Trump's South Lawn gaggle Campaign, threats and trade

Oct 5

Before departing the White House for Nebraska on October 5, Donald Trump describes plans to campaign for Republicans, says Michigan is planned in about a week and a half, gives a tentative Maine answer and says he expects nearly nightly appearances. He claims rallies improve candidates' prospects, praises Jon Husted and Michael Whatley and criticizes their opponents. Answering a red-dyed-diesel question, he praises farmers' support, mentions forthcoming Iowa travel and says he will help them with diesel, without specifying a measure or duration. An unidentified reporter describes a vendor sending Maricopa County ballots early; Trump calls it dishonest and illegal rather than an error. Later Nancy Cordes asks why he encourages mail voting while alleging fraud. He says supporters can vote either way, prefers in-person voting and alleges widespread cheating. Cordes asks for evidence and disputes his California example; he calls her fake news. The recording provides no documentary evidence for his allegations. Asked about resuming Canada trade talks before the midterms, Trump says he does not know and is in no rush, accuses Canada of dishonesty and tariff abuse, and predicts an eventual resolution without announcing talks or an agreement. In repeated UK bomber exchanges he says threats prompted a move not very far away, refuses to confirm a question about Iranian combat drones, warns of severe consequences if that occurred and alleges the threat-makers are known and linked to Iran. He also says the UK remains a safe base and praises its new prime minister while advocating North Sea oil production. The recording establishes neither the threat's details nor Iranian responsibility. On Russia's reported infection, he says he is following it but has not spoken to Putin, variously calls it pneumonia or a pneumonia plague, makes claims about stronger germs and reduced treatment effectiveness, and repeatedly offers help. He says they have only just heard about it and will think about it; an interrupted question leaves unspecified what he says they have not yet done. These are his remarks, not a diagnosis, confirmed outbreak or completed assistance. Asked about Russian refinery attacks, he says the issue has been discussed and he thinks activity is slowing, without identifying an agreement or clearly identifying who is slowing it. In that exchange and a later reply about falling gasoline prices, he says the strikes affect diesel, claims high Hormuz oil flows and European and US diesel-reserve contributions, predicts lower fuel prices and a soon-ending war, and reiterates that Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon. No strike, release quantity, verified price effect or completed peace deal is established here. In two Brazil election exchanges he first predicts a close race, then calls Bolsonaro's reported initial-stage victory big, close and amazing, without giving vote totals or establishing a final result. Asked by Holmes about 27-percent Latino approval, he rejects CNN's polling, calls her and CNN fake news and invokes rally crowds and claimed candidate gains; the poll and his response remain attributed. Shorter exchanges include praise of Chanel Rion without accepting the proposed press-organization change, hoped-for Supreme Court victories, a promised soon reopening of Lafayette Park, praise of US–Serbia relations, openness to direct Iran talks, general reassurance about a Saudi/Yemeni offensive, praise of Maria Corina Machado and a claim about her Nobel Prize, and a response to Šemelis that he will consider Lithuania's permanent-US-base invitation. Some Mecca-agreement, Poland and later Middle Eastern-voter questions or answers are unclear. At the close he reiterates the bomber move and personally alleges Iran was responsible for the Flydubai attack. These short replies establish no implemented decision or investigative finding.

In the October 5 South Lawn gaggle, Trump says the refinery issue has been discussed and he thinks activity is slowing, without naming an agreement. He blames war-related refinery losses, especially in Russia, for diesel pressure while claiming substantial Hormuz oil flows. Asked later about falling gasoline prices, he predicts sharper reductions after a war he says will soon end, says European and US diesel reserves are being contributed and claims oil prices are falling. No halt to strikes, named strike episode, measured causal effect, release quantity, completed peace agreement or new nuclear arrangement is established.