Press gaggle with President Trump (Aug 1, 2025) covering international relations (Russia, South Korea, Brazil, India, Switzerland), economic-statistics skepticism (criticisms of Bureau of Labor Statistics job numbers and a reported post-election correction of ~800–900k), a Federal Reserve Board vacancy (14-year term referenced), trade deficits (a $40 billion deficit with Switzerland), fundraising for a White House ballroom (mention of raising $200 million; Trump: "Maybe one. Me."), and humanitarian logistics (Steve Witkoff and Gaza food efforts). The tone is conversational and repetitive, with numerous clarifying follow-ups from reporters.
Questions this video answers
An 8 or 900,000 (≈800,000–900,000) reduction reported around November 15.
"$40 billion deficit with Switzerland."
A 14 year term.
$200 million (Trump says "Maybe one. Me.")
Chapters
Are you gonna go to talk with Putin before your deadline come and I mean 10 days while in the. Well, we'll see what happens. We're gonna have some meetings and we'll see what happens. Oh, yeah, I think so. And if you look at before the election, the same kind of thing happened. And I think you'll see some very interesting information come out. But we got rid. You have to have honest reports when you look at those numbers or when you look at just before the election and then after the election, they corrected it by eight or 900,000 jobs. Yeah, I would say. Korea in the United States, we have a great relationship.
So we talk and when do you have it?
We have a great relationship with South Korea.
Are you ready? Are you open to negotiate with Brazil? The Brazilian president, Lula said you'd like to call you. He requests a conversation. Would you talk to him now?
Are you.
He can talk to me anytime he wants.
So are you open the character.
He can talk to me anytime he wants.
What is on the table for Brazil?
Well, we'll see what happens. But I love the people of Brazil. Why you can't do. I love the people of Brazil. Close to Russia related to trade with their president. People running Brazil did the wrong thing.
What evidence?
Seven years.
Seven years from the time that you.
Learned people were being stolen from Mar.
A Lago for the time that you picture that you took. We never seen. Yeah, I don't. I don't understand your question. Where are the submarines being deployed? Say it. We are being deployed. Nuclear submarines. Oh, yeah. Well, we had to do that. We just have to be careful. And a threat was made and we didn't think it was appropriate. So I have to be very careful. So I do that on the basis of safety for our people. A threat was made by a former president of Russia. And we're going to protect our people. I hope so. I hope so. I don't know whether or not that'll happen, but I hope so.
Mr. President, why did you fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics?
Because I think her numbers were wrong. Just like I thought her numbers were wrong before the election. Days before the election, she came out with these beautiful numbers for Kamala, I guess, Biden Kamala. And she came out with these beautiful numbers trying to get some. Somebody else elected. Then right after the election, I think on the 15th, November 15th, she had an 8 or $900,000 massive reduction. Said she made a mistake. No, that woman. That woman's numbers are.
Going to resign.
Say it. Yeah. One of the Governors, as you know of. The Federal Reserve has just announced she's resigning. I understand it was over the fact that she disagreed with somebody. Her party. She disagreed with too late. You know who Tulane is. She disagreed with too late on the interest rate. So we'll see what happens. But we just found out that I have a open spot on the Federal Reserve Board. I'm very happy about that, John.
And what did Medvedev say to you that made you really mad?
Well, you just have to read what he said. He was talking about nuclear. Talk about nuclear. We have to be prepared, and we're totally prepared.
Mr. President, on the monthly job report going forward, why should anyone trust the numbers?
Well, that's the big thing. You're right. No, you're right. Why should anybody trust numbers? You go back to election, election day, look what happened two or three days before with massive, wonderful job numbers, trying to get him elected, or her elected, trying to get whoever the hell was running. Because you go back, and they came out with numbers that were very favorable to Kamala, okay? To trying to get him elected, Trying to get her elected. And then on the 15th of November or thereabouts, they had an 8 or 900,000 overstatement reduction right after the election. It didn't work. Because you know who won, John? I won.
But here's the thing.
Your supporters have had issues with these numbers.
I've had issues with the numbers for a long time, but today we're doing so well. I believe the numbers were phony, just like they were before the election. And there were other times. So you know what I did? I fired her. Right. And you know what? I did the right thing.
If any government official going forward is presenting data or information you don't like, should they fear for their job?
I've always had a problem with these numbers. You know, I was thinking about it this morning before the numbers that came out. I said, who is the person that does these numbers? And then they gave me stats about. Before the election. I had a similar problem. I mean, she gave. Gave out numbers that were so good for the Democrats, it was, like, unbelievable. And then right after the election, she corrected those numbers with, I think, almost 900,000 corrections. I think nobody had ever seen anything like it. Well, today she did the same thing with the 253,000, whatever the number was. No, no. We need people that we can trust. I mean, your question is a very good one. We need people we can trust. Plan to replace her with. I've got about three very good. I have a lot of good candidates. I will say everybody wants it. I have had more phone calls, but I have three people that have a background in, you know, I can do a long term thing or I could do a temporary. It's a 14 year term.
Right, but do you put someone in who actually has labor statistics experience?
I put somebody in. I put somebody in who's going to be honest. Are you taking long term? That's all we want. I have a choice. I can have four months, I can do a short term, or I can do a 14 year deal. So we'll, we'll see. We have a lot of people that. We've got a lot of good people around.
Can I ask you a construction question?
Switzerland. That was a shock. The tariff rate with Switzerland, it was pretty, it was higher than other Europe.
Well, the problem with Switzerland, we have a, we have a 40. We have a $40 billion deficit with Switzerland. And I spoke yesterday to Switzerland, but we have a $40 billion deficit with Switzerland. That's a big deficit.
Can I ask you a question on the construction? You say you're raising $200 million, you're donating a bunch others. Are you blocking foreigners from donating money to Viltex editions?
Honestly, I never even thought of it, but it doesn't matter. I'm putting up my money, but it doesn't even matter. They've wanted a ballroom at the White House and it's been very popular. You know, when we put it out.
Yesterday, are you ruling out that a crown print or some European.
No, I'm not looking. I'm not looking for that. You know, you have very strong restrictions as to who can donate and we go by the restrictions.
Are you going to publicize the name?
I mean, it's not that much money.
Well, you released.
Yeah, I'll do that. I didn't even start yet, by the way. But when I do, I'll release.
How many donors do you think it's going to take to get to 200 million?
Maybe one. Me.
But you would cut that check yourself?
I would, yeah.
Did you talk to Steven Wycoff today on his journey to Gaza? Did you talk to Steve Witkoff?
I did. I spoke to Steve Witkoff. He had a great meeting with a lot of people and the primary meeting was on food. And he also had some other conversations that I'll tell you about later. But he had a meeting on getting the people fed and that's what we want. And I'll see you later on.
In terms of the penalties on India, what numbers are you looking at and are you going to be having a.
Conversation well I understand India no longer is going to be buying oil from Russia that's what I heard I don't know if that's right or not but that's a good step we'll see what happens. Obviously the treasury is taking in so much money right now some Republicans have.
Been pushing more seriously check.
A lot of people that would like to see the people of our country it's something I could see how much would be I also want I want to pay off debt but there's a possibility I do a given. Paris obviously there's no two days here coming up the rest of the UK you're a betting man how many of these airplanes now in the yeah for the most part we a little bit if somebody could convince us that you know they have a case like Switzerland was complaining but lo $40 billion a year with Switzerland we had to do that.
