Transcript for Trump addresses full cabinet at FEMA hurricane briefing

Yeah. After. It's. Tremendous. I'm going. It's as a couple things. We just inability GT it's not just he for the whole community exits of the planet I. The unified federal government response also down through our state ours and others you with us today. Three years and a little hopeful we got a lot of work to do you can voter appears. In all our community. It is specifically. This fast. And gritty. Reducing complexity specifically. Who better job of streamlining services to citizens but also to grant funding goes out you. Help communities. Prepared yours me. Leaned forward. That's Lewis ordered pushing forward. An eighteen he also bolstered commodities. Territories for a quiet. Or ridiculous and actually. We're also pushing forward Steve Steve definitely more whole community commodity. It's not just. Fares as everybody's responsibility. So we're we're trying to work very close who has single problem pars on house pollster but he believes comprehensive. Not as thorough. We're just hearing that I'm. We're also looking to you internationalist. For a we'll raise it in the press center. Sixteen infrastructure leaders in this country. Music network needs to. Are working with the secretary support. Is he reaching out to understand him. So. And again we're also put forward. A new costs and Kofi. It's you know people or oh loss today and state agencies that were parked cars everyday. Not to see who's. So there's a lot taking place again thank you. Here's officer for the support of all capital. Put forward a tremendous resources to help solve them together defeat and. Thank you quote joke and sent us to think they're much. And we really appreciate that you have you done. It's been amazing and he really have kept quite busy. I was unfortunately we have managers who have. But you've done this excellent. Secretary Nelson. Administrator long. Or thank you for hosting this incredible group of people I'd like to sort of maybe. Sadie and pay some respects for the people here today list. That we have to start new great First Lady. A little rough patch but used. Two it's just people. People think if you. So that and vice president events like it's like another great you are doing. Secretary. Michael home. Keeping them very busy. We're keeping you so this unit is going to be flying a lot of flying in the next couple of weeks. But what did you you've done it we appreciated the whole country appreciate it deserves. It. Statement agent Steve where you maybe. What can our business taxes and keeping the Texas standard as the greatest tax cut in the history of our country. And lots of other things and thank you very much I think we can say that we have had. The strongest this is the strongest from an economic standpoint that a country has ever been we're doing better in terms of business in terms of unemployment. We've broken the record with so many different groups African American lowest unemployment in history. The Hispanic. Let's look employment history women lowest unemployment in 21 years. Seven trillion dollars in work we've created since the election seven trillion with a T. Now with a bit of B. And it's that's a number that nobody would have thought was possible so thank you everybody that's been fantastic. Attorney general Jeff Sessions. Much. Secretary Ryan zinc he. Keeping very busy and of that rise there's. Good for you right. Keeping busy and opening up their land so people can use them and enjoy them. Largest landlord of the world Brian nobody knows that we get the largest by far the largest land. Almost half the United States if you think. So please job you're doing. Sonny Perdue. This farms that are doing well and that the farmers have been forever last night. I did a big big favorite for the farmers will love the farmers and that way happy. Senator Grassley and senators were very happy with what it is thank you for your help I appreciated. Wilbur Ross secretary I appreciate it. Renegotiating a lot of trade deals and there. They're really fantastic. And it's gonna. We have the worst fate deals ever made it won't happen now fair trade ideas we have made the worst deals ever. Made NAFTA is a disaster. World Trade Organization is a disaster. I can go deal left India has been very unfair to a country to what is. To our companies and to everybody else involved we're changing them around rapidly so Wilbur Ross thank you very much. Secretary Alex a czar acts. I'm very proud of what you've done in you coming up in about another month with health care maybe that's. Great health care bill plan. Going to be great health care for much lower price. Possible. I really appreciate you project it really working very hard is reducing. The cost. Prescription medicine. This could be something that people again some people think that's almost more important than hear people say. Which is more important that both important. But we're reducing because that is because of what and we appreciate it. Secretary Ben Carson who's. Some. We're on that we're very excited regardless of the day what you do it's great that you really inspirational. What the district borders and expiration. Shift much bigger much. Appalachia. Secretary. All of its. He didn't break quiet way and so effective and so incredible what did you do with transportation this week. Rick Perry. Rick is that's what you're going to the DA. But we have great people yeah. Now we don't have CA I think of the coast especially when read it. And you got a great victory over the doing a fantastic job it and in. Without the largest in the world and actually the largest in the world and would now exporting energy for the first time that we did it. We're exporting an achievement we have become. The largest and engine producer in the world who would have thought. We've opened up a little bit. A lot of people don't do this thing and doing great job acting secretary. Of the VA. Under the combination view it Wilkie I think that's going to be it will combinations think. They're only good and secretary Nielsen. What was it that you. You are doing and the borders coming along in the what was going up where of one point six billion dollars being spent. Is wonderful. And we'll get additional funding. Every week goes by people realize what that you know we have to have. The war and we're doing great and sandy ago different places general John Kelly is here someplace general good general. Great judge. Administrator Scott Pruitt. Package that very much EPA is doing. Really really well. Somebody says. You know that that. But who yet the EPA is doing so well so many. Approvals and disapproves they don't qualify they don't qualify we don't have to work fifteen years to sell somebody that qualify. And people really impressed with it yet it's being done you get bigger much. Made it won't lady he's got to actually. Right thank you got to hats. Not just doing great it vote for Office of Management and Budget. Has been. Our budget this year we'll be. The bailout Cuddy that because we wanted to cut you know maybe it's really more of a cut. We had a get. The military got 700 billion dollars approved for the military we needed that. In order to get that Dudley had a two something for the Democrats that would normally not do because we consider a lot of waste. A harsh but in order to get our military six billion dollars for oil field. So we got the which relies so heavily. We got that taken care of very importantly next year 716. Billion dollars for military itself make great jobs. And this time you can start cutting OK because we have our military taking care of this you can separate. A friend of mine for a long time administrator Linda McMahon and learned I was just being told the other day what you've done it small businesses. Incredible one of the real stars. Vince and it myself that your family were Oprah you but what you've done is it so much work. People don't realize you small businesses really mess it's really very massive business. And you had to go up and those numbers are responsible businesses that it isn't just about any company can even think so congratulations. And. Thank you very much. Governor Rick Scott we have a lot of people around. And watching ignored squeezed all over the country that we. But we have governor Rick Scott of Florida is there today he's watching that fantastic yet. He's now running for the United States and I won't get political but I think it. That's not political as it. That secretary. Patrick Shanahan deputy whose thanks that it. Really don't have job and you brilliant and all that money under budget you know that it was good bite two airplanes and sort of want for the same stretch of fiscal we will. He did a fantastic job but the company didn't work for all of that and we appreciate that very much yet. And it so important when you go out and buy the equipment that we're talking about you know hundreds and hundreds of jet fighters and bombers and planes and boats ships and everything. We got to get the great for us and got to get to us and we can help you and us. This is heard it so important. Administrative Mark Green US Agency for International Development. And thank you very much more we appreciate it very much. Assistant secretary of Jacobs and administrator Brock along. Vice chairman Paul Selma. General Terrence JO Shaughnessy. And as you know Charles away. Which I do Ray Charles Charles. February Charles is even better lineup. But we appreciate the great job you can thank you. I'd want to what starches saying that we've had three devastating major hurricanes. In our country within a month's time never been really anything like it. And the case of Texas it would it would go away it would come and we thought it was guy would go back out. It would reload. And this happened three different it was a record. Rate drop that was a record quarter drop or any state. And it wasn't even close. And shortly there after we dealt with the threat of another hurricane that destructive wildfires along the West Coast in California. Other places. America has never experienced so many large scale disasters in so short time we have the most qualified staff. With the secretary and rocket all of you people who have been asked. And it goes a little bit recognized because what you can see people fighting and working. In the fires. The order. Off the lead and adult of the things but believe me the country is watched and a retired government stepped into action to coordinate the response. Along with the state and local leaders that we do have a lot of help from some really great governors. Are Texas. Great people. Helped us it was good families in Texas and once again the US Virgin Islands Puerto Rico are. South Carolina Georgia. Alabama Mississippi they're all Smart devoted. An arm tribal lands where he hit. It was catastrophic. These two absolutely historic in their severity. But in the wake of such tragedy we also witnessed the resilience of the American people. And the professionalism talent and devotion. Of the men and women to FEMA. Group. It's great group of people throughout our government. Last year more than 70000. FEMA and other federal employees as well as 141000. Personnel. From the Department of Defense national were deployed to support. The massive response and recovery efforts left by these storms in these tragedies. Administer don't want to thank you in particular for the incredible the unbelievable teams of men and women that you list to take these problems he. Could you all of so we must look. We couldn't put him in a different position we did what we want him right there is not an easy position. You you have really stepped forward and we appreciate it I also want to recognize the Coast Guard. Or the military services. The the Kursk. Saved 161000. People what do you think of that 161000. People. Can't get enough credit. Anyways might make the commencement address this year as. The year before. I don't think the cuts cut gets enough credit obscenity I even saved. The army navy airforce Marines sent I think this year because that maybe Serbs have increased branding. That brand of the Coast Guard office. Did something incredible what's 6161000. People many of them in taxes or whatever reason that people would out of their boats. To watch that hurricane that didn't work out too well. It didn't work out too well. So I just want to thank all the people in the it's and all of ours services there an incredible the National Weather Service. The American Red Cross this maze. State and local governments operate first responders law enforcement always law books. And so many others who came together to save lives. Restore hope and rebuild our communities. As we enter the hurricane season again. Here we go. Get ready. Butler rhetoric that is we are marshaling every available resource stewardship maximum preparation for rapid response it's what we. Last year. Disaster response to recovery is best achieved when its government supported state managed and locally execute the agreement. This is really be great model that we built and there's no better model anywhere in the world that we do help other countries else when news. Catastrophic events like it Mexico and other places we were always there I was four. So I look forward to your briefing and I look forward to it very productive discussions. With the great people that worked so hard in the truck administration. Like this you share your words he's. I think president. It's Beckett came up with you and the First Lady. End. To have you stumble your entire cabinet here. At the outset. It. I think sends. That that message. Across. Welcome and ABC news lives vice president Mike Pence is has the room right now at a meeting with. President trump and his cabinet at FEMA headquarters. As hurricane season has begun June 1 officially. Mark the start of the season and welcome and I am well read this is ABC's live in. We're gonna check out everything that we're gonna talk about every in the present trump just said. And what's been going on in trump world recently there's a lot discussed in the lobby of trump he saw. Right next to him that was her first public appearance. In nearly a month since she had a kidney procedure people were wondering if she would be there. And she indeed was and we will start we're joined by Jordan Phelps. In outside the White House and jordin and listening to. President Trump's remarks at the onset of that FEMA meeting. I was struck. Above all else he breezed right by Puerto Rico he mentioned taxes he shouted out governor Scott. Of Florida. Historically states that are. That are affected by hurricanes Puerto Rico is still in crisis mode eight months later what do you make his. Omissions there. Yeah that's right well the president is saying there. Here we doubt this is and it at this briefing as one that president's part to state and every year to greet them on upcoming hurricane season. But well as you mentioned artery is still reeling from hurricane Maria last year and the devastation they care. And of course we now just recently there was a study showing at the real numbers today have Maltese air might be as high seventy times that at the official government pounds. I but the president only briefly mentioning it Rico and focusing more on taxes in his remarks about last yours historically. I typical hurt he's he's end. That of course is a point for which the president has come under repeated criticism. I right that this is an issue that. That he doesn't want it I talk about all that much and you last year he went head Puerto Rico right after it hurricane and and he really how it. Say response they are saying that it wasn't a real catastrophe. Like Hurricane Katrina but of course as you now. It is in the pac capacity. Zooming out a little bit. To what this FEMA briefing is as hurricane season hurricane season is upon us. President trumps entire cabinet was there it was. A rather stage looking conference room setting but will they be accomplishing meaningful work. In that briefing is Weller as this just a photo op. Well this is that me and I mentioned this is it trip that the president Meeks took team High Court traditionally every year to get briefed on the upcoming hurricane season so. There will be substance discuss the air and and it's still ongoing but it was notable well that at this. Was very much like eight cabinet meeting you saw the president they're kind of going around the railroad a very strong contingent of his cabinet area it. If not all of them president so interesting that the president would use this sad saying. Eight a hurricane briefing to you kind of back have a cabinet style meeting but of course as we now add the president I hardly sticks to tradition. The president did make sure to take time to praise each of his cabinet members for their specific roles within his cabinet notably said thank you Jeff. To attorney general Jeff Sessions and then moved quickly along speaking of moving along to presence trump to present France left. Is his wife the First Lady monuc melodic at trump seen in public at a public event for the first time. He nearly a month what is the significance. Of her stepping out into public guy. For this event. Yellow that's right it's being nearly three weeks since meets in the First Lady in public. The last time we soccer was on the tarmac of joint base Andrews with the president on that overnight adventure welcoming home three Americans who were free from North Korea. Add but what's really at issue here is we haven't seen the firstly sentence she underwent a cat surgical procedure at Walter Reed medical center for what. Her office that was it but nine kidney condition. And sale in their absences seeing the First Lady in public since there. Since then has fueled some speculation about whether the First Lady has been in good health. Now the first lady's office in in the week since has insisted she's. And recovering that she's in good health in good spirits and has been participating. In meetings but of course the public was anxious to see the First Lady again. And the president this morning. Kind of wind after the media for this speculation that's been out there accusing the media have speculated that he could face plaster that she might have laughed the president. Now those are speculations that have not being in the mainstream media it really in how the president himself. Race that they are at you know of course conspiracies that haven't discussed in the dark corners of the Internet. But the president in many ways didn't help the first ladies entry back on to the public stage by. Really bringing attention. To those conspiracy is that the White House has actively been trying to back back against and I it seems that the reason or perhaps one of the reasons might speculate for the first ladies presidents today. Is to show that she is in good health she's there by the president's side and indeed she did look lovely is abhorrent and steamed at being that house. As an interesting tactic to bring up. Theories that no one had previously been discussing certain nobody had really been discussing it until a person nearly as famous as president trump himself. Brought to the president trumps to present Tribe's attention can card action. Within the White House for meeting last week on behalf of Alice Johnson a 63 year old Tennessee woman serving a life sentence for nonviolent drug crime. Today president from signal that he will commute her sentence and I ask you first what is the difference between a commutation. And a pardon. And why did present from tunis. At commutation doesn't wipe away at what she was convicted for it just allows her to leave prison. Currently at the president and I you know making that case that he highs. You know I he has felt bad for a what she came in she deserves to go on this is obviously. A huge victory for reality TV star came cart Ashley and I she meat that personal plea to the president here on the Oval Office. Just a week ago for that's in of course this comes. I made a slew of other. Pardons or at least considerations of pardons and commutations we know the president is considering just last week. I heat pack property costs humanist at commutation or pardon rather former. I boxing champion Jack Johnson and he's also sad that he is contemplating. Pardons or at least commutations for. I disgraced former Illinois governor rod live events. As well as Martha Stewart and what's notable about both of those people. As that they both participated in some part in the president's own reality TV show. The apprentice. A White House staffer earlier today. Joked with me that I if you want to know what other pardons the president might be. Looking at just look at you might have also been on that show but in all seriousness well we now that. Dozens of other pardons are under consideration right now by this president. Jordan Phelps filling us in on that FEMA briefing them along a sighting and they came card actually in related. Commutation. Of a life sentence for nonviolent drug offender lots going on today and every day. Down in Washington and here on ABC news live see you stay with us. And we'll get you whatever you need to know 24 hours a day seven days a week thanks.

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