Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Workers on “Cutting the Red Tape, Unleashing Economic Freedom”
THE
REMARKS BY
IN MEETING WITH WORKERS ON
"CUTTING THE RED TAPE, UNLEASHING ECONOMIC FREEDOM"
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, and welcome to the
Thousands of federal employees and military personnel have been deployed to assist in the massive recovery effort. One of the biggest we've ever done, and we've had some pretty big hurricanes. This was just about at the top.
We will not rest until every community has been fully restored. The restoration efforts here is bigger than the others, because the winds were so powerful. They literally lifted businesses and houses and factories -- everything in its way. They would literally lift not only the house, they would lift out the foundations, in many cases. They ripped out foundations that were set deep. And nobody has seen anything quite like this.
We're here today to discuss my administration's historic effort to reduce job-killing regulations. We have set a record on killing regulations. No administration has knocked out as many as us, and we have a long way to go.
At the same time, we will have rules, regulations, and other standards which we need, we have to have. But we have knocked out tremendous numbers of unnecessary regulations.
We've removed more regulations, and we will continue to get rid of regulations. I think within a period of about another year, we will have just about everything that we've wanted. And one of the reasons the economy is so strong is that we're not hampered by the ridiculous regulations that we were getting rid of and are getting rid of.
I want to thank very much Secretary Zinke, Secretary Perdue, Secretary Chao, Director Mulvaney, Administrator McMahon, and Acting Administrator Wheeler, who's doing a terrific job, by the way, over at the
And we're joined today by six really impressive people. People that some of you have gotten to know. People that have been both helped and hurt in lots of different situations, but very spectacular people.
I want to introduce
THE PRESIDENT: That's good. It's a great place. It's a great place.
THE PRESIDENT: And the community bank business is doing much better now that we got rid of the man that was running the regulatory service that was just absolutely destroying people. How is that going there?
THE PRESIDENT: It's a big difference. They're doing a really good job. And
THE PRESIDENT: That means you're rich.
THE PRESIDENT: They're rich.
THE PRESIDENT: That's good.
THE PRESIDENT: That's great. But it's going well?
THE PRESIDENT: That's good.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Benson.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we're setting records on unemployment or employment, use either word.
THE PRESIDENT: Use either way. Either way, it's a record.
THE PRESIDENT: It's good. And a lot of people are being trained and we're training a lot of people. And companies are coming into our country now at a record clip, and they're all coming in and training large amounts of people. And frankly, I like them training them better than anybody. But I heard you're doing really well, and that's really nice.
Do you have anything to say, anybody" This side?
THE PRESIDENT: Right.
THE PRESIDENT: Great. Well, it's my honor. And you have a great race going on out there.
THE PRESIDENT: And that will make a big difference. A very positive difference, the outcome. I won't say it because I'm not a political person, so I won't discuss that. (Laughter.) I won't discuss that in front of the press, okay?
Go ahead. How about yourself?
THE PRESIDENT: Have you seen a big difference in community banking over the last couple of years?
THE PRESIDENT: That's right.
THE PRESIDENT: They actually needed -- think of it: They needed a regulatory relief bill. The regulations were so bad, they needed relief from regulations, which is somewhat of a classic.
Go ahead.
THE PRESIDENT: You're in the middle.
THE PRESIDENT: We'll do that.
THE PRESIDENT: Good. And go ahead, tell me about your situation.
Also, our tribe -- I mean, I can't thank you enough for your work in rolling back some of these regulations that we are ruled by. Our tribe has faced hurdles for years, and now we're starting to see some of the light come through with the work.
THE PRESIDENT: Your tribe had some big problems. You couldn't get to what you wanted to get to.
THE PRESIDENT: And now you're able to do it.
THE PRESIDENT: Good. Well, good. You're doing a great job.
THE PRESIDENT: I've seen what you've done in a short period of time. It was fantastic.
THE PRESIDENT: Congratulations.
Tell me.
THE PRESIDENT: Big difference, right?
THE PRESIDENT: Best it's ever been.
THE PRESIDENT: Best it's ever been.
THE PRESIDENT: Therefore, we should do well in the midterms. They never report how well we're doing, which they don't like to do.
That's good. Come here. Appreciate it.
Go ahead.
But the particular mine that I work at, I just want you to know that, in the last several months, we've added a hundred people. And we're looking to add --
THE PRESIDENT: It's a big difference, right?
THE PRESIDENT: Saved that industry. That industry was gone. And it's a very important -- really, a very important asset for our country. That industry was gone. It was going to be out. And we would've had a big problem if it was gone. And they have great people in that industry. And that's what they want to do, right" Clean coal.
THE PRESIDENT: What they do today, the technology on coal is so incredible. What they can do with coal today is from a different world. Good, beautiful clean coal. And you're back working, right?
THE PRESIDENT: That's fantastic.
THE PRESIDENT: Are you
THE PRESIDENT: Good. That's good. Say hello to everybody. I just left
THE PRESIDENT: You know, we had a big rally there the other night. It was incredible. Thousands and thousands of people outside of the arena. They couldn't get in. It was something really special, and they appreciate what we are doing.
THE PRESIDENT: So, just say hello.
Go ahead.
THE PRESIDENT: So one of things we're most proud about is what's happened with our steel industry. Our steel industry was dead. Our aluminum -- the aluminum industry was dead. It was dead as a doornail -- both of them.
And steel in particular, but aluminum also -- steel is through the roof now. We're taxing the dumpers, the nations that dump. And they dump a lot of garbage -- steel. Sand steel, mud steel, bad steel -- not strong steel. And then we use it to fabricate beams for buildings and parts for airplanes, and they find it's no good. And in many cases, they don't know about until long afterwards, and in some cases when it's too late.
So now we're taxing them, and very, very heavily. And what's happening is the steel industry is thriving. I mean, literally, in a period of a year, the steel industry is just a hot industry right now. So it's been a great thing to see. Thank you very much.
Vice President, do you have anything to say" Mike?
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to thank these six great Americans for coming in and helping to tell the story of this economic boom of 4.2 billion new jobs created and new signed legislation to pass the largest tax cut and tax reform in American history.
But what you and I both hear as we travel around the country is what we heard again this morning: Is that -- the fact that this President and this
So I want to thank all these folks, all the members of our
THE PRESIDENT: That's true. That's true.
Administrator, tell me.
ADMINISTRATOR WHEELER: So far, under your leadership, we've rolled back 28 regulations, saving the American public
THE PRESIDENT: And you're opening up and allowing businesses to open and thrive, as opposed to -- they can't do it.
ADMINISTRATOR WHEELER: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Great job.
Linda" Please.
ADMINISTRATOR MCMAHON: Well, it's terrific. Mr. President, thank you very much for your vision of a commonsense approach to job growth. If you cut taxes, you roll back regulations, you get out of the way of small businesses, they will start to grow and expand. And that's exactly what we're seeing. And I have the benefit of being out on the road and interacting with companies like
THE PRESIDENT: Great. Great job, Linda. Thank you.
Elaine?
SECRETARY CHAO: Mr. President, who would have thought a year ago that GDP growth for the third quarter would be 4.2 percent" People were surprised it was even over 3 percent in the second quarter. It was 2.2 in the second quarter.
THE PRESIDENT: They didn't think so. (Laughter.)
SECRETARY CHAO: The unemployment rate is now at 3.7 -- it's the lowest in about 50 years. And at the
THE PRESIDENT: You never had an accident?
THE PRESIDENT: I want him to drive for me. Well, how about you -- (laughter) -- I'll let (inaudible). That's pretty good, David.
SECRETARY CHAO: And he will be named the National Trucker of the Year by the
THE PRESIDENT: Wow. That's big stuff. (Applause.)
SECRETARY CHAO: So we want responsible regulations but regulations that make sense, that are not overly burdensome, that are not duplicative -- you know, duplicative that don't make sense. And so, at the
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks a lot. Thanks, Elaine.
So, Mr. Secretary, the largest landlord in the world. (Laughter.) At least the largest in this country, I guess.
SECRETARY ZINKE: Mr. President, I'd like to highlight the Southern Utes. This is an example of when you empower a great nation to do great things -- they get free healthcare and free education. You know, and things are pretty tough out in Indian Country, but when you empower a great people to do great things by deregulating and making sure that they're involved in decision-making -- and many times, sovereignty should mean something -- this is a great example of the empowerment and the ability to shape your own future in Indian Country (inaudible) Southern Utes.
THE PRESIDENT: So, Secretary, tell us about energy and what's happened with energy. We've become the biggest in the world. A lot of it is because of what we've done. Tell us just quickly about that.
SECRETARY ZINKE: We are the largest oil and gas producer on the face of the planet. Inconceivable 600 days ago. For the first time in 60 years, we're exporting liquid natural gas. And what it means is there's
We just want it made it America. And by having energy made in America, I don't want to ever be held hostage. I don't want to see your kids see what I've seen. There's a lot of reasons to fight, but fighting for energy is not one of them. And economically, we're seeing a rebirth. We have the lowest unsubsidized price in gasoline on the face of the planet, and that's because American energy has delivered.
THE PRESIDENT: So we're the largest in the world now -- energy. And you said 600 days, and that's right. It's been -- it's taken place very quickly. We've made it possible. We've opened it up. And thank you. And just if you look at oil prices, we're very happy we did, because it would not be a pretty picture right now. But now we don't need others. In the old days, we needed others, and that's how we got involved in the
Mick?
DIRECTOR MULVANEY: Mr. President, this is our second deregulatory day here. We had a chance to talk about this in the
And everybody in the
On the banking front -- which I sort of spent some time with across the street in my other job -- the neat thing about that is that you look around the table -- even the folks with the cameras -- everyone here needs their community banks to be strong because they need access to capital, folks need mortgages, they need to borrow money for cars. And when our banking industry is strong, everybody else here does better. And we've made some real good progress on that the last couple weeks.
THE PRESIDENT: Good job. Sonny?
SECRETARY PERDUE: Mr. President, I've told you before, but your deregulatory agenda, as well as your trade agenda for American agriculture, has been tremendous. The farmers, ranchers, and foresters of America appreciate what you've done and understand that your heart for rural America is greater than they've seen. They understand that you've got a heart for the working men and women who produce our food and fiber out here.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Sonny. Thank you. Would you like to say --
ADMINISTRATOR RAO: Sure. I think, Mr. President, one thing that we could highlight is that regulatory reform is in part about furthering individual liberty and the rule of law. And Americans are hardworking and productive, and when government gets out of the way, we can see that jobs are created, businesses grow, and innovation flourishes, which benefits, really, all Americans. So thank you for that.
THE PRESIDENT: Well stated. Thank you very much.
Well, thank you all very much. We'll talk for a little while. And we appreciate it. Thank you all very much.
Congratulations on 2 million miles. Two millions miles -- that's a lot of miles.
Q Mr. President, you talk about unnecessary regulations, but earlier this week, your administration proposed a new regulation on the drug industry, in terms of the price of drugs being disclosed in their television advertisements. So, for you, sir, what's your criteria to make a determination between unnecessary and necessary --
THE PRESIDENT: It's a very simple criteria: We want to get drug prices down. And we're going to have advertising -- subject to final approval, we're going to have advertising of drug prices so that people can see how much drugs are, and they can price them.
Right now, you're not allowed. In fact, pharmacies aren't even allowed to talk about prices. They're not allowed to talk about competitors. They're not allowed to say that, "Well, this drug is this much, and this drug is that much." You know that. It's against the law.
We're opening it up so that these people have to be more competitive. And it's going to have a huge positive impact on drug prices, we think.
And so, essentially, even when they advertise on television, they're going to talk about the pricing. So when people are sitting at home, they can say, "Wow, that drug is X dollars, and this drug is the same drug by a different company, and it's here." I think it's going to have a huge competitive advantage. We're bringing drug prices down.
Not only did
So I actually like that question. I'm very proud of that.
Q Well, I'll ask another one then, sir. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: This is going to be a beauty, right" (Laughter.) Go ahead.
Q Republicans generally have suggested that they don't want to pick winners and losers in the economy --
THE PRESIDENT: Right.
Q -- by putting their finger on certain industries to succeed and certain to fail. But you've taken a different approach. You've picked winners and losers in terms of steel and aluminum, coal, and --
THE PRESIDENT: No, not losers. No. I want to only pick winners. I want winners in our economy. Steel was -- we weren't going to have a steel industry. Steel is a very important, you know, category. It's not like -- let's say, even making that, or making a piece of wood that nobody knows where it's going.
We need steel. We need steel for defense. We need steel for many things. But maybe more importantly than anything, we need steel for defense and potential defense. We can't be buying our steel from
We have reinvigorated our steel industry, and it's a tremendous thing. We've reinvigorated aluminum. Aluminum was a disaster. We have reinvigorated -- and others.
No, I want every business to thrive. Our miners now are thriving. Our miners now are absolutely thriving. And clean coal is a great thing. And it's another source. It has to compete against natural gas. It has to compete against a lot of different things, including solar and including wind and including all of those things.
Now, they're much, much more expensive, as you know. They're much, much more expensive. In fact, they need subsidy. And if you don't give them subsidy -- I don't like energy that needs subsidy. But if you don't give them subsidy, they don't work -- solar, wind, et cetera. They need massive subsidy.
You take a look at the money that was spent on these windmills that are killing all birds and lots of other problems, and destroying values. And I'm okay with -- I don't like giving subsidy to that, though. Especially when you have energy that's so abundant for 500 years. That's so abundant that, frankly, is in many cases one-tenth and even better than that -- the cost.
So -- but I'm for all industries. There's nothing that I don't like. I want it all working. That's why we're doing so well.
Q Mr. President, there's been concern you might have been giving cover to the Saudis.
THE PRESIDENT: No, not at all. No. I just want to find out what's happening. In fact, Secretary of State Pompeo is going to be back probably late tonight or early tomorrow morning. He went to
With that being said,
And they are an ally. We have other very good allies in the
When I went there, they committed to purchase
So they're an important ally, but I want to find out what happened, where is the fault, and we will probably know that by the end of the week. But
Q Why not send the FBI over" We're talking about a man who lived across the river in
THE PRESIDENT: Well, he wasn't a citizen of this country, for one thing. And we're going to determine that. And you don't know whether or not we have, do you?
Q Well, I --
THE PRESIDENT: No, but do you know whether or not we've sent the FBI?
Q Have you sent the FBI?
THE PRESIDENT: I'm not going to tell you. (Laughter.)
Q Well, then I don't know. Why won't you tell us?
THE PRESIDENT: Why would I tell you" Go ahead.
Q Have you asked for this audio, video, intelligence that the Turks (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: We have asked for it, if it exists. We have asked for it.
Q You have asked" But you haven't gotten it?
THE PRESIDENT: We've asked for it, if it exists.
Q Are you surprised that they haven't turned it over?
THE PRESIDENT: No. I'm not sure yet that it exists. Probably does. Possibly does. I'll have a full report on that from Mike when he comes back.
Q Thank you, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: That's one of the things I very -- that's going to be the first question I ask him.
Q Mr. President, there's been some talk after the midterms about spending being reined in up on the Hill. I'm curious, is there any programs that you'd like to see kind of reined --
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I will tell you that I'm having a
And last year -- first year -- I had to do something with the military. The military was falling apart. It was depleted. It was in very bad shape. And that's why we went for two years --
We've rebuilt and are in the process of rebuilding our military to a level that it's never been before. I had to do that. In order to get the
So when you look at the border -- how bad it is -- that's because the
But we're going to be asking for a 5 percent cut from every Secretary today.
Okay, we're going to see you at the
Thank you very much. We'll see you in a couple of minutes.
END
The



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