Meet the Press - June 25, 2023
Interview
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Great to be back on. Thanks, Chuck.
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The opposite. We saw here a demonstrable crack in Vladimir Putin's strength. We saw visible rejection of his war policy by someone who had been an ally and now had turned into insubordination, taking over a city of a million people, marching his troops and his tanks within 124 miles of Moscow. And then you see Putin having to condemn this on their own country's TV. That's what happened. And then on the other side -- and by the way, this was a guy that, you know, had hired mercenaries in Syria and Libya, someone that had started an internet troll farm in Moscow to attack the American elections. And then on the other side you see President Zelenskyy, who has governed with more moral authority, who has brought his people with him, not through fear, but through their own patriotism and wanting to protect the sovereignty of their country. And you now see this counteroffensive. We always knew it would be a slog, but he is advancing and as of Monday, I think, taken over eight towns.
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Well, obviously the continuing openness to nuclear discussions and nuclear safety. And the secretary of state and president have assured us that there hasn't been any change in that right now when it comes to Russia. But the second part, of course, is supporting Ukraine. And you see a Congress that has now put forward $40 -- over $40 billion in military commitments. You see a president who has really led the world's allies in standing with Ukraine. You see countries like Germany and Poland and Great Britain stepping us as no one thought before, as the secretary just noted, ridding themselves of their dependence on Russian oil. Vladimir Putin has bitten off a lot more than he ever thought possible when he marched into Ukraine.
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No, I don't. He did so well at that state dinner. I think we all saw his power at the State of the Union. Our party is united behind him. Why? Because we work in a results-oriented business, Chuck, and he has gotten results. Added over 13 million jobs since the beginning of his presidency. When he took over, our democracy was in shambles. We were in the middle of a pandemic. People were dying. Now we've emerged from that. The economy is moving forward. Manufacturing in our own nation, made in America, is resurging. We finally got veterans healthcare done for those stationed next to burn pits. We've united our allies when it comes to Ukraine. We've finally taken on the pharmaceutical companies, despite everyone talking about it, and passed a version of my bill which allows Medicare to negotiate for lower prices for our seniors. Those aren't small accomplishments. Those are big deal things.
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You know, I think, as the president explains, that's his son. That's a separate thing. And I would like to say about that: that decision was made by an independent prosecutor who is a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney who had ten years of experience, well respected. Philadelphia Inquirer reported that he was a registered Republican. He looked at the facts and evidence and made that decision. And by the way, if that's what the Republicans want to run on in the coming election, good luck, because the president is going to be able to run on the strengths of his work in bringing 13 million jobs back to America and resurging --
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-- manufacturing in our country and in moving forward.
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Yes, I do. I do.
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You always wish there were different perceptions, but that's not reality. Reality is whether or not someone is going to be able to get their insulin. And the president has made changes. Reality is whether someone has a job. Reality is when they can go visit their grandma again in an assisted living. Those are people's realities, not who is sitting where at a state dinner.
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Oh, that's all good.
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Thank you very much.
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There you go, Chuck.
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Thank you.
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