Podcast Summary: Bannon's War Room - Episode 4219: Trump Live In Asheville Cont.

Release Date: January 24, 2025
Host: WarRoom.org (Steve Bannon)
Description: WAR ROOM is the first and most comprehensive program delivering up-to-the-minute news. Stephen K. Bannon hosts medical experts, politicians, business leaders, and frontline workers to provide insider insights on the latest developments.

Introduction

In Episode 4219 of Bannon's War Room, host Steve Bannon and co-host Brian Glenn provide an in-depth coverage of President Donald Trump's visit to Asheville, North Carolina. The episode delves into the President's discussions on disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Helene, critiques of FEMA, environmental policies impacting California, and broader geopolitical strategies.

President Trump's Arrival and Initial Briefings ([00:03] - [03:09])

• Steve Bannon opens the discussion by noting the President’s customary engagement with local officials upon arrival.

  [00:11] Steve Bannon: "I want to observe that the first lady is stylish as ever..."

• Brian Glenn elaborates on the President’s routine of greeting local officials and mentions the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, emphasizing the critical nature of the disaster relief efforts.

  [01:03] Brian Glenn: "But this is the priority of this president right now. It is helping the American people."

President Trump’s Address on Disaster Relief and FEMA ([03:21] - [06:50])

• Donald Trump addresses the press, expressing frustration with FEMA's handling of the disaster.

  [03:21] Donald Trump: "It's a massive amount of damage. FEMA has really let us down... we're going to assign Mr. Whatley, who's fantastic, frankly..."

• Steve Bannon questions whether the changes to FEMA will involve seeking additional aid from Congress.

  [06:26] Steve Bannon: "Those changes to FEMA, do you expect to ask Congress for additional aid for North Carolina and California?"

• Donald Trump responds affirmatively, stating that aid will bypass FEMA and be directly managed by the administration.

  [06:32] Donald Trump: "In other words, the aid will go through us... FEMA was not on the ball and we're going to turn it all around."

America First and Policy Priorities ([06:50] - [18:33])

• Brian Glenn ties President Trump's actions to his campaign slogan "America First," highlighting the focus on prioritizing American citizens over global concerns.

  [07:06] Donald Trump: "We're putting America first... We're going to do a good job in California..."

• Donald Trump discusses the economic and environmental challenges in California, criticizing long-standing policies that he believes have exacerbated disasters.

  [07:20] Donald Trump: "Millions of gallons of water are waiting to be poured down through already the half pipes that have been up for 40 years... you don't have water in the hydrants..."

• The conversation shifts to the geopolitical strategy concerning OPEC and the Ukraine war, with Trump advocating for reduced oil prices to pressure ceasefires.

  [08:47] Donald Trump: "If OPEC doesn't respond to your call to cut oil prices... that war is not going to end so easily."

Roundtable Discussions and Local Meetings ([17:03] - [23:00])

• Donald Trump engages with Governor Josh Stein and other local officials, praising private aid organizations like Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse for their disaster relief efforts.

  [34:10] Governor Josh Stein: "We had nothing but disaster. Since then, it doesn't matter. At this point, Biden did a bad job."

• Steve Bannon and Brian Glenn provide live coverage of the President’s interactions, highlighting his commitment to directly engaging with affected communities.

  [16:39] Brian Glenn: "President Trump, in leaving the tarmac, does what he often does... he wants to see my people."

Critique of FEMA and Administrative State ([30:15] - [43:22])

• Governor Josh Stein echoes Trump’s sentiment by expressing disappointment with FEMA’s response and advocating for state-managed disaster relief.

  [43:12] Governor Josh Stein: "FEMA has been a very big disappointment... when there's a problem with the state, that problem should be taken care of by the state."

• Donald Trump discusses the need to dismantle or fundamentally reform FEMA, citing bureaucratic inefficiency and politicization.

  [49:22] Donald Trump: "We're going to start immediately. Timeline. And to finish, it's going to be a..."

• The discussion emphasizes reducing federal intervention in favor of empowering state governments to handle disasters more efficiently.

Economic Policies and Trade ([53:14] - [56:13])

• Donald Trump outlines his plans to implement tariffs to balance trade deficits, particularly with Canada, criticizing existing trade practices.

  [53:14] Donald Trump: "Yeah, unbalance and balance and also deficits, like with Canada. We lose $200 billion a year with Canada."

• He proposes radical ideas such as integrating Canada as the 51st state to eliminate trade barriers and enhance economic cooperation.

  [54:43] Donald Trump: "I would love to see Canada be the 51st state. The Canadian citizens, if that happened, would get a very big tax cut..."

Support from Franklin Graham ([56:07] - [57:41])

• Donald Trump commends Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse for their significant contributions to disaster relief in North Carolina.

  [56:16] Donald Trump: "Franklin Graham has been a big asset to the state... we gave... we made a big donation and it was money well spent."

• The episode highlights the effective role of private charities in supplementing government efforts during crises.

Final Discussions and Executive Actions ([57:41] - [60:05])

• Donald Trump touches upon recent executive actions, including proposals to eliminate FEMA and redirect aid, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to streamlined disaster relief.

  [57:41] Steve Bannon: "He signed an executive order to get rid of FEMA and man, he's held Benford Leather from doing this."

• The hosts discuss the broader implications of these policies on the administrative state and future governance.

Conclusion

Episode 4219 of Bannon's War Room provides a comprehensive overview of President Trump's proactive approach to disaster relief in Asheville, North Carolina. Through direct interactions with local officials and affected citizens, Trump emphasizes an "America First" philosophy, critiques federal agencies like FEMA, and outlines ambitious economic and environmental policies. The episode underscores the administration's focus on efficient, state-led responses to crises and strategic international trade reforms aimed at strengthening America's economic standing.

Notable Quotes:

• "[03:21] Donald Trump: 'It's a massive amount of damage. FEMA has really let us down...'"

• "[06:32] Donald Trump: 'In other words, the aid will go through us... FEMA was not on the ball and we're going to turn it all around.'"

• "[07:06] Donald Trump: 'We're putting America first... We're going to do a good job in California.'"

• "[49:22] Donald Trump: 'We're going to start immediately. Timeline...'"*

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the topics covered and the perspectives shared during President Trump's visit to Asheville.