mid-september in our nation's capital. >> bill: say to them, the president said he wants people m tonight's dinner in the rose garden. it should be nice. >> bill: i hope the weather is clear you are. under the beacon. >> julie: i will see you on monday. the 25 starts now. >> harris: fox news alert, we are waiting president trump's joint news conference with australia's prime minister. the president is expected to address a range of issues. again, we might say. including the white house's standoff with democrats over a whistle-blower complaint. it is reportedly over president trump's communications with a foreign leader. he is likely to address iran and those attacks on saudi arabia's oil refinery, as well. we are going to bring the presidents remarks live when they begin. in the meantime, another fox news alert. a critical moment in the showdown with iran. president trump to meet where military officials are today, waiting a response to the attacks on saudi oil facilities.

this is to is "outnumbered" and i'm melissa francis. here today, my partner on this every friday, harris faulkner. fox news contributor, jessica tarlov. most of the evening at it on the fox business network, elizabeth macdonald. and in the center seat, one of my personal favorites. guy benson, fox news contributor and host of the guy benson radio show. he is "outnumbered." i guess i'm not supposed to show favoritism like that. [laughter] >> jessica: it's already been done. >> guy: i'm fine with it as long as it's me. [laughter] >> harris: i know congratulations are in order. you got that left-hand bling. >> melissa: good for you, we are happy for you! let's get to business. president trump just hours ago speaking on a response to last weekend's attacks in saudi arabia. he did not rule out a military option, and he said this. >> these are the highest sanctions ever imposed on a country. we've never done it to this level. it's too bad what's happening with iran, it's going to hell.

doing poorly. they are practically broke. they are broke. they could solve the problem very easily. all they have to do is stop with the terror. they have been the number one, as you know very well, the number one country worldwide of terror. >> melissa: in the meantime, defense officials say they will present the president today with a range of possible responses to the attacks, like boosting troops in the region, or potential extracts. iran has warned strikes will spark "all-out war," and it denies it was behind the attacks. former obama defense secretary leon panetta says the u.s. has to act. >> well, there is no question, if the evidence continues to show that iran was behind this, it does constitute what secretary pompeo called an act of war against saudi arabia.

i think it is going to demand some kind of response. hopefully that the united states and saudi arabia can agree on. >> melissa: but some democratic lawmakers say president trump provoked iran by pulling the u.s. out of the 2015 nuclear deal. >> with the iranians be behaving themselves? no, they wouldn't. but what they are doing and saudi arabia, with these tankers, all the misbehavior they are doing, they are doing it because we walked away from an agreement that we didn't need to walk away from. so we also need to remember that we are where we are because of the actions of donald trump. >> melissa: guy, another way to look at that would be the under the agreement they were getting everything they wanted. they were getting tons of money, foreign investment, and they were very happy. the anywhere-any time inspection thing was a lie. but with a maximum pressure campaign, they are lashing out because it is causing pain.

>> guy: is just historically wrong to suggest iran was behaving itself. he calls it "misbehavior." they were not behaving themselves on missile tests. they were not behaving themselves also to illicit activities. they were not behaving themselves on terrorism and the exporting of terrorism. they were not behaving themselves when it came to meddling in the region. iran has been this way for decades, and you pretend like this is somehow the fault of president trump instead of the fault of the iranian regime i think is deeply wrong, and frankly it's in the responsible thing to say. >> harris: i know jessica disagrees with you. >> jessica: i do. it's a little more complicated than just straight disagreement. i never think iran is a good actor. they have the worst intentions, especially for israel, and for us. that is the backdrop to all of this negotiation that goes on. no matter the partisan affiliation of the administration. and we talked about this yesterday, i raised the issue

there are many officials including secretary pompeo, former dni dan coats, on record saying they were complying with the deal. i think what the congressman's doing, and senator kaine made this argument as well, saying that we pulled out of the steel and there is no replacement. president trump promised us a replacement. our allies are standing there saying, "what are we going to do about this?" and it is a provocation to pull out of the deal with no runway to get something else done. >> melissa: except for volunteering again and again to sit down and talk. the president has said repeatedly, "my plan and my goal, what i'm doing here is ratcheting up the pressure. at the same time i'm saying, let's sit down and talk." to think that is effective? >> elizabeth: i do think it's effective. they are trying to get a mideast coalition along with the u.k. to go against iran. saudi arabia and iran have been in a 30-year cold war. to say that the jcpoa revocation provoked this, i think it's a

little bit fatally naive. iran has been speaking wmd since 1962. it's been assassinating its own men, women, children. its own activists, secular government officials. it's been doing terror-backing and financing terrorist groups, including islamic jihad and hamas and hezbollah for decades. to say that they are going to be bad actors, the revocation of that, i just don't think -- i think that's like a corner of it. i think it's a bigger picture. >> melissa: go ahead. >> harris: i was going to ask your question, guy. how complicated will get for those european and other coalition members, should we be able to sweep them up in the issue going forth? what will it look like? military, more sanctions, obviously more sanctions against iran. because they are doing business with iran. if you do in the united states, are you kind of walking a fine -- don't you have to exit the deal? what does it look like? >> guy: it's very complicated.

going back to the original premise, some of the countries that want to remain in the iran nuclear deal and are desperate to extend it or alter it in some way and keep it a line, one that comes to mind is the u.k. but look at what iran is doing to u.k. flag vessels. so iran doesn't necessarily care about what nd and internationay does. they are acting in their own interests, they are shooting our drums out of the sky. at least one of them. >> harris: they are putting iran first. >> guy: they are, in their twisted way. i get frustrated when it seems like the choices are only diplomacy or only a ground invasion of iran. there are tactical military actions that should be on the table. it seems like president trump is very reluctant to go there. i understand why he might be reluctant. but if you teach the lesson over and over again to iran, that no matter what they do -- and of course they have the blood of americans on their hands in iraq and elsewhere -- if you get to do that sort of thing with impunity, i think that's dangerous. >> melissa: but i would wonder, do we need to do

anything different than what we are doing now? maybe this proves -- and this was a theory at heard from another analyst yesterday, military analyst -- this proves what we are doing is working. because they are getting more and more desperate and lashing out. it proves that the sanctions are really hurting. they are sort of lashing out in all these different ways. as you continue to put the pressure on, and at the same time say "talk about what we can actually do to be a better actor or around the world," as opposed to moving your site somewhere else and only letting them look in places where you've made sure there's nothing there to see, maybe what we are doing is working. >> elizabeth: with the president did today was a slap sanctions on iran's national bank. the question now, will other countries help iran cheat? you need dollars to settle oil trade. so how was the rest of the world going to react to that? the squeeze is now on iran.

>> jessica: there is the other elements, we are not talking about a nuclear weapon right now because they are shooting up oil fields and going after tankers, but that is part of this conversation. it's foundational for why we needed the deal. they've been very clear that since we've pulled out they have broken the deal vis-a-vis nuclear enrichment. that will continue. there are two highways. >> elizabeth: but they were cheating -- >> guy: they were doing both of those things all along. >> jessica: they weren't according to our own top officials and officials from all of our allied countries. >> melissa: incorrect, because we weren't allowed to look in all the places where we suspected there was nuclear weapons. >> jessica: but i don't know why then-secretary pompeo is saying they complied -- >> melissa: they complied with the deal that president obama lied to us about what was in it. yes, he did. he said we will have any time, anywhere in sections. it's very easy to get that tape. that was a lie because we weren't allowed to go anywhere, anytime. we will continue to keep an eye on the white house and bring to the president's remarks when they begin. plus, a comedian fired even before he started.

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>> harris: awaiting a live event at the white house with the president of the united states and the prime minister of australia. this is part two of their big day today. we saw them inside the oval office for that traditional photo op that turned into quite the conversation with reporters, and now the moment that the reporters get to ask their questions, in that dual news conference at the president does

with state leaders. he's doing it said it again with prime minister morrison of australia. as soon as it begins, we will be taking you to a seat the double lecterns inside the white house. keep watching. >> it was blackface. people who live with the kind of discrimination that far too many people do because of the color of their skin, or their history, or their origins, or their language or their religion, face on a regular basis. i didn't see that, from the layers of privilege that i have. >> harris: whew, awkward. canadian prime ministers justin trudeau apologizing again after a third image surfaced of him with a dark and face. he also says he doesn't know if there are more images out there. the scandal broke out as he was in a tight reelection battle. some in his liberal party, including minorities, rallying around him.

the diverse crowd supporting him. one treated this -- "what justin trudeau did was wrong. he has apologized. i know it is not representative of the men he is. this is a teachable moment for all of us. i accept his apology and i hope canadians do, too." and then there is the leader of canada's leftist new democratic party. watch this. >> if not for me to say whether or not his apologies canadians cannabis can accept. there's love questions about who the real mr. trudeau is. when he speaks about helping out people, and really it speaks to a question of who he's in it for. >> harris: wow. speaking plainly. jessica, i come to you first. >> jessica: i remain conflicted, 24 hours later, about this. i go back to something i think about a lot. the people we elect to office

are supposed to be the best of all of us. [laughter] >> melissa: so optimistic of you! >> jessica: i am the pollyanna on the couch, so i will continue with it. i do believe that, that this is how people who have a higher calling to public service, they often forgo bigger salaries to go into the public sector. there are plenty of people, especially gen xers, who didn't ever think it was okay to wear black face. it's not a common thing to do. as dagen said on the couch, she grew up in the deep south, the '70s and '80s, and she knew it was wrong to do. i don't know if we need to have people in office who've done things like that. >> harris: having family from the south, it's different than canada. the politics there. right? and their history with race in canada is different. their history with slavery. i'm not going to say there weren't some of the same issues that come up, but i've been trying to do the calculus of how

this plays for the canadians. we overlay like tapestry our own experiences as people of color and people of diversity, in all senses. whether it's lgbt, whatever. points of view. when we look at someone else's politics, this wasn't just one. he says he doesn't know how many images are out there. >> jessica: and he was almost 30. >> harris: didn't they do any venting? how different our canadian politics from everybody else's, for him to get to the point -- and his dad had the job he has now. we are talking a litany of time and effort to look at someone's background. we would think or hope over time to hold them to that upper standard you are talking about. what do you think? >> guy: as you say, he was an adult the last time that we know of that he wore a black face. he couldn't rule out additional images, additional videos coming out. it was 2001. >> harris: he was a teacher. >> guy: he was a teacher and an adult and 2001. understand now he's trying to play luke bingo to get out of

this. [laughter] >> harris: i'm sorry, i have to laugh at that. >> guy: that's what it is! is using all the terms of trying to assuage the woke crowd. but his entire images mr. inclusion, mr. lefty. to have this over and over again, example after example, of him using blackface, it's astonishing to watch. >> elizabeth: and he's blaming privilege. the time "time" magazine is sag coverture point, he was a 29 euros teacher at that time. he was the only person at that party wearing blackface. i would like to quote piers morgan, if i can. he said, "arguably the most woke, virtue-signaling and pc leader in history of mankind, or people kind as he insisted we rename it last year, turns out to have a cracked halo. i have not met a high horse rider yet who doesn't eventually tumble off into a pit of shameless hypocrisy." basically saying he was the

epitome of self-righteousness, a bundle of concern. now he is enforcing that he is a racist." >> melissa: piers morgan rode that? this is what we've seen with governor northam, and others in this country where it has come out that they were doing whatever behind the scenes. or maybe even openly. who are these people, really? i've always thought in politics what gets you going is her authenticity. whatever you say about the current president, he is who he is. just good reasons to read a lot. "oh, my goodness, what's coming?" look, he is who he is. with the president says -- he maybe asked about it at the news conference coming up, we don't know. we'll cover it live. he said that's not the justin trudeau he knows. perhaps that's not the justin trudeau anybody knows. that's complicated in politics no matter what country. >> melissa: i think you hit the nail on the head. in today's politics, it is about authenticity. because they're too many moments, too much of a digital history, too many pictures in

the background. you tweet, everybody knows who you are. when he tried to pretend you are something that you are not, eventually it comes out. that's one of the biggest problems with this. it shows him to be not the person he said he was. >> elizabeth: do you think it hurts them in the upcoming election? >> melissa: that question. >> jessica: i don't think he was this, but i don't see how it can't be affected. >> guy: i feel like if it was a right-leaning figure, it would be over. it would be curtains. >> jessica: kay ivey did and apologize for. >> guy: but in terms of eras. >> harris: don't ask me to have the president now with the prime minister of australia. we heard them in the oval taking questions from reporters. but this is the official press conference. we will listen in now. >> president trump: we had a spectacular morning, and it's an honor being with the prime minister and mrs. morrison.

thank you very much. australia is a fantastic country and a brilliant ally. we just spent a lot of time together with our representatives, and they get along very well. we are doing a lot of deals, and we talked to military, we talked trade, about everything you can talk about. we came to the same conclusion, i think, in every case. i just want to say, it's an honor having both of you here. thank you very much. you have a truly great country and i don't think we ever had a better relationship than we have right now. tonight we are going to have something very special in the rose garden. based on all of that money be spent and all of that weather-predicting equipment, they are saying no chance of rain. let's see if that's right. if it is, we will run back into this room. [laughter] but we are going to have a fantastic evening, and first lady, thank you very much. he worked very hard on this. it's not going to rain. it's going to be a beautiful

evening. great job. really great job, honey. thank you. please. [applause] >> prime minister morrison: thank you mr. president and mr. trump. we think you also for the warm and generous welcome that jenny and i and our delegation have had here in washington. this great home of the american presidency, your home. one of the many things of the president and i share in common is a passion for jobs. the job performance here in the united states, the jobs that are being created in australia, the jobs that change people's lives. when people get a job, they've got choices. australia and the united states, we are committed to creating jobs. whether it is in trade, looking at the future, where those jobs are going to come from, we want our people to have those economic opportunities. i commend the president on the great work he has done in creating jobs in the united states. we are doing the same thing in australia. we want to keep creating jobs, and this partnership is a big part of that.

that's why we are pleased to come together here. we share objectives in so many areas. we share common values, we share beliefs. we have shared a wonderful sentry together and i we are going to have another great century together. thank you, mr. president. thank you for the opportunities for the discussions we've had today. we are very much looking forward to the state dinner this evening. mrs. trump, you are doing special there tonight. we don't know if it's the first ever, but as the president said, perhaps the first ever. that's a great innovation part of this wonderful visit. thank you very much. >> harris: thank you very much, it's a great honor. go ahead, please. >> reporter: mr. president, you can been negotiating with the chinese. they were supposed to be a possibility, in terms of a china trade deal, that they might offer some agricultural purchases. as i going to be enough for you, sir, in order to get a deal done? what do you need to see to get a deal past the finish line? >> president trump: we are looking for a complete deal. i'm not looking for a partial deal. china has been starting to buy

are our agricultural product over the past week. very big purchases. but that's not what i'm looking for. we are looking for the big deal. we have taken it at this level. we are taking in billions and billions of dollars of tariffs. china has devalue their currency and they are putting a lot of money into their economy. they have a very bad economy right now, and i don't want them to have a bad economy, but it's the worst in, they say, 57 years. first it was the worst in 22 years, now it's 57 years, and it's only going to be worse. their supply chain is being broken up very badly. companies are leaving because they can't pay the 25, soon to go to 30% tariff. we have 30% very shortly on 250 billion. another tariff that is slightly smaller, as you know, on about $300 billion worth of goods and products. so they would like to do something. as you know, we are talking a

little bit this week. talking a lot next week. top people are going to be speaking the week following. but i'm not looking for a partial deal. i'm looking for a complete deal. >> reporter: do you think you need it before the election? >> president trump: no, i don't think i need it before the election. people know we are doing a great job. i have rebuilt the military. scott and i were talking about that. we spent $1.5 trillion. when i came in, our military was depleted. frankly, we didn't have ammunition. but our military wasn't very bad shape. we have rebuilt the military, got one of the strongest economies. mike pence actually got -- he's right here, our great vice president -- he was talking yesterday and he said, "these consumer numbers are incredible. the retail numbers that came out two days ago that really were not reported, they were dozen credible numbers. you know that very well. that's your world. our economy is very strong. china is being affected very

badly. we are not. we are not being effective. in fact, we are taking in many billions of dollars. china is eating that. they are eating the tariffs because of the devaluation. that doesn't happen with all countries. china is china. they know what they're doing as well as anybody. my relationship with president xi is a very amazing one. a very good one. but we have right now a little spat. but i think we are doing very well. our country is doing well. you look at so many different things, look at all the regulation-cutting that allows us to do but we did. look at what happened three days ago, where you have an attack like that and it takes a big chunk out of the oil and the price goes up $4, $5. now it's heading down rapidly. if that would have happened years ago, it would have gone up $50. it would have doubled. this was a blip. so it's been really amazing what we have been able to do.

i don't think it has an impact on the election, i think the voters understand that. i think it would be positive for the election of something happened, but that's okay. i think signing the usmca on a bipartisan basis with nancy pelosi and chuck schumer and everybody else, very bipartisan. i think that's important for our country. i would certainly be willing to say that's a bipartisan deal. but i think it's very important for manufacturers, our farmers, even for unions. they want that deal done. hopefully that will be put up to a vote very soon. they will be very little cajoling of the democrats because most democrats want it, too. but the mca is ready to be voted on. it is finished. mexico has taken their final votes. candidate is willing to do it anytime we want them to. they are all set to go. we need that for our country. it's a great deal. it's a great deal. thank you. reported back for the prime minister, sir, your economy is to some degree caught in the cross current between united states and china. what you say to the president about what your ideal outcome is between a china treaty agreement

between the u.s. and china? >> prime minister morrison: thank you. obviously, we came to see the united states and china be able to come to an agreement. what is always necessary, deals have got to be fair, they've got to be good deals. they have to be sustainable deals. i think one of the things we've seen, australia has benefited greatly from the strategic partnership with china and the free trade agreement with china. they have grown and they have become a substantive economy in the world. once you sort of get into that level, you need to be able to play with the same rules as the other developed nations. i think this is the new generation of deals i think we will see china do, which the president has been working on. he's been working on it for some time and we wish him well in that process. there are some real serious issues that have to be addressed in that deal. things like intellectual property. that's a big issue and it needs to be addressed. so we looked forward to them

achieving it, and that would provide the broader certainty to the economy, which all nations will benefit from. >> president trump: and we can do, scott, very big deal with china. it can go quickly, as you know. but it wouldn't be the appropriate deal. you have to do it right. that's a complicated deal come with intellectual property protection. we have to do that, and other things. i could leave laws out and have a deal very quickly. but we want to do it right. please. i assume andrew is a nice person? [laughter] >> reporter: the best. thank you for hosting. also on china and tariffs, what do you say to australian businesses and to australian people who say that you are trade war with president xi president xi threatens their prosperity to and to the

prime minister, a linked question. do you think that australians are going to be collateral damage in president trump's tariff war with china? >> president trump: first of all, i look at numbers, i love numbers. the numbers of australia are doing incredibly well. you are doing unbelievably well. when we have a deal with china, or not, but when we have a deal with china because they want to make it perhaps more than i want to make it -- because i love all the billions of dollars pouring into our treasury. billions and billions of dollars. we've never seen that before from china. it's always been the other way. and i'm taking care of our farmers out of that. we are helping our farmers. our farmers were targeted, and they were targeted for $16 billion. i made that up to them. we paid them the $6 billion and add tens of billions of dollars left over. i will say, though, australia is doing very well. if we do end up doing a deal,

australia will do even better. we are discussing that. but australia will be one of the big beneficiaries of a deal. in the meantime, as you know, i did tariff relief with respect to a certain product in particular coming out of australia. that is something we wouldn't do for anybody else. this has been a truly great ally, and we work very well together. humor numbers are absolutely fantastic, your economy is strong like ours, and i think wo countries doing extremely well. some countries are doing so well. europe is not doing well, large parts of asia are not doing well. china is not doing well. please. >> reporter: thanks. mr. president , australia is in its 29th year of economic growth, which is a mixed ordinary national treatment. >> prime minister morrison: we will continue to grow, as our most recent accounts demonstrated. australia is also very used to dealing with the conflicts of a

changing world. that's why we have diversified our trade base and have been doing that for many years. six years ago, when our government came to office, amid 27% of our trade covered by agreements around the world. that figure is now 70%. we are going to take that to 90%. that's important. that's opening up opportunities. there are ebbs and flows in the global economy, and australia has built up in a resilience. we are taking our economy to the world. australia has never gotten rich selling things to itself. we've always had an outward-looking perspective when it comes to engaging our economic opportunities. a big part of what we've been discussing here are new opportunities. whether it's in railroads, critical minerals, frontier technologies, space. this is where jobs are going to be in the future, as well. we will deal with those ebbs and flows as they come. the president is right -- the

arrangement they will come to, and i'm confident they will, with china, will be one that will set a new bar in terms of how china's economy then deals with a lot of these complicated issues in the future. with economies like australia. we look on with interest and i think when we arrive at that point it will put global trade on the stronger footing. >> president trump: australia has been so focused on the economy. they do minerals, they have incredible wealth in minerals. add coal and other things. they are really at the leading edge of coal technology. clean coal, we call it. but it's also great for the workers. things that would happen, because it was very dangerous years ago and very bad for a lot of people. you have rectified that 100%. it's incredible. i looked at your statistics the other day, and coal miners are very, very safe and australia. it's incredible what you have

done. in fact, we are looking at what you have done. >> prime minister morrison: we will do a deal! [laughs] >> president trump: we will do a deal. go ahead, please. >> reporter: thank you. in the midst of these escalating tensions with iran, you have now named a new national security advisor, robert o'brien. >> president trump: yes. >> reporter: what is he recommending to you in terms of dealing with the latest in saudi arabia? you have new sections on the run. secretary mnuchin says this affects the last available funds for that regime. have we now exhausted sanctions in regards to iran? >> president trump: these are the strongest sanctions ever put on the country. we are at a level of sanctions that is far greater than ever before, with respect to iran. today we did central bank, as you know. we will see. they are having a lot of problems. not only with us. they are having problems within their own country. i think they have a lot of

self-made problems. we are by far the strongest military in the world, and going into iraq to be very easy decision. as i said before, it would be the easiest thing. most people thought i would go in within two seconds. plenty of time, plenty of time. in the meantime, they have a lot of problems within iran. iran could be a great country, a rich country. but they are choosing to go a different way. they will be appointed, and they will be very sorry for that choice. i think i'm showing great strength. some people appreciate it, and some don't. others say i should go in immediately. others are so thrilled with what i'm doing. i don't do it for anybody, i do it for what's good for the united states and our allies. it's working out very well. as far as robert is concerned, maybe you can stand up. robert o'brien is in a fantastib for us with hostage negotiation.

i think we can say there has never been anybody that has done better than you and i as a combination. we've brought many people home. we brought them home quickly. speed is very important thing, i find, with hostages. it is really something. i had dinner the other night with the warmbier family. an incredible family. the whole family and some of otto's friends. people over on saturday night. we did that dinner, in the otto's honor. it was a beautiful thing. a beautiful thing. the first lady and i, it was very touching. really, very beautiful. we talked about otto. i will tell you, people should have moved faster. robert and i were talking about that. they should have moved faster. he was there for a long time. you have to move fast.

with hostages, you have to move fast. all of the sudden it gets very hard for the other side to do anything. sometimes it's just too late. in the case of otto, it was very late. we got him home but he was in a horrible horrible condition, what happened to him. it was incredible, just horribl horrible. you have to move fast. robert and i have been very successful. the reason i know him, i worked hard on hostages. i think he would say that. most presidents wouldn't do that, but i do. i guess in almost all cases, american lives, we help other people. we've also helped other countries with their hostage situations. we have some strength that they don't. these are great people, and we get them home. we got them home from north korea, as you know. we got them home from a lot of different locations. egypt, we get them home. we get them home for many different locations.

turkey. president erdogan was very good and we got a house at home. our great pastor, whom everybody at home knows and loves. we had tremendous success. what surprised me, i didn't know who too many people who knew robert. when it came time to pick someone for the position, it was a critical time. i had so many people -- i shouldn't say this in front of robert, he'll be embarrassed -- but i had so many people who called me and they recommended robert o'brien. so i think he's going to do a great job. he was here -- i can tell you this, he started about 12 minutes after he was chosen. he sat in with us. he is very much involved now on what we are doing. >> reporter: one quick follow-up on that in regards to iran. if sanctions don't work and they continue their maligned activity, are there any other measures outside of a military option that can be taken? >> president trump: i don't want to talk about that, but i will say i think the sanctions work, and the military would work, but that is a very severe

form of winning. but we win. nobody can beat us militarily. no one can even come close. what we've done for our military and the last three years is incredible. all made in the usa, by the way. it's really incredible. our nuclear was getting very tired. they hadn't spend the money on it. now we have it in, as we say, tippy-top shape. it's incredible, and we should all pray we never have to use it. we should never have to use it. our military itself is in phenomenal shape. we have a great gentleman, as you know, going to be taking over. joint chief of staff, joe dunford has been fantastic. he's a great man and a friend of mine. i put general milius is going be

taking over. we will have a celebration, both for joe and for everybody. as you know, our secretary of defense has just come in. mark esper. he's been here for a short period of time, but he's got tremendous energy. he's got it. he knows that. that's what he's been doing for a long period of time. from the day he graduated. or maybe i should say from the day he started at west point, where he was a topic top top scholar, et cetera. we have incredible group of people. steve nugent is here. we did the sanctions today, and i think they are probably the strongest. we will certainly never do that to australia, i promise you. >> reporter: one for the prime minister, if i may? you've been very tough on huawei, even under pressure. you've been very consistent with the ban, even though you said you have a good working relationship with china, and they are important for your economy.

do you plan to continue to support the united states and the tough stance on china? can you give any more specifics about what you told the president he would do to reach a new trade deal? >> prime minister morrison: festival, we have the most perfect of relationships with the united states. he goes back centuries, and more, as the president was reminding us on the lawn this morning. we have a strategic partnership with china. this is the part of the world in which we live. managing that relationship is important to australia's national interest. one thing i can always assure you, and i think the president can say the same, we we will as come both of us, act in the national interest of our countries. will put their interest first. that means engaging countries in our own region. not just economically, but in a people to people level, too. we have a lot of operations we do together right across the world militarily. we will continue to do that. the focus at the end of the day has to be what's best for our people. that means a stable, secure

region. in the president of the united states, in the indo pacific, where they've been for a very long time, is a stabilizing force in the region. what does that mean? it means countries can change the lack trade with each other. economies can develop. people come out of poverty. the united states has had a positive presence in our region pay that's why we were together, because we share objectives. it isn't a matter of the united states sang to us, "we need you to do this," or australia to sing to the united states, "we need to do this." it's about looking at the world through a similar lens. that does naturally brings us together, to focus on the things that promote prosperity. as i started out my remarks today, we love jobs, the president and i. we love the jobs here and we liked jobs everywhere. when people have jobs, they tend to focus a bit more on the things that are going on in their lives every day, making sure they can live peacefully with each other.

her >> president trump: in our meeting we discussed, i said, "what percentage of your military do you buy from us?" and the answer was that we work together, or it's about 100%. close to 100%. we make the best equipment, he understands that. but it's a rare relationship. they buy 100% of the military -- and that's a massive purchase. it's gotten bigger. i guess the biggest picture since world war ii. >> prime minister morrison: we came up from the lowest level of defense spending of the economy since prior to the second world war. some of the $200 billion investment. a lot of that is being built in australia but it's also being built in partnership with the united states. and other allies. it's an important part of what we are doing. but i think david crow from australia was next. >> reporter: it thank very much.

on the question of iran, mr. president, you have praised the australian commitment today to deal with iran in the persian gulf. in your talks today with mr. morrison, did you discuss for the military action in order to keep the pressure on iran? what might those military actions be, and what could australia contribute to that? and mr. morrison, on that -- >> president trump: hold it once i can, you will get a second. you will get to shut pie ministry. [laughter] i'm sure you're looking forward to it. we didn't discuss too much of iran. we discussed more trade, more china. we discussed afghanistan. australia is helping us. we are slowly reducing in afghanistan, as people know. we've been very effective in afghanistan. if we wanted to do a certain method of war, we would win that very quickly. many, many, really, tens of millions of people would be

killed. we think it's unnecessary. but australia has been a great help to us in afghanistan. we are reducing in afghanistan. we are reducing where we've taken over 100% of the caliphate. 100%. when he came it was smaller but it was a mess, it was all over. as i said before the prisoners, we have thousands of isis fighters from our work in capturing 100% of the caliphate. we are asking the countries from where they came, whether it's germany or france or other countries, to take these people back. put them on trial, do they have to do. but the united states will not keep thousands and thousands of people for the next possibly 50 years or whatever it may be. we'll be up to those countries. we did them a big favor.

we went in, we took them down. the isis fighters in the end weren't very good fighters against the united states. but we have thousands of them, and we want them to be taken over by germany, france, and all of those countries from where they came. okay? >> reporter: thank you. mr. morrison, on the same issue of iran, are you open to further military action against iran? or is the australian commitment solely contained to a freedom of navigation and patrol exercise? >> prime minister morrison: as the president said, there are no further activities planned or requested for assistance from australia. the question to that extent is moot. i want to commend his restraint in the oval office. there are questions that he and the secretary have announced today, and they are pursuing those channels.

the calibrated, i think, and very measured response that the united states is taking has been a matter for them, and at any time when issues are raised for us. we consider them on their merits at the time, and australia's interests. i think that is where that is hitting. >> president trump: thank you very much. and jennifer, thank you very much. the first lady. i hope you will be able to see tonight through the media because it'll be be a beautiful evening and in honor of austraa and the morrisons. thank you. [applause] >> melissa: bc president trump here concluding the press conference with the prime minister of australia, scott morrison. they went through a number of topics, explaining what they had talked about behind closed doors. he said much of the conversation focused on china and the deals that needed to be made there. although he was asked the question, "do you need to make a deal before the next election?"

and president trump said no. but that they are aligned on that issue. our president fielded a lot of questions on iran and he did answer them, although he said it was not a huge subject between these two. the prime minister of australia, for his part, talked about the places where the u.s. and australia naturally see things through the same lines, especially him and president trump. he talked about the fact, "we both love jobs." >> harris: back for just a second with the deal on china, i thought it was also noteworthy that he said he's looking for a "complete deal." that he's not going to piecemeal this. he sort of said what they have right now is a little tiff. a small drift. that sort of thing. but he says the bipartisan signing of the usmca is very important. i left out the s part. >> melissa: there's a lot of letters. >> harris: speaker of the house pelosi and the minority leader in the senate, chuck schumer, it they say they

anticipate there will be a lot of pushing back from democrats. because everybody understands that it's good for manufacturing, so on, and so forth. he puts that ahead of what might potentially be able to happen with china. because he looks at that at being farther off. >> melissa: on the subject of iran again, at the top he had steven mnuchin, the treasury secretary, about more sanctions coming on. this would be the most sanctions anybody has ever put on any country, whatever it was. saying that at this point they have really piled on. >> harris: he talked about the banking institutions, what they are doing. we already know that they went after some of those religious leaders in iran already, and their personal finances. he looked befuddled, what's happening? >> guy: i'm trying to unpack his answer about isis. we saw this earlier in the day in the oval office. he talked about this big victory over the caliphate, which is real. i think it's a real feather in the u.s. military's cat.

he said we don't want to take the expensive housing these fighters, these terrorists come indefinitely. so he wants europe's help. fine. but he said earlier today, if they don't get that help he's going to release the isis fighters at the border somewhere and let them go. and i'm just -- >> harris: recapture, and if nobody takes them, he will recapture. >> guy: and do it with him? i would love some follow-ups on what he's talking about there. i don't think he beat the caliphate and make threats to europe to just release the people who were defending the caliphate. >> harris: e-mac, you have been the disposition of where you and i will give an interview and you're the person at the nes conference. "you don't get to the interview?" that i felt like that after the oval office talk. that came up in the oval office, where that photo op that came into a really long conversation. nobody followed up on it.

>> elizabeth: i don't think he would release isis of the board in any country. i don't think anybody would do that. your point about what the president is trying to get accomplished right now, in terms of the mexico-canada trade deal, let's do the lay of the land. the democrats are going into 2020 almost virtually empty handed. less legislative victories than the prior congress. so you would think they would want to get that deal done. the president did say he would consider an interim deal. they are supposed to treat it as a 150-page deal with china out there. when he says he wants a more complete deal. so he feels are now, it's kind of like taking the temperature. you can feel he feels like he's in a stronger position at this point. as with iran, he is saying, "we are going to negotiate." secretary of state mike pompeo is looking forward to providing approach, which is really

interesting. >> melissa: i thought it was interesting, too, if you listen to the language around the usmc usmca. he's not attacking nancy pelosi and chuck schumer for not bringing it to the floor. and chad pergram, our brain at d.c. comics leans more about what's going on behind the scenes. that it's not in the shape to be sent to the floor yet. that's one of the reasons why justin trudeau was calling nancy pelosi and trying to work on a deal there. that she is looking for more in terms of enforcement. they are getting close to a deal, but if i was interesting that we know now why president trump isn't really hammering. we saw there, he's not hammering democrats. working to get over the finish line. i think everyone is working on the usmca, don't you? >> jessica: i do think that the bipartisan priority. that's correct. there was more language, he included "union." the unions were do something that they are laser focused on.

it's a feather in the cap for joe biden, doing better disproportionately with the unions. elizabeth warren has been making some inter-roads. to your point, liz, about no policy win democrats going into the election, that's not true. they passed a litany of legislation. >> elizabeth: forgive me, they have 58 in active bills. less than about 61 from the prior congress. mitch mcconnell has them blocking a lot of legislation because he is saying they are very poorly rendered. >> jessica: because he doesn't want to deal -- >> elizabeth: but the real victories for the president and purging conservative justices on the court. he is working hard on that. >> jessica: that's great, and he has certainly gotten a lot of justice is confirmed. but the areas the democrats are focused on are the ones americans care about. health care, lowering prescription drug prices, making it more affordable and successful. gun control, climate plans. i understand mitch mcconnell is doing his best to make sure we have no progress in those areas, but -- >> guy: he offered a vote on the green new deal wouldn't take

it. >> jessica: you can say that is -- >> guy: a lot of democrats supported. >> melissa: in the same way, paul ryan didn't get credit. democrats don't get credit for things that they don't pass in the house. >> jessica: i'm just saying -- >> melissa: you can count it as a win if it didn't pass through and it's not really nonexistent. >> jessica: if you lived in lauren underwood's district, for instance. she have put forward health care that matters to you -- >> melissa: >> but are they law? >> jessica: no. >> melissa: okay. we'll be right back. . employees need more than just a paycheck. you definitely want to take advantage of all the benefits you can get. 2/3 of employees said that the workplace is an important source for personal savings and protection solutions. the workplace should be a source of financial security. keeping your people happy is what keeps your people. that's financial wellness. put your employees on a path to financial wellness with prudential.

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>> melissa: our thanks to guy benson. any final thoughts here? >> guy: just that i'm wearing my purple tie. go cats. >> melissa: i love it. how about you guys? >> jessica: oh, my god, yes, i'm so excited! tomorrow is bussell's annual festival, and lizzo's or atlanta. i'm going to see lizzo with my mom and they can is coming. >> melissa: is not a newer?

>> jessica: prospect park tomorrow. >> melissa: that sounds amazing. >> elizabeth: i passed. >> melissa: guy benson. have a great week, everybody. we are back monday. here's harris. >> harris: we begin with this. president trump says he is slapping iran with the strongest sanctions ever, put on a countr country. potential motor action. this is "outnumbered overtime." i'm harris faulkner. the present wrapped up remarks with reporters in a joint press conference with the australian prime minister just a few seconds ago. he watched it live with us. he is set to meet with pentagon officials today as they way possible military response due to last weekend attacks on the saudi arabian oil facilities. which could include sending more troops that region. iran denies they are behind those attacks on oil facilities. chief white house correspondent john roberts' love for us at the white house. we have heard from the president twice, with a lot of