by the head but first my exclusive interview with vice president Mike Pence
and we begin with the very latest evidence of a roar in US economy the
president addressed that stellar second quarter GDP number on Friday morning
outside of the White House and right behind him stood the vice president whom
I caught up with a short time afterward this vice president thank you so much
for joining us today thank you Maria thank you for having me here at the this
historic room let's talk about the economic data first off 4.1 percent
growth your reaction we were expecting a big number well it's a great day for
America see in the second quarter 4.1 percent growth exports growing
dramatically that added to the reality of 3.7 million new jobs created since
election day 2016 I just I couldn't be more proud to serve alongside a
president who's been working every day to keep the promise he made to the
American people to roll back red tape cut taxes unleash American energy and I
think this 4.1% quarter and a year that's on track for more than three
percent growth is a testament to the president's leadership and his vision
for this economy what were the most important takeaways from this quarter a
lot of conversation about whether or not this is a one-quarter thing or whether
or not we're going to see this the same well it's important to recognize in
context that the reality is in the last two administrations the economy grew by
less than 2% and in the first 18 months of this administration we were a little
shy of 3% last year we're on track to be at 3% or better this year and we really
believe the the internals of these numbers whether it be the dramatic
increase in business investment a dramatic increase in American exports
all support the conclusion that the policies that President Trump has been
advancing that a Republican Congress have been supporting are actually
working to revive this economy but it but you sense real momentum you know I
was I was in North Dakota and Montana we West Virginia just a couple of days
ago and you sent out on the street talking to everyday Americans talking to
business leaders that the best is yet to come that these these numbers tell the
tale but the enthusiasm and the confidence all across this country among
business leaders and businesses large and small tells the same story and more
as vice president how much of this quarter was goosed by businesses trying
to get ahead of the president's tariffs there is a narrative out there that
China for example was rushing to buy more soybeans by crude and crude oil and
other commodities so that they would get ahead of the president's tariffs that
haven't taken effect yet well we've heard that theory but the reality is
when you look at the whole quarter American exports were up by more than
nine percent an hour in our trade our trade deficit what was down by fifty
billion dollars you know you heard the president say on Friday just how
enthusiastic he was about seeing our trade deficit coming down and we really
think we're just getting started so we don't believe this was a reaction
to the president's strong leadership in in renegotiating our trade relationships
a great breakthrough this last week with the European Union now the United States
and the EU are going to begin working toward a trade arrangement that has zero
tariffs zero non-tariff barriers and really opens up commerce between our two
countries in new and in renewed ways as well as having the EU commit to
immediately begin to buy more soybeans from American farmers so we think we're
seeing real progress we don't think this was an anomaly we think American exports
are on the rise as a reflection of a strong economy and frankly a reflection
of the president's strong leadership on improving our trade relationships for
American jobs and American workers when do you expect the president will be able
to announce another solid official trade deal will you be able to announce trade
deals before the midterm elections for example well we're very encouraged about
the progress that we're making in discussions about the north american
free trade agreement I know the US Trade Representative
continues to believe that there's a possibility that before we get to Labor
Day we may have a a reformed NAFTA agreement but those details are still
being worked out but look the president came into this administration with the
belief that for too long Americans our economy our workers have
been taken advantage of by imbalance trade deals and whether it be in in
renegotiating South Korea whether it be opening up markets to American exports
and agricultural Goods renegotiating NAFTA or resetting the balance in our
relationship with the European Union and of course resetting the balance or huge
imbalance with China we really believe that that that kind of strong leadership
on behalf of American jobs and workers is actually contributing the momentum
that we saw in these second quarter numbers do you think you'll have a deal
with Mexico by Labor Day well we remain hopeful that in the coming months that
we'll be able to reach an agreement but I can assure you that President Trump is
going to continue to stay focused on American manufacturing and American
agriculture and we're going to renegotiate NAFTA in a way that's a a
win for working Americans in the city and on the farm mr. vice president
some lawmakers criticized the meeting with the EU and mr. Younker 24 lawmakers
said that this is impacting their chances of re-election come November
you've got Andy Barr for example in Kentucky saying well the bourbon makers
in Kentucky are being hurt by the retaliatory tariffs out of Europe you've
got mr. Huizenga of Michigan complaining about high raw material prices is this
going to impact those races we think a better trade relationship with the
European Union a more fair more reciprocal trade relationship is going
to benefit every American and look we we respect members of Congress it's
remarkable to think all the progress that we've made in the last 18 months
has been made in partnership with Republican majorities but it's been
against an unprecedented level of Democrat obstruction it is amazing to
think just as an aside Maria that that in the last year and a half our
administration has faced more filibusters called by Chuck Schumer and
the Democrats in the Senate by a factor of four times more than any
administration going all the way back to the Carter Administration so we respect
members of Congress we respect them standing up for interest in their
district but we're grateful for the support they provided for the
President's agenda and we remain confident that as we reset the balance
in those trading relationships that it's going to win for their districts and win
for America but the lack of Democratic support brings me to my next question
which is about tax cuts to point out and now you're working on another plan to
lower taxes you're to make the individual cuts permanent but is this
just a ploy to make sure to remind the American people that yours is the party
of tax cuts right before the midterm elections because the truth is you're
not gonna get any Democratic support for that or do you really believe this
economy needs more stimulus you know what President Trump and I have worked
very closely with the Republican leadership to fashion tax cuts 2.0 the
reality is that that before Christmas last year President Trump signed the
largest tax cuts and tax reform in American history and I think the
enthusiasm that you see among everyday Americans the investment that we saw in
this last quarter by American businesses is an affirmation of that tax cut
package that was passed but the president Trump absolutely believes it's
important that we make tax cuts permanent we're going to work with
members of Congress to move this legislation forward even as it's
unveiled in the coming weeks and and I promise you in the years ahead President
Trump is going to continue to look for ways we can let the American people keep
more of what they earn and we can create the kind of reforms in our tax code that
will encourage businesses to invest here and create jobs here in the USA the
president recently tweeted about the Federal Reserve and he's
you know it's crazy that the Federal Reserve is going to be raising interest
rates the economy is so great why not raise interest rates well I look we
respect the independence of the Federal Reserve and the president reflected his
own personal opinion about that but what we don't want to see happen going
forward is we don't want policies whether Capitol Hill or elsewhere that
diminish the tremendous energy that we have in this economy today look as I
said before as I travel across this country you sense the confidence that
Americans feel again in a very real sense it's like a steel worker said in
Granite City Illinois yesterday with tears in his eyes he said we're back and
and I sensed that all across the country people see in president Trump someone
who has a boundless confidence in the American future but also they see a
president who's been keeping his promises to cut taxes roll back red tape
unleash American energy and the American people are responding I mean the the
second quarter numbers four point one percent growth on track this year four
three percent growth now after 16 years that averaged less than two percent it's
a testament to the president's determination and leadership to
testament to the the members of Congress and partners in the Republican
majorities that have supported the president and it's also a testament to
the ingenuity that resilience the determination and the confidence of the
American people in president Trump's vision that ingenuity is being robbed by
the Chinese let's talk during it for a moment
because the president is using tariffs as a way to leverage to get the Chinese
from stop stealing from us we know that China has been stealing intellectual
property for decades transferring technology our tariffs the answer to get
them to stop they won't even admit they're doing it when you look at our
trade deficit around the world nearly 800 billion dollars on an annual
basis Maria as you know well fully half of that is with China I mean for too
long China has had virtually unfettered
access to the American economy in the American consumer and in American
companies have faced significant barriers and in the issues that you
raise representative a genuine threat to our economy it's absolutely essential
that that we protect intellectual property from from being stolen by
interest in China it's absolutely essential that we end the forced
technology transfers that exist but we remain confident as the president
takes a strong stand and we continue to pursue a policy of raising barriers
until we achieve a reciprocal relationship with China I truly believe
based on the relationship that President Trump has forged with President Xi and
frankly based on some things that President Xi has said on precisely those
issues recent speech several months ago
President Xi many reported for the very first time talked about the need to
address and protect intellectual property and nforce technology transfers
and and we believe raising those issues and recognizing the need for a more fair
and balanced trade relationship gives us hope that we can improve this
relationship and make no mistake about it
president Trump is going to continue to stand strong until we achieve free fair
and reciprocal trade relationship with China I've got to ask you about access
to you and the president and this White House was it necessary to throw out
Caitlin Collins from CNN the other day what happened
well let me say that this administration believes in in the
freedom of the press and President Trump and our entire administration had have
have provided extraordinary access to the media president answers so many
questions in so many different settings and and I can assure you that we'll
continue to do that but but maintaining the decorum that is do at the White
House I think is an issue that will continue to work forward but I'm very
confident that whether it be with that network or any network or any members of
the media that will continue to work in a way that that ensures the access of
the American people to this administration and to all the incredible
progress we're making because on this day she was the pool reporter so she was
actually representing all of us I mean did you feel like kicking her out kicked
out everybody well I would leave that decision to the White House staff and
and I just remained very confident look the relationship between any white house
and any press corps is is always you know it is always healthy and robust and
and occasionally or represents disagreements I'm confident that they'll
be able to work out this relationship in a positive way we'll make sure that
every Network every major news organization continues to have access
because we stand for the freedom of the press in this White House
you
For more infomation >> TRUMP DROPS A MASSIVE SLEDGEHAMMER ON THE MEDIA - Duration: 11:28. 
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