We face many dangers and critical 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. Act now to must ensure the regimes complete. Enuclearization i appreciate the United NationsSecurity Council voting twice , toimously, 150, twice adopt hardhitting resolutions against north korea. I initially we initially initiated tough new sanctions for those who do business with this outlaw regime, and applaud chinas action to restrict its trade with north korea. And in particular, i applaud alla for breaking off banking relationships with north korea, something that people would have sought unthinkable even two months ago. I want to thank president xi. Here in the western hemisphere, we have seen the heartbreaking madurosajoras socialist rule in venezuela. Spain has been promoting the interests and wellbeing of the venezuelan people, and we thank you for your efforts. E. U. Pe our friends in the will soon follow the United States, canada, and many latin american nations in sanctioning the maduro regime. We need everybody involved. The citizens of venezuela have endured suffering, starvation, and dangerous 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 follows. The people of venezuela deserve a future of freedom. These are great people. In the economic arena, we support trade that benefits oath spain and the United States, which means it must be fair and reciprocal. Such an important word. Has not been used very much in the United States reciprocal. Spain is the 10th largest investor in the United States, and i commend spanish Business Leaders for their competence in america and the american worker. Considering the fact that our stockmarket market has just hit alltime highs, i think they probably like the United States very much right now. This is a time for tremendous opportunity for our world, but also serious dangers. ,s 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. Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I would like to start by expressing my solidarity, that of my government and that of the spanish people, with the people m the u. S. Government after the terrible events President Trump just referred to that took place in texas, florida, and other u. S. Regions, and puerto rico. That even ife wish what happened cannot be changed, we hope that in the future we as possible for everyone. President trump and i had a working meeting today which was very productive, and we went through our bilateral relations. Spain and the United States are great partners. We share values democracy, freedom, respect for human rights, the rule of law. And we have institutional, cultural, corporate ties which are very important. Relations between the countries have been excellent, and we must continue to work to strengthen those relations even more, especially in the economic arena. Oft is why our priorities strengthening the economy and job creation are key. Trade between the countries is growing, sustained. The United States is our second top training partner outside of europe. The United States is our top destination of experts outside the European Union. Regarding investments, it is the second toughest nation of topish investments, and the investor of spain. For many years, Spanish Companies have invested in the u. S. They are creating many stable and highquality jobs in different sectors such as the financial industry and energy. This has been possible thanks to the establishment of subsidiaries in the United States by 600 Spanish Companies, and they will continue to create jobs. They follow closely Investment Opportunities in the United States and can contribute their technology and experience to the United States. Withe also been in detail President Trump on spains role different crises which are important to all. He referred to our participation in the coalition regarding Nuclear Proliferation and north korea. Combating terrorism is something we talked about at length. Spain has a longstanding experience in this area. Just like the United States, we have been hit by terrorist attacks on our soil. Agreed onries have antiterrorist policy and we cooperate very closely in the police, military, and intelligence areas. I have also said i am sure we still need to do a lot in the area of intelligence. We need to include the coordination mechanisms in the area of cybersecurity or presenting recruitment and financing of terrorism. I also underscored spains role as a member of the Global Coalition against terrorism, and our deployment in iraq which is very large we are the fourthlargest contributor and have trained over 32,000 officers. In addition to that, i have told President Trump that we will increase our commitment with the new phase after the fall of mosul, by contributing an aid package to rebuild iraq. We also have long relations both , witho and bilaterally the spanish bases used by both of our countries, which are increasingly important strategically. Our Defense Agreement goes back to 1988. At that time, spain was in the backseat of the alliance. Right now, we are at the forefront, in libya. The security relationship is excellent. We would like that to spill over into other areas of the bilateral relation. President trump and i have gone through the political and Economic Situation in our countries. Regarding the international situation, we have agreed that the challenge by north korea to the nonproliferation regime is an intolerable violation of international legality. I have expressed the full support of the Spanish Government to the stepping up of sanctions, as approved by the United Nations the other day. We know the European Union is working on new additional measures. And in that concept, spain will continue to press for a firm common stance, supportive of the u. S. And its regional allies. Reminded President Trump that the Spanish Government has taken measures that have reduced the diplomatic presence of north korea in our country. President trump has thanked me for the Firm Position my government has taken and the measures. Regarding venezuela, we have exchanged words on the worrying totalitarian direction the country is moving in, and its impoverishment, with the applications it has in the humanitarian area. We have noted that there is a internationaln pressure on the venezuelan government so that it commits to negotiations which will enable ,s to find a democratic negotiated, and peaceful solution to the current crisis. I have also reminded that President Trump that spain, in the e. U. , spearheaded the adoption of sanctions, which were first individually targeted. We have gone through the political and Economic Situation with our countries. Spain and the United States are democracies, friends, and allies with many common values and interests. Have agreed to Work Together in the area 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. I would also like to underscore the friendship that exists between the United States and spain. Thank you. Pres. Trump thank you. Steve holland, please, reuters. Dont get nervous, steve. Steve [indiscernible] preoccupied with the nfl instead of dealing with puerto rico. Pres. Trump i was not preoccupied with the nfl. I was ashamed of what was taking place. To me, that was a very important moment. I dont think you can disrespect our country, our flag, our National Anthem. Very, the nfl situation is important. I have heard that before, about, was a preoccupied. Not at all. I have plenty of time on my hands. All i do is work. Had to be honest with you. That is an important function of working. It is called respect for our country. Many people have died many, many people. Many people are still horribly injured. I was at Walter Reed Hospital recently and i saw so many great young people and their missing legs and missing arms, and they have been so badly injured. They were fighting for our country, fighting for our flag, fighting for the National Anthem. That byle to disrespect kneeling during the playing by our National Anthem i think is disgraceful. I read youy part of the quote, but the governor of puerto rico is doing a great job. We did a great job in texas, florida, louisiana. We hit little pieces of georgia and alabama. And frankly, we are doing and it is the most difficult job, because it is on an island in the middle of the ocean. It is out in the ocean. You cannot 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 and puerto rico. We are also mentioning, with that, the u. S. Virgin islands. It was devastated. We are totally focused on that. At the same time, it does not take me long to put out a wrong, and maybe we will get it right. I think it is a very important thing for the nfl to not allow people to kneel during the playing of our National Anthem, to respect our country and to respect our flag. Thank you. If i could ask the crime minister if i could ask the Prime Minister a question, is it going to take a war to rein in north korea . What is your advice to the president on dealing with this . Rajoy minister rejoin [speaking spanish] no one wishes for there to be a war anywhere in the world, but it is true that the recent events in north korea, with implications in the neighboring countries very important we alles means that have to be forceful, and those of us who defend the values of democracy, freedom, and human rights have to let north korea korea is not going anywhere in the direction. Sanctions have been adopted. Any politicalport decision which will contribute to putting an end to this situation, which has nothing to do with the principles and in most of western and global democracies. [speaking spanish] we dont know whether during your conversation you discussed the alanalone the cat situation. This is a question for President Trump. Do you support what the Spanish Government is doing regarding catalonia . I would like to ask the president of the Spanish Government whether he fears there might be a universal declaration of independence in catalonia, and what would the government do then . Pres. Trump i think that spain is a great country and should remain united. We are dealing with a great, great country, and it should remain united. I have been watching that unfold. It has actually been unfolding for centuries. I think that nobody knows if they are going to have a vote. I think the president would say they are not going to have a vote. The people would be very much opposed to that. I can say, only speaking for myself i would see spain continuing to be reunited. P. M. Rajoy the decision to unilaterally declare independence is not something i would it is not a decision i would make. It is a decision which will have to be made or not by the cut catalan the government. I think it would be very wrong. One everyone knows the referendum cannot take place because there is not an electoral committee, a team at the government organizing the referendum there are not ballots. There are not people at voting stations. T is just crazy all this will lead to is noise. With minimum guarantees, i think what would make sense in a situation such as this is to go back to common sense and put an end to this whole story. The only thing it is doing is generating division, tensions. It is not contributing in any situation. Citizen 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. Pres. Trump thank you. Major garrett, cbs . In puerto rico, [indiscernible] hours away. [indiscernible] are you satisfied with what the government has done so far . [inaudible] and you have an official meeting and are you contemplating the deployment of special naval assets or air assets to puerto rico to address 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 in international airspace. I would like your reaction. The. Trump i will answer second one first. We are totally prepared for the second option. Not a preferred option, but if we take that option, it would be devastated. I can tell you that devastating for north korea that is called the military option. If we have to take it, we will. He is acting very badly. He is saying things that should never, ever be said. We are replying to those things, but it is a reply. It is not an original statement. It is a reply. The things he said over the last year, and if you look back, the things he said to past administrations north korea is a situation that should have been handled 15 years ago, 10 years ago, and five years ago. It could have been handled much more easily. There are various administrations, many administrations, which left me a mess, but i will fix the mess. We will see what happens with north korea. As far as puerto rico is concerned, i think just the opposite. Reviewshad tremendous from government officials, as we have in texas and louisiana, and as we have in florida, as you know from governor scott. Greg abbott. Great governors. This morning, the governor made incredible statements about how well we are doing. We understand it is a disaster. It is a disaster that just happened. The grid was in bad shape before the storm. Puerto rico did not get hit by one hurricane. It got hit i two by two hurricanes, among the biggest we have ever seen, with the second being even worse. The second hit puerto rico as a category 5. I do not believe anybody has , it landappen before with that kind of velocity. The governor was generous, and i appreciated it. Our top people have been there. President donald trump speaking in that press conference with the spanish Prime Minister, mariano rajoy. In d c after the gop lunch, they are talking about Graham Cassidy and the decision not to vote. Senator graham the opinion of republicans has been, we know what we do not like. Obamacare is not working. We have made that case effectively. But we have had a hard time articulating what we are for, until now. Now, we have something to talk to 50that makes ends republican senators, a lot of governors, and i hope the American People. If you are a singlepayer believer, god bless you. I just respectfully disagree. But what we are proposing is the end of singlepayer health care in washington. That worked with welfare reform. In 1996, the congress, in a bipartisan fashion, under bill clinton, took the welfare system and block granted him back to the state with guidelines and guardrails, and achieved a lot of success. I am convinced that innovation and flexibility is the key to sustainable highquality health care, that obamacare is the exact opposite of innovation, flexibility, and highquality. We are down to one provider in my state. In 2014, we had five. A 31 increase in South Carolina alone. This system is failing. The good news for america is republicans are not just going to deliver on a campaign promise. We are actually going to improve your health care by giving you access to people who care more about you at home than any bureaucrat here could in washington. It is a simple proposition taking basically the same amount of money in it are way, allocated to the states. You have to spend it on health care, not football stadiums, not roads or bridges. You have flexibility, but there are guardrails. I believe with all my heart that a governor, a state house member, is going to listen closer to you and care more about