indicator. this economy, under the trump tax cut, the regulation, cheap energy and trade reform, is a great thing. >> i want to get you to some international issues here. as you heard, we have new reporting this morning, that president trump in a phone call with president xi in june of this year, promised the chinese president that he would stay silent on protests in hong kong. while the trade talks continue. that's a remarkable position for a u.s. president to take, considering our historic support for human rights and democracy -- >> you assert that as a fact, though. and i read that story carefully, and jim, from a journalistic point of view. >> are you denying that the president made that statement -- >> hang on. i wasn't privy to that phone call. but here's what i do know. that story had, what, sources, what, familiar with the thing, who are these people? >> it's a frequent point to go to the sources. and by the way, the president's public comments, after that call, give china a pass. give china a pass, he said it