Thread by @W7VOA

More than 50 minutes behind schedule, @POTUS news conference with @Quirinale finally due to begin momentarily. whitehouse.gov/live/

And we’re underway. @VP also in room.

@VP As @POTUS begins his remarks, word comes from Ankara that #Turkey is preparing retaliation for US sanctions.

@VP @POTUS "Excuse me, is there a problem?" @POTUS says as a female, apparently Italian voice in the back of the room where the camera crews are interrupts his remarks.

@VP @POTUS And @POTUS back on track, discussing "phase one" of the trade deal with #China which he says "is moving along rapidly."

@VP @POTUS "The US-Italian alliance is stronger than ever before," says @POTUS.

@VP @POTUS US-EU trade problem could be solved instantly with tariffs, says @POTUS, but that would be too harsh.

@VP @POTUS US, #Italy and #EU are united, according to the Italian president in his opening remarks at the news conference.

@VP @POTUS Noting the historical role of the US in the world, Mattarella says it appears Christopher Columbus "did a good job back then."

@VP @POTUS "We are deeply concerned with Turkey's offensive" in #Syria, says the Italian president, noting the large number of civilian victims and the threat it could lead to a resurgent #ISIS. "

@VP @POTUS First question to @FoxNews and @kevincorke.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke "It's sort of natural for them. They fight," says @POTUS in response about #Turkey and the Kurds "who by the way are no angels."

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke "If Russia's going to help in protecting the Kurds, that's a good thing, not a bad thing," adds @POTUS.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke In many ways, Kurdish "PKK is worse of a terrorist threat than ISIS," according to @POTUS.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke "Military-industrial complex...would like me to stay," and keep US forces fighting overseas, according to @POTUS.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke "Turkey and Syria will hopefully work it out between themselves," says @POTUS.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke "I'm the one who gave the order" to capture #ISIS, says @POTUS, explaining he warned Kurdish general not to allow the terrorists in captivity to go free.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke "We're protecting countries that don't even like us," according to @POTUS, adding it's true US sending additional troops to #KSA, which the Saudis are paying for.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke "We're in a great position. We're doing what I said," adds @POTUS.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke If @VP meeting with @RTErdogan isn't successful, then #Turkey faces devastating sanctions, says @POTUS.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke @RTErdogan #Turkey and #Syria will argue and "maybe they will fight it out," predicts @POTUS.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke @RTErdogan "Maybe it goes up to President Obama. I happen to think it does," says @POTUS of #Election2016 "corruption."

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke @RTErdogan "I didn't give him a green light," says @POTUS of his exchange with @RTErdogan.

"When you ask a question like that it's very deceptive," @POTUS adds in response to @jonkarl and chastises his network, @ABC, for broadcasting video it erroneously labeled as explosions in #Syria.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke @RTErdogan @jonkarl @ABC "I'm not going to get involved in a war between Turkey and Syria," reiterates @POTUS and again terms Kurdish PKK worse than #ISIS.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke @RTErdogan @jonkarl @ABC "We're fighting a war for Russia? We're fighting a war for Iran?" asks @POTUS, continuing his exchange with @jonkarl.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke @RTErdogan @jonkarl @ABC "You know what's happened? No American soldiers have been killed" since he withdrew the 26 to 28 U.S. forces in northeast #Syria. "We're the boss."

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke @RTErdogan @jonkarl @ABC And the joint news conference has concluded.

@VP @POTUS @FoxNews @kevincorke @RTErdogan @jonkarl @ABC Our updated @VOANews report: voanews.com/usa/trump-reje…