WEBVTT - Trump Fights For The Wall 0:00:10.920 --> 0:00:15.480 You are entering the freedom hunt. Well, it's almost the 0:00:15.520 --> 0:00:18.480 eleventh hour for funding the government, and it looks like 0:00:18.640 --> 0:00:24.239 the shutdown may happen. President Trump has rallied Republicans are 0:00:24.239 --> 0:00:28.000 now going on offense. Are we going to get the wall? 0:00:28.080 --> 0:00:30.680 Are we willing to fight for that? And more? Coming 0:00:30.760 --> 0:00:33.960 up on The buck Sexton Show. This is the Buck 0:00:34.040 --> 0:00:37.320 Sexton Show, where the mission or mission is to decode 0:00:37.360 --> 0:00:43.559 what really matters with actionable intelligence. Make no mistake American, 0:00:44.479 --> 0:00:47.599 You're a great American Again The buck Sexton Show begins. 0:00:47.720 --> 0:00:57.600 SETIA analysts. Remember then on June sixteenth, when I announced 0:00:57.680 --> 0:01:00.280 that I was running for president, and I came down 0:01:00.320 --> 0:01:02.920 the escalator and I brought up for the first time 0:01:03.280 --> 0:01:06.360 illegal immigration, and I said, we got to build a wall. 0:01:06.400 --> 0:01:09.240 And everybody said, Oh, that's crazy, that's crazy. We will 0:01:09.280 --> 0:01:12.920 build a wall, We will build a wall. Oh, we're 0:01:12.920 --> 0:01:15.400 gonna build a wall. All right. The wall is peanuts. 0:01:15.480 --> 0:01:18.000 It's peanuts compared to what we're talking about. Who's gonna 0:01:18.040 --> 0:01:24.360 pay for the wall? Mexico they'll pay it. We won't 0:01:24.400 --> 0:01:26.000 pay for the wall. And I want you to tell 0:01:26.040 --> 0:01:29.679 that to mister Trump. I said, yes, tell him that 0:01:29.760 --> 0:01:33.520 the wall just got ten feet taller. Okay, tell him, 0:01:33.840 --> 0:01:37.640 tell him. It's a vital tool. It's an important tool. 0:01:37.959 --> 0:01:40.720 It's maybe the most important tool that they can think of. 0:01:41.080 --> 0:01:48.800 We're gonna build the wall. We have no choice. Build 0:01:48.840 --> 0:01:53.640 that wall, build that wall, build that wall, build that wall, 0:01:54.040 --> 0:01:58.680 build that wall, build that wall, build that wall, build 0:01:58.720 --> 0:02:03.480 that wall. Welcome to the Buck Sexton Show. I just 0:02:03.520 --> 0:02:06.760 wanted us all to soak that all in for a 0:02:06.840 --> 0:02:13.359 moment here. Was there any ambiguity, was there any hesitation, 0:02:14.680 --> 0:02:17.920 any mealy mouth talking out of both sides of the mouth? 0:02:17.960 --> 0:02:23.320 Stuff from President Trump about the wall. No, build the 0:02:23.320 --> 0:02:26.960 wall at the rallies, build the wall. The promise that 0:02:27.040 --> 0:02:31.480 he made, the promise that elevated him ahead of a 0:02:31.480 --> 0:02:37.640 lot of other possible Republican contenders. It was immigration, not 0:02:37.760 --> 0:02:41.680 really trade, not really anything else, immigration that first catapulted 0:02:41.680 --> 0:02:47.200 Trump to the very top of the list of Republican candidates. 0:02:48.200 --> 0:02:52.280 It was immigration, willingness to discuss it honestly and openly 0:02:52.280 --> 0:02:57.600 without fear of political correctness and the backlash from It 0:02:57.639 --> 0:03:01.600 was immigration that brought so many people to come out 0:03:01.600 --> 0:03:03.400 and vote for Trump, despite the fact that he had 0:03:03.440 --> 0:03:06.480 no political background. That he has not by any means 0:03:06.560 --> 0:03:09.440 a policy wonk that he can be a bit. Course 0:03:09.520 --> 0:03:12.079 he is rough on the rough around the edges, and 0:03:12.160 --> 0:03:17.119 so on and so forth. The President made a promise, 0:03:18.000 --> 0:03:21.280 a promise that could not have been more clear, that 0:03:21.400 --> 0:03:24.240 he repeated more than probably any other line at his rallies, 0:03:25.280 --> 0:03:30.000 and darn it, this president today realize, whether he knew 0:03:30.040 --> 0:03:32.600 all long or not, I don't know, realize that he 0:03:32.720 --> 0:03:36.080 better keep that promise. And as of right now as 0:03:36.080 --> 0:03:39.960 I go on air, it looks like he will. Looks 0:03:39.960 --> 0:03:46.040 like he's going to try to do so. President spoke 0:03:46.080 --> 0:03:50.640 today about this and went on the record once again 0:03:51.480 --> 0:03:54.920 that they're better be funding for a border wall or else. 0:03:55.160 --> 0:03:59.240 This is not This continuing resolution to fund the government 0:03:59.320 --> 0:04:01.520 is not going to happen, and yes there will be 0:04:01.680 --> 0:04:06.640 a shutdown a play eighteen. I've made my position very clear. 0:04:06.760 --> 0:04:11.120 Any measure that funds the government must include border security. 0:04:11.200 --> 0:04:16.200 Has to not for political purposes, but for a country, 0:04:16.320 --> 0:04:21.120 for the safety of our community. This is not merely 0:04:21.400 --> 0:04:25.000 my campaign promise. This is the promise every lawmaker man. 0:04:25.760 --> 0:04:28.200 It is the solemn promise to protect and defend the 0:04:28.279 --> 0:04:33.120 United States of America, and it is our sacred obligation. 0:04:33.480 --> 0:04:40.080 We have no choice. We have no choice, the President says. 0:04:41.400 --> 0:04:44.760 You see, I take the President at his word. I 0:04:44.839 --> 0:04:48.279 believe that this is a man who understands that it's 0:04:49.600 --> 0:04:52.320 what you say and whether you follow through on that 0:04:52.480 --> 0:04:56.720 or not on the issues that matter, that determines who 0:04:56.760 --> 0:05:01.080 you are as a politician, who you are as a man. Yeah, 0:05:01.120 --> 0:05:05.279 he inflates things sometime. Sure, he's got quite an ego. 0:05:05.400 --> 0:05:09.360 All that stuff is true, You're not You're not unaware 0:05:09.360 --> 0:05:13.119 of that. Neither am I would I say the things 0:05:13.120 --> 0:05:15.400 that Trump says? Would I go about my personal life 0:05:15.400 --> 0:05:19.240 for the way Trump has? No? But this is about 0:05:19.360 --> 0:05:25.400 execution for the commander in chief, executing on the vision, 0:05:26.480 --> 0:05:29.000 executing on the agenda, the promises that he made, and 0:05:29.839 --> 0:05:31.880 a wall has to be a part of that. There's 0:05:31.960 --> 0:05:37.800 no way around it. And that's why I think does 0:05:37.880 --> 0:05:41.520 the willingness to fight here is going to speak volumes 0:05:41.960 --> 0:05:44.560 and make no mistake, twenty twenty hangs in the balance 0:05:44.680 --> 0:05:47.680 right now. What happens over the next few days will 0:05:47.680 --> 0:05:50.479 be something that we talk about for many months and 0:05:50.600 --> 0:05:54.400 even years to come. This is the moment. It's not 0:05:54.440 --> 0:05:56.919 going to get better when Nancy Pelosi Speaker the House. 0:05:57.920 --> 0:06:00.600 It's not going to get better. As Republicans have to 0:06:00.640 --> 0:06:05.400 face another election cycle. Now is the time have the debate, 0:06:05.440 --> 0:06:07.479 have the argument for the American people. And you know 0:06:07.480 --> 0:06:11.680 what A big part of that debate is walls work. 0:06:13.000 --> 0:06:15.520 I heard, you know earlier today. I keep hearing this 0:06:15.520 --> 0:06:17.320 along the walls don't work. And I want to say, 0:06:18.480 --> 0:06:22.680 how do they come to that conclusion? President Trump says, 0:06:22.720 --> 0:06:26.520 the walls workplace seventeen. I am asking Congress to defend 0:06:26.920 --> 0:06:31.599 the border of our nation for tiny fraction, tiny fraction 0:06:31.640 --> 0:06:36.200 of the cost. Essential to border security is a powerful 0:06:36.760 --> 0:06:41.520 physical barrier. Walls work, whether we like it or not. 0:06:41.640 --> 0:06:45.960 They work better than anything in Israel. Ninety nine point 0:06:46.200 --> 0:06:50.320 nine percent successful illegal immigration drives down wages for the 0:06:50.440 --> 0:06:54.880 neediest Americans. No one who calls themselves a progressive should 0:06:54.880 --> 0:07:00.120 support illegal immigration. Open voters hurts poor Americans more than 0:07:00.279 --> 0:07:03.880 anyone else in our society. In life, there are certain 0:07:03.960 --> 0:07:09.160 principles worth fighting for, Principles that are more important than politics, party, 0:07:09.400 --> 0:07:14.080 or personal convenience to safety and security and sovereignty of 0:07:14.120 --> 0:07:20.240 the United States is the most important principle of all. Safety, security, 0:07:20.320 --> 0:07:24.600 sovereignty of the people the United States. This is a 0:07:24.880 --> 0:07:29.480 core issue for this republic. This is central and essential. 0:07:30.880 --> 0:07:36.920 When I hear politicians, Democrats, leftists, and yes, some weak Republicans, 0:07:38.000 --> 0:07:40.120 when I hear them saying that we don't have five 0:07:40.120 --> 0:07:41.840 billion dollars to the wall, I want to ask, well, 0:07:41.840 --> 0:07:44.040 what do we have five billion dollars for? At this point? 0:07:44.440 --> 0:07:46.360 Let's look at the other things we're spending money on 0:07:46.480 --> 0:07:50.160 as a country. I mean, what has been the expansion 0:07:50.200 --> 0:07:56.800 in welfare programs since the Obama years to today? Where 0:07:56.840 --> 0:08:00.520 are we giving people money? You lose eighty billion dollars 0:08:00.520 --> 0:08:05.440 a year in Medicare fraud. Medicare and Medicaid fraud, they 0:08:05.520 --> 0:08:09.080 estimate eighty billion. We don't have five billion dollars to 0:08:09.080 --> 0:08:13.280 get a wall built. And this idea that the wall 0:08:14.000 --> 0:08:16.480 is going to be perfect is nonsense. If you have 0:08:16.600 --> 0:08:21.600 a lock on your door, you're not saying that somebody 0:08:21.600 --> 0:08:24.280 with a sledgehammer can't get through your front door. You're 0:08:24.280 --> 0:08:26.400 not saying it's going to keep out a squat team, 0:08:26.440 --> 0:08:28.480 and you're not even saying that the burglar can't find 0:08:28.480 --> 0:08:32.240 a way to maybe get through your window. Right. All 0:08:32.240 --> 0:08:35.080 you're saying is I'm gonna make it harder. I'm not 0:08:35.080 --> 0:08:37.640 going to allow somebody to just get into my home 0:08:37.679 --> 0:08:42.120 without effort, and therefore maybe give me some critical seconds 0:08:42.120 --> 0:08:44.199 if they try to break in my front door to 0:08:44.280 --> 0:08:47.280 get to a firearm, to call the police to take shelter. 0:08:47.440 --> 0:08:50.760 You know, that's why you have a lock. Now, a 0:08:50.800 --> 0:08:52.640 lock is not perfect. But if you didn't have a 0:08:52.679 --> 0:08:54.040 lock on your front door, I know some of you 0:08:54.040 --> 0:08:55.640 probably live in parts the country were like Buck, I 0:08:55.640 --> 0:08:57.559 don't need a lock. But for most of the rest 0:08:57.600 --> 0:08:59.080 of us, you probably have a lock on the door. 0:09:00.840 --> 0:09:06.280 And it's because it's a sound security measure. A wall 0:09:06.320 --> 0:09:11.040 in certain places is a sound security measure. It is 0:09:11.080 --> 0:09:14.800 helpful to the process of preventing people from entering the 0:09:14.880 --> 0:09:18.600 United States, including cartels and drug runners and you know 0:09:18.760 --> 0:09:22.480 cicarios hit men for the various cartels, including them, preventing 0:09:22.480 --> 0:09:25.200 them from coming into the country, as well as illegal 0:09:25.240 --> 0:09:30.439 immigrants who are violating our sovereignty and our laws. Because 0:09:30.480 --> 0:09:33.800 as Trump understands, and Democrats have abandoned this by the way, 0:09:33.840 --> 0:09:36.840 they used to pretend that they were serious about this. 0:09:36.880 --> 0:09:39.880 But you know, therefore, any border security measure, as long 0:09:39.920 --> 0:09:45.680 as it doesn't give us a secure border place sixteen. 0:09:47.400 --> 0:09:51.760 Every nation has not only the right but the absolute 0:09:51.840 --> 0:09:56.720 duty to protect its borders and its citizens. A nation 0:09:56.760 --> 0:10:00.800 without borders is a nation not at all. Without borders, 0:10:00.840 --> 0:10:05.600 we have the reign of chaos, crime, cartels, and believe 0:10:05.600 --> 0:10:09.760 it or not, coyotes. I will not surrender this nation 0:10:09.840 --> 0:10:14.000 to the whims of criminal organizations who pray on the vulnerable, 0:10:15.000 --> 0:10:19.040 who hurt women and children, and has spread human misery 0:10:19.160 --> 0:10:25.480 and suffering. There are very real costs to the continued 0:10:25.559 --> 0:10:28.640 lawlessness at our border, and the lawlessness and law breaking 0:10:29.040 --> 0:10:32.880 that is abetted by the Democrats in this country. In 0:10:32.880 --> 0:10:36.800 the interior of the US, the sanctuary city policies, the 0:10:36.960 --> 0:10:42.120 all these different legal activist groups running around suing everyone 0:10:42.120 --> 0:10:45.480 and anyone who tries to enforce immigration law, making sure 0:10:45.600 --> 0:10:48.160 that those who come to the country illegally have even 0:10:48.200 --> 0:10:53.319 more resources at their disposal to evade law enforcement. Enough 0:10:53.679 --> 0:10:58.320 is enough. No other country would be expected to accept this. 0:10:58.480 --> 0:11:02.200 Why should we? No other country says, yes, just show up, 0:11:02.240 --> 0:11:05.080 do what you want, don't worry about it. We owe 0:11:05.120 --> 0:11:08.480 it to you. We owe it to you. Why exactly 0:11:08.600 --> 0:11:15.679 we owe illegals what? The Democrats have embraced this as 0:11:15.720 --> 0:11:18.480 an all out struggle for power, so they don't care 0:11:18.559 --> 0:11:21.200 what the real consequences are to the country. They don't 0:11:21.200 --> 0:11:24.880 care about the long term implications other than this is votes, 0:11:25.480 --> 0:11:30.560 This is an ever enlarging government bureaucracy, and this is 0:11:30.640 --> 0:11:32.880 power power for the left, which is the one thing 0:11:33.840 --> 0:11:38.920 they are certain that they want always and at all times. 0:11:40.520 --> 0:11:43.480 So I'm pleased that the president right now, and this 0:11:43.520 --> 0:11:45.920 could change. You know, I'll be on air with you tomorrow. 0:11:45.960 --> 0:11:48.559 We'll have to see that. Tomorrow night is the deadline. 0:11:49.440 --> 0:11:53.400 This could change. I you know, yesterday you heard me 0:11:53.440 --> 0:11:56.480 on this show. I support the president. I was very 0:11:56.559 --> 0:11:58.600 unhappy with the stance that he was going to sign 0:11:58.600 --> 0:12:05.360 this continuing resolution. And the word got out. The word 0:12:05.559 --> 0:12:11.920 got out. You know, now people know Trump knows he heard, 0:12:13.320 --> 0:12:15.560 and I've been in communication with people that have said that. 0:12:15.600 --> 0:12:17.600 You know, the president is paying very close attention to 0:12:17.600 --> 0:12:20.640 certain voices on this one, and it did not go 0:12:20.760 --> 0:12:25.760 unnoticed that some of his strongest supporters, with the largest platforms, 0:12:27.520 --> 0:12:31.080 we're saying that this was an unacceptable sell out of 0:12:31.080 --> 0:12:33.680 the bass. I said it yesterday and Rising I said 0:12:33.679 --> 0:12:37.040 it yesterday on this show too. Selling out the base 0:12:38.000 --> 0:12:41.200 can't do it. Can't do it because I'm not here 0:12:41.520 --> 0:12:45.080 to support a person as some cult of personality. I'm 0:12:45.240 --> 0:12:48.720 here to talk about ideas and to talk about action 0:12:48.760 --> 0:12:50.520 that will make this a better country and will make 0:12:50.559 --> 0:12:54.600 people here safer, happier, and more prosperous. We're about results, 0:12:54.920 --> 0:12:57.320 trying to push for results, convincing people of how to 0:12:57.360 --> 0:13:00.760 get to them. And the result we were was a wall. 0:13:01.840 --> 0:13:06.280 We weren't promised a little bit of extra extra paint 0:13:06.320 --> 0:13:08.959 and you know, speckle and whatever else they gotta put 0:13:09.000 --> 0:13:13.160 on the old wall. A new wall, a new barrier, 0:13:13.240 --> 0:13:19.120 a new fence, secure the border. Look at the ramifications 0:13:19.160 --> 0:13:21.480 that will have for the rest of immigration policy. Look 0:13:21.480 --> 0:13:24.560 at how that will change many of the dynamics about 0:13:24.800 --> 0:13:29.800 interior enforcement and just restoring the rule of law in 0:13:29.840 --> 0:13:35.480 this country. I have some other breaking news that I 0:13:35.480 --> 0:13:38.000 have to share with you here, and that is it 0:13:38.160 --> 0:13:39.840 wasn't to know we're going to talk about this until 0:13:39.840 --> 0:13:46.880 we went on air. Secretary Defense Maddis has resigned. Not 0:13:46.960 --> 0:13:51.080 effective immediately. He's going to wait until a successful transition 0:13:51.080 --> 0:13:53.040 with a new Secretary Defense and the Joint Chiefs of 0:13:53.040 --> 0:13:57.480 Staff Chairman can come in. But Secretary of Defense Maddis 0:13:58.760 --> 0:14:03.880 is out. And it's not because he was tired of 0:14:03.960 --> 0:14:07.679 the long hours. I'll get into the details of that 0:14:08.280 --> 0:14:16.760 and more coming up. The President said, what the what 0:14:16.920 --> 0:14:19.520 the Senate sent over is just kicking the ball, just 0:14:19.600 --> 0:14:21.800 kicking a can down the road. We want to solve 0:14:21.840 --> 0:14:23.560 this problem. We want to make sure we keep the 0:14:23.560 --> 0:14:25.800 government open, and we're gonna work to have that done 0:14:25.800 --> 0:14:29.040 and get something happening. Everyone knows the old line fool 0:14:29.080 --> 0:14:32.000 me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. 0:14:32.720 --> 0:14:35.040 But we're gonna have to change that line. We're gonna 0:14:35.040 --> 0:14:37.800 need a new one. The new line should be fool 0:14:37.880 --> 0:14:42.520 the American people four times. Shame on Congress. Remember what 0:14:42.600 --> 0:14:45.280 we did March right the March big omnibus spending bill. 0:14:45.560 --> 0:14:47.080 We said, oh no, we're not gonna put the border 0:14:47.080 --> 0:14:48.800 wall funding on this bill because we're gonna do it 0:14:48.840 --> 0:14:51.960 in September. Then we get the September Wait, wait a minute, 0:14:51.960 --> 0:14:54.560 we're not gonna put it on this bill because we're 0:14:54.560 --> 0:14:57.560 gonna do it on December seventh, and then December sevenths. 0:14:57.560 --> 0:14:59.480 Come a wait a minute, we're not gonna put the 0:14:59.520 --> 0:15:01.480 We're not gon to keep our promise. We're not going 0:15:01.520 --> 0:15:04.040 to put the border funding wall money on that built. 0:15:04.120 --> 0:15:06.640 And what do we learn today. Now they're talking about 0:15:06.760 --> 0:15:13.400 kicking it to February eighth. You've got to be kidding me. Yep, 0:15:14.280 --> 0:15:19.200 he's right, he's right. How many times do they get 0:15:19.240 --> 0:15:21.160 to pull the same manuver? This is why I'm usually 0:15:21.160 --> 0:15:24.880 so cynical about the whole Oh, we'll fight the next time. 0:15:25.000 --> 0:15:28.080 Talk you know, it's always we'll fight the next time. 0:15:28.200 --> 0:15:32.720 What about this time? What about getting the wall? Now? 0:15:35.720 --> 0:15:38.680 We have the Secure Offence Act passing two thousand and six, 0:15:39.440 --> 0:15:45.280 bipartisan bill. We used to agree that stopping illegal immigration 0:15:45.360 --> 0:15:47.840 was good, but Democrats see the writing on the wall. 0:15:47.880 --> 0:15:51.480 They realize over the long term, illegal immigration benefits them, 0:15:51.800 --> 0:15:55.400 benefits their base, their party, their power. They don't want 0:15:55.400 --> 0:15:58.320 this to stop, so we have there's no common ground 0:15:58.360 --> 0:16:00.640 to be reached with the left on the issue of 0:16:00.920 --> 0:16:05.160 border security. They are not in favor of it. In fact, 0:16:05.160 --> 0:16:07.040 if anything, the only the only reason they want anyone 0:16:07.080 --> 0:16:09.320 to stop and check in is so they can eventually 0:16:09.680 --> 0:16:17.160 register for their state benefits i e. Welfare programs. Democrats 0:16:17.160 --> 0:16:19.760 are all in favor of it, right, taking from you, 0:16:19.880 --> 0:16:22.920 taking from the taxpayers, giving to people that just God 0:16:23.000 --> 0:16:26.320 here we are supposed to be. It seems according to 0:16:26.320 --> 0:16:33.120 the left the world's soup kitchen, and unfortunately, over time 0:16:33.800 --> 0:16:37.480 that has real costs and real consequences to our political 0:16:37.480 --> 0:16:40.800 cohesion and to the sense that a lot of people 0:16:40.800 --> 0:16:45.200 have at the government is just constantly being dishonest with them. 0:16:45.760 --> 0:16:47.600 You know, it isn't an amazing we have on the 0:16:47.600 --> 0:16:50.200 one hand, all these people who are just so rule 0:16:50.280 --> 0:16:53.400 of law when it comes to the Logan Act, when 0:16:53.400 --> 0:16:56.320 it comes to the Emolument's clause, when it comes to 0:16:56.840 --> 0:17:02.520 Federal Election Commission regulation and disclosure requirements, ooh, you know, 0:17:02.560 --> 0:17:06.960 they're really really up on all of that, you know, 0:17:07.040 --> 0:17:09.239 the Hatch Act, the Logan Act. You know, they talk 0:17:09.280 --> 0:17:12.800 about all these things that they they're strict when when 0:17:12.800 --> 0:17:16.040 that benefits something they want. But on immigration, which also 0:17:16.119 --> 0:17:18.399 includes I would note a lot of document fraud, a 0:17:18.400 --> 0:17:20.560 lot of tax fraud, a lot of you know, just 0:17:20.600 --> 0:17:25.720 go down the list. No, when with illegal immigration, the 0:17:25.800 --> 0:17:28.840 law doesn't matter anymore, The law doesn't really count. There's 0:17:28.840 --> 0:17:31.400 really two sets of laws for citizens and non citizens. 0:17:31.880 --> 0:17:36.200 And it's an unacceptable state of affairs, and it's not 0:17:36.320 --> 0:17:39.080 going to get any better. In fact, it's only going 0:17:39.160 --> 0:17:44.040 to get worse. The time to deal with this problem 0:17:44.240 --> 0:17:47.520 is now I'm glad that Jim Jordan and Mark Meadows 0:17:47.520 --> 0:17:50.840 and a few others understand it. And thankfully the president. Look, 0:17:50.880 --> 0:17:52.320 I get it. He wants he wants to go on 0:17:52.400 --> 0:17:54.800 Christmas break. He wants me to his family. The guy's 0:17:54.840 --> 0:17:57.600 got a lot, got a lot on his shoulders. But 0:17:59.119 --> 0:18:01.200 now is the time. Vescholi is also getting in on 0:18:01.240 --> 0:18:04.680 the action. You're playing nineteen. We're gonna move today to 0:18:04.840 --> 0:18:07.920 add language to the bill that the Senate sent over 0:18:07.960 --> 0:18:10.920 on government funding to add five billion dollars to the wall, 0:18:11.200 --> 0:18:13.920 as well as the disaster relief funding that's been agreed 0:18:14.000 --> 0:18:16.880 upon by both the House and Senate for the hurricanes 0:18:16.920 --> 0:18:20.280 and the wildfires. So we'll move that later on today. 0:18:20.320 --> 0:18:24.879 This is about secure in America's border. Let's see if 0:18:24.880 --> 0:18:27.879 we can do it. We're about to enter a fight here, 0:18:27.880 --> 0:18:30.800 and we voted for Trump because he's a fighter. I 0:18:30.840 --> 0:18:32.880 expect him to roll up the sleeves and throw down 0:18:32.880 --> 0:18:35.040 on this one. He promised a wall. I want that wall, 0:18:35.600 --> 0:18:37.720 and I'm not going to forget it one way or 0:18:37.760 --> 0:18:41.639 the other. Let's talk about General Maddis resigning. When we 0:18:41.680 --> 0:18:49.640 come back from the spring, General Maddis has resigned. This 0:18:49.800 --> 0:18:55.320 is a surprise. Obviously, this was not anticipated, and this 0:18:55.560 --> 0:18:58.480 comes at a time when there's already a lot of 0:18:59.520 --> 0:19:06.280 a lot of concern over the president's decision to remove 0:19:06.359 --> 0:19:09.280 troops from Syria, which i'll talk to you about in 0:19:09.320 --> 0:19:11.520 some detail in the next hour, as well as the 0:19:11.600 --> 0:19:16.200 possibility of removing troops from other theaters of war. General 0:19:16.240 --> 0:19:19.520 Maddis has decided that he's not going to be part 0:19:19.520 --> 0:19:22.640 of this. He's actually written a resignation letter, and I'll 0:19:22.640 --> 0:19:25.800 give you some of the most important parts of that 0:19:26.000 --> 0:19:31.800 in a moment. But this administration has, let's be honest, 0:19:32.680 --> 0:19:39.840 had a number of very prominent individuals who, well they 0:19:39.840 --> 0:19:43.919 are very people in very prominent roles who were not 0:19:44.000 --> 0:19:47.200 up to the task. There are some people who lasted 0:19:47.400 --> 0:19:52.520 a matter of days in very senior executive branch positions. 0:19:53.720 --> 0:19:56.120 There has been turnover is always high in the White House, 0:19:56.119 --> 0:19:58.400 but this White House is exceptionally high when it comes 0:19:58.400 --> 0:20:01.840 to turnover. Again. President Trump has always said that he 0:20:01.960 --> 0:20:03.800 is non traditional, that he is going to have to 0:20:03.840 --> 0:20:06.600 break some things in the establishment. It's going to be difficult, 0:20:06.600 --> 0:20:09.960 that's going to be messy. So I think we should 0:20:10.000 --> 0:20:13.840 give him some leeway for that. And I'm certainly willing 0:20:13.880 --> 0:20:17.639 to do that. But there have only been a few 0:20:17.680 --> 0:20:22.600 people in the administration who I think could be said 0:20:22.640 --> 0:20:28.480 to receive universal respect. Doesn't mean everyone likes them or 0:20:28.520 --> 0:20:32.920 agrees with them, but you know, near universal respect perhaps, 0:20:32.960 --> 0:20:40.680 but broadly generally speaking individuals who are impeccable in their 0:20:40.720 --> 0:20:49.200 credentials and are men or women of real skill, integrity, honor, 0:20:50.000 --> 0:20:52.960 and who are true public servants. And I think Mattis 0:20:54.040 --> 0:20:56.280 very much falls in that category. I knew of Mattis 0:20:56.320 --> 0:21:01.480 from when he was commanding in the Iraq Theater of Operations, 0:21:01.600 --> 0:21:04.399 and you know, the stories about him were things that 0:21:04.440 --> 0:21:07.960 people would tell each other, and they were always said 0:21:07.960 --> 0:21:11.000 with a certain pride. You know that the stories about 0:21:11.119 --> 0:21:14.080 about General Maddis, and some of you probably know the 0:21:14.119 --> 0:21:18.159 one where he's he sat down with some you know, 0:21:18.280 --> 0:21:21.760 tribal elders. I think it was in Iraq and he said, 0:21:22.840 --> 0:21:24.560 you know, I didn't bring And whether this is an 0:21:24.600 --> 0:21:27.040 apocryphal quote or not, I don't know. I mean this 0:21:27.080 --> 0:21:30.360 as people say. You know, Maddis said, you know, I'm 0:21:30.359 --> 0:21:32.960 basically I did not bring my artillery. I did not 0:21:33.000 --> 0:21:35.280 come here for war, you know, And I'm begging you 0:21:35.560 --> 0:21:38.160 with tears in my eyes. Do not mess with me, 0:21:38.359 --> 0:21:41.200 because I will take any of you out if you do. 0:21:41.320 --> 0:21:43.359 You know, I mean, he was that was more or 0:21:43.400 --> 0:21:45.800 less the story. You know. The General Maddis was like, 0:21:46.000 --> 0:21:49.199 I'm I'm a man who wants peace and stability, but 0:21:49.240 --> 0:21:52.359 if you mess with me, things will get really ugly, 0:21:52.400 --> 0:21:56.400 really fast. People call them mad dog Maddis. Obviously he's 0:21:56.440 --> 0:21:59.200 got all these different nicknames, and he's going to be 0:21:59.280 --> 0:22:02.399 leaving the administration. Let me read to you from some 0:22:02.640 --> 0:22:07.119 of his resignation letter here. Dear mister President, I have 0:22:07.200 --> 0:22:10.000 been privileged to serve as our country's twenty six Secretary 0:22:10.000 --> 0:22:12.760 of Defense, which has allowed me to serve alongside our 0:22:12.800 --> 0:22:15.440 men and women of the Department in defense of our 0:22:15.440 --> 0:22:18.720 citizens and our ideals. I am proud of the progress 0:22:18.720 --> 0:22:20.520 that has been made over the last two years on 0:22:20.560 --> 0:22:24.240 some of the key goals articulated in our National Defense Strategy, 0:22:24.680 --> 0:22:28.000 putting the Department on a more sound budgetary footing, improving 0:22:28.040 --> 0:22:31.760 readiness and lethality in our forces, and reforming the Department's 0:22:31.760 --> 0:22:36.400 business practices for greater performance. Our troops continue to provide 0:22:36.440 --> 0:22:40.440 the capabilities needed to prevail in conflict and sustain strong 0:22:41.160 --> 0:22:46.840 US global influence. I believe we must be resolute and 0:22:46.920 --> 0:22:50.160 unambiguous in our approach to countries whose strategic interests are 0:22:50.200 --> 0:22:54.400 increasingly intentioned with ours. It is clear that China and Russia, 0:22:54.480 --> 0:22:57.760 for example, want to shape a world consistent with their 0:22:57.840 --> 0:23:03.800 authoritarian model, gaining veto over other nations economic, diplomatic, and 0:23:03.920 --> 0:23:07.480 security decisions to promote their own interests at the expense 0:23:07.520 --> 0:23:10.880 of their neighbors, America and our allies. That is why 0:23:10.920 --> 0:23:13.120 I mean we must use all the tools of American 0:23:13.160 --> 0:23:17.640 power to provide for the common defense. My views on 0:23:17.880 --> 0:23:21.119 treating allies with respect and also being clear eyed about 0:23:21.160 --> 0:23:25.840 both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and 0:23:26.000 --> 0:23:29.200 informed by over four decades of immersion in these issues. 0:23:29.880 --> 0:23:32.800 We must do everything possible to advance an international order 0:23:32.840 --> 0:23:36.639 that is most conducive to our security, prosperity, and values. 0:23:37.160 --> 0:23:39.520 And we are strengthened in this effort by the solidarity 0:23:39.560 --> 0:23:43.919 of our alliances. Because you have the right to a 0:23:44.000 --> 0:23:48.040 Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours 0:23:48.080 --> 0:23:51.200 on these and other subjects, I believe it is right 0:23:51.240 --> 0:23:54.600 for me to step down from my position. The end 0:23:54.680 --> 0:23:57.880 date for my tenure is February twenty eight, twenty nineteen, 0:23:58.560 --> 0:24:00.720 a date that should allow us, if time, for a 0:24:00.800 --> 0:24:04.040 successor to be nominated and confirmed, as well as to 0:24:04.119 --> 0:24:08.040 make sure the Department's interests are properly articulated and protected 0:24:08.080 --> 0:24:11.919 at upcoming events, to include Congressional posture hearings and the 0:24:12.040 --> 0:24:17.440 NATO Defense Ministerial Meeting in February. Further, that a full 0:24:17.480 --> 0:24:20.199 transition to a new Secretary of Defense occurs well in 0:24:20.200 --> 0:24:22.480 advance of the transition of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs 0:24:22.480 --> 0:24:25.760 of Staff in September, to ensure stability within the Department. 0:24:27.560 --> 0:24:30.080 I pledge my full effort to a smooth transition that 0:24:30.160 --> 0:24:32.359 ensures the needs and interests of two point one five 0:24:32.520 --> 0:24:36.399 million service members and seven hundred thirty two and seventy 0:24:36.480 --> 0:24:40.360 nine Department of Defense civilians, so that they receive undistracted 0:24:40.359 --> 0:24:42.320 attention to the Department at all times, so that they 0:24:42.320 --> 0:24:45.880 can fulfill their critical round the clock mission to protect 0:24:45.880 --> 0:24:50.520 the American people. I very much appreciate this opportunity to 0:24:50.520 --> 0:24:54.720 serve the nation and our men and women in uniform, 0:24:54.960 --> 0:25:02.280 Signed General John Mattis. James Mattis, sorry, said John my 0:25:02.359 --> 0:25:09.920 bed Uh. This is a This is not a departure 0:25:09.960 --> 0:25:16.080 that I think anybody's going to think is a good idea. Well, 0:25:16.160 --> 0:25:21.600 maybe some people will. Mattis was one of those figures 0:25:21.600 --> 0:25:25.119 in the administration that people look to and said, there's 0:25:25.119 --> 0:25:29.960 a steady hand there and somebody who really knows the job. Now, 0:25:31.280 --> 0:25:33.600 there are two point one five million service members. There 0:25:33.600 --> 0:25:37.360 are a lot of people out there with military skills 0:25:37.359 --> 0:25:42.080 and experience in this country and strategic wisdom knowledge that 0:25:42.119 --> 0:25:47.239 would be fantastic secretaries of Defense, no question about it. 0:25:48.040 --> 0:25:50.639 And I have a lot of faith at President Trump 0:25:51.240 --> 0:25:54.600 for this role in particular, will be sure to find 0:25:54.680 --> 0:25:59.720 someone who is an excellent pick. But this does come 0:25:59.720 --> 0:26:03.520 at a time when the opponents of this administration are 0:26:03.520 --> 0:26:06.440 going to pounce on this and say, see, even Maddis 0:26:07.359 --> 0:26:11.120