YOU, THE WIT INITIAL COMMENT, PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKING ABOUT A
POTENTIAL OF A MAJOR, MAJOR CONFLICT.
BIG LANGUAGE COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE ON A
POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE CONFLICT. >> HE SPEAKS IN SUPERLATIVES.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THEY'RE TAKING OR CONSIDERING
TAKING SOME KIND OF MASSIVE ACTION MILITARILY AGAINST NORTH
KOREA. SUCH A FASCINATING INTERVIEW,
ALONGSIDE AN INTERVIEW IN "THE WASHINGTON POST" ABOUT NAFTA
WHERE WE COULD SEE THE PRESIDENT'S LEARNING CURVE IN
REALTIME. ALSO IN THAT INTERVIEW HE TALKED
ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE HAD BEEN APPROACHED ON A CALL ABOUT
TAIWAN FROM THE TAIWANESE PRESIDENT.
BUT BECAUSE HE HAS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH PRESIDENT XI,
HE'D LIKE TO CONSULT WITH CHINA FIRST.
THIS IS A PRESIDENT UNDERSTANDING THE LIMITS HE HAS
AND UNDERSTANDING THE NEED TO WORK WITH OTHER LEADERS.
HE REALIZES NOW HE NEEDS THE CHINESE.
HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD POSSIBLY ALIENATE THEM AT THE
MOMENT. >> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS
IN THIS PRESIDENCY WHERE IT'S VERY CON SERK.
YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES -- HAROLD, YOU'VE
BEEN IN WASHINGTON AND SERVED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WHEN YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TURNING UP THE
BUNSON BURNER ON A SITUATION SAYING THERE'S A CHANCE WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE A MAJOR CONFLICT WITH NORTH KOREA, ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SPEAKING.
WORDS HAVE MEANING. I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE THAT A PRESIDENT WOULD BE SAYING THIS
IN A SITUATION SO FRAUGHT WITH DANGER.
>> YOU ALMOST HOPE HE WOULD TAKE THE SAME POSITION HE TOOK AFTER
THE TEST OF THAT MISSILE WENT AWRY AND THERE WAS SOME
SUGGESTION THAT MAYBE AMERICA HAD A ROLE IN IT.
HE DIDN'T TWEET, DIDN'T SAY A WORD.
TWO, IT'S SLIGHTLY ENCOURAGING TO HEAR TILLERSON ALIGN
OURSELVES WITH CHINA AND SAY OUR GOAL IS DENUCLEARIZATION.
THREE, THE THING THAT WORRIES ME MOST, THIS GUY IS IRRATIONAL.
>> WHO, TRUMP OR --? >> KIM JONG-UN IS IRRATIONAL.
FOR THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE THE POSITION HE IS OR IS NOT
RATIONAL, WE ALMOST HAVE TO GET USED TO THE WAY HE TALKS.
YOU CAN'T INVEST TOTALLY IN THINKING THAT HE'S ON THE UP AND
UP WHEN HE TALKS. >> THE PROBLEM WITH THAT, DONE
ANY -- WHEN KATTY SAID THAT, WE ALL NODDED.
THAT'S THE WAY DONALD TRUMP SPEAKS, IN SUPERLATIVES.
NOW HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND NORTH KOREA IS
WASHING AND LISTENING. WHEN HE SAYS THAT, THEY BELIEVE
THAT'S THE POSTURE OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
>> INTERESTING ENOUGH I'LL DEFEND TRUMP WHICH I RARELY DO.
WHETHER IT IS A COUNTRY, WHETHER AS AN INDIVIDUAL, A CORPORATION,
CONGRESS, WE ARE LEARNING, YES, HE IS PRESIDENT AND HE SHOULD
NOT SPEAK IN THOSE GRANDIOSE TERMS, BUT WE ARE LEARNING TO
DECIPHER. IF IT WAS 99 DAYS AGO AND HE
SAID THAT, WE WOULD ALL BE GOING INTO OUR BOMB SHELTERS AND
WHATNOT. BASICALLY WHAT HE'S SAYING IS,
YEAH, OF COURSE THERE COULD BE A CONFLICT.
WE ALL KNOW THAT. THERE'S EITHER THIS PATIENCE AND
SOMEHOW IT WORKS ITSELF OUT OR THERE WILL BE A CONFLICT.
LIKE IT OR NOT, HE DOES SPEAK THAT WAY.
OUR JOB AS BOTH CITIZENS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY AS THE REST OF
THE WORLD IS TO KIND OF TRANSLATE TO WHAT THAT MEANS.
WE'RE LEARNING TO DO THAT. >> LONNIE, WHAT FOLLOWED FROM
THAT STATEMENT IS TRUMP DID SAY WE PREFER DIPLOMACY.
HE TALKS ABOUT THE CHINESE, HOW IMPRESSED HE WAS WITH PRESIDENT
XI SINCE THEIR MEETING AT MARA LAGO.
THE JUMP-OUT HEADLINE IS MAJOR, MAJOR CONFLICT AND NORTH KOREA
IS LISTENING TO THAT. >> WILLIE, THE THING IS, WE'RE
USED TO TALKING ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY IN VERY MODERATED TERMS.
YOU THINK ABOUT THE LAST SEVERAL ADMINISTRATIONS, THIS POINT THAT
WORDS MATTER, THEY DO MATTER IN THE SENSE THAT ADMINISTRATIONS
HAVE CONVEYED FOREIGN POLICY THROUGH NUANCE.
THAT'S NOU NOT HOW THIS PRESIDENT WORKS.
WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS EXPRESSING IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT
DEVIATION WITH U.S. POLICY. WE'VE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT A
MILITARY OPTION WOULD BE ON THE TABLE.
WHAT UNUSUAL, OF COURSE, IS THE TONE AND TENOR HE'S TAKEN IN
DISCUSSING THE POTENTIAL FOR THAT MILITARY ACTION.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SEPARATE OUT THE TONE FROM THE
POLICY. ADMITTEDLY THAT MAY BE DIFFICULT
WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION. LET'S RECOGNIZE, NOT A HUGE
CHANGE IN U.S. POLICY, BUT A HUGE CHANGE IN THE WAY WE TALK
ABOUT IT. >> IN THE SAME INTERVIEW WITH
REUTERS, THE PRESIDENT ADDRESSED THE COST OF AMERICAN MILITARY
PROTECTION FOR ITS ALLY, SOUTH KOREA.
HE SAID SEOUL SHOULD PAY FOR A U.S. ANTI MISSILE SYSTEM THAT HE
PRIZED AT A BILLION DOLLARS. HE INSISTED ON CHANGES TO A 2011
U.S.-KOREA TRADE AGREEMENT. >> IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
A HORRIBLE DEAL MADE BY HILLARY, A HORRIBLE DEAL.
WE'RE GOING TO RENEGOTIATE THAT DEAL OR TERMINATE IT.
>> WHEN? >> VERY SOON.
I'M ANNOUNCING IT NOW. >> THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS SENT
STOCKS TUMBLING IN SOUTH KOREAN FINANCIAL MARKETS WHICH HAD
IMPROVED WITH AN INCREASE DEMAND IN CARS AND ELECTRONICS.
ON ISSUES LIKE FREE TRADE, THE PRESIDENT TOLD THE "WALL STREET
JOURNAL" LAST NIGHT, QUOTE, I'M A NATIONALIST AND A GLOBALIST.
I'M BOTH AND I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT HEADACHES THE DECISION,
BELIEVE ME. >> KATTY, BACK TO NORTH KOREA,
TALKING ABOUT DEFENSE THERE AND ALSO THE TRADE DEAL THAT EXISTS
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH KOREA.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
SAYING THAT ESPECIALLY AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THIS POTENTIAL
CONFLICT WITH NORTH KOREA? >> AT THE MOMENT, THE UNITED
STATES NEEDS CHINA, BUT IT ALSO NEEDS TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T
ALIENATE ITS ALLIES IN SOUTH KOREA WHICH IS GOING THROUGH A
VERY DIFFICULT POLITICAL TRANSITION OF ITS OWN AT THE
MOMENT. THIS IS THE KIND OF THING I
THINK WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS SAYING I'M ANNOUNCING NOW I'M
RENEGOTIATING AN IMPORTANT AMERICAN TRADE DEAL A LITTLE BIT
IN THE WAY HE SAID OR FLOATED -- THE WHITE HOUSE FLOATED THE IDEA
IT WAS THINKING OF PULLING OUT OF NAFTA A COUPLE DAYS AGO.
THESE THINGS COULD HAVE MATERIAL CONSEQUENCES AS WE FOUND OUT
WHEN THE MEXICAN PESO AND CANADIAN DOLLAR BOTH FELL.
THE PRESIDENT HAS TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO BE RASH IN THE WAY HE
ANNOUNCES THINGS. IT IS THIS WEIRD, SLIGHTLY
OFF-THE-CUFF, I'M GOING TO ANNOUNCE THE P THE POLICY RIGHTN
AN INTERVIEW IN A WAY THAT DIDN'T SEEM PLANNED ORR THOUGHT
THROUGH OR THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF THAT THOUGHT
THROUGH. THAT HAS CONSEQUENCES FOR
AMERICA'S ALLIES. >> TO KATTY'S POINT, I DON'T
NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH DONE ANY.
I WASN'T TRYING TO BE TOO CRITICAL OF HIM.
HE DID RECOGNIZE IN THE FIRST PART OF HIS COMMENTS THAT NORTH
KOREA IS A FAMILY BUSINESS. AND IF WE'VE EVER HAD A
PRESIDENT THAT UNDERSTANDS A FAMILY BUSINESS, PRESIDENT TRUMP
REPRESENTS THAT. TWO, TO LONNIE'S POINT, THIS
PRESIDENT HAS A CABINET AROUND HIM AND LEADERS AROUND HIM THAT
PEOPLE RESPECT. YOU HAVE TILLERSON IN THE LAST
DAY OR TWO SAYING WE DON'T WANT REGIME CHANGE IN NORTH KOREA
WHICH IS A POSITIVE. THE THING THAT'S CONFUSING, THE
LAST PART THAT WILLIE SAID, I'LL TAKE IT TO LANHEE AND GET HIS
REACTION. WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT
DENUCLEARIZATION OF THE PENINSULA AND OTHER ASPIRATIONS
AND GOALS, THEY WANT US OUT OF SOUTH KOREA.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP, HE THINKS IN TERMS OF
TWEETS. THE PRESIDENT OF CHINA THINKS IN
TERMS OF CENTURIES. AS YOU THINK ABOUT SOUTH KOREA
IN THE LAST COMMENT, HOW DO YOU PUT THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF YOUR
ANSWER TO WHAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT TRUMP AND HIS NUANCES AND
LANGUAGE. >> I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT
POINT YOU MAKE. THE CHINESE VIEW IS THE LONG
VIEW, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE
XI-TRUMP RELATIONSHIP IS HOW MUCH THAT'S EVOLVED ALREADY.
YOU WENT FROM A CAMPAIGN WHERE THE PRESIDENT WAS TALKING ABOUT
HOW CHINA WAS TAKING THE U.S. TO THE CLEANERS TO A SITUATION
WHERE YOU HAVE THE TWO LEADERS VERY MUCH LOOKING AT A
RELATIONSHIP BASED ON PRAGMATISM.
THAT'S WHAT I'M WATCHING FOR NOW.
AS THESE TWO TWO LEADERS GROW T RELATIONSHIP GOING FORWARD,
WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRUMP AND
XI, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TWO MOST SIGNIFICANT POWERS ON THE
GLOBAL STAGE TODAY. THAT IS CERTAINLY A BIG FACTOR
HERE. SOUTH KOREA IS A FACTOR IN THAT
AS WELL CLEARLY BECAUSE ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES YOU LOOK AT WHEN
YOU LOOK AT THE ASIA-PACIFIC ARE THE ECONOMIC ISSUES.
REALLY TRADE IS FIRST AND FOREMOST.
THE U.S. PULLING OUT OF TPP, THE U.S.-KOREA DEAL BECOMES THAT
MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO THE KOREANS.
>> I WANT TO PICK UP ON THAT NUANCE AND SOMETHING THAT FEELS
VERY RELIEVING. WHEN I LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW
ABOUT NORTH KOREA, NOTICE WHEN HE'S SPEAKING NOW, HE'S SPEAKING
IN MUCH MORE HUSHED TONES. IT'S A NUANCE, BUT THERE'S NOT
THE VOLUME TO THE VOICE AND THE WORDS HIMSELF, EVEN THE WAY HE
DESCRIBES THE NORTH KOREAN LEAD ARE, I'M NOT SAYING THIS, NOT
SAYING THIS, PRESENTING FACTS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A MORE
NUANCED, RATIONAL -- RESTRAINED -- YES THERE'S STILL
POLITICAL TURRETS. IF YOU JUST LANDED FROM MARS IN
THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND LISTENED TO THIS PRESIDENT IN TONE AND
CONTENT, YOU WOULD SAY MAYBE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE
NORMALCY GOING ON. >> THAT WAS AN