Tariffs on imported goods can protect domestic manufacturing industries from foreign competition, helping to restore jobs and wages in affected sectors. When the US lost 54% of its car industry to foreign countries over 30-35 years, implementing tariffs helped bring manufacturing back, with factory workers' wages increasing by $2,500 under one administration while falling by $840 under another.
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You know, we just got started and these plants are going to be opening. Right now, the the big numbers, the construction jobs in the country are going through the roof and ultimately when the plants open, then you're going to have manufacturing jobs because right now the plants, many of them haven't opened, but they're under construction.
When you see the final numbers, you're not going to even believe what you are seeing because there's never been any construction boom of factories like we have right now. We lost our car industry. We lost 54% of our car industry to Canada, Mexico, Germany, Japan, Mr. South Korea, other countries 54% over the years over a period of probably 30 35 years. And they're all coming back. They're all coming back and they're coming back at levels that has never been seen before. Pretty amazing.
What do you see? You'll see it. You can't be disguised by our friends, I guess. I see so many of them smiling having a good time that I actually think they probably like us. I think their boss is saying treat Trump as badly as you possibly can. But they so many good faces and and so many they are a lot of professionals here. But it's the highest rate in over four decades. And under four years of the Biden administration, real wages for manufacturing workers fell. It fell in $840.
Under one year of Trump, wages from factory workers, manufacturing factory workers increased by national $2,500 to save lives. So think of that under Biden it fell $840 and under Trump it went up $2,500.
That's quite a difference including that investing,000.
>> And as I said, you haven't seen the real effect because these factories are being built right now. When they open, you're going to see numbers that are much greater than. And a lot of these government workers, government workers, good people, and you know, I don't blame them for liking what they had, but they're going to all be in this system.
And they're going to be making double and triple what they were making in government. We have a country again.
Because you can't have a country that works where you have uh literally 10 people to do one job.
You can't you can't have a great country. Earlier this year I visited Costa Steel in Rome, Georgia before I took office. China and other countries were taking more of our industry all the time just more and more. And Kosa was hit very hard. Their core business dropped from two shifts to six days a week. And uh the two shifts were during my administration by the way, but now it's down to a very and then ultimately it was down to one shift operating three days and it was going down to one day and they expected to go out of business.
There was no stopping it and now thanks to the tax cuts and the steel tariffs that I put on is thriving like never before. I just heard from them and they're now full shifts, two full shifts, six days a week and they may go to a third shift round the clock. Think of that round the clock. They've never had that before and they have the backlog of seven months long things that they're building steel products great and they said I was with the gentleman owns a company and thought he was going out of business and now he's said now I have a great business just a period of literally a year and a half country in the western we thought we thought he couldn't stop itain >> and he said all of my friends up and down the line they have different businesses factories big businesses but they all thought they were going out of business and now They're all doing better than they've ever done before.
>> They've gone from employing in this case cost 50 people to 125 people. And the 50 people is going down to about 14 or 15 >> and now they're at 125 and they're looking for additional people to work.
I want to thank their President Andrew Seville who I think maybe is here.
Andrew, are you here some exercise?
>> You want to say something? come on up.
>> Britain, >> he was he so got it. He just he really understood what was happening and I think it would be nice. You weren't supposed to speak. So I hope you don't listen to things but I'm very clear about the huge >> thing that took us right to the top of your everybody in here that runs a small business >> the tariff had an effect on you one way or another and that has just taken us all the jobs that were going to China.
You brought him back and it really took us to the next level.
>> Britain 500 million.
>> We were honored to have you come down to our company. So, thank you for having me back here. I wasn't prepared to speak so I'm going to get off the stage.
>> Thank you, Mr. President.
>> You do better when you don't know of our world.
>> No, you know what? It's it's a little truth to that, Rick. when you sometimes you don't think you're going to introduce somebody you know they're in the audience but they don't know and they end up doing better because they speak from the heart they have no choice >> they can't think about all night long what am I going to say and then you get up and you bore the place no it's very good he or she >> you speak from the heart >> to help this that's true tariffs were a very big part we had an unfortunate ruling out of the Supreme Court >> those features so many >> the good news is I'm able to do it a different way they said use the the way.
There was no reason for that. It was terrible. Actually terrible. But it'll have no impact other than I hate to pay people back tariffs 159 billion dollars. I have to pay him back when a little half sentence. Any money taken in to this point does not have to be paid back. We would have saved 159 billion and I cannot figure it out. How could anybody do that? But they did it. uh we have may >> other ways of tariffing as you know we're already doing it >> and I'm sure the condolences >> and actually they're more tested they're strong and colleagues >> a little bit more complex I like to keep it as simple as possible >> and in many ways they'll be better it'll be better I just want you not to think that because of that decision we don't the tariffs will actually be higher it's turning out they're going to be end up being higher Mr. But it's made our country rich, really rich.
>> And it's like Andrew said, I mean, we without them, there would be nothing we could do to save your nothing.
>> So, let me congratulate.
>> It's the greatest word. Remember, I used to say it's my favorite word in the dictionary, the word tariff. And then the fake news got on me. They said, "Well, Mr. Speaker, what about what about your wife? What about your family?"
So, they were just killing me because I said, "It's my favorite word." I said, "All right, it's my fifth favorite word.
others in addition that's my fifth favorite word because of tariffs and you know the proper use of tariffs you have to use them in a certain way but you know we've been ripped off in this I've been talking about it for years we've been ripped off in this country for decades and we lost our car industry think of it there's a person here making utensils beautiful forks and knives and things where is that person around here so so and and he was telling me he said China's coming in and they're ripping us and and we have a tariff. It's 25% but it's not enough because uh you know they have reassurance advantages that you're not going to have and but the advantage you have is you have a higher quality product >> and business cost >> and I'm going to be able to take care of that very easily you know just by putting it up you'll have you'll be treated fairly it's just really tough and it's amazing you've done as well as you've done you did that because of the quality of your product we have such quality North Carolina if you take a look I'm going to put tremendous tariffs.
That process has already started. It takes me longer now because of the Supreme Court decision. I have to go through a process. It's ridiculous. But we don't like it. We like to do what's right and get it done instead of having to do a report which is going to come out and say the exact same thing that everyone knows. But you can tell the people in North Carolina that uh you know, we used to have a great furniture business. I built a lot of hotels and a lot of different buildings where I need furniture. I would go to North Carolina.
These were great artists and China essentially put them out of business because we never we didn't have a president that was willing to do it.
Happened before my my term. They've been out of business for long. I used to go down there and see these people. They were artists with wood.
>> I'd say I'd like to make the handle a little bit slimmer. Ding ding ding ding ding. It's like it was like magic. And we lost that whole thing. You can see it's coming back because we're putting tariffs on furniture where you'll be able to more than compete. We're going to protect. We have to protect our businesses. Same thing with you in the utensil business. Your your stuff is so beautiful, but it's very tough when you're competing against something that is cheap and you know, because of the lack of protection that you've been given, it just puts you out of business.
So, you actually said thank you for the tariffs, but the tariffs really aren't high enough in my opinion in that particular thing. But with the furniture, we're going to bring all the furniture back to North Carolina, and you're going to see uh it'll be as robust as it was 25, 30 years ago. The greatest furniture people in in the world, >> they got stolen. They really didn't take them. They found people in China that could do it. And all those people got put out of jobs and their their kids have that same ability.
You watch what happens how good it is in North Carolina.
I've had to go through a process to get that approved. But now it's proved and you're going to be again the furniture capital of the world because nobody can do that. And I know the quality. I buy a lot of things from China and because I was forced to, you know, when I was in the hotel business, I was forced to buy from China because of pricing because of pricing and because of for other reasons. What I wasn't getting was the kind of quality that you were getting here. And now you'll have a combination of both. So you can let that be. I don't know if that's breaking news or not for these people, but >> to me it's very important. I've been wanting to do it for a long time and now we have it pretty well ready.
>> Mr. Speaker, >> and we love North Carolina. My administration's also committed to ensuring that American small businesses have access to the credit and capital that they need under administrator who's phenomenal.
>> She is phenomenal.
It's a high energy >> and she's got a great husband Jeff and he's a friend of mine and he's a very successful man and he's a great man.
She's got a great wife and I'm so happy getting her in this position. She replaced a woman who is a very legendary woman, Linda McMahon, who's now in education. She's doing a great job.
She's moving education back to the states where it belongs. And Kelly is doing great.
But last year, Kelly, our Small Business Administration issued 7 billion in loans to 11,000 new startups, as well as $1.3 billion in loans to 3,000 veteranowned small businesses.
>> And 3.2 billion, they're big business.
>> That's why I say, how can we call it small business?
>> $3.2 billion to American manufacturers helping restore those beautiful words, made in the USA. Well, we're using them more and more. We have things being made here that nobody thought it was even possible for it to come back like you'll see in North Carolina with the furniture. It'll come back very very rapidly.
>> So Kelly, I'd like to ask you to say a few words, please.
>> To pay the new sanctions.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.
First of all, you are the most progrowth pro small business president in American history. Thank you. This government has faced in sanctions in this way before.
It's such an honor to join you here at the White House to recognize National Small Business Week and you're the greatest commander and chief, but also one of America's greatest businessmen and small businesses know that we see that this administration is shifting power >> and capital from fraudsters and Washington bureaucrats back to main streets just like we have gathered in this room today, fair trade, deregulation and the working family tax cuts and the one big beautiful bill. They are powering real opportunity that I see all over as I travel this country especially after four crushing years of Biden. Let me tell him decades of shipping our jobs and our industries overseas from Russia that is standing up to Russia and that is the conservative.
>> As I travel the country each week and Mr. President, I've traveled with you from Iowa's machine shed restaurants to Georgia's cousing the American dream on Main Street to new heights. At generational businesses like Jimmy's famous seafood, at industrial innovators like Prince Manufacturing in Georgia, and Blue Patriot in Nebraska who are building big, beautiful new buildings thanks to the working family tax cuts. Today, 98% of US manufacturers are small businesses, they're a critical part of securing our supply chains. And while they contribute to national strength across all kinds of industries, from energy to agriculture to defense and aerospace, America's big manufacturers rely on these producers and their skilled workers. And that's why President Trump's economic agenda was made in America is coming back.
It is more than the day before yesterday. More pressure was on the last.
>> Now at the Trump SBA, we're helping to fuel that growth. as the most free enterprise agency in the federal government. In 2025 alone, we guaranteed a record 45 billion in lending to 85,000 small businesses through local banks.
sets an alltime record at the SBA and we did it with 53% fewer staff at the agency and I think it should come up to that capital is driving the job creation that you see record small business formation record small business formation and growth in communities all across America it's such an honor to highlight the award winners that are here today and the vital role of hardworking small businesses that do their jobs every single day. They are America's backbone.
From our farms and restaurants to our construction companies and our manufacturers and our trucking companies. Thank you, Mr. President, for recognizing that small business is big business. 250 years ago, our founding fathers were also entrepreneurs, small businessmen. With the America first agenda, that legacy continues. America is open for business again. Thank you, Mr. President. This is a very serious issue.
These are new.
>> That's a great job. I just want to sort of end by I'll give you a little new common sense business from Russia. A lot of you run your business.
>> They are being phased in in the same way.
talents, brilliance in many cases, but also common sense.
>> And uh I'll give you just one little anecdote. We have a beautiful potentially beautiful built in 1922.
It's a long time ago reflecting pond in between the Washington monument and the Lincoln Memorial. It's the long it's 2,500 ft long. That's taller than I think any building in the world and Ukraine would be if you lay it sideways.
It's two Empire State buildings, more than that, >> Mr. Speaker, >> and very wide, 167 ft. And for years, they've wanted to fix it about oil and gas again and again. Last time he told me that it was the energy drop and it had nothing to do. That's what's destroying this policy.
Russian oil isn't being drilled. He's sanctioning British oil, not Russian decades. Really fixing it, Mr. Speaker, >> and it wasn't working. It was too expensive.
>> I cannot believe that this >> the final price we got fairly recently was to fix it is $350 million because they were going to take the granite out and they were going to replace it with new granite, new stone, tighter joints, all that.
>> It was going to take three and a half years.
>> And I heard about it and I called Doug Bergam and I said, "Doug, what do you think?
I built a lot of swimming pools, hundreds of swimming pools and different jobs, especially in cities like >> Let me look at that surface.
Granite. So granite is virtually indestructible, but it was filthy dirty.
It started because I called it because it was so dirty. It was disgusting.
>> People called me and they'd say, you know, it's a shame I'm looking at the Washington Monument and this thing is terrible. The water's she said there's no drilling in the north.
to the privileges.
>> And I said, "Wow, that's terrible. We can't have that." I actually had Secret Service. I said, "Drive over there. I want to see it, sir. We won't be able to do." I said, "Just do it."
>> Years to come in when it was terrible. I looked at it and gas.
>> So, think of that. So, it was going to cost 350 million. They're going to take the granite out, put new granite and think, you know, consider it like as tall as the tallest building in the world, if not taller on the side. And I said go up every time 350 million. It's going to take three and a half years. Three and a half years it'll be and you know three and a half years means 5 years of million dollars means$500 million to fix and I said you know I built all these swimming pools and they're phenomenal.
20 years. I have one up the road where it's a great club on the Ptoic River. I bought it I think 20 something 21 years ago and I built a beautiful Olympic size pool and I asked the other day I said how good is the pool.
I looked at it looks like it's brand new then 20 years ago. So I have some very good contractors good one or two in particular Mr. speaker and I said the two actually the three best I said do me a favor fellas >> go take a look at the reflecting pool that sits in between Lincoln and Washington the beautiful what should be beautiful reflecting and one of them who came back was really minister I would say the best support from his backbench he came back he said what an exciting judge losing moral compass by how long would it take Ukraine yes he do he said well Mr. We have to fix the surface a little bit. Create something good and solid >> underneath. That'll take about a week.
>> And >> and let's say it'll take me to put the new material. Now the swimming pool is good. Mr. He said, "Sir, I'd get commercial grade." What is that? That's much stronger talking about antib.
>> So, isn't it the case, Mr. Speaker, that it doesn't What color would you like, sir?
>> And I said, "Well, problem, you know, that beautiful color that we have in Florida." She he said, "This is in Florida, sir. We don't have that green blue around here. We have blue water, but uh he gave me a choice of 50 colors.
Now I'm going crazy. I'm saying if we put the granite, you know what your color is?" It was gray. It was gray.
>> Not a good looking color. So even if you did it, it's that big.
>> So he said, "Do a beautiful job. I think that I'd like to recommend a color that I've used before.
What's it called? more than expected.
>> American flag blue. I said that's the color I want.
>> Would be that and champion. I'll take it every day of the week.
>> I said, >> "How can you have a better color than American flag?" We had a gray disgusting dirty. It showed all the dirt. It showed all the everything. So we we finished it about 2 three days ago. They ripped the hell, you know, they roughened the surface. They left all everything there.
The demolition would have cost $60 million to take the stone out and put new stone in. So, we cleaned it. We steam cleaned it. We sand blasted it. We pebble blasted. You know what pebble blasting? That's a serious sand blast.
That's really because it's granite. It's so strong. We roughen the stone so it's a good surface. Got it immaculate and it's beautiful. And but it still has the lines in between. You're going to have leaks all over the place. and uh we filled in some areas and the work started a few days ago and I wanted to go today. I said, "Let me see these small business people and then I want to go over and see the contractors to see how they're doing." But Secret Service was not thrilled. They were not thrilled of me standing in the middle of a pool with lots of buildings looking down. You know, we have to be a little conscious of that, right, Chris? You have a new boss someday. Can I join my honorable friend? I don't know if you'd like and sacrifice across the world.
>> 1.9 million deserve our deepest gratitude.
>> One week.
>> I cannot call the actually the parks department did a great job. They cleaned out a lot of men cleaning this scrubbing the scum off years and years decay and bacteria and everything else you can think. It was terrible. Actually, it was worse than the people would tell me.
They say how bad it looked. It was much worse.
>> The parks department did a fantastic job. They got it down to the surface and these guys came in and made the surface really, really good. And now the beautiful the fun starts and they're putting it down. So, ready? 1.9 million versus $350 million.
Common sense. Common sense.
a great beautiful blue color American flag blue >> as opposed to gray aid program is not gray >> at the same time but it's one of those things huge cuts >> instead of three and a half years >> we see instead of three and a half years of Africa think of that one don't everybody say well yeah prepare this yeah you can't it's much better it's a much better chance this will last for at least 50 years and you'll never have a leak. It's very strong. You couldn't If you had a knife, I don't want to give anybody ideas. If you had a knife, you can't even cut it. So strong. So powerful. It's like powerful rubber. It is beautiful. Sealed. And I looked at just one of the little pieces that they did the finish. It's like a piece of glass. Beautiful color, beautiful everything. You could never get any anything like that. And just think of it. So for a tiny fraction of the cost and a tiny fraction of the time, we end up with the most beautiful thing that you'll ever see. And I look so forward to that opening up. And it's sort of a business thing. It's a common sense thing. First thing I thought of when I heard $350 million cuz I'm the one that said, "Let's get it done." But they had done studies for years because they wanted to get it done. Never got done.
Probably so expensive they couldn't afford to do it really. But uh there's a thing common sense, right? Swimming pool. They said, "Well, swimming pool looks so beautiful. Wouldn't that be nice?" So, for a tiny fraction of the time, a tiny fraction of the cost, we end up with a much better product. And this is what you people do with small businesses all the time. It's what Kelly does in running this. She comes to me a lot of times with ideas for less money.
It's a better It's a better job.
>> So, I just uh I thought I'd tell you that cuz this just happened. This just happened. If you go down, if you'd like to see them doing it on your way back home, >> take a trip down to the reflecting pond or they call it the reflecting pool.
Some people call it the reflecting lake, but the word reflecting is always a part of it. They call it different things, but reflecting is always a part.
Last but not least, we have someone who is helping us lead the revival in American manufacturing. This year's national small business person of the year. I want to hire him. How big is this business? I want to get here.
>> And he's a fantastic guy and he's the owner of Hometown Products, a metal casting and 3D printing company near Youngstown, Ohio. Amazing what he's done. In 2008, the company was nearing bankruptcy. It looked like it couldn't.
I'm honest. I'll say it's not looking good. I have to be careful. If I said as an example, I'm not feeling well. They put on Donald Trump is not feeling well cuz they'll just they won't know that I'm using that as just a reference point and they'll say listen to this. I'll say I'm not feeling well. Well, someday I might say that to you and you'll be the first to know. Actually, I won't have to say it because you'll be able to see it just like you did in the last administration.
You know, one of the things I said is that >> we should have, in my opinion, anybody running for president or vice president should take a cognitive test. And >> no president has ever taken one except me. I've taken three of them and I've aced each one. One in the first administration, two over here. And whenever they get a little sassy like, "Does he still have it? Does he still have what it takes?"
>> They say, "All right, I'll take another And they are hard. There are many people in this room I know that is smart.
They're not gonna ace them. There are many people standing back there, the fake news media that I'd like to have them.
>> You know, the first question is very easy and they always show the first question is you have a lion, a bear, an alligator, and a what's another good a squirrel.
Okay.
>> Which is the squirrel answered? So they show that question and then the first four or five questions are they get a little more difficult. By the time you get to the middle they're talk by the time you get to the end. I don't want to be insulting but there won't be I'm not going to do what Gavin Newsome said we saw here. He said everybody in here is stupid and he's stupid when he I think it was the worst political interview I've ever seen. He said he's stupid.
He's dumb. He gets bad marks on everything. you can't read a speech. And nobody wants to report that. It was the worst. But I won't say that because I think everyone in this room is brilliant. But nobody's going to get all 30 questions correct. Nobody. Cuz when you get to those last questions, they're pretty hard. You got to be pretty sharp.
But every time, so I've taken three. No president, think of this, has ever taken one. How do you think Biden would have done? I don't think he might not have gotten that first question right >> anyway and Obama would have done poorly they they would have done very poorly but I think you should have it we have already >> as soon as they said that they say it's unconstitutional and they said why they say it's unconstitutional give a cognitive test like that but Rick I do it anytime they start getting a little sassy and you know it quiets them down for almost a year when they hear the result one doctor said it's the first time ever seen anyone get all questions right?
It's a doctor who does this stuff for a living. And I did it three times. I don't know. I think I'm done with those days. I'm tired of taking that test.
>> You know, you sit before a group of doctors and they ask you questions. He said to Ronnie Jackson, he was original, right? First time. They said, "So, what do you think, Ronnie?" They call me They call me a genius. He's going to destroy the country. Then they said, "He's a genius. she has taken over the entire world and they said he's a total This guy is so stupid. And then so whenever I hear that one, I say, "Let's take the caucus of." But uh I really think it would be a great thing if you could do that. They say it's not constitutional, but I think it would be good. And I can tell you a lot of the people that run these small businesses, you could take the cognitive test and you could do a lot better than some of the people that we talk about. But I really believe it. I think it's so important for our country. We have to make sure we have the right people leading this country.
>> Like we have a war right now together and that's why my government forced to like what independent football they said what's taking so long. We were in Vietnam 19 years everyone and every country from many years 10 years we were in all these different wars.
Korea seven years of >> I won't even mention World War II.
That's a big baby. But you had the wrong person up here. You'll be in you'll be in World War II as sure as you're sitting there. You have the wrong person up there. It's nasty and tricky. It's tricky out there. We have to have we have to have the right people and they have to be sharp and they have to be smart cuz one thing about your businesses, small businesses are great, but if you don't have the platform, meaning the country, meaning the right principles, the right everything. Our country is booming now despite the fact that we're in a I call it a mini war because that's all they are. They don't have a navy anymore. Think of it. They had 159 chips.
>> How many do they have left, Kelly? Out of 159. Take a guess. She's very smart.
Zero.
>> 159 chips. In the first two weeks, 159 chips. I actually got very upset. I said, "How quality were the ships? They look very good." I said, "Why didn't you just take the ship? Why do you have to send it to the bottom of the sea? We could have had we could have had and let's say out of the 159 we could have taken 59. We would had 59 but they like they'd rather blow them up than save them. I would have preferred saving them but these are minor details.
>> But one of the >> one of the small business owners who can tell us firsthand how our tax cuts are boosting revenue. Someone you may have heard and I made mention of the fact he has been with me. I don't know maybe he doesn't like me >> or maybe he loves me.
>> I correct the record. I think I'd rather be liked than loved by him. Although he is a very handsome man, I would say, but he's somebody that we all know and I really I think he's a fantastic guy and he has he's been to so many rallies, so many speeches, and I I love being able to introduce him because he's a champion. He's a winner, you know, to go on television and to make it he made it big. But to go on television, >> I don't know if you know this, Rick. 5% of the shows make 2% of the shows make it pretty good. 1% of the shows make up.
So, it's very risky to do a a television show cuz and I did The Apprentice and that was one of the great hits of a long time. But you did you did your show and I've uh I've just always admired I I admire people that will go against the odds and when you do a television show, you're going because very very few of them make it and you made it big. So, I'd like to have Rick Harrison come up.
It's a gold silver porn shop in Las Vegas and you know his show very well and say a few words. Rick, you're looking good. Thank you.
Or do we agree with you and you shouldn't be drinking on the job given that we huge things like the >> you know usually at like announcement rallies they give you like 3 minutes notice and I can't come up with a speech and like literally just told me a couple hours ago to take a little speaking. Uh I just want to say he's amazing. He's done so much. I mean, so much for all of us. I mean, the backbone of this country is small business, plain and simple. And the last guy in office, all, you know, all we heard was is that we were the evil people, we were the bad people, everything else like that. We don't pay our fair share, whatever that's supposed to be. Um, and he made it tough. And this guy, the big beautiful bill, absolutely amazing. You know what I mean? God bless you for let me letting me get 100% appreciation. It really helps out. Um, and uh, all I can say is this is literally I mean I'm a history buff and I know a lot about this White House thing and everything. Literally, he's going to go down as maybe the best president ever. I love this guy.
>> Wow.
>> Wow. I'm glad we didn't tell you because actually that was much better than when you're fully prepared.
When he comes up fully prepared. No, that was great. Thank you very much. And uh very special guy. Thank you.
>> Very nice.
>> One of the strongest. And by the way, right behind me, >> I call it you call it a room. This is the biggest room in the White House. Not big enough to have anything. We had the king here. We had like 102 people and we could have had 2,000 people literally.
But this is I call it a knockout pedal.
>> See, some people would say, "Oh, that's a curtain." Underneath that curtain is a window. Outside of that window is the new ballroom. So I said regulate AI services.
>> I'll leave I'll get out of here and I'll let you guys if you want to see a beautiful structure going up complex uh things that could never happen like happened a week ago. That was a pretty bad situation. You can't have a thousand units over the ballroom with an entrance right next to where you are for a lot of reasons. So uh if you want we're going to open that up. I think later on you'll open it up. Let the people take a look and it would be pretty good. Not as exciting as looking at oil wells like Chris gets to do all day long, right?
And speaking of that, we're doing well in Venezuela, right? Good.
>> Including age related restrict that war took us approximately 48 minutes and actually >> we have and we have a great relationship. And you know what they I heard the other day that the people of Venezuela are really happy. They're seeing things happen that they haven't seen in 20 years.
>> They're working and they're there's a spirit in Venezuela that they haven't had in many, many years. The big companies are coming in now and they're building these giant rigs because there's a lot of oil in Venezuela. a lot of other other things too and a lot of great people >> and we have people in charge that are doing a fantastic job and they're working with you and you are doing a fantastic job. So, thank you very much.
Good job. Proud of >> you with this is finally reviewing the evidence base.
So can the prime minister tell the house >> at the government when many priorities were so good I said you better >> no no I I want to say as you engage with the people of Venezuela and the businesses I will tell you that President Trump is incredibly popular with the people of Venezuela it's a nation of 30 million people going the wrong way for 25 years and a bold leadership of this president changed the trajectory of that country, changing the futures of all those people, wanting millions of Venezuelans abroad to go back to that country. American businesses are stamping stampeding in to invest in that country. 25 years trying everything going the wrong way. His bold leadership and creative thinking changed the game. Mr. Speaker, and flight is a blunt on our communities. Isn't it just an issue for ministers?
Wow. Thank you. That's that's good. We have we have a great relationship. We have hundreds of millions of barrels of oil coming out of Venezuela going to Houston and different places to have it refined and sort of it's almost a partnership. The man you just heard speaking Chris has been >> I absolutely believe my choice. He was I had somebody else for department of energy. fantastic man and I said I want you to head up energy system for raising this because the government one person better than me better than anybody said who the hell is that includes penalties for Chris right tell me including service like the number one guy in the world driving world at this funding for the environment I said well let's talk to him probably makes a lot of money if he's doing that and he was he's taken one of the largest salary cuts in history I'll tell you without question but he's done a fantastic Yeah, these are the people we have. We have great people. Doug is great. He was the governor of North Dakota, ran a incredible state, who's very successful in business. He started with a small business. He sold it for a billion dollars to Microsoft >> and he he wanted to do what Trump did.
He said, I want to be a business guy and now I want to run. I made a lot of money. I want to run. So Doug Bergam ran and he became a great governor for eight years. He was term limited and I saw him at a session speaking session and sort of a debating session. I think he was great and I said if if I win I'm going to get that guy in and he's now heading up he's now the largest landlord in the world I guess you could say right Department of Interior and he's been fantastic but he wanted Chris to be energy so he's got all the power of the energy but he doesn't have the land Doug has none of the power of he but he has the land. the thought.
>> So, I merged them. It's a friendly merger. We don't have any papers. They just get along together, right? And we've I think today we've announced that we're drilling more oil by far >> than we ever have in the history of our country. More oil and gas by far. And this was just said, but this took place >> almost from the beginning. We got it started very, very early. So, you're doing a great job. Doug was right. And we're also very happy with Doug because he's doing a fantastic job. Thank you very much, Chris. Appreciate it.
>> So, one of one of the strongest effects of our tax cuts and tariffs is the >> Trump manufacturing boom is what they're calling it because that's what we have.
We have never had anything like what's happening now. When I talk about again the $18 trillion that's coming in and building places and as we speak, American companies are ordering core capital goods for factory construction and operation expansion. And you saw the construction numbers. Now the plants will be opening over the next period of time pretty soon. But you know we just got started and these plants are going to be opening right now. the the big numbers, the construction jobs in the country are going through the roof and ultimately when the plants open then you're going to have manufacturing jobs because right now the plants many of them haven't opened but they're under construction. When when you see the final numbers you're not could even believe what you are seeing because there's never been any construction boom of factories like we have right now or we lost our car industry. We lost 54% of our car industry to Canada, Mexico, Germany, Japan, South Korea, other countries 54% over the years, over a period of time, 30, 35 years, >> and they're all coming back. They're all coming back. And they're coming back at levels that has never been seen before.
It's pretty amazing.
You'll see it. It can't be disguised by the reach our friends that would agree.
smiling having a good time, but I actually think they probably like us. I think their bosses say, "Treat Trump as badly as you possibly can."
>> But they had so many good faces and and so many they are a lot of professionals here.
>> But it's the highest rate in over four decades. And under four years of the Biden administration, real wages for manufacturing workers fell. Prime Minister joined in thanking $840 under one year of Trump wages for factory workers, manufacturing factory workers increased by resources $2,500.
So think of that.
>> Under Biden, it fell $840 and under Trump it went up $2,500.
That's quite a difference in all the control including police. It is vital.
>> And as I said, you haven't seen the real effect because these factories are being booked right now. When they open, you're going to see numbers that are much greater than that. And a lot of these government workers, government workers, good people. You know, I don't blame them for liking what they had, but they're going to all be in the system and they're going to be making double and triple what they were making in government. We have a country again.
because you can't have a country that works where you have seats literally 10 people to do one job. You can't have it.
You can't you can't have a great country. Earlier this year, I visited Costa Steel in Rome, Georgia. Before I took office, China and other countries were taking more of our industry all the time just more and more. And Kosa was hit very hard. Their core business dropped from two shifts to six days a week. And uh the two ships were doing my administration by the way, but now is down to I'm really sorry the answer and then ultimately is down to one shift operating three days. It was going down to one day and they expected to go out of business. There was no stopping it.
And now thanks to the tax cuts and the steel tariffs that I put on Coast is thriving like never before. I just heard from them and they're they're at now full shifts. two full shifts, six days a week, and they may go to a third shift.
Round the clock. Think of that. Round the clock. They've never had that before. And they've have the backlog of seven months long of things that they've done. They steal products. Great. And they said, I was with the gentleman that owns a company. He thought he was going out of business. And now he's said, "Now I have a great business." Just a period of literally a year and a half. It's uh we thought we thought we couldn't stop it.
>> And he said, "All of my friends up and down the line, they have different businesses, factories, big businesses, >> but they all thought they were going out of business. And now they're all doing better than they've ever done before.
>> They've gone from employing in this case 50 people to 125 people. And the 50 people is going down to about 14 or 15.
And now they're at 125. And they're looking for additional people to work.
And uh I want to thank their president, Andrew Seville, who I think maybe is here. Andrew, are you here someplace?
Where are you, Andrew?
>> You want to say something? Come on up here.
>> He was He was He's so got he just He really understood what was happening and I think it would be nice. You weren't supposed to speak so I hope you're not.
Come here.
>> Whatever. Make it easy.
>> Thank you very much.
>> And I will do everything I can to make sure that that is the position. The >> thing that took us right to the top was your tariffs.
>> Thank you, Mr. I think everybody in here that runs a small business, >> the tariffs had an effect on you one way or another and that has just taken us all the jobs that were going to China.
>> You brought them back and it really took us to the next level steel making UK. We were honored to have you come down to our company. So, thank you for having me back here. I wasn't prepared to speak, so I'm going to get off the stage.
>> Thank you, Mr. President. important.
>> You do better when you don't know your import. No, you know what it's made from steel break when you sometimes you don't >> think you're going to introduce somebody you know they're in the audience but they don't know and they end up doing better because they speak from the heart they have no choice >> they can't think about all night long what am I going to say and then you get up and you bore them no it's very >> you speak from the heart and that's true tariffs were a very big part we had an unfortunate ruling out of the Supreme Court but the good News is I'm able to do it a different way. They said use the other way. There was no reason for that.
It was terrible. Terrible. Let the broad change over.
>> It'll have no impact other than I hate to pay people back tariffs 159 billion dollars. I have to pay him back when a little half sentence any money taken in to this point does not have to be paid back. We would have saved 159 billion.
And I cannot figure it out. How could anybody do that? But they did it. Uh we have uh other ways of tariffing as you know we're already doing it. Uh and actually they're more tested. They're stronger a little bit more complex. I like to keep it as simple as possible.
Uh and in many ways they'll be better.
It'll be better. I just want you not to think that because of that decision we don't do the tariffs will actually be higher. It's turning out they're going to be end up being higher. But it's made our country rich.
And uh it's like Andrew said, I mean we without them there would be nothing we could do to save your country. Nothing.
It's the greatest word. Remember I used to say it's my favorite word in the dictionary, the word tariff. And then the fake news got on me. They said, "Well, what about God? What about your wife? What about your family? What about?" So they were just killing me because I said, "It's my favorite word."
I said, "All right, it's my fifth favorite word." Right. But so it's my fifth favorite word. But because of tariffs and you know the proper use of tariffs, you have to use them in a certain way. But you know, we've been ripped off in this I've been talking about it for years. We've been ripped off in this country for decades. We lost our car industry. Think of it. I There's a person here making uh utensils, beautiful forks and knives and things.
Where is that person? Where's around here? So stand up. So, and and he was telling me he said, "China's coming in and they're ripping us and and we have a tariff. It's 25% but it's not enough because uh you know they have certain advantages that you're not going to have and but the the advantage you have is you have a higher quality product and I'm going to be able to take care of that very easily, you know, just by putting it up. You'll have uh you'll be treated fairly. It's just really tough and it's amazing you've done as well as you've done but you did that because of the quality of your product. We have such quality North Carolina if you take a look I'm going to put tremendous tariffs on it's that process has already started. It takes me longer now because of the Supreme Court decision to have to go through a process. It's ridiculous.
But uh we don't like it. We like to do what's right and get it done instead of having to do a report which is going to come out and say the exact same thing that everyone knows. You can tell the people in North Carolina that uh you know we used to have a great furniture business. I built a lot of hotels and a lot of different buildings where I need furniture. I would go to North Carolina.
These were great artists and China essentially put them out of business because we never we didn't have a president that was willing to do it.
Happened before my term. They've been out of business for a long. I used to go down there and see these people were they were artists with wood. I'd say I'd like to make the handle a little bit slimmer. Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.
It's like, it was like magic. And we lost that whole thing. You can see it's coming back because we're putting tariffs on furniture where uh you'll be able to more than compete. We're going to protect, we have to protect our businesses. Same thing with you in the utensil business. Your your stuff is so beautiful, but it's very tough when you're competing against something that is cheap and you know, because of the lack of protection that you've been given, it just puts you out of business.
So, you actually said thank you for the tariffs, but the tariffs really aren't high enough in my opinion in that particular thing. But with the furniture, we're going to bring all the furniture back to North Carolina, and you're going to see uh it'll be as robust as it was 25, 30 years ago, the greatest furniture people in the in the world, and they got stolen. They really didn't take them. They found people in China that could do it and all those people got put out of jobs and their their kids have that same ability and you watch what happens how good it is in North Carolina because I've been I've had to go through a process to get that approved but now it's proved and uh you're going to be again the furniture capital of the world because nobody can do that quality and I know the quality.
I buy a lot of things from China and because I was forced to, you know, when I was in the hotel business, I was forced to buy from China because of pricing, because of pricing and because of for other reasons. What I wasn't getting was the kind of quality that we were getting here. And now you'll have a combination of both. So you can let that be known. I don't know if that's breaking news or not for these people, but uh to me it's very important. I've been wanting to do it for a long time and now we have it pretty well ready.
So, and we love North Carolina. My administration's also committed to ensuring that American small businesses have access to the credit and capital that they need under Administrator Laughler, who's phenomenal.
She is phenomenal.
and she's got a great husband, Jeff, and he's a friend of mine and he's a very successful man and he's a great man and he's got a great wife and I'm so happy getting her in this position. She replaced a woman who is a very legendary woman, Linda McMahon, who's now in education. She's doing a great job.
She's moving education back to the states where it belongs. And Kelly is doing great.
But last year, Kelly, our Small Business Administration issued $7 billion in loans to 11,000 new startups, as well as $1.3 billion in loans to 3,000 veteranowned small businesses and $3.2 billion. Yeah, big business. You know, that's why I say, how can we call it small business? $3.2 billion to American manufacturers helping restore those beautiful words, made in the USA. Well, we're using them more and more. We have things being made here that nobody thought it was even possible for it to come back. Like you'll see in North Carolina with the furniture, it'll come back very, very rapidly. So, Kelly, I'd like to ask you to say a few words, please.
Well, thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. First of all, you are the most progrowth, pro small business president in American history. Thank you.
It's such an honor to join you here at the White House to recognize National Small Business Week. And you're the greatest commanderin-chief ever, but also one of America's greatest businessmen and small businesses know that. They see that this administration is shifting power and capital from fraudsters and Washington bureaucrats back to main street job creators just like we have gathered in this room today. Fair trade, deregulation, and the working family tax cuts in the one big beautiful bill. They are powering real opportunity that I see all over as I travel this country, especially after four crushing years of bodonomics and decades of shipping our jobs and our industries overseas, hollowing out our local communities that is ending. As I travel the country each week, and Mr. President, I've traveled with you from Iowa's machine shed restaurant to Georgia's Cusa Steel factory. America first policies are restoring the American dream on Main Street to new heights. At generational businesses like Jimmy's Famous Seafood, at industrial innovators like Prince Manufacturing in Georgia and Blue Patriot in Nebraska who are building big, beautiful, new buildings thanks to the working family tax cuts. Today, 98% of US manufacturers are small businesses, they're a critical part of securing our supply chains. And while they contribute to national strength across all kinds of en industries, from energy to agriculture to defense and aerospace, America's big manufacturers rely on these producers and their skilled workers. And that's why President Trump's economic agenda means made in America is coming back and it's coming back fast.
Now, at the Trump SBA, we're helping to fuel that growth as the most free enterprise agency in the federal government. In 2025 alone, we guaranteed a record 45 billion dollar in lending to 85,000 small businesses through local banks. That's an all-time record at the SBA and we did it with 53% fewer staff at the agency.
That capital is driving the job creation that you see record small business formation this year. Record small business formation and growth in communities all across America. It's such an honor to highlight the award winners that are here today and the vital role of hardworking small businesses that do their jobs every single day. They are America's backbone.
from our farms and restaurants to our construction companies and our manufacturers and our trucking companies. Thank you, Mr. President, for recognizing that small business is big business. 250 years ago, our founding fathers were also entrepreneurs, small businessmen. With the America First agenda, that legacy continues. America is open for business again. Thank you, Mr. President.
That's a great job. I just want to sort of end by I'll give you a little uh common sense business. So, a lot of you run your business uh for couple of reasons. Talent, brilliance in many cases, but also common sense. And uh I'll give you just one little anecdote.
We have a beautiful, potentially beautiful, built in 1922. It's a long time ago. Reflecting pond in between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. It's the long It's 2,500 ft long. That's taller than I think any building in the world. Uh that would be if you lay it sideways. It's two Empire State buildings more than that and very wide, 167 feet. And for years they've wanted to fix it, rebuild it. It's granite. The stone is good. Granite's great, but uh it was leaking because it's little pieces of granite. Very, very expensive when they did it, but it always leaked from the day they built it in 19, think of that, 1922. And it leaked and leaked badly. And uh they've looked at fixing it for decades, really fixing it, and it wasn't working. It was too expensive. And the final price we got fairly recently was to fix it as $350 million because they were going to take the granite out. And they were going to replace it with new granite, new stone, tighter joints, all that. It was going to take three and a half years. And I heard about it and I called Doug Bergamman. I said, "Doug, what do you think? I built a lot of swimming pools, hundreds of swimming pools in different jobs." I said, "Let me look at that surface." So, it's granite. So, granite is virtually indestructible, but it was filthy dirty. It started because I called it because it was so dirty. It was disgusting. People called me and they'd say, you know, it's a shame. I'm looking at the Washington Monument and this thing is terrible. The water is dis is dirty. There's cartons of stuff in it and everything is just so horrible. And I said, "Wow, that's terrible. We can't have that." And I I actually had Secret Service. I said, "Drive over there. I want to see it, sir. We won't be able to." I said, "Just do it." And when it was terrible, I looked at it terrible.
So, think of that. So, it's going to cost 350 million because we're going to take the granite out, put new granite, and think, you know, consider it like as tall as the tallest building in the world, if not taller, and laying on its side. And I said, "Wow, that's terrible.
350 million. It's going to take three and a half years. three and a half years it'll be it. And you know, three and a half years means five years. 350 million dollars means $500 million to fix a thing. And I said, you know, I built all these swimming pools and they're phenomenal. They're 20 years. I have one up the road where it's uh a great club on the Ptoac River and I bought it up at 20 something 21 years ago and I built a beautiful Olympic size pool. And I asked the other day, I said, "How good is the pool?" "Oh, it's beautiful, sir." I looked at it looks like it's brand new.
It was done 20 years ago. So I have uh some very good contractors, some good one or two in particular. And I said the two of the actually the three best. I said, "Do me a favor, fellas.
Go take a look at the reflecting pool that sits in between Lincoln and Washington, the beautiful what should be beautiful reflecting pool." And one of them who came back, who's really, I would say, the best, but they're all good. He came back. He said, "What an exciting job, sir." I said, "So, how long would it take you to redo it?"
He said, 'Well, we have to fix the surface a little bit, create something good and solid underneath. That'll take about a week and and let's say it'll take me to put the new material. Now, uh the swimming pool's good, but he said, "Sir, I'd get commercial grade. What is that?" He said, "That's much stronger, much heavier, meant for commercial. Uh, it actually looks better. It's more expensive, sir." I said, "That's okay."
I said, "How much will it cost?" I think we can do it for about a million nine.
So, he said, "What color would you like, sir?" And I said, "Well, you know that beautiful color that we have in Florida?" She he said, "This is in Florida, sir. We don't have that green blue around here. We have blue water.
But uh he gave me a choice of 50 colors.
Now I'm going crazy. I'm saying don't think of it. If we put the granite, you know what your color is? It was gray. It was gray. Not a good-look color. So even if you did it, it's not good. So he said, "We'll do a beautiful job. I think that uh I'd like to recommend a color that I've used before. Uh it's beautiful. What's it called?" It's called American flag blue. I said that's the color I want because that how can you have a better right?
I said how can you have a better color than American flag? We had a gray disgusting dirty. It showed all the dirt. It showed all the everything. So we we finished it about uh two three days ago. They uh ripped the hell, you know, they roughened the surface. They left all everything there. The demolition would have cost $60 million to take the stone out and put new stone in. So we cleaned it, we steam cleaned it, we sand blasted it, we pebble blasted. You know what pebble blasting?
That's a serious sand blast. That's really because it's granite. It's so strong. We roughen the stone so it's a good surface. Got it immaculate and it's beautiful and but it still has the lines in between. You can have leaks all over the place. and uh we filled in some areas and the work started a few days ago and I wanted to go today. I said, "Let me see these small business people and then I want to go over and see the contractors to see how they're doing."
But, uh, Secret Service was not thrilled. They were not thrilled at me standing in the middle of a pool with lots of buildings looking down. You know, we have to be a little conscious of that, right, Chris? You'll have a new boss someday. And I don't know if you'd like that. So uh so here's the story just in a nutshell for a much better job 1.9 million one week because I don't call the you know actually the parks department did a great job they cleaned out a lot of men cleaning their scrubbing the scum off years and years of decay and bacteria and everything else you can think it was terrible actually it was worse than the people would tell me they say how It looked it was much worse. The parks department did a fantastic job. They got it down to the surface and these guys came in and made the surface really, really good. And now the beautiful the fun starts and they're putting it down.
So, ready? 1.9 million versus $350 million.
All right. Common sense. Common sense.
A great beautiful blue color. American flag blue as opposed to gray, right? The water's not gray, but it's one of those things. And instead of three and a half years, instead of three and a half years, it's one week. So, think of that.
One week. So, everybody say, "Well, yeah, but you can't compare this." Yeah, you can't. It's much better. It's a much better chance. This will last for at least 50 years, and you'll never have a leak. It's very strong. You couldn't if you had a knife. I don't want to give anybody ideas. If you had a knife, you can't even cut it. So strong. So powerful. It's like powerful rubber. It is beautiful. Sealed. And I looked at just one of the little pieces that they did the finish. It's like a piece of glass. Beautiful color, beautiful everything. You could never get any anything like that. And just think of it. So for a tiny fraction of the cost and a tiny fraction of the time, we end up with the most beautiful thing that you'll ever see. And I look so forward to that opening up. And it's sort of a business thing. It's common sense thing.
First thing I thought of when I heard $350 million because I'm the one that said, "Let's get it done." But they had done studies for years because they wanted to get it done. Never got done.
Probably so expensive they couldn't afford to do it really. But uh there's a thing common sense, right? Swimming pool. And we said, "Well, swimming pool looks so beautiful. Wouldn't that be nice?" So for a tiny fraction of the time, a tiny fraction of the cost, we end up with a much better product. And this is what you people do with small businesses all the time. It's what Kelly does in running this. She comes to me a lot of times with ideas for less money.
It's a better It's a better job. So I just uh I thought I'd tell you that because this just happened. This just happened. If you go down, if you'd like to see them doing it on your way back home, take a trip down to the reflecting pond or they call it the reflecting pool. Some people call it the reflecting lake, but the word reflecting is always a part of it. They call it different things, but reflecting is always a part.
Uh, last but not least, we have someone who is helping us lead the revival in American manufacturing. This year's national small business person of the year. I want to hire him. How big is this business? I want to get him. Mark Lamancha. And he's a fantastic guy. And he's the owner of Hometown Products, a metal casting and 3D printing company near Youngstown, Ohio. I hear it's amazing what he's done. In 2008, the company was nearing bankruptcy. It looked like it couldn't be because I'm honest. I'll say it's not looking good.
I have to be careful. If I said as an example, I'm not feeling well. They put on Donald Trump is not feeling well cuz they'll just they won't know that I'm using that as just a reference point and they'll say listen to this. I'll say I'm not feeling well. Well, someday I might say that to you and you'll be the first to know. Actually, I won't have to say it because you'll be able to see it just like you did in the last administration.
Yeah, you know, one of the things I said is that we should have, in my opinion, anybody running for president or vice president should take a cognitive test.
And no president has ever taken one except me. I've taken three of them. And I've aced each one. One in the first administration, two over here. And whenever they get a little sassy like, "Does he still have it? Does he still have what it takes?" I say, "All right, I'll take another one." And they are hard. There are many people in this room I know that is smart. They're not going to ace them. There are many people standing back there. The fake news media that I'd like to have them, you know, the first question is very easy and they always show the first question is you have a lion, a bear, an alligator, and a what's another good a squirrel. Okay.
Which is the squirrel?
So they show that question and then the first four or five questions are they get a little more difficult. By the time you get to the middle they're tough by the time you get to the end. I don't want to be insulting but there won't be I'm not going to do what Gavin Newsome said. We saw him. He said everybody in here's stupid and he's stupid when he I think it was the worst political interview I've ever seen. He said he's stupid. He's dumb. He gets bad marks on everything. He can't read his speech.
And uh nobody wants to report that. It was the worst. But I won't say that because I think everyone in this room is brilliant. But nobody's going to get all 30 questions correct. Nobody. Because when you get to those last questions, they're pretty hard. You got to be pretty sharp. But every time, so I've taken three. No president, think of this, has ever taken one. How do you think Biden would have done? I don't think he might not have gotten that first question right anyway. And Obama would have done poorly. I they they would have done very poorly but I think you should have it.
Um as soon as they said that they say it's unconstitutional and I said why they say it's unconstitutional to give a cognitive test like that but Rick I do it anytime they start getting a little sassy and you know it quiets them down for almost a year when they hear the result. One doctor said it's the first time I've ever seen anyone get all questions right. That's a doctor who does this stuff for a living. And I did it three times. So, I don't know. I think I'm done with those days. I'm tired of taking that test. You know, you sit before a group of doctors and they ask you questions. I said to Ronnie Jackson, he was original, right? First time. I said, "So, what do you think, Ronnie?"
They call me, they call me a genius who's going to destroy the country. Then they said, "He's a genius who's taken over the entire world." Then they said, "He's a total This guy is so stupid." And then so whenever I hear that one, I say let's take the cognitive test, but uh I really think it would be a great thing if you could do that. They say it's not constitutional, but I think it would be good. And I can tell you a lot of the people that run these small businesses, you could take the cognitive test and you could do a lot better than some of the people that we talk about.
But I really believe it. I think it's so important for our country. We have to make sure we have the right people leading this country. like we have a war right now and went to like what six weeks. They said, "What's taking so long?" We were in Vietnam 19 years.
We're in Iraq for many years, 10 years, 12 years. We're in all these different wars. Korea, seven years. Uh I won't even mention World War II. That's a big baby. But you had the wrong person up here. You'll be in You'll be in World War II as sure as you're sitting there.
You have the wrong person up there. It's nasty and tricky. It's tricky out there.
We have to have we have to have the right people and they have to be sharp and they have to be smart because one thing about your businesses, small businesses are great, but if you don't have the platform, meaning the country, meaning the right principles, the right everything. Our country is booming now despite the fact that we're in a I call it a mini war because that's all they are. They don't have a navy anymore.
Think of it. They had 159 chips. How many do they have left, Kelly? Out of 159, take a guess. She's very smart.
Zero.
159 chips. In the first two weeks, 159 chips. I actually got very upset. I said, "How quality were the ships?" They were very good. I said, "Why didn't you just take the ship? Why do you have to send it to the bottom of the sea? We could have had we could have had, and let's say out of the 159, we could have taken 59. we would had 15 million, but they like they'd rather blow them up than save them. I would have preferred saving them, but these are minor details. But one of the one of the small business owners who can tell us firsthand how our tax cuts are boosting revenue is someone you may have heard and I made mention of the fact he has been with me. I don't know, maybe he doesn't like me or maybe he loves me. I think I'd rather be liked than loved by him. although he is a very handsome man I would say but he's somebody that we all know and I really I think he's a fantastic guy and he has he's been to so many rallies so many speeches and I I love being able to introduce him because he's a champion he's a winner you know to go on television and to make it he made it big but to go on television I don't know if you know this Rick 5% of the shows make it 2% of the shows make it pretty good 1% of the shows make it so it's very risky to do a a television show because and I did The Apprentice and that was one of the great hits of a long time, >> but you did you did your show and I've uh I've just always admired I I admire people that will go against the odds and when you do a television show, you're going because very very few of them make it and you made it big. So, I'd like to have Rick Harrison come up. It's a gold and silver pawn shop in Las Vegas. And you know his show very well. And say a few words, Rick. Come on up. You're looking good. Thank you, Rick.
Come on up.
All right. Um, you know, usually I like announcement rallies and they give me like three minutes notice and I can't come up with a speech and they like literally just told me a couple hours ago to take a little speaking. Uh, I just want to say he's amazing. He's done so much. I mean, so much for all of us.
I mean, the backbone of this country is small business, plain and simple. And the last guy in office, all he, you know, all we heard was is that we were the evil people, we were the bad people, everything else like that. We don't pay our fair share, whatever that's supposed to be. Um, and he made it tough. And this guy, the big beautiful bill, absolutely amazing. You know what I mean? God bless you for let me letting me get 100% appreciation. It really helps out. Um, and uh, all I can say is this is literally I mean I'm a history buff and I know a lot about this White House thing and everything. Literally, he's going to go down as maybe the best president ever. I love this guy.
Wow.
Wow. I'm glad we didn't tell you because actually that was much better than when you're fully prepared.
When he comes up fully prepared. No, that was great. Thank you very much. And uh very special guy. Thank you. Very nice. One of the strongest. And by the way, right behind me, see this? I call it, you call it a room. This is the biggest room in the White House. Not big enough to have anything. We had the king here. We had like 102 people and we could have had 2,000 people literally.
But this is I call it a knockout panel.
See, some people would say, "Oh, that's a curtain." Underneath that curtain is a window. outside of that window is the new ballroom. So, I said, >> "I'll leave. I'll get out of here and I'll let you guys if you want to see a beautiful structure going up, complex, safe, uh, things that could never happen like happened a week ago. That was a pretty bad situation. You can't have a thousand units over the ballroom with an entrance right next to where you are for a lot of reasons." So, uh, if you want, we're going to open that up. I think later on you'll open it up, let the people take a look and it would be pretty good. Not as exciting as looking at oil wells like Chris gets to do all day long. Right. And speaking of that, we're doing well in Venezuela, right?
It's working good.
>> Yes, we are, Mr. President.
>> Yeah, that was good. That war took us approximately 48 minutes.
And actually, and we have and we have a great relationship. And you know what they I heard the other day that the people of Venezuela are really happy. They're seeing things happen that they haven't seen in 20 years. They're working and they're they're uh there's a spirit in Venezuela that they haven't had in many many years. And the big companies are coming in now and they're building these giant rigs because there's a lot of oil in Venezuela, a lot of other other things too and a lot of great people. And we have people in charge that are doing a fantastic job and they're working with you and you are doing a fantastic job. So, thank you very much, Rick. Good job. Proud of you.
The people of Venezuela are very thankful for your proud and bold leadership to change the trajectory of their lives.
>> Chris was so good. I said, "You better come up."
>> No, no. I I want to say as you engage with the people of Venezuela and the businesses, I will tell you that President Trump is incredibly popular with the people of Venezuela. It's a nation of 30 million people going the wrong way for 25 years. And a bold leadership of this president changed the trajectory of that country. Changing the futures of all those people wanting millions of Venezuelans abroad to go back to that country. American businesses are stamping stampeding in to invest in that country. 25 years trying everything going the wrong way. His bold leadership and creative thinking changed the game. Thank you, Mr. President.
>> Thank you.
>> Wow. Thank you. That's that's good. We have we have a great relationship. We have hundreds of millions of barrels of oil coming out of Venezuela going to Houston and different places to have it refined. And we're sort of I it's almost really a partnership. The man you just heard speaking, Chris, has been uh he wasn't my choice. He was I had somebody else for Department of Energy, a fantastic man, Doug Bergam, and I said, "I want you to head up energy." He says, "You know, there's one person better than me. He's better than anybody." I said, "Who the hell is that?" Chris Wright. I said, "Who's Chris Wright?
Tell me." And he's like the number one guy in the whole world at this subject.
And I said, "Well, let's talk to him. I don't know. He probably makes a lot of money if he's doing that." And he was.
He's taken one of the largest salary cuts in history, I'll tell you, without question. But he's done a fantastic job.
We These are the people we have. We have great people. And Doug is great. He was the governor of North Dakota. He ran a incredible state. He was very successful at business. He started with a small business. He sold it for a billion dollars to Microsoft. And uh he he wanted to do what Trump did. He said, "I want to be a business guy." And now I want to run. I made a lot of money. I want to run. So Doug Bergam ran and he became a great governor for eight years.
He was term limited. And uh I saw him at a session, a speaking session, and sort of a debating session. I thought he was great. And I said, I if if I win, I'm going to get that guy in. And he's now heading up uh he's now the largest landlord in the world, I guess you could say, right? Department of Interior, and he's been fantastic. But he wanted Chris to be energy. So, he's got all the power of the energy, but he doesn't have the land. Doug has none of the power of he, but he has the land. So, I merged them.
It's a friendly merger. We don't have any papers. They just get along together, right? And we've I think today we've announced we're drilling more oil by far than we ever have in the history of our country. More oil and gas by far.
And uh this was just said, but this took place almost from the beginning, right?
We got it started very very early. So you're doing a great job. Doug was right. And we're also very happy with Doug because he's doing a fantastic job.
Thank you very much, Chris. Appreciate it.
So, one of one of the strongest effects of our tax cuts and tariffs is the Trump manufacturing boom is what they're calling it because that's what we have.
We have never had anything like what's happening now. And when I talk about again the $18 trillion that's coming in and building places and as we speak, American companies are ordering core capital goods for factory construction and operation expansion. And you saw the construction numbers. Now, the plants will be opening over the next period of time, pretty soon. But, you know, we just got started and these plants are going to be opening. Right now, the the big numbers, the construction jobs in the country are going through the roof.
And ultimately, when the plants open, then you're going to have manufacturing jobs because right now the plants, many of them haven't opened, but they're under construction. when when you see the final numbers, you're not going to even believe what you are seeing because there's never been any construction boom of factories like we have right now or we lost our car industry. We lost 54% of our car industry to Canada, Mexico, Germany, uh Japan, South Korea, other countries, 54% over the years, over a period of probably 30, 35 years. And they're all coming back.
They're all coming back. and they're coming back uh at levels that has never been seen before. It's pretty amazing.
Well, you see you you'll see it. It can't be disguised by our friends that would I guess I don't know. I see so many of them as smiling and having a good time that I actually think they probably like us. I think their bosses say treat Trump as badly as you possibly can. But they had so many good faces and and so many they are a lot of professionals there. But it's the highest rate in over four decades. And under four years of the Biden administration, real wages for manufacturing workers fell. It fell $840.
Under one year of Trump, wages for factory workers, manufacturing factory workers increased by $2,500.
So think of that. Under Biden, it fell $840.
And under Trump, it went up $2,500.
That's quite a difference. And um and and as I said, you haven't seen the real effect because these factories are being built right now. When they open, you're going to see numbers that are much greater than that. And a lot of these government workers, government workers, good people, and you know, I don't blame them for liking what they had, but they're going to all be in this system, and they're going to be making double and triple what they were making in government. We have a country again because you can't have a country that works where you have uh literally 10 people to do one job. You can't have it.
You can't you can't have a great country. Earlier this year, I visited Coast of Steel in Rome, Georgia before I took office. China and other countries were taking more of our industry all the time just more and more and Kosa was hit very hard. Their core business dropped from two shifts to six days a week and uh the two shifts were during my administration by the way but now is down to uh a very and then ultimately was down to one shift operating three days and it was going down to one day and they expected to go out of business.
There was no stopping it. And now, thanks to the tax cuts and the steel tariffs that I put on, Coast is thriving like never before. I just heard from them and they're they're at now full shifts, two full shifts, six days a week, and they may go to a third shift round the clock. Think of that. Round the clock. They've never had that before. And they've have a backlog of seven months long of things that they're building. Steel products. Great. And they said I was with the gentleman that owns a company. He thought he was going out of business and now he's he said now I have a great business and just a period of literally a year and a half.
It's uh we thought we thought we couldn't stop it. And he said all of my friends up and down the line they have different businesses, factories, big businesses, but they all thought they were going out of business and now they're all doing better than they've ever done before. They've gone from employing in this case cost 50 people to 125 people and the 50 people is going down to about 14 or 15 and now they're at 125 and they're looking for additional people to work and uh I want to thank their President Andrew Seville who I think maybe is here. Andrew, are you here someplace? Where are you Andrew?
>> Wow. You want to say something? Come on up here. He was he was he's so got he just he really understood what was happening and I think it would be nice.
You weren't supposed to speak so I hope you're not nervous. Come here.
>> No, make it easy. Thank you very much.
The most thing that took us right to the top was your tariffs. I think everybody in here that runs a small business, the tariffs had an effect on you one way or another. And that has just taken us all the jobs that were going to China, you brought them back and it really took us to the next level and we were honored to have you come down to our company. So, thank you for having me back here. I wasn't prepared to speak, so I'm going to get off the stage.
>> Thank you, Mr. President.
You guys do better with no speech. You do better when you don't know your know.
You know what? It's it's a little truth to that, Rick. When you sometimes you don't think you're going to introduce somebody, you know, they're in the audience, but they don't know and they end up doing better because they speak from the heart.
>> They have no choice. They can't think about all night long, what am I going to say? And then you get up and you bore the place. No, it's very good.
>> You speak from the heart. And you know that's that's true. Tariffs were a very big part. We had an unfortunate ruling out of the Supreme Court. But the good news is I'm able to do it a different way. They said use the other way. There was no reason for that. It was terrible.
Actually terrible. But uh it'll have no impact other than I hate to pay people back tariffs. 159 billion dollars. I have to pay him back when a little half sentence any money taken in to this point does not have to be paid back. We would have saved 159 billion and I cannot figure it out. How could anybody do that? But they did it. Uh we have uh other ways of tariffing as you know we're already doing it. Uh and actually they're more tested, they're stronger, a little bit more complex. I like to keep it as simple as possible. Uh and in many ways they'll be better. it'll be better.
I just want you not to think that because of that decision, we don't do the tariffs will actually be higher.
It's turning out they're going to be end up being higher. But it's made our country rich, really rich. And uh it's like Andrew said, I mean, we without them there would be nothing we could do to save your nothing. It's the greatest word. Remember, I used to say it's my favorite word in the dictionary, the word tariff. And then the fake news got on me. They said, "Well, what about God?
What about your wife? What about your family? What about So, they were just killing me because I said, "It's my favorite word." I said, "All right, it's my fifth favorite word." I put So, it's my fifth favorite word, but because of tariffs and you know, the proper use of tariffs, you have to use them in a certain way. But, you know, we've been ripped off in this I've been talking about it for years. We've been ripped off in this country for decades. We lost our car industry. Think of it. I there's a person here making uh utensils, beautiful forks and knives and things.
Where is that person? Where's around here? So stand up. So and and he was telling me he said China's coming in and they're ripping us and and we have a tariff. It's 25% but it's not enough because uh you know they have certain advantages that you're not going to have. But the the advantage you have is you have a higher quality product and I'm going to be able to take care of that very easily, you know, just by putting it up. You'll have uh you'll be treated fairly. It's just really tough.
And it's amazing you've done as well as you've done, but you did that because of the quality of your product. We have such quality. North Carolina, if you take a look, I'm going to put tremendous tariffs on it. That process has already started. It takes me longer now because of the Supreme Court decision. I have to go through a process. It's ridiculous, but uh we don't like it. We like to do what's right and get it done instead of having to do a report which is going to come out and say the exact same thing that everyone knows. But you can tell the people in North Carolina that uh you know, we used to have a great furniture business. I built a lot of hotels and a lot of different buildings where I need furniture. I would go to North Carolina.
These were great artists and China essentially put them out of business because we never we didn't have a president that was willing to do it.
happened before my t my term. They've been out of business for a long I used to go down there and see these people were they were artists with wood. I'd say I'd like to make the handle a little bit slimmer. Ding ding ding ding ding.
It's like it was like magic. And we lost that whole thing. You can see it's coming back because we're putting tariffs on furniture where uh you'll be able to more than compete. We're going to protect we have to protect our businesses. Same thing with you in the utensil business. your your stuff is so beautiful, but it's very tough when you're competing against something that is cheap and you know because of the lack of protection that you've been given, it just puts you out of business.
So, you actually said thank you for the tariffs, but the tariffs really aren't high enough in my opinion in that particular thing. But with the furniture, we're going to bring all the furniture back to North Carolina and you're going to see uh it'll be as robust as it was 25, 30 years ago. the greatest furniture people in the in the world and they got stolen. They really didn't take them. They found people in China that could do it and all those people got put out of jobs and their their kids have that same ability. And you watch what happens how good it is in North Carolina because I've been I've had to go through a process to get that approved. But now it's proved. And uh you're going to be again the furniture capital of the world because nobody can do that quality. And I know the quality.
I buy a lot of things from China and because I was forced to, you know, when I was in the hotel business, I was forced to buy from China because of pricing, because of pricing and because of for other reasons. What I wasn't getting was the kind of quality that we were getting here. And now you'll have a combination of both. So, you can let that be known. I don't know if that's breaking news or not for these people, but uh to me it's very important. I've been wanting to do it for a long time and now we have it pretty well ready.
So, and we love North Carolina. My administration's also committed to ensuring that American small businesses have access to the credit and capital that they need under Administrator Laughler, who's phenomenal.
She is phenomenal.
And she's got a great husband, Jeff, and he's a friend of mine, and he's a very successful man. And he's a great man.
And he's got a great wife. And uh I was so happy getting her in this position.
She replaced a woman who is a very legendary woman, Linda McMahon, who's now in education. She's doing a great job. She's moving education back to the states where it belongs. And Kelly is doing great.
But last year, Kelly, our Small Business Administration issued 7 billion in loans to 11,000 new startups, as well as $1.3 billion in loans to 3,000 veteranowned small businesses and $3.2 billion, yeah, big business. You know, that's why I say, how can we call it small business?
$3.2 billion to American manufacturers helping restore those beautiful words, made in the USA. Well, we're using them more and more. We have things being made here that nobody thought it was even possible for it to come back. Like you'll see in North Carolina with the furniture, it'll come back very, very rapidly. So, Kelly, I'd like to ask you to say a few words, please.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.
First of all, you are the most progrowth, pro small business president in American history. Thank you.
It's such an honor to join you here at the White House to recognize National Small Business Week. And you're the greatest commanderin-chief ever, but also one of America's greatest businessmen. And small businesses know that. They see that this administration is shifting power and capital from fraudsters and Washington bureaucrats back to main street job creators just like we have gathered in this room today. Fair trade deregulation and the working family tax cuts and the one big beautiful bill. They are powering real opportunity that I see all over as I travel this country. Especially after four crushing years of bodonomics and de decades of shipping our jobs and our industries overseas hollowing out our local communities that is ending. As I travel the country each week and Mr. President, I've traveled with you from Iowa's machine shed restaurant to Georgia's CUSA steel factory. America first policies are restoring the American dream on Main Street to new heights. At generational businesses like Jimmy's Famous Seafood, at industrial innovators like Prince Manufacturing in Georgia and Blue Patriot in Nebraska who are building big, beautiful new buildings thanks to the working family tax cuts. Today, 98% of US manufacturers are small businesses. tech and I >> they're a critical part of securing our supply chain.
>> Uh combined, we are going to back Britain because we believe in Britain.
500 million pounds in a sovereign AI fund. Four AI growth zones in parts of the country that have been leveled up more under this government and under 14 years under members opposite. We are going to seize this powerful technology to build a future that works for all.
And I am very proud of our work.
>> Sarah Smith. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My constituent Debbie Duncan set up a petition calling on the government to tackle tragedy trolling which has attracted over 18,000 signatures. Does the minister agree with me that it is time for action? And will he or she support a debate to help take this forward?
We are absolutely focused on those precisely those features that so many parents are worried about. Children doom scrolling. Uh the fact that they are on their phones overnight and the impact that that can have on their anxiety, mental health, and sleep. The question isn't whether we will act. We will. We will put forward our proposals by the summer and I intend to legislate if required by the end of the year.
>> We now come to Prime Minister's questions. We start with Christine Sullivan.
>> Question number one, Mr. Speaker, >> Prime Minister.
>> Thank you. May I extend my deepest condolences and I'm sure the condolences of the House to the family and colleagues of Lance Bombardier, Kira Sullivan, >> who lost her life in a tragic incident on Friday. Uh she was an exceptional soldier and will be deeply missed.
Mr. Speaker, it would be remiss of me not to comment on one of Manchester's great heroes, moving on after almost a decade.
So, let me congratulate Pep Guardiola on all his success at Manchester City.
And Mr. Speaker, if I could declare an interest, I'd also like to say congratulations to Arsenal Football Club on becoming the Premier League champions. Mr. Speaker, this morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this house, I shall have further such meetings later today.
>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and may I share the condolences expressed by the prime minister from the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the Iran war. People have struggled with the cost of living. In my constituency of Basque and Lisco in the heart of Scotland, road travel and logistics are key to everyday life and local industry with the Road Hol Association headquartered in Bathgate.
What reassurance can the Prime Minister offer my constituents that this government will tackle household bills and business cost pressures?
Well, families across the United Kingdom are facing impacts of a war uh that we did not choose. So, it's welcome news today that inflation is falling.
>> Mr. Speaker, there is more that we can do. And I can announce today that we're giving our holers a 12 month road tax holiday, helping to keep prices down.
>> And we're backing drivers by extending the freeze in fuel duty for the rest of the year.
This is possible because of the decisions taken by the chancellor, making us the fastest growing economy in the G7, and she will set out further action tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, this is not our war. But while the parties opposite wanted to jump into it, Labor will always protect working people.
>> Leader of the opposition, KEVIN.
>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'd like to associate myself with the words of the prime minister regarding the tragic death of Lance Bombardia Kira Sullivan.
We send our condolences to her family for this terrible loss. Um I welcome uh some of what the prime minister has said on fuel duty. Yes, it's it's still a freeze, but we asked him about this on the 11th of March and the 25th of March, and he said he wasn't going to do it.
So, thank you for the U-turn.
>> Thank you for the U-turn.
Labour MPs are shaking their heads. It would make more sense if they did just did what we were doing because they get there in the end anyway.
>> But Mr. Speaker, yesterday Labour MPs voted to ban new British oil and gas licenses. Why?
>> Mr. Speaker, in relation to uh fuel duty, uh under the plans that we inherited, uh fuel duty was due to go up by 5% in April.
We stopped that and they voted against it. We're now extending the freeze because of events in the Middle East. I know the leader of the opposition likes to claim responsibility for things that have got literally nothing to do with her. In her mind, she won Eurovvision on Saturday and scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final. But she's never takes any responsibility for what they did for 14 long years. Mr. Speaker, in relation to oil and gas, oil and gas is coming out of the North Sea 24/7. It will play an important role for many years to come. We're we're supporting existing oil and gas fields throughout their lifespan. We made changes actually in November to allow neighboring fields to be exploited. But families across the UK are fed up with their bills going up and down because of global contract. The only way to take control is through renewables.
>> Mr. Speaker, we've now consented renewables to power 23 million households. The leader of the opposition wants to stick with the old Tory energy policy, which is leaving households exposed to higher bills year after year.
>> Mr. Speaker, what's uh causing problems for British consumers is the high energy prices which are caused by his policies.
I asked him why they voted for this. He had no answer. So, let me make clear what is going on. We are losing a thousand jobs a month in oil and gas. I asked him about new licenses, not about existing drilling.
>> And then late last night, Mr. Speaker, the government snuck out an announcement that it was removing sanctions on Russian oil.
So, can the prime minister explain why oil from Russia is acceptable, but oil from Abedine is not?
>> Well, Mr. Speaker, let me address the sanctions head on. Um, because we have been united across this house on these issues uh since the beginning of the conflict. What we announced yesterday was a strong new package of new sanctions >> going well beyond existing sanctions.
So, it's a new package. This includes new bans on maritime services on LNG and new bans on refined oil products from Russia.
>> We also issued two targeted short-term licenses >> to phase the new sanctions in and to protect UK consumers. Mr. Speaker, that is standard practice. Yeah, >> this government has used this government has phased in sanctions in this way before and the last government used exactly the same technique when they introduced sanctions and when they did so, Mr. Speaker, we supported them because we could see the sanctions were the right thing to do to bear down on on on Russia. So these are new sanctions being phased in. This is not a question of lifting existing sanctions in any way whatsoever and we will continue to work with our allies on further sanction packages.
>> Amen.
>> Not this very weak set of cheers from the MPs who are trying to get rid of him. Could I just say Mr. Speaker, he doesn't know what he is talking about.
This level of processology is not going to get him out of these difficult answers. Okay, let me tell him what is going on. Labor are giving money to Russia. Reform are taking money from Russia. There's only one party that is standing up to Russia and that is the Conservative Party.
I CANNOT I CANNOT BELIEVE I cannot believe that he's actually saying that he's doing something good on the war in Ukraine. What's he talking about this morning? Ukraine's sanction chief disagrees with what the prime minister's approach is. That's what Ukraine is saying. In March, when the United States the United States e sanctions on Russia, the prime minister said all partners should maintain pressure on Russia and its war chest. The prime minister said our sanctions our sanctions remain and there is no question about that. What's changed? Yeah, you're not listening. I >> I really think on an issue of this importance uh which is about further sanctions on Russia in relation to Ukraine, it it is really important that the position is not misrepresented.
>> Exactly.
>> This is a new package of sanctions. None of the existing sanctions are being lifted in any way. So this is not less pressure on Russia. It is more pressure uh on Russia. More pressure than there was the day before yesterday. more pressure than there was under the last government.
>> What is happening is that those sanctions are being phased in in a way which was used by the last government when they introduced new sanctions. We bothered to do the processology and work out what we were doing and supported it because we could see that it put more uh pressure on Russia. Similar methods are used by other countries. They are done because of the impact on the market and to protect UK consumers. These are new sanctions putting more pressure on Russia. And I think if she'd done her homework, she'd actually support us on this.
>> Mr. Speaker, being patronizing is not a substitute for understanding policy.
AND I'VE HEARD I'VE HEARD THIS TERM, MR. SPEAKER, I've heard this tone before.
This is the same tone he used during the Mandlesson scandal. and they were all cheering and then it turned out that he was wrong, wrong, wrong. He says that other countries are doing this. The EU is not doing this. Let me make it clear.
I know it hurts him to hear it. He is now choosing to buy dirty Russian oil.
That money will be used to fund the killing of Ukrainian soldiers. Isn't he ashamed?
I I I really think that to misunderstand and misrepresent what is happening >> this really this is a very serious issue where we're working with other >> these are new bans they're new sanctions they're new bans on maritime services on LNG as of yesterday they're new bans on refined oil products from Russia as of yesterday they are being phased in in the same way that previous sanctions regimes have change pays in exactly in the way the last government did and we have done. Other countries do exactly the same. The EU has its own way of doing it. Australia and Canada have their own way of doing it. And and and to play party politics on Ukraine on Ukraine where we have stood firm and the only people that benefit when we play party politics in here on Russia and Ukraine is Putin.
>> Mr. Speaker, that pompous tone does not cover for the fact that he has got his policy all wrong. I have asked him about oil and gas again and again and again.
The last time he told me that it was the energy secretary's job and it had nothing to do with him. That's what's destroying this country. It's not playing politics. It's speaking up for the people who are out there. The fact is more people are buying Russian oil because British oil isn't being drilled.
He's sanctioning British oil, but not Russian oil. And he should be ashamed, Mr. Speaker, he should be ashamed. I cannot believe that this prime minister, even when he has nothing to lose, continues to defend banning new British oil and gas licenses. In April, Britain saw the single biggest drop in employment ever since the pandemic.
That's under them. 210,000 people have lost their jobs in the last year. what he is doing is going to cost thousands more people their jobs especially in cities like Abedine which rely on oil and gas.
>> So can he tell us why is he doing everything to save his job and doing nothing to save other people's jobs?
>> Mr. Speaker, there is drilling uh in the North Sea and on her no she said there's no she said there's no drilling in the North Sea. She's going to have to refer herself refer herself to the privileges committee. Uh Mr. Speaker, there is drilling. It's 247 and oil and gas are coming out and that will be important for many many years to come. We are expo we are supporting those existing oil and gas fields throughout their lifespan. We made changes in November to allow neighboring fields to be exploited. But it is because we are on the international market that our prices of businesses and households go up every time there's an international conflict.
We saw it with Ukraine or we saw it with Iran. And people are fed up with a government, the last government that didn't take control of their bills.
We're taking control of their bills. The way to do that is through renewables and that's what we're doing.
>> Mr. Speaker, it gets worse and worse. He doesn't understand the policy. I am asking him about new oil and gas licenses. New oil and gas licenses which they voted against yesterday. If they had approved those licenses for Jack Door and Rosebank like we did, we would have that oil in this COUNTRY NOW. WE WOULD. And just listen to him and I wonder if he is okay. He is so deep in the bunker, Mr. Speaker. He is importing sanctioned Russian oil. He's nationalizing steel. He's imposing price controls in the supermarket. It's like the Soviets won. This country needs a government that has got its acts together. Mr. Speaker, instead what we have is a prime minister hanging by a thread, fake support from his backbenches, too scared to take difficult decisions, losing his moral compass by backsliding on Ukraine. Yes, he is. Mr. Speaker, look, the the the shakes of their head are so feeble.
They're so so feeble. He has got they can It's >> it's absolutely laughable, Mr. Speaker.
It's absolutely laughable. Yesterday, we saw them huddled in the corridors talking about Andy Burnham and West Streeting. The fact is he's got a cabinet fighting to replace him. And the worst part is they aren't getting rid of him over his terrible agenda. No, they actually like it. They just want a better salesman. So, isn't it the case, Mr. speaker that it doesn't matter who replaces him. The real problem is the Labor Party.
>> Uh Mr. Speaker, uh uh >> I think Prime Minister, >> Mr. Speaker, look, a lot's been happening in recent days, so she may have overlooked the fact that last last week the ONS announced we've got the fastest growing economy in the G7.
Last week, we had the biggest fall in NHS waiting list for 17 years.
Today, inflation's come down more than expected.
>> And Mr. Speaker, if you'd offered me that and Arsenal becoming Premier League champions, I'd take it every day of the week.
>> B.
>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
20 years of duty, courage, and for 23 of its soldiers, the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
>> Across Scotland, more than 20 councils have already recognized their service by granting the regiment the freedom of the area.
>> Quite right, >> reflecting Scotland's long and proud tradition of respecting our armed forces.
Earlier this month, however, Glasgow SNP and Green Councilors rejected Labour's motion to grant the Royal Regiment freedom of the city.
>> Shameful.
>> It is a shameful snub to our servicemen and women >> and a decision that has left many Glaswegians feeling ashamed and embarrassed.
>> Does the prime minister agree that this is an insult to those who serve? and will he join me in urging urging Glasgow City Council to reconsider?
>> Can I join my honorable friend in paying tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the Royal Regiment of Scotland?
>> Uh I've had the privilege of meeting Scott serving in our armed forces across the world. They deserve our deepest gratitude.
I cannot understand how the SMP and Greens have arrived at this decision, >> particularly when Glaswegians have contributed so much to the Royal Regiment.
>> It's not too late to do the right thing, and I'd urge them to reconsider.
>> Leader of the Liberal Democrat, Sir Ed, >> thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I join the prime minister sending our condolences to the family of Lance Bombardier Kira Sullivan uh the death that tragic accident and to all her colleagues and I hope the prime minister will also join me in sending condolences to the family of Scott Hastings the former Scottish and Lions rugby player who sadly passed away at the weekend.
>> Mr. Speaker, in 2025, Donald Trump and Elon Musk abolished America's international aid program. At the same time, the government made huge cuts in the UK's own program.
>> We now see a dangerous outbreak of Ebola in central Africa, and many people fear it's going to spread and get much worse.
Yet, there are rumors across Whiteall that the prime minister is planning further cuts to Britain's international aid program this year.
>> Shame.
>> Will he today rule that out entirely?
Mr. Speaker, he raised a very important um issue in relation to Ebola and Africa and obviously we're working at pace and with others uh in relation to that um issue. We did take a decision in relation to aid in order to uh fund defense um spending because we needed to increase defense um spending, but we are committed uh to our overseas um aid and we mitigated that with some of the measures that we've put in place.
>> Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure if the prime minister completely ruled out further cuts to the international aid uh program. And with defense chiefs this week writing to the times saying cutting aid for defense is a mistake, I hope he and his ministers will rule that out today. And if he doesn't, I hope Labor Party members will ask all the Labour leadership candidates their position on the future of Britain's aid program.
>> Mr. Speaker, in the past few days, two of those Labour leadership candidates, the right on gentleman, the member for Ilford North and the mayor of Manchester have ruled out any support for Britain joining the UK customs union with the EU despite the fact that it would boost growth and help us uh uh cut the cost of living.
>> Is the prime minister relieved that he has finally something that he can agree with his colleagues on?
>> Mr. Speaker. Um, in the last two years, I've been negotiating serious trade deals which are vital for our most important sectors of the economy.
They're trade deals with the EU, but also with India, North Korea, and the United States. And I remind him of the value the the value of those deals.
Before the deal with the United Well, before the deal with the United States, I went to JLR in Sihal and I talked to the workforce there. They were worried sick about their jobs and the jobs of their and their communities. When we agreed terms, I went back to JLR because of the deal we got with the EU because their jobs, thousands of jobs were safeguarded. His approach would throw all that away. He would have to go and see those work forces and tell them their jobs are gone. I'm not going to do that.
>> What happened?
>> Mr. Speaker, I welcome the steps taken to clean up British politics via the landmark elections bill, but we must go further. If I had a 5 million pound gift from a billionaire living halfway across the world and not come clean about what that money was for, my constituents would be furious.
>> And if the same billionaire had then bankrolled my party to the tune of 12 million pounds, my constituents would be knocking on my door and calling for me to resign.
Does the prime minister agree that the electoral must ensure that no British politician is ever for sale to the highest bidder?
>> Well, I I thank my honorable friend who makes a powerful case. We have already committed to a moratorum on crypto donations to political parties and the king speech introduces tougher rules to protect our democracy. But the5 million pound question is why did the reform leader keep this donation secret?
>> I see here is not here to answer. And what what did the billionaire lining his pockets ask for in return? Those questions need to be answered. That's why he's not here.
>> Dave Dugen, thank you, Mr. speaker for calling me for my first PMQ since becoming S SNP Westminster leader following the S&P's stunning victory in Scotland.
>> Can I say can I say about how much I'm enjoying the sense of challenge and opportunity that a new job can provide a sense of renewal I'm certain the prime minister will be enjoying in the weeks ahead. But we saw this week, Mr. speaker, the latest chapter of Labor infighting where Andy Bernham Brexit wants the UK to stay out of the EU, but Peter Mandlesson's pal, the former health minister, wants us to go back into the EU. Can the prime minister advise us? Which of his potential successors does he agree with?
Well, can I congratulate um him uh on his new post and thank him for the calm, reasonable approach uh that is that I've come to expect. Um my position is very clear. We have already negotiated a closer relationship with the EU. We did that last year. Uh we have another negotiation and agreement this year at a summit where we'll get even closer and take a big step forward in relation to uh our relationship uh with the EU which is in our national interest.
Chrisins from Holland. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the prime minister will priest know I'm going to ask him a question about his favorite topic, which is football. Um, there are people in this house that seek to blame the prime minister for everything. But I thought it was a bit rich when one national newspaper blamed the prime minister for Harlow Town going into an administration because he once went to visit them. But as I know, Harlow Town is very much the prime minister's second team. He will please to be know they are now out of administration looking forward to a strong future. Um can I ask the prime minister um what his government will do to support really important community assets like our football teams like Harow Town and Roden who also won their league this season.
But I got very fond memories of visiting Harlow Town uh with my honorable friend.
But the point he makes is a really important one because football clubs bring our communities together. Um they're part of our social fabric and in some places they're one of the last places left where members of the community can come uh together and that's why my government fought so hard to create the independent football regulator to protect our national game.
And we should remind everyone and every football fan across the country from Harlow to Wigan Athletic. It was Labour on the side of football fans and the tourism reforms opposed us every step of the way.
>> Big clever.
>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This month's local election saw the biggest ever gap between votes and seats in England. Over five parties won more than 15% of the vote uh were estimated to have done so.
The public have increasingly clear that the public have had had enough of Westminster business as usual. So does the prime minister still have full confidence in the first pass the post system to deliver strong and stable government?
>> Uh yes I do.
>> Thank you Mr. Speaker.
>> Trump's war in Iran means the world will have to contend with a spike in inflation throughout this year. Many of my Can chase constituents struggle to afford their weekly shop, whilst our farmers struggle to make a living producing what goes on the shelves.
Labor governments should always be on the side of working people, whether they are in the supermarket or on the farm.
If we aren't, we will not be forgiven.
Will the prime minister follow the example of our European neighbors, including Ireland, and bring in a package of support for our farmers to help them stay afloat and protect our constituents from the worst of Trump?
>> U Mr. Speaker, um before I answer that, I've just been handed note saying that I inadvertently uh said we did a trade deal with North Korea rather than South Korea.
That would be breaking news. Uh uh and not very good. So, uh before I'm referred to the privilege committee, can can I um can I correct the record uh Mr. Speaker, in that uh regard? It was a slip of the tongue, but a pretty unfortunate one. Uh um uh in relation to the question, uh families and farmers are rightly frustrated about being impacted by a war that the UK didn't start. We're protecting working people is our priority. And today, Mr. Speaker, we're cutting red diesel costs for farmers by a third. Uh delivering the lowest rate for 20 years. That's alongside a record 11.8 8 billion pounds on farming budget and a new national program to redistribute surplus food will make sure no one in this country goes hungry. Uh and I can confirm the chancellor will make further announcements tomorrow.
>> Spencer.
>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, in Gordon and Denton, we have to pay full price for a pint, but here for some reason it's cheaper and some MPs some MPs drink before voting and that That really shocked me when I came to parliament because it is our workplace.
>> Now, does the prime minister agree with his own MPs who've defended their right to drink cheap alcohol at work? Or does he agree with me that MPs shouldn't be drinking on the job given that we vote on huge things like the climate crisis, disabled people's rights, housing, child poverty? Your policies out. Um c can I c can I firstly welcome her to our place because I think this is her first uh PMQ and look there are going to be different uh views on whether people should be able to enjoy a drink here or or not.
But I think we can agree that the majority of people in this country want an economy that works for them. Public services that are there when they need them and every child going as far as their talent or ability uh will take them. But the only way to deliver that is through a Labor government as we are doing.
>> And I know the Greens think that their leader walks on water. It turns out that he just lives on water and doesn't pay his council tax.
>> What aith Kirk Smith.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
On a more serious note, um, sometimes we all have those sometimes we all have those meetings with constituents that really stick with us.
For me, it was the lady who came to my surgery and told me about the character AI chatbot that had groomed her 12-year-old son. The chatbot turned him against his school, against his parents, made sexual advances, and even suggested that the bot and the boy might meet in the afterlife.
Since this happened last year, I have been on the case with the government, and I'm pleased that we've taken new powers uh to regulate AI services. But still, every day, more young people are being harmed in this way, and they won't be safe until the tech companies can no longer access them in this way. SO, CAN THE prime minister tell me how and when he will act to finally make the online world a safe place for our children?
>> The story of her constituent is deeply uh concerning. I thank her for raising it. It underlines why we must and we will act. Uh we have already acted by shutting legal loopholes. So, AI chatbots must abide by the online safety act. But we have obviously got to look at what further measures we can take including age related bans restricting children's use of chatbots and stronger parental controls and I'm meeting parents, teenagers and civil society later on this afternoon to discuss further stronger protections for children. We'll make sure that she is updated on those steps.
>> Griffin.
>> Thank you Mr. Speaker. At 19, I was in a coma after contracting bacterial menitis. I lost 70% of my hearing and needed open heart surgery.
The men vaccine has saved lives since its introduction in 2015 for infants.
But there remains a gap for high-risk adolescents whom the JCVI has not vaccinated.
Following the devastating outbreaks within this cohort in Reading, Canterbury, and Weimoth, the JCVI is finally reviewing the evidence base. So, can the Prime Minister tell the House what are the government's next steps?
When will they happen? And will he make tackling menitis a priority for his new Secretary of State and arrange a meeting for menitis now and me?
Yes, I will do both of those uh things and can I thank her for uh raising her own experience here to highlight um the issue. Um and um I think the thoughts of the whole house will be with families and friends of uh the young person who um died. Um can I thank all the public health specialists working in Reading um to make sure those affected are receiving appropriate uh treatment. uh and her question reminds us that vaccines do save lives and we must do everything we can in relation to that.
>> David thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, littering and fly tipping is a blight on our communities. This isn't just an issue for Lewisham. It's an issue for towns and cities across our countries and indeed rural areas. Nobody wants to see a dirty mattress or cans or bottles up against roads or gates. It's awful. And I welcome the government's strategy and plans to give councils more powers to manage flight tipping, but I absolutely believe more needs to be done. And does the prime minister agree with me? It's absolutely time to have a national conversation about how we manage and deal with littering.
>> Well, can I thank her for raising this because the government is cracking down on disgraceful waste criminals. Mr. Speaker, that includes tougher penalties for fly tippers, including service in cleanup squads and potentially losing their driving license, more powers and funding for the Environment Agency, and stronger checks across the industry to tackle fly tipping at its source.
>> Glen, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Gallows Brook in my constituency has the highest concentration of forever chemicals in the country. The BBC reports today that the concentrations are 47,000 times higher than the environmental quality standard. Yet the environment agency has no plan for regular monitoring. A stream flows through the garden of my resident Lee. She has suffered from ill health for eight years. She took chickens. They have died. She had a dog. It developed a tumor and died. She's concerned that she may be poisoning her neighbors when she gives them vegetables. Will the prime minister agree for the environment and health secretaries to meet with me and my constituents to explore what more can be done?
>> Uh yes, I will and I thank him for raising that and I'll make sure uh that uh the detail is looked at um and that appropriate steps are taken. Can I also take this opportunity through him to mark the tragic anniversary of the devastating fire in his constituency and I know the thoughts of the whole house remain with the families and colleagues of Martin, of Jenny and of Dave and I know he's done a lot to support them.
Mr. Speaker, a stroke happens every five minutes. That's six lives changed in the time that we have been sat in this chamber. Two years ago when I was sat in this chamber, my husband suffered a stroke.
>> We know that when it comes to the right care and treatment, every single second counts. We know firsthand why the work of the stroke association is so important. Everyone ensuring that everyone knows the signs and symptoms.
Because when a stroke uh strikes, acting fast matters. Would the prime minister join me in marking stroke awareness month and update the house on what he's doing to ensure every stroke survivor gets the care they need to support uh to recover and to thrive?
>> My honorable friend raises an important issue and government is investing in our NHS to make sure that every second counts. Can I um I know her husband um and I know the impact that this had on him and on her and their wider uh family and can I thank her for raising such a personal issue in this chamber to um highlight this point. Um because of the choices we've made, ambulance response times are at their fastest for five years. And we're investing 10 billion pounds to innovate technology and transformation with the NHS already using AI to cut treatment time for stroke patients by an hour and tripling full recovery rates.
>> Mr. >> Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
For clarity, does the prime minister agree with Andy Burnham when he says we should rejoin the European Union or does he agree with Andy Burnham when he says we shouldn't rejoin the European Union?
>> Yes, >> I agree with what we said on our manifesto which we are implementing. We are closer to the EU by the agreement we reached last year. We'll be closer again by the agreement we reached this year.
We're building on the botch Brexit deal that they did which did such damage to our country.
>> Mr. Speaker, my community in Crew and Nansich has been left in deep shock and concern following allegations of serious sexual offenses, forced marriage and modern slavery against members of the Armadi religion of peace and light. Will the prime minister join me in thanking Cheshire Constabulary, Cheshire East Council and wider agencies for their response to these concerning events? And will he commit to ensuring that we receive the necessary resources to deliver justice where crimes have been committed and to reassure the wider community that this government is on their side?
Well, um, thank my honorable friend, uh, and I'm grateful to all the agencies involved in enforcement action, including Cheshire, uh, police. It is vital that local public services get the funding that they need, and that's why we've increased Cheshire's police budget by over 15 uh, million pounds. Uh, Mr. Speaker, and we've recruited 3,000 more neighborhood police officers while bringing forward wide-ranging reforms to ensure that everyone has access to swift and equal justice.
>> All thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sure the prime minister will join me in congratulating the 54 Liberal Democrats who won all 54 seats on Richmond upon 10's council at the recent local elections. But would he also agree with me that first pass the post system that produced this result doesn't give our communities the representation that they voted for and that this failure to respond to voters preferences is fueling disengagement with our democracy? Will the prime minister declare his support for changing electoral systems in the UK to ensure that every vote matters?
>> Well, I'm I'm I'm really sorry the answer is no and and I can't bring myself to congratulate uh the counselor, so I apologize.
>> Gold turn. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From 1997, the prime minister campaigned to scrap single judge trials in Northern Ireland.
Yet, when I opposed his government's plan to bring in single judge trials in England and Wales, I received hostile briefings and smears about my mental health from the lads in number 10 Downing Street.
The chief whips shaking his head, but he knows about it. Mr. Speaker, the prime minister knows that my nephew Matty took his own life as a result of work related stress as a young criminal lawyer. So during mental health awareness week, while ministers spoke with compassion about health and well-being, did the prime minister reflect on those hostile discrimin discriminatory briefings which he knew about and he allowed to happen?
Well, can I um thank him and I he has told me previously about um Matty and the impact that that had uh on him. Um and um I I totally understand that and I want to be absolutely clear that nobody should be smeared um in relation to mental health. Nobody on any issue, whatever they may argue on any other issue. Nobody. And I will do everything I can to make sure that that is the position.
>> Jip Moltos.
>> Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In five weeks time, the government will be introducing penal tariffs on steel imports into the UK and at the same time massively reducing tariff-free uh quotas. This will cause enormous damage to the UK manufacturing base in the absence of adequate steel making capacity in the UK. More than that, the way the tariffs are drawn uh mean that for my constituent company Stannis Stair Lifts, a worldbeating company based in Andover, for them to import steal the UK and manufacture their product will face tariffs. But for a competitor import finished product made from the selfsame steel will not attract tariffs. This cannot be a situation that could be allowed to persist. So could I ask the prime minister please to arrange for his secretary of state to focus on this issue and get it sorted out?
Can I thank him for raising this really um important issue and can I give him assurance? It's not just the secretary of state. Um I am also absolutely focused on this because we're all very well aware of the consequences that would otherwise follow. So I'm personally vested in this and the entire cabinet is because it is a very important issue as he rightly points out. That completes Prime Minister's questions. Let the front bench change
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