Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States and the president of the government of spain. President trump thank you very much, a seated. I am greatly honored to welcome Mariano Rajoy of spain. We a productive conversation on a crucial range of become economic and security issues. I would like to take a moment to send americas hearts and prayers to the people of puerto rico and the u. S. Virgin islands. Both have been devastated, i mean absolutely devastated by Hurricane Maria and we are doing your thing in our power to help the hardhit people of both places, puerto rico and the virgin islands. A massive effort is under way and we have been really treated very, very nicely by the governor and by everybody else, they know how hard were work, what a good job were doing. As we speak, fema, our great First Responders, and all available federal resources, including the military are being marshaled to save lives, protect families, and begin a long and very, very difficult restoration process. I have directed all relevant departments and agencies to assist in the response and recovery efforts. As governor rossello just told me this morning, the entire federal work force is doing great work in puerto rico and i appreciated his saying it. Hes saying it to anybody that will listen. Our team has been incredible, after having gone through texas and then florida. With other stops along the way. And he further went on and said, through the trump administrations leadership, the relationship between fema and my team is very, very strong. I will be going to puerto rico on tuesday, i will also be going to the u. S. Virgin islands. Over the last several weeks our nation has been tested by the Destructive Force of Mother Nature but we will respond to it with an even mightier force, the resolve of the american spirit, texas, louisiana, and florida. Are in really good shape and moving along well. We thank all of the First Responders and volunteers who have risked their lives and thats what they did, they risked their lives. To all of those impacted by the trouble and these horrible hurricanes and storms that have affected and impacted our country, i thank you. The Recovery Process will be a very, very difficult one. We will get through this and we will get through it together. We will be stronger. We will be bigger. We will be better. Thank you very much. The United States and spain are great friends and close allies. Our bonds, culture, and commerce go back many centuries. Our schools teach American Children about spains history of exploration. Our museums treasure beautiful spanish works of art and your countrys contributions to architecture, music and film are admired all over the world. A greatly admired country. The deep relationship between our two people is a Strong Foundation for lasting cooperation. On behalf of the american people, i want to express our support and extend our prayers to all of those affected by the vile terror attack in spain last month. I want to assure the people of spain that america stands with you and in confronting this evil that threatens all of humanity. We will continue to deny the terrorists their funding, their territory, and any form of support for their wicked ideology. In this common fight, america greatly appreciates spains contributions to the coalition to defeat isis. Spanish troops an police have trained more than 30,000 members of the Iraqi Security forces. We also thank the spanish people for being such gracious hosts to the American Service members stationed at spanish bases. The United States an spain together face many critical dangers and challenges, from north korea, to iran, to venezuela. We thank spain for its recent decision to expel its north Korean Ambassador and for standing with us in our efforts to isolate the brutal north korean regime. It is time for all responsible nations to join forces, to isolate the north korean menace. North Korean Nuclear weapons and Missile Development threaten the entire world with unthinkable loss of life. All nations must act now to ensure the regimes complete denuclearization. I appreciate the United NationsSecurity Council voting twice, unanimously, 150, twice, to adopt hardhitting resolutions against north korea. I have recently issued tough new sanctions against those who do business with this outlaw regime and i applaud chinas latest action to restrict its trade with north korea. And in particular, i applaud china for breaking off all banking relationships with north korea. Something that people would have thought unthinkable even two months ago. I want to thank president chi. Here in the western hemisphere, we have seen the heart breaking tragedy of maduras socialist rule in venezuela. Spain has been instrumental in promoting the well being of venezuelan people and thank you for your efforts. We hope our friends in the e. U. Will soon follow the United States, canada, and many latin american nations in sanctioning the maduro regime. The citizens of venezuela have endured immense suffer, poverty, and dangers, political unrest, under maduros oppressive socialist regime. Together spain and the United States hope for peace, for the restoration of democracy, and for the release of all Political Prisoners. Wherever socialism spreads, misery follow. The people of venezuela deserve a future of freedom. These are great people. In the economic arena, we support trade that benefits both spain and the United States which means it must be fair and it must be reciprocal. Such an important word. Han been used much in the United States. Reciprocal. Spain is the 10th largest investor in the United States and i commend spanish Business Leaders for their confidence in america and the American Worker and considering the fact that our stock market has just hit alltime highs, i think they probably like the United States very much right now. Isnt it time for both tremendous opportunity for our world but also serious dangers. As i said at the United Nations, which future really is up to us. If we empower our citizens, serve their needs and appeal to all that is best in the human spirit, then i have no doubt we will succeed like never, ever before. Mr. President , i look forward to working with you to build this future of prosperity and peace for both spain and for the United States of america. Thank you very much. Thank you. [speaking spanish] with the people in the u. S. Government after the terrible events President Trump just referred to. And that took place in texas, florida, and other u. S. Regions. And puerto rico. We hope and we wish that even if what happened cant be changed, we hope that in the future we can do as much as possible. President trump and i respect for human rights the rule of law, and we have institutional, cultural, corporate ties which are very important. Relations between the two countries have been excellent and we must continue to work to strengthen those relations even more especially in the economic arena. Thats why our priority is to bolster trade between the two countries. The United States is our second top trading partner. The United States our top destination of exports outside the European Union. And the top destination for spanish investors. And the top investors. For many years, Spanish Companies have invested in the u. S. Theyre creating many stable and high quality jobs in different sectors such as the financial industry and its been possible the establishment of subsidiaries in the United States by 600 Spanish Companies and they continued to create jobs. Thats why they followed closely Investment Opportunity in the United States and they can contribute their technology and experience to the United States. Ive also given details to President Trump on spains role in the crisis which are reported. Which are important to all. The crisis due to Nuclear Proliferation in north korea. Combating terrorism is something we talked about. Spain has a longstanding policy in this area. Just like the United States, we have been hit by terror attacks on our soil. Both countries have agree on antiterrorist policy, cooperate very closely in intelligence areas. I also am sure that there is a coordination mechanism in the area of cybersecurity or preventing recruitment and financing of terror. I also underscore the rule as a member of the coalition against terrorism at our deployment. We trained over 32,000 officers. In addition to that, ive told President Trump we increase our commitment with the United States after the fall of mosul by contributing a new financial package to rebuild iraq. We also have a long relationship, both nato and bilaterally, with spanish resources used by both our countries and which are increasing. Our Defense Agreement goes back to 1988. At the time spain was in the back seat of the alliance. Right now were at the forefront. That will spill over into other areas of the bilateral agreement. President trump and i have gone over the political and Economic Situation in our countries. Regarding the international situation, weve agreed that the challenge by north korea for the nonproliferation regime is an intolerable violation and i expressed the full support of the Spanish Government to the stepping up of sanctions as approved by the United Nations. The European Union is working on new additional measures. Spain will continue to press for a firm common stance supportive of the u. S. And its regional allies. Ive also reminded that the Spanish Government has taken measures that have reduced the diplomatic presence in our country, President Trump thanked me for the Firm Position my government has taken. Weve exchanged views on the totalitarian direction of the country and its accomplishment an the implications that has in the humanitarian area. Weve noted that theres a need to place pressure on the venezuelan Government Society commits to negotiations which will enable us to find a democratic negotiated peaceful solution to the current crisis. Ive also reminded President Trump that spain has spearheaded the adoption of sanctions which were first individually targeted. Weve gone through the Economic Situation of both our countries, spain and the United States, our two democratic friends and allies. Many common values and interests. Weve agreed to Work Together in the areas of those values with a comprehensive and cooperative vision. I would like to thank the warm welcome that was extended to us by President Trump and his team at the white house. And i would also like to underscore the friendship that exists between the United States and spain. Thank you. President trump steve hollande, please, reuters. Dont get nervous, steve. Reporter you were preoccupied with the nfl instead of dealing with puerto rico, is that a Fair Assessment . President trump i wasnt preoccupied with the nfl, that was an important moment. I do not think you can disrespect our country, our flag, our national anthem. To me the nfl situation is a very important situation. Ive heard that before, was i preoccupied . Not at all. I have plenty of time on my hands all i do is work. , thats an important function of work, its called respect for our country. Many people have died, many, many people, many people are so horribly injured. I was at Walter Reed Hospital recently, i saw so many great young people and their missing legs and their missing arms and theyve been so badly injured. They were fighting for our country, fighting for our flag, fighting for our national anthem. And for people to disrespect that by kneeling during the playing of our national anthem, i think is disgraceful. I will also say, i read you part of the quote but the governor of puerto rico is so thankful for the job were doing. We did a great job in texas a great job in florida a great job in louisiana, we hit little pieces of georgia and alabama man and frankly were doing, and its the most difficult job because its on the island, on an island in the middle of the ocean. Out in the ocean. You cant just drive your trucks there from other states. The governor said we are doing a great job he thanked me specifically for fema and all of the First Responders in puerto rico. Were also mentioning with that the u. S. Virgin islands, it was devastated. So we are totally focused on that. But at the same time it doesnt take me long to put out a long and maybe well get it right. I think its important for the nfl to not allow people to kneel in the playing of our national anthem, to respect our country and respect our flag. Thank you. Reporter if i could ask you, Prime Minister a question. This is going to is it going to take a war for north korea and what is your advice to the president on dealing with this . No one wishes for there to be a war anywhere in the world but its true that the recent events in north korea with implications in the neighboring countries, very important countries, and mean that we all have to be forceful and those of us who defend the values of democracy, freedom, and human rights have to let north korea know that it isnt going anywhere in that direction for the time being. Spain will support any political decision which will contribute to putting an end to this situation which has nothing to do with the principles and values most of western and global democracies defend. Reporter thank you. We dont know whether during your conversation you discussed catalan situation. This is a question for President Trump. Do you support what the Spanish Government is doing regarding catalonia . Id like to ask the president of the Spanish Government whether he fears they might be a unilateral declaration of independence in catalonia and what would the government do then . President trump well, i think spain is a great country and it should remain united. We are dealing with a great, great country and it should remain united. I have been watching this unfold. Actually been unfolding for centuries. I think that nobody knows if they can have a vote. I think the president would say theyre not going to have a vote. But i think that the people would be very much opposed to that. I can say only speaking for myself, i would like to see spain continue to be united. Prime minister rajoy unilaterally declaring independence is not something its not a decision i would make. Its a decision which would have to be made or not by the catalonia government. I think it would be very wrong. And i think that right now, when everyone knows that the referendum cant take place because there isnt an electoral committee, there isnt a team at the catalonia government organizing the referendum, there arent ballots, there arent people at the voting station. So its just crazy, all this will lead to is noise. But certainly there can be a valid democratic referendum with guarantees, with minimum guarantees. I think what would make sense in this situation, such as this, is to go back to common sense and put an end to the whole story. The only thing its doing is generating division, tensions and its not contributing in any way to the citizen situation. So i want this to be resolved as soon as possible and i want us to go into a new stage where the rule of law, dialogue and common sense will prevail. Thank you. President trump thank you. Major garrett. Yes, cbs. [inaudible] are you satisfied with what the government has done so far in puerto rico . And can you tell people there things are actually going great when government officials there are warning of imminent death for many people there . Are you contemplating the deployment of special naval assets or air assets to puerto rico to address the problems there . And on north korea, very quickly, the foreign minister said you have declared effectively war on north korea. And the north korean government has threatened to shoot down or aim at american planes flying in International Air space. Id like your reaction. President trump ill answer the second one first. We are totally prepared for the second option. Not a preferred option. But if we take that option, it will be devastating. I can tell you that. Devastating for north korea. Thats called the military option. If we have to take it, we will. Hes acting very badly. Hes saying things that should never, ever be said. And were replying to those things. But its a reply. Its not an original statement. Its a reply. But the things that hes said over the last year, and if you look back, the things that he said to past administrations, north koreas a situation that should have been handled 25 years ago, 20 years ago, 15 years ago, 10 years ago and five years ago. And it could have been handled much more easily. You had various administrations, many administrations which left me a mess. But ill fix the mess. So well see what happens with north korea. As far as puerto ricos concerned, i think just the opposite. We have had tremendous reviews from government officials, as we have in texas and louisiana and as we have in florida. As you know from governor scott. And greg abbott. Great governors. This morning the governor made incredible statements about how well were doing. We understand its a disaster. Its a disaster. That just happened. The grid was in bad shape before the storm. And puerto rico didnt get hit by one hurricane. It got hit by two hurricanes. And they were among the biggest weve ever seen. With the second one being even worse. I mean, the second one hit puerto rico as a category five. I dont believe anybodys ever seen that happen before. Hit land with that kind of velocity. The governor has been extremely generous and i appreciated it. We right now have our top people from fema, and they have been there. We are unloading on an hourly basis massive loads of water and food and supplies for puerto rico. And this isnt like florida where we can go right up the spine or like texas where we go right down the middle and we distribute. This is, you know, think of the atlantic ocean. This is tough stuff. The governor has been so incredible in his statements about the job were doing. Were doing a great job. Dont forget, their police force has been decimated because many of the police in puerto rico have lost their homes. So, sure, they want to be policed but they also want to be able to watch their families and find their families and they have to live. So were also very much involved in security in puerto rico. So everybody has said its amazing the job that weve done in puerto rico. Were very proud of it. And im going there on tuesday. Now, with all of that being said, record if you look at the amount of water dropped on that island between the two hurricanes, and the first they just barely got by with. But they were devastated. And the second was a complete wipeout. I mean, this was a place that was destroyed. So i think weve done a really good job. Were continuing to. We are literally unloading on an hourly basis water, food, supplies. We have our top people from fema and our First Responders and everybody else. Were going to be deploying navy ships, theyve already been deployed. And we are going to do far more than anybody else would ever be able to do. And its being recognized as such. But it is a tough situation. Would you have a question for the president . Reporter mr. Prime minister, if i may, sir, do you share President Trumps hostility toward the Venezuelan Regime . And what is your opinion generally of his, that is to say President Trumps, suggestion that u. S. Military intervention might be required if the venezuelan government doesnt change course . Do you support that and would you be an advocate within the e. U. For tougher sanctions against the venezuelan government . Prime minister rajoy [inaudible] European Union, a proposal to impose sanctions on venezuela. What is happening is unacceptable. Venezuela traditionally was a democratic country and this climate its no longer a democratic country. There are Political Prisoners in venezuela. There are people in jail only because they think differently than mr. Maduro. And i was the first to Prime Minister to [indiscernible] who is the wife who was jailed because mr. Maduro didnt like him. But there were many others who were sent to jail. In venezuela, there was a parliament and the government has made up this other parliament, which has its meetings next to the other parliament. [indiscernible] theyve created a commission for the truth, which is an antidemocratic tool which only serves to judge people without respecting minimum human rights standards. Venezuela is on the road to dictatorship. Unless that can be stopped. So all of us who share values such as democracy, freedom and human rights have to do something. At this time, sanctions are important. Its important that there be an International Coalition putting pressure on maduro so that Political Prisoners are free and democracy is restored, because this lack of democracy and the attack against human rights and freedoms are coming in conjunction with a terrible Economic Situation, with the 300 inflation rate, with problems supplying foods and medicines to people. So its a little tragic situation and i think that we have, the United States and spain have a responsibility toward venezuela. There are a lot of spaniards living in venezuela and im worried about them, about them and the rest. They certainly worry me. So i think that the International Community should be forceful with regard to venezuela. Reporter thank you. I have a question for each of you. For President Trump, with the serious political crisis in spain because of the referendum on sunday, what solution do you think there is . Have you given advice to president rajoy on this matter . Do you think there should be a dialogue between the two to find a solution . Then a question for Prime Minister rajoy. It seems that what youre doing in catalonia, the way youre managing things in catalonia, is having an impact on the budget and id also like to know whether you think that the situation with the p. N. V. Party can be resolved or do you think you will have to call early elections . Thank you very much. President trump i think the people of catalonia have been talking about this for a long time. But i bet you if you had accurate numbers and accurate polling, youd find that they love their country, they love spain. And they wouldnt leave. So im just for a united spain. I speak as the president of the United States. As somebody that has Great Respect for your president and also has great really Great Respect for your country. I really think the people of catalonia would stay with spain. I think it would be foolish not to. Youre talking about staying with a truly great, beautiful and very historic country. Prime minister rajoy we would be delaying the budget and parliament because we think that when we submit the budgets, well need the support. To approve them. Were talking with different political parties. A lot of people have problems as we continue to work down the line. I dont think well have any problems in approving them within a reasonable time frame. We are looking for a majority, just like we did last time around when we voted the budget. At any rate, im not thinking at all about calling early elections. Of what weve been saying. President trump mr. President , thank you very much. Thank you. If you missed any of the press conference, you can find it on cspan. Org. Earlier in the day, attorney general Jeff Sessions definitive of President Trumps comments on the nfl, saying the president has free speech rights, too. He made those comments at georgetown law center. A tweak here shows University Professors taking and the taking a knee outside of where mr. Sessions was scheduled to speak. This is about 30 minutes. [applause] thank you very much, professor. It is a great honor to be in georgetown law and the Georgetown Center for the constitution where the exchange of ideas is indeed welcomeed and welcomed and encouraged. Thank you for hosting me with these students today. And i thank you, students, for allowing me to be part of this conversation with you. As you embark on another school year, you and hundreds of your peers across tam