President-elect Donald Trump held a lengthy press conference on Monday in which he promised to rebuild the border wall with Mexico and warned Venezuela of the economic consequences of not accepting those deported.
Trump spoke for more than an hour, the first time he answered questions from reporters since winning the election, and also discussed other topics such as polio vaccines, drug costs, drones flying over New Jersey and the probability that his daughter-in-law will become a senator from Florida.
When asked about what his administration will do with Venezuela, specifically with the Tren de Aragua criminal group that operates even in the United States, he said: “They will repatriate them all. And if they don’t, they will face harsh economic consequences. They will repatriate them. everyone.”
“Venezuela and other countries did not behave very well with us during my administration. And in 24 hours, they will behave very well,” he said.
Regarding the border wall, the Republican said he was determined to continue its construction and complained that the Biden administration is selling some parts.
“We are going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more to build the same wall we already have. […] “It’s almost a criminal act,” he said.
About vaccines
The event was reminiscent of the long press conferences of his first term and stood in stark contrast to President Joe Biden, who does not often take questions from reporters.
Trump defended his choice for health secretary of prominent vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but said he personally is a “big believer” in the polio vaccine and will preserve access to it.
“They are not going to lose the polio vaccine,” he said. “That’s not going to happen.”
Over the weekend, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who had polio as a child, defended the polio vaccine after a recent report revealed that one of Kennedy’s advisers filed a petition to overturn approval of the vaccine. polio vaccine in 2022.
Kennedy has long promoted the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Trump appeared to question whether there is a link, saying “we’re trying to figure it out” and highlighting the rise in diagnosed autism cases.
Trump also criticized pharmacy benefit managers, calling them “horrible middlemen” who drive up the cost of medications.
Pharmaceutical companies have been aggressively lobbying Congress to restrict the role of pharmacy benefit managers, who help health insurance companies’ largest clients decide how and what prescription drugs will be covered in their insurance plans.
“I don’t know who these middlemen are, but they are rich like no other,” Trump stressed.
About her daughter-in-law and TikTok
Trump said he does not know if Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will nominate his daughter-in-law to be Florida’s senator, filling the seat held by Marco Rubio, who has been nominated for secretary of state.
Asked if he expected DeSantis to name Lara Trump to replace Rubio, Trump said: “Probably not, but I don’t know.” Trump recently spoke with DeSantis at a memorial for Florida law enforcement officers.
Trump also said he will consider intervening in the possible ban of TikTok in the United States. The popular social media platform must cut ties with its China-based parent company or face being banned in mid-January under a federal law.
Although he did not offer specific details, Trump credited the platform for helping him win the election. His campaign saw her as a bridge to reach younger, less politically engaged voters, especially when clips aired showing him with celebrities in UFC fights.
“Let’s take a look at TikTok,” he said. “You know, I have a special place in my heart for TikTok.”
Trump tried to ban TikTok during his first term, but changed his mind and vowed to “save” TikTok. Once he takes office, his Justice Department will be in charge of enforcing the new federal law against TikTok.
“Everyone wants to be my friend,” he said.
Trump pointed out the differences between when he first took office eight years ago and today, saying executives now want to meet with him.
“They were hostile back then,” he recalled.
Since becoming president-elect, Trump has met with Silicon Valley billionaires, including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. He revealed that he had also met with Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will meet with him this week, Trump announced.
“A lot of great executives have reached out, the best executives, the best bankers, everyone is calling,” he said. “It is a completely opposite situation from that of my first term.”
About Gaza and Ukraine
With multiple wars underway, Trump has sought to re-insert himself on the world stage. He said he is working to get Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza released and had a “very good conversation” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But on Monday he appeared to temper expectations about his promise to resolve the war between Russia and Ukraine even before taking office, describing the conflict as “difficult” and “nasty.”
“We are trying to stop that war, that horrible, horrible war,” he said. “It’s difficult. It’s unpleasant. It’s unpleasant. “People are being murdered at levels no one has ever seen.”
Trump declined to say whether he has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin since winning the election. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris this month when he attended the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Trump’s next press secretary has said the president-elect invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and other world leaders to his inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20, but Trump said Monday that Zelenskyy was not among them.
“If you would like to come, I would like to have you,” Trump said.
Trump added that Xi has not yet confirmed whether he will attend. He described the Chinese president as “a friend of mine” and “an amazing guy” but acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected their relationship.
[Con reporte de Iacopo Luzi de la VOA e información adicional de AP]
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