Highlights of Trump’s Interview in the New York Times

These are direct quotes from Trump.

So pre-existing conditions are a tough deal. Because you are basically saying from the moment the insurance, you’re 21 years old, you start working and you’re paying $12 a year for insurance, and by the time you’re 70, you get a nice plan. Here’s something where you walk up and say, “I want my insurance.” It’s a very tough deal, but it is something that we’re doing a good job of.

What the hell does that mean?

So I told them today, I don’t want to do that. I want to either get it done or not get it done. If we don’t get it done, we are going to watch Obamacare go down the tubes, and we’ll blame the Democrats. And at some point, they are going to come and say, “You’ve got to help us.”

They’re more likely to say, “You own this, dude.”

This health care is a tough deal. I said it from the beginning. No. 1, you know, a lot of the papers were saying — actually, these guys couldn’t believe it, how much I know about it. I know a lot about health care. [garbled] This is a very tough time for him, in a sense, because of the importance. And I believe we get there.

Again, what the hell does that even mean?

I have had the best reviews on foreign land. So I go to Poland and make a speech. Enemies of mine in the media, enemies of mine are saying it was the greatest speech ever made on foreign soil by a president.

I don’t recall anybody saying that.

She was sitting next to Putin and somebody else, and that’s the way it is. So the meal was going, and toward dessert I went down just to say hello to Melania, and while I was there I said hello to Putin. Really, pleasantries more than anything else. It was not a long conversation, but it was, you know, could be 15 minutes. Just talked about — things. Actually, it was very interesting, we talked about adoption.

They talked about adoption? Why do I find that unlikely?

Here’s a longer bit:

SCHMIDT: Last thing, if Mueller was looking at your finances and your family finances, unrelated to Russia — is that a red line?

HABERMAN: Would that be a breach of what his actual charge is?

TRUMP: I would say yeah. I would say yes. By the way, I would say, I don’t — I don’t — I mean, it’s possible there’s a condo or something, so, you know, I sell a lot of condo units, and somebody from Russia buys a condo, who knows? I don’t make money from Russia. In fact, I put out a letter saying that I don’t make — from one of the most highly respected law firms, accounting firms. I don’t have buildings in Russia. They said I own buildings in Russia. I don’t. They said I made money from Russia. I don’t. It’s not my thing. I don’t, I don’t do that. Over the years, I’ve looked at maybe doing a deal in Russia, but I never did one. Other than I held the Miss Universe pageant there eight, nine years [crosstalk].

SCHMIDT: But if he was outside that lane, would that mean he’d have to go?

[crosstalk]

HABERMAN: Would you consider——

TRUMP: No, I think that’s a violation. Look, this is about Russia. So I think if he wants to go, my finances are extremely good, my company is an unbelievably successful company. And actually, when I do my filings, peoples say, “Man.” People have no idea how successful this is. It’s a great company. But I don’t even think about the company anymore. I think about this. ’Cause one thing, when you do this, companies seem very trivial. O.K.? I really mean that. They seem very trivial. But I have no income from Russia. I don’t do business with Russia. The gentleman that you mentioned, with his son, two nice people. But basically, they brought the Miss Universe pageant to Russia to open up, you know, one of their jobs. Perhaps the convention center where it was held. It was a nice evening, and I left. I left, you know, I left Moscow. It wasn’t Moscow, it was outside of Moscow.

HABERMAN: Would you fire Mueller if he went outside of certain parameters of what his charge is? [crosstalk]

SCHMIDT: What would you do?

[crosstalk]

TRUMP: I can’t, I can’t answer that question because I don’t think it’s going to happen.

Headline from today’s Bloomberg News: Mueller Expands Probe to Trump Business Transactions

The U.S. special counsel investigating possible ties between the Donald Trump campaign and Russia in last year’s election is examining a broad range of transactions involving Trump’s businesses as well as those of his associates, according to a person familiar with the probe. …

…FBI investigators and others are looking at Russian purchases of apartments in Trump buildings, Trump’s involvement in a controversial SoHo development with Russian associates, the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow and Trump’s sale of a Florida mansion to a Russian oligarch in 2008, the person said. …

…Agents are also interested in dealings with the Bank of Cyprus, where Wilbur Ross served as vice chairman before he became commerce secretary. They are also examining the efforts of Jared Kushner, the President’s son-in-law and White House aide, to secure financing for some of his family’s real estate properties. The information was provided by someone familiar with the developing inquiry but not authorized to speak publicly.

The roots of Mueller’s follow-the-money investigation lie in a wide-ranging money laundering probe launched by then-Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara last year, according to the person.

Not enough popcorn in the world …

12 thoughts on “Highlights of Trump’s Interview in the New York Times

  1. $12 a year for insurance? Don’t I wish! I have to pay $15 per year for great coverage.

  2. The orange moron is a walking, talking non-sequitur!

    t-RUMPLE-THIN-sKKKin finally has all of the attention that any narcissist could ever dream of!
    But, like any great “Twilight Zone” episode, there’s a twist:
    In wanting to be another “King Midas,” he’s actually become ‘King Midas in Reverse’: Everything/one he touches, turns to shit!

  3. I have little faith in the republicans but, this week threatening Heller and Flake , might the worm turn?Will they say he is leading us to being voted out with his complete adherence to slogans and not to any real policy that works in the real world? And will he turn on individual Republicans , make them lose and possibly lose seats they now reliably hold? And there is McCain, now he has absolutely nothing to lose in speaking his mind. He has already asked from his hospital bed,for real policy in regards to Iraq and Afghanistan. Will he stand up? He is the most anti Russia politician left.
    McConnell is looking weak and Ryan always looks that way.
    Trump is asking his lawyers about pardons. Me thinks the hoax line protesteth too much.He knows he is caught.

  4. Well, he better use his pardons judiciously.. When he starts giving them out he’ll be giving away his presidency also.

  5. “The glory which is built upon a lie soon becomes a most unpleasant incumbrance. … How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and how hard it is to undo that work again!”

    — Mark Twain

    My mouth falls open when I read Trump or see him on video. But, these accounts bear witness to his skill as a grifter, particularly so, when you consider the primary target of his grift, also known as his “base.” But, he is also grifting his party. With them he is more like a sugar daddy, giving them the keys to the candy store. He gives them enough promise and hope to keep them out of the way.

  6. “This is a very tough time for him, in a sense, because of the importance.”
    He is referring to himself, in the third person. He’s dissociating.

  7. paradoctor…Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Rob Schneider was “Jimmy” and he always referred to himself in the third person.

  8. In a comment to the NYT today, a DC person identified as Elle wrote:

    “It appears that Putin masterfully identified the most nefarious protagonist among us to carry out his goal of undermining democracy and throwing the US into chaos. Meanwhile, he is likely having a hearty chuckle watching his puppet dance, watching the turmoil caused to our fractured and disunited population. And Trump thought they were pals, ha.”

    It gets my comment of the day award, and seems appropriate to this thread also. 
    I like Paradoctor’s “He’s dissociating”.  One thing for sure, you would not use the terms sensible, rational, or insightful.  I think he may suffer from an extreme case of Putin envy.

  9. Meanwhile, he is likely having a hearty chuckle watching his puppet dance,

    That’s why you have to keep an eye what Trump does about returning the Russian compounds without penalty like the Russian are demanding…I think Trump’s deadline to start dancing is this coming week.
    Even if Trump is absolutely innocent of any collusion with Russia in regard to the election, Putin has him in a position where he can destroy not only his presidency but his economic empire. Trump got put on Putin’s hook 10 years ago and it’s only now that he’s beginning to realize it. That’s why he’s getting jumpy. If Putin pulls a Trump stunt and make an unsubstantiated claim Trump was in collusion..Trump has no way counter it.
    Greed will get you!
    https://www.google.com/search?q=victor+rat+trap&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwisoKan-JrVAhXLRyYKHRl1A5UQ_AUIDCgD&biw=1920&bih=974#imgrc=4LebM7ir6-kpxM:

  10. And in today’s episode….. Sean Spicer resigns as White House press secretary
    Rats abandoning a sinking ship?
    I think Sarah Huckabee is going to invoke the fighting attitude and watchword of John Paul Jones. Aside from that she really needs the high visibility political job where name recognition pays a dividend.

  11. Pingback: The Barnum and Bailey Circus Is Alive and Well and Living in the White House | The Mahablog

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