TIME Magazine's Interview With President Trump

The following is the published June 17, 2019 interview of TIME with President Trump.

IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM
TIME: Iran overnight said it was considering enriching uranium at levels that would violate the 2015 nuclear agreement...Are you considering military action?
TRUMP: I wouldn't say that. I can't say that at all. It would be inappropriate. But they would be making a big mistake if they enriched.
TIME: Are they calling your bluff on this?
TRUMP: Time will tell.

IRAN'S ALLEGED ATTACKS ON OIL TANKERS
TIME; Are you concerned about Iran's attacks?
TRUMP: So far it's been very minor.
TIME: Does that mean that strategically you would go to war over nuclear weapons but not over passage through the Strait of Hormuz?
TRUMP: I would certainly go over nuclear weapons, and I would keep the other a question mark.

HONG KONG PROTESTS
TIME: What is your message to the demonstrators in Hong Kong right now?
TRUMP: They're obviously having a big impact, and I think they've been very effective in their dealings with China.
TIME: Do you support the demands of the protesters against the extradition bill?
TRUMP: I'm going to let the protesters speak for themselves. I have our own argument with China, and I think it's going to work out.

THE BORDER WALL
TIME: At your rallies, there are signs that say, "Promises Made, Promises Kept." At the current rate, it's very unlikely that your wall will be built by Election Day.
TRUMP: We're building the wall right now. People don't understand. We are building the wall right now. It is under major construction.
TIME: There's 654 miles.You have 61 miles of fencing and barriers.
TRUMP: Well, there's 550 miles, and we will have over 450 miles built by the end of next year. We're renovating and fixing. Areas that didn't have wall, we're putting temporary walls in.
TIME: Why are the numbers of people coming across now at a 13-year high then?
TRUMP: Because they're trying to come in because the economy is so good.

FAMILY SEPARATIONS
TIME: Do you know how many [immigrant] kids were separated from their parents under your Administration?
TRUMP: They have very accurate lists, actually.
TIME: Would you consider reinstating [the policy]?
TRUMP: I don' know. I don't like the concept of separation. I'd rather keep them from coming up. I got such a bad rap on that.

THE 2020 CAMPAIGN
TIME: Who do you think your toughest opponent would be?
TRUMP: I've done more in 2 [and one-half] years than any President in the history of this country. You look at the tax cuts, you look at ANWR [opening the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling]. You look at the [rescission of the Obamacare] individual mandate. You look at right-to-try [a law allowing terminally ill patients to try experimental drugs.]
TIME: Your own campaign polling is  showing a disconnect, people who are feeling the benefits of the economy but not giving you credit.
TRUMP: I agree with that. I'm not getting the full credit.

ABORTION LAWS
TIME: Do you support the Alabama abortion law that was recently passed [making abortion a felony in all cases except to prevent a "serious health risk" to the mother]?
TRUMP: I've always been for the exceptions [of rape, incest and protecting the life of the mother], and I think that's very important.
TIME: What about fetal heartbeat bills, like in Georgia, which do have those exceptions?
TRUMP: We're studying it.

THE MUELLER REPORT
TIME: [Many of your former aides] testified under oath, at risk of prison time, that in the words of the Mueller report, you tried to "influence" and "control" the Mueller  investigation.
TRUMP: I don't think they did that.
TIME: They did. I can give you the citations.
TRUMP: I could have ended that -- Mueller -- immediately under Article II, if I  wanted to. I could have ended the whole thing very quickly. Very easily. I said let it play out, and the bottom line was no collusion, and subject to a review of  the documents, no obstruction by the Attorney General.
TIME: For the record,sir, the report does say [that it] "does not exonerate" you.
TRUMP: On obstruction. There was no crime.
TIME:You can obstruct justice without there being an underlying crime.
TRUMP: I'll go a step further. It was a crime committed by the other side.
TIME: Why would you try to limit the investigation?
TRUMP: I didn't try to limit the investigation.
TIME: You dictated a letter to Corey Lewandowski telling him to tell [former Attorney General Jeff] Sessions to limit the investigation [to future Russia meddling].
TRUMP: I could have told Sessions myself if I wanted to.

FOUR MORE YEARS
TIME: What are the new goals you want to take up in your second term?
TRUMP: We're rebuilding the military, which is creating jobs. We're doing some really good things in health care. If we get back the House, we get the Senate, we get the presidency, we will have a great health care plan.

IMPEACHMENT
TIME: Do you think impeachment would actually help you?"
TRUMP: It might. I mean a lot of people say it would. Most people say it would. But I think it's inappropriate. The only thing I did wrong was winning an election. By winning an election, I made them so angry. I'll tell you what, winning an election and building a great economy.

THE ECONOMY
TIME: You could reach out some, beyond the base, and maybe get more credit for that economy.
TRUMP: It might happen. But I'm not sure that I have to do that. But I'd like to do it. Just as President, I'd like to do it. Not for political reasons. I'd like to do it as President.