President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2019

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts   Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key positions in his Administration: Caroline Grace Vanvick of South Carolina, to be an Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Housing and Urban Development. Caroline Vanvick serves as Acting Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, overseeing the Department’s communications efforts, media affairs, and public outreach. Ms. Vanvick previously served as a communications director and senior spokeswoman for representatives in both the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Before her service in the Federal Government, Ms. Vanvick managed operations for a small communications business in South Carolina. She earned a B.A. from the College of Charleston and lives in Washington, D.C. Robert Dole of Kansas, to be a Member of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission.

1600 Daily The White House • September 24, 2019 Our Future Belongs to Patriots, Not to Globalists

The White House • September 24, 2019 Our future belongs to patriots, not to globalists President Donald J. Trump gave a major address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York today, charting a prosperous future for countries the world over—one built on the empowerment of citizens and respect for national sovereignty.  President Trump: “If you want freedom, take pride in your country.” “The future does not belong to globalists—the future belongs to patriots. The future belongs to sovereign and independent nations who protect their citizens, respect their neighbors, and honor the differences that make each country special and unique,” the President said. America today is a prime example of the success that can be had when a country starts focusing on the good of its own people. Before President Trump took office, many leaders around the world, including our own, spent the bulk of their time and energy catering to the opinions of fellow global elites. Lost in the shuffle of this popularity contest were the interests of the working class that built this country. Jobs were outsourced, and a shrinking handful of insiders became wealthier at the expense of everyone else. “Globalism exerted a religious pull over past leaders, causing them to ignore their own national interests,” President Trump said. It’s a different story now, as America has witnessed an economic revival centered around pro-growth, pro-worker policies such as historic tax cuts, deregulation, and trade reform. President Trump reminded world leaders today that the results of this agenda are paying off for those previously left behind. “Wages are rising. Incomes are soaring. And 2.5 million Americans have been lifted out of poverty in less than 3 years,” he said. Throughout today’s speech, he made the case for applying similar approaches to the most pressing issues of our time. All of these ideas have one important thing in common: They put the interests of American people first.   Fighting unfair trade: Old trade deals that outsourced our jobs are being thrown out, replaced by fair ones—such as the NAFTA-revamping USMCA—that give our workers a level playing field.   Protecting individual freedoms: America is leading the way in promoting liberty as a human rights issue throughout the world, including championing the economic role of women in our societies.   Shutting down dangerous open-border advocates: Unprecedented action is being taken to stop illegal immigration and put an end to human smuggling once and for all.   Holding Iran accountable: President Trump called on fellow world leaders to join America in standing up to Iran, the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism.   Promoting a free Western Hemisphere: America stands with the people of Venezuela, and the events taking place there should remind everyone that socialism ultimately leads to poverty and authoritarianism.  Building a better future starts at home. It’s a simple message that President Trump has encouraged his fellow world leaders to embrace from the beginning. If the American blueprint is followed—putting citizens before the ruling class and standing up for democratic sovereignty without hesitation—then real prosperity is never far behind. Must watch: President Trump addresses the 74th Session of the U.N. General Assembly  Yesterday at the U.N.: The President issues global call to protect religious freedom Photo of the Day Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York | September 24, 2019

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT SALIH OF IRAQ BEFORE BILATERAL MEETING Lotte New York Palace New York, New York

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2019

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT SALIH OF IRAQ BEFORE BILATERAL MEETING Lotte New York Palace New York, New York   3:32 P.M. EDT      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, thank you very much.  We’re glad to be joined by the President of Iraq and his representatives.  And I will say that we’ve had a very good couple of meetings with Iraq.  We’re doing well with Iraq.  It’s been a very long and complicated but friendly relationship, especially over the last little while.   I was in Iraq a little while ago, as you know.  And it’s fascinating what’s taking place.      So we’re going to -- we have a lot to talk about.  There’s things to talk about that we can’t talk about in front of you, but we have a lot of good things to talk about.  And you’re doing a fantastic job.  Thank you very much.      PRESIDENT SALIH:  Thank you.      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Thank you.      PRESIDENT SALIH:  Thank you.      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Please.      PRESIDENT SALIH:  It's an opportunity, Mr. President, to reaffirm our gratitude to the United States and the international coalition that has come to help us overcome the tyranny of ISIS and terrorism.      This was an amazing battle.  And Iraqis were in the forefront of this battle, but your support has been absolutely crucial, and we appreciate it.  Now, the task of rebuilding Iraq, reconstructing Iraq, affirming the sovereignty of Iraq, and being a partner in the neighborhood for a more stable Middle East is a hope and an aspiration that we look for the help of the United States and the help of the international community.      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, I understand.  And it has been a great achievement.  We took 100 percent of the caliphate from ISIS.  And ISIS -- now we have thousands and thousands of people that we’ve captured.  These people have done a lot of destruction, not only in that area, in a lot of other areas.  But, as you know, we have thousands of people.  We’ll talk about that also because we’re going to have to do something -- put them on trial, et cetera, et cetera.      But we’ve captured thousands of ISIS fighters and taken back 100 percent of the caliphate.  And when I first became President, it was a mess.  It was a big mess.  And we -- we all worked together and we got it done, but it was a great achievement, so we appreciate that.  And we look forward to our discussion.      Thank you.  Thank you very much.      Q    Thank you.  Mr. President, good to see you.  Iraq has declared that it won’t allow its territory to be used as a launching pad against its neighbors.  Can you assure us that you can control all the rogue elements, especially with the (inaudible), especially that we have two rockets landing?      PRESIDENT SALIH:  It’s our sovereign responsibility.  It’s our sovereign responsibility to abide by our constitution, not -- Iraq not to be used as a base for any threat against our neighbors.  It is work in progress, and Iraq has been a constructive player in the neighborhood, trying to assure all our neighbors that the stability and sovereignty of Iraq is a common interest.      And a lot of things, in that regard, is happening, and I’m looking forward to talking to the President about it.      Q    Mr. President, the French President just now said that it’s time to negotiate with Iran.  Do you believe that the time is now to negotiate with Iran?  And are you going to meet with him today?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, they would like to negotiate.  We haven’t really worked that out.  They’re here, we’re here, but we have not agreed to that yet.  But they would like to negotiate.  And it would certainly make sense, but we have not agreed to that yet.      Q    Are you meeting with Mr. Macron?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  He's also talking to us.  A number of people are.  So is Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan and a lot of people; Chancellor Merkel -- just left Chancellor Merkel.  And she's very much involved.  We have a lot of people involved.  A lot of people would like to get us to the table.  We’ll see what happens.  But, so far, we have not agreed to a meeting.      Q    President Trump --      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Say it?      Q    Have you asked Prime Minister Khan to mediate with Iran?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, he’d like to do that, and we have a very good relationship.  And there’s a chance that that could happen.  But, no, I haven’t spoken.  He actually asked me.  He thought it would be a good idea to meet.      And we’re here.  We’re in New York together.  And we have the time to do it, although we’ve done a lot of bilats in the last two days.  We’ve had tremendous success.  I was treated very nicely on the speech.  A lot of good reviews on what we had to say.  And so, I appreciate that.  The media was actually very good on the speech.      Q    Mr. President, your reaction to Speaker Pelosi saying today that she is moving toward an impeachment announcement later this afternoon?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, I haven’t heard this.  Look, it’s just a continuation of the witch hunt.  It’s the worst witch hunt in political history.  We have the strongest economy we’ve ever had.  We have the best unemployment numbers we’ve ever had.  African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, lowest in history.  Best numbers we’ve ever had.  Our country is doing phenomenally well.          We have rebuilt our military to the tune of $2.5 trillion.  We have the strongest military on Earth.  If you look at the vets, if you look at any group, they’re doing fantastically well. So the country is doing the best it's ever done, and I just heard that she'd like to impeach.  We also just had Rasmussen, as you heard, just came out with a poll.  We're at 53, and they say 53 plus maybe 10.  A lot of people say that, because you add about 10 percent to the Trump polls because some people don’t want to talk; they just want to go out and do it, and they know what's good.      Our country is doing the best it's ever done.  They're going to lose the election and they figure this is a thing to do.  This never happened where we're in the election, and -- I mean, if she does that, they all say that’s a positive for me, for the election.  You could also say, "Who needs it?"  It's bad for the country.  Then they wonder why they don’t get gun legislation done.  Then they wonder why they don’t get drug prices lowered.  Because all they do is talk nonsense.  No more infrastructure bills.  No more anything.  All they do -- that’s all they do.      You watch Jerry Nadler and Schiff -- you know, Schiff has been doing this stuff for three and a half years.  It's the craziest thing anybody has ever seen. And other countries -- like today we're with Iraq and we were with other countries during the day, and every one of them says how crazy it is.  We have the strongest country in the world, the best economy we've ever had.  And she's talking impeachment.  So I think that -- and, by the way, she hasn’t even seen the phone call.  The phone call was perfect.  The call that wasn’t perfect and the words that weren’t perfect were Joe Biden with respect to his son.  And his son takes away millions of dollars out of Ukraine, and millions of dollars out of China, and you don’t talk about that.  It's a real disgrace. But the good news is, the voters get it.  This is why they say it's good for the election.  But you know what?  It's bad for the country.  What she's doing is very bad -- if it's true.  I can't even believe that it's true.  How can you do this and you haven’t even seen the phone call? The whistleblower, they say, was second-hand or third-hand.  And it was reported -- I have no idea who the whistleblower is.  I guess I could find out.  Maybe I couldn’t find out.  But they say it was a very partisan person -- the whistleblower.  But it was second- or third-hand.  Never heard the call. But I have better than that.  We have the whole transcript of the call, which will be released tomorrow.  And comments will be put with respect.  It was a perfect call.  There was no quid pro quo, unlike Biden.  There was no nothing.  It was a perfect call.  A very nice call.  And, in fact, I thought this was very nice.  Ukraine just came out.  It made a very good statement.  It was a very good call.  There was no pressure put on them whatsoever. Thank you all very much.  Appreciate it.                           END                3:39 P.M. EDT

Statement from the Press Secretary

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2019 Statement from the Press Secretary   Americans deserve elected officials who focus on key issues to improve the lives of families, strengthen our communities, grow our economy, and keep our country safe.  In President Donald J. Trump they have someone who has not only focused on those goals, but delivered results.  In a far departure from all of the work and results of this President, House Democrats have destroyed any chances of legislative progress for the people of this country by continuing to focus all their energy on partisan political attacks.  Their attacks on the President and his agenda are not only partisan and pathetic, they are in dereliction of their Constitutional duty. The Trump Administration will continue to be vigorous in laying out the facts and standing up for the many forgotten men and women who elected him.

Presidential Memorandum on Delegation of Functions and Authorities Under the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2019 September 24, 2019   MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE OVERSEAS PRIVATE                   INVESTMENT CORPORATION                THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY                   FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUBJECT:       Delegation of Functions and Authorities under                the Better Utilization of Investments Leading                to Development Act of 2018 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 1462 of title VI of division F of Public Law 115-254 (section 9682 of title 22, United States Code) (the "Act"), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate to the President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the functions and authorities vested in the President by the Act to submit a reorganization plan, including any modifications or revisions thereto, and to consult with the appropriate congressional committees on such plan, including any modifications and revisions thereto. The President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.                               DONALD J. TRUMP

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT SALIH OF IRAQ BEFORE BILATERAL MEETING Lotte New York Palace New York, New York

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2019 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT SALIH OF IRAQ BEFORE BILATERAL MEETING Lotte New York Palace New York, New York   3:32 P.M. EDT      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, thank you very much.  We’re glad to be joined by the President of Iraq and his representatives.  And I will say that we’ve had a very good couple of meetings with Iraq.  We’re doing well with Iraq.  It’s been a very long and complicated but friendly relationship, especially over the last little while.   I was in Iraq a little while ago, as you know.  And it’s fascinating what’s taking place.      So we’re going to -- we have a lot to talk about.  There’s things to talk about that we can’t talk about in front of you, but we have a lot of good things to talk about.  And you’re doing a fantastic job.  Thank you very much.      PRESIDENT SALIH:  Thank you.      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Thank you.      PRESIDENT SALIH:  Thank you.      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Please.      PRESIDENT SALIH:  It's an opportunity, Mr. President, to reaffirm our gratitude to the United States and the international coalition that has come to help us overcome the tyranny of ISIS and terrorism.      This was an amazing battle.  And Iraqis were in the forefront of this battle, but your support has been absolutely crucial, and we appreciate it.  Now, the task of rebuilding Iraq, reconstructing Iraq, affirming the sovereignty of Iraq, and being a partner in the neighborhood for a more stable Middle East is a hope and an aspiration that we look for the help of the United States and the help of the international community.      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, I understand.  And it has been a great achievement.  We took 100 percent of the caliphate from ISIS.  And ISIS -- now we have thousands and thousands of people that we’ve captured.  These people have done a lot of destruction, not only in that area, in a lot of other areas.  But, as you know, we have thousands of people.  We’ll talk about that also because we’re going to have to do something -- put them on trial, et cetera, et cetera.      But we’ve captured thousands of ISIS fighters and taken back 100 percent of the caliphate.  And when I first became President, it was a mess.  It was a big mess.  And we -- we all worked together and we got it done, but it was a great achievement, so we appreciate that.  And we look forward to our discussion.      Thank you.  Thank you very much.      Q    Thank you.  Mr. President, good to see you.  Iraq has declared that it won’t allow its territory to be used as a launching pad against its neighbors.  Can you assure us that you can control all the rogue elements, especially with the (inaudible), especially that we have two rockets landing?      PRESIDENT SALIH:  It’s our sovereign responsibility.  It’s our sovereign responsibility to abide by our constitution, not -- Iraq not to be used as a base for any threat against our neighbors.  It is work in progress, and Iraq has been a constructive player in the neighborhood, trying to assure all our neighbors that the stability and sovereignty of Iraq is a common interest.      And a lot of things, in that regard, is happening, and I’m looking forward to talking to the President about it.      Q    Mr. President, the French President just now said that it’s time to negotiate with Iran.  Do you believe that the time is now to negotiate with Iran?  And are you going to meet with him today?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, they would like to negotiate.  We haven’t really worked that out.  They’re here, we’re here, but we have not agreed to that yet.  But they would like to negotiate.  And it would certainly make sense, but we have not agreed to that yet.      Q    Are you meeting with Mr. Macron?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  He's also talking to us.  A number of people are.  So is Prime Minister Khan of Pakistan and a lot of people; Chancellor Merkel -- just left Chancellor Merkel.  And she's very much involved.  We have a lot of people involved.  A lot of people would like to get us to the table.  We’ll see what happens.  But, so far, we have not agreed to a meeting.      Q    President Trump --      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Say it?      Q    Have you asked Prime Minister Khan to mediate with Iran?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, he’d like to do that, and we have a very good relationship.  And there’s a chance that that could happen.  But, no, I haven’t spoken.  He actually asked me.  He thought it would be a good idea to meet.      And we’re here.  We’re in New York together.  And we have the time to do it, although we’ve done a lot of bilats in the last two days.  We’ve had tremendous success.  I was treated very nicely on the speech.  A lot of good reviews on what we had to say.  And so, I appreciate that.  The media was actually very good on the speech.      Q    Mr. President, your reaction to Speaker Pelosi saying today that she is moving toward an impeachment announcement later this afternoon?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, I haven’t heard this.  Look, it’s just a continuation of the witch hunt.  It’s the worst witch hunt in political history.  We have the strongest economy we’ve ever had.  We have the best unemployment numbers we’ve ever had.  African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, lowest in history.  Best numbers we’ve ever had.  Our country is doing phenomenally well.          We have rebuilt our military to the tune of $2.5 trillion.  We have the strongest military on Earth.  If you look at the vets, if you look at any group, they’re doing fantastically well. So the country is doing the best it's ever done, and I just heard that she'd like to impeach.  We also just had Rasmussen, as you heard, just came out with a poll.  We're at 53, and they say 53 plus maybe 10.  A lot of people say that, because you add about 10 percent to the Trump polls because some people don’t want to talk; they just want to go out and do it, and they know what's good.      Our country is doing the best it's ever done.  They're going to lose the election and they figure this is a thing to do.  This never happened where we're in the election, and -- I mean, if she does that, they all say that’s a positive for me, for the election.  You could also say, "Who needs it?"  It's bad for the country.  Then they wonder why they don’t get gun legislation done.  Then they wonder why they don’t get drug prices lowered.  Because all they do is talk nonsense.  No more infrastructure bills.  No more anything.  All they do -- that’s all they do.      You watch Jerry Nadler and Schiff -- you know, Schiff has been doing this stuff for three and a half years.  It's the craziest thing anybody has ever seen. And other countries -- like today we're with Iraq and we were with other countries during the day, and every one of them says how crazy it is.  We have the strongest country in the world, the best economy we've ever had.  And she's talking impeachment.  So I think that -- and, by the way, she hasn’t even seen the phone call.  The phone call was perfect.  The call that wasn’t perfect and the words that weren’t perfect were Joe Biden with respect to his son.  And his son takes away millions of dollars out of Ukraine, and millions of dollars out of China, and you don’t talk about that.  It's a real disgrace. But the good news is, the voters get it.  This is why they say it's good for the election.  But you know what?  It's bad for the country.  What she's doing is very bad -- if it's true.  I can't even believe that it's true.  How can you do this and you haven’t even seen the phone call? The whistleblower, they say, was second-hand or third-hand.  And it was reported -- I have no idea who the whistleblower is.  I guess I could find out.  Maybe I couldn’t find out.  But they say it was a very partisan person -- the whistleblower.  But it was second- or third-hand.  Never heard the call. But I have better than that.  We have the whole transcript of the call, which will be released tomorrow.  And comments will be put with respect.  It was a perfect call.  There was no quid pro quo, unlike Biden.  There was no nothing.  It was a perfect call.  A very nice call.  And, in fact, I thought this was very nice.  Ukraine just came out.  It made a very good statement.  It was a very good call.  There was no pressure put on them whatsoever. Thank you all very much.  Appreciate it.                           END                3:39 P.M. EDT

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AT A LUNCHEON HOSTED BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS United Nations Headquarters New York, New York

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2019 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AT A LUNCHEON HOSTED BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS United Nations Headquarters New York, New York   1:29 P.M. EDT      SECRETARY-GENERAL GUTERRES:  President Donald Trump, distinguished heads of state and government, excellencies, ladies, and gentlemen: It is wonderful to be, again, together in New York.  This city is a wonderful city, a wonderful inspiration for us all.  And I think if there is a privilege to be Secretary-General of the United Nations, it's to be able to work in New York.      I know, Mr. President, New York is your city.  You are a New Yorker.  And indeed, that inspiration is vital for the success of our work.      On the other hand, we have many other sources of inspiration coming from your country, the United States of America.  The Charter of the United Nations starts with the sentences, “We the peoples.”  That’s exactly the sentence with which your Constitution starts.      And, on the other hand, if we are going to celebrate tomorrow the 75th -- tomorrow -- next year, the 75th anniversary of the U.N., I would like to remind us all that we are celebrating this year the 50th anniversary of the moon landing -- I’m sure one of the most remarkable achievements of humankind in the world.      Now, after the moon landing -- immediately after, the astronauts came to the United Nations.  And the crowd was so big that they had to go to the *North Lounge*258.  And there, Neil Armstrong -- that was a man that wouldn’t speak very much, but usually very wise in what he would say -- said the following sentence that I dare to read to all of you.  And I'm quoting: “I can tell that you share with us the hope that we, citizens of the Earth, who can solve the problems of leaving Earth, can also solve the problems of [living] on it.”      I think that these words are also a fantastic inspiration for what we have to do: create, together, an Earth on which we all can live in peace and in prosperity.  And I would like to raise my glass to the hospitality -- warm hospitality -- of our host city and host country, New York and United States, and to the wellbeing and prosperity of we the peoples of the world.  Cheers.  (Applause.)      (A toast is given.)  (Applause.)       PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, Mr. Secretary-General, you’ve become my friend.  And we have had a lot of time together -- hours and hours -- talking about world problems, world events.  And a lot of progress has been made.      You know, I’ve long said that I think the United Nations is an institution with more potential than virtually any institution I can think of.  It’s called the “potential of war,” which is bad, and “peace,” which is great.  And I think we’ve been doing a great job on the “peace” aspect of it.      But we’ve had many great meetings with Angela and -- thank you very much.  The Polish people are very happy.  I’ve heard that today.  They were very happy with your performance yesterday.  Great job.      But I just want to thank everybody for being here.  It’s an honor to have you in the United States, an honor to have you in New York City.  And the United Nations is very, very special.  And most importantly, I want to congratulate you on the incredible job you’re doing.  Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary-General.      Thank you.  Thank you, everybody.  Thank you.  (Applause.)                                END                1:33 P.M. EDT

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRIME MINISTER MODI OF INDIA BEFORE BILATERAL MEETING United Nations Headquarters New York, New York

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2019 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRIME MINISTER MODI OF INDIA BEFORE BILATERAL MEETING United Nations Headquarters New York, New York   12:17 P.M. EDT      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Thank you very much.  It's a great honor, as you know, to be with -- because we were together just the other day in front of 59,000 people in the stadium, and that was a great day -- Prime Minister Modi of India. And we have many things to discuss.  One of them -- and perhaps in our case, one of the biggest ones is trade.  We do a lot of trade together and we're working on that.      We'll also be discussing Kashmir.  I imagine it'll be brought up.  And other things.  But we have plenty to discuss.  And the relationship has never been better, I say, than it is right now, between the Prime Minister, myself, India, and the United States.  So, it's a great honor to have you.  Thank you very much.      PRIME MINISTER MODI:  (As interpreted.)  First of all, I would like express my gratitude to President Trump that he was with me in Houston, day before yesterday.  He took out time from his busy schedule to go to Houston.  And he spent a lot of time with us.      And I think for the Indian community, people of Indian origin in the United States, this was an occasion of great pride.  And for this, once again, let me thank President Trump from the bottom of my heart.      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Thank you.      PRIME MINISTER MODI:  (As interpreted.)  After the formation of the new government, we haven’t even completed four months, but during this period of time I've had the occasion to meet President Trump three times now.  And we've had very detailed and fruitful discussions on many issues.      In the world, between the oldest and the largest democracy, this kind of nearness -- this relationship of ease and this continuous engagement -- I think our countries coming together, which believe in democratic values, I think that’s a very good sign for the world.  For India and the United States, notably, we are very close friends, but this is a friendship that is based on values, and this will continue to strengthen in the times to come.      As far as trade is concerned, I'm very happy that the day before yesterday, in Houston, in my presence there was an agreement signed by the Indian company, Petronet, for an amount of $2.5 billion, which is the amount of investment that the Indian company is going to do in the energy sector.  And this will mean that in the years to come, in the decades to come, this will result in trade of an amount of $60 billion and create 50,000 jobs, which I think is a very big initiative taken by India.      President Trump is definitely my friend, but he is also a friend of India.  And relations between India and the United States are proceeding at a very good and fast pace.      Once again, let me thank President Trump.      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Thank you very much. PRIME MINISTER MODI:  Thank you. Q    Mr. President, you've mentioned -- President Trump, you've mentioned trade.  You -- and Prime Minister Modi had, during the Houston event, said that you know the art of the deal.  Can we expect something on a trade deal in talks today?  Or what, the U.S. and India, they can do together to boost trade ties going forward? PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, I think very soon.  We're doing very well.  And Bob Lighthizer, who's right here, was negotiating with India and their very capable representatives.  And I think very soon we'll have a trade deal.  We'll have the larger deal down the road a little bit, but we will have a trade deal very soon. Go ahead. Q    You've been talking about, you know, clamping down on terrorism from across the globe.  Pakistan has been the global epicenter of terrorism.  You spoke about it in Houston.  How do you make sure that you clamp down on terrorism from Pakistan?  Because that is posing a threat to democracies like the U.S. and India.  Even the business interests suffer because of continuing terrorism. PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, I had a very good meeting with Prime Minister Khan.  It was a long meeting and we discussed a lot.  And I think he'd like to see something happen that would be very fruitful, very peaceful.  And I think that will happen, ultimately.  I really believe that these two great gentlemen will get together and work something. I also -- you know, you mentioned Pakistan, but Iran would have to be at the top of the list.  Because if you look at terrorist states, that's been the number one for a long time. But I really believe that Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Khan, they get along -- they will get along when they get to know each other.  And I think a lot of good things will come from that meeting.      Q    Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan admitted that thirty, forty thousand terrorists are still in Pakistan.  And yesterday, at the think-tank event, he again admitted that the Pakistan army and ISI trained al Qaeda.  Separately, there are reports that thousands of terrorists are ready to enter through (inaudible) India.  In this backdrop, what would you like to give message to Pakistan?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, I mean, the message is not for me to give, it's for Prime Minister Modi to give.  And I think he gave that loud and clear on -- the other day when we were together.  He gave a pretty loud message.  And I'm sure he'll be able to handle that situation.      Yes, sir.  Go ahead.      Q    President Trump, this is a spectacular show you had with Prime Minister Modi in Houston.  What are the significance of this event for India-U.S. relations and your personal chemistry with Prime Minister?  Thank you.     PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, my personal chemistry is as good as it can get.  I have great respect.  I have great admiration.  And I really like him -- that’s another thing.  And he's a great gentleman and a great leader. And I remember India before.  Now, not intimately, but I remember India before, and it was very torn.  There was a lot of dissension, a lot of fighting.  And he brought it all together, like a father would bring it together.  Maybe he's the father of India.  We'll call him "the father of India."  I think that's not so bad.  But he brought things together.  And you don’t hear that anymore.  So I think he's done a fantastic job. But I think that what the event showed is how much I like the country of India and how much I like your Prime Minister. There was tremendous spirit in that room, too.  And they love this gentleman to my right.  They really do.  Those people went crazy.  That was like Elvis.  That was like an American -- he's like an American version of Elvis.  (Laughter.)  It was like we brought in the middle of an all-American deal; Elvis Presley came back.  No, he was -- that was quite something.  They love your Prime Minister.  It's a great thing. Q    Mr. President, in Houston, you said that you stand with India in fight against Islamic radical terrorism.  How do you see the statement coming from the Pakistani Prime Minister admitting that the Pakistani state, the ISI trained al Qaeda?  How do you see -- PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Well, I haven’t heard that.  I haven’t heard that.  And I know this: that your Prime Minister will take care of it.  So if there's a problem, he'll -- if there's a problem, he'll take care of it.  It would be great if they could work out something on Kashmir.  We all want to see that.  I'm sure we all want to see it. Q    But isn’t there a bigger issue, sir?  Pakistan state-sponsored terror -- is there a roadmap to deal with Pakistan state-sponsored terror? PRESIDENT TRUMP:  Boy, you have great reporters.  I wish I had reporters like this.  (Laughter.)  You're doing better than anybody I've ever heard.  Where do you find these reporters?  This is a great thing. No, look, you have a great Prime Minister.  He'll solve the problem.  I have no doubt about it. Thank you very much everybody.  Thank you.  Thank you.                                      END                12:27 P.M. EDT

West Wing Reads

Trump Stands Up for Religious Freedom Yesterday, President Trump became the first American President to convene a meeting at the United Nations on religious freedom, as he kicked off the U.N. General Assembly’s annual session with a “Global Call to Protect Religious Freedom,” writes Kelsey Zorzi, President of the U.N.’s NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, in The Wall Street Journal. “Flanked by Secretary-General António Guterres and Vice President Mike Pence, the president declared: ‘No right is more fundamental to a peaceful, prosperous, flourishing society than religious freedom, yet it is rare around the world. As we speak, many people of faith are being jailed, murdered, often at the hands of their own government.’” Calling this issue an “urgent moral duty,” the President “announced that the U.S. is committing $25 million to religious-freedom efforts and launching a coalition of businesses for religious freedom.” Click here to read more. “President Trump and Polish President Andrzej Duda signed a defense agreement Monday that will shift U.S. soldiers into Poland at the Eastern European nation’s expense,” Tom Howell Jr. reports in The Washington Times. “They’re going to be building us facilities that I’m sure will be very beautiful,” the President said in a bilateral meeting at the U.N. General Assembly. “During a White House visit in June, Mr. Duda said Poland agreed to house about 1,000 U.S. soldiers on its soil. Mr. Trump also said the U.S. is making Poland eligible for the visa-waiver program to ease travel between the countries.” “Fueled by lax laws, promises of sanctuary, and a growing threat to shut down the U.S.-Mexico border, the illegal immigrant population in the United States has surged nearly 2 million to 14.3 million, according to a new calculation from a key immigration policy group,” Paul Bedard writes in the Washington Examiner. “Citing several reasons for the growth over the past two years, the Federation for American Immigration Reform said the total could jump to 21 million in just six years without reforms to stop illegal immigration and improve legal entry.” In The Washington Times, Heritage Foundation President Kay Coles James writes that the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) sets us on a course for freer trade with Canada and Mexico, thereby advancing our Nation’s economic growth. “The United States should be doing all it can to maintain a strong economy while protecting Americans’ wallets and jobs.” James explains that trade issues “aren’t just the concern of policy wonks — they’re critical to the American way of life.”

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP UPON ARRIVING AT THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY United Nations Headquarters New York, New York

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 24, 2019 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP UPON ARRIVING AT THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY United Nations Headquarters New York, New York   PRESIDENT TRUMP:  (In progress.)  So we had a great meeting yesterday, as you know, with the Prime Minister.  And I think that, as far as Pakistan is concerned, India -- they’re talking.  I’m certainly willing to help.  I think they would, in a certain way, like my help.  But they have to both want it.  They have very different views, and I’m concerned about it.      On Iran, I think we’re doing very well.  Let’s see what happens with Iran.  But we are -- we're in a very strong position on Iran.  And I think they’d like to do something, and I think it would be a smart thing for them if they did.      Q    (Inaudible.)  I have two questions.  The first is your reaction to the Washington Post story about you supposedly asking and withholding or holding the funds and aid for Ukraine.      And the second one is: You’re meeting tomorrow with Venezuela -- with leaders of Latin America to talk about Venezuela.  Nicolás Maduro said that if the United States changed the policies of Obama, they will meet with you and they would love to have talks.  What do you think?      PRESIDENT TRUMP:  So, here’s the story, very simply: We’re watching Venezuela very closely. As far as withholding funds, those funds were paid.  They were fully paid.  But my complaint has always been -- and I'd withhold again, and I’ll continue to withhold until such time as Europe and other nations contribute to Ukraine.  Because they’re not doing it.  Just the United States.  We’re putting up the bulk of the money.  And I’m asking why is that.      And I want Europe -- and it’s always been this, and everybody know it.  Every single reporter knows it.  Everybody in the administration knows that what I want, and I insist on it, is that Europe has to put up money for Ukraine also.  Why is it only the United States putting up the money?  And I -- and, by the way, we paid that money.      But I always ask: Why aren’t other countries -- in Europe, especially -- putting up money for Ukraine?      Go ahead.  Go ahead.      Q    Mr. President, Congress is moving towards impeachment, including Nancy Pelosi.  It could be a result of the Ukraine call.  How do you feel about that?      THE PRESIDENT:  I think it's ridiculous.  It's a witch hunt.  I'm leading in the polls.  They have no idea how they stop me.  The only way they can try is through impeachment.  This has never happened to a President before.  There's never been a thing like this before.  It's nonsense.  And when you see the call, when you see the readout of the call -- which I assume you'll see at some point -- you'll understand.      That call was perfect.  It couldn't have been nicer.  And even the Ukrainian government put out a statement that that was a perfect call.  There was no pressure put on them whatsoever.  But there was pressure put on with respect to Joe Biden.  What Joe Biden did for his son, that's something they should be looking at.      Go ahead.  You.      Q    Why did you block aid a week before the call with the Ukrainian President?      THE PRESIDENT:  Because very important -- very important: I want other countries to put up money.  I think it's unfair that we put up the money.  Then people called me, they said, "Oh, let it go."  And I let it go.  But we paid the money.  The money was paid.  But very importantly: Germany, France, other countries should put up money.  And that's been my complaint from the beginning.      Q    Are you confident your advisors aren't dragging you into war in Iran?  Thirteen percent of Americans only support war with Iran.  It seems like a lot of your advisors, including (inaudible), want to drag you into a war.      THE PRESIDENT:  Well, we're going to see what happens.  But I think Iran is coming along well.  Regardless of what happens, we're in very good shape with respect to Iran.  Okay?      Thank you, everybody.                                        END