GETTING UP VERY EARLY FOR ME ON
THE WEST COAST AND GIVING US
YOUR EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT.
THANKS, MIKE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>>> WELL, THE EVENTS IN PORTLAND
CAME AT THE END OF A VOLATILE
WEEK IN THIS COUNTRY.
ONE THAT BEGAN WITH THE POLICE
SHOOTING OF JACOB BLAKE IN
KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, THE SHOOTING
DEATHS OF TWO PROTESTERS IN
KENOSHA BY A TEENAGE VIGILANTE
WHO CAME IN FROM OUT OF STATE
AND THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
CONVENTION.
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND OTHER
SPEAKERS PRESENTED A FAR
DIFFERENT PICTURE OF AMERICA
THAN DEMOCRATS DID A WEEK
EARLIER.
NOT ONE IN WHICH PRESIDENT TRUMP
WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MISHANDLING
THE CORONAVIRUS AND TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF UNNECESSARY DEATHS,
BUT INSTEAD ONE WHERE THE VIRUS
IS A THING OF THE PAST, THE
PRESIDENT HAVING SAVED MILLIONS
OF LIVES WITH A SWIFT RESPONSE,
AND THE VIOLENCE IN THE STREETS
A SIGN OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN A
JOE BIDEN PRESIDENCY.
JOINING ME NOW IS THE WHITE
HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF, MARK
MEADOWS.
MR. MEADOWS, WELCOME BACK TO
"MEET THE PRESS," SIR.
>> GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU.
THANKS, CHUCK.
>> I WANTED TO START WITH THIS.
THE PRESIDENT ON THURSDAY NIGHT
PAINTED A PICTURE OF WHAT HE
SAID WOULD BE JOE BIDENS
AMERICA.
AND I LOOK AT THE VIOLENCE THIS
WEEK, MR. MEADOWS.
THIS IS IN DONALD TRUMPS
AMERICA.
HOW MUCH RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD VOTERS BE GIVING THE PRESIDENT
VOTERS BE GIVING THE PRESIDENT
FOR HIS INABILITY TO KEEP THE
STREETS SAFE?
>> WELL, I MEAN YOU CAN TRY TO
REFRAME IT THAT WAY, CHUCK, BUT
THATS JUST NOT ACCURATE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE LOOK
AT KENOSHA AND THE PHONE CALLS
THAT WERE MADE TO THE GOVERNOR
OF WISCONSIN, WE OFFERED HELP.
HELP WAS DENIED.
OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS MULTIPLE
GUNSHOTS AND PEOPLE LOST THEIR
LIFE.
WE MADE A REPEATED CALL THEN THE
NEXT DAY, SENT IN NATIONAL
GUARD, FBI AGENTS, U.S. MARSHALS
TO RESTORE PEACE IN KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN.
AND THATS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
IN PORTLAND.
YOU KNOW, ITS INTERESTING TO
SEE YOU FRAME PORTLAND THAT WAY
AFTER 94 DAYS.
PERHAPS NOW WERE GOING TO ACT
BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS SHOT LAST
NIGHT.
BUT TO SUGGEST THAT SOMEHOW ITS
BEEN PEACEFUL IN PORTLAND,
CHUCK, IS JUST NOT LOOKING AT
THE FACTS.
WEVE HAD OVER 200 ANARCHISTS,
AND THEYRE NOT PEACEFUL
PROTESTERS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT EVERY
SINGLE NIGHT CONDUCT VIOLENT
ACTS.
AND IT IS IN DEMOCRAT CITIES.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT DONALD
TRUMPS AMERICA.
MOST OF DONALD TRUMPS AMERICA
IS PEACEFUL.
IT IS A DEMOCRAT-LED CITY IN
PORTLAND THAT WERE TALKING
ABOUT THIS MORNING WHO JUST
YESTERDAY DENIED HELP ONCE AGAIN
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND SO, LISTEN, WE NEED TO GET
TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
ULTIMATELY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE
CONDUCTING THESE ACTS GO TO
JAIL.
WEVE HAD OVER 97 FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT ARRESTS THAT WERE
CONDUCTED IN PORTLAND, BUT
LARGELY THE D.A. THERE IN
PORTLAND, CHUCK, YOU KNOW, HE
SAYS EVEN IF YOU ACOST A POLICE
OFFICER, WERE NOT GOING TO
ENFORCE THAT.
ITS JUST NOT WHAT MOST
AMERICANS BELIEVE SHOULD BE
HAPPENING IN OUR CITIES.
>> YOU MADE AN INTERESTING
COMPARISON.
I GUESS YOURE SAYING THAT IS
THERE PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT
THE PRESIDENT DOESNT GOVERN?
IS THE PRESIDENT ONLY IN CHARGE
OF PLACES WHERE HE HAS
SUPPORTERS?
YOU SORT OF -- YOURE SAYING,
WELL, THESE ARE ALL DEMOCRATIC
CITIES.
I JUST WANT TO -- IM JUST
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND DOES THE
PRESIDENT NOT BELIEVE HE HAS
RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNING AND
LEADING THE ENTIRE COUNTRY?
>> WELL, HE DOES GOVERN AND LEAD
THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
BUT, CHUCK, YOURE SMARTER THAN
THAT.
THESE ARE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
EFFORTS THAT ARE -- THAT CAN BE
SUPPORTED BY A FEDERAL BACKSTOP,
WHETHER IT BE NATIONAL GUARD OR
THE FBI.
AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, AS
WE LOOK IN PORTLAND, ITS NOT
DONALD TRUMPS D.A. THATS
SAYING TO STAND DOWN.
ITS NOT DONALD TRUMP THAT IS
SAYING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK THE
OTHER WAY, ITS THE MAYOR OF
PORTLAND.
SO LETS AT LEAST HAVE A TRUE
VERSION OF WHATS HAPPENING IN
THESE CITIES.
IF YOUR VIEWERS ARE GOING TO
TUNE IN THIS MORNING, WHY DONT
YOU SHOW THEM THE LETTER FROM
THE MAYOR OF PORTLAND WHERE HE
SAYS, NO THANKS FOR FEDERAL
HELP, AND YET WE HAVE SOMEONE
WHO LOST THEIR LIFE OVERNIGHT.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE
READY.
IN FACT THE PRESIDENT IS READY
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE
WHATEVER LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT
THAT WE CAN.
AND ITS NOT THIS PRESIDENT WHO
HAS SAID LETS DEFUND THE
POLICE, CHUCK.
>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
IF THE PRESIDENT IS CHEERING ON
PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO GO INTO
PORTLAND, THOSE PROTESTERS, THE
PRESIDENT CALLED THEM GREAT
PATRIOTS.
DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT
SHOULD BE TELLING HIS SUPPORTERS
DE-ESCALATE, DONT SHOW UP WITH
LONG GUNS, DONT PLAY VIGILANTE?
WE HAVENT HEARD THE PRESIDENT
TRY TO -- HE ONLY WANTS TO
DE-ESCALATE THE PROTESTS HE
DOESNT LIKE.
HE HAS NOT TALKED ABOUT
DE-ESCALATING THE PROTESTS THAT
SUPPORT HIM THAT ARE SHOWING UP
WITH LONG GUNS AND CERTAINLY
TRYING TO AT LEAST GIVE A VISUAL
INCENTIVE TO CREATE A CONFLICT.
>> LISTEN, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION
IS VERY CLEAR.
IT GIVES THE RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY
PROTEST.
IT ALSO GIVES THE RIGHT TO --
FOR ASSEMBLY.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT AND WE
SOMEHOW SUGGEST THAT IN SOME
CITIES THAT THESE PARTICULAR
AREAS ARE OFF LIMITS, ITS NOT
WHO WE ARE AS A NATION.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT
HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,
THE LARGELY PEACEFUL PROTESTS
THAT HAPPENED ON THE MALL WERE
CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING THAT
ANYONE CONDEMNED.
AND YET WHAT WE SAW WERE SOME OF
THE SPLINTERS THAT CAME OFF OF
THAT THAT WERE RUNNING AROUND IN
THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON, D.C.,
A
ACCOSTING SENATOR RAND PAUL THAT
YOU KNOW ABOUT BUT THAT IS NOT
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS
AND NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE
ENDORSING, WHETHER YOURE A
DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN,
UNAFFILIATED OR IN BETWEEN.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
PROPER --
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> WE PROPERLY ADDRESS THAT,
CHUCK.
>> RIGHT.
BUT THIS YOUNG MAN THAT TOOK
MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS.
THE PRESIDENT HAS YET TO CONDEMN
THESE ACTIONS.
WHY?
>> WELL, YOU JUST HAD THE REPORT
THERE, CHUCK.
YOURE TALKING ABOUT THE YOUNG
MAN LAST NIGHT IN PORTLAND WHO
WAS SHOT?
>> NO, THE MAN WHO SHOT
PROTESTERS IN KENOSHA.
IM TALKING ABOUT KENOSHA.
>> THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN VERY
CLEAR.
THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN VERY
CLEAR.
WHETHER IT WAS WITH THAT
INDIVIDUAL OR MR. BLAKE OR
ANYWHERE ELSE, HE HAS ASKED FOR
PROPER INVESTIGATION.
IN FACT, I WAS IN THE OVAL
OFFICE WHEN HE BROUGHT THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL IN AND 9:30 IN
THE MORNING WHEN MR. BLAKE WAS
SHOT JUST THE PREVIOUS EVENING.
WHEN HE LOOKED AT THAT, HE SAYS
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE
THAT THERES A PROPER
INVESTIGATION.
THATS WHY WE HAVE LAWS AND
THATS WHY WE HAVE A JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
AND LADY JUSTICE HAS A BLINDFOLD
ON THAT SHOULD LOOK AT ALL OF
THESE THINGS IN A WAY THAT MAKES
SURE THAT JUSTICE IS BROUGHT
FORWARD.
BUT FOR YOU TO TRY IT OUT ON A
SUNDAY MORNING SHOW OR FOR ME TO
DO THAT ON A SUNDAY MORNING SHOW
IS NOT WHAT OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM
IS SET UP TO DO.
WHAT WE ALWAYS MUST DO IS MAKE
SURE THAT THE RULE OF LAW IS
THERE, NOT JUST BECAUSE ITS A
RULE OF LAW, BUT BECAUSE IT
CREATES A SAFER COMMUNITY,
WHETHER ITS IN KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN, OR ANYWHERE ELSE.
>> RIGHT.
IM JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
THE PRESIDENT DENOUNCED THE
VIOLENCE ON ONE SIDE OF
PROTESTERS HE DIDNT LIKE.
BUT WHY NOT DENOUNCE WHAT THIS
YOUNG MAN DID?
WHY NOT SAY, PLEASE, DONT TAKE
MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS?
THE PRESIDENT HAS NOT SAID THAT.
ONE OF HIS CHIEF SUPPORTERS IN
THE MEDIA HAS ACTUALLY DEFENDED
THIS.
ISNT IT INCUMBENT ON THE
PRESIDENT TO HELP DE-ESCALATE
SOME OF THIS VIOLENCE ON HIS
SIDE AS WELL?
>> AND THE PRESIDENT -- YOU SAY
ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.
LET ME TELL YOU WHERE THE
PRESIDENT IS.
THE PRESIDENT IS ON THE SIDE OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE RULE OF
LAW.
HES BEEN VERY CONSISTENT IN
THAT.
HE SAID ANY GOVERNOR, REPUBLICAN
OR DEMOCRAT, ANY PARTICULAR AREA
CAN REQUEST HELP OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
WERE WILLING TO COME IN.
WERE WILLING TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL ASSETS AS WE DID IN
KENOSHA, WHETHER ITS FBI,
WHETHER ITS OPERATIONAL
CONTROLLED VEHICLES, WHETHER IT
IS THE NATIONAL GUARD.
WERE WILLING TO DO THAT.
HES BEEN VERY CONSISTENT.
SO THE MESSAGE TO YOUR VIEWERS
THIS MORNING IS CLEAR.
THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES WHAT WE
NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE EXACTLY WHAT RESOURCES ARE
AVAILABLE FOR EVERY SINGLE CITY.
IF YOURE HAVING A PROBLEM,
GOVERNORS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN HAVEELP YOU WITH THA
>> LET ME ASK YOU, IM RUNNING
LOW ON TIME.
I KNOW THAT PERHAPS YOU AND
SPEAKER PELOSI MAY BE TALKING
TODAY.
THE DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THEY HAVE
COME DOWN AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO
MEET YOU HALFWAY.
THEY BELIEVE HALFWAY SHOULD BE
$2.2 TRILLION, MAYBE $2
TRILLION.
ARE YOU WILLING TO BRING UP THE
NUMBER THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL
SUPPORT?
>> WELL, WE BROUGHT UP THE
NUMBER.
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH
SPEAKER PELOSI.
AND EVEN ON HER $2.2 TRILLION
COUNTEROFFER SHE CANT TELL THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE NOR ME WHAT IS
IN THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT IS IN THE
OFFER THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS
MADE AND HES WILLING TO SIGN.
ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT AT LEVELS
SHE WOULD AGREE WITH.
ENHANGSCED HELP FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT SHE WOULD AGREE
WITH.
LITERALLY HELP FOR DAY CARE AND
HOSPITALS AT LEVELS SHE WOULD
AGREE WITH.
AND HELP FOR SCHOOLS AT LEVELS
SHE WOULD AGREE WITH.
HERES THE PROBLEM IS SHE PUTS
FORTH A NUMBER, SUGGESTS THAT
SHE CAME DOWN, AND YET SHES
WILLING TO TURN DOWN $1.3
TRILLION OF HELP THAT GOES TO
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BECAUSE SHE
WOULD RATHER THEM HAVE NOTHING
THAN TO GIVE WAY ON WHAT HER
FANTASY MIGHT BE.
>> MR. MEADOWS, WHAT YOURE
SUGGESTING CANT PASS THE
SENATE, RIGHT?
>> NO, IT CAN PASS THE SENATE.
I MEAN THAT WOULD REQUIRE
SENATOR SCHUMER, AS YOU KNOW,
ANYTHING IN THE SENATE REQUIRES
BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.
BUT SPEAKER PELOSI, IF SHE
WORKED WITH CHUCK SCHUMER, I CAN
TELL YOU ALL OF THOSE THINGS
THAT I JUST MENTIONED ARE
AVAILABLE FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND THE SPEAKER PELOSI IS
SAYING NO.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO BRING YOUR
NUMBER UP OR IS $1.3 YOUR FINAL
OFFER?
>> LISTEN, WERE NOT GOING TO
NEGOTIATE HERE BECAUSE THE
SPEAKER HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR.
WHEN SHE SAID $2.2, SHE SAID
DONT DO ANYTHING AT ALL, CHUCK.
I SAID WHAT DOES THE $2.2
REPRESENT?
YOU KNOW WHAT HER RESPONSE WAS?
IM NOT GOING TO TELL YOU, LET
ME FILL IN THE BLANKS.
THATS NOT A PROPER NEGOTIATION,
NOR IS IT ANYTHING THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE ACCEPT.
IN FACT, MANY OF HER RANK AND
FILE MEMBERS DONT EVEN ACCEPT
IT.
>> MARK MEADOWS, THE CHIEF OF