On this “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:
- U.S. Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer
- Ambassador Alexander Yui, Taiwan’s Consultant to the U.S.
- Anthony Salvanto, CBS Information government director of elections and surveys
- Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Republican of Pennsylvania, and Tom Suozzi, Democrat of New York
- Former Protection Secretary Robert Gates
Click on right here to browse full transcripts from 2026 of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am Margaret Brennan in Washington.
And this week on Face the Nation: Again within the U.S. following a whirlwind diplomatic mission to China, President Trump faces backlash right here at residence in the case of inflation and the economic system.
Whereas the opinions for the president’s journey to China and particulars in regards to the deliverables from the assembly of the world’s two greatest financial superpowers are nonetheless coming in, it is Mr. Trump’s efforts on the home economic system and inflation which might be getting panned at residence.
Requested in regards to the extent to which Individuals’ monetary conditions had been motivating his Iran dealmaking, the response did not do a lot to reassure them:
(Start VT)
DONALD TRUMP (President of america): Not even just a little bit. I do not take into consideration Individuals’ monetary scenario. I do not take into consideration anyone. I take into consideration one factor. We can not let Iran have a nuclear weapon.
(Finish VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: These remarks, plus new numbers exhibiting the quickest improve within the inflation charge in three years, have Republicans more and more involved in regards to the celebration’s possibilities within the midterm election.
We’ll hear from the president’s high commerce consultant, Jamieson Greer, plus Taiwan’s consultant to the U.S., in addition to the heads of the bipartisan Downside Solvers Caucus within the Home, Pennsylvania Republican Brian Fitzpatrick and New York Democrat Tom Suozzi. Plus, former Protection Secretary Robert Gates will even be with us.
It is all simply forward on Face the Nation.
Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation.
President Trump’s grip on his celebration has tightened with Saturday’s defeat of Louisiana Senator Invoice Cassidy in a three-way Republican main. Cassidy voted to question Mr. Trump after the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. And, as a health care provider, Cassidy has been outspoken about among the administration’s well being insurance policies.
In flip, Trump endorsed considered one of his opponents and has been brazenly essential of Cassidy. There’ll now be a run-off for a seat that could be a secure Republican one. However this can be a midterm 12 months, when a president’s file is a high issue nationally.
Our CBS Information ballot out this morning says that seven in 10 Individuals say they’re pissed off and even indignant with the administration’s method to the economic system. Two-thirds say Trump’s insurance policies are making the economic system worse, at the very least within the quick time period, and solely 27 % say they approve of his dealing with of inflation. That marks a brand new low for the president in our CBS Information polling.
We start this morning with a high member of the president’s financial workforce, United States Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer.
Good morning to you, Ambassador.
AMBASSADOR JAMIESON GREER (U.S. Commerce Consultant): Good morning. Good to be right here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It is not only a matter of sentiment. Fuel is at a median of $4.51 a gallon. Individuals have spent $45 billion extra on gas for the reason that conflict started versus a 12 months in the past.
The inventory market is up, however lower-income Individuals are pulling again on their spending. The New York Fed experiences households incomes lower than $125,000 a 12 months are fueling up their vehicles much less typically. How do you present reduction to the typical American?
AMBASSADOR JAMIESON GREER: Properly, we all know that nobody needs to see larger fuel costs.
On the identical time, the president is balancing international coverage issues. We all know that, along with eager to have low fuel costs, we do not need our youngsters or grandchildren to inherit a world the place Iran has a nuclear weapon.
So the president is concentrated on affordability in as many ways in which he can – that he can. He is bringing jobs again to America. We’re centered on getting wages as much as offset any type of improve in costs. And we’re seeing costs go down for staples like dairy, cheese, flour, et cetera.
So we’re very centered on this. The president’s centered on it. And we look ahead to seeing these costs come down quickly because the operations wrap up within the Gulf.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However we’ve got no time-frame for that at this level.
Let me ask you about what you had been simply engaged on in Asia. China stated it agreed with america to determine a board of funding to think about Chinese language funding right here within the U.S. and to determine bilateral boards of commerce to debate tariffs.
Which merchandise are going to be affected by that board? Are this stuff exterior the present investigations that you’re conducting?
AMBASSADOR JAMIESON GREER: So, after we take into consideration the board of commerce, we’re fascinated about methods to handle financial relations between the U.S. and China.
These are two economies which might be fairly completely different, and we’re centered on commerce in nonsensitive items. If you speak about delicate items, you understand, essentially the most high-tech stuff, you understand, issues that can be utilized for army makes use of, these are issues that – these are nationwide safety points.
So, we’re trying to focus on issues like gross sales of agricultural items to China, vitality items, Boeings, medical gadgets. Once we speak in regards to the sorts of issues we need to be importing from China, there are a variety of issues. There might be client items, perhaps low-tech gadgets.
And so we have a look at these sorts of areas the place we needs to be buying and selling. On the funding facet, the board of funding is absolutely about discussing key points in U.S.-China funding coverage. It is probably not an funding program, however it’s to attempt to nearly be like a firefighter and put out points after they come up between the 2 nations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, actually, this simply appears a message of stability, since you had been already discussing a whole lot of this stuff on a bilateral foundation, proper? I imply, what’s new?
AMBASSADOR JAMIESON GREER: So we’ve got by no means had a board of commerce or a board of funding earlier than. We have all the time had an advert hoc method with China and america, which I feel is definitely difficult.
I feel it is extra essential to formalize these relations. America has a number of tariffs, import controls, export controls on China. China has a variety of non-tariff obstacles which have been in place for a very long time, different challenges they impose to dam our imports and issues like that.
It is significantly better to debate these in a formalized manner between our authorities and their authorities. Along with this, we noticed China over the previous couple of days scale back a number of non-tariff obstacles on agricultural merchandise, similar to beef and poultry, et cetera.
And so we have seen them already beginning to do issues to facilitate imports from america.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, I’ll come again to a few of these in a second.
However I need to ask you about tariffs. The president stated to reporters he didn’t focus on tariffs with Xi Jinping in any respect. Are we in an indefinite commerce truce, or had been you – are you bringing that tariff charge again to the place it was earlier than the Supreme Courtroom ruling?
AMBASSADOR JAMIESON GREER: Properly, the Chinese language know – and that is a part of our deal – that america can elevate tariffs to the upper stage that we had on the time of what we name the Busan deal in October, when President Xi and President Trump met.
Following the Supreme Courtroom case in February, about 10 share factors had been knocked off the tariff charge for China. We consider, underneath our deal, that we’re capable of elevate that once more. The president is exploring completely different instruments that he has. I do not need to prejudge a whole lot of the investigations which might be occurring.
The Chinese language know, identical to many different nations we’re coping with, that we will have a sure stage of tariff to regulate our imports, however that we additionally anticipate market opening.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
However the final time you had been right here after the Supreme Courtroom choice, you stated that, when a few of these tariffs expire in July, that you’d anticipate to roll out new tariffs after the tip of those investigations underneath authority 301.
So, are you saying now that you just not anticipate tariffs to come back into place after July?
AMBASSADOR JAMIESON GREER: Properly, I feel I used to be cautious to inform you, as a result of my normal counsel all the time tells me to say this, I can not prejudge the outcomes of these investigations.
These investigations, in the event that they discover on tariff obstacles or unfair buying and selling practices, they’ll authorize the president to take actions like tariffs, like charges on providers, like quotas, issues like that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
AMBASSADOR JAMIESON GREER: So we’ll actually be presenting the president with these choices, if these – if these investigations present what we expect they could present, which is that there is a big downside with overcapacity in China and different nations.
So we’ll – we’ll get again to you on the findings in these investigations after they conclude.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
We did see China on Saturday launch an announcement confirming among the offers with the U.S., however it was fairly imprecise. There was no point out of the promise to purchase 750 Boeing planes that President Trump informed reporters about if the primary 200 go effectively.
China stated there was a assure by the U.S. to provide plane engines, however it did not point out the 400 to 450 GE engines that the president introduced. GE hasn’t commented both. So, how locked in are these agreements?
AMBASSADOR JAMIESON GREER: So, the 200 Boeings, these are locked in. There’s clearly a future to have extra Boeings. The fact is, that is the primary main buy by China in nearly 10 years of Boeings – or orders, reasonably.
In order that’s – that is going ahead. And, just like the president stated. You already know, when and if Boeing delivers, there’s – there’s a whole lot of upside there. With respect to among the different particulars, we’re finalizing a truth sheet that we are going to hopefully get out very quickly, so we might be clear in regards to the double-digit improve in agricultural purchases we anticipate from the Chinese language and among the different issues that occurred and had been agreed to through the go to.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.And I do know GE is assembly with China as we speak, however we’ve not seen something from them on the plane engines.
On the ag merchandise, the conservative “Wall Avenue Journal” editorial board questioned whether or not the summit achieved any of the acknowledged wins due to how imprecise this stuff have been.
They stated: “Mr. Trump boasted about unbelievable Chinese language purchases of U.S. soybeans and plane, however China did not verify the gross sales. And, by our depend, that is the second time China has purchased the identical American soybeans, or is it the third?”
They’re type of arguing you are enjoying a shell recreation right here with, like, re- saying previous offers on previous agreements to buy over a time period. Are you able to reply these conservative skeptics with any specifics?
AMBASSADOR JAMIESON GREER: So, initially, we have had a deal in place with the Chinese language since October that they’d purchase 25 million metric tons of soybeans annually for the remainder of the president’s administration. In order that deal continues to be in pressure.
What we anticipate with the brand new buy agreements, the place the particular quantity shall be introduced very quickly, double-digit purchases of combination agricultural merchandise. Once I say combination, I imply every part else. That may very well be soybeans. That may very well be beef, that may very well be grains. That may very well be dairy merchandise, all types of issues.
So we’ve got the prevailing soybean deal that they could be referring to. After which, over and on high of that, we’ve got these agricultural merchandise as effectively. And all of that shall be facilitated by board of commerce discussions with the Chinese language.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, nonetheless not nailed down, simply an combination settlement?
So, what number of concessions did the U.S. make? What had been these concessions in an effort to get this?
AMBASSADOR JAMIESON GREER: Properly, one factor, they’re – they’re balanced trades right here, proper? We’re making an attempt to get to stability commerce with the Chinese language.
For a very long time, it has been out of whack. So, whenever you see one thing like what the Chinese language stated, which I can verify, a few sale of Boeings, accompanied by a sale of plane and auto components and spare auto components, plane components, and people sorts of issues, the Chinese language need to be sure that they’ve common entry to those type of spare gadgets, to allow them to proceed to fly their fleets.
In order that’s one thing we need to do. We’re centered on mutually helpful commerce. So, whenever you’re speaking about that type of factor, what we needs to be exporting, what we needs to be importing, it turns into much less a query of concessions, and extra a query of, what’s mutually helpful for each of us?
That is why we’re so centered on nonsensitive commerce, as a result of that does not – that does not require concessions. That is about working collectively, speaking about what they want, what we need to promote, what we’d like from them.
So, we’re already seeing it, as they’ve reregistered beer services, the place beef services expired. They’re taking poultry once more.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
AMBASSADOR JAMIESON GREER: They’re working with us on biotech traits to be sure that these sorts of merchandise which have genetic modification can go into China with none downside.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
China nonetheless sells extra to the U.S. than it buys, however that distinction has decreased by about 31.5 %. So, thanks, Ambassador.
We flip now to Ambassador Alexander Yui, Taiwan’s consultant to america.
Ambassador, good to have you ever right here in individual.
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI (Taiwanese Consultant to america): Thanks, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There hasn’t – there hasn’t been a name between an American president and a frontrunner of Taiwan since 1979. However President Trump indicated to reporters there may be one coming.
Is there a name deliberate with President Lai?
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: Properly, we’ll see.
However President Trump, when he was in Beijing for the final, effectively, two days, he talked about that he heard loads about Taiwan. You already know, he heard loads about Taiwan these two days in Beijing.
However the issue is, he heard solely their facet of the story. You already know, he heard the Chinese language story, or, as I’d say in Spanish, el cuento chino.
I feel he – if he has time, we might love to inform him our facet of the story, the Taiwan story, which is one which – of resiliency, of a state staying up in opposition to the Chinese language aggression.
This has been happening for 77 years. This isn’t one thing that simply occurred when the DPP, the present ruling celebration in Taiwan, got here to energy. This has been happening for 77 years…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: … for the reason that inception of 1949, after they turned a folks’s republic.
So this isn’t a latest factor, as if we’re those creating issues. It’s China, Folks’s Republic of China, creating all this downside. However the commu…
MARGARET BRENNAN: So no name scheduled but? However…
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: Properly, the communication between Taiwan and U.S. is fixed. It is present. However I’ll depart it to the U.S. to announce something if it occurs.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. It might be an enormous deal. He did communicate to a previous president as president-elect, however not since he got here…
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: Sure, with President Tsai, sure, when – in 2015, ’16, sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: In – that is proper.
So, China refers to your president as a separatist, partly as a result of Lai has talked about being a – quote – “sensible employee for Taiwan independence.”
In an interview with FOX Information, President Trump stated he isn’t trying to have any individual say “Let’s go be impartial as a result of america is backing us.”
Does Taiwan have any intention of declaring independence formally from China?
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: Properly, let me first say that President Trump and Secretary Rubio have been very categorical throughout their go to to Beijing, publicly stating that there is no change in United States’ longstanding place on Taiwan, which we need to specific our appreciation for upholding this place.
What is supposed by Taiwan independence? My president simply made an announcement not too long ago, simply now. And it signifies that Taiwan is impartial from the Chinese language aggression from the PRC, truly. The formal title of my nation is Republic of China, and we’re not subordinate to the Folks’s Republic of China in any manner in any respect.
And that is sustaining our sovereignty, our lifestyle, our democracy, our – our vibrant economic system, our high-tech manufacturing.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: And that’s – that’s what is supposed by independence. We’re sovereign, impartial, away from the Chinese language – Folks’s Republic of China’s try and swallow us as considered one of their very own. They’ve by no means dominated or managed Taiwan ever.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: So, that is – that is – that’s meant by independence.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, President Trump, although, stated he needs Taiwan to chill it. He additionally needed China to chill it.
That appears to point that maybe he was listening to Xi Jinping’s model of occasions and may need been persuaded?
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: Properly, that is why I – you understand, if – we would like to have given our a part of the story…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: … not simply hearken to cuento chinos.
(LAUGHTER)
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: However – however I feel that is an announcement of claiming he needs established order, the president needs established order, President Trump, that he needs no change within the – within the Taiwan Straits, neither by financial or army coercion…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: … and that the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits is sweet for all events involved.
And that is the place that Secretary Rubio talked about throughout his interview, and that is the one which we additionally lengthy for. We now have been a accountable member of – of Taiwan Straits. We need to attempt for peace and stability.
You already know, President Trump does not desire a conflict 9,500 miles away.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is what he stated.
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: We – we do not desire a conflict. We would like peace and stability. We need to have our lives happening as – as ordinary.
However we’re not those creating all this bother. And that is why you understand it is like we – our home, there’s intruders making an attempt to get into our home. We’re making an attempt to beef up our safety system. After which they complain, the intruder complains that, as a result of we’re making an attempt to enhance our safety system, it is making his job tougher.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
(LAUGHTER)
MARGARET BRENNAN: No, I hear your level. And, on paper, President Trump’s administration has pledged close to file quantities of defensive weapons and gross sales to Taiwan. However the deliveries have not actually been occurring.
And, in Beijing, President Trump informed FOX he will maintain on to the most recent weapons sale that Taiwan sought to buy this 12 months and use it as a negotiating chip with China.
What impression will which have in your potential to discourage China if you do not get these weapons?
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: Properly, precisely.
If we do not – if we need to forestall a conflict from occurring, I feel it is best that Taiwan is powerful, capable of defend itself, and, subsequently, we must always have the ability to purchase, to purchase the arms that we have to have a stronger protection.
You already know, we – we additionally abide – we consider in peace by energy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: So, truly, it makes extra sense for United States to promote us the arms, so we are able to defend ourselves, and so you do not have to ship your military 9,500 miles away to defend us.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the so-called six assurances that america gave to Taiwan again within the Reagan space included a pledge to not minimize off arms gross sales to Taiwan and of no prior session with Beijing on such gross sales.
However that is what the president informed reporters about his dialogue with Xi. Take a pay attention.
(Start VT)
DONALD TRUMP (President of america): So, what am I going to do, say I do not need to speak to you about it as a result of I’ve an settlement that was signed in 1982? No, we mentioned arm gross sales to…
QUESTION: And what’s his request?
(CROSSTALK)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We mentioned the Taiwan – you understand, the entire thing with the arms gross sales. It was in nice element, truly. And I shall be making selections.
(Finish VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: In nice element.
Did that violate America’s dedication to Taiwan?
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: Properly, once more, however President Trump has additionally been very clear in saying that he didn’t agree on something that the Chinese language facet…
MARGARET BRENNAN: However he did say he will maintain onto these weapons and never give them…
(CROSSTALK)
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: Sure, however he did not say he agreed to something.
So, once more, america authorities has been constant all through all administrations since 1979 in offering arms to Taiwan, in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act, which is promoting arms commensurate to the risk that Taiwan receives.
And previous administrations, together with in President Trump’s first time period, made appreciable quantities of gross sales, together with the F-16 Block 70s. And in addition, in his second administration, final 12 months…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
AMBASSADOR ALEXANDER YUI: … he made two gross sales to Taiwan additionally, once more, the final one additionally a really appreciable sum of money on arms gross sales.
So, we consider, once more, that having arms gross sales proceed to Taiwan is within the curiosity of United States and Taiwan to maintain peaceable and steady Taiwan Straits.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, we are going to attempt to ask the administration for updates on when these deliveries would possibly occur.
However thanks very a lot, Ambassador.
Face the Nation shall be again in a minute. Stick with us.
Face the Nation Transcripts Extra
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: And now with extra from our new CBS Information ballot, President Trump’s approval score has now dropped to the bottom stage of his second time period at 37 %.
And views of the economic system have dropped to their lowest stage in a number of years. Solely 29 % now say the economic system is sweet.
Becoming a member of us now with extra is our government director of elections and surveys, Anthony Salvanto.
Anthony, good to have you ever right here.
Fuel is $4.51 and alter per gallon. Is that this strain all because of fuel costs?
ANTHONY SALVANTO: Fuel costs aren’t serving to.
It is not the one factor. I all the time begin with emotions, as a result of they’re so carefully related to folks’s funds. They inform us they really feel confused, they really feel involved about their private funds. And emotions of financial safety are down from a 12 months in the past.
Now, fuel costs are more and more, they inform us, weighing, being a monetary hardship on them. General, although, they proceed to inform us they do not assume their revenue is conserving tempo with inflation. And that is one thing we’ve got been seeing now for years popping out of the pandemic.
So, contextually, sure, it is a part of one thing bigger. The opposite a part of this, although, is uncertainty, which is a high manner that individuals describe the general economic system. And the best way that pertains to fuel costs is, take, for instance, simply the scenario in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
Folks inform us, day after day, they do not really feel like they’ve a transparent understanding, they’re getting a transparent understanding of what is going on on there. And, in fact, that’s impacting fuel costs. That is a part of what I imply by uncertainty.
However the different a part of the massive image right here, you pull again, you have a look at the job market, folks aren’t assured that, in the event that they needed to discover one other job, they might. They even assume – you hear a lot about A.I. within the information.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Structural adjustments.
ANTHONY SALVANTO: Massive structural adjustments. They assume A.I. goes to begin taking jobs.
And what it results in whenever you have a look at alternative, even generational alternative, there is a decrease quantity who assume that their alternatives are going to be higher than their mother and father had been.
MARGARET BRENNAN: How large a threat is the inflation downside or at the very least the worth of residing, proper? Is it going to harm Republicans?
ANTHONY SALVANTO: So the administration, in fact, urges persistence, proper, as soon as the conflict is resolved, et cetera.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
ANTHONY SALVANTO: Properly, so I examined, what do you assume the president’s insurance policies are doing to the economic system within the quick time period and the long run?
Within the quick time period, you get large numbers who say they’re making the economic system worse. So that is what’s proper in entrance of oldsters. However there additionally is not that rather more optimism about what occurs for the long run. A part of all this uncertainty is that neither of the events, not the Democrats, not the Republicans, are web optimistic on being seen as having insurance policies that assist value of residing.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
ANTHONY SALVANTO: So that you have a look at the general public, and, sure, OK, Democrats have just a little little bit of an edge there, however it’s nonetheless web detrimental. And so persons are going within the midterms perhaps not feeling like there’s assist on the market.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Anthony Salvanto, all the time good to speak to you.
ANTHONY SALVANTO: Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We shall be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We shall be proper again with much more Face the Nation with Pennsylvania Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick and New York Democrat Tom Suozzi. They’re standing by, so stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to “FACE THE NATION.”
And the co-chairs of the bipartisan Home Downside Solvers Caucus, Republican Brian Fitzpatrick joins us from Langhorne, Pennsylvania, Democrat Tom Suozzi from Queens, New York.
Good morning to you each, gents.
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK (R-PA): Good morning, Margaret.
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI (D-NY): Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to begin with you, Congressman Fitzpatrick.
You already know, CBS estimates that the online impression of all this redistricting is that Republicans are going to get roughly 9 seats or get them 9 seats nearer, I ought to say, to conserving management of the Home. I imply, presumably, that is the end result the president was on the lookout for right here. Why are you involved that, you understand, driving in the direction of the bulk by these strategies is definitely a detrimental to your celebration?
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: It is a horrible factor for our nation, Margaret. Gerrymandering is without doubt one of the most, if not essentially the most corrosive issues to our democracy that I can think about. Tom and I fully agree with it. Our whole bipartisan Downside Solvers Caucus agrees to it. We met this previous week to begin taking measurable steps to battle again. As a result of, you understand, a part of the problem, Margaret, is, you understand, very similar to how elections are carried out, these district traces, it is largely a perform of state authorities and state legislative motion. The one jurisdictional hook we’ve got on the federal system is funding.
So, significantly the Assist America Vote Act, the so-called HAVA funding that handed after the Bush v Gore hanging chad election, you understand, we are able to tie that cash, it is billions of {dollars} that will get despatched to the states to hold out their elections. We are able to tie that funding to sure reforms.
And one of many issues that has to occur, solely seven states, by the best way, do that in America, is that impartial citizen commissions with pc generated line drawing aiding them to be sure that we’ve got extra balanced districts on this nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, I perceive the trouble and the intent. However, Congressman Suozzi, your celebration – your celebration’s leaders additionally gerrymandering. And your group, as we simply heard from Congressman Fitzpatrick, you are supporting efforts to cease it however it seems like your members are going to be straight impacted themselves. About 45 members of your caucus could face redistricting.
You’ve got stated it’ll kill the nation. I imply how does it truly kill the power to succeed in throughout the aisle, such as you gents are doing?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: What occurs is, whenever you create these secure seats by gerrymandering is that the one elections that matter should not the overall elections however the main. So, all people panders on their base. The Republicans speak to their base, the Democrats speak to their base, as an alternative of speaking to all of their constituents about what they care about. And there is a whole lot of pandering that goes on.
So, you understand, we’re on this battle proper now, this race to the underside, and we will battle hearth with hearth. The Democrats are going to battle the Republicans. The Republicans are going to battle the Democrats.
It is unhealthy for America. It is unhealthy for America to have all these secure seats the place no politician is incentivized to hearken to folks and to succeed in throughout the aisle.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, I misspoke, it is 45 members in your caucus, greater than a dozen of them could also be straight impacted. However, sill, I take your broader level right here that it is damaging to the power to work throughout aisle.
However I need to ask you, Congressman Fitzpatrick, from the Republican perspective, we simply noticed what occurred in a single day down in Louisiana the place Senator Invoice Cassidy misplaced within the three-way main.
The president himself, the chief of your celebration who needed this redistricting, has additionally been straight concerned in a few of these main races, choosing candidates. He got here out exhausting in opposition to Cassidy.
He is additionally now focusing in on Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has taken votes in opposition to the president, together with for the discharge of the Epstein information.
I imply is the message right here for Republicans that in the event you descent from the president, he will take you down?
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Properly, it is one of many many causes, Margaret, why we made to open primaries up in all 50 states. One other trigger that Tom and I are behind. Over half the states within the nation have closed primaries, that means that in the event you’re a registered impartial, you’re excluded from voting in 50 % of elections.
And let’s simply put this into context. You may be a 98-year-old World Struggle II veteran who stormed seashores of Normandy, saved civilization, who register as impartial, within the land of independence, which we’re celebrating 250 years of, and in half of the states on this nation, together with, sadly, our residence state right here in Pennsylvania, in the event you register impartial, you are informed, you are not welcome to vote in half of elections. That’s insane.
And never solely is it an injustice, Margaret, it has a horrible, corrosive impact on the ground of the Home. Tom and I see it on a regular basis. We name it the vote no, hope sure crowd. They go to the Home flooring eager to assist a coverage, understanding that coverage is the fitting factor to do. However as a result of they reside in a closed main state and 18 % of Individuals, 18 % of Individuals vote in main, they’ll the Home flooring fascinated about 18 % of their voters as an alternative of one hundred pc of their voters. So, closed primaries, coupled with gerrymandering, your earlier query, are actually, actually hurting our nation. They’re inflicting gridlock on the Home flooring.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. And it might appear, although, that you’re actually swimming in opposition to the tide right here, each of you gents.
I need to ask you, Congressman Suozzi, about your –
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: Sure, Margaret, can I simply make one fast –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, certain, I used to be going to ask you about your race, however go forward.
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: However let me – let me simply – let me simply make a fast level.
I am in a district that Donald Trump gained by 19,000 votes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: Brian’s in a – and I am a Democrat. Brian’s in a district, as a Republican, that Kamala Harris gained. For me to win my race, I’ve to hearken to all people. I would like the big majority of Democrats to vote for me. I would like nearly all of independents to vote for me. I even want just a few Republicans to pay attention – to vote for me. So, I’ve received to hearken to all people.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Uh-huh.
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: And that is what’s good for America is when their elected officers must hearken to their folks. If you do all this gerrymandering, and create all these secure seats, the politicians within the secure seats, a lot of the elected officers in Congress proper now, solely must win their main –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: As a result of they’re assured the Republicans are going to win the Republican seat, the Democrats are going to win the Democratic seat, after which they solely hearken to their base and so they pander to their base. That is contributing to the division of our nation, together with social media, cable information, our international adversaries filling our social media feeds with a bunch of dreck (ph).
MARGARET BRENNAN: Not going to push again on you on these factors right here, sir.
However again to the query I used to be going to ask you with regard to your race, I do know that in the case of – folks like it’s important to exit and persuade, you consider that Democrats can actually make a case on the affordability argument. We have been speaking in regards to the polling that CBS has achieved exhibiting how worrisome it’s for the president’s celebration.
Nevertheless it additionally reveals neither Democrats nor Republicans personal the message. It is fairly evenly cut up. Thirty-five % say Democrats could be higher. It is 31 % who assume Trump and Republicans could be. Thirty-four %, neither or unsure.
Nobody’s actually satisfied that both of the events have a solution right here. So, how do you truly make that an edge?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: Sure, there is no query that this can be a main downside. Affordability is the primary difficulty in America. Your polling simply reveals that. And we see costs are going up like loopy. Why? Due to the tariffs. Due to the conflict. Due to the brand new information facilities. And due to all of the debt. And we’ve got to suggest insurance policies that Democrats and Republicans will work collectively.
You already know, the tariff difficulty, the president is meant to come back to Congress. The conflict powers, the president’s supposed to come back to Congress. Let’s work collectively to truly put options in place so we are able to get again to a spot in America the place all people, whether or not you are a left-wing progressive or a right-wing conservative, you consider that in return for working exhausting you make sufficient cash so you possibly can afford to purchase a home, educate your children, pay for medical insurance and retire with out being scared.
We have to get again to these primary, basic messages. Sufficient with the finger-pointing and the tradition wars. Let’s give attention to the economics of individuals’s lives so we are able to rebuild the center class and assist these aspiring which might be aspiring to the center class.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However in some ways in which polling, Congressman Fitzpatrick, says folks need one thing completely different from what they’re listening to from each of the events. They are not listening to new concepts.
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Go forward.
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Sure. Over half of the folks on this nation reside paycheck to paycheck. Quite a lot of the issues which might be being mentioned contained in the state capitols throughout America, contained in the U.S. Capitol, isn’t laser centered on that every one day each day.
You already know, sure, we’ve got to give attention to nationwide safety. Sure, we’ve got to give attention to international coverage. We have to do all of it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: However we can not ignore the truth that half of Individuals are stressing over their household budgets. And that is received to drive the legislative agenda.
I consider that it was that cause that, you understand, President Trump gained in 2024. I feel that is why Zohran Mamdani gained in 2025. And I feel each events, Margaret, are failing to get that message that we’ve got to focus, like a laser, on the economic system, on these household budgets and establish the silos, what’s inflicting excessive vitality prices, what’s inflicting excessive childcare prices, what’s inflicting excessive healthcare prices? Tom and I stepped ahead, by a discharge petition, and handed the, by the Home, the premium tax credit score extension. We’re making an attempt to do our half to cross the aisle, to work within the heart, to give attention to the problems that individuals actually care about, which is the kitchen desk points.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, to that time, President Trump informed my colleague, Nancy Cordes, that he endorsed a federal fuel tax vacation. I consider that also must go earlier than Congress. Would each of you gents vote for that? Suspending it?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: I feel, you understand, we’ve got to think about, it is a short-term repair. It is going to have an effect on the –
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Is that for Tom or for me?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: Sure, it is a quick time period repair. We have actually received to get to – the president’s received to come back to Congress to debate the conflict and methods to – methods to transfer ahead to get out of – out of the conflict and to have an effect on the fuel costs. That is the actual difficulty right here. The tariffs are what are actually affecting folks’s costs.
Come to Congress. Work with Democrats and Republicans. Let’s try to transfer our nation ahead.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congress – Congress –
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: And, Margaret, my reply –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, go forward.
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: My reply – sure, my reply to that query, so, we work with loads with the labor unions. They’ve expressed some considerations about this federal fuel tax vacation, that it would raid the freeway transit fund, which they depend on closely for all of the native infrastructure and nationwide infrastructure initiatives for that matter. So, I feel the satan is within the element.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: Once we say federal fuel tax vacation, the place is that cash coming from? That is actually going to be the driving query.
Sure, we need to do every part attainable to decrease fuel costs, however we do not need to rob Peter to pay Paul.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So, we’ve got to – we’ve got to take a look at the small print right here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Rapidly earlier than I allow you to go, Congressman Fitzpatrick, you are an enormous supporter of Ukraine. You probably did get some further – assist for added help in the case of the Huse. This is sort of a vote on authorizing new safety help and imposing new sanctions on Russia.
Even after the Home votes, we’re listening to within the Senate from Chief Thune, he is received no time to take it up. What do you do subsequent?
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: We’ll do every part we are able to, Margaret, to verify they discover time to take it up as a result of our – the heroes which might be on the entrance traces of the Ukrainian army, in Kharkiv and in all places else alongside the japanese coast of Ukraine, want our assist. They want the morale increase.
I’ve been there on the entrance traces a number of occasions. I’ve pledged my unequivocal assist for them.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: We reached 218 signatures, as you understand, this week on a large, large discharge petition that’s far larger than even simply Russia sanctions.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: That is an enormous piece of it, however it’s an general help package deal to Ukraine.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FITZPATRICK: So, my message to our Ukrainian pals, assistance is on the best way.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
All proper, gents, thanks for talking to us on this bipartisan setting. Admire it.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: On Friday we traveled to William and Marry in Williamsburg, Virginia, to talk with the previous Protection Secretary Robert Gates. And we started with that warning from President Xi that the problem of Taiwan may result in a particularly harmful scenario if not managed fastidiously.
(BEGIN VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: The U.S. nonetheless formally has this stance of strategic ambiguity. However do you assume the tone must shift just a little bit from america given how sturdy the Chinese language rhetoric is now?
ROBERT GATES (Former Protection Secretary): I feel the Chinese language rhetoric has typically been sturdy. Previously in the case of Taiwan, at any time when we’ve got made an arms gross sales to Taiwan prior to now, the Bush administration, the Obama administration and so forth, the Chinese language rhetoric will get very, very sturdy. And so, I feel – I feel Xi was reiterating the Chinese language place on that.
I feel it might be a mistake to take the fastidiously worded place of america with respect to Taiwan. Any change in any respect, the nuance is – that is a type of issues the place the consultants parse this stuff all the way down to the tense of the verb and so forth.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
ROBERT GATES: So, I feel – I feel conserving issues – the U.S. place because it has been was essential. And I feel every part I’ve learn up to now signifies that the president did that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, depart it open to query whether or not the U.S. would militarily come to protection of Taiwan if China had been to maneuver on it.
ROBERT GATES: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That must be an open query.
Properly, on paper, the president made important pledges to Taiwan when it comes to promised arms gross sales. Not delivered on but. There’s one other 14 billion in proposed weapons gross sales that the Trump administration has delayed approving. Do you assume the president ought to inexperienced mild that?
ROBERT GATES: I feel he ought to. I feel we must always go ahead with what – with what we have agreed with Taiwan. One of many considerations that I’ve is, even with respects to earlier arms gross sales, there’s a big backlog –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
ROBERT GATES: Of weapons that we’ve got offered to Taiwan that we’ve got not been capable of ship as a result of we do not have the provides. And so, in the event you’re providing one other 14 billion, is that simply going to be added to the backlog or is there a manner ahead when it comes to truly getting these weapons to the Taiwanese?
I feel one of many – an essential factor that has occurred lately is getting the Taiwanese to give attention to buying the sorts of weapons that may be essential to defend themselves in opposition to a Chinese language amphibious invasion. And the Taiwanese legislature has simply lastly reached an settlement to fund –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
ROBERT GATE: The acquisition of those weapons. So, I feel – I feel we must always go ahead with it. It’s in our personal manner our counter to President Xi’s sturdy assertion. Sure, you could have your place. We now have ours.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary Rubio did inform one other community, although, that his perception is that China’s choice is to have Taiwan willingly be part of the Folks’s Republic. Do you anticipate that to be the extra seemingly situation that there’s kind of a gradual strangulation of Taiwanese democracy by the communist celebration?
ROBERT GATES: I feel probabilities of a Chinese language invasion of Taiwan are fairly low, significantly over the subsequent a number of years. And partly as a result of Xi has different choices open to him that embody – that contain far much less threat. So, they’ve surrounded Taiwan with ships and within the air. They’ve proven their potential to shut off maritime and air entry to the island. They might create a blockade or a quarantine round Taiwan any time they need. What the Taiwan name an anaconda technique. And it might strangle Taiwan over time.
I do not assume they need to go in and assault Taiwan. They do not need to destroy the very chip factories they need to take over. So – after which there’s cyber. There are all types of pressures.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
ROBERT GATES: There is not one single Chinese language normal or admiral as we speak that has in the future of fight expertise. The final time these guys fought was 1979 and the north Vietnamese – the Vietnamese gave them a bloody nostril. He is fired – Xi has fired all these generals. He is – there are actually no generals left on the central army fee that type of oversees the entire thing.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me ask you about what’s occurring within the Center East. The final time we spoke, final spring, we had been simply weeks away from that U.S.-Israeli strike on the three nuclear websites in Iran. You stated at the moment, it was Could, whenever you had been protection secretary, you had been involved {that a} strike on the nuclear program would simply purchase time, a 12 months or two, however it might not remedy the issue. Do you continue to consider that?
ROBERT GATES: I feel the one manner that we’re more likely to get the enriched uranium out of Iran and produce about an finish to the nuclear aspirations is thru a negotiation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Is it attainable for the president of america to stroll away and depart this for the Israelis to settle?
ROBERT GATES: No, I do not assume he can stroll away. And, no, I do not assume Israelis can settle it. I do not assume, as highly effective as they’re, they do not have the type of energy america has. And I feel the president appears to have been very constant and really clear, that by no means can Iran each have a nuclear bomb. Properly, the one manner you get to that goal is resolving this difficulty of the enriched uranium and any future plans for enrichment. I imply I feel – I do not assume that the nuclear program in Iran poses an imminent risk. In spite of everything, we have bombed it twice.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However it’s a large enough downside that it was clearly not going to be settled in 4 to 6 weeks, which was the time stamp that the American folks had been informed to anticipate when it comes to the period of battle.
ROBERT GATES: I feel that there have been some unrealistic expectations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Have you ever heard a clearly articulated, kind of heart of gravity of this operation, an finish objective, a technique?
ROBERT GATES: Properly, I feel among the justifications have modified over time. However one factor – I feel there have been just a few issues which have been constant from the very starting. One is to get rid of Iran’s potential to have a nuclear weapon. One other is to get rid of their army capabilities to assault their neighbors. A 3rd is to get rid of the potential to assist their surrogates, the Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, to sink their navy. I feel these are all – these had been – have all been articulated as goals of this operation. And though the nuclear program has been dramatically broken and setback a very long time, I feel these different issues, loads has been achieved.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You had been CIA director. You had been a protection secretary. How do you assess Secretary Hegseth’s efficiency?
ROBERT GATES: I am not into speaking about my successors. However I’ll say, I need to level to one thing optimistic that I feel is occurring that goes again to one thing we had been speaking about earlier. I feel – I feel the management within the Pentagon, and particularly the deputy secretary and the undersecretary concerned in acquisition are performing some essential and overdue issues when it comes to shaking up the paperwork within the Pentagon.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However he is received this give attention to the warrior ethos. I am certain you’ve got heard a whole lot of what he has introduced. He summoned the generals to D.C., informed them he is uninterested in seeing fats troops and fats generals. He needs to weigh them twice a 12 months. He ordered a ruthless evaluate of the decide advocate corps, the army legal professionals. He fired a lot of the inspectors normal saying he deliberate to overtake the weaponized inside Pentagon watch canine. When speaking about belongings you like, would you set any of this stuff on that record?
ROBERT GATES: No. I’ll say this, I imply I – I fired a good variety of generals and senior folks myself. The way in which I dealt with it was just a little in a different way within the respect that I felt that I wanted to go in entrance of the press and defined why I had taken these actions.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, there’s not a full Pentagon press corps even current on the Pentagon today for a information convention like that with out getting particular permission to be on the premises proper now. He is fired 16 army officers at the very least, together with the Navy secretary, the Military chief of workers, Normal Randy George, through the Iran Struggle. He pushed out the admiral on the helm of SOUTHCOM, the chief of naval operations, the Air Pressure vice chief of workers, the pinnacle of defensin intelligence.
Do you see these issues as crucial disruption, that finally may have a optimistic impression, or does it concern you?
ROBERT GATES: Properly, it considerations me, however I additionally must acknowledge that I do not know the rationale for these adjustments. I do not know why these adjustments had been made. And there could also be completely justifiable causes. However I am – I simply do not know what they’re.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And also you assume that that needs to be defined to the general public and to the Congress?
ROBERT GATES: I feel – I feel that individuals, when you could have a whole lot of adjustments like that, sure, I feel you – I feel there’s an obligation to elucidate at a minimal to the Congress the rational.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The programs are not working that manner proper now.
ROBERT GATES: No.
(END VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Our full interview with Secretary Gates is out there on our web site, YouTube channel, and our podcast.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is it for us as we speak. Thanks all for watching. For “FACE THE NATION,” I’m Margaret Brennan.
