POTUS on Saudi claims and announcement: “Well, I think it’s a good first step. It’s a big step. It’s a lot of people. A lot of people involved. And I think it’s a great first step....
2/ “...We have a tremendous order. Probably the people around this table have the vast percentage of the $110-billion order from Saudi. We have $450 billion. But on defense, we have $110 billion....
3/“... And I would say, almost 100 percent of it would be sitting right around this table with the great companies. Raytheon is here, too. Just great companies.
It's very important...
It's very important...
4/“... I don’t want to look over and tell Marillyn or Dennis, ‘By the way, we’re going to take $25 billion worth of sales away from you,’ because that would mean a lot of jobs, it would mean a lot of everything. And Saudi Arabia has been a great ally...
5/“... But what happened is unacceptable. We are going to see. They’ve arrested -- just for the people at the table -- a large number of people having to do with the event that took place in Turkey and ...the Saudi consulate. And it’s a big first step....
6/“... It’s only a first step, but it’s a big first step.”
Q Do you consider it credible, their explanation, for --
THE PRESIDENT: “I do. I do. I mean, it’s -- again, it’s early. We haven’t finished our review or investigation....
Q Do you consider it credible, their explanation, for --
THE PRESIDENT: “I do. I do. I mean, it’s -- again, it’s early. We haven’t finished our review or investigation....
7/“... But it’s -- I think it’s a very important first step, and it happened sooner than people thought it would happen.”
8/ Q Did you know, sir, that it was a fistfight? And as result of the fistfight, Mr. Khashoggi was killed.
POTUS: “Well, I don’t know that that was -- I don’t know that that’s -- I mean, that’s a theory that’s being thrown out. I don’t think anybody said that....
POTUS: “Well, I don’t know that that was -- I don’t know that that’s -- I mean, that’s a theory that’s being thrown out. I don’t think anybody said that....
9/ “But they’re saying there was a fight. But that’s a theory that was put out. But they’re going to be giving us a full report. But they have arrested a large number of people, and a good first step.”
10/ Q Sir, are you concerned that they -- the leadership there lied to you, or other members of the administration, when they denied --
POTUS: “No, I don’t think so at all. Because they weren’t out front with me in terms of, you know, what happened...
POTUS: “No, I don’t think so at all. Because they weren’t out front with me in terms of, you know, what happened...
11/ “...We just got this report from them. And you got it, along with a lot of other people. No. I think that we’ll be talking to them. We’ll see what happens. We may have some questions. We do have some questions. And as I told you, I’ll be working on this with Congress...
12/ “...Congress is very interested in this one, and we’ll be working with Congress. But I would prefer, if there is going to be some form of sanctions...I would prefer that we don’t use, as retribution, cancelling $110 billion worth of work, which means 600,000 jobs...
13/ “...I know it sounds easy and it sounds good, and a lot people have said, ‘Oh, let’s just not sell them a $110-billion order.’ I guess you take it a step further, ‘Let’s not sell them $450 billion,’ which is the largest order in the history of our country...
14/ “...I went there to get that order. Saudi Arabia was my first stop. And everyone thought that was unusual. But I said, I want to order -- ‘I want you to order a tremendous amount of stuff.’ Right? Everything. Your stuff and everybody’s stuff...
15/ “...I’d rather keep the million jobs, and I’d rather find another solution. But this was a good first step today....”
16/ ... Q Sir, do you trust the Saudis to carry out an impartial investigation given that the Crown Prince is kind of in charge of it? Or do you think a third party should be involved?
17/ POTUS: “Well, we have 3rd parties involved. We’re involved...Turkey is involved. And I wouldn’t say they’re exactly friends. I would think that Turkey and Saudi Arabia, they’re not too friendly. And Turkey is involved, and others are involved, frankly...
18/ “...People are not happy about what happened. But this is a very big turnover when you look at the number of people that they say were involved. That was a very big -- that was a very important thing that they did. And they did it soon...
19/ “...You know, we thought it was going to be the end of next week. They did it soon, which I think is very smart. But, no, I would have to say they have been our ally. We’ve had great relationships with them. This is a horrible event. It has not gone unnoticed. Ok?” ###
