know, were located. i will tell you that they didn't have a bank of voting machines. they had to make a decision based on past practices and voting populations or turnout. they did the best that they could. but this notion that all of a sudden for convenience that it was the secretary of state -- >> later this week the president and first lady will travel to argentina for the g20 summit. president trump's participation in the g20 summit is a key opportunity to reiterate his commitment to domestic and global economic growth and prosperity. to cement a relationship with other world leaders and advance a global economic system based on fair economic competition and free, fair and reciprocal trade. while at the g20, the president and the delegation will interact with many leaders, including bilateral meetings with the president of argentina, the president of russia, prime

minister of japan and the chancellor of germany in a working dinner with the president of china. to speak more about the g20 and what the president intends to accomplish, i would like to welcome to the podium director of national economic council larry kudlow and following him, national security adviser ambassador john bolton. after their remarks, both will be available to take your questions on the g20 and other foreign policy news of the day. then i will be back up to take other questions on news of the day. >> thank you, sarah. thanks, everybody. let me just walk through some quick things and then i want to mention some things the president talked to us just a little while ago. as sarah said, g20, it's not actually the g20 when we count it up properly, as ambassador bolton points out. it's much more than the g20. now, in terms of the u.s.

positions, we are going to use this as an opportunity to talk about our measures of tax cuts and deregulations and reskilling and job training and so forth that have generated significant economic growth and prosperity. that includes women's economic empowerment. as sarah mentioned, free, fair and reciprocal trade and trade reform. there will be discussions of infrastructure finance and also the u.s. emergence as the dominant energy power in the world. in terms of the much discussed meeting, it's going to be a dinner meeting between president trump and president xi, and representatives from both sides. it will be bilateral. i want to just mention what the president told us a short while ago, and that is in his view, there's a good possibility that a deal can be made than he is

open to that. he is open to that. having said that, some caveats, as always. certain conditions have to be met with respect to fairness and reciprocity as we have said many times. for example, issues of intellectual property theft must be solved. forced technology transfers must be solved. significant tariffs and non-tariff barriers must be solved. issues of ownership have to be solved. the president will probably reiterate his view. we want a world ideally of zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers and zero subsidies. now, whether they get through all that remains to be seen but that's the president's point of view, as i said just a little

while ago. the u.s. is coming to the summit in very good shape. our economy is quite strong, it's growing at 3% over the past year. second quarter was 4.2%, third quarter was 3.5%. perhaps be revised upwards. we have a very strong holiday season, so-called black friday, very strong. we have had tremendous investment, business investments, energy investments, oil prices and gasoline prices coming down. that helps consumers, of course. we are in very good shape. china, not so good. i'm not here to critique or second-guess the chinese economy, but most observers believe china to be in a slump, whereas the united states is in a very strong, solid position going into this summit. however, again, to repeat, the president said there's a good possibility that we can make a deal and he is open to it. but on the other hand, if these

conditions i mentioned a few moments ago are not met, not dealt with, the president has said look, he's perfectly happy to stand on his tariff policies which 10% last $200 billion, scheduled to go to 25%. that's not a certainty but that's the schedule. and he has said as recently as yesterday, the day before, if need be, if things don't work out in this u.s./china summit meeting, he will invoke another $267 odd billion in tariffs. that may not be the first choice. i'm saying that is his view, if we can't get something done and things have been moving very slowly between the two countr s countries, until the president himself called president xi and said let's restart. let's try to get things going again. and then since then, he's made positive comments about that.

so we will see. as i said, the key u.s. goal is around growth and prosperity and our economy is in good shape. theirs is not. i will just leave it right there. john, do you want to add something to that or you want me to take some questions? you sure? okay, good. let me take some questions and try to help out on this. yes. >> reporter: i would like you to address some concerns recently from representatives of italy, france and germany who say we are actually backing away from the national stage and they fear that russia will be the dominant economic force in europe and the middle east in the coming years. could you address those concerns, a, and b, can you tell us a little bit if you can about the layoffs at gm? >> well, i will talk to you about gm's layoffs. regarding the russia story, i will leave that to my long-time friend and colleague, john bolton. i met with mary barra yesterday.

we had a lengthy conversation about the layoffs, what caused the layoffs. it's a great disappointment, obviously. the president indicated his own disappointment. he believes as the prime minister of canada, trudeau, believes, that the usmca deal was a great help to the automobile industry and to auto workers, and by the way, they made those statements separately. and yet gm comes in right after the deal, by the way, that deal will be signed in argentina with the u.s. and canadian representative. so there's great disappointment there. there's disappointment that it seems like gm would rather build its electric cars in china rather than in the united sta s states. we are going to be looking at certain subsidies regarding electric cars and others, whether they should apply or not. i can't say anything final about

that, but we're looking into it. again, that reflects the president's own disappointment regarding these actions. miss barra told me, on the other hand, i want to be completely fair here, it's her business, it may be possible to transfer workers to other plants in texas and michigan. i'm not an expert on general motors. i'm not an analyst, auto analyst, but that's what she said. but obviously there's a lot of disappointment, even anger. i have heard it again from mr. trudeau, from president trump, from democrats and republicans. >> reporter: just to follow, do you think it will adversely affect our economy coming into the christmas season? and after it? >> no. i mean, look, i don't want anybody to get laid off. i want workers to do very well. i want worker wages to do well, and they are. that's one of the great things. you know, there's a certain amount of pessimism that i'm reading about, maybe it has to do with really a mild stock market correction. let's not forget a couple weeks ago just on this very point, we

had 250,000 new jobs which was a blockbuster number. nobody really expected it. it was 3.1% yearly gain in wages and 3.7% unemployment rate. those are very spiffy numbers by any benchmark, in any metric so again, holiday season layoffs from gm is brutal. brutal. all right? very disappointing. will it affect the overall economy, i don't think so. i do not think so. yes. >> reporter: the question of the tariffs, if these talks with president xi go nowhere, and we move forward with this escalation of tariffs that you've described which, correct me if i'm wrong, would be the biggest addition of tariffs we have seen in your lifetime, what will the impact be on the u.s. economy? >> it's a long period of time you mentioned. >> reporter: you have been a

committed free trader for almost all of those years. what will be the impact on the u.s. economy if we see tariffs go up to the degree that you just described? >> you know, we'll see what happens, okay? i don't want to presuppose anything. the president is going to make up his mind after the meeting. but i will say this. our economy is in very good shape right now. when you multiply through whatever numbers you want to use, 250 billion or tack on another tranche which may or may not happen, at a 10% tariff rate or more, it's really just a fraction of our economy, okay? it's just a fraction of our economy. i'm not suggesting that there aren't winners and losers in that game. it's a complicated game. but on the other hand, i think we are in far better shape to weather this than the chinese are, and i will say one thing. i appreciate your characterization. i am a free trader.

but you have to ask yourself, this is what president trump has been talking about, is it free trade when there's clear evidence of unfair and wto illegal trading practices by china for several decades? is that fair? is that free? is it free when intellectual property theft occurs or when chinese ownership of american companies force transference of technology from american companies to the chinese companies? is that fair? or high tariffs on agriculture and industrial supplies, is that fair. so president trump is the first president in, i don't know, at least 20 years and i'm including democrats and republicans, who not only has made this case but continues to make this case forcefully and to take actions to defend american workers and

our overall economy. other presidents in both parties have raised the issue and then walked away from it. and president trump obviously doesn't intend to. you know, this is under the heading i think for him of promises made, promises kept. it's something he's talked about for several years and he now continues. if china will come to the table or, in this case, the dinner table, with some new ideas and some new attitudes and some new cooperation, as the president said, there's a good possibility they can make a deal. he's open to it. so nothing is written in cement or stone but again, for a free trader, where's the free trade? and for several months now since i've been here, the president and i have talked about this, you know. we would love to see a world of zero tariffs and zero non-tariff barriers and zero subsidies. we would love to see that world.

but unfortunately, we don't have that world, particularly with respect to china, but not only china. so he's taking actions that he thinks will get us closer to that world. we go around. yes, please. >> reporter: just another gm question. when the president said yesterday they better damn well open a new plant there very quickly, was he just venting his frustration or does he have some consequences in mind if they don't? >> you know, i'm going to leave that to him. you may find additional announcements coming on that topic. is there more? let me go in the back. >> reporter: i wanted to ask you about what the ambassador said recently -- >> who? >> reporter: the chinese ambassador to the united states. his thought was that there would be a real risk to global -- to the global markets if there wasn't a deal, that they could become trapped in it as well. how big are the stakes if you can't reach a deal?

>> look, the ambassador makes a point. now, if he would do his part or his government would do their part, then we can all make a much better point. that's what president trump is saying. i will read you the quote again. there's a good possibility we can make a deal. he's open to it. but certain conditions have to be met, certain things have to be changed. and the president again, in the spirit of promises made, promises kept, is going to defend the interests of american workers and ranchers and small businesses and the economy writ large. let me just add one other point to this. the rest of the world agrees with us. we signed at the u.n., for example, the trilateral agreement with eu, the united states and japan. worth looking at that document,

which outlines what they call non-market abuses, read china. just recently before the shanghai conference, where president xi was to give an important speech, i'm not sure there was much new there but in any case, just before that conference, with no prodding from the u.s., the french and german ambassadors to china wrote a very tough piece going after, again, non-market unfair non-reciprocal trading practices. there is broad-based support for the american position here which is china should change its practices and come into the community of responsible trading nations. they can do that, right. they are a major economy right

now. it's not like they were 25 or 30 years ago. we would welcome it. the president has said he's happy to make a deal but they have to take certain actions and give certain assurances. so you know -- >> reporter: -- the g20, getting that support around your position from other countries at the g20? >> i'm sure we will. i'm sure we will. we have in many other forums. yes, please. >> reporter: tariffs are in effect a tax on imported products that are paid for by the consumer. so does the president realize that these escalated tariffs are going to be paid for by the american citizen? >> well, look, he realizes the ramifications. as i said earlier, given the strength of our economy, given the size of our economy, we are in a position to deal with this and handle this very well. that's the key point.

and i'm not so sure about china but i'll leave that to china experts and so forth and so on. the benefit, let me just look at the other side of the ledger, it's very important. the benefits of true free trade globally will be enormous. if we go back to the idea of zero tariffs and zero non-tariff barriers and zero subsidies, if china plays by the rules, even the wto rules and all that needs reforming in our judgment, that they are violating those rules, if we do have a free trading system or we move in the direction of a free trading system, true free trading system, we will benefit enormously and frankly, we will benefit, they will benefit, the rest of the world will benefit. free trade throws off enormous benefits when it's done properly and consistently and in a reciprocal manner.

that's the point. the president emphasized and he's absolutely right. so you know, i think of it as possibly a long rainbow here. at the end of that rainbow is a pot of gold. you open up that pot and you have prosperity for the rest of the world, but you've got to get through that long rainbow. we're not there yet. we can get there. the president is reaching out but we'll see how that works. yes, go ahead. >> reporter: thank you, sir. earlier, you mentioned lower oil and gas prices as evidence the president's economic policy is working. you mentioned the u.s. becoming the global dominant energy player. but days ago, the president said that it was necessary to let saudi arabia and its crown prince get away with ordering the murder of a "washington post" journalist because saudi arabia assures low gas prices. which one is it, sir?

>> i'm going to let ambassador bolton handle that question. i'm trying so hard to swim in my own lane. i think john will help out with that whole discussion. he's sitting there much too calmly and quietly. get him up here. we have known each other a very long time. you're on, john. >> i'm delighted to be here. i don't really have much to add. sarah gave you the list of bilaterals, just updated a little bit because we are trying to pill every minute of the president's schedule. she said he's going to meet with the host government of argentina, he will meet with president moon of south korea, he will meet with president erdogan of turkey, prime minister abe of japan. that will transform at some point during that meeting into a

trilateral meeting with the prime minister of india, and then as sarah said, the president will meet with president putin and have a working dinner with president xi. right here. >> reporter: does the president have any plans in the works to meet with the saudi crown prince? >> no. look, the bilateral schedule is full to overflowing at this point, and so those are the ones i've listed that he will be meeting with. yes, ma'am. >> reporter: hello. yes, i have a question about the border tensions right now with the u.s. and mexico. the u.s. launched tear gas cannisters into mexican soil and i'm wondering if you've -- if mexico has given the go ahead before that happened, and what is the u.s. doing to mitigate tensions right now with the

incoming administration? >> i don't think that's really a subject of the g20, but i can say that secretary of state pompeo, who will be attending the g20 and therefore will not be accompanying vice president pence to the inauguration on saturday the 1st, secretary pompeo will fly overnight from argentina to mexico and will meet with the new foreign minister of mexico on sunday the 2nd, and they will have a full conversation about all the issues in connection with the border. >> reporter: what do you expect to be on the agenda for the president's meeting with putin? >> well, i think all of the issues that we have on security issues, on arms control issues, on regional issues, including the middle east. i think it will be a full agenda. i think it will be a continuation of their discussion in helsinki.

>> reporter: what about ukraine? >> reporter: thank you so much. two questions. i know trade is one of the priorities. for the past two years, brazil's, we have had a trade surplus with brazil. [ indiscernible ] what should we expect related to trade relationship with brazil, the new brazil government? should we expect more cooperation or more tariffs like those on fuel and aluminum and another on venezuela which is a priority of the meeting, what kind of cooperation are you expecting with the new brazilian government? are you guys going to discuss sanctions? >> the meeting with the president-elect came as a result of president trump's call on

election night in brazil to congratulate the president-elect. they had a really outstanding phone call. i think developed a personal relationship remotely. president trump was the first foreign leader to call the president-elect so following up on this, we thought it would be useful and certainly very helpful to the united states to hear from the president-elect what his priorities are, what he's looking for in the relationship from the perspective of the united states. we see this as a historic opportunity for brazil and the united states to work together in a whole host of areas, economics, security, and a range of others. so i'm really looking forward to hearing what the president-elect's priorities are, try and respond to them, try to tell him a little about what president trump's views are

and hopefully when the president-elect is inaugurated on january 1st, that the two leaders can really get off to a running start. i'm just really there to prepare the ground for them. >> reporter: you tweeted earlier today about a case involving american families being held in china. is the president, have you talked to the president about this case? if so, what has he told you and will he bring this up directly in the meeting with xi jinping, expect the families will be allowed to leave to force the trade deal? >> i have discussed the question of american hostages and people wrongfully held with him on a whole range of subjects. i don't want to get into what his reaction was because i don't think those conversations should be public. but this is a matter of real concern to us, and i think given that the range of issues that president xi and president trump will be covering it's entirely possible that would come up. >> reporter: that meeting with president putin and president trump, will president trump

condemns russia's aggression in ukraine? does the u.s. consider it an act of war and has he spoken with putin or poroshenko about what happened? ... i want to just follow up that audio intelligent and the killing jamal khashoggi, have you heard that tape -- [inaudible] and one file one. >> am i supposed to run brothers? >> finally, is it true the white house is blocking gina haspell

appeared >> let me take the question of the tape first. no, i haven't listened to it. i guess i should ask you why i think i should. what do you think all learn from it? [inaudible] >> how many in this room speak arabic? [inaudible] >> you want me to listen to it? if they were speaking korean i wouldn't learn anything more for me. the maxima should be able to tell you. >> do not read a transcript. >> you just don't think it's important national security. >> i'm making a point that everyone has to listen to the point, sees the care of the i'm aware you going to get from it? the president has spoken to our position on this issue. he spoken very clearly amounts our position here [inaudible]

>> taxpayer in the back. [inaudible] brazil probably is going to follow -- [inaudible] the last sanctions by blocking information of the new government. so how do we put all this together? is it going to be in the g simon >> i expected in the bilateral meetings, depending on the country that there will be substantial conversation about counterterrorism efforts where we participate together. that is certainly some thing that may well come up in brazil and i think it is one of president trump's biggest priorities to extend cooperation , whether it's hezbollah or hamas or whatever.

entirely likely. >> going back to the khashoggi issue, and even informed about an issue is part of national security. in the midst of it, why not get to hear what happened. you can find out a little bit more. >> people who speak arabic have listened to the tape and they have given us the substance of what the net. [inaudible] >> you could hear the emotion can understand what happened at the time and to convey to the world would have been. >> am very satisfied that we know what the tape picked up and it was factored into the president's decision and he announced his position very

clearly. >> economic security, national security should be in your lane. >> i was going to defer to larry. >> the talks with china this idea of some sense of optimism going into this saturday night dinner with xi. is it based on a notion that xi is going to suddenly say the technology transfer, i don't know what we were thinking. love level the playing field. >> i think president trump has developed a very positive relationship with president xi. they've met, spoken over the phone. both leaders carry into any discussion like this their national interest and i think it's in start and the chinese believe the same thing centiliters exchange their views

in the presence of their senior advisers and not with the expectation that this meeting there will be some substantial agreement, but that there would be an indication, way ahead the advisers could then pursue. i see sarah is so eager to be here to answer your question. >> i was going to give him one more. >> can answer the question that was deferred to him. >> i think he's already gone. as you know, the new president of mexico will be inaugurated on saturday to represent the united dates in mexico city. president trump is the vice president. the later delegation will include the second lady of the united states. secretary of energy area. secretary of homeland security kiersten nelson. advisor to the president ivanka trump. united states embassy in mexico

city john cramer and assistant secretary of state kimberly breyer. lastly this morning within the sadness of three u.s. service members were killed and three wounded when an explosive device detonated in afghanistan. the wounded service members were evacuated and are receiving medical care. we extend our thoughts and prayers to the loved ones of those killed and those recovering to the united states is grateful for their service and forever indebted their sacrifice. what.com i'll take your questions. >> paul manafort met with trillion assigned to run the time he was coming on board to the tram campaign. do you remain confident in the white house the white house repeated denial no campaign officials were involved in discussions about plan -- [inaudible] >> certainly remain confident in the white house assertion that the president was involved in no wrongdoing, was not part of any collusion. the things that have to deal with mr. manafort.

>> the president said this morning that robert mueller is ruining people's lives. is he considering paul manafort or others who are prosecuted? >> i'm not aware of any conversations for anyone involved in the people. >> if you can follow up he also said this morning he's doing tremendous damage to the criminal justice system. if that is true come as he considering picking up the phone and call in as acting attorney general and fading fire robert mueller? >> the president has had robert mueller doing his job for the last two years -- [inaudible] he is no intent to do anything. [inaudible] children as well as adults.

we are the president talk about that, but one thing we did not hear from him was any threat -- [inaudible] does the white house regret that this situation took place in our these investigations underway to prevent this happening again? >> certainly, the white house would never want children to be in harms way in any capacity what the weather. however, that is why we are continuing to encourage people to follow the law and go to ports of entry. law enforcement officials have used appropriate nonlethal force to protect themselves and prevent an illegal rush across the border. let's also not forget this isn't the first time that nonlethal force like this has been used. in fact commit tear gas was used on average once a month during the obama administration for very similar circumstances. in fact, they were actually far less circumstances because they didn't have the same numbers in

the rush we are seen in this caravan take place. certainly, no one wants women or children or any individuals to have this happen, which is why we've encouraged them to follow the law and go to ports of injury. [inaudible] is the white house ruling out any interactions with the saudi crown prince [inaudible] >> i wouldn't say we've ruled out any interaction. another president schedule is pretty packed and has a number involved in the g20 as well as a number of bylaws. i don't think there's any time for us to have anything additional whether or not there is some interaction. we will keep you guys posted. >> yesterday in mississippi, the president asked a question and he said how does he fit in i guess suggesting that he doesn't

again. what does the president mean by that? >> due to the fact that the election taking place today, i'm not going to comment on anything that could affect anything taking place in mississippi and certainly comments on not after today. [inaudible] >> does the administration have a position to provide -- [inaudible] >> i'm not aware of anything official. >> will you from the podium: the ecuadorian government to confirm whether or not some sort of meeting may have taken place between paul manafort in julian a staunch? >> certainly we encourage the process to continue to play out. i'm not going to get engaged in specifics of that. >> president trump has implied a

potential new deal is a done deal, treating that migrants will stay in mexico -- [inaudible] how far along are talks of the new mexican administration about the so-called remain in mexico policy? >> those conversations continue. we won't have a final decision until the new government actually takes over, which will happen on saturday and on monday we expect a new foreign minister for mexico to meet and sit down with white house administration officials and the department of homeland security, secretary kirstjen nielsen. >> press secretary pompeo will brief the whole sign it on the murder. why is the leader of the u.s. intelligence agency, is particularly gina haspell human

expect to hear from. >> ambassador bolton addresses. i'm not going to comment on behalf of the director in that capacity. >> i want to ask you about your administration. the president when asked about the economic forecast, he essentially didn't believe it the take away for many people is the president feels necessarily what is ability to lead under this country or the world on climate change and preventing the calamity of your administration forecast. do you agree with that view and if not. >> the president is certainly a leading on what matters most in this process and that is having clean air, clean water. the united states continues to be a leader on that front. even obama's undersecretary for science didn't believe the radical conclusions of the report released and you have to look at the fact that this report is based on the most extreme model scenario which contradicts long-established trends and it's an extremely

complicated clients but never exact. the biggest thing we can do is focus on how to make sure we have the cleanest air, cleanest water in the president is certainly doing that and landing on that front. >> media with all the leaders of the road in the industrialized nations. isn't it an opportunity to say this is what my my administration as reported by the time we act in concert to prevent but my administration is forecasted? >> once again, we think this is the most extreme version and it's not based on facts. it is not data driven. would like to see something that is more data driven based on modeling which is extremely hard to do when you're talking about the climate. our focus is on making sure we have the safest, cleanest air and water and the president will do exactly that. >> president trump early on in january 2017 matt with victory

automakers and wanted to make it a place to manage their products -- [inaudible] what does this action by gm say? >> at disappointing to see that gm decided to lay off these workers are the president has been extremely committed to bringing manufacturing jobs back to the 90s days, which is why since he took office wasting 400,000 new manufacturing jobs created in the united states because of his policies that we've seen grow. this is not about the president. it's about the fact their make in a car that people don't want to buy and hopefully they'll make adjustments and make changes and bring those back. >> sir, back to paul manafort and the special counsel's office saying he is violating the terms of the plea agreement by lying to investigators, with the president recommend that mr. manafort is beginning to cooperate, offer full cooperation of the special counsel's office? >> we can only speak to what our

role is in a process that not only has the president that the entire administration been fully cooperative with the special counsel's office providing hours and hours of sick downs as well as 4 million pages and documents. we continue to be cooperative, but we also know there was no collusion and were ready for this to wrap up. >> just to follow up. the president doesn't believe the warnings in the report. the president doesn't believe the cia when it comes to jamal khashoggi. >> that's not accurate. >> why disney have faith and his advisors? that's not true. the president has a great deal of faith in the intelligence community and certainly in the team he's around, however i've addressed enough to add on that front. >> he said that's not true. he doesn't believe the cia. he said the other day may be dead, maybe he didn't. >> we haven't seen dit