Read the full transcript of President Trump remarks at the swearing-in ceremony for David Perdue, Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, and then takes reporters’ questions in the Oval Office.
Listen to the audio version here:
Trump Announces World War II Victory Day Proclamation
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much. Before we begin, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve just signed a proclamation officially designating tomorrow, May 8th, as the victory day for World War II, commemorating the 80th anniversary of America’s victory in the Second World War. All over the globe, our World War II allies are celebrating this week, but the United States has never joined in with the proper celebration of our own. And the victory was mostly accomplished because of us, whether you like it or not.
We came into that war and we won that war and we had a lot of help from a lot of great people, a lot of great allies. But I think there would be nobody that would say that we were not the dominant force in that war and we don’t celebrate it. And I think that’s a great disservice to the people that lost their lives and people that fought so hard in winning World War II and also a separate victory day for World War I. And we’re going to be doing that too.
It was American tanks and ships and trucks and airplanes and service members that vanquished the enemy 80 years ago this week. Without America, the liberation would never have happened. And so we have to pay tribute and homage to those people that gave us victory. And we did something else that people don’t talk about. We rebuilt the world. All of these countries that were destroyed, we helped them rebuild. And that’s something that, for the most part, others did not do.
So with this proclamation, we are hereby honoring the incredible sacrifice and heroism of millions of Americans who served in World War II, along with the unprecedented mobilization, home front that helped deliver this great triumph. All Americans should take pride in what these incredible patriots have achieved. So I just want to say happy Victory Day to all.
So we are celebrating every year now. I can guarantee for four years, but I think after that, we’re going to have two victory days, World War I and World War II. This is World War II Victory Day. In the future, we’re going to have a major celebration of each day. We’re not going to have days off because we don’t have enough days in the year. We have too many celebrations already. But we’re going to have Victory Day and for World War I, World War II.
And without us, those wars would not have been won. I think we can say that would not have been won. And I think it’s time that the United States start taking credit for their achievements. And I really believe it’s a shame. You know, I was watching for the last week and I noticed France. I noted other countries all getting ready for Victory Day. And I said, that’s sort of strange because David just added something. He said, we also rebuilt the world. And I didn’t have that. And I should have that. That was a big factor.
But I noticed all of the countries, Russia, having a big day tomorrow. And by the way, they lost millions of people and they were absolutely a major factor. But there was no major factor like us. We won the war and we won it with the help of others. But everybody was celebrating but the United States of America. And I said, you know, I think it’s time that we start celebrating victory. And that’s what we’re doing.
Swearing-In of David Perdue as Ambassador to China
So now for the reason that we’re here, but I asked David, would it be appropriate if I did that? He said, absolutely. That’s a big thing that we’re doing on your swearing in. Very big thing.
But now for the real reason and a reason that I’m very proud of because he’s been my friend for a long time. We’re swearing in our next ambassador to the People’s Republic of China. What timing, David? What timing? Only you could have picked this timing. I picked him a long time ago, but it just happened to come to a pretty important date.
But our friend, David Perdue, Senator David Perdue, joining David this afternoon are his incredible wife, Bonnie, has been at his side for a long time. Their sons, David and Blake, their daughter in law, Danielle, and daughter in law, Charlotte, and their grandsons, David, Hudson and Jack. That’s a beautiful family. Congratulations. I didn’t think you had it in you, David. That’s pretty amazing. Look at that.
Our new ambassador brings to this position a lifetime of experience at the highest levels of business and politics, and he is at the highest level. Over four decades in business, he rose to lead several major American corporations, including as the president and CEO of the footwear giant, Reebok, where he did very well and did a great job. The latest CEO of Dollar General. Likewise, he did a great job.
David also lived and worked in Singapore and Hong Kong for several years, developing a wealth of experience negotiating and doing tremendous business deals for lots of different leaders that he worked with.
Following his tremendous business success as an executive, David stepped forward to serve American government. And as we all know, in 2014, he was elected United States Senate in Georgia, and he was very popular, very respected. From day one, he served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and was a tremendous partner to our administration. During my first term, I dealt with him a lot, and he solved a lot of problems.
Now I’m entrusting David to help manage one of America’s most complex and consequential foreign relationships, and I know he’ll do a fantastic job. As our lead diplomat in Beijing, David will work to promote American interest and stability in the Indo-Pacific, help stop the flood of Chinese fentanyl across our borders, which we have to do.
We lost, I believe, 300,000 people last year. Seek fairness and reciprocity for the American worker, ensure the safety of our citizens overseas, and promote peace in the region and in the world.
And I’m confident that he will do an exceptional job. He’s an exceptional man. And make our country very proud and make our country very safe, too. So, David, I want to congratulate you. This is as big as it gets, and the timing is unbelievable, but it’s time that we have somebody like this. This is a very, very extraordinary man, and you’re going to do a fantastic job. And say hello to President Xi when you’re over there, please. Okay? Thank you very much.
Marco, would you do the service? Thank you.
MARCO RUBIO: I, David Perdue, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me, God.
(David Perdue repeats the above)
Congratulations.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: David, would you like to say something?
DAVID PERDUE: Mr. President, I’m humbled to be in this office today. I love what you’ve done with this office. I like the Declaration of Independence. I want the world to know that I know this man personally. He loves his country, and I am glad to be your man in China. Thank you.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you, David. Thank you. I think just for the sake of formality, here we go, David. Come on up. Come on up here, Bonnie. That’s what it’s all about, right? And now we send you on your way. Lots of luck.
DAVID PERDUE: Yes, sir.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: We’re right behind you, David.
DAVID PERDUE: My boy’s standing over there, sir.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Okay, have a good time. Thank you. Congratulations, everybody. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you.
Questions from Reporters
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Any questions, please.
REPORTER: Mr. President, the Secretary just told lawmakers that a tariff exemption for certain baby items like car seats is under consideration. But will you exempt some products if families arrive?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: I don’t know. I’ll think about it. I don’t know. I really don’t. I want to make it nice and simple. I’m not looking to have so many exemptions that nobody knows what’s through it. We have to make it very simple. But I’ll take a look at it.
REPORTER: Mr. President, there are rumblings in Washington that some House Republican moderates are opposed to defunding Planned Parenthood and Mr. Reconciliation package. What do you say to those members and are you supportive of it?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I don’t know yet. I have to see because you’re just telling me that for the first time. We’ll work something out.
REPORTER: Mr. President, what are you hoping your representatives will get out of the talks in Switzerland, on China? And secondly, what does China need to do on fentanyl, specifically?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: We’ll have to stop fentanyl from coming in. That’ll be a very big part. Well, I had that understanding with President Xi before I left last time and we had a deal and he would have honored the deal. But when Biden came in, of course, nothing ever happened with him. He didn’t know what he was doing. But that would have saved a lot of lives. That election cost us a lot of lives and a lot of heartache. The fact that we went through four years of misery and you look at what’s coming through the border and the job of getting murderers out of our country. So many bad things happened. The wars you wouldn’t be having. You wouldn’t have October 7th. You wouldn’t have Russia fighting with Ukraine. You wouldn’t have had that disaster in Afghanistan. You wouldn’t have had inflation. All these things would have not taken place. So sad to see what happened. Any other questions?
Immigration and Border Security
REPORTER: Are you going to be sending migrants to Libya?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Homeland Security, please.
REPORTER: (Inaudible)
PRESIDENT TRUMP: When did he say that? Well, it’s possible that’s right. He may know some things because I’ve been dealing with this and some other things. But we are getting to a point where some decisions are going to have to be made. I’m not happy about it. I’m not happy about it.
REPORTER: On the talks in Switzerland, what do you expect? What do you hope to come out of it?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: We’ll see. I mean, look, we were losing a trillion dollars a year. Now we’re not losing anything. You know, that’s the way I look at it. We were losing with China on trade a trillion dollars a year. More actually. 1.1. But let’s say a trillion. You know what we’re losing now? Nothing. That’s not bad.
Middle East Peace Efforts
REPORTER: Are you planning a new ceasefire and hostage deal proposal for Israel and Hamas before you head over to the region next week in Gaza?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, we’re going to see what’s happening. There’s a lot of talk going on about Gaza right now. You know that, right? So you’ll be knowing probably in the next 24 hours.
India-Pakistan Tensions
REPORTER: Are you thinking about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: My position is I get along with both. I get along with both. I want to see them work it out. I want to see them stop. And hopefully they can stop now. They’ve gotten tit for tat. So hopefully they can stop now. But I know both. We get along with both countries very well, good relationships with both that I want to see it stop. And if I can do anything to help, I will.
I will be there by the way, unrelated, but I guess it’s all related. When you look at the world nowadays, Rwanda and the Congo, we’ve made a lot of progress in getting that disaster stopped. We’ve had a very talented person over there and we’ve made a lot of progress with Rwanda and Congo fighting a very violent war.
Trade Policy with China
REPORTER: In order to have substantive negotiations, you have to bring down your 145% tariff. Are you open to pulling back your tariffs in order to get China to the negotiating table?
REPORTER: Senator Phillips has come out against Martinez’s U.S. Attorney nomination. Do you have any response to that?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, it’s disappointing because I know that he’s very talented. Crime is down in Washington, D.C., street crime, violent crime by 25%. And people have noticed the big difference. So I didn’t know that. But if anybody voted against him, I feel very badly about it, only in the sense that in this short period of time that he’s been there, crime is down 25% in Washington, D.C. But that’s really up to the senators. If they feel that way, they have to vote the way they vote. They have to follow their heart and they have to follow their mind.
Questions on the Persian Gulf Naming
REPORTER: Mr. President, when are you going to refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf? Are you going to make an announcement on your visit?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: They’re going to ask me about that when I get there and I’ll have to make a decision.
REPORTER: So you haven’t made a decision yet?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings. I don’t know if feelings are going to be hurt. I have a case right over here. It’s called Gulf of America. And I guess a lot of people get ideas from us. But the Gulf of America was something I thought should have been named a long time ago. I’m going to be given a briefing on that. It was just done. Then I’ll make a decision.
Iran’s Nuclear Program
REPORTER: Is it the U.S. position that Iran have an enrichment program as long as it doesn’t reach a weapon?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: We haven’t made that decision yet. We will. But we haven’t made that decision yet.
More on U.S.-China Relations
REPORTER: Mr. President, China said the U.S. initiated the trade talks this weekend and that its position hasn’t changed. Are you still confident you can reach a deal with China?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: They said we initiated it? Well, I think they ought to go back and study their files. I do think that.
Technology and Nuclear Cooperation with Gulf States
REPORTER: Are you planning to ease chip export restrictions to some of these Gulf countries and then also make announcements regarding that?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: We might be doing that, yeah.
REPORTER: And their nuclear programs, civilian nuclear programs?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: And it will be announced, yeah.
REPORTER: And you’re going to help them develop nuclear power?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, we’re going to take a look. We’re going to take a look. But, you know, we had really a very good outcome with the Houthis, and we honor their word. And they made a commitment. And we dealt with other countries that were close to them and their surrogates. And we honor all of their words. We’ll see what happens. But I think hopefully that’s over with. And they’ll leave the ships alone, you know, just leave those ships alone. We take their word for it. It was, you know, we hit them very hard. They had a great capacity to withstand punishment. They took tremendous punishment. And you know, you could say there’s a lot of bravery there. It was amazing what they took. But we honor their commitment and their word. They gave us their word that they wouldn’t be shooting ships anymore. And we honor that.
Closing Remarks
PRESIDENT TRUMP: I want to thank you all for being here. I want to congratulate David Perdue and his family. He’s going to be really an incredible ambassador to China, I have no doubt about it. And we’re going to work together very closely. Thank you all very much. Thank you.
