Trump to NYT: Wall talks a 'waste of time'

Image copyrightAFP/GettyImage captio

The interview came after Mr Trump reached out to the New York Times' publisher

US President Donald Trump has dismissed Robert Mueller's investigation and ongoing talks about a proposed border wall in a New York Times interview.

The president said negotiations in Congress about funding for a wall - the issue behind the recent government shutdown - were a “waste of time”.

He also claimed his lawyers had been reassured he was not a target in the special counsel's investigation.

Mr Mueller is probing alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 election.

The New York Times' interview with Mr Trump came after the president reached out to the newspaper's publisher A G Sulzberger.

Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked the paper as the “failing New York Times”.

Skip Twitter post by @realDonaldTrum

The Failing New York Times wrote a story that made it seem like the White House Councel had TURNED on the President, when in fact it is just the opposite - & the two Fake reporters knew this. This is why the Fake News Media has become the Enemy of the People. So bad for America!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018

Report

End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrum

Mr Sulzberger asked the president to stop his attacks on the media last year, saying they could “lead to violence” against journalists.

What did Trump say about the border wall？

“I'll continue to build the wall, and we'll get the wall finished,” the president said, dismissing the continuing talks aimed at solving the impasse in Congress and implying he could declare a national emergency to ensure the barrier is built.

Mr Trump has sought $5.7 billion (£4.4bn) for a wall on the southern border. The Democrats refuse to provide it, arguing it is immoral and ineffective.

The divide led to the longest government shutdown in US history, which will resume on 15 February if no budget can be agreed.

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Media captionFive questions about Trump's border wall

Mr Trump slammed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the interview over the border wall.

“I've actually always gotten along with her, but now I don't think I will any more,” he said. I think she's doing a tremendous disservice to the country."

Ms Pelosi told reporters on Thursday there would be no money for a wall in planned border security legislation.

What about the Russia inquiry？

Speaking to two New York Times reporters in the Oval Office, the president said he had received assurances from deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein.

Mr Rosenstein previously oversaw Mr Mueller's investigation before the president transferred control to acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker.

“He told the attorneys that I'm not a subject, I'm not a target,” Mr Trump said.

Image copyrightReutersImage caption Rod Rosenstein previously oversaw Robert Mueller's investigatio

The president also insisted he “never did” speak to his long-time associate Roger Stone about stolen Democratic emails published by Wikileaks in 2016.

Mr Stone has been charged with seven counts in the Mueller probe related to the emails - charges he denies.

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President Trump did however attack the FBI raid on Mr Stone's home, calling it “a very sad thing for this country”.

“I like Roger, he's a character,” Mr Trump said.

What else did the president say？

“I love this job,” Mr Trump insisted, dismissing talk he might not run for re-election in 2020.

He did however tell the paper he had lost “massive amounts of money” working as president.

He also spoke of Democratic candidates in next year's vote.

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California Senator Kamala Harris had “the best opening so far” while Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren had been “hurt badly”, the president maintained, by his attacks on her Native American heritage.

I may be wrong, but I think that was a big part of her credibility and now all of a sudden it's gone."