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At the Pentagon officially to speak about the Missile Defense Review, Trump returns to his pitch for a border wall. He blames Democrats for the shutdown, claims the party has been taken over by the "radical left," and warns of new caravans that include unknown people.
Trump usually claims that a wall will stop human trafficking from Mexico. (Experts say no.) This time he says, "Stop human hijacking."
Trump says that what he has done to Iran is "rather miraculous." He says quietly, "It's not the same. And it won't be the same. And I do believe they want to talk."
Trump likes to add the word "offense" to speeches about defense. He says, "My upcoming budget will invest in a space-based missile defense layer. It's new technology. It's ultimately going to be a very, very big part of our defense. And, obviously, of our offense."
Trump on his military philosophy: "There are some very bad players out there. And we're a good player. But we can be far worse than anybody if need be."
Trump is complaining about how the U.S. offers military protection to countries that have lots of money. He says he is "honoured" to do it, but they need to send the U.S. some of that money.
Trump on U.S. military protection to allied countries: "Wealthy, wealthy countries that we're protecting are all under notice. And all are cooperating very nicely. I would say they probably liked other presidents more than me, but that's OK. I don't blame them."
Trump is repeating his newly frequent lie about how he used to be very popular in polls of Europe but has now gone down in the polls there. He was never popular in polls of Europe.
For the 11th time, Trump lies that NATO spending was declining before he took office: "Until that, it was just going down. For 15 years, it was just going down." Defense spending by members rose by 1.84 per cent in 2015 and 3.08 per cent in 2016, official NATO figures show.
Trump to the military at the Pentagon: "We cannot be the fools for others. We cannot be. We don't want to be called that. And I will tell you, for many years, behind your backs, that's what they were saying."
Trump has finished at the Pentagon. He mixed some generic prepared comments about missile defense with some prepared immigration potshots at Democrats and with his usual unscripted laments about U.S. military alliances.
A recurring feature of Trump's rhetoric: talk of people laughing at other people or calling them idiots behind their backs.
