Press Gaggle: Donald Trump Speaks to Reporters After Air Force One Arrival - June 17, 2026

Hello, everybody. We had an amazing day and now we're going to Versailles for dinner with some of Europe's great people and we'll see how that works out. I think it will be very good. The president will be there with madam, and I think we're going to have a good time. The press conference seems to have gone well.

You shot your load pretty much, Steve, right? Pretty much. But going well. Seems like the agreement is very well under tow. Are you coming to Versailles with us?

Yes, sir.

I hope -- I'm going to try and get you to do the tour, because, honestly, it's unbelievable. Say it.

Did you see the fed decision? They held rates today.

It's all right, whatever.

And it looks like they might even raise them later this year, it's not clear. Do you have any --

It could happen. I mean, it's hard to believe. It just keeps the country down. It's so unusual. But we have a very good guy over there now, so I'm guided by what he wants to do. Was this his first time? Yeah, I don't know. I saw a statement; it just came out.

Do we have any clarity on when the deal will be signed? When the memorandum -- on maybe Friday?

Over the next I'd say 48 hours.

48 hours. And it could be then in --

I'd say 48 hours.

Will you still make Geneva?

We haven't determined yet. It's in final form, we haven't determined.

How long will you leave the US military in the Gulf?

What?

How long will you leave the US military in the Gulf?

It's a good question, we haven't thought of it. We really -- probably a while. It's a good place to stay. The question was, how long will you leave the military in the Gulf? I would say a little while, see how it all goes. I think it's going to go well, but we'll see. So, I will see you guys at Versailles.

Can I follow up quickly on something? At the press conference, you said you don't mind Iran having ballistic missiles. Can you elaborate on that? I want to make sure we understand your position.

No, I'm saying that if other countries have them, it's a little bit unfair for them not to have some. A ballistic missile is not the same thing as what we're talking about when we talk nuclear. But if Saudi Arabia and Qatar and they all have some, I would say in relative proportion, I think it's OK. That's what I mean, OK?

Mr. President, how important is it in the MOU, which just came out, that Iran commits not only to not pursue nuclear weapons, but also to resolve the nuclear dust?

It's great, and much less important because it's very hard to get it that, very -- I don't think anybody could get it. We could get at it with great work and a lot of time. But the B-2 bombers and those great pilots -- now you understand they did their job. So, much less important than not having a nuclear weapon.

What are you expecting tonight at the dinner? Is this kind of part of a long farewell to President Macron?

No, it's not really for that. I think he's just honoring our country. And you have the biggest people from Europe, great people. You might have a list; do you have a list of the people? A very impressive group of people.

There was a hot mic moment at the G7 where the Canadian prime minister was talking to you about their Chinese car cap, and he said, you said you like it. Can you comment?

I like what?

The cap that Canada put on Chinese car imports, you were talking about it with Carney. What do you think of that?

I don't know that I said I like it, but I could understand that, yeah.

Is that a factor?

Would I rather see a cap than no cap? Yeah, I would -- on Canada.

Would the US ever consider allowing Chinese cars?

Well, we haven't; they pay over a 100 percent tariff. So, we don't have the problems that Europe has or Canada.

How long do you hope USMCA negotiations or review go on?

Well, it's not something that's -- to me I think it's better without it, I mean, to be honest with you. I'm not a big fan of it. I liked it because it got us out of NAFTA. In other words, after six years you had a clause that got us out of NAFTA. That's the thing I liked about it most. We do better without an agreement.

Do you want to just leave it enrolling --

I would rather leave it unsigned. I'd rather have it terminated.

You'd rather have it terminated? Those are different things, sir. I just want to be clear.

I would rather not have the agreement, but I may sign it, but I would rather -- we do better as a country if we don't have an agreement.

So are you thinking of --

Yeah, I'm thinking about maybe we won't be able to make a deal. I would rather not have the USMCA. The primary reason I wanted it was because there was no way out of NAFTA, which is the worst trade agreement ever made, like ever. And they had no termination and it was very hard to get USMCA for that reason.

And I had a six-year clause. Who would have thought I would have been here in the six years. They got it six years because they hoped I wouldn't be here. My term was supposed to be over with. So, on top of everything else it comes to, I would prefer not having an agreement, but I'm open to doing it. We'll see what happens.

So, as of now, it's just going to stick around for 10 years. You're aware of that?

No, it's not sticking around; it'll be terminated. In other words --

After a decade.

It expires.

In a decade.

It expires. I prefer this, I view it as possibly expiring immediately.

In the first paragraph of the Iran memorandum, it says no use of force, but also no threat of a use of force. It talks about bombing Iran if they didn't comply. Is that a threat? Would the Iranians see that as --

If they don't come through, is it a threat that we'd bomb? You can call whatever you want, but it will probably happen. Thank you. I will see you at Versailles and you're going to go back and tell the New York Times you're going to change your whole way of life, OK?

Did you see the 60-day hard deadline for final agreement?

No, I don't know -- it could take longer.

You can extend. You could extend this.

I don't view it as hard, no.

You don't think of it as a hard deadline?

No, just as long as they're behaving, I really don't care that much.

Did you talk to leaders about Greenland, sir?

About who?

Greenland? Did you talk about Greenland?

No, we didn't discuss Greenland.

Not at all?

I should discuss Greenland while we're there.

Does Ukraine now have the advantage on the battlefield? What's the situation?

Well, they're doing pretty well. Russia's a big country, a much bigger military. But they're doing pretty well, they're holding their own. They have great equipment with our equipment, don't forget, but they're doing pretty well.

Are you going to send them any more US military help?

Well, they pay for it. I send it to Europe, Europe pays for it, NATO pays for it, unlike Biden where he gave $300 billion worth of equipment away.

Sanctions on Russia, what are you going to do about that? Sanctions on Russia, like the oil waivers?

Yeah, I may put them back on, yeah. I wanted to make sure that oil stayed as low as possible. Now that the oil price is way down, wait until you see those numbers, but it's way down, I may put it back on, OK? Thank you.