Assistance from Claude AI.
Summary
President Donald Trump held a pre-departure press gaggle on November 16, 2025, making sweeping claims about grocery price reductions while floating a controversial healthcare proposal to bypass insurance companies by giving Americans direct payments to purchase their own coverage. Trump indicated that Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro wants to open discussions following recent cartel designations, dismissed concerns from Representative Thomas Massie about the Jeffrey Epstein probe as a “deflection,” and made disparaging remarks about Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, calling her “Marjorie Traitor Greene.” The president also endorsed Republican legislation to sanction any country conducting business with Russia, potentially expanding the measure to include Iran, while attacking the Biden administration over border security and defending Tucker Carlson’s decision to interview controversial figure Nick Fuentes.
For a fact-check of Trump’s major claims, see Fact-Check: Major Claims from Trump’s November 16, 2025 Press Gaggle.
Participants
Donald Trump – President of the United States
Press Corps – Multiple reporters (not individually identified in transcript)
Economic Claims and Grocery Prices
The president opened the gaggle by asserting that grocery prices are declining substantially under his administration. Trump claimed that prices “are coming down very substantially on groceries and things” and characterized them as “already at a much lower level than they were with the last administration.”
Trump specifically highlighted Thanksgiving meal costs, stating that major retailers are showing significant price reductions. He claimed that “I go to Walmart and other companies, and in every case it’s about 25% that a meal, a Thanksgiving meal, and surroundings are 25% lower than it was under the Biden administration.” He emphasized this point by saying “That’s a big fact. And that comes from Walmart and others that do that.”
Context for readers: These claims about grocery price reductions would require verification through actual consumer price data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and retailer pricing information. The specific 25% reduction figure for Thanksgiving meals represents a substantial claim that would be measurable through commodity and retail price tracking.
Venezuela Policy and Potential Diplomatic Engagement
When asked about Venezuela, Trump revealed that diplomatic channels may be opening with the Maduro regime. A reporter asked whether recent cartel designations associated with Maduro would allow the U.S. government to “target Maduro’s assets for infrastructure inside Venezuela.”
Trump confirmed the legal authority exists, responding “It allows us to do that, but we haven’t said we’re going to do that.” He then disclosed potential diplomatic activity: “We may be discussing, we may be having some discussions with Maduro and we’ll see how that turns out. But they would like, they would like to talk.”
When pressed about what “Venezuela wants to talk” means, Trump was characteristically vague: “Venezuela would like to talk. Why does it mean? You tell me, I don’t know.” He added his typical openness to dialogue: “I talk to anybody, I talk to you, right? I talk to anybody. We’ll see what happens.”
Later in the gaggle, Trump elaborated on Venezuela concerns beyond drug trafficking. He explained that the country “released into our country… thousands, hundreds of thousands of people” including “gang members from Tren de Aragua,” drug dealers, and murderers. Trump made the dramatic claim that “Their almost entire prison population was released into the United States.”
Context for readers: Tren de Aragua is a Venezuelan criminal organization that has expanded operations across South America. The Trump administration has focused on this gang as part of its immigration enforcement messaging. The claim about Venezuela releasing its entire prison population into the United States would represent an extraordinary allegation requiring documentation and verification.
Jeffrey Epstein Probe Controversy
A reporter raised concerns from Representative Thomas Massie about whether Trump’s call for an Epstein probe “could be a smoke screen to lock the release of more files.”
Trump responded with a personal attack on both the reporter and Massie, refusing to engage with the substance: “Well, I don’t wanna talk about it because fake news like you, you’re a terrible reporter, and fake news like you, they just keep bringing that up to deflect from the tremendous success of the Trump administration.”
He then attacked Massie’s political standing, claiming “a guy like Massey, his poll numbers are showing he is at 6% approval rating right now.” Trump nicknamed him “Rand Paul Jr. because he never votes for the Republican Party,” adding that “they’re using Jeffrey Epstein as a deflection from the tremendous success that we’re having as a party.”
Context for readers: Representative Thomas Massie is a libertarian-leaning Republican from Kentucky known for sometimes breaking with party leadership. Trump’s characterization of Massie as never voting with Republicans is a significant overstatement, though Massie has opposed Republican leadership on various issues. The reference to Rand Paul, the Kentucky senator known for libertarian positions, suggests Trump views both as insufficiently loyal to party leadership. Trump’s framing of Epstein questions as “deflections” represents an attempt to avoid discussing the controversial topic.
Marjorie Taylor Greene Comments
When a reporter mentioned that Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said “her life would be a danger because of the rhetoric,” Trump initially didn’t recognize who was being discussed, asking “Her life is in danger? Who’s that?”
Upon clarification, Trump made a striking comment, calling her “Marjorie Traitor Greene” and dismissing the threat: “I don’t think her life is in danger. I don’t think, frankly, I don’t think anybody cares about her.”
Context for readers: This represents a dramatic reversal in Trump’s relationship with Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Georgia representative who has been one of Trump’s most vocal supporters in Congress. The “Marjorie Traitor Greene” nickname plays on critics’ label for her while suggesting Trump now views her as disloyal. This comment signals a significant break between Trump and a previously staunch ally, though the context of what prompted her concerns about danger or what rhetoric she was referencing remains unclear from this transcript.
Healthcare Proposal: Direct Payments to Citizens
Trump revealed active negotiations on a significant healthcare policy proposal that he characterized as emerging from recent legislative stress. A reporter asked whether he was “negotiating with lawmakers on healthcare ahead of a vote next month.”
Trump confirmed substantial activity: “I am. We’re negotiating with lawmakers, and I’ve had personal talks with some Democrats. I can’t tell you who they are. I just don’t want to do that. It’s not fair to them.”
He explained the proposal’s genesis during what he called “the shutdown”: “You know, oftentimes in time, under times of stress, like the shutdown, you come up with good, great ideas that you wouldn’t have thought of before.”
Trump detailed his critique of the insurance industry, claiming that insurance companies “are making a fortune. Their stock is up over a thousand percent, over a short period of time. They are taking in hundreds of billions of dollars and they’re not really putting it back. Certainly not like they should.”
The core proposal involves bypassing the insurance industry entirely: “Why do we just pay this money directly to the people of our country and let them buy their own health insurance?” Trump acknowledged he “made that statement and I made it a little bit cavalierly, but it sounded good.”
He described bipartisan interest: “Everybody is picked up, including Democrats. And I am talking to some Democrats right now about doing that. People love it.”
Trump outlined implementation concepts: “We’re gonna take the money. We’re gonna pay it back to the people of our country to go out and buy health insurance so they can put it in a health account and we can do it a lot of different ways, but they’d buy their own health insurance. They can negotiate price and it’s gonna be locked. So they can’t go out and buy a Cadillac. They can go out and buy health insurance.”
Context for readers: This proposal represents a fundamental restructuring of how Americans would access health coverage, potentially eliminating employer-based insurance or marketplace subsidies in favor of direct government payments. The concept raises numerous policy questions: How much would each person receive? Would this replace Medicare, Medicaid, and Affordable Care Act subsidies? How would “health accounts” function differently from existing Health Savings Accounts? The reference to preventing people from buying “a Cadillac” suggests restrictions on coverage levels, but specifics remain unclear. The claim of bipartisan Democratic interest would be significant if accurate, though Trump declined to identify which Democrats support the concept.
Russia Sanctions Legislation
A reporter asked about legislation “that puts pressure on Russia, it puts pressure on Putin.”
Trump confirmed Republican congressional action: “I hear they’re doing that, and that’s okay with me. They’re passing legislation or putting, the Republicans are putting in legislation that very tough, it’s sanctioning, et cetera, et cetera on any country doing business with Russia, they may add Iran to that, as you know. I suggested it.”
He emphasized the scope: “So any country that does business with Russia will be very severely sanctioned. We may add Iran to the formula.”
Context for readers: Secondary sanctions targeting countries that conduct business with Russia represent an escalation beyond typical sanctions that target Russia directly. Such measures could affect major trading partners including China, India, and various European nations that maintain economic relationships with Russia despite existing sanctions regimes. Expanding this framework to include Iran would create an even broader sanctions architecture that could strain relationships with allies who maintain certain trade relationships with Iran, particularly regarding oil imports. The feasibility and diplomatic implications of such comprehensive secondary sanctions would be substantial.
Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes Discussion
A reporter raised Tucker Carlson’s recent interview with Nick Fuentes, described as “anti-semitic,” asking “What role do you think Tucker Carlson should play in the Republican Party, the conservative movement?”
Trump initially praised Carlson: “Well, I found him to be good. I mean, he said good things about me over the years. He’s, I think he’s good. We’ve had some good interviews. I did an interview with him, we were at 300 million hits.”
When pressed on “should he be platforming Nick Fuentes,” Trump defended editorial independence: “You can’t tell him who to interview. I mean, if he wants to interview Nick Fuentes, I don’t know much about him, but if he wants to do it, get the word out.”
But Trump also attacked the reporter personally: “Will you let me finish my say. You are the worst. You’re with Bloomberg, right? You are the worst. I don’t know why they even have you.”
He added a broader principle: “People have to decide. Ultimately, people have to decide.”
A follow-up question referenced Trump’s own history: “A few years ago, you had dinner with Nick Fuentes at Mar-a-Lago a few years ago. What role should he play in the conservative movement?”
Trump distanced himself from the encounter: “Well, I didn’t know he was coming and he was with, as you know, somebody, Kanye. And Kanye asked if he could have dinner, and he brought Nick. I didn’t know Nick at the time. He did. He came and along with a few other people. He brought a few people with him.”
Trump concluded by distinguishing interviewing from endorsing: “Meeting people, talking to people, like for somebody like Tucker, that’s what they do. You know, people are controversial. Some are, some aren’t. I’m not controversial, so I like it that way.”
Context for readers: Nick Fuentes is a far-right political commentator and white nationalist who has made numerous antisemitic and racist statements. His November 2022 dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Trump and Kanye West (now known as Ye) created significant controversy. Trump’s claim that he didn’t know Fuentes was coming has been his consistent response to questions about that dinner. The characterization of whether interviewing controversial figures constitutes “platforming” them remains a debated question in media ethics—critics argue that providing media access to extremist voices legitimizes and amplifies their views, while others defend broad interview practices as journalism. Trump’s statement “I’m not controversial” represents a notable self-assessment given the extensive controversies throughout his political career.
Congressional Notification on Drug Interdiction
Trump discussed his administration’s approach to keeping Congress informed about anti-drug operations, though not necessarily seeking approval.
He explained the balance: “We like to keep Congress involved. I mean, we’re stopping drug dealers and drugs to come, from coming into our country. And I actually told Marco and some of the people, our Secretary of State. He’s doing a great job, by the way.”
Trump described his instructions: “I said, ‘Go to Congress and let ’em know we’re not letting drugs come through Mexico. We’re not letting them come through Venezuela. And let Congress know about it.’ We don’t have to get their approval. But I think letting them know is good.”
He noted concerns about information security: “The only thing I don’t want them to do is leak information that’s very important and confidential and may put our military at risk or whoever is doing, you know, CIA, military, etc.”
Trump reiterated: “I said, ‘Go and see Congress, see the representatives that we’re supposed to be seeing, and be open about it.’ If they say, ‘We don’t want you to stop drugs from coming into the country,’ I don’t think that would be good.”
Context for readers: “Marco” refers to Marco Rubio, who Trump has indicated serves as Secretary of State. The distinction Trump draws between informing Congress and seeking congressional approval relates to executive authority for military and intelligence operations. The War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action, though presidents have disputed whether all operations fall under this requirement. Trump’s concern about congressional leaks reflects longstanding tension between executive branch operational security and legislative oversight responsibilities. His framing suggests potential military or intelligence operations related to drug interdiction in Mexico and Venezuela.
Immigration and Border Security Claims
Trump repeatedly returned to immigration themes, attacking the Biden administration and claiming success on border security.
He asserted that his administration is removing people Venezuela released into the United States: “We’re getting it out. We’re doing an amazing job. We have a strong border now. We have everything. Our country’s doing so well.”
Trump made sweeping claims about Biden-era immigration: “But what the Biden administration did to our country should never be forgotten. And the single worst thing they did is allow 20 or 25 million people to pour into our country. People from prisons, drug dealers, mental institutions, bad people, gang members.”
He emphasized the characterization of immigrants: “To allow that to happen to the United States totally unchecked and unvetted should never be forgotten. What they’ve done to our country is a very bad thing. But we are correcting it. We have strong borders now.”
Context for readers: Trump’s claim that 20 to 25 million people entered the United States during the Biden administration represents a substantial overstatement. U.S. Customs and Border Protection data from the Biden years shows approximately 10 million encounters at the border, but encounters represent instances of apprehension or expulsion, not unique individuals successfully entering and remaining in the country. Many encountered individuals are expelled under immigration law, and some individuals are encountered multiple times. The characterization that immigrants predominantly came “from prisons” and “mental institutions” reflects Trump’s consistent framing but would require verification through country-specific release data. The reference to “mental institutions” appears to suggest that countries emptied psychiatric facilities and sent patients to the United States, an extraordinary claim lacking documented evidence.
New York Mayor Meeting
Trump briefly mentioned that New York City’s mayor has requested a meeting. He stated: “The mayor of New York, I will say, would like to meet with us and we’ll work something out. But he would like to come to Washington and meet. And we’ll work something out. We want to see everything work out well for New York.”
Context for readers: New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, has faced federal corruption charges and has been more cooperative with Trump administration immigration enforcement than many Democratic mayors. A meeting between Trump and Adams would be notable given their different party affiliations and Adams’s legal challenges.
Inflation Claims
Trump concluded by attacking Democrats on economic messaging: “The Democrats like to use the word affordability, but their affordability was terrible. The problem with the Democrats, they lie. They do it so well. They talk about affordability, but I’m the one that’s getting the prices down.”
He claimed credit for reducing inflation: “As an example, they had the highest inflation in the history of our country. I have it down now to a normal level, and it’s going down further.”
Context for readers: The claim that the Biden administration oversaw “the highest inflation in the history of our country” is inaccurate. While inflation peaked at approximately 9.1% in June 2022 during the Biden administration, the United States has experienced far higher inflation rates historically, including double-digit inflation throughout much of the late 1970s and early 1980s, peaking above 14% in 1980. Current inflation rates as of Trump’s second term would reflect the cumulative effects of both Federal Reserve policy decisions and various economic factors beyond direct presidential control.
MLA Citation
“Press Gaggle: Donald Trump Speaks to Reporters Before Air Force One Departure – November 16, 2025.” Factbase / Roll Call, 16 Nov. 2025, www.rollcall.com.