i hate to say that. it is our job to lay the case in front of them and if they choose to go the other way, god bless them. we must do all we can. i was so awestruck by you people is here i see a group of people really putting it all out to make a difference in this world. congratulations to all of you. you are amazing. shelley -- shall we do one more question? >> how concerned are you that unlike when reagan's cuts took effect in 1983, interest rates had begun to dramatically decline in 82. but in 2018, rates are going up. dr. laffer: these other economists, i will call them other economists. there is a demand curve and a supply curve. in all of the markets.

-- >> as you saw friday the administration has sanctions seven russian oligarchs and 17 top government officials and allies of russian president vladimir putin. today's sanctions and the totality of the administration's actions is actually correct when he says no one has been tougher on russia. ,e want a positive relationship but for this to happen there must be a significant change in their behavior. the president and the first lady to welcomingorward the president and mrs. mccrone macron from- mrs. france. they will enjoy a private dinner historic,ernon, the our nation's first president, george washington. this setting will serve as a reminder of rinses unique status

as america's first ally. -- france's unique status as america's first ally. a terrificaster is person. on a personal note it has been a privilege to serve alongside him and to travel around the world, advancing the presidents america-first foreign policy. his decades long career is in inspiration to us all. the president wishes him well. they will continue to be great and will no doubt be seeing a lot of each other in the years ahead. >> what effect did the announcement today have on the post by the president? >> we will continue, as the president has said. goodnts to have a relationship with russia, but

that's going to depend on some of the actions by the russians. at the same time the president is going to be tough until we see that change take place. we can to have that meeting and a meeting with vladimir putin at some point. this not suggest racking up tensions in the relationship? >> that is up to the individuals and believers and hopefully put some pressure for russia to change their behavior. >> aren't you sending a very distinct single best distinct signal that he would have to respond negatively to it? >> we hope he will respond positively. we would like them to change their behavior. we are not going to get into all those details right now. to see ifuld like

that halladay of the behavior change. >> what was it that prompted the president last night to come up with the statement that he is threatening another -- threatening tariffs on $100 billion in chinese goods? what was the purpose of helping them? >> the united states is responding to actions that have gone on for decades. they have engaged in unfair and illegal trade practices. changed like to see them . and that's the purpose. announced $60 billion and up to two another 100 billion on top of that. is actuallydent going to do something and be tough when no one else is willing to do this.

created this problem and the president is putting pressure on them to fix it and take back some of the terrible actions they have had over the last several decades. >> steve mnuchin, treasury secretary said it was not intended to -- this could ignite a trade war, how concerned is the president that this could tip the balance? the stock market took a look at that statement. >> this is something china has created an president trump is trying to fix it. we are moving forward in that process, we are going to continue putting pressure on china to stop the illegal and unfair trade practices they have continued for decades. we don't want is to come to that. the president wants its to move to a process of fairness, to free and fair and open trade. >> does the president think trade wars are easy to win? think the president goes

like if he is in charge of these negotiations, absolutely. he has confidence to move things forward. in whichok at the deal the president was able to get a much better deal for the united states, we have made great progress on nafta. we hope to have great progress on trade negotiations with china. president said it came out with this journey coming up. rates and levels nobody has ever seen before. said it came out with this journey coming up. >> i believe it was the l.a. times. there is also a well documented fact that a lot of the people believe up to 80% in recent years of women that are making that journey have been raped. the president is saying it is simply unacceptable.

saying the drug smugglers, the traffickers, this is something that has been in recent years. we know there could be some fluctuation. change.s to is the firstdent time -- frankly we shouldn't be in this situation. actions longe before today. and some really courageous and bold action might president trump has done. step?n is the next do you want them to come forward and negotiate? >> we want to be able to

stopiate, we want to illegal trade practices. being a huge detriment to the businesses. the dow is down nearly 4000 points since january 26. does the president believe any of that is attributed to any of the president's actions of theing the tariffs president has announced on steel and aluminum, perhaps the terror of the president intends to impose on china? anything related to what the administration has done is that time period? >> we are focused on long-term economic principles. have not been implement it and are months away. the president has cleared the way for a strong economic environment.

forward ong to push long-term economic principles. but we're not going to allow it country like china to continue to have these unfair and illegal trade practices to >> but getting back to my question -- trade practices. >> getting back to my question, any action the president has taken, anything he has done or said, do you think is attributable to the stock market decline? >> the actions of the president have strengthened our economy. we have created 3 million new jobs, we have gotten regulation out of the way. we are focused on a long-term economic principle. >> about the behavior the day -- it's ridiculous that you guys say that. earlier this week the president stood on a stage in an open

press room. he has continued to do that through action. to say that the president hasn't addressed it directly, he did that while standing on stage with leaders of the baltic country with him at every single one of you earlier this week. >> on the sanctions he has not spoken out. he hasn't condemned the elected -- the alleged to versions of western democracies, all of the things your administration has outlined. >> we speak on behalf of the president. it speaks volumes on how the

president feels and it exactly underscores what he said earlier this week when he says no one has been tougher on russia. >> has he been advised by anyone? the decision that he will make, right now not having any personnel. he has restored it back to its original purpose protecting the environment, it has unnecessary regulations out of the way. are continuing to review any of the concerns we have created if there is anything further on that front. let's be respectful, i will call on you one at a time. >> everything reported as of being true.

are doing right now. the president thinks he's been doing a good job on the purpose of carrying out the goals of the epa. >> two quick ones. that sort of the ongoing feud with amazon and send the president was focused on the post office and in discussions with the post office. but the president or any part of the administration. >> i'm not aware of anything specific taking place in amazon. we are looking at ways to help the post office.

the post office has lost tens of billions of dollars. i'm not aware of anything on the table. >> whether the u.s. and china are actively in negotiations now or the routine, -- that you are with direct negotiations. negotiation period. >> one following up on that, chinese officials said negotiations would not be possible. what is your response to that?

until then we are going to continue moving forward in this process. >> farmers have suggested that volatility has made it hard to plan for the upcoming season. many of whom supported the president. >> we're working directly with the department of agriculture. the president has directed secretary perdue to do a we can to protect our farmers. >> thank you. the white house has to come up with policies to match what the president said to talk about the military at the border.

can you talk anything about that perception. >> i don't understand how civics works. he is deal they won with the authority to do so. to implement those policies that he announces or that he makes. he's doing what the american people asked him to do. that's to come here to change washington. border -- >> i wanted to get an update on to theional guard

border. a couple of things the secretary was saying, it could happen as early as night. just wondering if you could update us. california hasn't said what they plan to do, they are still reviewing, will you go ahead with the plan? >> we hope to have a national guard on the ground. there is not a specific time -- going to be as many as it takes. we are looking at what that needs to be. inare going to move forward that process. the president thinks it's a good first step.

>> really fast, what happens when the honduran caravan gets there and you have this presence what going to happen? inthe mexican government conjunction with our team and this administration has broken up a lot of that and is continuing to do so. in terms of what the specifics will look like, it will be working in conjunction with cvp. supplementing them and those efforts. ira for you to the individual states. >> what is the administration doing?

because of the internet, because of people being able to correspond, how is the lookingration talking to them as the problem? >> we are working with the post office, we are doing it will review and looking at the best ways to modernize that. no specific policy announcements on that front. but we have ongoing conversations with the u.s. postal service. >> wise the presence of saying millions and millions of -- we have more on china now has the president's top economic adviser spoke with reporters earlier today about the president's threat to triple his terror policy against china. president trump issue that threat after the chinese government said it would rid how you guessed a proposed first un