFUL AND ALICE JOHNSON, SHE WAS IN FOR 22 YEARS, A LOVELY WOMAN, SPENT 22 YEARS IN JAIL AND HAD ANOTHER 20 YEARS LEFT AND NOTHING IS MINOR AND THERE'S NOBODY TOUGHER THAN ME. I WANT STRONG SENTENCES ESPECIALLY FOR DRUG DEALERS AND ALL OF THIS BUT SHE WAS CAUGHT UP IN SOMETHING THAT WAS TODAY, IT WOULD BE UNFORTUNATELY IT WOULD BE A SLAP IN THE WRIST. SHE KNOW SHE DID WRONG, SHE WAS IN THERE FOR 22 YEARS AND HAD ANOTHER 20 TO SERVE AND SO UNFAIR. WE LET HER OUT AND A REALLY BEAUTIFUL SCENE. I SAW YOU COVER, AINSLEY, IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. AINSLEY: WONDERFUL PERSON. YOU KNOW WHAT SHE TOLD ME, MR. PRESIDENT, ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF PEOPLE SHE KNEW IN PRISON WERE IN THERE FOR LONG SENTENCES AND SHE SHOULDN'T BE, SHE LEARNED THEIR CHARACTER AND WHO THEY WERE. >> I KNOW MANY ALICE JOHNSONS IN PRISON AND WE ARE SEEKING THEM OUT. HER FAMILY GRABBED HER, HER FAMILY STARTED GRABBING KISSING AND CRYING, THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT. THAT WAS REALLY AN UNFAIR SITUATION, SO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION GOT APPROVED, IT'S LIKE RIGHT TO TRY, THE VA CHOICE, ALL THE THINGS WE ARE GETTING APPROVED. NOBODY WRITES ABOUT THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO WRITE ABOUT THEM. SOMEBODY SAID THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT, THE TIMES HAS BARELY COVERED IT AND YET IF I WERE A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT AND I DID CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST STORY IN THE HISTORY OF "THE NEW YORK TIMES". BRIAN: YOU MADE IMPACT AND MADE A DIFFERENCE AND LASTLY YOUR NEXT BIG HURDLE G20, THE WORLD WILL BE WATCHING, PRESIDENT XI WHO HAD PULLED VLADIMIR PUTIN HIS BEST FRIEND AS THEY FORM THIS NEW ALLIANCE. YOU SAY YOU GET ALONG WITH HIM, HE HAS NOT COMMIT TODAY SHOW UP YET, WHERE DOES THAT STAND, WHAT IF HE DOESN'T? >> IT DOESN'T MATTER IF HE SHOWS UP GOOD, WE ARE TAKING BILLIONS A DOLLARS FROM CHINA. OUR PEOPLE ARE NOT -- BIG THING ABOUT TARIFFS, OUR PEOPLE PAY, A LOT OF NONSENSE, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS, REALLY, COMPANIES -- IF I PUT TARIFFS ON ME I PUT TARIFFS ON MÉXICO, 20, 25%, STARTED WITH 5, WE NEVER EVEN GOT THERE BECAUSE WE MADE A DEAL BUT IF I PUT TARIFFS AS AN EXAMPLE ME EXAMPLE MÉXICO, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, 25%, ALL THE CAR COMPANIES WOULD MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY 25%, OKAY, OUR PEOPLE WON'T PAY FOR ANYTHING BECAUSE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, WE LOST 32% OF CAR INDUSTRY, STUPIDLY OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS BECAUSE OF NAFTA WHICH IS A TERRIBLE DEAL, WHICH BY THE WAY USMCA WITH ME WAY USMCA WITH MÉXICO AND CANADA, I HOPE THAT NANCY PELOSI APPROVES IT BECAUSE IT'S A PHENOMENAL DEAL FOR OUR COUNTRY, HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND JOBS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. I HOPE THEY GET IT APPROVED. I HOPE THAT DOESN'T GET CAUGHT UP IN POLITICS. EVERYBODY WANTS IT. BRIAN: HUH WOULD THERE BE ANOTHER ROUND OF TALKS, THE WORLD WAITS TO SEE IF YOU'RE GOING TO BREAK UP OR DO A DEAL >> THEY ARE PAYING HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, I HAVE 25% ON $250 BILLION AND THEY SUBSIDIZE IT, BRIAN. MANIPULATING THEIR CURRENCY IN ORDER TO PAY FOR IT, THEY ARE MANIPULATING CURRENCY LOWER, EVENTUALLY THAT WILL HURT THEM VERY BADLY AND THEY ARE ALSO GIVING MONEY TO THESE COMPANIES, BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS HUNDREDS AND EVEN THOUSANDS OF COMPANIES ARE NOW MOVING OUT OF CHINA SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE TARIFFS. EVENTUALLY -- WE HAD A DEAL WITH CHINA AND TRIED TO RENEGOTIATE A DEAL AT THE END, I SAID, SORRY, WE WILL PUT TARIFFS ON YOU, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO IT. WE HAD A GREAT DEAL WITH CHINA AND AT THE END THEY SAID WE WILL TAKE OFF 3 POINTS. THEY WERE BIG POINTS, WE WILL NOT TAKE OFF ANYTHING. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE DEAL BUT WE ARE GOING TO SEE. WE HAVE HAVE GONE UP IN VALUE, 14, OR $15 TRILLION, THEY HAVE GONE PROBABLY 20 TRILLION. THEY WOULD CATCH US ON THE ECONOMY, THEY WERE GOING TO CATCH US VERY SOON, NOW THEY ARE SO FAR BEHIND YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT. WE'VE GONE UP A LOT, THE STOCK MARKET IS UP ALMOST 50% SINCE THE ELECTION AND THIS IS PUTTING ON TARIFFS, WITH THE FED -- THE INTEREST RATES TOO HIGH, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, HE MADE A MISTAKE. INTEREST RATES ARE TOO HIGH. WE ARE DOING WELL. BRIAN: I KNOW IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU HAVE A COUNTRY TO RUN, BUT LASTLY ON NORTH KOREA DO YOU KNOW IF THEY KILLED NEGOTIATION TEAM THAT FAILED TO DO DEAL WITH YOU, HAVE THEY KILLED THEM? >> I KNOW THEY DIDN'T KILL THE TOP PERSON, I SAW A PICTURE IN THE NEWSPAPER. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THEY DID, THEY SAID HE WAS UNHAPPY WITH RESULT OF THE MEETING, THAT'S BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE A DEAL. I COULD HAVE MADE A DEAL EASILY BUT I WANT TO MAKE A DEAL THAT MEANS SOMETHING. I COULD HAVE WALKED OUT WITH A DEAL WITH NORTH KOREA. I HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP, REMEMBER, THIS BRIAN, I'M IN NO RUSH, THEY ARE NOT TESTING NUCLEAR, THEY SENT SHORT-RANGE MISSILES. BRIAN: THEY ARE BREAKING THE SANCTIONS. >> EVERYBODY TRIES TO BREAK SANCTIONS BUT THE SANCTIONS ARE HURTING THEM BADLY, WE NEVER TOOK THE SANCTIONS OFF, WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP, WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BRIAN, WHEN I TOOK OVER THERE WERE NUCLEAR TESTS, MISSILES GOING UP, THEY WERE BEING SENT, REMEMBER GUAM, REMEMBER JAPAN, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF JAPAN, YOU DON'T SEE IT NOW. WE ARE IN MUCH DIFFERENT POSITION AND WE DO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP SO THAT'S IMPORTANT. I'M IN NO RUSH. WE WILL TAKE IT NICE AND EASY. YOU KNOW, THE PAPERS COULDN'T BELIEVE WHEN WE HAD THE FIRST MEETING, THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE WHEN WE HAD THE SECOND. WE'VE NEVER HAD MEETINGS, WE WOULD END UP IN WAR. IF I WASN'T PRESIDENT YOU WOULD RIGHT NOW BE IN MAJOR WAR WITH NORTH KOREA. I CAN TELL YOU THAT. YOU WOULD BE IN MAJOR WAR AND I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING. IT COULD HAPPEN BUT I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING. STEVE: MR. PRESIDENT, I SAW CLIP EARLIER THIS MORNING, ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DO NEW PAINT JOB ON AIR FORCE ONE, IT'S BEEN SO ICONIC FOR SO LONG? >> I KNOW, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME AND FITS THE PLANE BETTER. IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT PLANE EVEN THOUGH IT'S A 747. I LIKE THE CONCEPT OF RED, WHITE AND BLUE AND THE CLASSIC AND I THINK IT'LL LOOK MUCH BETTER ACTUALLY. THE NAVY BLUE DOESN'T FIT WITH US. PEOPLE GET USED TO SOMETHING AND IT WAS JACKIE O AND THAT'S GOOD BUT WE HAVE OUR OWN JACKIE O, IT'S CALLED MELANIA, MELANIA T. BRIAN: SHE IS DOING A GREAT JOB AND NOT GET ENOUGH CREDIT. >> BY THE WAY PEOPLE LOVE HER, SHE GETS NO CREDIT FROM THE MEDIA BUT FROM THE PEOPLE. WHEN I GO SPEAK IN BIG CROWDS, WE HAVE TREMENDOUS CROWDS AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HOLDING UP BANNERS, WE LOVE OUR FIRST LADY, A LOT OF THEM SAY FOR WHATEVER THEY SAY, WE LOVE HIGH HEELS, THE TIME THE NEWS SAID SHE WALKED TO HIGH HEELS TO TEXAS FLOOD. SHE LIKES TO LOOK ELEGANT AND CARRIES SNEAKERS WHEN WE GET OFF. THE PEOPLE LOVE THE JOB -- I HAD SUCH A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND WE WERE LAUGHING AND HAVING FUN. HER PEOPLE TOLD ME SHE HASN'T HAD SO MUCH FUN IN 25 YEARS. THEN I GOT CRITICIZED FOR IT BECAUSE THEY SAID WE WERE HAVING TOO MUCH FUN. IT DOESN'T MATTER, BUT WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND I HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH CHARLES AND HONESTLY I HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOT OF THE FOREIGN LEADERS. I THINK WHAT WE ARE DOING -- WE WERE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY MANY COUNTRIES. IF YOU LOOK AT NATO COUNTRIES, $100 BILLION NOW THEY'VE AGREED TO PAY, WE ARE PAYING NOTHING, 100 BILLION, THEY ARE GOING TO PAY $100 MORE TOWARD NATO, TOWARD PROTECTION. WE WERE PAYING FOR NATO, NOW I SAID, FOLKS, WE ARE PROTECTING YOU, YOU HAVE TO STEP UP, YOU HAVE TO PAY AND THEY'VE AGREED TO PAY. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE LAST 15 YEARS IT WAS TERRIBLE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, NOBODY WAS -- SOME OF THEM WERE TOTALLY DELINQUENT AS WE USED TO SAY. TOTALLY DELINQUENT, HEY, LOOK, WE'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB. WE DO HAVE SOME SITUATIONS, WE HAVE IRAN, NORTH KOREA CONTINUES, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, IF I WEREN'T PRESIDENT YOU WOULD BE IN A MAJOR WAR RIGHT NOW WITH NORTH KOREA. AINSLEY: WE APPRECIATE YOU GOING TO NORMANDY, D-DAY CELEBRATION WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL TO HONOR TROOPS. >> THANK YOU. AINSLEY: IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY TODAY AND YOU ARE PAINTING AIR FORCE ONE RED, WHITE AND BLUE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, MR. PRESIDENT, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. BRIAN: THANKS SO MUCH. STEVE: WE THOUGHT THE INTERVIEW MIGHT GO 10 MINUTES BUT WENT 50 MINUTES AND 20 SECONDS.