Trump says TPP a 'job killing disaster'

Donald Trump has blasted the media as fake news producers and condemned the TPP as a 'job killing disaster' at a rally in Florida.

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump pumps his fist to supporters at the conclusion of a campaign-style rally in Florida. Source: AAP

US President Donald Trump has described the Trans-Pacific Partnership with Australia, New Zealand and nine other Pacific nations as a job killing disaster.

Mr Trump, speaking at a raucous rally of supporters in Melbourne, Florida on Saturday, gloated how he withdrew the US from the TPP on one of his first days in office.

"I followed through on my promise to withdraw from the job killing disaster known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership," Mr Trump said to loud cheers.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is hopeful the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal will survive with just 11 nations after Mr Trump withdrew the US from it just days into his presidency.

Mr Trump told the rally the TPP was a job killer and said he would pursue his pre-election plan of striking "tremendous" one-on-one trade deals with countries so the US does not "get caught in quicksand".

"I followed through on my promise to withdraw from the job killing disaster known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership," Mr Trump said to loud cheers.

Mr Turnbull and Mr Trump infamously clashed in a January 28 phone call about the refugee deal the prime minister struck with President Barack Obama last year.

Mr Trump has reluctantly said he will honour the deal despite calling it "dumb", but the refugees currently held on Nauru and Manus Island will only be allowed into the US if they pass "extreme vetting".

Trump's appearance mirrored a campaign rally, complete with promises to repeal the health care law and fresh insults for the news media.

"I want to be among my friends and among the people," Trump told a cheering crowd packed into an airport hangar in central Florida, praising his "truly great movement".

Trump promised anew to build a border wall along the US-Mexico border, reduce regulations and create jobs. He also pledged to "do something over the next couple of days" to address the immigration order that has been locked in the courts.

"We don't give up, we never give up," he said.

Insisting he was the victim of false reporting, Trump said his White House was running "so smoothly" and that he "inherited one big mess".

The president has been trying refocus after reports of disarray and dysfunction within his administration.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One before the rally, Trump said he was holding a campaign rally because "life is a campaign".

"To make America great again is absolutely a campaign," he said. "It's not easy, especially when we're also fighting the press."

And he's also had to contend with crowds of protesters. Thousands of them were out on the streets of Dallas and Los Angeles to oppose immigration enforcement raids and to support immigrants and refugees generally.

Trump clearly relished being back in front of his supporters, welcoming the cheers and letting one supporter up on stage to offer praise for the president.

He also enjoyed reliving his surprise victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

The event had the familiar trappings of a Trump campaign rally, including red Trump caps, "Make America Great Again" and "Trump/Pence" signs and at least one sign reading "Hillary for Prison".

The rally came during Trump's third straight weekend at his private south Florida club, Mar-a-Lago.

It was another working weekend for the president, who planned to interview at least four potential candidates for the job of national security adviser, a position unexpectedly open after retired General Michael Flynn's firing early this week.

Trump said on Saturday: "I have many, many that want the job, they want to really be a part of it. I'll make a decision over the next couple of days."

Trump has lurched from crisis to crisis since the inauguration, including the botched rollout of his immigration order, struggles confirming his Cabinet picks and a near-constant stream of reports about strife within his administration.

Mr Trump also rejected reports his administration was in turmoil despite controversies including General Flynn's firing for failing to disclose the truth to US Vice President Mike Pence about his phone call with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, misguided comments by counsellor Kellyanne Conway and the court losses blocking his seven-nation travel ban.

"The White House is running so smoothly," Mr Trump, who pointed to large gains in the stock market and polls he said showed optimism in the US.

Mrs Trump has been criticised for staying in Trump Tower in Manhattan rather than living in the White House with her husband.

"I will always stay true to myself and be truthful to you no matter what the opposition is saying about me," Mrs Trump said after delivering her prayer.

Share
5 min read
Published 19 February 2017 10:20am
Updated 19 February 2017 12:34pm
Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends