TRANSCRIPT: President Trump Speaks to Reporters After Getting McDonald's DoorDash, 4.13.26
[Video]
President Trump: Hello. Nice to see you.
Sharon Simmons: Nice to meet you. I have your DoorDash order for you, Mr. President.
Trump: That's very nice. Look at this. This doesn't look staged, does it?
Simmons: They're all your favorites.
Trump: These are good. DoorDash is doing a good job.
Simmons: We try.
Trump: So the reason for this is the fact that I heard you picked up an extra $11,000 that you didn't think you'd get because the tax bill was so big, the refund was the biggest you've ever had. Is that a correct statement?
Simmons: It -- it definitely was.
Trump: Yeah?
Simmons: Yeah. I saved over $11,000 by not having to claim.
Trump: Was that surprising to you?
Simmons: It was very surprising, very surprising.
Trump: Great, Big, Beautiful Bill. And that doesn't include overtime, in your case. This is only just based on what we did in terms of every other aspect of the tax bill. Right?
Simmons: Yes, sir.
Trump: So it was $11,007?
Simmons: Yes.
Trump: Isn't that incredible? And that's what it is, the tax cut. It's really -- you know, we call it the Great, Big, Beautiful Bill. We should call it the great, big, beautiful tax cut bill, because it's tremendous amounts of money. And that's overtime. That's also on Social Security, as you know.
Simmons: Yes.
Trump: And it's pretty amazing.
Simmons: Yes, it is.
Trump: You're really nice. Would you like to do a little news conference with me, with these people? These are not the nicest people. They're not nice like you. You know that, right?
Simmons: I'll do whatever you ask me to do, sir.
Trump: So the no tax on tips is something special, right?
Simmons: It's very special.
Trump: And that's the one that really protects you more than anything else?
Simmons: Yes, sir.
Trump: It's fantastic. So it's such an honor to meet you. And I think you voted for me [Inaudible]
Simmons: Maybe.
Trump: Yeah? I heard you're a great supporter and we appreciate it.
Simmons: Thank you.
Trump: I'll put this over here. And why don't we have a news conference with the press?
Simmons: OK.
Trump: You want to do it?
Simmons: Sure.
Trump: You don't have to say too much, I think. They're looking about Hormuz Strait and various other things. Do you have any questions?
Question: Mr. President, did you post that picture of yourself depicted as Jesus Christ?
Trump: Well, it wasn't depicted. It was me. I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor, and had to do with Red cross as a Red cross worker there, which we support. And only the fake news could come up with that one. So I -- I had -- I just heard about it and I said, how did they come up with that? It's supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better, and I do make people better. I make people a lot better. As an example, the $11,000 -- I understand your husband is going through a treatment.
Simmons: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. He has cancer.
Trump: He's going through some very serious cancer treatments, so this goes a long way.
Simmons: Yes, sir, it sure does.
Question: Mr. President, are another round of talks planned with Iran? And if so, will you send Vice President JD Vance there?
Trump: Well, he's done a good job, and Steve and Jared. They've all done a very good job. And I can tell you that we've been called by the other side. They'd like to make a deal very badly, very badly.
Question: What was the sticking point over? You said it was over nuclear.
Trump: It was over nuclear, very similar. Yeah, very good. I guess you're listening. It's over the fact that they will never have a nuclear weapon, Iran. You marking it down? Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. And we agreed to a lot of things, but they didn't agree to that and I think they will agree to it. I'm almost sure of it. In fact, I am sure of it. If they don't agree, there's no deal.
There'll never be a deal. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon and we're going to get the dust back. We'll get it back. Either we'll get it back from them or we'll take it.
Question: Mr. President, as far as the naval blockade is concerned, what's the end game? Is it to force Iran back to the negotiating table? Is it to open up the straits so that gas prices ultimately come down?
Trump: Maybe everything. I mean, both of those things, certainly, and more. OK? We can't let a country blackmail or extort the world because that's what they're doing. They're really blackmailing the world. We're not going to let that happen. And, you know, the amazing thing is, we don't -- can you believe this?
We don't use the strait. We don't need the strait. We have our own oil and gas, much more than we need. We have more oil and gas than Saudi Arabia. Think of this, we produce more, Saudi Arabia and Russia to it, substantially more. And by next year, we'll have double that amount. So we don't need it but the world needs it. And many ships are heading to our country right now as we speak to load up with the best -- Really, I guess you could say, somebody said the best and sweetest.
I don't know exactly what sweet is, but when it relates to oil, it's a good thing. Uh, but they're coming to our country right now. There are many boats coming to our country. Now, it could very well be this is going to be settled before then. We've been called this morning by the right people, the appropriate people, and they want to work a deal. They would like to work a deal.
Question: Is it your anticipation, Mr. President, that other countries will assist in this effort to blockade Iran and [Inaudible]
Trump: Yeah, other countries are going to also. We don't need other countries, frankly, but they've offered their services. We'll let it -- we'll let it be known probably tomorrow.
Question: Has the blockade started, sir?
Trump: Yeah, it started, 10:00.
Note: [Crosstalk]
Question: -- supports you and your policy, praises you for defending religious freedom.
Trump: Yeah.
Question: Now saying you owe an apology. Will you apologize?
Trump: No, I don't, because Pope Leo said things that are wrong, that he was very much against what I'm doing with -- with regard to Iran and you cannot have a nuclear Iran. Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result. You'd have hundreds of millions of people dead, and it's not going to happen, so I can't -- I think he's very weak on crime and other things.
So I'm not. I mean, he -- he went public. I'm just responding to Pope Leo. And, you know, his brother is a big MAGA person and he's a great guy, Louis. And I said, I like Louis better than I like the Pope. No, you have to have law and order in our country and that's what we have now. We have the lowest crime numbers we've had in a long time, despite the fact that many criminals were allowed into our country.
But we've gotten a lot of them out. We've done a great job on crime. So we have the lowest murder rate in 125 years, since 1900, the lowest murder rate. So we believe strongly in law and order. And he -- he seemed to have a problem with that, so there's nothing to apologize for. He's wrong. And the other thing is he didn't like what we're doing with respect to Iran. But Iran is a -- wants to be a nuclear nation, so they can exterminate the world, not going to happen.
Question: And Mr. President, on Iran, if a deal is not reached by the end of this ceasefire does your threat from before still stand?
Trump: Yeah, I don't want to comment on that, but it won't be pleasant for them, let me put it that.
Question: Do you still plan [Inaudible] --
Note: [Crosstalk]
Question: Has your timetable changed in any way in terms of ending this conflict?
Trump: No, I would -- it's going it's going on, just right now, there's no fighting. Right now, we have a blockade. They're doing no business. I didn't like seeing boats come out if they were doing business with Iran, but if they weren't, no boats came out. So now they're doing Iran is doing absolutely no business, and we're going to keep it that way very easily. Don't forget, their Navy is gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone, their radar is gone, and their leaders are gone. That's a lot.
Note: [Crosstalk]
Question: -- from -- predominantly going to China, Mr. President. Has Xi Jinping reached out and [Inaudible]
Trump: No, but we have a very good relationship with China. He would like to see this ended also. He certainly wants it ended, everyone -- I want to see it ended too but we can't give a nuclear weapon to a group of people that have caused nothing but havoc for 47 years. Look, I'm the president that's done something about it. This should have been -- and many other Presidents regret that they didn't. Yeah. So I'm doing something.
Question: Mr. President [Inaudible] documents that were classified so that Eric [Inaudible] not only submitted false information, but that he had no direct knowledge of the alleged conversations, all hearsay. Do feel vindicated by those documents?
Trump: Yeah, I do. They were a bunch of crooked people. You're talking about with respect to all of the things that they put against me? Yeah.
Question: [Inaudible]
Trump: Well, it's come out that in so many different ways -- thank you very much for that question I appreciate it, but in so many different ways. The election was rigged. The 2020 election was rigged. We found that out. What you just said is just a piece of that. It's a big piece, but minor, relatively speaking, compared to what they did.
They cheated in the election, they cheated on the vote, and they cheated in every way possible. And it's the only way we got an incompetent man to be a president. And he was an incompetent man. Many of the things that we're talking about, even including this, this would have been settled a long time ago, not now. And it should have been settled by other presidents. But the election was a rigged election. We can't let that happen to our country.
Question: It's concealment of exculpatory information. What should happen?
Trump: Well, it's a very serious charge against them, and the Democrats. They cheat. They can't get elected with that policy. So their policy is no good. Uh, they want to have, uh, I mean, open borders. They want to have men playing in women's sports. Do you think that men should play in women's sports?
Simmons: I really don't have an opinion on that.
Trump: You don't? I'll bet you do.
Simmons: No, I'm here about the tax on tips.
Trump: Yeah.
Question: Mr. President [Inaudible]
Note: [Crosstalk]
Trump: Yeah, go ahead, please.
Question: Thank you, Mr. President. Is it your understanding that during this period of time, while the US has instituted this naval blockade, that oil companies will be able to send their oil tankers through the strait and get more oil out from this area?
Trump: Yeah, I think they're going to be doing very well there, and I think they're doing very well here. You know, a lot of tankers are coming up here. They're coming in empty and out full. And we have a great capacity to take care of that business.
Unidentified: Ma'am. May we know your name please? Have you delivered to the White House before?
Simmons: I have not. My name is Sharon Simmons.
Question: And are the White House good tippers? Do you know?
Trump: Wait.
Simmons: Potentially. Yes, very.
Question: Mr. President, can I ask you something else?
Trump: That's -- thank you. You reminded me.
Question: Mr. President, while on Cuba, sir. You previously said that you had no problem with countries sending fuel to Cuba after previously promising to tariff them. What happened? What changed?
Trump: Well, we're going to see with Cuba. Cuba is another story. Cuba's been a terribly run country for a long time. It's got a bad system. It's been very oppressive, as you know. And we have a lot of great Cuban Americans, all of whom just about voted for me and they were treated very badly. In many cases, family members have been killed.
They've been beaten up and mugged and like -- terrible things happened in Cuba. And Cuba is a failing nation. And we're going to do this and we may stop by Cuba after we're finished with this. But Cuba is a nation that was just been horribly run for many years by Castro.
Note: [Crosstalk]
Question: -- regarding those two recent referrals for Letitia James for insurance fraud, do you know if federal prosecutors have evidence to charge?
Trump: Well, I don't know. I know she's a very corrupt person and the -- you're talking about the so-called attorney general of New York? She's a very corrupt person. That's been proven now, and I know they -- I have nothing to do with it, but they're looking at things all over -- all over the place, more than one state, concerning her and concerning people like Comey, who's a dirty cop.
Comey's a dirty cop. And dirty cops are bad. I love -- nobody likes the police more than me, law enforcement more than me, but Comey's a totally dirty cop, and I'm not going to -- we're not going to stand for it. Yeah.
Question: The UFC fight that's happening at the White House this summer, UFC typically numbers those spikes consecutively, but should they label this one UFC 1776?
Trump: That's a good idea. I'll tell that to Dana White. I like that idea, actually. I will say, I've been involved with a lot of big events. I've never had an event that's had more interest than the UFC fight that we have right at the front door. Right there. They're going to start building a -- about a 4,500 seat arena and then in the back, at the ellipse, we're going to have maybe 100,000 -- 50,000 to 100,000 people, I guess.
They're building tremendous stages and we're going to have massive screens [Inaudible] and it's, you know, very popular sport. But I have never been involved -- because of the White House and everything, you know, a lot of reasons for it but we're having a fight at the white House on June 14th. And we're going to have an arena built right at the front door.
And, you know, if you want, is your husband up to coming, you think? Does he like UFC?
Simmons: He might.
Trump: If he's feeling good, we'll make sure you come. OK?
Simmons: That would be wonderful. Thank you.
Trump: That's better than the tip I just gave you. I'll tell you. That's a lot better. But, no, if he's feeling good, right? Is he doing OK? Is he going to be OK?
Simmons: He's doing very well. He's doing very well. He, actually, during the process, uh, he wrote a book.
Trump: Go ahead, give them the name. Maybe you'll sell --
Simmons: He hasn't had it published yet, but it's -- uh, it's a book on humility and his name is Leo and he's just --
Trump: Good guy.
Simmons: -- doing good. He's doing great.
Trump: How long are you married?
Simmons: Um, we have been married for six years.
Trump: Oh, oh. That's good.
Simmons: But we've, you know, like most people, we've been together for over 10.
Trump: That's very good. Well, that's great news. Say hello to him. He's going to be good. He's going to get better and he's going to be good.
Simmons: Yes, sir.
Trump: Good. Well, I want to thank you all and I especially want to thank you for being here.
Simmons: Well, I want to thank you --
Trump: Thank you very much.
Simmons: -- for the no tax on tips.
Trump: That's great.
Simmons: It has helped my family out immensely, and I definitely appreciate it. Thank you.
Trump: That's so amazing. You know, the one thing that I -- just in leaving, we've had more good press for a change, having to do with the fact that people are receiving more money from their tax refunds than they ever thought possible. We had a man the other day, got $5,000 and another one got $7,000. They weren't expecting anything like this and it's because of the Great, Big, Beautiful Bill. And that's why you came and I really appreciate it. And tell your husband to get better.
Simmons: I will.
Trump: And if you're feeling good, you'll come up and we'll watch that fight, June 14th.
Simmons: OK. I appreciate it. Thank you.
Trump: All right? Thank you very much.
Simmons: Thank you so much.
Trump: Take care of yourself.
Simmons: Thank you.
Trump: Thank you. Thank you much.
Question: Any update on who you want to lead DOJ? Can you give an update?
Trump: Well, I think Todd [Inaudible] is doing a fantastic job. I will say that. He's a great lawyer. I know that because he's been with me a long time, and so far, he's doing a great job. But we have incredible people in the DOJ, getting better all the time. Thank you very much, everybody. Do you want to come in for a second?
Simmons: I would. Thank you.