Thread by @Carrasquillo

I’ve talked to NBC/Telemundo sources who’ve seen the Trump interview airing tonight at 11 pm ET and I saw the transcript. It is something else, particularly the conversation around child separation. Will share highlights tonight.

Since the interview is airing live on YouTube right now, here is the portion on child separation.

Trump repeatedly asserts wrongly that his administration is the one that brought families together and Obama separated them:

“I brought the families together. I'm the one that brought 'em together...They separated. I put 'em together.”

Here’s the end of the exchange on child separation.

Trump reminded of his statement to anchors at the WH — among them @jdbalart at the time — that he would treat Dreamers with “heart,” interrupts and says “don’t do that” before trying to put the end of DACA at the feet of Democratic leaders.

Another thing Trump keeps saying to @jdbalart is “ready?” “Are you ready?” which maybe he’s does before but here comes across as “are you ready for my accepted version of events?”

@jdbalart: “Do you have something against immigrants?”

JOSE DIAZ-BALART:
Let's talk about-- another subject that is very-- recently-- dealt with. Mexico. Do you consider Mexico an ally, an adversary, a friend, or a foe?

PRESIDENT TRUMP:
Well, this week I consider them a friend. (LAUGH)

Trump’s full answer on Mexico combating illegal immigration:

“They've honored the agreement. They've-- if they weren't great, I would put tariffs on them.”

Trump: MX not doing US “dirty work”

“So far they’ve been doing great and that's why I'm not doing tariffs. Otherwise, I would do tariffs. And I don't want to do tariffs to Mexico. But it would be tremendously costly for m-- I don't even know if it would be affordable for Mexico”

On the coming Dem debate: Trump calls Bernie “crazy” and Biden “exhausted.”

@jdbalart asks about Quinnipiac FL poll that says Sanders, Biden, Warren, Buttigieg right now would beat him:

TRUMP:

“I know, but Buttigieg-- do you believe that, really? Do you believe it? They also had me losing Texas to Pocahontas. I'm not losing Texas to anybody.”

Trump’s full riff after saying he wouldn’t “bother too much” in getting into the Dem candidates.

@jdbalart: Are you looking for the Latino vote?

PRESIDENT TRUMP:
Absolutely. And I did well in it last time. And surprisingly-- and I think I'm gonna do much better this time.

JOSE DIAZ-BALART:
Why do you think that?

PRESIDENT TRUMP:
Because I've been tough on Cuba. I love the Cuban people from Miami and elsewhere. I've been very, very tough on Cuba. Nobody's been like me on Cuba.

On Venezuela will the US recognize Juan Guaidó?

TRUMP:
Yeah, we'll see--
JOSE DIAZ-BALART:
And yet nothing's changed.
TRUMP:
Well, it-- it's a process, okay?

I liked @jdbalart response on this part of the transcript:

JOSE DIAZ-BALART:
Back to the economy--
PRESIDENT TRUMP:
The Cubans gave me the Bay of Pigs Award. Did you know that?
JOSE DIAZ-BALART:
I did. Back to-- the situation on the economy.

In one word, how would you define your presidency?

TRUMP:
Well, you-- you can't do it one word. I mean, I can give you a nice, beautiful word. I can talk about-- I can say "excellence," okay? Excellence. And then I leave the interview. But you can't do it in one word.