Trump Recalled That America Was 'Great' When Reagan Was President

bradwilmouth | June 29, 2019
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NBC

Meet the Press

August 16, 2015

CHUCK TODD: When was the last time America was great?

DONALD TRUMP: I would say during the administration of Ronald Reagan, you felt proud to be an American. You felt really proud. I don't think since then, to any great extent, people were proud.

TODD: Then let me ask you this. I'm not trying to play a little gotcha here, but in 1987, you took out a full-page ad -- this is during the Reagan administration. And you said this to the American people: "For decades Japan and other nations have been taking advantage of the United States." On message, by the way, consistent. "The world is laughing at America's politicians as we protect ships we don't own, carrying oil we don't need, destined for allies who won't help." Message-wise, vey consistent.

TRUMP: From day one, including during Reagan because, look, NAFTA, NAFTA --

TODD: "Let's not let our great country be laughed at anymore." If that's the last time America was great again, you didn't think America was great then.

TRUMP: No, no, I thought America was excellent. I think NAFTA was a huge mistake -- I thought it was a terrible mistake, and, you know, that was -- but I just think that he set a tone that was an excellent tone for this country.

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