Friday, March 25, 2016

The Donald vs. The WashPost

Lightly edited transcript of Wash Post/Donald Trump editorial board meeting

WP: Do you agree with Ronald Reagan's view that the U.S. must play a role in supporting and protecting democracy around the world?

DT: Have you seen the airports in Qatar and Dubai? Unbelievable.

WP: So aside from nation-building...?

DT: Sure we have great American values but our country's a horrible mess. Look at Baltimore, Ferguson, Oakland, Detroit. They're terrible.

WP: So what would you do for Baltimore?

DT: Enterprise zones would mean we won't have to worry about police conduct anymore because they are terrific people who do an amazing job.

WP: Do you see any racial disparities in law enforcement?

DT: We have lost millions and millions of jobs to China and Mexico, which is the new China, and we need to stop companies from moving to Mexico or Ireland.

WP: So what would you do to address inner city issues?

DT: We are a very divided country. Just look at the protestors that blocked my rally in Phoenix. So you have to give people hope and spirit, and we're not doing that.

WP: What would you do to open up the libel laws?

DT: When you say, hey, there's a violent incident at a Trump rally, then how about talking about that big guy, swinging his fists and uttering the worst kind of (whispering) profanity?

WP: Do you take any responsibility whatsoever for your statements that condone violence?

DT: Did you see that big guy, swinging and punching, with children and little old ladies and shouting (whispering) profanity like Pavarotti?

WP: What are your views on NATO?

DT: NATO was okay when America was rich, but now we owe everybody. Let Germany and South Korea figure it out on their own. Also in the Ukraine we are doing more than anybody. Whatever happened to Germany?

WP: Are you saying we should pull back from NATO?

DT: I'm saying look at Saudi Arabia. They're swimming in money.

WP: Are you serious about sending 20 to 30,000 troops to defeat ISIS?

DT: I said that is what the generals say it would take, and I said I would say what the generals would say would be what I would say, but I'm not saying that, okay? Iraq was a terrible mistake, and now our enemies have better armor on their Humvees than we do, so the Muslims need to step up.

WP: Would you support Japan if China annexed the Senkaku islands?

DT: I know China very well. We talk on the phone all the time. We need to look out for China. They send all their junk here tax-free, but American companies can't do business there. Plus Iran is stealing all of Iraq's oil, and I would circle the oil producing areas with U.S. troops, but just in a tight circle so it wouldn't take too many.

WP: Hunh?

DT: I don't want to be too predictable. We're always too predictable.

WP: Does the US have a role in security in Asia?

DT: How are we going to get out of a $21 trillion debt when our enemies have better Humvees? So no, we shouldn't have given all that money back to Iran.

WP: Are you really going to get the Ricketts?

DT: I'm intelligent. My uncle went to MIT, OK? Out of 17 candidates who started, there's only a couple left. Because winning is presidential, and we don't win anymore.

WP: Is it presidential to talk about the size of your genitals?

DT: Look at my hands. I buy slightly smaller than a large glove.

WP: So if you wouldn't send troops to knock out ISIS, how about nukes?

DT: This is really a good looking group of people. Can we go around and get everybody's name?

Aide: We have five minutes left.

DT: Nukes are very, very, very serious. More serious than the weather.

WP: Thank you.

Are we kidding? We are not kidding!! actual transcript