From President Donald Trump's February 15 national emergency announcement at the White House:
During national emergency declaration, Trump praises Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and Tucker Carlson for supporting him
Written by Media Matters Staff
Published
KELLY O'DONNELL (NBC NEWS): Mr. President, could you tell us to what degree some of the outside conservative voices helped to shape your views on this national emergency?
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I would talk about it. Look, Sean Hannity has been a terrific, terrific supporter of what I do. Not of me. If I changed my views he wouldn't be with me. Rush Limbaugh, I think he's a great guy. He's a guy who can speak for three hours without a phone call. Try doing that sometime. For three hours he speaks. He's got one of the biggest audiences in the history of the world. I mean, this guy is unbelievable. Try speaking for three hours without taking calls. Taking calls is easy. OK, I'll answer this one, I'll answer that one. He goes for three hours, and he's got an audience that's fantastic. Wait.
REPORTER: Should they be deciding policy, sir?
TRUMP: They don't decide policy. In fact, if I went opposite -- I mean, they have somebody -- Ann Coulter, I don't know her. I hardly know her. I haven't spoken to her in way over a year. But the press loves saying “Ann Coulter.” Probably if I did speak to her she'd be very nice. I just don't have the time to speak to her. I would speak to her, I have nothing against her. In fact, I like her for one reason. When they asked her like right at the beginning, “Who's going to win the election?” She said, “Donald Trump.” And the two people that asked her that question smiled. They said, “You're kidding, aren't you?” “Nope, Donald Trump.” So I like her. But she's off the reservation, but anybody that knows her understands that. But I haven't spoken to her. I don't follow her. I don't talk to her. But the press loves to bring up the name Ann Coulter. And you know what, I think she's fine, I think she's good. But I just don't speak to her.
Laura's been great, Laura Ingraham. Tucker Carlson's been great. I actually have a couple of people on CNN that have been very good. I have some on MSNBC the other day, they did a great report of me, I say, “Where the hell did that come from?” I think it was the only one in over a year. So, the crazy thing is, I just had, as you know, Rasmussen 52 percent in the polls. It's my highest poll number. And people get what we're doing. They get it. They really get it. And I'm honored by it.
Previously:
Trump is taking his Fox cabinet's advice and declaring a national emergency
Sean Hannity says declaring a national emergency at the border “is a necessity”
Video: Fox urges Trump to declare a national emergency over border wall funding