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Trump's Remarks in Press Briefing; August 8, 2020
No, he did not sign any bills. He signed three memoranda and one executive order.
REMARKS
Remarks by President Trump in Press Briefing
Issued on: August 8, 2020
Trump National Golf Club
Bedminster, New Jersey
4:21 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much everybody. Thank you, and good afternoon. My administration has been working around the clock in good faith to reach an agreement with Democrats on additional China virus relief.
Already, my administration has enacted over $3 trillion in historic relief, saving many tens of millions of dollars and jobs. And you see how fast the economy is coming back. It does look like its going to be a very sharp V. We have tremendous enthusiasm, tremendous spirit, and tremendous job growth. We set a record on number of jobs in the last three months. Its the most jobs ever created in a three-month period during a three-month period. Thats great.
{snip}
Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer have chosen to hold this vital assistance hostage on behalf of very extreme partisan demands and the radical-left Democrats, and we just cant do that. So, hopefully, we can do something with them at a later date, but were going to be signing some bills in a little while that are going to be very important, and will take care of, pretty much, this entire situation.
{snip}
You know what its about? Fraud. Thats what they want: fraud. They want to try and steal this election because, frankly, its the only way they can win the election.
{snip}
So this is what theyre asking for. This is what Nancy Pelosi and Crying Chuck Schumer are asking for.
AUDIENCE: (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: Okay? Its ridiculous. Its horrible. Its a horrible thing.
{snip}
Therefore, Im taking executive action. Weve had it. And were going to save American jobs and provide relief to the American workers, and Ill be signing these bills in a very short period of time.
First one is on providing a payroll tax holiday to Americans earning less than $100,000 per year. In a few moments, I will sign a directive, instructing the Treasury Department to allow employers to defer payment of the employee portion of certain payroll taxes from September 1st. And were actually going to be making that; we just got the word. Were just getting some word from a lot of people. We didnt think wed have to do this because we thought the Democrats would be reasonable, but theyve been not only unreasonable, theyve been ridiculous.
{snip}
If Im victorious on November 3rd, I plan to forgive these taxes and make permanent cuts to the payroll tax. So Im going to make them all permanent.
Now, Joe Biden and the Democrats may not want that. They dont want that because theyre adding $3 trillion in taxes. So theyll have the option of raising everybodys taxes and taking this away.
But if I win, I may extend and terminate. In other words, Ill extend it beyond the end of the year and terminate the tax. And so, well see what happens. Biden probably wont be doing that; youll have to ask him. I dont think he knows what hes doing.
AUDIENCE: (Laughter and applause.)
{snip}
You know, we created the greatest economy in the history of the world the highest stock market ever. And were very close to getting that back. That, I have to say, is way ahead of schedule. Highest stock market ever. Best employment numbers for African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans.
And, by the way, Hispanic Americans just set a record for new jobs. African Americans just set a record for new jobs just now during the pandemic, the last month. And Asian Americans just set a record for new jobs. So were very proud of whats happening.
And I will now sign the executive action. And then, if you want, we can ask a few questions.
Okay, Kelly. Yeah, let me do this first, and then you can do some questions. Thank you very much.
AUDIENCE: (Applause.)
{snip}
So, thats the story. Would anybody like a pen? Would anybody like a pen? Would anybody
AUDIENCE MEMBER: I do!
THE PRESIDENT: Why do we hand these well hand these out to you in the back. Okay, fine.
AUDIENCE: (Applause.)
Q Mr. President
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, please.
Q Yes, sir. Can we start with the $400, sir? So I just wanted to get your reaction. So youre saying the states will have to cover some of the costs, sir. Which governors have told you that which governors have told you that they would sign onto it?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, if they dont, they dont. Thats up to them. But if they dont, they dont. Thats going to be their problem. I dont think their people will be too happy. They have the money. So I dont think their people will be too happy. But if they dont, they dont.
But again, the states have the money. Its sitting there.
All right. Kelly.
Q Sir, why did you decide on $400, when previously families were receiving $600?
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.
Q That will be a hardship for many. What do you say to them?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, no, its not a hardship. This is the money that they need, this is the money they want, and this gives them a great incentive to go back to work.
So, this was much more than was originally agreed. The 600 was a number that was there. And as you know, they were diff- there was difficulty with the 600 number because it really was a disincentive.
Yeah. Go ahead, please.
Q Sir, the payroll tax cut was opposed by both parties on Capitol Hill. Can you give your rationale as to why you think thats important, particularly since it doesnt help Americans who (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. Okay. It helps people greatly. It helps our country get back. And anybody that would say anything different, I think, is very foolish. Everybody wanted it. By the way, the Democrats want it. The Republicans want it. They just couldnt get it they just couldnt come to an agreement, but everybody wants it.
{snip}
Q Mr. President, when will this relief get in the hands of Americans that need it? What date?
THE PRESIDENT: We think its going to be very rapid. We want it to be very rapid. Its going to be distributed in a way that whichever the fastest way. There are various methods, and it will be rapidly distributed.
Q But you said youre also expecting legal challenges with this, right? So why
THE PRESIDENT: I didnt say that. No, no. I didnt say that.
Q Yes, you did. Yesterday, sir, you said that you were expecting legal hurdles
THE PRESIDENT: I I said I what I said is people can do whatever they want. I guess maybe theyll bring legal actions; maybe they wont, but they wont win. They wont win.
Q But if legal action is brought against you on this, why not just work with Congress on this deal?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, Im not saying theyre not going to come back and negotiate. They might very well come back and negotiate.
Q But youre signing the executive order today, and Americans want to know when theyre going to see this relief. What date will they see it?
THE PRESIDENT: Very soon. Theyre going to see it very soon. Look, its
Q Very soon?
THE PRESIDENT: There it is. Right there.
Q Thirty million Americans are out of work, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me. Excuse me. There it is, right there.
Go ahead.
Q Mr. President, though, this is expected to be tied up in the court. So this relief is either going to be delayed or blocked indefinitely.
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I dont think so.
Q Is this just political theater?
THE PRESIDENT: I think this is going to go very rapidly through the courts.
Q But are you giving people false hope?
THE PRESIDENT: This will go very if if we get sued. Maybe we wont get sued. If we get sued, its somebody that doesnt want people to get money. Okay? And thats not going to be a very popular thing.
Q But should a President be able to go around Congress? Are you trying to set a new precedent
THE PRESIDENT: No. No.
Q that the President can go around Congress and decide how money is collected and spent?
THE PRESIDENT: You ever hear the word obstruction?
Q Yes. You were investigated for that.
THE PRESIDENT: Theyve obstructed. Congress has obstructed. The Democrats have obstructed people from getting desperately needed money.
Q But this is in the Constitution, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Go ahead, please. Right here.
Q Mr. President, sir
Q Why do you keep saying that you passed Veterans
THE PRESIDENT: No, no. Youre finished.
Go ahead, please. Please.
AUDIENCE: (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Go ahead.
Q (Inaudible) Veterans Choice? It was passed in 2014.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay, excuse me.
Go ahead, please.
Q But its a false statement, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay, thank you very much everybody. Thank you very much.
AUDIENCE: (Applause.)
END 4:53 P.M. EDT
Remarks by President Trump in Press Briefing
Issued on: August 8, 2020
Trump National Golf Club
Bedminster, New Jersey
4:21 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much everybody. Thank you, and good afternoon. My administration has been working around the clock in good faith to reach an agreement with Democrats on additional China virus relief.
Already, my administration has enacted over $3 trillion in historic relief, saving many tens of millions of dollars and jobs. And you see how fast the economy is coming back. It does look like its going to be a very sharp V. We have tremendous enthusiasm, tremendous spirit, and tremendous job growth. We set a record on number of jobs in the last three months. Its the most jobs ever created in a three-month period during a three-month period. Thats great.
{snip}
Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer have chosen to hold this vital assistance hostage on behalf of very extreme partisan demands and the radical-left Democrats, and we just cant do that. So, hopefully, we can do something with them at a later date, but were going to be signing some bills in a little while that are going to be very important, and will take care of, pretty much, this entire situation.
{snip}
You know what its about? Fraud. Thats what they want: fraud. They want to try and steal this election because, frankly, its the only way they can win the election.
{snip}
So this is what theyre asking for. This is what Nancy Pelosi and Crying Chuck Schumer are asking for.
AUDIENCE: (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: Okay? Its ridiculous. Its horrible. Its a horrible thing.
{snip}
Therefore, Im taking executive action. Weve had it. And were going to save American jobs and provide relief to the American workers, and Ill be signing these bills in a very short period of time.
First one is on providing a payroll tax holiday to Americans earning less than $100,000 per year. In a few moments, I will sign a directive, instructing the Treasury Department to allow employers to defer payment of the employee portion of certain payroll taxes from September 1st. And were actually going to be making that; we just got the word. Were just getting some word from a lot of people. We didnt think wed have to do this because we thought the Democrats would be reasonable, but theyve been not only unreasonable, theyve been ridiculous.
{snip}
If Im victorious on November 3rd, I plan to forgive these taxes and make permanent cuts to the payroll tax. So Im going to make them all permanent.
Now, Joe Biden and the Democrats may not want that. They dont want that because theyre adding $3 trillion in taxes. So theyll have the option of raising everybodys taxes and taking this away.
But if I win, I may extend and terminate. In other words, Ill extend it beyond the end of the year and terminate the tax. And so, well see what happens. Biden probably wont be doing that; youll have to ask him. I dont think he knows what hes doing.
AUDIENCE: (Laughter and applause.)
{snip}
You know, we created the greatest economy in the history of the world the highest stock market ever. And were very close to getting that back. That, I have to say, is way ahead of schedule. Highest stock market ever. Best employment numbers for African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans.
And, by the way, Hispanic Americans just set a record for new jobs. African Americans just set a record for new jobs just now during the pandemic, the last month. And Asian Americans just set a record for new jobs. So were very proud of whats happening.
And I will now sign the executive action. And then, if you want, we can ask a few questions.
Okay, Kelly. Yeah, let me do this first, and then you can do some questions. Thank you very much.
AUDIENCE: (Applause.)
{snip}
So, thats the story. Would anybody like a pen? Would anybody like a pen? Would anybody
AUDIENCE MEMBER: I do!
THE PRESIDENT: Why do we hand these well hand these out to you in the back. Okay, fine.
AUDIENCE: (Applause.)
Q Mr. President
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, please.
Q Yes, sir. Can we start with the $400, sir? So I just wanted to get your reaction. So youre saying the states will have to cover some of the costs, sir. Which governors have told you that which governors have told you that they would sign onto it?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, if they dont, they dont. Thats up to them. But if they dont, they dont. Thats going to be their problem. I dont think their people will be too happy. They have the money. So I dont think their people will be too happy. But if they dont, they dont.
But again, the states have the money. Its sitting there.
All right. Kelly.
Q Sir, why did you decide on $400, when previously families were receiving $600?
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.
Q That will be a hardship for many. What do you say to them?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, no, its not a hardship. This is the money that they need, this is the money they want, and this gives them a great incentive to go back to work.
So, this was much more than was originally agreed. The 600 was a number that was there. And as you know, they were diff- there was difficulty with the 600 number because it really was a disincentive.
Yeah. Go ahead, please.
Q Sir, the payroll tax cut was opposed by both parties on Capitol Hill. Can you give your rationale as to why you think thats important, particularly since it doesnt help Americans who (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. Okay. It helps people greatly. It helps our country get back. And anybody that would say anything different, I think, is very foolish. Everybody wanted it. By the way, the Democrats want it. The Republicans want it. They just couldnt get it they just couldnt come to an agreement, but everybody wants it.
{snip}
Q Mr. President, when will this relief get in the hands of Americans that need it? What date?
THE PRESIDENT: We think its going to be very rapid. We want it to be very rapid. Its going to be distributed in a way that whichever the fastest way. There are various methods, and it will be rapidly distributed.
Q But you said youre also expecting legal challenges with this, right? So why
THE PRESIDENT: I didnt say that. No, no. I didnt say that.
Q Yes, you did. Yesterday, sir, you said that you were expecting legal hurdles
THE PRESIDENT: I I said I what I said is people can do whatever they want. I guess maybe theyll bring legal actions; maybe they wont, but they wont win. They wont win.
Q But if legal action is brought against you on this, why not just work with Congress on this deal?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, Im not saying theyre not going to come back and negotiate. They might very well come back and negotiate.
Q But youre signing the executive order today, and Americans want to know when theyre going to see this relief. What date will they see it?
THE PRESIDENT: Very soon. Theyre going to see it very soon. Look, its
Q Very soon?
THE PRESIDENT: There it is. Right there.
Q Thirty million Americans are out of work, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me. Excuse me. There it is, right there.
Go ahead.
Q Mr. President, though, this is expected to be tied up in the court. So this relief is either going to be delayed or blocked indefinitely.
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I dont think so.
Q Is this just political theater?
THE PRESIDENT: I think this is going to go very rapidly through the courts.
Q But are you giving people false hope?
THE PRESIDENT: This will go very if if we get sued. Maybe we wont get sued. If we get sued, its somebody that doesnt want people to get money. Okay? And thats not going to be a very popular thing.
Q But should a President be able to go around Congress? Are you trying to set a new precedent
THE PRESIDENT: No. No.
Q that the President can go around Congress and decide how money is collected and spent?
THE PRESIDENT: You ever hear the word obstruction?
Q Yes. You were investigated for that.
THE PRESIDENT: Theyve obstructed. Congress has obstructed. The Democrats have obstructed people from getting desperately needed money.
Q But this is in the Constitution, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Go ahead, please. Right here.
Q Mr. President, sir
Q Why do you keep saying that you passed Veterans
THE PRESIDENT: No, no. Youre finished.
Go ahead, please. Please.
AUDIENCE: (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Go ahead.
Q (Inaudible) Veterans Choice? It was passed in 2014.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay, excuse me.
Go ahead, please.
Q But its a false statement, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay, thank you very much everybody. Thank you very much.
AUDIENCE: (Applause.)
END 4:53 P.M. EDT
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Trump's Remarks in Press Briefing; August 8, 2020 (Original Post)
mahatmakanejeeves
Aug 2020
OP
I was in the room and I missed this quick response by @PaulaReidCBS Wow.
mahatmakanejeeves
Aug 2020
#2
louis-t
(23,199 posts)1. What the fuck is wrong with him?
And I'm glad to see more of the press standing up to him. I don't think they're afraid of him any more. Deplorable response: "B-b-b-ut he gave away pens!!!11!!"
mahatmakanejeeves
(56,905 posts)2. I was in the room and I missed this quick response by @PaulaReidCBS Wow.
Paula Reid Retweeted
I was in the room and I missed this quick response by
@PaulaReidCBS
Wow.
Link to tweet