Childhood vaccines, deportations: Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
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President-elect Donald Trump was on Dec 12 named Time magazine's Person of the Year for the second time.
PHOTO: AFP
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WEST PALM BEACH - US President-elect Donald Trump discussed childhood vaccines, his deportation plans and Ukraine’s use of US-supplied missiles, in a lengthy Time magazine interview
Here are some notable things he said, according to the interview transcript:
Ukraine’s use of US-supplied missiles
Trump criticised Ukraine’s use of these missiles for attacks deep into Russian territory.
“I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that? We’re just escalating this war and making it worse. That should not have been allowed to be done.
“Now they’re doing not only missiles, but they’re doing other types of weapons. And I think that’s a very big mistake, very big mistake.”
However, Trump said he will not abandon Ukraine. “I want to reach an agreement, and the only way you’re going to reach an agreement is not to abandon,” he said.
Ending childhood vaccination programmes
Trump said he could end some childhood vaccinations if he thinks they are dangerous.
“It could, if I think it’s dangerous, if I think they are not beneficial, but I don’t think it’s going to be very controversial in the end,” he said.
Trump said he will listen to the views of Mr Robert F. Kennedy Jr, his nominee for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. For years, Mr Kennedy has sown doubts over the safety and efficacy of vaccines, including asserting a link between vaccines and autism.
When asked about the connection between vaccines and autism, Trump said he will want to see test results and numbers.
“The autism rate is at a level that nobody ever believed possible. If you look at things that are happening, there’s something causing it,” he said.
Using the military to deport migrants
Trump said he will use the military to deport migrants,
“It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country, and I consider it an invasion of our country,” Trump said.
“I think, in many cases, the sheriffs and law enforcement are going to need help. We’ll also get the National Guard. We’ll get the National Guard, and we’ll go as far as I’m allowed to go, according to the laws of our country.”
Trump also vowed to send migrants back to the country they came from, and said he will impose tariffs on countries that do not agree to accept the migrants.
“I’ll get them into every country, or we won’t do business with those countries,” he said.
Building more detention camps
Trump said he will build more detention camps if needed.
“Whatever it takes to get them out. I don’t care. Honestly, whatever it takes to get them out,” he said.
“Again, I’ll do it absolutely within the confines of the law, but if it needs new camps, but I hope we’re not going to need too many because I want to get them out, and I don’t want them sitting in camps for the next 20 years.”
Restoring policy of separating families
Trump said he does not think he will need to go back to separating families.
“I don’t believe we’ll have to, because we will send the whole family back to the country,” he said. “I would much rather deport them together, yes, than separate.”
War in the Middle East
Trump said the war in the Middle East will get resolved and that he trusts nobody, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I think the Middle East is going to get solved. I think it’s more complicated than the Russia-Ukraine war, but I think it’s easier to solve,” Trump said.
He also said he does not just support a two-state solution, but whatever will bring lasting peace.
Asked if he will allow Israel to annex the West Bank, Trump said: “I will – what I’m doing and what I’m saying again, I’ll say it again, I want a long-lasting peace.”
Abortion pills
Trump said he is committed to making sure that the Food and Drug Administration does not strip women’s ability to access abortion pills.
“That would be my commitment. Yeah, it’s always been my commitment,” he said.
Pardoning Jan 6 defendants
Trump said he will pardon the defendants involved in the Jan 6, 2021, Capitol attack
“We’re going to look at each individual case, and we’re going to do it very quickly, and it’s going to start in the first hour that I get into office. And a vast majority of them should not be in jail.”
Closing Department of Education
Trump said he wants to “move education back to the states” and wants a “virtual closure” of the Department of Education in Washington.
“We’re at the bottom of every list in terms of education, and we’re at the top of the list in terms of the cost per pupil, and we want to move them back to the states, and we’ll spend half the money on a much better product.”
Senate filibuster
Trump said he would keep in place a Senate rule known as the filibuster, which requires 60 of its 100 members to agree to pass most legislation, a threshold the new Republican-majority Senate will not clear with Republican votes alone.
Trump noted that the filibuster rule would make it difficult for his administration to overturn some Biden-era policies. But when asked if he intended to keep the filibuster in place, Trump responded that he did.
“So I have respect for the filibuster,” he said.
Recess appointments
Trump did not commit to using recess appointments to install his picks for top administration posts if he cannot get them approved by the Senate.
A recess appointment is an appointment by the president when the Senate is in recess.
“I really don’t care how they get them approved, as long as they get them approved,” he said. REUTERS
